"In a class with...sleuths V.I. Warshawski and Stephanie Plum," China Bayles deals with a most unwelcome guest... China Bayles is fit to spit when her husband's troubled ex-wife, Sally, shows up at her herb shop, claiming to be broke with nowhere else to turn. China isn't sure if it's the goodness of her heart or the scent of Christmas wreaths, but she invites Sally to stay. Then China starts receiving menacing calls from an "ex" of Sally's, who seems to have a connection to the murder of her parents nearly a decade ago. With her P.I. husband out of town, it's up to China to weed out the truth behind whatever it is Sally's running from before danger catches up to all of them....
Publisher: n/a
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9780425232606
|
Print book
Gingerbread Cookie Murder
By Fluke, Joanne
In this merry collection of holiday mysteries, murder is making its own special delivery. . ."Gingerbread Cookie Murder" By Joanne FlukeWhen Hannah Swensen finds her neighbor Ernie Kusak with his head bashed in and sprawled on the floor of his condo next to an upended box of Hannah's Gingerbread Cookies, she discovers a flurry of murder suspects that's as long as her holiday shopping list."The Dangers Of Gingerbread Cookies" By Laura LevineJaine Austen has been enlisted to help with her parents' retirement community's play The Gingerbread Cookie That Saved Christmas. Playboy Dr. Preston McCay is playing the role of the gingerbread cookie when he "accidentally" falls to his death during the final act. Now Jaine must figure out if one of the doctor's jealous lovers was capable of murder. "Gingerbread Cookies And Gunshots" By Leslie MeierWhen Lucy Stone discovers the body of Rick Juergens, whose five-year-old son Nemo disappeared, she senses foul play. Crumbs from a gingerbread cookie Lucy gave to Nemo are found in the back seat of Rick's car. With the hours quickly ticking till Christmas, Lucy races against the clock to find a killer before he strikes again. Includes Over 10 Luscious Holiday Recipes!
Publisher: n/a
|
9780758234957
|
Large print book
The Twelve Clues of Christmas
By Bowen, Rhys
She may be thirty-fifth in line for the throne, but Lady Georgiana Rannoch cannot wait to ring in the new year - before a Christmas killer wrings another neck ... On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me - well, actually, my true love, Darcy O'Mara, is spending a feliz navidad tramping around South America. Meanwhile, Mummy is holed up in a tiny village called Tiddleton-under-Lovey with that droll Noel Coward! And I'm snowed in at Castle Rannoch with my bumbling brother, Binky, and sourpuss sister-in-law, Fig. So it's a miracle when I contrive to land a position as hostess to a posh holiday party in Tiddleton. The village is like something out of A Christmas Carol! But no sooner have I arrived than a neighborhood nuisance, a fellow named Freddie falls out of a tree, dead ... . Dickensian, indeed. Freddie's merely a stocking stuffer. On my second day in town, another so-called accident turns up another mincemeat pie - and yet another on my third. The village is buzzing that a recent prison break could have something to do with it ... that, or a long-standing witch's curse. I'm not so sure. But after Darcy shows up beneath the mistletoe, anything could be possible in this wicked wonderland.
Publisher: n/a
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9780425252789
|
Hardcover
Probable Claus
By Breen, Jon L
"When brilliant young law school graduate Eve Nyquist came to the big city to join the firm of ace trial lawyer Gordon Moon, she had no idea she would be appointed third chair for the defense team in the trial of the young century, that she would find romance in a revolving restaurant high above the city, that she would be asked to cross examine an expert witness on a subject she knows nothing about, and that she would be threatened with death deep in the bowels of an old movie theatre. Probable Claus is a comic novel, a parody of the Big Trial legal thriller genre, a fair-play detective story, an inspiring Christmas story, and, oh, so much more!"--Publisher description.
