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A Christmas Morning Murder: Unwrapping a Festive Mystery
The twinkling lights, the scent of pine, the joyful carols… Christmas morning. A time for peace, goodwill, and… murder? This post delves into the chilling subgenre of holiday mysteries, focusing specifically on the captivating narrative of "A Christmas Morning Murder." We'll explore why this specific scenario resonates so powerfully, examine the common tropes, and analyze what makes a truly compelling story built around the unexpected juxtaposition of festive cheer and brutal violence. Prepare to unwrap a truly unsettling Christmas present.
The Allure of Juxtaposition: Why Christmas and Murder Work So Well
The inherent contrast between the idyllic imagery of Christmas and the harsh reality of murder creates a potent narrative hook. The festive setting, usually associated with warmth, family, and joy, is violently disrupted by a crime, heightening the sense of unease and shock. This juxtaposition is a masterclass in dramatic irony, playing on the reader's or viewer's expectations and creating a captivating tension. The familiar comfort of the holiday season is twisted into something sinister, making the narrative both surprising and memorable.
Exploiting Festive Symbols: A Killer's Toolkit
The traditional symbols of Christmas become potential clues or even weapons in a Christmas morning murder mystery. The Christmas tree, typically a symbol of life and hope, can hide a body or conceal a vital piece of evidence. Mistletoe, a symbol of affection, can become a tool, or its presence can hint at a motive steeped in jealousy or betrayal. Even the festive wrapping paper can play a crucial role, concealing a murder weapon or providing a crucial forensic clue. The clever use of these familiar elements adds a layer of intrigue and thematic depth.
Common Tropes in A Christmas Morning Murder Mysteries
Several recurring themes often appear in narratives revolving around Christmas Day murders.
The Family Secret: Unwrapping Hidden Agendas
Family gatherings, often a central element of Christmas, can conceal deep-seated resentments, rivalries, and long-held secrets. These family dynamics provide fertile ground for motive, often creating a web of suspects within the immediate circle. The pressure of the holiday season, coupled with pre-existing tensions, can create the perfect storm for violence.
The Unexpected Guest: A Festive Intruder
The arrival of an unexpected guest on Christmas morning can disrupt the carefully orchestrated family celebration and introduce a new element of suspense. This character could be a long-lost relative, a vengeful acquaintance, or even a complete stranger with a hidden agenda. Their presence adds a layer of unpredictability and further complicates the investigation.
The Perfect Crime Gone Wrong: Festive Foibles
The perpetrator might believe they’ve planned the perfect crime, utilizing the chaos and distractions of Christmas morning to their advantage. However, unforeseen circumstances or a simple oversight often unravel their meticulous plan, leading to their eventual downfall. The holiday setting itself can ironically contribute to their undoing.
Crafting a Compelling "A Christmas Morning Murder" Story
To craft a truly gripping Christmas murder mystery, authors need to skillfully blend the festive atmosphere with the darker elements of crime. This requires a delicate balance:
Maintaining the Festive Ambiance: A Touch of Holiday Cheer
While the story centers around a murder, the author should not entirely abandon the festive spirit. The warmth and joy of Christmas can be woven into the narrative, creating a stark contrast with the violence and providing a unique atmosphere. This contrast enhances the unsettling nature of the story.
Building Suspense: A Slow Burn Reveal
The revelation of the killer and their motive should be gradual, carefully building suspense throughout the narrative. Red herrings, misleading clues, and unexpected twists are essential to keep the reader engaged and guessing until the very end.
Exploring the Human Element: Motives and Consequences
The story should delve into the motivations of the killer and the emotional fallout for those left behind. Exploring the human element adds depth and realism, creating a more impactful and memorable narrative.
Conclusion
"A Christmas Morning Murder" is a compelling narrative framework that offers a unique blend of festive cheer and chilling suspense. By expertly utilizing the juxtaposition of holiday imagery and violent crime, and employing classic mystery tropes with creative twists, authors can create stories that are both engaging and unsettling. The successful execution relies on a careful balance between maintaining the festive atmosphere and building suspense, while also exploring the human element of the crime and its consequences. The unexpected combination makes for a truly unforgettable holiday tale.
FAQs
1. What makes a "Christmas Morning Murder" mystery different from other murder mysteries? The key difference lies in the stark contrast between the festive setting and the brutal act of murder, creating a unique atmosphere of dramatic irony and suspense.
2. Are there specific tropes commonly found in this subgenre? Yes, common tropes include family secrets, unexpected guests, and the idea of a "perfect crime" gone awry, all interwoven with the imagery and symbols of Christmas.
3. What is the most important aspect to consider when writing a "Christmas Morning Murder" story? Striking the right balance between maintaining the festive ambiance and building the suspense of the murder is crucial for success.
4. How can I make my "Christmas Morning Murder" story unique? Focus on creating unique characters with complex motivations, unexpected twists, and a truly chilling atmosphere that plays on the contrast between festive cheer and violent crime.
5. What are some examples of successful "Christmas Morning Murder" stories (books, movies, etc.)? While a specific subgenre titled "Christmas Morning Murder" doesn't exist as a formal category, many holiday-themed mysteries feature a murder on Christmas morning. Look for mysteries with a Christmas setting that incorporate the themes discussed in this article for examples.
| a christmas morning murder: The Thursday Murder Club Richard Osman, 2020-09-22 A New York Times bestseller | Soon to be a major motion picture from Steven Spielberg at Amblin Entertainment “Witty, endearing and greatly entertaining.” —Wall Street Journal “Don’t trust anyone, including the four septuagenarian sleuths in Osman’s own laugh-out-loud whodunit.” —Parade Four septuagenarians with a few tricks up their sleeves A female cop with her first big case A brutal murder Welcome to... THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet weekly in the Jigsaw Room to discuss unsolved crimes; together they call themselves the Thursday Murder Club. When a local developer is found dead with a mysterious photograph left next to the body, the Thursday Murder Club suddenly find themselves in the middle of their first live case. As the bodies begin to pile up, can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer, before it's too late? |
| a christmas morning murder: Murder On Christmas Eve Cecily Gayford, 2017-11-02 Christmas Eve. While the world sleeps, snow falls gently from the sky, presents lie under the tree ... and murder is afoot. In this collection of ten classic murder mysteries by the best crime writers from the 1920s to today, death and mayhem take many festive forms, from the inventive to the unexpected. From a Santa Claus with a grudge to a cat who knows who killed its owner on Christmas Eve, these are stories to enjoy - and be mystified by - in front of a roaring fire, mince pie in hand. |
