What do you think?
Rate this book
The Christmas Eve Murders: The hilarious and cosy festive murder mystery
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 festive games night for its rabble of regulars.
But this year, they are interrupted by a knock at the door from a stranger, stranded by the snow storm that's closing in on the village.
And this won't be the only surprise of the night. When the power is cut off and darkness descends, the games turn deadly . . . It seems one of the group would kill to win.
317 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 7, 2024
310 people are currently reading
1029 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
November 29, 2024
3.75 stars rounded up to 4
Release Date: 7th November 2024
Maddie is travelling back Scotland to spend Christmas with your parents on Christmas Eve, when a series of unfortunate events leads her to break down in a village in the Yorkshire Dales in the snow.
Maddie finds herself taking refuge in the local pub the Merry Monarch, after a local, Curtis and his dog Barkley find her stranded in her car with no mobile signal.
Once at the pub, Maddie's bad luck continues when she finds out the roads are impassable, so no road side rescue will be able to get to her, that night. With a room sorted at the pub, Maddie calls her parents to let them know, when the phone line goes dead.
Now Maddie truly is stranded on Christmas Eve, with a pub full of strangers: the landlord (Mickey) and lady (Sofia); Curtis and his dog; two off duty police officers: Alex (Mickey's son) and Don; Jeannie (Alex's Aunty); James (Alex's half-brother); Sita; Mrs Fazakerley; Mr & Mrs Kapoor and their daughter Zainab.
While taking part in the annual scavenger hunt with said locals, there is a power cut and a piercing scream leading to the death of one of the party and from there the night becomes a murder investigation, with a killer among them, who can they really trust.
I enjoyed this book and found the characters likeable and pleasant, but also was suspicious of them all at some point throughout the book.
It was a slow paced start that, built a bit of tension, but in a cosy mystery style, with plenty of humour and interesting characters, that I grew very fond of, which kept me reading and guessing at times.
A must for cosy mystery whodunnit fans who love a little sprinkle of Christmas.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.
Reviews also published on:
Instagram || Threads || BSky || Coffee and Kindle Blog || The StoryGraph || Amazon || Bookmarks
Happy to make friends on all socials
Release Date: 7th November 2024
Maddie is travelling back Scotland to spend Christmas with your parents on Christmas Eve, when a series of unfortunate events leads her to break down in a village in the Yorkshire Dales in the snow.
Maddie finds herself taking refuge in the local pub the Merry Monarch, after a local, Curtis and his dog Barkley find her stranded in her car with no mobile signal.
Once at the pub, Maddie's bad luck continues when she finds out the roads are impassable, so no road side rescue will be able to get to her, that night. With a room sorted at the pub, Maddie calls her parents to let them know, when the phone line goes dead.
Now Maddie truly is stranded on Christmas Eve, with a pub full of strangers: the landlord (Mickey) and lady (Sofia); Curtis and his dog; two off duty police officers: Alex (Mickey's son) and Don; Jeannie (Alex's Aunty); James (Alex's half-brother); Sita; Mrs Fazakerley; Mr & Mrs Kapoor and their daughter Zainab.
While taking part in the annual scavenger hunt with said locals, there is a power cut and a piercing scream leading to the death of one of the party and from there the night becomes a murder investigation, with a killer among them, who can they really trust.
I enjoyed this book and found the characters likeable and pleasant, but also was suspicious of them all at some point throughout the book.
It was a slow paced start that, built a bit of tension, but in a cosy mystery style, with plenty of humour and interesting characters, that I grew very fond of, which kept me reading and guessing at times.
A must for cosy mystery whodunnit fans who love a little sprinkle of Christmas.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.
Reviews also published on:
Instagram || Threads || BSky || Coffee and Kindle Blog || The StoryGraph || Amazon || Bookmarks
Happy to make friends on all socials
September 4, 2024
3.5
It’s 6pm on Christmas Eve and Maddie Marlowe has major car trouble in the middle of the isolated Yorkshire Dales. She has breakdown cover which is useless as there’s no phone signal. To add insult to injury, it’s snowing heavily. Fret not, help is at hand at The Merry Monarch pub. Hopefully it will be as much fun as the King it’s named after - Charles II, in case you are wondering! It all seems very safe as elderly resident Curtis reassures her. However, maybe it’s the eerie silence that puts Maddie on edge or perhaps something else. Trust your instincts, girl.
