Amateur Sleuths Christmas

When her boss resigns, she’s out of a job and at loose ends. But it is when her friend’s father is killed that she hones her skills as an amateur sleuth. Can Amanda track down the killer before someone else dies? No one knows why her friend’s father was in the family’s vacation home in Hyannis on Cape Cod in early December. The discovery that he changed his will and was poisoned confuses his family and baffles the local sheriff. An ongoing property feud with a neighbor, a disgraced young man wronged by the family, an art dealer who suspects something is fishy, and a resentful ...

Francis Desmarais, a spirited baker with a passion for tradition, finds her world turned upside down when a Christmas parade ends in tragedy. The mysterious murder of Eleanor Wells, a cherished local and friend to Francis, unveils a labyrinth of long-buried secrets, simmering feuds, and a hidden heirloom with the power to change everything. Francis must whisk together her love for baking and her knack for sleuthing as she delves into the past, unearthing stories of forbidden love, familial strife, and ancestral ties that bind and break. With the townspeople eyeing her every move and the ...

This Yuletide, Kelly Flynn and friends are helping the town's librarian, Juliet, teach children how to knit. Juliet has fallen in love-but just as she finds happiness, death finds her, facedown in her Christmas cape. Suspicion falls on a newcomer, a widow with a puzzling past, who-some believe-was sweet on Juliet's boyfriend. But Kelly and her knitting crew aren't convinced. It's up to them to find a killer-before someone else gets fleeced.

Something’s baking at Ginger Snaps Bakery… and it’s not just cookies. When beloved small-town baker Ginger Lawrence discovers a dead body in her kitchen, her cozy world in Haversham Falls crumbles faster than a day-old scone. Caught in a murder investigation, Ginger must fight to clear her name, protect her family bakery, and uncover the truth hiding beneath layers of small-town secrets. Armed with a quick wit, a piping bag, and an unlikely alliance with the town’s newest grumpy-but-hot detective, Ginger dives headfirst into a case where every neighbor could be a suspect—and the ...

Christmas with the family? Penny Küfer is quite surprised when she is invited to a fancy celebration with her estranged mother, of all people. Waldenstein Castle, the party location and home to Penny's latest stepfather, turns out to be a palace right out of a fairy tale. The assembled guests, however, seem rather eccentric, and what's more, one of them is a ruthless killer. But he hadn’t reckoned with Penny....

As radio reporter Carol Childs investigates a series of Beverly Hills jewelry heists, she realizes her FBI boyfriend, Eric, is working the same case. Even worse, she may have inadvertently helped the suspect escape. The situation intensifies when the suspect calls the radio station during a live broadcast, baiting Carol deeper into the investigation. In order for her to uncover the truth, Carol must choose between her job and her personal relationships. What started out as coincidence between Carol and Eric becomes a race for the facts—pitting them against one another—before the thieves...

Aggie is hired to be a private nurse to an ailing millionaire’s wife. But she's not the one who dies. The couple is ensconced in a mansion in the small town to evade their enemies in the city. The marriage is anything but happy and she grows attached to the wife while repelled by the husband and baffled by the numerous silent servants who don’t seem to do anything but scuttle away. As Christmas approaches, everyone’s peace is shattered by a death at the big house. It isn’t who anyone expected would die, and it certainly wasn’t from natural causes. There are plenty of suspects ...

**Holiday Heist** is a cozy mystery set in the charming town of Holiday Corner, Vermont. The story revolves around Celeste and Edwin, who are eagerly preparing for their wedding. However, their celebration takes on a deeper meaning when they decide to host a fundraiser in conjunction with their nuptials to support the Sutton family, who have fallen on hard times. As the town comes together to help, the excitement builds for what promises to be the biggest event Holiday Corner has ever seen. But the festive atmosphere is shattered when a priceless necklace, generously donated by the wealthy ...

Mildred Kilgore and Earlynne Biddle are planning to open a bakery on the square - if they can come up with the right recipes. Charlie Dickens faces two of the biggest puzzles of his career as an investigative reporter, and one of them involves his wife. Cute little Cupcake's talent as a singer and dancer makes her a tempting target for an unscrupulous exploiter. Lizzy must enlist the Dahlias to protect her while she herself is confronted by a romantic puzzle. And Sheriff Norris is forced to reopen a puzzling mystery that the town thought was solved.

In the quaint town of Holiday Corner, Vermont, Christmas is in the air. The twinkling lights and aroma of freshly baked gingerbread create the perfect festive atmosphere. But beneath the surface of this holiday bliss, dangerous rumors swirl, like a poisonous ingredient hidden in a delectable dessert. Joy Holiday, Holiday Corner Events Planner, invites renowned chef Ava Merryweather to create a spectacular feast for the town's annual Santa's Workshop Dinner, a beloved charity event. However, the excitement turns to shock when Ava is discovered dead in the snow, a plum pudding by her side. As...