Publisher: n/a
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9781594147340
|
Print book
Santa Clawed
By Brown, Rita Mae
Bestselling authors Rita Mae Brown and her feline partner, Sneaky Pie Brown, are back for the holidays in a mystery featuring Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen, the sleuthing cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, and corgi Tee Tucker. Can they save the season from a killjoy whos decided to gift the festive little town . . . with murder? As Harry well knows, theres hardly a place on earth cozier than Crozet, Virginia, at Christmastime. The snowflakes drifting lazily down, the soft glow of the winter light, the sound of old carols in the streets ... even cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter get into the spirit batting ornaments and climbing the holiday tree. In fact, its this years tree that Harry and her husband, Fair, have gone to fetch when they find the one theyve chosen grimly decorated with a dead body. The tree farm is run by The Brothers of Love, a semimonastic organization that tends to AIDS patients. The brothers live in a monastery atop the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. Harry is surprised to find an old high-school friend associated with The Brothers of Love. Christopher Hewitt wasnt a bad man, but good works werent exactly one of his priorities. But then, if even Scrooge could turn over a new leaf, certainly Chris could. And after the scandal that all but destroyed his life, there were probably few in Crozet who needed the gift of a second chance more. Harry knows she shouldnt take it personally, but it was her tree that someone left the corpse under. Now, as the season grows merrier, a murderer is growing bolder. One by one, prominent men of Crozet are being crossed off Christmas shopping lists and added to the morgue. And if Harry and her four-legged helpers arent very good - and very careful - this Christmas may be her last.
Publisher: n/a
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9780553807066
|
Hardcover
Christmas is Murder
By Challinor, C S
Christmas in the English countryside -- what could be more charming? Not even a blizzard can keep Rex Graves away from Swanmere Manor, a historic hotel in East Sussex. But instead of Christmas cheer, the red-haired Scottish barrister finds a dead guest. Was it a stroke that killed old Mr. Lawry? Or an almond tart laced with poison? When more guests die, all hopes for a jolly holiday are dashed. Worst of all, the remote mansion is buried under beastly snow. No one can leave. Confined with a killer, no one can enjoy their tea without suspicion and scrutiny. Rex takes it upon himself to solve the mystery, but the most intriguing evidence -- a burnt biography of President George W. Bush -- offers few clues. Could the killer be the sherry-swilling handyman? The gay antiques dealer with a biting wit? The quarreling newlyweds? Surely, it's not Helen D'arcy, the lovely lass Rex seems to be falling for . . .
Publisher: n/a
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9780738713595
|
Paperback
Dashing Through the Snow
By Clark, Mary Higgins
In tranquil Branscombe, New Hampshire, for the holidays, PI Regan Reilly and her NYPD husband Jack, suspense writer Nora Reilly and funeral director husband Luke and lottery winner-turned-sleuth Alvirah Meehan and her husband Willy find themselves investigating shenanigans involving the local mega lottery in the midst of preparations for a festival celebrating old-fashioned Christmas values. (Mystery & detective) .
Publisher: n/a
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9781597228770
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Large print book
Holiday Buzz
By Coyle, Cleo
"THE "NEW YORK TIMES "BESTSELLING COFFEEHOUSE MYSTERY Holiday time is party time in New York City, but after a sparkling winter bash ends with a murder, Village Blend coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi vows to put the killer on ice... " At the Great New York Cookie Swap, pastry chefs bake up their very best for charity. Clare is in charge of the beverage service, and her famous Fa-la-la-la Lattes make the gathering even merrier. But her high spirits come crashing down to earth, when she discovers the battered body of a hard-working baker's assistant. Police suspect a serial attacker whose escalating crimes have become known as "The Christmas Stalkings. " Clare's boyfriend, NYPD detective Mike Quinn, finds reason to believe even more sinister forces are involved. Clare isn't so sure--and when she finds a second bludgeoned baker, she becomes a target. Now Clare is spending the holiday season pouring over clues, and she's not going to rest until justice is served. Includes holiday and cookie recipes
Publisher: n/a
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9780425255353
|
Paperback
Indigo Christmas
By Dams, Jeanne M.
Once housemaid to the wealthy Studebaker family in South Bend, Indiana, Hilda Johansson is now married and living a well-to-do life with her new husband. But her Swedish family doesn't get along with his Irish relations. She's having trouble finding friends, since she no longer fits into her old world and isn't accepted in the new one. Just before Christmas, when the husband of her sole remaining friend is accused of theft, arson, and murder, Hilda has to find new ways of investigating a crime that seems to make no sense. In the hard economic times of 1904 with bank failures weekly, Hilda tries to aid the unemployed youth of South Bend by helping to form a Boys' Club modeled after Hull House in Chicago. And she also enlists some of them as "Baker Street Irregulars" in her mystery investigation, giving the reader a vivid sense of the city and street life of the times.
Publisher: n/a
|
9781880284957
|
Paperback
A Killer's Christmas in Wales
By Duncan, Elizabeth J.