This is the very epitome of cosy at the start with warming fires, delicious food and some welcoming amusing locals but there are warning shots across the boughs as they’re totally cut off. Then of course, the shenanigans and ‘fun and games’ begin. The apparent calm is shattered by feuds, a scavenger hunt, ghostly rumours, less than ghostly nefarious deeds and ghastly not ghostly murder and mayhem.
The author creates an appropriate atmosphere to accompany the storytelling especially as it’s clearly claustrophobic because they’re trapped. It’s all done in the right tone often with witty banter from characters who are well portrayed. It feels somewhat surreal on occasions and of course, the ensuing drama contrasts and clashes with the festive season with less than festive cheer. There are shocks in store, trust vanishes out the window and it becomes oppressive.
It does become a bit predictable but that does fit with this type of murder mystery. There’s a lot of dialogue that is used to tell the story which is something I’m personally not keen on, hence the three star rating rather than four. On the plus side the tone of the comments is often good with everything from Yorkshire call a spade a shovel comments to sarcasm to laugh out loud.
If you like golden age style cosy crime novels then this fits the bill and I like the good note it ends on. It’s an easy read and would make a perfect companion on a cold winter evening in front of a warm fire, a glass or mug in the other hand!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Quercus Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
It’s 6pm on Christmas Eve and Maddie Marlowe has major car trouble in the middle of the isolated Yorkshire Dales. She has breakdown cover which is useless as there’s no phone signal. To add insult to injury, it’s snowing heavily. Fret not, help is at hand at The Merry Monarch pub. Hopefully it will be as much fun as the King it’s named after - Charles II, in case you are wondering! It all seems very safe as elderly resident Curtis reassures her. However, maybe it’s the eerie silence that puts Maddie on edge or perhaps something else. Trust your instincts, girl.
This is the very epitome of cosy at the start with warming fires, delicious food and some welcoming amusing locals but there are warning shots across the boughs as they’re totally cut off. Then of course, the shenanigans and ‘fun and games’ begin. The apparent calm is shattered by feuds, a scavenger hunt, ghostly rumours, less than ghostly nefarious deeds and ghastly not ghostly murder and mayhem.
The author creates an appropriate atmosphere to accompany the storytelling especially as it’s clearly claustrophobic because they’re trapped. It’s all done in the right tone often with witty banter from characters who are well portrayed. It feels somewhat surreal on occasions and of course, the ensuing drama contrasts and clashes with the festive season with less than festive cheer. There are shocks in store, trust vanishes out the window and it becomes oppressive.
It does become a bit predictable but that does fit with this type of murder mystery. There’s a lot of dialogue that is used to tell the story which is something I’m personally not keen on, hence the three star rating rather than four. On the plus side the tone of the comments is often good with everything from Yorkshire call a spade a shovel comments to sarcasm to laugh out loud.
If you like golden age style cosy crime novels then this fits the bill and I like the good note it ends on. It’s an easy read and would make a perfect companion on a cold winter evening in front of a warm fire, a glass or mug in the other hand!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Quercus Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
December 9, 2025
if you asked me in 3 months what this book was about I probably wouldn’t be able to tell you.
main characters car breaks down in a random town, she’s snowed in, stuck in a pub, where the patrons play a Christmas Eve scavenger hunt. the lights go out, people are murdered. everyone’s a suspect.
kinda fun but kinda boring. the worst part was when the killer was revealed I didn’t care because we didn’t really get to know them and they were sort of a background character anyway so it was lowkey boring AF.
there were some other good jaw dropping moments though.
after the killer is revealed there’s still a good hour of reading left, and by the end I was so over it. the pacing was all weird. the vibes just weren’t there.
PLUS - on a personal note, this is the THIRD BOOK IN A ROW where stuff goes a bit paranormal - totally by accident I’ve read three shit ghost stories and I’m OVER IT 🤣🤣🤣
do not recommend xx
main characters car breaks down in a random town, she’s snowed in, stuck in a pub, where the patrons play a Christmas Eve scavenger hunt. the lights go out, people are murdered. everyone’s a suspect.
kinda fun but kinda boring. the worst part was when the killer was revealed I didn’t care because we didn’t really get to know them and they were sort of a background character anyway so it was lowkey boring AF.
there were some other good jaw dropping moments though.
after the killer is revealed there’s still a good hour of reading left, and by the end I was so over it. the pacing was all weird. the vibes just weren’t there.
