Holiday Crime

Christmas at a fairytale German castle turns into a nightmare for Agatha and Eustace… Agatha and Eustace along with their Basset hound, Talleyrand, agree to spend Christmas with their friend Ernst Marlow at the castle of his friend in the middle of Germany’s Teutoburg Forest. They expect a holiday filled with snow-covered landscapes, roaring fires, and festive cheer. But as they arrive at the ancient fortress, they are met with a chilling atmosphere that feels more like a scene from a Grimm’s fairytale than a cozy winter retreat. The castle, steeped in legends of dark forests and ...

With veterinarian Sydney Jones being targeted, K-9 Officer Gavin Walker and his furry partner must stand between her and certain death in Lenora Worth’s Hidden Christmas Danger. And the clock is ticking in Silent Night Explosion by Katy Lee—but can Jodie Chen trust the newest K-9 officer, Victor Abrams, and his dog to find a bomb and keep her alive…despite Victor’s shadowed past?

It’s Christmastime in London, and Sherlock Holmes takes on two cases. The angelic three-year-old child of a wealthy couple is the target of a vicious kidnapper, and a country aristocrat worries that his handsome, favourite son has mysteriously vanished from his London pied à terre. Holmes and Watson, aided by the colourful Heffie O’Malley, slip slide in the ice to ensure a merry Christmas is had by nearly everybody.

James was handsome, successful, wealthy. Lucy was besotted. When he offered her an all-expenses paid trip to a luxury lodge in an isolated part of New Zealand's beautiful Marlborough Sounds, she didn't hesitate. This decision would test her survival skills to the limit and open her eyes to a world she never knew existed.

Ruby Johnson is a nanny and maid to wealthy families in Manhattan's West 74th Street. She knows their routines. Their secrets. One night, on her way home, Ruby witnesses a neighbour's murder. She knows the victim. She knows the killer. She makes an anonymous call to the police and names the murderer. But Ruby didn't tell the truth. Because there's something wrong with Ruby Johnson.

Sixteen delightful holiday short stories by some of your favorite Soho crime authors! This captivating collection of short mysteries and crime capers - which features New York Times best-selling authors, Crime Writers Association Gold and Diamond Dagger winners, and Edgar Award nominees - contains laughs aplenty, the most hardboiled of holiday noir, and heartwarming reminders of the spirit of the season.

Chloe and her husband Scott are holidaying with their families on the beautiful Greek island of Mykonos. But Chloe has a secret... She has hired a hitman to kill Scott when they return home. This week, her plan is to pretend to be such a happy wife that no suspicion can possibly fall on her after the murder. But she's reckoning without Scott’s meddlesome sister, Tori, plus the rivalries and demands of both families. Can she deal with them all while keeping her murderous intentions hidden?

It’s December in Boston, and Spenser is busy planning the menu for Christmas dinner when he’s confronted in his office by a young boy named Slide. Homeless and alone, Slide has found refuge with an organization named Street Business, which gives shelter and seeks job opportunities for the homeless and lost. Slide’s mentor, Jackie Alvarez, is being threatened, and Street Business is in danger of losing its tenuous foothold in the community, turning Slide and many others like him back on the street. But it’s not a simple case of intimidation....

Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar My father, brother, and I are the Three Kings of legend. We bear the gifts that everyone buys. From electronics and toys to trees and candy, we control every single aspect of the trillion-dollar Christmas industry. Because for us – the holiday season is all about the cash. We’re rich, powerful, and love punishing anyone who tries to ruin our merry moneymaking. The only thing missing is a Mrs. Wiseman to give me children and ensure my family’s domination of the yuletide tradition continues long after I’m gone. My cunning best friend finds the perfect ...

Murder And Mayhem On The High Seas Jenny King and her friends embark on the trip of their lifetime, a nine day Caribbean cruise aboard the Glamour of the Seas. It’s Betty Sue’s 86th birthday and the girls are determined to enjoy everything the ship has to offer, starting with the Sail Away party. But stormy seas lie ahead! When a high stakes poker game turns deadly, Betty Sue is detained as a suspect. A cold blooded killer lurks in the shadows under the warm tropical sun. Jenny steps up to investigate, aided by her trusted sidekicks. Can she apply her sleuthing skills to this alien ...