| a christmas morning murder: Murder for Christmas Eve Charles Dickens, Robert Louis Stevenson, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, George MacDonald, Arthur Cheney Train, Arthur Conan Doyle, Thomas Hardy, John Kendrick Bangs, Robert Barr, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Grant Allen, Wilkie Collins, O. Henry, Saki, Fergus Hume, Edgar Wallace, William Douglas O'Connor, Florence Marryat, Catherine Crowe, James Bowker, R. Austin Freeman, J. M. Barrie, G. K. Chesterton, Jerome K. Jerome, M. R. James, Fred M. White, Sabine Baring-Gould, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Frank R. Stockton, Louisa M. Alcott, Leonard Kip, Emmuska Orczy, Lucie E. Jackson, Katherine Rickford, 2023-11-10 This meticulously edited collection of Christmas mysteries is bound to keep your entertained throughout the Holiday season: Murder & Crime Mysteries: The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle (Arthur Conan Doyle) The Flying Stars (G. K. Chesterton) Percival Bland's Proxy (R. Austin Freeman) A Christmas Capture (Fred M. White) McAllister's Christmas (Arthur Cheney Train) The Mystery of Room Five (Fred M White) A Policeman's Business (Edgar Wallace) Stuffing (Edgar Wallace) Mr Wray's Cash Box or, the Mask and the Mystery (Wilkie Collins) The Adventure of the Second Swag (Robert Barr) An Exciting Christmas Eve or, My Lecture on Dynamite (Arthur Conan Doyle) A Chaparral Christmas Gift (O. Henry) A Christmas Tragedy (Emmuska Orczy) The Thieves Who Couldn't Stop Sneezing (Thomas Hardy) Supernatural Mysteries: The Silver Hatchet (Arthur Conan Doyle) What the Shepherd Saw: A Tale of Four Moonlight Nights (Thomas Hardy) Markheim (R. L. Stevenson) The Wolves of Cernogratz (Saki) Mustapha (Sabine Baring-Gould) The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance (M.R. James) The Christmas Banquet (Nathaniel Hawthorne) The Haunted Man (Charles Dickens) The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton (Dickens) The Ghost's Touch (Fergus Hume) Glámr (Sabine Baring-Gould) The Ghosts at Grantley (Leonard Kip) A Terrible Christmas Eve (Lucie E. Jackson) Ghosts and Family Legends (Catherine Crowe) Thurlow's Christmas Story (John Kendrick Bangs) The Abbot's Ghost (Louisa M. Alcott) Old Applejoy's Ghost (Frank R. Stockton) Wolverden Tower (Grant Allen) The Christmas-Eve Vigil (James Bowker) Told After Supper (Jerome K. Jerome) The Box with the Iron Clamps (Florence Marryat) Joseph (Katherine Rickford) The Ghost of Christmas Eve (J. M. Barrie) The Dead Sexton (Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu) Uncle Cornelius His Story (George MacDonald) The Grave by the Handpost (Thomas Hardy) Number Ninety (Bithia Mary Croker) At Chrighton Abbey (Mary Elizabeth Braddon) Between the Lights (E. F. Benson) |
| a christmas morning murder: Murder Most Festive Ada Moncrieff, 2021-10-12 The perfect cozy Christmas murder mystery! Imagine being stuck indoors with your family, waiting for something to happen... and then disaster strikes. Christmas 1938. The Westbury family and assorted friends have gathered together for another legendary Christmas at their Sussex mansion. As family tensions simmer on Christmas Eve, the champagne flows, the silver sparkles and upstairs the bedrooms are made up ready for their occupants. But one bed will lie empty that night... Come Christmas morning, guest David Campbell-Scott is found lying dead in the snow, with only a hunting rifle lying beside him and one set of footprints leading to the body. But something doesn't seem right to amateur sleuth Hugh Gaveston. Campbell-Scott had just returned from the East with untold wealth—why would he kill himself? Hugh sets out to investigate... and what he finds is more shocking than he ever could have expected. |
| a christmas morning murder: Murder for Christmas Thomas Godfrey, 1988-12-01 A holiday anthology for mystery fans highlights the works of such well-known favorites as Agatha Christie, Georges Simenon, Stanely Ellin, and Ellery Queen. Reissue. |
| a christmas morning murder: White Christmas, Bloody Christmas M. Bruce Jones, 2015 |
| a christmas morning murder: The Christmas Eve Murders Noelle Albright, 2024-11-07 An hilarious and gripping festive whodunnit, perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Agatha Christie It's Christmas Eve at the Merry Monarch. Nestled amongst the Yorkshire Dales, the pub is preparing to host its annual scavenger hunt for its rabble of regulars. There's the landlord, Mickey, his wife Sofia and their wayward son, James; local policeman Alex and his supernaturally minded deputy Don; as well as Sita, Mrs Fazarkaley, the Kapoors and Curtis, who's never far from his beloved dog Barkley. Quite the crowd. And this year, they are interrupted by a knock at the door from Maddie Marlowe, a journalist who was homeward bound to Edinburgh for Christmas - only to be stranded by car failure, and by the snow storm that's closing in on the village. But Maddie's arrival won't be the only surprise of the night. When the power is cut off and darkness descends, the hunt turns deadly. Maddie and her unexpected Christmas companions must try to find the murderer amongst them, as it seems one of the group would kill to win . . . |
| a christmas morning murder: The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning Pj Fitzsimmons, 2021-03-20 Anty Boisjoly tackles the peculiar case of the war hero who visits his old friends on Christmas morning - after being murdered on Christmas Eve.This is the Jeeves & Wooster that Agatha Christie dared not write, the Poirot that never occurred to PG Wodehouse.In The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning, Wodehousian clubman, flaneur, idler and sleuth Anty Boisjoly pits his sardonic wits against another pair of impossible murders. This time, Anty Boisjoly's Aunty Boisjoly is the only possible suspect when a murder victim stands his old friends a farewell drink at the local, hours after being murdered.Like The Case of the Canterfell Codicil, the first Anty Boisjoly mystery, The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning fits the narrow literary needs of those who feel that Miss Marple isn't frivolous enough and that Blandings Castle could stand a few more baffling murders. |
| a christmas morning murder: Murder at Christmas Various, 2019-11-07 Christmas is a season of overindulgence. For most of us, that means an extra mince pie, a second helping of turkey, or perhaps a third glass of mulled wine. But for some, the festive season is a time to settle old scores, dispatch new enemies and indulge ... in murder. Here, ten masters of the genre serve up mystery and mayhem aplenty. From a dowager's missing jewels to a festive dinner gone horribly wrong, these classic crime stories will delight, puzzle and satisfy long after the last strands of tinsel have been cleared away. |
| a christmas morning murder: Another Little Christmas Murder Lorna Nicholl Morgan, 2016-11-03 A classic country house mystery republished for the first time in nearly seventy years. Perfect for fans of Murder at the Old Vicarage and Partners in Crime. When Dilys Hughes finds herself snowbound in the middle of a bleak and lonely stretch of Yorkshire, she has no option but to accept help from passing motorist Inigo Brown, who is on his way to visit his uncle. Arriving at his uncle's remote country house, Wintry Wold, the couple encounters a less than warm welcome from Inigo's new young aunt, Theresa. Why is she reluctant to let Inigo see his uncle, and is he really as ill as they are told? As the snowstorm brings more stranded strangers to their door, Dilys starts to realise that all is not as it seems at Wintry Wold. When the morning brings news of the death of Inigo's uncle, Dilys sets out to investigate - was it a natural death, or was it murder? |
| a christmas morning murder: Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off Darci Hannah, 2021-10-05 Tucked away inside an old lighthouse in Beacon Harbor, Michigan, bakeshop café owner Lindsey Bakewellis ready to make her first Christmas in town shine bright. But her merry plans crumble fast when murder appears under the mistletoe . . . With the spirit of the holidays wafting through the Beacon Bakeshop, Lindsey thinks she has the recipe for the sweetest Christmas ever—winning the town-wide cookie bake-off. Unfortunately, striving for a picture-perfect December in Beacon Harbor is a lot like biting into stale shortbread. Low on staff and bombarded by visits from family, Lindsey can barely meet demands at work, let alone summon the confidence to face fierce competition . . . Self-appointed Christmas know-it-all Felicity Stewart is determined to take the top spot in the bake‐off, and she’s not afraid to dump a little coal in everyone’s stocking to do it. Just as the competition heats up, everything falls apart when the judge is found dead—and covered in crumbs from Lindsey’s signature cookie! Solving a murder was never on Lindsey’s wish list. But with her reputation on the line during the happiest time of the year, she’ll need to bring her best talents to the table in order to sift out the true Christmas Cookie culprit. Includes Delicious Recipes! |