As the townsfolk of the Welsh valley town of Llanelen settle in for the snowiest winter in twenty-five years, an American stranger arrives. Harry Saunders charms the ladies, one of them in particular: Evelyn Lloyd, the town's former postmistress, who was left comfortably off after the death of her husband. After Mrs. Lloyd invests a good deal of money with him, Harry goes missing, as does her money. His body is soon discovered outside the walls of Conwy Castle, and Mrs. Lloyd is implicated in the murder.Although Penny Brannigan and her business partner, Victoria Hopkirk, are busy overseeing the grand opening of their new spa, that doesn't stop Mrs. Lloyd from desperately seeking Penny's help to prove her innocence. It's quite possible that Harry made other enemies while in Llanelen and Penny's investigation unfolds while she juggles her work at the spa, her growing relationship with Detective Inspector Davies, and the Christmas window competition that she signed up to judge.With A Killer's Christmas in Wales, Elizabeth J. Duncan delivers a delightful holiday-themed mystery.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780312622831
|
Hardcover
Mulled Murder
By Kingsbury, Kate
This holiday season at the Pennyfoot, the head count is down - but the body count is up ... With one of her housemaids leaving to get married, Cecily Sinclair Baxter wants nothing more for Christmas than some good help. Instead of visions of sugar plums, she's calling the plumber to deal with flooded bathrooms. Then there's the surly new janitor, who acts like he got coal in his stocking.But as Cecily scrambles to hire and train new staff in time for the holidays, one of her guests is beyond help. Gerald Evans is found stabbed to death on the beach, and Cecily soon discovers he was a private investigator from London looking into dark doings involving the Pennyfoot. Who among the staff or guests was being pursued, and what secret drove that person to cold-blooded murder?
Publisher: n/a
|
9780425262917
|
Paperback
Mistletoe and Mayhem
By Ridgway, Christie
An unexpected visitor is about to arrive with an unexpected gift ... Will it be something wonderful or woeful, rueful or romantic... or a little bit of everything? In the expert hands of four unsurpassed storytellers, "the season of giving" takes on an air of mystery. Get ready for a stockingful of shocking -- a potent holiday punch spiked with surprises, a hearty dash of romance and a twist of murder! The incomparable Christie Ridgway sends a shy, lonely teacher on a mundane pre-Yuletide errand that becomes the most daring, dangerous, and titillating adventure of her life. Award-winning mystery master Katherine Hall Page's plucky sleuth Faith Fairchild discovers a Christmas miracle that comes wrapped in deception. Judi McCoy's spirited career girl Claire St. Germaine receives a truly magical gift with very mysterious origins. And Rebecca Mayfield, the delightful creation of Joanne Pence, discovers the hard way that Santa isn't always a saint.
Publisher: n/a
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9780060732059
|
Paperback
Christmas Mourning
By Maron, Margaret
It's Christmas in rural North Carolina's Colleton County and Judge Deborah Knott is looking forward to a family celebration when a tragedy clouds the holiday season. A beautiful young cheerleader dies in a car crash and the community is devastated by her death. Sheriff's Deputy Dwight Bryant soon learns that her death was not a simple accident, and more lives may be lost unless he and Deborah can discover why she died.
Publisher: n/a
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9780446555807
|
Hardcover
Gingerbread Cookie Murder
By Fluke, Joanne
In this merry collection of holiday mysteries, murder is making its own special delivery. . ."Gingerbread Cookie Murder" By Joanne FlukeWhen Hannah Swensen finds her neighbor Ernie Kusak with his head bashed in and sprawled on the floor of his condo next to an upended box of Hannah's Gingerbread Cookies, she discovers a flurry of murder suspects that's as long as her holiday shopping list."The Dangers Of Gingerbread Cookies" By Laura LevineJaine Austen has been enlisted to help with her parents' retirement community's play The Gingerbread Cookie That Saved Christmas. Playboy Dr. Preston McCay is playing the role of the gingerbread cookie when he "accidentally" falls to his death during the final act. Now Jaine must figure out if one of the doctor's jealous lovers was capable of murder. "Gingerbread Cookies And Gunshots" By Leslie MeierWhen Lucy Stone discovers the body of Rick Juergens, whose five-year-old son Nemo disappeared, she senses foul play. Crumbs from a gingerbread cookie Lucy gave to Nemo are found in the back seat of Rick's car. With the hours quickly ticking till Christmas, Lucy races against the clock to find a killer before he strikes again. Includes Over 10 Luscious Holiday Recipes!
