Christmas Thriller

On Christmas Eve, Francesca gets a call from her wealthy grandmother. Her father is dead. He promised to leave her an apartment building when he passed away and told her she’d be rich beyond her wildest dreams. But he didn’t have a will. Her aloof grandmother will leave the estate to the gardener, who is by her side, helping her every day. But Francesca won’t let her dreams of wealth wither. She’s determined to claw back the money she deserves.

Seth, the seven-year-old Earl of Woodridge, is spending Christmas at Halton House and he would like nothing better than to help trim the tree with the Christmas decorations his father had carved for him. But no one has any idea where these decorations are. Determined to make the young Earl's wish come true, Evie and her bodyguard, Tom Winchester, set out to a nearby village where the young Earl had lived in the hope that they might recover the lost decorations. They find themselves among a group of people who might all be suspects in the murder of a local villager.

In this Haunting by the Sea Novella, it's Christmas in Cutter's Cove and the town is all decked out for the holiday. Amanda is out and about working on a photoshoot for a contest run by a popular magazine when she comes across the body of a young woman frozen in the snow. On the surface, the death looks to be an accidental overdose, but Amanda isn't buying it, so she, along with Trevor and Alyson, set out to discover what really happened.

When Detective Kate Rosetti is startled awake in the middle of the night by a phone call from her mother, she knows it’s not good news. It turns out Kate’s father, the notorious Angelo Rosetti, is missing. There are no witnesses and no leads, and with only a week to go before Christmas, Kate hopes to find her father before the New Year. As Kate begins the hunt for her father, she gets another case added to her plate at the precinct.

When local businessman Jed Greenberg is found dead with a Chocolate lab whimpering over his body, the police start sniffing around Robbie Jordan's country restaurant for answers. Was it something in Robbie's hot cocoa that killed Jed, or was it Cocoa the dog? As the suspects pile as high as her holiday tree, Robbie attempts to get to the bottom of the sickly sweet murder.

Being an undercover poison taster for the rich and famous is hard enough without being dragged into clearing the name of your former nemesis.... Especially when you think he might be guilty. To make matters worse, Izzy and her elderly accomplice aren't the only ones digging into the murder case, and the other parties are a whole lot more dangerous. And if her old nemesis didn't do it, then the real killer won't appreciate their interference.

Kiki is eight months pregnant and trying to cram as much ho-ho-ho into the holidays as possible. When a customer drops dead during an offsite event, this intrepid scrapbooking sleuth is left holding the bag. After her name is cleared, Kiki isn't one to sit around while her friends are threatened with false imprisonment. Instead, she vows to wrap up this case and tie it with a bow. Leave it to Kiki to determine who was nice, and who was very, very naughty, indeed. A nasty Christmas Grinch is targeting one of Kiki's friends—and that's just not kosher.

As the very fabric of her family's existence is torn apart by accusations surrounding the murders of close friends, Meghan longs for the peace and tranquility of her adopted hometown of Sandy Bay. She is an emotional wreck and is confronted with betrayals, accusations, disappointments, homesickness, sad revelations, jealous friends, and a murder investigation. Make that two murder investigations!

Though she's the vampire queen, Betsy Taylor is much more like a princess. In MaryJanice Davidson's novels, this high-maintenance monarch is finally coming to terms with her new status.

Today Candy Cane Hollow smells like butter and bravado. I'm helping at the Elvish Culinary Guild's grand induction and tasting, and Gilbert, our house-elf at Claus Cottage, has made the finalists' bench with his prized mince pie. Then the celebrity headliner takes one bite of a showpiece pie and drops. Guild security locks the doors while city police sweep the kitchens. Whispers fly: a rival with a temper, an apprentice with something to prove, a sponsor with money on the line, a producer who prefers ratings to recipes.

The Christmas trees in Knightsbridge sparkle with festive joy, and there’s nothing more fun than Christmas cocktail parties to ring in the new year of 1922. Camille Divine, known as Lady Camille Divine, has decorated her little house in Birdcage Mews with glistening decorations and a beautiful Christmas tree, but she has more on her mind than the festive season.

With Christmas just around the corner, Ainsley and the rest of the Gooseberry Bay crew are embracing the holiday season by volunteering at the local tree lot. But during a snowy late-night shift, a strange and unexpected sound cuts through the winter air—church bells, long silent, ringing out across the bay. The haunting chime sparks a chilling memory for Jemma and Josie: the tragic story of a pastor’s daughter who disappeared on Christmas Eve a decade ago. Her only trace—a jacket left behind in the belltower—left the town shaken.

Detective Mike Nash is going to have a very unmerry Christmas. In an ordinary terraced house, a family dies. Poisoned by carbon monoxide. Then comes a suspicious house fire, with more bodies at the charred scene. A drug addict is murdered in the most bizarre medieval manner. And a scientist's daughter disappears. There's a killer on the loose this holiday season. DI Mike Nash follows the leads of these disparate crimes. One very dangerous person seems intent on revenge. Can he stop the killer before anyone else pays the ultimate price?

Ah, the pleasures of Christmas: the hanging of lights, the traditional feasts, the gathering of families, and...a bit of murder, conspiracy, and theft. The holiday season seems to inspire the imagination of the best mystery writers, and their talents shine here in these delightful tales of Yuletide crime. In this busiest of seasons, seize a few hours to enjoy a sleigh—or slay—full of mysterious treasures, served with the finest of flair.

1916, Midwinter Manor: Desperate for a Christmas weekend break from war-torn London, Hannah Merrill and her Aunt Violet take Bartleby the cat and themselves off to visit Hannah’s sister, in her beautiful country estate, deep in the English countryside. The huge house is full of relatives, friends and merrymakers, and everyone’s excited to have a Christmas to remember. But then, when a fellow-guest’s body is found in the library – apparently bludgeoned to death – and a precious ruby is stolen from another guest, it appears that it’s going to be memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Mary Higgins Clark, the Queen of Suspense, celebrates the season with this unforgettable Christmas classic featuring two of her most beloved characters and a new foreword. All of Alvirah’s deductive powers and Willy’s world-class common sense are called upon as the two stumble into a...

'Twas the day before Christmas and Michael Michaels is about to upset his wife. Recent adventures with his son, Tempest, have piqued his need for a little more action in his life...but when he finds himself facing off against a giant ghoul a few hours later, he begins to think he should have listened to Mary and stayed at home.

Holly Wood is days away from saying "I do" to Nick Claus when a chilling discovery threatens to turn her dream wedding into a nightmare. While touring the grand Olde Jolly Hall, Holly stumbles upon a hidden passageway—and the body of Beatrice Harper, the long-missing owner. As whispers spread through the charming town and the mystery deepens, Holly must untangle a web of lies, old rivalries, and hidden motives. Suspicion falls on Charles Harper, Beatrice's enigmatic brother.

When grief-stricken psychiatrist Dr. Gabriel Winter starts seeing blood-soaked Christmas visions, he learns Santa’s naughty list is deadly. Love Santa wants to spread Christmas cheer—one scream at a time!

It's Christmas, and I, ex-witch Stevie Cartwright, declare this my favorite time of year. I love the decorations! The food! The Hallmark Channel holiday specials! This year promises to be better than ever because for the first time in a very long time, I'm going to have more than just Cheez Whiz, Triscuits, and the wish to be surrounded by family and friends. My carefully planned holiday bonanza includes all the usual suspects.