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Murder at the Christmas Emporium: A Novel

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In this brilliant follow up to The Twelve Days of Murder, a group of Christmas shoppers discover the doors have been locked and that they’ve been trapped by someone who knows their darkest secrets.

It's Christmas Eve at the Emporium, a bespoke gift shop hidden in the depths of London's winding streets, where a select few shoppers are browsing its handcrafted delights.

But when they go to leave, they find the doors are locked and it isn't long before they realize this is no innocent mix-up. The shoppers have been trapped here by someone who knows their darkest secrets, someone will stop at nothing until they have all been unwrapped—and there is a gruesome gift waiting in Santa's grotto . . .

For those that survive the night, it will be a Christmas to remember.

352 pages, Hardcover

Published November 4, 2025

202 people are currently reading
1663 people want to read

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Andreina Cordani

10 books70 followers

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5 stars
303 (16%)
4 stars
687 (36%)
3 stars
666 (35%)
2 stars
179 (9%)
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36 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 297 reviews
Profile Image for Thibault Busschots.
Author 6 books207 followers
December 22, 2025
So here it is, Merry Christmas. Everybody's having fun.
Look to the future, if you have one. Because it's only just begun.


Peggy has fond memories of her dad at the Emporium, an almost magical Christmas shop that had been open since Victorian times. And she remembers that fascinating automaton in the store, Clockwork Peg.

Merry is a bit grumpy and usually isn’t into Christmas, though this time she’s spending Christmas with her best friend. When she receives an invitation to go to the Emporium, she can’t help but go. She wants to buy her best friend the best Christmas gift she can find.

Fran is a reality TV host. Her mother took her to the Emporium when she was four, she’s been hooked on Christmas ever since. When the Emporium opens its doors again, she can’t resist the temptation.

What they don’t realize is that the re-opened Emporium is one big trap, where secrets from the past will be revealed and where death lurks around every corner. Who will be able to make it out alive?


It’s a story that takes its time to introduce us to the characters and build up the suspense. But the story is all the better for it. It starts out quite slow and cozy, but with a hint of Christmas magic. And then it turns into somewhat of a Christmas version of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.


There are a lot of characters to keep track of and a lot of flashbacks are woven into the story. Some suspension of disbelief is also required, but nothing too over the top.


It’s a rather complicated but satisfying murder mystery with a few good twists and a hint of Christmas magic sprinkled over it. The main characters are fleshed out well and easy to root for, yet they also have an interesting flair of mystery about them. Overall, a very entertaining Christmas murder mystery thriller. I’ll be rounding this up to the full five stars as I really enjoyed this one.
Profile Image for Ірина Грабовська.
Author 11 books615 followers
December 22, 2025
Не знаю, мені все сподобалось. Рейт щось дуже низький. Ну так, воно від початку було ясно все, але кріпова атмосфера різдвяна таки дуже симпатична вийшла.
Profile Image for Понкратова Людмила.
217 reviews52 followers
December 27, 2025
Я поставлю 5. Неочікувано дуже сподобалося. Прекрасний переклад, захопливий сюжет, цікаві образи головних героїв, а їх, дійсно, було немало і кожен мав свою особисту історію (таємну). Сподобалися вставки, присвячені фрагментам з минулого життя персонажів. Взагалі це справжній різдвяний (зимовий) трилер з нотами горрору. Місцями лячно, особливо, коли події відбувалися в цьому самому дивному Емпорії...
Гарно написано, як на мене. Єдине турбує, що це не підійде тим читачам, хто хоче чогось легкого і веселого напередодні різдвяних свят, а цей роман ну зовсім не веселий, а дуже атмосферний, камерний, гороррний.
Цікаво! Буду й надалі спостерігати за творчістю Андрейни Кордані. Отримала задоволення від прочитання!
Profile Image for Michael.
360 reviews46 followers
December 5, 2025
A perfectly ok title on the rapidly expanding Christmas mystery shelf. Unfortunately I knew whodunit right away, but I missed the “big” twist lurking in the background. The ending is ludicrous, but enjoyable in a Murder She Wrote kind of way, and I also enjoyed the hoops the writer had to jump through to make it work. Mileage will vary by readers and how many absurdities they can swallow. My biggest problem was most of the book was very flat, there’s a ton of backstory on every character and it would have been better to organically show the reader who these people are through the action on the page. It could have also benefited from some humor, bigger kills, interesting kills tied to Christmas. I wanted Die Hard, meets Agatha Christie, also more use of the automatons…I can’t say more without spoiling, but readers will know what I mean.
Profile Image for Kristen.
2,608 reviews88 followers
November 24, 2025
I absolutely LOVED this book!!!