PLUS - on a personal note, this is the THIRD BOOK IN A ROW where stuff goes a bit paranormal - totally by accident I’ve read three shit ghost stories and I’m OVER IT 🤣🤣🤣
do not recommend xx
November 13, 2024
2.5★
When a motorway pile-up on Christmas Eve prompts Maddie to take an alternative route across the Yorkshire Dales, she has no idea what the night ahead is going to bring. Snow is falling when her car breaks down in a place with no phone signal, but thankfully she can see signs of life around in the small village of Quernby. An elderly dogwalker convinces her to walk with him to The Merry Monarch to make her phone calls, and there she meets a small group of locals. They are enjoying a festive drink while waiting for the annual scavenger hunt to begin. That's not really Maddie's cup of tea, but when the BAC advises they can't attend to her car because the village is cut off by snow, she accepts her fate and prepares to join in. Before long, one of the group is found dead.
This is a cosy, fun, locked-room mystery. I thought it started really strong, but despite its fairly short length it seemed to run out of steam way too soon. Still, I think it will make seasonal readers quite happy with its charming characters and a sprinkling of Christmas glitter.
With thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for a digital copy to read and review.
When a motorway pile-up on Christmas Eve prompts Maddie to take an alternative route across the Yorkshire Dales, she has no idea what the night ahead is going to bring. Snow is falling when her car breaks down in a place with no phone signal, but thankfully she can see signs of life around in the small village of Quernby. An elderly dogwalker convinces her to walk with him to The Merry Monarch to make her phone calls, and there she meets a small group of locals. They are enjoying a festive drink while waiting for the annual scavenger hunt to begin. That's not really Maddie's cup of tea, but when the BAC advises they can't attend to her car because the village is cut off by snow, she accepts her fate and prepares to join in. Before long, one of the group is found dead.
This is a cosy, fun, locked-room mystery. I thought it started really strong, but despite its fairly short length it seemed to run out of steam way too soon. Still, I think it will make seasonal readers quite happy with its charming characters and a sprinkling of Christmas glitter.
With thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for a digital copy to read and review.
November 17, 2024
I really wanted to love this book—it has so many of the elements I enjoy in cozy mysteries: a snowed-in setting, an intriguing game night, and a twisty plot. Unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. While Noelle Albright's writing is quite good, it felt a bit forced at times, and the story just never grabbed me the way I was hoping.
The premise was promising, but I found the execution flat. Despite the cozy setting, I didn’t feel drawn into the atmosphere or invested in the characters. They were well-developed, but I just couldn’t connect with any of them—perhaps that’s why the mystery felt more like a mild diversion than a gripping read.
As for the mystery itself, the murderer became pretty obvious early on, so the supposed "who did it" moments didn't have much impact. I kept waiting for a twist or a surprise, but it never came.
It was a kind of ok read, but I was expecting something with a bit more charm and intrigue. Instead of feeling entertained, I was mostly just going through the motions, waiting for the end to arrive. Not quite the cozy, funny, or thrilling experience I’d hoped for.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The premise was promising, but I found the execution flat. Despite the cozy setting, I didn’t feel drawn into the atmosphere or invested in the characters. They were well-developed, but I just couldn’t connect with any of them—perhaps that’s why the mystery felt more like a mild diversion than a gripping read.
As for the mystery itself, the murderer became pretty obvious early on, so the supposed "who did it" moments didn't have much impact. I kept waiting for a twist or a surprise, but it never came.
It was a kind of ok read, but I was expecting something with a bit more charm and intrigue. Instead of feeling entertained, I was mostly just going through the motions, waiting for the end to arrive. Not quite the cozy, funny, or thrilling experience I’d hoped for.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
October 20, 2024
It’s Christmas Eve, Maddie is on her way to Edinburgh to spend Christmas with her parents. She is on the motorway but comes across an accident on the motorway. Her Sat Nav tells her to take an alternative route through the Yorkshire Dales. But by doing so she suddenly get car trouble and breaks down outside a small village in the middle of nowhere and there is no phone signal. But luckily a stranger knocks on the car window and tells her that she will find a phone working at the village pub The Merry Monarch and rooms to let as it will take awhile for someone to come but, it’s also starting to snow. So, she agrees to go with him.
So, when he gets there, she finds out that the phone is not working because of the weather and the locals at the pub have organised a Scavenger hunt. So, she joins in only to find a power cut and everywhere goes dark. So, when they manage to put the lights back on, they find out that one of them has been murdered. The rest of the locals especially Alex who happen to be a Police detective. Try and figure out who is the killer is from the locals that are also locked in the Merry Monarch.