Aspiring writer Aggie Morton is looking forward to Christmas. Having just solved a murder and survived her own brush with death in her small town of Torquay on the coast of England, Aggie can't wait to spend the holidays with her sister, Marjorie, the new Lady Greyson of Owl Park, an enormous manor house in the country; Grannie Jane, and her fellow sleuth and partner in crime, Hector Perot. But when Aggie and her friends discover a body instead of presents on Christmas morning, things take a deadly serious turn.

It was supposed to be the perfect holiday, dreamed up by Kate as the ideal way to turn 40: four best friends and their husbands and children in a luxurious villa under the blazing sunshine of Languedoc-Roussillon. But there is trouble in paradise. Kate suspects that her husband is having an affair, and that the other woman is one of her best friends. One of these women is willing to sacrifice years of friendship and destroy her family. But which one?

An outdoor enthusiasts’ haven is rocked by scandal when ancient Anasazi ruins are discovered on property owned by unpopular businessperson, Calamity Joan. When Joan is suddenly, mysteriously killed, blame falls on the owner of the bed and breakfast where Tiffany and Rosie are staying. Could these Anasazi ruins have led to Joan’s death? Tiffany and Rosie find themselves in the middle of a web of dark secrets, scrambling to uncover the truth before it’s too late… Praise for A.R. Winters: "The perfect balance of being lighthearted, but still a serious page-turning mystery." - Jaycie D,...

The night she came back to Winter Haven, I should’ve killed her. But instead, I made her my prisoner. Vera was mine before she betrayed me. Now she claims our child is alive—the child she said was stillborn. I’m torn between the man I must be and the monster I’ve become. I want to make her suffer. I want to tear her apart. But in the cold, the heat between us won’t die. Every kiss drags me deeper, every glance sets me on fire. The line between revenge and desire blurs with every minute we’re together. She’s hiding something, and I’ll use her body to get the truth. I’ll ...

Following the butler's death and the cook's retirement, the ever-gullible Lady Lavinia replaces them with a power couple who are determined to thrust the crumbling estate into the 21st century. The Dowager Countess reluctantly agrees to hold a big-ticket Christmas gala and silent auction with a mystery celebrity flying in from Monaco as the guest of honour.

Penny is invited by Alex Adamas, her secret crush, to a glamorous evening at the Vienna State Opera. But she quickly discovers that there are no romantic motives behind this rendezvous. Alex is on the trail of a poisoner at the opera house, and soon Penny is up to her ears in a new case. One that's going to challenge her in every way…

When Santa Claus is a cop, you better watch out. It’s not looking like a very merry Christmas for San Diego cop Nick Pappas. Suspended from his job, alienated from his family, and persecuted by the press, he’s sorely tempted to turn his gun on himself. Except for his first name, he couldn’t possibly have less in common with jolly old St. Nicholas. But when a local mall decides it needs a secret Santa to help collar some vicious muggers preying on its holiday shoppers, Nick’s persuaded to red-suit up so as to take the naughty punks down and avert a ho-ho homicide.

On Christmas Eve, 1943, the newly formed but undermanned Homicide division of the Melbourne police force is called to investigate the vicious double murder of a father and son. When Military Intelligence becomes involved, Homicide's Inspector Titus Lambert must unravel the personal from the political. If only the killings had stopped at two. The police are desperate to come to grips with an extraordinary and disquieting upsurge of violence.

Need the perfect man? No problem—simply create him! Ivy wanted nothing more for Christmas than to have someone to come home to, a companion to chat about her day with, and someone to show off at her family holiday celebrations. Instead of wishing on a star, she takes matters into her own hands. Ivy creates her perfect companion at Dream Droids, the premier robotics company specializing in sentient humanoids. She spends weeks with Dr. Pierce, creating her dream man. Every detail is worked out, from his appearance, personality, and even his knowledge of her life. This will be the best ...

In the heart of Amblewood’s bustling downtown, Café Cozy is the go-to spot for warm conversations, freshly brewed coffee, and a touch of autumn magic. Owned by Emma Blake, the café is more than just a place to grab a latte—it’s a community hub where friends gather, secrets are shared, and the espresso is always made with love. But when ruthless food critic Derrick Matheson collapses after sipping the café’s newest seasonal drink, the cozy atmosphere turns cold. Whispers of poisoning spread through the town like wildfire, and business drops as suspicion swirls around Emma and her ...