This is a super well-constructed, cleverly conceived and beautifully paced story that kept me reading fast and furious all the way through.

Technically this is a "locked room" mystery, but it is so much more than that. It is a complex, twisty plot about a bunch of people with issues and bad things who all end up trapped inside a magical Christmas store on Christmas Eve and have to figure out what's going on and why and it was a cracking good story!

There is definitely a nod here to Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" but this book has its own story to tell and the author tells it very effectively.

I never try to figure out who the killer is when I read murder mysteries, but in retrospect I think there are enough clues given for those who do like to figure things out before the reveal to do that.

The characters in this story are a big group of people with a whole bunch of secrets that come back to haunt them, and the way the author drips out the details was very engaging.

I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a complex, multi-layered twisty murder mystery.
Profile Image for Zarina.
1,127 reviews152 followers
November 9, 2024
Unexpectedly brilliant and original; a Wonka-esque take on the classic locked room whodunnit.
Profile Image for Igor Mogilnyak.
592 reviews64 followers
December 25, 2025
3,5⭐️

Однозначно краще за 12 вбивчих днів. Знову а-ля гра тут, і фінал потішив, прям до останньої сторінки. Хто уважний, то може щось і відгадати, я навіть не старався, бо місцями все заплутано, хоч і ясно шо дві лінії між собою повʼязані. Місцями навіть на горор трохи схоже. Крч такі фінали мені подобаються.
Profile Image for Mara Miniaci.
559 reviews8 followers
August 7, 2025
This book just wasn't it for me.

It started off very promisingly— I was intrigued & ready to dive into the mystery. But by the time I hit the 20% mark, I began losing focus. The plot started feeling all over the place & my attention just drifted away.

As for the main character… Merry was such a bore. Her name didn’t help either — plus, of course, she was born on Christmas Day, just to round out the cliché. I didn’t feel connected to her at all. 😴

The only positive element in the story was the setting of the Christmas Emporium. That part was lovely & nostalgic, giving major "Home Alone" toy store vibes, & I could just picture myself walking through the aisles, surrounded by vintage holiday decor & fun toys 🥹.

The pacing wasn’t necessarily bad, but the mystery lacked a certain element of surprise. Whenever something happened, I could see it coming from miles away. The story kept dragging on & on, so much so that I had a hard time getting through it & just wanted it to be over.

As for the writing style? It was okay. Nothing to complain about, but also nothing particularly memorable about it.
Profile Image for Danni The Girl.
713 reviews37 followers
January 2, 2025
DNF 42%
I just could not get into the zone with this book. All I know is that there was a character called Fran. Nothing else stayed with me or engaged me.
Profile Image for Kris Huynh.
29 reviews
November 20, 2024
SPOILER ALERT: The so-called “murder mystery” won’t be in the same room with us until 30% pages in. I felt like I’d used up all my patience with this book.

And even when the “mystery” happened, it was very much like “this happened because the author said so”, very staged and unconvincing.

What a boring and disappointing read for me. :/ Too bad cause I was really excited starting this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Tetyana Veselkova.
98 reviews1 follower
January 8, 2026
Сподіваюсь, наступного разу авторка постарається краще.
Бажання подивитись, чим усе закінчиться, мотивувало дочитати книгу до кінця.
Проте зразу було очевидно, хто вбивця. Не прикіпіла до героїв, не завжди мотивація їхніх дій була зрозумілою й обґрунтованою.
Вкінці прописаний трохи цікавий поворот, тому не 2, а 3 😁
Profile Image for Sarah.
122 reviews
December 19, 2024
Total Agatha Christie vibes!