Publisher: n/a
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9781410429988
|
Large print book
A Christmas Garland
By Perry, Anne
"An annual treat," declared The Wall Street Journal of Anne Perry's Victorian-era holiday mysteries. Now she continues this magnificent tradition with A Christmas Garland, a yuletide tale set in exotic India. This time the mistress of mystery tells the story of a terrible crime that sets the stage for another: accusing an innocent man of murder. The year is 1857, soon after the violent Siege of Cawnpore, with India in the midst of rebellion. In the British garrison, a guard is killed and an Indian prisoner escapes, which leads to yet more British deaths. Cries for revenge are overwhelming. Despite no witnesses and no evidence against him, a luckless British medical orderly named John Tallis is arrested as an accomplice simply because he was the only soldier unaccounted for when these baffling crimes were committed. Though chosen to defend Tallis, young Lieutenant Victor Narraway is not encouraged to try very hard. Narraway's superiors merely want a show trial. But inspired by a soldier's widow and her children, and by his own stubborn faith in justice, Narraway searches for the truth. In an alien world haunted by memories of massacre, he is the accused man's only hope. The trial of John Tallis equals the white-knuckle best of Anne Perry's breathtaking courtroom dramas. And thanks to a simple Christmas garland and some brilliant detective work, Narraway perseveres against appalling odds, learning how to find hope within himself - and turn the darkest hour into one full of joy and light. PRAISE FOR THE CHRISTMAS NOVELS OF ANNE PERRY A Christmas Homecoming "Could have been devised by Agatha Christie . . . [Perry is] a modern master." - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Vastly entertaining . . . uplifting and thought-provoking by turns." - The Star-Ledger A Christmas Odyssey "[Perry] writes with detail that invades the senses." - Lincoln Journal Star A Christmas Promise "Poignant . . . should be on the Christmas stocking list of anyone who likes a sniffle of nostalgia." - The Washington Times A Christmas Grace "[A] heartwarming, if crime-tinged, complement to the holiday season." - BOOKLIST A Christmas Beginning "Intriguing . . . Perry's use of period detail is, as always, strong and evocative." - The Seattle Times
Publisher: n/a
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9780345530745
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Hardcover
Mistletoe, Merriment, and Murder
By Rosett, Sara
Super organizer Ellie Avery could really use some Christmas cheer when Gabrielle Matheson, a grinchy professional rival, sets up shop in the same small Georgia town. But before the halls are even halfway decked with holly, someone uses Ellie's terrifically tasteless white elephant swap gift as. . .a murder weapon!Ellie's now a suspect. Besides playing Mrs. Santa for her Air Force pilot husband and their two kids, shielding her eyes from the garishly over-decorated house down the street, and helping a client who's a hardcore hoarder, Ellie also has to solve this ho-ho-homicide. . .and find a killer who wishes her a very deadly Christmas. Don't miss Ellie Avery's great tips for a relaxed and stress-free holiday season! "Sara Rosett's Ellie Avery series is a winner. Rosett always delivers a terrific mystery with believable characters and lots of heart. The insider look at the life of a military spouse makes this series a fascinating read. I look forward to each new book." --Denise Swanson, New York Times bestselling author of the Scumble River and Devereaux's Dime mystery series."Sara Rosett once again presents readers with intriguing characters, a strong setting, more than a dash of humor and a suspenseful plot that ably keeps us guessing until the end. No mean achievement! Yet, what places her sleuth, Air Force wife Ellie Avery, at the top of my list are the poignant descriptions of what military families face every day, bringing an essential reminder of their sacrifices to us all, especially at this time of year." --Katherine Hall Page, Agatha Award-winning author of The Body in the BoudoirPraise for Sara Rosett's Ellie Avery Mysteries"Some cozies just hit on all cylinders, and Rosett's Ellie Avery titles are among the best." --Library Journal"Charm, Southern sass, and suspense abound. . .delightful." --Fresh Fiction"Intriguing characters, a dash of humor, and a suspenseful plot that keeps us guessing until the end." --Katherine Hall Pag
Publisher: n/a
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9780758269218
|
Print book
Murder with All the Trimmings
By Viets, Elaine
A humbug of a Shopping mystery... From The Anthony and Agatha Award-Winning Author of Accessory to MurderIncludes insider shopping tips! Mystery shopper Josie Marcus doesn?t get the appeal of the year-round Christmas shop. But when three such holiday houses pop up within two blocks, she?s assigned to rate them anonymously. Easy enough, Josie thinks, until she realizes that shoppers at one store are finding a strange?even deadly?secret ingredient in their holiday cake. And Josie must get to the bottom of it all before someone else becomes a Christmas spirit.