Ainsley decides to set aside her search for answers to her past and enjoy her first Gooseberry Christmas by volunteering along with the rest of the gang for the Christmas festival on the boardwalk. Normally Ainsley didn’t bother much with Christmas and all its trappings, but this year she is excited to join in as most of the locals are prone to do. Of course it does put a bit of a damper on the festivities when a body is found in the tree lot where the gang had offered to help out.

When a romantic Christmas movie starts filming in Crystal Falls, no one thought murder was part of the script. A motion picture company chooses Crystal Falls as the setting for their romantic Christmas movie but when a crew member is murdered and the star of the film is poisoned, Luke and Bandit rush in to solve another mystery in their small hometown. Deadly “accidents” start to plague the production and sightings of an off-balance celebrity stalker sets everyone on edge. Luke searches for clues with help from the telepathic link he shares with his dog Bandit, his cop crush Brooke, and...

Welcome to Frostvale, a picturesque town where holiday cheer meets magical intrigue! Holly Bell, a seasonal witch with a penchant for festive spells, returns home for the holidays expecting gingerbread cookies, sparkling snow, and the warmth of family traditions. But when Frostvale's beloved Santa impersonator, Jolly Jack, is found frozen in a mysterious block of ice, the festive season takes a chilling turn. Armed with her wits, her grimoire, and her mischievous black cat, Onyx, Holly dives into the heart of the town's secrets. Could it be the candy shop owner with a vendetta? Jack’s ...

With only days to go until Jackie's wedding, the unthinkable happens, and murder wreaks havoc on the best-laid plans! Christmas is fast approaching, and Harmony's festive Winter Wonderland is in full swing. Everyone is getting in the holiday spirit. The ice-skating rink is bustling, the vendors are busy selling ornaments, and the hot chocolate is flowing. But Jackie Parker is focused on her upcoming nuptials. Her custom-made wedding gown and crimson velvet evening coat are almost complete. The horse and sleigh are reserved to take Jackie to her wedding reception. And soon she will be ...

It is Christmas Day and at Champton Rectory, Canon Daniel Clement and his mother Audrey are joined by the residents and guests of the big house to drink, eat and be merry. At the festive feast, peace and goodwill prevail. Until two meet under the mistletoe. One of them falls down dead. And Daniel suspects murder has returned to Champton. Can Daniel and Detective Sergeant Neil Vanloo solve the crime and catch the Christmas killer?

Enjoy the holiday season with three festive mysteries set in coastal Maine. This anthology includes "Yule Log Murder" by Leslie Meier, "Death by Yule Log" by Lee Hollis, and "Logged On" by Barbara Ross.

It’s beginning to look a lot like arson this Christmas season… The Cat Café is buzzing with excitement this holiday season as they prepare for the Holiday Fur Ball & Silent Auction. As Tinsley and her crew put the finishing touches on the treats and decorations, she can’t help but daydream about the new animal shelter she hopes to build with the money from the auction. The excitement soon fizzles, however, when a fire breaks out at the café with the fur babies inside. Thankfully, they’re rescued by firefighters and all safe and sound. But everyone at the Cat Café is shocked when ...

As the first snowfall blankets Maplewood, the town is filled with holiday cheer. The annual Christmas Market is in full swing, with stalls selling everything from handmade ornaments to hot cocoa. Emily and Rebecca are busy decorating the Sunny Side Inn and preparing for their annual Christmas Eve feast for the guests and townsfolk. However, the holiday spirit is dampened when the town's beloved Santa Claus impersonator, jovial postman Bob "Santa Bob" Davis, is found dead in his home, a list of the town's residents labeled "Naughty" and "Nice" by his side.

Snow, Stars - and murder! When Bernie, the star of breakfast show TV Rise & Shine, is murdered in her dressing room, Celebrity Crimes Investigation Agents Abi and Jake are sent undercover just before Christmas to catch the killer. With suspects aplenty, the snow building up outside and the holidays fast approaching, they’ve certainly got their work cut out!

On 1st of December, renowned puzzle setter, loner and Christmas sceptic Edie O’Sullivan finds a hand-delivered present on her doorstep. Unwrapping it, she finds a jigsaw box and, inside, six jigsaw pieces. When fitted together, the pieces show part of a crime scene – blood-spattered black and white tiles and part of an outlined body. Included in the parcel is a message: ‘Four, maybe more, people will be dead by midnight on Christmas Eve, unless you can put all the pieces together and stop me.’ It’s signed, Rest In Pieces.