| a christmas morning murder: Murder After Christmas Rupert Latimer, 2022-10-04 [Murder After Christmas] supplies cheerfully calculating relatives, decorously brutal dialogue, and a fiendishly intricate set of Chinese boxes before the surprising reveal...no, they don't make them like this anymore.—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review A war's on and a murder has been committed—and we sit here talking nonsense about almond whirls and mince pies! Good old Uncle Willie—known for an insatiable sweet tooth and being an epic pain in the rear—has come to stay with the Redpaths for the holidays. As luck would have it, he's found dead in the snow, in a Santa suit on Boxing Day. It seems as though someone may have poisoned his chocolate...or was it the mince pie? As the police flock to the house, Willie's descendants, past lovers and distant relatives are drawn into a perplexing investigation to find out how the old man met his fate, and who stands to gain by such an unseasonable crime. First published in 1944, Murder After Christmas is a lively riot of murder, holiday desserts, and misdirection, cleverly twisting the tropes of Golden Age detective fiction to create a pacey, light-hearted package admirably suited for the holiday season. Featuring an introduction by CWA Diamond Dagger Award-winning author and series editor Martin Edwards. |
| a christmas morning murder: A Christmas Carol Murder Heather Redmond, 2020-09-29 In this clever reimagining of Charles Dickens’s life, he and fiancée Kate Hogarth must solve the murder of an old miser, just before Christmas . . . London, December 1835: Charles and Kate are out with friends and family for a chilly night of caroling and good cheer. But their blood truly runs cold when their singing is interrupted by a body plummeting from an upper window of a house. They soon learn the dead man, his neck strangely wrapped in chains, is Jacob Harley, the business partner of the resident of the house, an unpleasant codger who owns a counting house, one Emmanuel Screws. Ever the journalist, Charles dedicates himself to discovering who's behind the diabolical defenestration. But before he can investigate further, Harley's corpse is stolen. Following that, Charles is visited in his quarters by what appears to be Harley's ghost—or is it merely Charles’s overwrought imagination? He continues to suspect Emmanuel, the same penurious penny pincher who denied his father a loan years ago, but Kate insists the old man is too weak to heave a body out a window. Their mutual affection and admiration can accommodate a difference of opinion, but matters are complicated by the unexpected arrival of an infant orphan. Charles must find the child a home while solving a murder, to ensure that the next one in chains is the guilty party . . . Praise for the Dickens of a Crime Mysteries! “Mystery fans and history buffs alike should cheer.” —KirkusSTARRED Review “Sharp, incisive, and delightfully twisty. I’m sure I won't be the only reader exclaiming, ‘What the Dickens?!’” —Anna Lee Huber, bestselling author. “As easy to read as one of Mr. Dickens’ actual novels and as entertaining.” —New York Journal of Books “Fans of Anne Perry will love this one.” —Dianne Freeman, award–winning author |
| a christmas morning murder: Mistletoe and Murder Robin Stevens, 2018-09-18 “As entertaining as ever.” —The Horn Book Hazel and Daisy trade mistletoe for a murder investigation and set out to save the day (Christmas Day that is!) in this fabulously festive fifth novel of the Wells & Wong Mystery series. Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are spending the Christmas holidays in snowy Cambridge. Hazel is looking forward to a calm vacation among the beautiful spires, cozy libraries, and inviting tea-rooms. But there is danger lurking in the dark stairwells of ancient Maudlin College and two days before Christmas, there is a terrible accident. At least, it appears to be an accident—until the Detective Society looks a little closer, and realizes a murder has taken place. Faced with several irritating grown-ups and fierce competition from a rival agency, they must use all their cunning and courage if they’re going to find the killer before Christmas dinner. |
| a christmas morning murder: Christmas Scarf Murder Carlene O'Connor, Maddie Day, Peggy Ehrhart, 2022-09-27 Stocking stuffers like handknit scarves make the coziest of Christmas gifts—unless they’re used as accessories for murder! CHRISTMAS SCARF MURDER by CARLENE O’CONNOR When grinchy thefts steal the good cheer at a local nursing home, Siobhan O’Sullivan manages to identify one missing item before Kilbane, Ireland’s Christmas tractor parade—a hideous shamrock scarf wrapped around a very dead body. Now, with her holiday farmhouse bash approaching, Siobhan must dash to stop a deadly Secret Santa from gifting another unwanted surprise. SCARFED DOWN by MADDIE DAY It’s beginning to taste a lot like Christmas at Pans ‘N Pancakes, as twelve days of menu specials dazzle hungry locals. But the festivities go cold the instant a diner dies while knitting a brilliant green scarf. With Aunt Adele tied into a murder investigation, it’s all on Robbie Jordan to find out who’s really been naughty or nice in South Lick, Indiana. DEATH BY CHRISTMAS SCARF by PEGGY EHRHART Suspects pile up faster than New Jersey snow when frosty-tempered Carys Walnutt is found strangled by a handmade scarf auctioned at Arborville’s tree-lighting ceremony. Between a winning bidder hiding behind the alias “S. Claws” and a victim who deserved coal in her stocking, can Pamela Paterson and the crafty Knit and Nibble ladies freeze a killer’s merry murder plot? |
| a christmas morning murder: The Darkness of a Christmas Eve: Ghost Stories, Supernatural Mysteries & Gothic Horrors Robert Louis Stevenson, Arthur Conan Doyle, M. R. James, Thomas Hardy, Saki, Sabine Baring-Gould, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Charles Dickens, Fergus Hume, John Kendrick Bangs, Jerome K. Jerome, Leonard Kip, Catherine Crowe, Lucie E. Jackson, William Douglas O'Connor, Frank R. Stockton, James Bowker, Grant Allen, Louisa M. Alcott, Florence Marryat, Katherine Rickford, J. M. Barrie, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, George MacDonald, Bithia Mary Croker, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Catherine L. Pirkis, E. F. Benson, Algernon Blackwood, 2021-05-07 Musaicum Books present to you this unique collection of the darkest tingling Christmas mysteries and horror tales: Who would ever say no to the master story tellers when they have to offer their darkest tingling Christmas mysteries and horror tales as a holiday present: The Silver Hatchet (Arthur Conan Doyle) What the Shepherd Saw: A Tale of Four Moonlight Nights (Thomas Hardy) Markheim (Robert Louis Stevenson) The Wolves of Cernogratz (Saki) Mustapha (Sabine Baring-Gould) The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance (M.R. James) The Christmas Banquet (Nathaniel Hawthorne) The Ghost's Touch (Fergus Hume) Glámr (Sabine Baring-Gould) The Ghosts at Grantley (Leonard Kip) A Terrible Christmas Eve (Lucie E. Jackson) Ghosts and Family Legends (Catherine Crowe) The Ghost: A Christmas Story (William Douglas O'Connor) Thurlow's Christmas Story (John Kendrick Bangs) The Mystery of My Grandmother's Hair Sofa (John Kendrick Bangs) The Abbot's Ghost; or Maurice Treherne's Temptation (Louisa M. Alcott) Old Applejoy's Ghost (Frank R. Stockton) Wolverden Tower (Grant Allen) The Christmas-Eve Vigil (James Bowker) Told After Supper (Jerome K. Jerome) The Box with the Iron Clamps (Florence Marryat) Joseph: A Story (Katherine Rickford) The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton (Charles Dickens) The Ghost of Christmas Eve (J. M. Barrie) The Dead Sexton (Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu) Uncle Cornelius His Story (George MacDonald) The Grave by the Handpost (Thomas Hardy) Number Ninety (Bithia Mary Croker) At Chrighton Abbey (Mary Elizabeth Braddon) The Haunted Man (Charles Dickens) Doctor Marigold's Prescriptions (Charles Dickens) The Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens) The Black Bag Left on a Door-Step (Catherine L. Pirkis) Between the Lights (E. F. Benson) Transition (Algernon Blackwood) The Kit-Bag (Algernon Blackwood) |
| a christmas morning murder: Murder in Paradise Chris Loos, Rick Castberg, 2003-07-29 The shocking true story of the murder of 23–year–old Dana Ireland and the nine–year investigation that became Hawaii's most publicised murder case. By all accounts, 23–year–old Dana Ireland would have been successful at whatever she chose to do with her life. But she didn't get that chance. On Christmas Eve, 1991, this blonde–haired, blue–eyed young woman set off on her bicycle. As she was riding back to the holiday meal, three local youths decided to celebrate Christmas in a different way. They followed her in their car, then rammed her bike, kidnapped, raped, and beat her, and left her for dead on an isolated spot overlooking the ocean. In a community where many residents left their doors unlocked, people were shocked and terrified by this random, brutal act of violence. Worse still was that if the authorities hadn't taken so long to get to the victim, she might have lived. As months and years went by, frustration turned to outrage when police failed to arrest anyone for Dana's murder. But from his home in Springfield, Virginia, John Ireland started his own dogged investigation and crusade for justice. And nine years after his daughter's murder, after one of the most complicated cases the state had ever seen, three men were convicted. Here is a dramatic true story. |