Holly Blues
By Albert, Susan Wittig
"In a class with...sleuths V.I. Warshawski and Stephanie Plum," China Bayles deals with a most unwelcome guest... China Bayles is fit to spit when her husband's troubled ex-wife, Sally, shows up at her herb shop, claiming to be broke with nowhere else to turn. China isn't sure if it's the goodness of her heart or the scent of Christmas wreaths, but she invites Sally to stay. Then China starts receiving menacing calls from an "ex" of Sally's, who seems to have a connection to the murder of her parents nearly a decade ago. With her P.I. husband out of town, it's up to China to weed out the truth behind whatever it is Sally's running from before danger catches up to all of them....
Gingerbread Cookie Murder
By Fluke, Joanne
In this merry collection of holiday mysteries, murder is making its own special delivery. . ."Gingerbread Cookie Murder" By Joanne FlukeWhen Hannah Swensen finds her neighbor Ernie Kusak with his head bashed in and sprawled on the floor of his condo next to an upended box of Hannah's Gingerbread Cookies, she discovers a flurry of murder suspects that's as long as her holiday shopping list."The Dangers Of Gingerbread Cookies" By Laura LevineJaine Austen has been enlisted to help with her parents' retirement community's play The Gingerbread Cookie That Saved Christmas. Playboy Dr. Preston McCay is playing the role of the gingerbread cookie when he "accidentally" falls to his death during the final act. Now Jaine must figure out if one of the doctor's jealous lovers was capable of murder. "Gingerbread Cookies And Gunshots" By Leslie MeierWhen Lucy Stone discovers the body of Rick Juergens, whose five-year-old son Nemo disappeared, she senses foul play. Crumbs from a gingerbread cookie Lucy gave to Nemo are found in the back seat of Rick's car. With the hours quickly ticking till Christmas, Lucy races against the clock to find a killer before he strikes again. Includes Over 10 Luscious Holiday Recipes!
The Twelve Clues of Christmas
By Bowen, Rhys
She may be thirty-fifth in line for the throne, but Lady Georgiana Rannoch cannot wait to ring in the new year - before a Christmas killer wrings another neck ... On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me - well, actually, my true love, Darcy O'Mara, is spending a feliz navidad tramping around South America. Meanwhile, Mummy is holed up in a tiny village called Tiddleton-under-Lovey with that droll Noel Coward! And I'm snowed in at Castle Rannoch with my bumbling brother, Binky, and sourpuss sister-in-law, Fig. So it's a miracle when I contrive to land a position as hostess to a posh holiday party in Tiddleton. The village is like something out of A Christmas Carol! But no sooner have I arrived than a neighborhood nuisance, a fellow named Freddie falls out of a tree, dead ... . Dickensian, indeed. Freddie's merely a stocking stuffer. On my second day in town, another so-called accident turns up another mincemeat pie - and yet another on my third. The village is buzzing that a recent prison break could have something to do with it ... that, or a long-standing witch's curse. I'm not so sure. But after Darcy shows up beneath the mistletoe, anything could be possible in this wicked wonderland.
Probable Claus
By Breen, Jon L
"When brilliant young law school graduate Eve Nyquist came to the big city to join the firm of ace trial lawyer Gordon Moon, she had no idea she would be appointed third chair for the defense team in the trial of the young century, that she would find romance in a revolving restaurant high above the city, that she would be asked to cross examine an expert witness on a subject she knows nothing about, and that she would be threatened with death deep in the bowels of an old movie theatre. Probable Claus is a comic novel, a parody of the Big Trial legal thriller genre, a fair-play detective story, an inspiring Christmas story, and, oh, so much more!"--Publisher description.