If you are looking for a Christmassy locked room mystery. This book is for you. I enjoyed the premise and the Christmassy scenes. It did feel authentic and storyline and some great characters especially Maddie. The parts regarding the ghosts were a bit farfetched for me personally. It reminded me a bit of Scooby do. For entertainment value this is worth the read. 3.5 stars from me.
So, when he gets there, she finds out that the phone is not working because of the weather and the locals at the pub have organised a Scavenger hunt. So, she joins in only to find a power cut and everywhere goes dark. So, when they manage to put the lights back on, they find out that one of them has been murdered. The rest of the locals especially Alex who happen to be a Police detective. Try and figure out who is the killer is from the locals that are also locked in the Merry Monarch.
If you are looking for a Christmassy locked room mystery. This book is for you. I enjoyed the premise and the Christmassy scenes. It did feel authentic and storyline and some great characters especially Maddie. The parts regarding the ghosts were a bit farfetched for me personally. It reminded me a bit of Scooby do. For entertainment value this is worth the read. 3.5 stars from me.
December 26, 2024
i’m going to be kind and assume that this is a satire
January 2, 2025
I get that this is a genre now, cosy murder mysteries, but certain conversations with the relatives of the primary murder victim seemed so odd. As if they were already healing overnight instead of being completely dazed by losing a loved one.
December 11, 2025
Such a fun cozy read.
November 13, 2024
***advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
A fairly standard whodunnit set on Christmas Eve, unfortunately let down by poor writing. The general framework is there but there’s far too much “telling” in the way the author writes rather than “showing”, which made the narrative slow and quite boring for me.
At times it felt as though the author had reached for their thesaurus in an attempt to either look more intelligent or not to reuse the same words, but whatever the underlying reason it just interrupts the flow of the story.
Another point which will read as pedantic but did really annoy me was that two characters are related to each other as half-brothers - they share a father - but are only ever referred to as “step brothers”. Surprised that made it through editing, along with a mention of the Dakota Johnson “Persuasion”, where one character “dragged another to go see it”. It wasn’t released in cinemas, only on Netflix. Maybe neither of these things matter much to most readers, if you’re going to include references then it’s just best to get it right.
A fairly standard whodunnit set on Christmas Eve, unfortunately let down by poor writing. The general framework is there but there’s far too much “telling” in the way the author writes rather than “showing”, which made the narrative slow and quite boring for me.
At times it felt as though the author had reached for their thesaurus in an attempt to either look more intelligent or not to reuse the same words, but whatever the underlying reason it just interrupts the flow of the story.
Another point which will read as pedantic but did really annoy me was that two characters are related to each other as half-brothers - they share a father - but are only ever referred to as “step brothers”. Surprised that made it through editing, along with a mention of the Dakota Johnson “Persuasion”, where one character “dragged another to go see it”. It wasn’t released in cinemas, only on Netflix. Maybe neither of these things matter much to most readers, if you’re going to include references then it’s just best to get it right.
December 6, 2025
I didn’t know a Christmas who-dun-it was exactly what I needed to liven up the holiday, but this one did just that! Fun and cozy.
Read
April 10, 2025Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book. Their generosity did not affect my opinion in any way. The Christmas Eve Murders is available now.
Astute readers (or readers who own calendars, are vaguely aware of the order of the months, or pay even the slightest bit of attention to anything) will notice that it is currently nowhere near Christmas. These discerning readers might then wonder why on earth I am reviewing a Christmas-themed mystery now. The answer is simple: I put this one aside for a good long while.
The reason for that isn’t a straightforward “I wasn’t enjoying the book”, although that played a role in my decision to take a (very) long pause. When I read a Chrismystery (as my oldest calls them), I expect a certain vibe. This can be the magical, cozy Christmassy fuzziness, or it can go the other way into cold nights and eerie sounds, but I rely heavily on feelings in my November and December reading choices. Sure, the book is set on Christmas Eve, and there’s a gathering of people, but it didn’t feel remotely holiday-esque to me.
Maddie’s car breaks down in the middle of a snowy nowhere. A local dogwalker finds her and convinces her to walk to The Merry Monarch to stay warm and get some help. There, she finds a group waiting for a holiday scavenger hunt- and there she finds murder.
The story itself was fine, although I thought it dragged at points. There was a lot that seemed a little too convenient when it came to the plot, a pet peeve of mine. The ending was one I expected, but I will give the author major credit: there was no random “they did it because of” (insert misunderstood mental illness here). Nothing will make me want to throw a book faster than evil actions being blamed on mental illness, which helps perpetrate what I consider harmful stereotypes. The author had a motive that made sense to the story and was clearly planned. They also veered away from blaming the murderer’s actions on mental illness.