| a christmas morning murder: Christmas Cocoa Murder Carlene O'Connor, 2022-09-27 Previously published in Christmas Cocoa Murder Someone is dreaming of a calm and cozy Christmas, but a killer has different plans for the holidays . . . Siobhán O’Sullivan’s hopes for a quiet Irish Christmas are dashed when the local Santa turns up dead in a carnival dunk tank of hot cocoa. Now instead of hunting down holiday gifts, Siobhán is pursuing a heartless killer . . . It seems the dead Santa was no angel either, stealing neighborhood dogs to guide his sleigh. But was it his holiday antics—or worse—that led to his death by chocolate? |
| a christmas morning murder: Christmas Cupcake Murder Joanne Fluke, 2020-09-29 Beloved New York Times bestselling author and Queen of the Culinary Mystery Joanne Fluke delivers the next mouthwatering Hannah Swensen Holiday Mystery, as December turns Lake Eden, Minnesota, into the North Pole—and Hannah’s kitchen goes into overdrive to honor two Christmas promises: baking irresistible festive cupcakes and preventing an attempted murderer from succeeding the second time around! While Hannah speeds through a lengthy holiday checklist, drama in town grows like Santa’s waistline on Christmas Eve. Her sister Andrea wants to stave off the blues by helping out at The Cookie Jar, Michelle’s love life is becoming complicated, Lisa needs Hannah’s advice, and Delores has a Christmas secret she’s not willing to share. But nothing dampens the holiday mood more than the chilling mystery surrounding the man found near death in an abandoned storefront two doors down from Hannah’s bakery . . . The befuddled John Doe can’t recall a thing about himself—except for his unusual knowledge of restoring antique furniture. With a smattering of clues and barely enough time to frost Christmas cookies, Hannah must solve a deadly puzzle that could leave her dashing through the snow for her life! Features Over a Dozen Cookie and Dessert Recipes from The Cookie Jar! “Cozy fans with a sweet tooth will be more than satisfied.” --Publishers Weekly |
| a christmas morning murder: The Christmas Jigsaw Murders Alexandra Benedict, 2023-11-09 THIS CHRISTMAS, A KILLER TAKES FAMILY GAMES TO A MURDEROUS NEW LEVEL. On 19th 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. Edie contacts her nephew, DI Sean Brand-O’Sullivan, and together they work to solve the clues. But when a man is found near death with a jigsaw piece in his hand, Sean fears that Edie might be in danger and shuts her out of the investigation. As the body count rises, however, Edie knows that only she has the knowledge to put together the killer’s murderous puzzle. Only by fitting all the pieces together will Edie be able to stop a killer – and finally lay her past to rest. Praise for Alexandra Benedict’s Christmas mysteries: 'The perfect gift for quizzers and mystery addicts . . .' Val McDermid ‘Whatever you unwrap for Christmas, you had better hope it’s this book This is 21st-century cosy Christmas crime that doesn’t shy away from the darkness’ Janice Hallett ‘A thrilling journey from start to finish. Highly recommended’ Elly Griffiths ‘It’s wonderful! A page-turning homage to the Golden Age, with a dash of Poirot and a dark, modern heart’ S J Bennett |
| a christmas morning murder: Christmas Cocoa and a Corpse Maddie Day, 2022-09-27 ʼTis the season to indulge in hot chocolate and irresistible holiday treats—until too much of a good thing turns downright deadly . . . 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 . . . Previously published in Christmas Cocoa Murder |
| a christmas morning murder: A Cornish Christmas Murder (A Nosey Parker Cozy Mystery, Book 4) Fiona Leitch, 2021-11-29 ‘A sparklingly delicious confection to satisfy the mystery reader’s appetite’ Helena Dixon, bestselling author of the Miss Underhay Mysteries |
| a christmas morning murder: A Christmas Murder VL McBeath, 2020-09-01 Eliza is hoping for a peaceful Christmas. She doesn’t expect to be in the company of a killer when a parlour game goes terribly wrong… December 1901: After arriving in Richmond-on-Thames Eliza is surprised to be the guest of honour at a neighbour’s luncheon party. The hostess is keen to hear about Eliza’s sleuthing and sets up a game to hone her own investigative skills. But not everyone is keen on the idea… When Connie trips over a body in the drawing room, things take a turn for the worse. It looks like murder ... and the killer must be in the house! With Connie high on the list of suspects, Eliza sets out to clear her name. But the guests refuse to answer her questions, and the police don’t want her help. As the secret lives of the guests are revealed, Eliza is determined the police arrest the right person … and get them behind bars in time for Christmas. This is a standalone story in the Eliza Thomson Investigates series. If you like Miss Marple-style murder mysteries, and historical heroines with attitude, you’ll love this step-back-in-time Christmas cozy. Books in the Eliza Thomson Investigates series: •A Deadly Tonic •Murder in Moreton •Death of an Honourable Gent •Dying for a Garden Party •A Scottish Fling •A Christmas Murder NB. This series is written in UK English |
| a christmas morning murder: Marry Christmas Murder Stephanie Blackmoore, 2019-09-24 As professional wedding planner Mallory Shepard organizes a Christmas Eve gala for her best friend, Olivia, the obstacles are starting to outnumber Santa’s reindeer . . . Olivia’s dreaming of a white Christmas—as in a white wedding gown and all the trimmings. But that’s not the only event that’s keeping everyone busy. Olivia’s family are in real estate development, and they’re sponsoring Paws and Poinsettias—a benefit for the Port Quincy animal shelter. Meanwhile, Mallory’s mom wants to use her daughter’s connection to snag a job staging homes for the company . . . and the current stager is not filled with holiday cheer at the news that she might be replaced. When the endangered employee downs some antifreeze-spiked punch at a party, Mallory has a murder to solve—among other mysteries including a missing cat, a toy-drive heist, and a baby found in a manger thirty years earlier . . . |
| a christmas morning murder: The Greatest Christmas Murder Mysteries & Thrillers Charles Dickens, Robert Louis Stevenson, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, George MacDonald, Arthur Cheney Train, Arthur Conan Doyle, Algernon Blackwood, Thomas Hardy, John Kendrick Bangs, Robert Barr, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Grant Allen, Wilkie Collins, O. Henry, Saki, Fergus Hume, Edgar Wallace, William Douglas O'Connor, Florence Marryat, Catherine Crowe, James Bowker, R. Austin Freeman, J. M. Barrie, E. F. Benson, G. K. Chesterton, Jerome K. Jerome, M. R. James, Fred M. White, Sabine Baring-Gould, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Frank R. Stockton, Louisa M. Alcott, Leonard Kip, Emmuska Orczy, Lucie E. Jackson, Katherine Rickford, 2023-11-12 This unique collection includes some of the finest Christmas mysteries to keep you company for the entire holiday season! From puzzling detective cases to hair raising ghost tales, this collection has it all: The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle (Arthur Conan Doyle) The Flying Stars (G. K. Chesterton) Percival Bland's Proxy (R. Austin Freeman) A Christmas Capture (Fred M. White) McAllister's Christmas (Arthur Cheney Train) The Mystery of Room Five (Fred M White) A Policeman's Business (Edgar Wallace) Stuffing (Edgar Wallace) Mr Wray's Cash Box (Wilkie Collins) The Adventure of the Second Swag (Robert Barr) A Chaparral Christmas Gift (O. Henry) A Christmas Tragedy (Emmuska Orczy) What the Shepherd Saw (Thomas Hardy) The Silver Hatchet (Arthur Conan Doyle) Markheim (Robert Louis Stevenson) The Wolves of Cernogratz (Saki) Mustapha (Sabine Baring-Gould) The Christmas Banquet (Nathaniel Hawthorne) The Haunted Man (Charles Dickens) The Ghost's Touch (Fergus Hume) Glámr (Sabine Baring-Gould) The Ghosts at Grantley (Leonard Kip) A Terrible Christmas Eve (Lucie E. Jackson) Ghosts and Family Legends (Catherine Crowe) Thurlow's Christmas Story (John Kendrick Bangs) The Abbot's Ghost (Louisa M. Alcott) Old Applejoy's Ghost (Frank R. Stockton) Wolverden Tower (Grant Allen) The Christmas-Eve Vigil (James Bowker) The Box with the Iron Clamps (Florence Marryat) Joseph (Katherine Rickford) The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton (Charles Dickens) The Ghost of Christmas Eve (J. M. Barrie) The Dead Sexton (Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu) Uncle Cornelius His Story (George MacDonald) The Grave by the Handpost (Thomas Hardy) Number Ninety (Bithia Mary Croker) At Chrighton Abbey (Mary Elizabeth Braddon) The Black Bag Left on a Door-Step (Catherine L. Pirkis) Between the Lights (E. F. Benson) Transition (Algernon Blackwood) The Kit-Bag (Algernon Blackwood) |