Santa Clawed
By Brown, Rita Mae
Bestselling authors Rita Mae Brown and her feline partner, Sneaky Pie Brown, are back for the holidays in a mystery featuring Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen, the sleuthing cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, and corgi Tee Tucker. Can they save the season from a killjoy whos decided to gift the festive little town . . . with murder? As Harry well knows, theres hardly a place on earth cozier than Crozet, Virginia, at Christmastime. The snowflakes drifting lazily down, the soft glow of the winter light, the sound of old carols in the streets ... even cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter get into the spirit batting ornaments and climbing the holiday tree. In fact, its this years tree that Harry and her husband, Fair, have gone to fetch when they find the one theyve chosen grimly decorated with a dead body. The tree farm is run by The Brothers of Love, a semimonastic organization that tends to AIDS patients. The brothers live in a monastery atop the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. Harry is surprised to find an old high-school friend associated with The Brothers of Love. Christopher Hewitt wasnt a bad man, but good works werent exactly one of his priorities. But then, if even Scrooge could turn over a new leaf, certainly Chris could. And after the scandal that all but destroyed his life, there were probably few in Crozet who needed the gift of a second chance more. Harry knows she shouldnt take it personally, but it was her tree that someone left the corpse under. Now, as the season grows merrier, a murderer is growing bolder. One by one, prominent men of Crozet are being crossed off Christmas shopping lists and added to the morgue. And if Harry and her four-legged helpers arent very good - and very careful - this Christmas may be her last.
Christmas is Murder
By Challinor, C S
Christmas in the English countryside -- what could be more charming? Not even a blizzard can keep Rex Graves away from Swanmere Manor, a historic hotel in East Sussex. But instead of Christmas cheer, the red-haired Scottish barrister finds a dead guest. Was it a stroke that killed old Mr. Lawry? Or an almond tart laced with poison? When more guests die, all hopes for a jolly holiday are dashed. Worst of all, the remote mansion is buried under beastly snow. No one can leave. Confined with a killer, no one can enjoy their tea without suspicion and scrutiny. Rex takes it upon himself to solve the mystery, but the most intriguing evidence -- a burnt biography of President George W. Bush -- offers few clues. Could the killer be the sherry-swilling handyman? The gay antiques dealer with a biting wit? The quarreling newlyweds? Surely, it's not Helen D'arcy, the lovely lass Rex seems to be falling for . . .
Dashing Through the Snow
By Clark, Mary Higgins
In tranquil Branscombe, New Hampshire, for the holidays, PI Regan Reilly and her NYPD husband Jack, suspense writer Nora Reilly and funeral director husband Luke and lottery winner-turned-sleuth Alvirah Meehan and her husband Willy find themselves investigating shenanigans involving the local mega lottery in the midst of preparations for a festival celebrating old-fashioned Christmas values. (Mystery & detective) .
Holiday Buzz
By Coyle, Cleo
"THE "NEW YORK TIMES "BESTSELLING COFFEEHOUSE MYSTERY Holiday time is party time in New York City, but after a sparkling winter bash ends with a murder, Village Blend coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi vows to put the killer on ice... " At the Great New York Cookie Swap, pastry chefs bake up their very best for charity. Clare is in charge of the beverage service, and her famous Fa-la-la-la Lattes make the gathering even merrier. But her high spirits come crashing down to earth, when she discovers the battered body of a hard-working baker's assistant. Police suspect a serial attacker whose escalating crimes have become known as "The Christmas Stalkings. " Clare's boyfriend, NYPD detective Mike Quinn, finds reason to believe even more sinister forces are involved. Clare isn't so sure--and when she finds a second bludgeoned baker, she becomes a target. Now Clare is spending the holiday season pouring over clues, and she's not going to rest until justice is served. Includes holiday and cookie recipes
Indigo Christmas
By Dams, Jeanne M.
Once housemaid to the wealthy Studebaker family in South Bend, Indiana, Hilda Johansson is now married and living a well-to-do life with her new husband. But her Swedish family doesn't get along with his Irish relations. She's having trouble finding friends, since she no longer fits into her old world and isn't accepted in the new one. Just before Christmas, when the husband of her sole remaining friend is accused of theft, arson, and murder, Hilda has to find new ways of investigating a crime that seems to make no sense. In the hard economic times of 1904 with bank failures weekly, Hilda tries to aid the unemployed youth of South Bend by helping to form a Boys' Club modeled after Hull House in Chicago. And she also enlists some of them as "Baker Street Irregulars" in her mystery investigation, giving the reader a vivid sense of the city and street life of the times.
A Killer's Christmas in Wales
By Duncan, Elizabeth J.