I’ve been struggling with finding a way to say this that doesn’t sound absolutely horrible. After agonizing over it, I’ve realized that I really can’t find the perfect wording, so I’m just going to spit it out. This book felt very generic to me. While it was structured well and the characters were well-written, there was nothing that stood out. There was nothing that felt unique. I suspect that this is just one of those cases of “right book, wrong reader”.
That being said, this book is a quick read, and the locked-room aspect of it adds a certain something. The winter weather gave it a sense of separation from the outside world, leaving only the feeling of danger and uncertainty.
I didn’t enjoy The Christmas Eve Murders, but as Reading Rainbow used to say, “You don’t have to take my word for it!”
Astute readers (or readers who own calendars, are vaguely aware of the order of the months, or pay even the slightest bit of attention to anything) will notice that it is currently nowhere near Christmas. These discerning readers might then wonder why on earth I am reviewing a Christmas-themed mystery now. The answer is simple: I put this one aside for a good long while.
The reason for that isn’t a straightforward “I wasn’t enjoying the book”, although that played a role in my decision to take a (very) long pause. When I read a Chrismystery (as my oldest calls them), I expect a certain vibe. This can be the magical, cozy Christmassy fuzziness, or it can go the other way into cold nights and eerie sounds, but I rely heavily on feelings in my November and December reading choices. Sure, the book is set on Christmas Eve, and there’s a gathering of people, but it didn’t feel remotely holiday-esque to me.
Maddie’s car breaks down in the middle of a snowy nowhere. A local dogwalker finds her and convinces her to walk to The Merry Monarch to stay warm and get some help. There, she finds a group waiting for a holiday scavenger hunt- and there she finds murder.
The story itself was fine, although I thought it dragged at points. There was a lot that seemed a little too convenient when it came to the plot, a pet peeve of mine. The ending was one I expected, but I will give the author major credit: there was no random “they did it because of” (insert misunderstood mental illness here). Nothing will make me want to throw a book faster than evil actions being blamed on mental illness, which helps perpetrate what I consider harmful stereotypes. The author had a motive that made sense to the story and was clearly planned. They also veered away from blaming the murderer’s actions on mental illness.
I’ve been struggling with finding a way to say this that doesn’t sound absolutely horrible. After agonizing over it, I’ve realized that I really can’t find the perfect wording, so I’m just going to spit it out. This book felt very generic to me. While it was structured well and the characters were well-written, there was nothing that stood out. There was nothing that felt unique. I suspect that this is just one of those cases of “right book, wrong reader”.
That being said, this book is a quick read, and the locked-room aspect of it adds a certain something. The winter weather gave it a sense of separation from the outside world, leaving only the feeling of danger and uncertainty.
I didn’t enjoy The Christmas Eve Murders, but as Reading Rainbow used to say, “You don’t have to take my word for it!”
October 9, 2025
Journalist Maddie Marlowe’s car has broken down en route to Edinburgh to spend Christmas with her parents.
What a fabulous cosy crime story. I loved every bit of The Christmas Eve Murders.
Those who eschew reading Christmas books other than in December needn’t worry at all. Whilst there is significance to the date, this book can be thoroughly enjoyed as a crime story at any time of the year.
The plot is brilliant. It has all the hallmarks of traditional crime fiction, with unity of time – Christmas Eve, unity of place – the Merry Monarch inn, and unity of action – murder! With a carefully crafted cast of characters and a locked room feel as they are all trapped by the weather in the pub, The Christmas Eve Murders is such a satisfying narrative. There’s a real sense of Agatha Christie as the strands of the story play out, with a Poirotesque denouement when the killer is revealed. With outsider Maddie akin to the reader and gaining information at the same time as them, Noelle Albright really draws in that reader, holding their attention completely. Because it is so well written, I devoured this story and quite honestly suspected every character, except perhaps Maddie, as being the murderer – even the first victim! Add in power cuts, secret passageways, coded knocks on doors and there’s everything here to satisfy even the most demanding lovers of the genre.
I thought Maddie was inspired. She is realistic, level headed, witty and strong. However, she also has a vulnerability and hints about her past help develop her as a person so that I am desperate for her to appear in future stories.