| a christmas morning murder: Murder is a Girl's Best Friend Amanda Matetsky, 2004-07-06 From the national bestselling author of Murderers Prefer Blondes. All Paige Turner wants for Christmas is to make it through the season alive. New York City in 1954 can be bad for a girl’s health, especially if she’s a staff writer for a pulp mystery magazine who can’t help getting a little too involved in her work. Not that she’s looking for trouble this time; Detective Dan Street, her new love, has forbidden her from ever making like Sam Spade again. But what’s a girl to do when her late husband’s army buddy turns up with a tale like something out of Daring Detective magazine? His sister murdered. A stash of diamonds to die for hidden in a box of oatmeal. The mystery is a Christmas present Paige can’t resist opening. But with the killer hot on her trail, Paige faces the chilling possibility that this Christmas might be her last. “Paige Turner is the liveliest, most charming detective to emerge in crime fiction in a long time. . . . She is irresistible, a force of nature.”—Ann Waldron, author of The Princeton Murders “1950s New York City comes alive. . . . This is great writing by a fresh talent.”—Nelson DeMille “Prepare to be utterly charmed by the irrepressible Paige Turner.”—Dorothy Cannell |
| a christmas morning murder: The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories P. D. James, 2016-10-25 As the acknowledged Queen of Crime, P. D. James was frequently commissioned by newspapers and magazines to write a special short story for Christmas--and here, together, are four of the best. P. D. James's understanding of human nature illuminates each of these stories, making them ideal reading for the darkest days of the year. Each treats the reader to her masterfully atmospheric storytelling, a mystery to be solved, and enjoyable puzzles to keep the reader guessing. With wry humour, she pays tribute to her English crime-writing forebears, delighting in the secrets that lurk beneath the surface at enforced family gatherings and in old country houses--from the title story about a strained family reunion on Christmas Eve, to another about an illicit affair that ends in murder, and two cases that introduce James's poet-detective Adam Dalgliesh as a young detective sergeant. |
| a christmas morning murder: Medicine Murder in Colonial Lesotho Colin Murray, 2019-08-06 This book offers some comprehensive answers to difficult, complex and controversial questions on the topic of 'medicine murder'. |
| a christmas morning murder: Murder & Mayhem in Washington County, Rhode Island Kelly Sullivan Pezza, 2015-07-06 Rhode Island's Washington County hides a dark past riddled with macabre crimes and despicable deeds. In 1890, an argument over wages turned deadly when former hotelier George Kenyon shot and killed his carpenter on the grounds of the Gilbert Stuart House in Saunderstown. Senator Charles Burdick was shot and left for dead at his Charlestown home in 1930. Even the peaceful village of Woodville has a veritable rap sheet of thieving maids, speakeasies and murderously jealous wives. From chilling acts by the KKK to physicians practicing under the influence of narcotics, author Kelly Sullivan Pezza's collection of articles from the Chariho Times uncovers the violence and vices of Washington County. |
| a christmas morning murder: Fear Stalks on Christmas Eve - Ghost Stories, Supernatural Mysteries & Gothic Horrors for Brave Souls Robert Louis Stevenson, Arthur Conan Doyle, M. R. James, Thomas Hardy, Saki, Sabine Baring-Gould, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Charles Dickens, Fergus Hume, John Kendrick Bangs, Jerome K. Jerome, Leonard Kip, Catherine Crowe, Lucie E. Jackson, William Douglas O'Connor, Frank R. Stockton, James Bowker, Grant Allen, Louisa M. Alcott, Florence Marryat, Katherine Rickford, J. M. Barrie, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, George MacDonald, Bithia Mary Croker, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Catherine L. Pirkis, E. F. Benson, Algernon Blackwood, 2020-11-27 This Christmas, e-artnow presents to you this unique collection of the darkest tingling Christmas mysteries and horror tales: _x000D_ Who would ever say no to the master story tellers when they have to offer their darkest tingling Christmas mysteries and horror tales as a holiday present:_x000D_ The Silver Hatchet (Arthur Conan Doyle)_x000D_ What the Shepherd Saw: A Tale of Four Moonlight Nights (Thomas Hardy)_x000D_ Markheim (Robert Louis Stevenson)_x000D_ The Wolves of Cernogratz (Saki)_x000D_ Mustapha (Sabine Baring-Gould)_x000D_ The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance (M.R. James)_x000D_ The Christmas Banquet (Nathaniel Hawthorne)_x000D_ The Ghost's Touch (Fergus Hume)_x000D_ Glámr (Sabine Baring-Gould)_x000D_ The Ghosts at Grantley (Leonard Kip)_x000D_ A Terrible Christmas Eve (Lucie E. Jackson)_x000D_ Ghosts and Family Legends (Catherine Crowe)_x000D_ The Ghost: A Christmas Story (William Douglas O'Connor)_x000D_ Thurlow's Christmas Story (John Kendrick Bangs)_x000D_ The Mystery of My Grandmother's Hair Sofa (John Kendrick Bangs)_x000D_ The Abbot's Ghost; or Maurice Treherne's Temptation (Louisa M. Alcott)_x000D_ Old Applejoy's Ghost (Frank R. Stockton)_x000D_ Wolverden Tower (Grant Allen)_x000D_ The Christmas-Eve Vigil (James Bowker)_x000D_ Told After Supper (Jerome K. Jerome)_x000D_ The Box with the Iron Clamps (Florence Marryat)_x000D_ Joseph: A Story (Katherine Rickford)_x000D_ The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton (Charles Dickens)_x000D_ The Ghost of Christmas Eve (J. M. Barrie)_x000D_ The Dead Sexton (Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu)_x000D_ Uncle Cornelius His Story (George MacDonald)_x000D_ The Grave by the Handpost (Thomas Hardy)_x000D_ Number Ninety (Bithia Mary Croker)_x000D_ At Chrighton Abbey (Mary Elizabeth Braddon)_x000D_ The Haunted Man (Charles Dickens)_x000D_ Doctor Marigold's Prescriptions (Charles Dickens)_x000D_ The Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens)_x000D_ The Black Bag Left on a Door-Step (Catherine L. Pirkis)_x000D_ Between the Lights (E. F. Benson)_x000D_ Transition (Algernon Blackwood)_x000D_ The Kit-Bag (Algernon Blackwood) |
| a christmas morning murder: Murder Mysteries for the Long Christmas Night Charles Dickens, Robert Louis Stevenson, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, George MacDonald, Arthur Cheney Train, Arthur Conan Doyle, Thomas Hardy, John Kendrick Bangs, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Grant Allen, Wilkie Collins, Saki, Fergus Hume, Edgar Wallace, William Douglas O'Connor, Florence Marryat, Catherine Crowe, James Bowker, R. Austin Freeman, J. M. Barrie, E. F. Benson, G. K. Chesterton, Jerome K. Jerome, Fred M. White, Sabine Baring-Gould, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Frank R. Stockton, Louisa M. Alcott, M.R. James, Leonard Kip, Emmuska Orczy, Lucie E. Jackson, Katherine Rickford, Bithia Mary Croker, Catherine L. Pirkis, 2023-12-29 Murder Mysteries for the Long Christmas Night is a potently curated anthology that traverses the shadowy realms of suspense, gothic horror, and captivating mystery. Impeccably arranged to reflect the chilling ambiance of Christmas nights, the collection ingeniously weaves together a diverse range of literary stylesfrom the eerie psychological twists of Victorian gothic to the cunning riddles of golden-age detective fiction. Highlighted within this assemblage are narratives that not only stand as hallmarks of their respective authors oeuvre but also collectively redefine the contours of the mystery genre. Each story, with its unique narrative voice and stylistic prowess, contributes to a larger mosaic of suspense and intrigue. The contributing authors, a veritable whos who of 19th and early 20th-century literary giants, bring to the anthology an array of backgrounds that enrich the thematic and narrative diversity of the collection. From Dickens masterful portrayal of human nature to Conan Doyles unrivaled deductive adventures, and from Wilkie Collins intricate plot constructions to the supernatural elegance of M.R. James' tales, these authors collectively embody the historical and cultural shifts of their times. Their contributions not only underscore the evolving landscape of literature but also mirror the societal fascinations and anxieties of their eras, making the anthology a captivating study in the intersection of narrative form, cultural commentary, and entertainment. Murder Mysteries for the Long Christmas Night offers readers an unparalleled opportunity to engage with the seminal works that have shaped and informed the mystery genre. Perfect for both aficionados and newcomers to the genre, this collection promises a riveting exploration of human curiosity, the thrill of the chase, and the eternal allure of the unknown. It invites readers to wrap themselves in the warm glow of storytelling mastery, all the while navigating the chilling twists and turns that lurk within its pagesa seasonal treasure trove of literary gems that both educates and entertains. |