I really enjoyed how the plot continued to thicken and the characters developed in each chapter.

If you like reading “who done it?” books, then this is a book for you! It’s even got a Christmas theme to have you feeling festive! 🎄
Profile Image for Lucy.
428 reviews5 followers
January 6, 2025
Perhaps 2.5? Annoyed I didn't finish this before the end of the year.
Could not be saved by way of being 'cosy' or 'charming'.
Very odd character choices a with wild twists and forced connections.
Profile Image for Yasya Kh.
94 reviews
January 12, 2026
not my usual genre, i was reading it for a book club. it was rather entertaining first two thirds of the book but the ending is too illogical for me.
Profile Image for Brian Clegg.
Author 162 books3,180 followers
December 1, 2025
It's that time again when it's somehow seasonal to mix Christmas and murder - and few do it more dramatically than Andreina Cordani in this far-fetched but entertaining Christmas horror.

The setting is Verity's Emporium - architecturally a smaller version of London's Liberty's, though hidden away in a Rowling-style back alley. Specialising in handmade toys, this is a Christmas shopping magnet, and a small group of individuals are invited along for a VIP night - only to find themselves drugged and locked in overnight as one by one they are picked off.

I'm not a huge fan of non-linear narratives, and Cordani does a lot of leaping about, combining a main storyline of that fateful night with chapters that take each of the main characters into their past, gradually uncovering why they were invited and who is responsible for their fate.

Cordani just stays on the real world side of fantasy (some of the automata in the shop are distinctly beyond practical reality), but there is certainly a magic feel to the setting as the guests slide gradually into a horrific situation.

There are several twists along the way, both involving the reason the guests have been chosen, and who is behind it all. But the reason I can't give it more than three stars is in part it's a bit too grim for a Christmas-set mystery - we generally want cosy mysteries for Christmas - in part because there's rather too much soul searching from the characters, suggesting a depth that the storyline doesn't support, and finally because the ending is not one many readers are likely to want. I did enjoy the book as a whole, and in parts it's definitely a page-turner, but I found it too depressing for a Christmas read.
Profile Image for Laura Bradley-Twinning.
54 reviews1 follower
January 2, 2026
Murder at the Christmas Emporium
My final read of 2025

I really wanted to love this one. The blurb had me completely hooked, and I went in expecting a cosy, twisty festive mystery. Instead, I spent the first quarter of the book feeling pretty lost. The chapter name changes didn’t seem to match the way the story had started, and it left me confused and struggling to settle into the plot.

The ending wasn’t too bad, but overall the book just didn’t deliver what it promised. I found myself pushing through rather than enjoying it, and it took me much longer to finish than I expected.

A great premise, but sadly a let‑down in execution. 2 stars.
Profile Image for Wanetta.
140 reviews1 follower
December 8, 2025
4.25 ⭐️

Brilliant writing. Gave me Agatha Christie vibes. I enjoyed the plot & the mystery entertainment.
Profile Image for Mila Barça.
24 reviews1 follower
November 28, 2025
Що ж, доволі непоганий, закручений детективчик з лондонським вайбом, пристрастями та обманом.
Написано добре, сподобалось
Profile Image for Sanjay L.
83 reviews2 followers
December 7, 2025
Such a slow start and it drags on. Was very excited by the premise but didn’t live up to the hype. This would’ve been much more fun as a fantasy Christmas novel. Not one I’d share with pals.
Profile Image for The Cookster.
618 reviews68 followers
September 26, 2024
Rating: 4.5/5

Having previously aimed her work at the Young Adult market, this is Andreina Cordani's second novel pitched at the more senior age bracket. Her first, "The Twelve Days of Murder" made for enjoyable reading, but lacked a certain something that prevented it from being right up there with the best in the genre. However, "Murder at the Christmas Emporium" is a far more accomplished offering that ranks amongst the best books I have read this year.