Whilst murder is at the heart of the story, it is presented with a skilled lightness of touch so that there’s humour to be found too. Add in themes of family, community, age, romance, rivalry and just a hint of the supernatural and this is such a fabulous read. It would make the most perfect winter Sunday night television series.
Having struggled to read recently and having become weary of expletive ridden texts that aim to shock, The Christmas Eve Murders completely drew me in. Indeed, I thought The Christmas Eve Murders was a sparkling, entertaining and absorbing example of the genre and cannot recommend it highly enough. Wonderful stuff!
What a fabulous cosy crime story. I loved every bit of The Christmas Eve Murders.
Those who eschew reading Christmas books other than in December needn’t worry at all. Whilst there is significance to the date, this book can be thoroughly enjoyed as a crime story at any time of the year.
The plot is brilliant. It has all the hallmarks of traditional crime fiction, with unity of time – Christmas Eve, unity of place – the Merry Monarch inn, and unity of action – murder! With a carefully crafted cast of characters and a locked room feel as they are all trapped by the weather in the pub, The Christmas Eve Murders is such a satisfying narrative. There’s a real sense of Agatha Christie as the strands of the story play out, with a Poirotesque denouement when the killer is revealed. With outsider Maddie akin to the reader and gaining information at the same time as them, Noelle Albright really draws in that reader, holding their attention completely. Because it is so well written, I devoured this story and quite honestly suspected every character, except perhaps Maddie, as being the murderer – even the first victim! Add in power cuts, secret passageways, coded knocks on doors and there’s everything here to satisfy even the most demanding lovers of the genre.
I thought Maddie was inspired. She is realistic, level headed, witty and strong. However, she also has a vulnerability and hints about her past help develop her as a person so that I am desperate for her to appear in future stories.
Whilst murder is at the heart of the story, it is presented with a skilled lightness of touch so that there’s humour to be found too. Add in themes of family, community, age, romance, rivalry and just a hint of the supernatural and this is such a fabulous read. It would make the most perfect winter Sunday night television series.
Having struggled to read recently and having become weary of expletive ridden texts that aim to shock, The Christmas Eve Murders completely drew me in. Indeed, I thought The Christmas Eve Murders was a sparkling, entertaining and absorbing example of the genre and cannot recommend it highly enough. Wonderful stuff!
October 21, 2024
I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
I needed something to fill the void this Christmas as my favourite Christmas author isn’t publishing this year so I was intrigued and delighted to see this offering come along from, I believe, a debut author. This is exactly the kind of crunchy, Christmas crime novel I love to read in December. A mystery, a cast where you don’t know who to trust, secrets revealed and a fascinating puzzle to solve.
This book certainly delivers on Christmas vibes. It’s disappointing when a book is packaged as a Christmas crime novel and then it’s barely mentioned. Not at all the case here where we have our mystery taking place on Christmas Eve. A young woman, trying to drive back home to Scotland to see her parents, breaks down in a storm in the Yorkshire Dales. A kindly stranger guides her through the snow to the local pub where they become trapped in by the furious blizzard. However, the pub in question runs a Christmas Eve scavenger hunt for locals who don’t have anywhere else to be. A good meal, cheery company and the promise of an entertaining evening make being trapped in this pub for the night seem not so bad… and then the first body is found.
Setting and atmosphere for this one are great. The pub works really well and the small village setting increases the isolation and the sense of being trapped. It also helped to make sense of the plot, with all the characters except Maddie (our MC) knowing each other and having history stretching back decades. I loved the idea of a Christmas scavenger hunt, and though more could have been done with this. We didn’t really to see a huge amount of clues here before crime derailed the night and a few more puzzles would not have gone amiss.
I enjoyed the story and the mystery and I was really engaged. I did have one issue with this book which was the way the accent was written for certain characters. It was done so much that it was quite jarring and it didn’t feel necessary to have the first letter of nearly every word replaced with an apostrophe like it had been. I found this a great story but I kept being pulled out of it by this choice of spelling which was a tad frustrating. It also felt a bit strange that many of the characters are from the same village and part of the same family and yet this was only done for certain people in the family. I found this affected my ability to immerse myself in what was otherwise a very entertaining and enjoyable Christmas Crime story. Would I buy this for friends this Christmas? The answer is yes.
I needed something to fill the void this Christmas as my favourite Christmas author isn’t publishing this year so I was intrigued and delighted to see this offering come along from, I believe, a debut author. This is exactly the kind of crunchy, Christmas crime novel I love to read in December. A mystery, a cast where you don’t know who to trust, secrets revealed and a fascinating puzzle to solve.