| a christmas morning murder: The Meaning of Our Tears , 2006-11-01 This is the true story of Charles Davis Lawson and the crimes he committed on Christmas Day, 1919. In addition, it is the story of his brother, Marion Fletcher Lawson, Marion's daughter, Stella, and many of Charlie Lawson's other family members and neigh |
| a christmas morning murder: An English Murder Cyril Hare, 2023-07-03 A group of guests gather in a large country house, owned by the dying Lord Warbeck, who wants what is left of his family around him to celebrate what he assumes will be his last Christmas. The guests are a motley bunch, including Sir Julius Warbeck, Chancellor of the Exchequer, the wife of one of his underlings, the fascist son of the present Lord Warbeck, and the Chancellor's bodyguard. Also present is foreign historian Dr Bottwink, and the traditional faithful butler. When the first murder occurs, the house is cut off from the rest of the world by a heavy snowfall, and it is left to Sir Julius's bodyguard to initiate a preliminary investigation before contact can be made with the local police force. |
| a christmas morning murder: Mysteries for Christmas: 48 Puzzling Murder Mysteries & Supernatural Thrillers Charles Dickens, Robert Louis Stevenson, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, George MacDonald, Arthur Cheney Train, Arthur Conan Doyle, Thomas Hardy, John Kendrick Bangs, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Grant Allen, Wilkie Collins, Saki, Fergus Hume, Edgar Wallace, William Douglas O'Connor, Florence Marryat, Catherine Crowe, James Bowker, R. Austin Freeman, J. M. Barrie, E. F. Benson, G. K. Chesterton, Jerome K. Jerome, Fred M. White, Sabine Baring-Gould, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Frank R. Stockton, Louisa M. Alcott, M.R. James, Leonard Kip, Emmuska Orczy, Lucie E. Jackson, Katherine Rickford, Bithia Mary Croker, Catherine L. Pirkis, 2023-12-02 Mysteries for Christmas: 48 Puzzling Murder Mysteries & Supernatural Thrillers is a stellar compendium that traverses the eerie alleyways of Victorian sensibilities to the enigmatic charm of Edwardian riddles, comprised of tales that blend the supernatural with the unyieldingly rational world of detective fiction. The collection is notable not just for its exploration of the themes of mystery and the supernatural, but also for its array of literary styles. From the gothic to the whimsical, the stories within this volume span a significant period marking the evolution of the mystery genre, showcasing seminal works that have shaped literary discourse around crime and supernatural phenomena. The diversity within promises readers an engaging spectrum of narratives that are as educational as they are entertaining. The anthologys contributors represent a veritable whos who of 19th and early 20th-century literature, offering works that are emblematic of their creators' broader oeuvres and the literary movements of their times. Writers such as Charles Dickens and Arthur Conan Doyle bring their trademark narrative depth and intricate plotting to the collection, while others like M.R. James and Sheridan Le Fanu contribute their quintessentially spectral flare. These stories are not just a reflection of individual genius but also contextual pieces that offer insights into the cultural and historical preoccupations of their time, such as Victorian anxieties about science, morality, and the supernatural. Together, these authors create a mosaic of literary achievement that both reflects and transcends their epochs. For connoisseurs of the mystery and supernatural genres, Mysteries for Christmas presents an unparalleled opportunity to dive into the depths of literary history and explore the intricacies of human curiosity, fear, and the perpetual enjoyment of the puzzle. This collection is recommended for readers seeking not just to be entertained, but to gain a broader understanding of the evolution of the mystery genre and its role in mirroring, critiquing, and shaping societal norms and anxieties. Its an invitation to witness a dialogue across generations, woven through the intriguing and often macabre tapestry that these stories represent. |
| a christmas morning murder: The Man Who Died Twice Richard Osman, 2021-09-28 An instant New York Times bestseller! The second gripping novel in the New York Times bestselling Thursday Murder Club series, soon to be a major motion picture from Steven Spielberg at Amblin Entertainment “It’s taken a mere two books for Richard Osman to vault into the upper leagues of crime writers. . . The Man Who Died Twice. . . dives right into joyous fun. —The New York Times Book Review Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim—the Thursday Murder Club—are still riding high off their recent real-life murder case and are looking forward to a bit of peace and quiet at Cooper’s Chase, their posh retirement village. But they are out of luck. An unexpected visitor—an old pal of Elizabeth’s (or perhaps more than just a pal?)—arrives, desperate for her help. He has been accused of stealing diamonds worth millions from the wrong men and he’s seriously on the lam. Then, as night follows day, the first body is found. But not the last. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim are up against a ruthless murderer who wouldn’t bat an eyelid at knocking off four septuagenarians. Can our four friends catch the killer before the killer catches them? And if they find the diamonds, too? Well, wouldn’t that be a bonus? You should never put anything beyond the Thursday Murder Club. Richard Osman is back with everyone’s favorite mystery-solving quartet, and the second installment of the Thursday Murder Club series is just as clever and warm as the first—an unputdownable, laugh-out-loud pleasure of a read. |
| a christmas morning murder: The Christmas Murder Game Alexandra Benedict, 2022-10-04 Curl up by the fire (and lock all the doors) for this Christmas cracker of a book. —C.S. Green, author of Sleep Tight Twelve clues. Twelve keys. Twelve days of Christmas. But how many will die before Twelfth Night? Agatha Christie meets Clue in this delightful, tense manor house murder mystery. The annual Christmas Game is afoot at Endgame House, the Armitages' grand family home. This year's prize is to die for—deeds to the house itself—but Lily Armitage has no intention of returning. She hasn't been back to Endgame since her mother died, twenty-one years ago, and she has no intention of claiming the house that haunts her dreams. Until, that is, she receives a letter from her aunt promising that the game's riddles will give her the keys not only to Endgame, but to its darkest secrets, including the identity of her mother's murderer. Now, Lily must compete with her estranged cousins for the twelve days of Christmas. The snow is thick, the phone lines are down, and no one is getting in or out. Lily will have to keep her wits about her, because not everyone is playing fair, and there's no telling how many will die before the winner is declared. Including additional scavenger hunts for the reader, this clever murder mystery is the perfect gift for fans of classic mysteries, festive Christmas books, and armchair detective work. |