Whilst I can understand the marketing reasons for deliberately pitching this as a seasonal mystery, that narrow frame of reference does this novel something of a disservice. Yes, it is set over the Xmas period, but you don't need to restrict your reading of it to that same time of year in order to appreciate the qualities of this book.

Although it is in contemporary London, there is a frequent (deliberate) feeling of Victoriana about this story. The character of Montagu Verity, with his unique Emporium, creates an enticing backdrop. His showman's persona is reminiscent of Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka, with the same sense of being enigmatically sinister. He has a mysterious background and a specialist approach to his toy making business. He also seems to have an inexplicable knowledge of his guests and their true desires. Their very presence, by personal invitation only, echoes Wonka's Golden Tickets. In addition to these comparisons with Willy Wonka (again, very much deliberate on the part of the author) there are hints of "The Phantom of the Opera" and Dickens' "Oliver Twist, courtesy of Fagin-style thieving orphans.

Andreina Cordani creates a wonderfully atmospheric setting, but then embroiders it with a compelling murder mystery too. Gradually, via historical flashbacks from the viewpoints of the cast of characters, the clues are revealed and the truth emerges. There is claustrophobic tension, clever plotting and carefully planned, legitimate twists - there is no cheating of the audience going on here! This is a truly well-rounded murder mystery - high quality and atmospheric, penned by an author who is well on her way to being a master manipulator.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Emma  🩷.
31 reviews17 followers
October 30, 2024
What an unexpected surprise, I absolutely devoured this beautifully written Christmas thriller.

A selected group of shoppers are locked in the emporium on Christmas Eve, before long they start to realise that this is no coincidence.

‘And then there were none’ meets ‘ Charlie and the chocolate factory’ - who will survive until Christmas Day?

A great Christmas read .,

Profile Image for Alix.
490 reviews121 followers
November 11, 2025
3.5 stars

This was an entertaining mystery that definitely got me in the Christmas spirit, though it was darker than I expected. The story unfolds through multiple POVs, with each character connected to the same mysterious figure. I was most intrigued by this person, as they play a major role in the central mystery. The Emporium itself has secrets of its own and a haunting past that added to the intrigue. I also loved the vivid descriptions of the Emporium; it truly felt like a magical place, a Christmas wonderland with an unsettling edge.

I enjoyed piecing together the mystery and following the threads that tied everyone together, though I did think it dragged in parts. The pacing is quite slow and once it became clear who was behind the murders, the tension waned a bit. There were still a few surprises near the end though. Overall, this was an engaging Christmas mystery even if most of the characters were unlikable and the story moved a little too slowly at times.
Profile Image for Rae.
566 reviews43 followers
November 23, 2025
This was a darker take on the festive thriller genre! Like all your Christmas nightmares come to life.

A group of VIP guests are locked in a vintage Christmas department store by a Poundland Wonka handing out sus hot chocolates. Then the bodies start to pile up...

For some reason, despite being a veritable bloodbath, this still managed to feel Christmassy... in a super messed-up way!

Secrets, deception, gaslamps, automata, booby traps, creepy corridors, firelight, and a grisly grotto - Murder at the Christmas Emporium is a seasonal mystery on steroids.

I loved it.
Profile Image for Kate | Date With A Thriller.
523 reviews33 followers
December 26, 2025
I loved how this one started out cozy and quickly became dark! 🙌

The Emporium gives off some very magical cozy vibes! I had a feeling about who was behind it all early on, but I still enjoyed the read! Narration was done well also! Definitely recommend putting this one on your list for next Christmas, especially if you like dark whodunnits! 👏

Thank you to Pegasus Books for the gifted finished hardcover copy in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
Profile Image for Lindsey.
11 reviews1 follower
December 20, 2025
Fun Christmas themed whodunit with a hint Willy Wonka.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 297 reviews

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