This book certainly delivers on Christmas vibes. It’s disappointing when a book is packaged as a Christmas crime novel and then it’s barely mentioned. Not at all the case here where we have our mystery taking place on Christmas Eve. A young woman, trying to drive back home to Scotland to see her parents, breaks down in a storm in the Yorkshire Dales. A kindly stranger guides her through the snow to the local pub where they become trapped in by the furious blizzard. However, the pub in question runs a Christmas Eve scavenger hunt for locals who don’t have anywhere else to be. A good meal, cheery company and the promise of an entertaining evening make being trapped in this pub for the night seem not so bad… and then the first body is found.
Setting and atmosphere for this one are great. The pub works really well and the small village setting increases the isolation and the sense of being trapped. It also helped to make sense of the plot, with all the characters except Maddie (our MC) knowing each other and having history stretching back decades. I loved the idea of a Christmas scavenger hunt, and though more could have been done with this. We didn’t really to see a huge amount of clues here before crime derailed the night and a few more puzzles would not have gone amiss.
I enjoyed the story and the mystery and I was really engaged. I did have one issue with this book which was the way the accent was written for certain characters. It was done so much that it was quite jarring and it didn’t feel necessary to have the first letter of nearly every word replaced with an apostrophe like it had been. I found this a great story but I kept being pulled out of it by this choice of spelling which was a tad frustrating. It also felt a bit strange that many of the characters are from the same village and part of the same family and yet this was only done for certain people in the family. I found this affected my ability to immerse myself in what was otherwise a very entertaining and enjoyable Christmas Crime story. Would I buy this for friends this Christmas? The answer is yes.
November 22, 2025
Maddie is driving home to Scotland on Christmas Eve to spend Christmas with her family. A series of unfortunate events leaves her stranded in the Yorkshire Dales in the snow, when her car breaks down. Curtis and his dog Barkley find Maddie and invite her to the village pub (Merry Monarch) to call for breakdown assistance. When Maddie is told the roads are impassable, it soon becomes apparent that she will have to spend the night at the pub. It happens that the pub is hosting their annual scavenger hunt with the village locals, where Maddie reluctantly agrees to join in. But before long, queue the power cut and one of the party is found murdered…
I wasn’t sure what to expect but I actually enjoyed this book. All of the characters played a part in the book, some much shorter than others! They were likeable and whilst keeping a festive vibe, the writing left you suspecting everyone.
It is a little predictable but it fits with this type of cosy whodunnit. If you like the vintage style murder mystery, then this is the one to curl up with in the winter.
I wasn’t sure what to expect but I actually enjoyed this book. All of the characters played a part in the book, some much shorter than others! They were likeable and whilst keeping a festive vibe, the writing left you suspecting everyone.
It is a little predictable but it fits with this type of cosy whodunnit. If you like the vintage style murder mystery, then this is the one to curl up with in the winter.
November 8, 2024
Apologies but I'm not able to provide a full review as I got to about 20% in but this wasn't clicking for me. Maddie seems like a great character and I love the idea of a cosy, festive mystery but the Golden Age style I need to accept isn't really for me and I found that the pacing and narrative voice wasn't working for me either.
Contemporary cosy mysteries are hit and miss for my reading tastes and unfortunately this one didn't work but if you love a locked room case, if you love a cosy read in a festive setting and you like your murder mysteries unfolding at a more gentle pace then I'm sure this will work for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for a digital review copy of "The Christmas Eve Murders" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
Contemporary cosy mysteries are hit and miss for my reading tastes and unfortunately this one didn't work but if you love a locked room case, if you love a cosy read in a festive setting and you like your murder mysteries unfolding at a more gentle pace then I'm sure this will work for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for a digital review copy of "The Christmas Eve Murders" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
Read
November 21, 2024I really enjoyed this classic Christmas mystery set in Scotland. It was slightly more scary than a cozy, and the setting was really fun.
Check out my review of this and other 2024 Christmas mysteries!
Subscribe to my amazing newsletter HERE at JenRyland.com Let's be friends on Bookstagram!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
Check out my review of this and other 2024 Christmas mysteries!
Subscribe to my amazing newsletter HERE at JenRyland.com Let's be friends on Bookstagram!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
January 3, 2025
Isolated, cut-off from the world due to a snow storm, and a cozy pub. Yes please!!
This book had great atmosphere and cozy winter vibes, even with a murderer on the loose. Reminiscent of a stormy Murder She Wrote episode and Agatha Christie novel, this was a great Christmas murder mystery.