As the townsfolk of the Welsh valley town of Llanelen settle in for the snowiest winter in twenty-five years, an American stranger arrives. Harry Saunders charms the ladies, one of them in particular: Evelyn Lloyd, the town's former postmistress, who was left comfortably off after the death of her husband. After Mrs. Lloyd invests a good deal of money with him, Harry goes missing, as does her money. His body is soon discovered outside the walls of Conwy Castle, and Mrs. Lloyd is implicated in the murder.Although Penny Brannigan and her business partner, Victoria Hopkirk, are busy overseeing the grand opening of their new spa, that doesn't stop Mrs. Lloyd from desperately seeking Penny's help to prove her innocence. It's quite possible that Harry made other enemies while in Llanelen and Penny's investigation unfolds while she juggles her work at the spa, her growing relationship with Detective Inspector Davies, and the Christmas window competition that she signed up to judge.With A Killer's Christmas in Wales, Elizabeth J. Duncan delivers a delightful holiday-themed mystery.
Mulled Murder
By Kingsbury, Kate
This holiday season at the Pennyfoot, the head count is down - but the body count is up ... With one of her housemaids leaving to get married, Cecily Sinclair Baxter wants nothing more for Christmas than some good help. Instead of visions of sugar plums, she's calling the plumber to deal with flooded bathrooms. Then there's the surly new janitor, who acts like he got coal in his stocking.But as Cecily scrambles to hire and train new staff in time for the holidays, one of her guests is beyond help. Gerald Evans is found stabbed to death on the beach, and Cecily soon discovers he was a private investigator from London looking into dark doings involving the Pennyfoot. Who among the staff or guests was being pursued, and what secret drove that person to cold-blooded murder?
Mistletoe and Mayhem
By Ridgway, Christie
An unexpected visitor is about to arrive with an unexpected gift ... Will it be something wonderful or woeful, rueful or romantic... or a little bit of everything? In the expert hands of four unsurpassed storytellers, "the season of giving" takes on an air of mystery. Get ready for a stockingful of shocking -- a potent holiday punch spiked with surprises, a hearty dash of romance and a twist of murder! The incomparable Christie Ridgway sends a shy, lonely teacher on a mundane pre-Yuletide errand that becomes the most daring, dangerous, and titillating adventure of her life. Award-winning mystery master Katherine Hall Page's plucky sleuth Faith Fairchild discovers a Christmas miracle that comes wrapped in deception. Judi McCoy's spirited career girl Claire St. Germaine receives a truly magical gift with very mysterious origins. And Rebecca Mayfield, the delightful creation of Joanne Pence, discovers the hard way that Santa isn't always a saint.
Christmas Mourning
By Maron, Margaret
It's Christmas in rural North Carolina's Colleton County and Judge Deborah Knott is looking forward to a family celebration when a tragedy clouds the holiday season. A beautiful young cheerleader dies in a car crash and the community is devastated by her death. Sheriff's Deputy Dwight Bryant soon learns that her death was not a simple accident, and more lives may be lost unless he and Deborah can discover why she died.
Gingerbread Cookie Murder
By Fluke, Joanne
In this merry collection of holiday mysteries, murder is making its own special delivery. . ."Gingerbread Cookie Murder" By Joanne FlukeWhen Hannah Swensen finds her neighbor Ernie Kusak with his head bashed in and sprawled on the floor of his condo next to an upended box of Hannah's Gingerbread Cookies, she discovers a flurry of murder suspects that's as long as her holiday shopping list."The Dangers Of Gingerbread Cookies" By Laura LevineJaine Austen has been enlisted to help with her parents' retirement community's play The Gingerbread Cookie That Saved Christmas. Playboy Dr. Preston McCay is playing the role of the gingerbread cookie when he "accidentally" falls to his death during the final act. Now Jaine must figure out if one of the doctor's jealous lovers was capable of murder. "Gingerbread Cookies And Gunshots" By Leslie MeierWhen Lucy Stone discovers the body of Rick Juergens, whose five-year-old son Nemo disappeared, she senses foul play. Crumbs from a gingerbread cookie Lucy gave to Nemo are found in the back seat of Rick's car. With the hours quickly ticking till Christmas, Lucy races against the clock to find a killer before he strikes again. Includes Over 10 Luscious Holiday Recipes!
