Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah

and Happy Holidays!

There's no better way to enjoy the holidays than with a cup of hot chocolate (or a hot toddy, if you prefer) and a good book. Whether in print or eBook, there are scores of choices sure to make Santa stop filling stockings and take a peek. Here are a few suggestions. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah and Happy Holidays!

 

 

Author Vicki Delany's book WINTER OF SECRETS (Poisoned Pen Press) appropriately begins on Christmas Eve and ends on New Year's Day,.

In the book, the snowstorm of the decade has settled over the peaceful mountain town of Trafalgar, B.C. Constables Molly Smith and Dave Evans have a busy shift even on Christmas Eve, attending fender-benders, tumbling pedestrians, and Christmas tree fires.

At the stroke of midnight, they arrive at the scene of a car accident: a vehicle has gone off the snowy road into the icy river. An accident, agree police, coroner, and medics. But when the autopsy reveals a shocking secret, Constable Smith and Sergeant John Winters are plunged into the world of sexual predators, recreational drugs, privilege, and high-living.

Vicki Delany's website: http://www.vickidelany.com

 

Author Brian Kavanagh's A CANTERBURY CRIME has antiquers Belinda Lawrence and Hazel Whitby spending Christmas in Canterbury, but it wouldn't be much fun without a murder or two, now would it?

The ancient walled city of Canterbury has held many secrets over the centuries but none more mysterious than the death of Professor de Gray. Called in to evaluate the contents of his Tudor Manor House, Belinda and Hazel are confronted with a number of suspects who would benefit from the book the Professor was about to publish; a book he promised would re-write the history of St Thomas Becket who was murdered in the Cathedral in 1170.

The unfriendly secretary Miss Mowbray, the live wire student Tommy, the volatile amateur historian Peter, the respected publisher Sir Justin, and Quentin the upstart publisher prepared to obtain the book at any price. Add to them the local Doctor and Funeral Director and the cast of suspects is complete.

Confirming the Professor was murdered proves to be a challenge and gradually as they get to know those associated with the Manor House Belinda and Hazel discover another murder and an intricate web of secrets that leads them to life-threatening danger and finally to the killer.

Following on from Capable of Murder, The Embroidered Corpse and Bloody Ham, this fourth mystery provides Belinda and Hazel with another exciting adventure; Hazel being larger than life yet again and Belinda shocked by an event that will change her life.

* Watch the video: Video: http://youtu.be/G5WUtqRfHfk
* Brian Kavanagh's website: http://beekayvic.tripod.com

** How about some short Christmas stories around the web?

* BEAT TO A PULP offers stories with a wallop: http://www.beattoapulp.com/pulp.htm

* You can't beat stories by the late Ed Hoch. MysteryNet is still re-running some oldies but goodies including Hoch's, "The Three Travelers" - http://www.mysterynet.com/Christmas/mysteries/three/

See several Christmas stories here : http://www.mysterynet.com/Christmas/mysteries/

* Online illustrated mystery, "A Christmas Mystery from Aidensfield:" http://www.nicholasrhea.co.uk/heartbeat/mystery.html

 

 

CHRISTMAS AT THE NORTH POLE COMPOUND , A Holiday Crime Mystery by Christine Verstraete:

It's not all Fa-la-la and Ho-Ho-Ho at the North Pole Compound when Santa's elves find someone's stolen the gifts! Can Chief Elf Investigator Finius Flaherty crack the case by Dec. 24th and save Christmas??

A fun, quirky holiday story for all ages! (On Kindle and coming soon in eBook format at Smashwords. See http://cverstraete.com/ebooks.html .)

** Have a great holiday and see you in 2011!