| a christmas morning murder: The Twelve Murders of Christmas Jane Bennett Munro, 2020-09-22 Pathologist Toni Day and her husband, Hal, are mystified when she starts receiving grisly Christmas cards depicting murders, each accompanied by a twisted verse from The Twelve Days of Christmas, and she and her partners are suddenly inundated with autopsies on the corresponding bodies. The victims are members of a jury that convicted Toni's old boyfriend Robbie of kidnapping and sent him to prison. Robbie is now out on parole and is presumably systematically killing off the jury that put him there, but the true identity of the Jury Killer becomes unclear when another parolee, a pretty female police detective, and a newspaper reporter with an icepick get involved. To complicate matters further, Toni's parents are visiting for Christmas. Toni teams up with her stepfather Nigel, a retired Scotland Yard chief inspector, to interpret clues and assist the police in a race against time to catch the killer or killers before they wipe out the entire jury and then come after Toni and Hal. |
| a christmas morning murder: Murder, an Analysis of Its Forms, Conditions, and Causes Gerhard Falk, Clifford Falk, 1990 A unique study providing evidence that murder is predictable and the exceptionally high murder rate in the United States is reduceable. Part I examines 50 case histories and an analysis of 912 homicides from an original study made in Erie County (Buffalo), New York. Part II discusses multicide, serial killers, and mass murderers. Part III covers assassinations and executions and a final part presents conclusions. |
| a christmas morning murder: Christmas Cake Murder Joanne Fluke, 2018-09-25 The story of how baker Hannah Swensen got her start as a sleuth: “A lovely, frothy treat.”—Mystery Scene It’s Christmas many years ago, and topping young Hannah Swensen’s wish list is becoming the go-to baker in Lake Eden, Minnesota. But as Hannah finds out, revisiting holiday memories can be murder… With her dream of opening The Cookie Jar taking shape, Hannah’s life matches the hectic December hustle and bustle in Lake Eden—especially when she agrees to help recreate a spectacular Christmas Ball from the past in honor of Essie Granger, an elderly local in hospice care. But instead of poring over decadent dessert recipes for the merry festivities, she instantly becomes enthralled by Essie’s old notebooks—and the tale of a woman escaping danger on the streets of New York. Hannah’s surprised by Essie’s secret talent for penning crime fiction. She’s even more surprised when the story turns real. As Hannah prepares to run a bakery and move out of her mother’s house, it’ll be a true miracle if she can prevent another Yuletide disaster by solving a mystery as dense as a Christmas fruitcake . . . Features over a dozen cookie and dessert recipes from The Cookie Jar! “Series fans will enjoy learning how the Cookie Jar bakery came to be.”—Publishers Weekly |
| a christmas morning murder: Wedding Day Murder Leslie Meier, 2011-10-24 New York Times-Bestselling Author: A millionaire is found dead near his yacht, and a local mom launches an investigation… Already juggling four kids’ hectic schedules, a rambunctious dog, an attention-craving husband, and a full-time reporter job, Lucy Stone can't possibly squeeze in another responsibility...or can she? There’s a big wedding coming up, and Lucy’s promised her friend she’ll help arrange the lavish event in a newly built gazebo. Too bad the groom, internet millionaire Ron Davitz, is getting on the nerves of the locals, especially after their boats were displaced to make room for his yacht. When Ron’s body is found floating in the harbor, Lucy isn’t convinced it was accidental. From the picturesque waterfront to tony Smith Heights Road, Tinker's Cove is awash with suspects. Now, fresh from wedding planning, Lucy finds herself contemplating her own funeral as she pursues a killer who’ll do anything to keep from being unveiled…. “Meier takes well-worn plot elements—small-town tensions, in-law troubles—and buffs them into a fresh yarn. Characters and their interactions are realistic and dryly humorous [and] the Maine coast provides an evocative backdrop.”—Booklist |
A Christmas Morning Murder Copy - netsec.csuci.edu
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all remember best upon the branches of the Christmas Tree of our own young Christmas days, by which we climbed to real life. Straight, in the middle of the room, cramped in the freedom of its growth by no encircling walls or soon-reached ceiling, a shadowy tree arises; and, looking up into the dreamy brightness of its topŠfor I ob-
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Christmas day morning scene when children first see the Christmas tree. But not this year. Thanks to his son, the entire family experiences Christmas morning together. Buck's lyrical text and Buehner's bold art pay homage to family--and gifts money can't buy. First published in 1955, this edition includes a foreword from Buehner about the Christmas
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Discussion Questions The Thursday Murder Club by …
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman . 1. Though the book follows the four friends —Joyce, Elizabeth, Ibrahim, and Ron— solving the murder, the only first-person POV is Joyce’s via her diary. Why do you think the author chose to show her perspective in such a way? 2. Joyce was a nurse, Elizabeth was in the secret service, Ibrahim was ...
Record of Investigation into Death (Without Inquest)
MAGISTRATES COURT of TASMANIA CORONIAL DIVISION Record of Investigation into Death (Without Inquest) Coroners Act 1995 Coroners Rules 2006 Rule 11 (These findings have been de-identified in relation to the name of the deceased’s family by direction of the Coroner pursuant to s57(1)(c) of the Coroners Act 1995) I, Olivia McTaggart, Coroner, having investigated the …
On Christmas Day In The Morning - The Public's Library and …
On Christmas Day In The Morning (I Saw Three Ships / As I Sat On A Sunny Bank) English Traditional = 150 G G G D 8 6 G G G D G G Am Bm D G Am C G Play TWICE as the last tune in a three−tune medley: Masters In This Hall / The Golden Carol Of The Wisemen / On Christmas Day In The Morning.
Intro File - Night of Mystery
need to run your very own murder mystery party—one that your guests will be talking about for weeks, if not . longer. This murder mystery experience is designed to be easy to run and fun to play for all the guests involved. The game is played with all of your guests having active roles in the game and each guest having objectives to . complete.
Christmas Day in the Morning - CPDL
Christmas Day in the Morning Author: Jens Klimek Created Date: 6/23/2010 11:46:09 AM Keywords ...
LITTERA PUBLIC SCHOOL English. Class 5 Chapter 1 A Merry …
3. Where did Marmee go on Christmas morning ? Ans :- Marmee went straight off to see what poor creeter needed on Christmas morning. 4. What did Marmee ask the girls to do on Christmas morning ? Ans :- Marmee asked the girls to give away their breakfast as Christmas gift to that poor family. 5. How did Marmee and her daughters help the poor family ?
Read-Aloud Play Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol
Dec 19, 2016 · Ghost #1: The Ghost of Christmas Past Ghost #2: The Ghost of Christmas Present Tiny Tim Cratchit: Bob’s son. He is sickly and walks with a crutch. Mrs. Cratchit: Bob’s wife Fezziwig: Scrooge’s first employer Passerby #1 Passerby #2 Boy Ghost Chorus: ghostly sounds made by all the ghosts in unison The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, Belle,
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA
Jan 13, 2021 · following night, Christmas Eve. At 10:18 the following morning, a neighbor, Karen Servas, saw the Petersons’ dog, McKenzie, wandering unaccompanied on the street, wearing his leash. Peterson’s truck was gone; Laci’s car was still in their driveway. There were no signs of activity at the house, so Servas put McKenzie in the Petersons’
Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9–1) English Literature
May 23, 2018 · (b) In this extract, Lady Macbeth shows her guilt over the murder of Duncan. Explain the importance of guilt elsewhere in the play. In your answer, you must consider: • how guilt is shown • the reasons for the guilt within the play. You must refer to the context of the play in your answer. (20) (Total for Question 1 = 40 marks)
Arts Centre Melbourne welcomes Morning Melodies back …
The 2021 Morning Melodies program will wrap up in December with the ever-adored Christmas Melodies heralding the arrival of the festive season. Host David Hobson celebrates the magic of Christmas in traditional Morning Melodies style with a concert of favourite carols and songs accompanied by a magnificent big band and some very special guests.
The Murder at the Vicarage - READERS LIBRARY
Christmas. Both his wife and his daughter are fed up to the teeth with him. I suppose it makes him happy to feel important somewhere.” “He needn’t be offensive about it,” I said with some heat. “I don’t think he quite realized the implications of what he was saying. He wants to go over all the
THE DETECTIVE CLUB MURDER - Ruth Ware
A Murder Mystery Dinner Game by RUTH WARE For 4–8 players THE DETECTIVE CLUB MURDER The setting is Mistletan Manor, the ancient country-house home of celebrated crime writer Sir Aubrey St Clair. You are one of the hand-picked members of …
MURDER IN A TOWN CALLED SANTA CLAUS - Blue River …
out that the only two entrances to the Christmas Lake Village neighborhood was via two gated entrances.3 As the search wore on, the Christmas Lake Property Association off ered a $2,500 reward for information on Kathy’s whereabouts. A special community prayer service was conducted, and a second psychic was contacted.4
Murder on the Orient Express - پاپیروس
“Morning, Miss Debenham.” “Good morning, Colonel Arbuthnot.” The Colonel was standing with a hand on the chair opposite her. “Any objection?” he asked. “Of course not. Sit down.” “Well, you know, breakfast isn’t always a chatty meal.” “I should …
AN ALL AGE WORSHIP RESOURCE FOR CHRISTMAS, 2013
age worship at Christmas time, remembering, of course, that Christmas is all about a baby. Australians see Christmas as a family time. We want worship to add to, rather than detract from, the family experience. This applies to your church members and their extended family that joins them at Christmas time. It also applies to guests, fringe-members
A Viable Suspect The Story Of Multiple Murders And How A …
THE USUAL BRITISH SUSPECTS: 350+ Quintessential British Murder Mysteries, Detective Novels & True Crime Stories in One Edition Chinese Justice, the Fiction Dark Water The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning Murder in the Bayou Undead Girl Gang A Viable Suspect The Story Of Multiple Murders And How A Police Forces Reach Proved Too Short For ...
Mark Scheme (Results) Summer 2018 - Pearson qualifications
Aug 22, 2018 · Level Mark (20 marks) Descriptor - AO2 Please refer to page 3 (20 marks) 0 No rewardable material. Level 1 1–4 The response is simple and the identification of language, form and structure is minimal. Little evidence of relevant subject terminology. Level 2 5–8 The response is largely descriptive. There is some comment on
The Blizzard of ‘78… - National Weather Service
• Christmas Night Storm - 1909 – Severe coastal flooding • Valentine’s Day Storm - 1940 • March 1956 Blizzard –Etrusco freighter washed ashore at Scituate • February 1969 –Record snowfall • Blizzard of ‘78 • October 1991 • December 1992 • October 1996 –Stream flooding • April 1997
Form: Kibon No Bokken - Playing With Murder
Sep 19, 2012 · Thank you for choosing Murder in Manhattan, another fine product by PWM Press; this package contains everything you need to host a spectacular Murder Mystery party that your guests will remember for many years to come. Included are materials for hosting a party for anywhere from ten to twenty -five participants (including yourself).
The Glory of Christmas! - Fairfield Grace
“The Glory of Christmas!” Lloyd Larson Chancel Choir: "Gloria, Hosanna in Excelsis!" "Angels We Have Heard on High" "On Christmas Night All Christians Sing to Hear the News the Angels Bring" "Angels from the Realms of Glory" Narration 1: The Hope of Christmas Narrator 1: This is a day of celebration! A time to worship Christ, the newborn King!
TThh ee rMMiinnii PProobbllemm - EnglishForEveryone.org
Questions: 1)) In the beginning of the story, Lily's anger was described as palpable because it was A. unusual B. irrational C. difficult to understand D. easy to feel 2) As used in the beginning of the story, which is the best antonym for insurmountable? A. sane B. phony C. unjustified D. surpassable 3) )As used in the beginning of the story, which best describes the act
SATB MORNING Star - The Lorenz Corporation
Morning Star is flexibly conceived for Advent and/or Christmas programming. Each individual anthem may be presented during the weeks leading up to Christmas, or the entire cantata may be performed as a whole in a single worship experience, depending on programming needs. Small
Press Release Murder mystery puzzle collection, Murdle, …
Press Release Murder mystery puzzle collection, Murdle, scores the UK Christmas number one, Nielsen BookData reveals LONDON, 19 December 2023 — A collection of murder mystery logic puzzles has been crowned the UK Christmas Number One. Murdle, which hit shelves in June this year, sold 52,549 copies in the UK in the week ending 16 December 2023, and claims top spot …
The Christmas Ukulele Songbook - The Ukulele Directory
Frosty The Snowman—Nelson&Rollins 3 (C) Frosty the Snowman was a (F) jolly, (G7) happy (C) soul, With a (F) corncob pipe and a (C) button nose And two (G7) eyes made out of (C) coal. Frosty the Snowman is a (F) fairy (G7) tale they (C) say, He was (F) made of snow but the (C) children know How he (Dm) came to (G7) life one (C7) day. There (F) must have been some …
TABLE OF CONTENTS - MyMysteryParty
Christmas Guru : Female Candy Cane is the eccentric Christmas guru of Christmas Village. She is the one that knows absolutely everything about Christmas – from how to tie a gift bow to the best route to stay off the naughty list. This is one spirited diva that truly knows how to motivate others and spread holiday cheer. Anything and everything
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman Discussion …
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman Discussion Questions 1. “Killing someone is easy. Hiding the body, now, that’s usually the hard part. That’s how you get caught. I was lucky enough to stumble upon the right place, the perfect place, really. I come back from time to time, just to make sure the thing is safe and sound.
Psalms of Advent and Christmas - PaulTurner.org
Christmas Solemnities & Feasts Readings of 4 Christmas masses are from the tradition! Holy Family about childhood of Jesus and family life! Mary, Mother of God - about Mary and the Holy Name! Epiphany first reading and gospel are from the tradition, the second reading is about calling nations to salvation! Baptism of the Lord - readings concern this mystery
Christmas Carol Opposites - Creations by Kara
1-Cacophonous Morning 2- Henrietta the Blue Lipped Antelope 3-What Ancient Individual Was That? 4-Disregard the Unofficial Devils Shriek 5-Down on the Substructure Floor 6-Without Knowledgeable Boredom 7-Tinkerbell is Vacating the Woods 8-Lucifer Awake the Grouchy Ladies 9-Retreating in a Summer Undergrowth 10-Dewey the Flower Girl
The Christmas 1951 Murders of Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore
The Christmas 1951 Murders of Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore ... This murder silenced one of Florida’s civil rights pioneers, and, while the term was not used frequently in 1951, there can be no question that it was carried out by 1950s-style domestic terrorists. For more than 50 years, the Moores’ direct and extended family, their
6 Family Planning Perspectives - JSTOR
Early on Christmas morning, bombs ex-ploded at three medical facilities providing abortions in Pensacola, Florida; one facility was destroyed, the others suffered extensive damage. One of the targets had been forced to relocate last summer after an earlier bomb demolished the clinic. Four suspects have been arrested and charged with the bomb-
A Christmas Carol, Play version adapted by Frederick Gaines
Finally, he awakens to the reality of Christmas morning and discovers the joy of giving, loving, and caring for others. The play is designed to be produced on a simply mounted, nonrealistic setting. A high platform that serves as Scrooge’s bed is at a downstage right. The space under it forms the entrance to Scrooge’s office.
Carl Eugene Watts - Murderpedia
“The Sunday Morning Slasher” Information researched and summarized by Kristy Walter & Christopher White Department of Psychology Radford University Radford, VA 24142-6946 ... carving tools but nothing to tie him to Gloria’s murder. 12/18/1974 21 Watts had to stay in jail for 45 days or go to Kalamazoo Mental Hospital for the larceny of ...
A Murder Is Announced - Internet Archive
A murder is announced and uiillAake place on Friday, October 29th, at Little Paddocks at 6.30 p.m. Friends, please accept this, the only notice. ... Every morning between 7r30 and 8.30 Johnnie Butt, the newspaper boy, rode around the small village of Chipping Cleghorn on his bicycle. He stopped at each house and pushed
Creative A SERVICE FOR CHRI - Creative Communications
Pe gather on the eve of Christmas to relive the story of our Savior’s birth and celebrate the gift W of life that we receive through Christ. Hear then the Word of the Lord: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; C On those living in the land of …
Bloodlines of Illuminati - The World Factbook
3 councils which ruled them, and these councils themselves came under the guidance of a secret supreme Grand Council or Governing Body. The Mystery Religions in turn ruled the masses and the
Minute mysteries
morning, reads the newspaper, and kills himself. The man works in a lighthouse. By turning out the light he killed a couple hundred people. After reading about that the next morning, he killed himself. Two children born in the same hospital, in the same hour, day, and year, have