A Christmas Garland
By Perry, Anne
"An annual treat," declared The Wall Street Journal of Anne Perry's Victorian-era holiday mysteries. Now she continues this magnificent tradition with A Christmas Garland, a yuletide tale set in exotic India. This time the mistress of mystery tells the story of a terrible crime that sets the stage for another: accusing an innocent man of murder. The year is 1857, soon after the violent Siege of Cawnpore, with India in the midst of rebellion. In the British garrison, a guard is killed and an Indian prisoner escapes, which leads to yet more British deaths. Cries for revenge are overwhelming. Despite no witnesses and no evidence against him, a luckless British medical orderly named John Tallis is arrested as an accomplice simply because he was the only soldier unaccounted for when these baffling crimes were committed. Though chosen to defend Tallis, young Lieutenant Victor Narraway is not encouraged to try very hard. Narraway's superiors merely want a show trial. But inspired by a soldier's widow and her children, and by his own stubborn faith in justice, Narraway searches for the truth. In an alien world haunted by memories of massacre, he is the accused man's only hope. The trial of John Tallis equals the white-knuckle best of Anne Perry's breathtaking courtroom dramas. And thanks to a simple Christmas garland and some brilliant detective work, Narraway perseveres against appalling odds, learning how to find hope within himself - and turn the darkest hour into one full of joy and light. PRAISE FOR THE CHRISTMAS NOVELS OF ANNE PERRY A Christmas Homecoming "Could have been devised by Agatha Christie . . . [Perry is] a modern master." - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Vastly entertaining . . . uplifting and thought-provoking by turns." - The Star-Ledger A Christmas Odyssey "[Perry] writes with detail that invades the senses." - Lincoln Journal Star A Christmas Promise "Poignant . . . should be on the Christmas stocking list of anyone who likes a sniffle of nostalgia." - The Washington Times A Christmas Grace "[A] heartwarming, if crime-tinged, complement to the holiday season." - BOOKLIST A Christmas Beginning "Intriguing . . . Perry's use of period detail is, as always, strong and evocative." - The Seattle Times
Mistletoe, Merriment, and Murder
By Rosett, Sara
Super organizer Ellie Avery could really use some Christmas cheer when Gabrielle Matheson, a grinchy professional rival, sets up shop in the same small Georgia town. But before the halls are even halfway decked with holly, someone uses Ellie's terrifically tasteless white elephant swap gift as. . .a murder weapon!Ellie's now a suspect. Besides playing Mrs. Santa for her Air Force pilot husband and their two kids, shielding her eyes from the garishly over-decorated house down the street, and helping a client who's a hardcore hoarder, Ellie also has to solve this ho-ho-homicide. . .and find a killer who wishes her a very deadly Christmas. Don't miss Ellie Avery's great tips for a relaxed and stress-free holiday season! "Sara Rosett's Ellie Avery series is a winner. Rosett always delivers a terrific mystery with believable characters and lots of heart. The insider look at the life of a military spouse makes this series a fascinating read. I look forward to each new book." --Denise Swanson, New York Times bestselling author of the Scumble River and Devereaux's Dime mystery series."Sara Rosett once again presents readers with intriguing characters, a strong setting, more than a dash of humor and a suspenseful plot that ably keeps us guessing until the end. No mean achievement! Yet, what places her sleuth, Air Force wife Ellie Avery, at the top of my list are the poignant descriptions of what military families face every day, bringing an essential reminder of their sacrifices to us all, especially at this time of year." --Katherine Hall Page, Agatha Award-winning author of The Body in the BoudoirPraise for Sara Rosett's Ellie Avery Mysteries"Some cozies just hit on all cylinders, and Rosett's Ellie Avery titles are among the best." --Library Journal"Charm, Southern sass, and suspense abound. . .delightful." --Fresh Fiction"Intriguing characters, a dash of humor, and a suspenseful plot that keeps us guessing until the end." --Katherine Hall Pag
Murder with All the Trimmings
By Viets, Elaine
A humbug of a Shopping mystery... From The Anthony and Agatha Award-Winning Author of Accessory to MurderIncludes insider shopping tips! Mystery shopper Josie Marcus doesn?t get the appeal of the year-round Christmas shop. But when three such holiday houses pop up within two blocks, she?s assigned to rate them anonymously. Easy enough, Josie thinks, until she realizes that shoppers at one store are finding a strange?even deadly?secret ingredient in their holiday cake. And Josie must get to the bottom of it all before someone else becomes a Christmas spirit.