The characters were lovable (some more than others), and the plot was well-thought out. I'd love to see Maddie in another cozy mystery!!
I give this one 4.25 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus Books for this ARC!
This book had great atmosphere and cozy winter vibes, even with a murderer on the loose. Reminiscent of a stormy Murder She Wrote episode and Agatha Christie novel, this was a great Christmas murder mystery.
The characters were lovable (some more than others), and the plot was well-thought out. I'd love to see Maddie in another cozy mystery!!
I give this one 4.25 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus Books for this ARC!
December 29, 2024
3.5 - Full review coming later.
Not bad. Likeable enough characters. Had a lot of elements that I normally love (snowed in, secret passages, sneaky murders) but this one didn't quite grab me. The Christmas element wasn't by any means a focal point, so I would say this could be enjoyed at any point in the winter season.
Not bad. Likeable enough characters. Had a lot of elements that I normally love (snowed in, secret passages, sneaky murders) but this one didn't quite grab me. The Christmas element wasn't by any means a focal point, so I would say this could be enjoyed at any point in the winter season.
November 4, 2024
I really wasn't expecting to get into the festive spirit so soon, but life is full of surprises. The Christmas Eve Murders was also a surprise, and quite a pleasant one at that. Also, check out the author's name; Noelle. If that doesn't scream Christmas, I don't know what does.🎄
And so to the book. Well, The Christmas Eve Murders does exactly what it says in the blurb. It's set on Christmas Eve, and there are indeed murders. This is in essence a cosy, locked room mystery. Allow me to set the scene for you. A quaint village in the Yorkshire Dales. A a young woman, Edinburgh bound, finds herself stranded in the village after her car breaks down. There is no mobile phone reception, and it's snowing heavily. A kindly old gentleman takes her to the village inn, where she will have to stay until the snow stops. ❄
Most of the characters are likeable although, as the murder investigation progresses, they provide quite the pool of suspects. (I have to confess that Barkley was my favourite. 🐕)
If you like your mysteries cosy and festive with, a dash of humour, then treat yourself to this book. You'll be glad you did. 🎄
Thanks to Quercus Books and Netgalley for the digital ARC.
And so to the book. Well, The Christmas Eve Murders does exactly what it says in the blurb. It's set on Christmas Eve, and there are indeed murders. This is in essence a cosy, locked room mystery. Allow me to set the scene for you. A quaint village in the Yorkshire Dales. A a young woman, Edinburgh bound, finds herself stranded in the village after her car breaks down. There is no mobile phone reception, and it's snowing heavily. A kindly old gentleman takes her to the village inn, where she will have to stay until the snow stops. ❄
Most of the characters are likeable although, as the murder investigation progresses, they provide quite the pool of suspects. (I have to confess that Barkley was my favourite. 🐕)
If you like your mysteries cosy and festive with, a dash of humour, then treat yourself to this book. You'll be glad you did. 🎄
Thanks to Quercus Books and Netgalley for the digital ARC.
November 28, 2024
This is a pacy and gripping take on a cosy Christmas Eve. It is humorous and full of personality, transporting the reader to an unforgettable festive evening. It has such descriptive prose conjuring the images so vividly I wanted it to be a real place. I do hope Noelle Albright pens more books.
December 16, 2024
Verrassend leuk vermaak voor een boekje van 0,99€
December 25, 2024
Somewhat predictable but cute
December 5, 2025
Beautiful cover! But the story was disappointing - I struggled to finish it. The characters were boring and it was difficult to follow along with who was who, possibly because I wasn't interested. Not enough mystery, not enough Christmas, not enough.
December 11, 2025
Bad. Amazingly bad.
December 13, 2025
More scooby do than Miss Marple, 12 year old me would have loved it.
December 26, 2025
actual rating: 3.75
It took a little while to get into but I enjoyed it once I did. I predicted the ending (and I am not good at predicting endings) but it was one that made sense for the book and I liked that I could piece things together myself.
It took a little while to get into but I enjoyed it once I did. I predicted the ending (and I am not good at predicting endings) but it was one that made sense for the book and I liked that I could piece things together myself.
December 27, 2025
3.5 stars. This was a bit of a slow burn for me but I was invested by the end.
December 28, 2025
Very much enjoyed this cozy, Christmassy mystery! I was suspicious of everyone at some point but also enjoyed getting to know all the characters!
December 3, 2024
Very fun, just what I wanted - something light and Christmasy, but with murder.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews