What do you think?
Rate this book
Murder at the Christmas Emporium
Christmas shopping can be murder.
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 realise this is no innocent mix-up. The shoppers have been trapped here by someone who knows their darkest secrets, who 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.
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 realise this is no innocent mix-up. The shoppers have been trapped here by someone who knows their darkest secrets, who 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.
Audible Audio
Published October 24, 2024
425 people are currently reading
1568 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 220 reviews
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
November 9, 2024
Unexpectedly brilliant and original; a Wonka-esque take on the classic locked room whodunnit.
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.
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.
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.
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! 🎄
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! 🎄
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
December 8, 2025
4.25 ⭐️
Brilliant writing. Gave me Agatha Christie vibes. I enjoyed the plot & the mystery entertainment.
Brilliant writing. Gave me Agatha Christie vibes. I enjoyed the plot & the mystery entertainment.
November 28, 2025
Що ж, доволі непоганий, закручений детективчик з лондонським вайбом, пристрастями та обманом.
Написано добре, сподобалось
Написано добре, сподобалось
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.
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.
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 .,
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 .,
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.
Could not be saved by way of being 'cosy' or 'charming'.
Very odd character choices a with wild twists and forced connections.
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.
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.
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.
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.
December 20, 2025
Fun Christmas themed whodunit with a hint Willy Wonka.
December 9, 2025
"For those that survive the night, it will be a Christmas to remember."
On Christmas Eve, a handful of people are invited for a VIP experience at a legendary old emporium. It's a magical store full of beautiful, handmade toys and other wonders. But soon this special experience turns frightening as the guests wake up from drug-induced sleep to find the emporium empty and dark and realise they have been locked in. And then someone is found dead at Santa's hut.
Murder at the Christmas Emporium was everything I hoped it would be. It's a fun, addictive and occasionally genuinely creepy Christmas-themed murder mystery/thriller. I love locked room mysteries, but this one was not just that but also a locked room mystery set in a beautiful, extravagant and strange emporium that is, during the day a winter wonderland and at night, when it's all empty and quiet, a really unsettling place with all its automatons and the like. If you wanna get a sense of the place, think Willy Wonka's factory but all the candy are toys and the theme is Christmas. The plot of the book is, as a murder mystery, nothing groundbreaking (random people trapped in a place and they begin to die one by one and they have to figure out why and who is killing them) and while Cordani's writing kept me hooked and I appreciated the way she crafted this story using two central POVs at the emporium and flashbacks from all the central figures, her writing itself wasn't particularly memorable. It was good, but nothing to rave about, you know? It has become a tradition for me to read a Christmas murder story every December and this book gave me all I wanted, but it's not an all time favorite thriller.
If you don't like a book where pretty much all the characters are, in some way, horrible or at least supremely annoying, this is not the book for you. I tend to like characters that are truly messy and complex, occasionally even despicable, and I find thrillers where all characters have something dark to hide really compelling. I am not that into thrillers were the central sleuth or narrator is a good, morally upstanding person while everyone around them is sus. No, I want everyone to be sus, and this is definitely the case with this book. Some people's secrets I guessed – I knew in my heart of hearts from the beginning that – but some were surprises, such as Some characters irked me to no end (this does not mean I didn't like reading about them!), such as Evangeline – I have very little patience for the kind of women who are ready to throw all other women under the bus for the sake of male attention (yes, it is sad she was raised to believe her worth as a person is tied to what men think of her, but still) – and Dean, who is this wannabe alpha male business bro with anger issues, lowkey misogynistic vibes and a frankly icky admiration for Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. Merry was a fun narrator, cause she is someone who you kinda Benjamin and Josie were both interesting in their own ways and had me both rooting for them and shaking my head at them. I think Josie was, in the end, the character I found the most
The mystery was satisfying and I liked all the little clues the author laid out. There were plenty of delightfully creepy stuff happening from dolls seemingly moving on their own to people sneaking around in secret passageways Phantom of the Opera style. I liked that I was able to guess some aspects of the ending - for example I just knew that – while really not seeing a lot of it coming. I knew the narrator of the prologue, who keeps popping up in the later flashbacks, would have something to do with the story but I did not guess that In stories like these, where seemingly random people are lured to a specific place and locked there, there is always a reason for why these specific people have been invited. It was fun to figure out just why This might sound a bit weird, but I have to say I also appreciated that this book was genuinely bloody, which made the stakes feel really high because you just knew no one was truly safe.
One aspect of the novel that I think could've used a bit more attention and time was the story of Peggy Goodchild, this young black woman who had been hired, back in the 19th century, by the Verity family to make toys for them and who had become something of a celebrity, a crucial aspect of the Verity family's business brand. The doll likeness of her created by the Veritys is a key fixture in this story but while we learn about the real woman behind the doll, that story felt a bit unfinished. Through this character Cordani makes a handful of comments on British imperialism during the 19th century, but doesn't dive that much deeper. We do find out the truth about Peggy but not all of it, which did kinda annoy me as I thought, considering how often she and the doll were discussed, it would end up becoming somehow relevant to the plot. I did like that The Peggy Goodchild plot line was perhaps the biggest letdown of the book for me.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a compelling, fast-paced Christmas-themed murder mystery thriller and doesn't mind a cast of rather shitty characters. The atmosphere of the store is wonderful and Cordani balances character development, creepy shenanigans and action well. I would happily read more thrillers from her in the future.
On Christmas Eve, a handful of people are invited for a VIP experience at a legendary old emporium. It's a magical store full of beautiful, handmade toys and other wonders. But soon this special experience turns frightening as the guests wake up from drug-induced sleep to find the emporium empty and dark and realise they have been locked in. And then someone is found dead at Santa's hut.
Murder at the Christmas Emporium was everything I hoped it would be. It's a fun, addictive and occasionally genuinely creepy Christmas-themed murder mystery/thriller. I love locked room mysteries, but this one was not just that but also a locked room mystery set in a beautiful, extravagant and strange emporium that is, during the day a winter wonderland and at night, when it's all empty and quiet, a really unsettling place with all its automatons and the like. If you wanna get a sense of the place, think Willy Wonka's factory but all the candy are toys and the theme is Christmas. The plot of the book is, as a murder mystery, nothing groundbreaking (random people trapped in a place and they begin to die one by one and they have to figure out why and who is killing them) and while Cordani's writing kept me hooked and I appreciated the way she crafted this story using two central POVs at the emporium and flashbacks from all the central figures, her writing itself wasn't particularly memorable. It was good, but nothing to rave about, you know? It has become a tradition for me to read a Christmas murder story every December and this book gave me all I wanted, but it's not an all time favorite thriller.
If you don't like a book where pretty much all the characters are, in some way, horrible or at least supremely annoying, this is not the book for you. I tend to like characters that are truly messy and complex, occasionally even despicable, and I find thrillers where all characters have something dark to hide really compelling. I am not that into thrillers were the central sleuth or narrator is a good, morally upstanding person while everyone around them is sus. No, I want everyone to be sus, and this is definitely the case with this book. Some people's secrets I guessed – I knew in my heart of hearts from the beginning that – but some were surprises, such as Some characters irked me to no end (this does not mean I didn't like reading about them!), such as Evangeline – I have very little patience for the kind of women who are ready to throw all other women under the bus for the sake of male attention (yes, it is sad she was raised to believe her worth as a person is tied to what men think of her, but still) – and Dean, who is this wannabe alpha male business bro with anger issues, lowkey misogynistic vibes and a frankly icky admiration for Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. Merry was a fun narrator, cause she is someone who you kinda Benjamin and Josie were both interesting in their own ways and had me both rooting for them and shaking my head at them. I think Josie was, in the end, the character I found the most
The mystery was satisfying and I liked all the little clues the author laid out. There were plenty of delightfully creepy stuff happening from dolls seemingly moving on their own to people sneaking around in secret passageways Phantom of the Opera style. I liked that I was able to guess some aspects of the ending - for example I just knew that – while really not seeing a lot of it coming. I knew the narrator of the prologue, who keeps popping up in the later flashbacks, would have something to do with the story but I did not guess that In stories like these, where seemingly random people are lured to a specific place and locked there, there is always a reason for why these specific people have been invited. It was fun to figure out just why This might sound a bit weird, but I have to say I also appreciated that this book was genuinely bloody, which made the stakes feel really high because you just knew no one was truly safe.
One aspect of the novel that I think could've used a bit more attention and time was the story of Peggy Goodchild, this young black woman who had been hired, back in the 19th century, by the Verity family to make toys for them and who had become something of a celebrity, a crucial aspect of the Verity family's business brand. The doll likeness of her created by the Veritys is a key fixture in this story but while we learn about the real woman behind the doll, that story felt a bit unfinished. Through this character Cordani makes a handful of comments on British imperialism during the 19th century, but doesn't dive that much deeper. We do find out the truth about Peggy but not all of it, which did kinda annoy me as I thought, considering how often she and the doll were discussed, it would end up becoming somehow relevant to the plot. I did like that The Peggy Goodchild plot line was perhaps the biggest letdown of the book for me.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a compelling, fast-paced Christmas-themed murder mystery thriller and doesn't mind a cast of rather shitty characters. The atmosphere of the store is wonderful and Cordani balances character development, creepy shenanigans and action well. I would happily read more thrillers from her in the future.
December 3, 2025
2.5 rounded up to 3
Willy Wonka meets Clue meets a locked-room mystery with a Christmas twist sounded like such a fun and quirky setup — and truly, the premise is what made me pick this up. But the execution fell flat for me.
The characters never felt fully fleshed out, and any attempts at growth or evolution didn’t really land in a meaningful way. Nothing surprised me, nothing felt impactful, and overall the cast came across as dull and predictable, which made it hard to stay invested in their story.
Around 20% in, I genuinely wondered if I had missed something because the pacing felt so slow and oddly boring despite how whimsical the world was supposed to be. I even thought about re-listening, but the deeper I got, the more I realized it wasn’t me — the story just wasn’t gripping.
The trapped-in-a-toy-emporium setup should have created tension and magical creepiness, but instead it felt anticlimactic. The plot leans heavily into unrealistic elements (which is fine!) but without enough payoff to balance it. Large chunks felt unnecessary or overly detailed, dragging the story out without adding much.
It had all the potential to be clever, fun, and atmospheric… but for me, it ended up being bland, predictable, and far less engaging than the premise promised.
Willy Wonka meets Clue meets a locked-room mystery with a Christmas twist sounded like such a fun and quirky setup — and truly, the premise is what made me pick this up. But the execution fell flat for me.
The characters never felt fully fleshed out, and any attempts at growth or evolution didn’t really land in a meaningful way. Nothing surprised me, nothing felt impactful, and overall the cast came across as dull and predictable, which made it hard to stay invested in their story.
Around 20% in, I genuinely wondered if I had missed something because the pacing felt so slow and oddly boring despite how whimsical the world was supposed to be. I even thought about re-listening, but the deeper I got, the more I realized it wasn’t me — the story just wasn’t gripping.
The trapped-in-a-toy-emporium setup should have created tension and magical creepiness, but instead it felt anticlimactic. The plot leans heavily into unrealistic elements (which is fine!) but without enough payoff to balance it. Large chunks felt unnecessary or overly detailed, dragging the story out without adding much.
It had all the potential to be clever, fun, and atmospheric… but for me, it ended up being bland, predictable, and far less engaging than the premise promised.
December 20, 2024
Reader, I was lied to.
December 6, 2024
‘Murder At The Christmas Emporium’ by Andreina Cordani is an atmospheric and creepy dose of Christmas crime set in a wonderful and magical department store full of handmade toys and gifts… and danger! The main character, Merry (born on Christmas Day, of course) blags her way into a VIP late night Christmas Eve shopping experience, determined to acquire the most perfect gift imaginable for Ross, whose romantic commitment she is eager to secure. Her fellow invitees are a varied mix of TV personalities, antiques enthusiasts and influencers, each of whom have secrets to keep and stories of Christmases past to share. Soon, the bloodshed begins…
I liked the vividly described setting, which reminded me of an amped up cross between Oxford Street Selfridges and the fabulous store in the film ‘Jingle Jangle’. There were so many twisted connections and mysterious snippets across time to unravel, and a clever conclusion - great ingredients in a thriller. National TV treasure Fran in particular had a very intriguing backstory, and I was eager throughout the book to learn more.
I didn’t feel very connected to Merry and her motivations, and so her story took a while to come together for me, making the novel less addictive. However, I still finished in a couple of days as it was a fantastically quick read.
Overall, this gets 3.5 stars from me! I absolutely recommend it for festive thrills.
I received a Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Bonnier Books UK via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I liked the vividly described setting, which reminded me of an amped up cross between Oxford Street Selfridges and the fabulous store in the film ‘Jingle Jangle’. There were so many twisted connections and mysterious snippets across time to unravel, and a clever conclusion - great ingredients in a thriller. National TV treasure Fran in particular had a very intriguing backstory, and I was eager throughout the book to learn more.
I didn’t feel very connected to Merry and her motivations, and so her story took a while to come together for me, making the novel less addictive. However, I still finished in a couple of days as it was a fantastically quick read.
Overall, this gets 3.5 stars from me! I absolutely recommend it for festive thrills.
I received a Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Bonnier Books UK via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
November 23, 2025
Filled with Christmas spirit!
In a world of big stores and abundance there is a little shop hidden deep in London that is filled with beautiful handcrafted items where one can find that perfect and unique gift. Entrance into this shop is by invitation only and patrons feel grateful for the opportunity to enter. It is Christmas Eve and the current shoppers are having trouble leaving this magical place, and then they discover that they can’t leave. What began as a privileged adventure has become an escapade to survive.
This was delightful to read, the perfect book for a snowy day during the holidays. I appreciate the locked room thriller with a Christmas theme and it was actually a little dark. I picked up on some Willy Wonka type vibes which made this book feel a little nostalgic.
The audio narration was fantastic performed by Katherine Press.
Thank you Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and the author for this ALC in exchange for my honest review. This book is currently available for purchase
In a world of big stores and abundance there is a little shop hidden deep in London that is filled with beautiful handcrafted items where one can find that perfect and unique gift. Entrance into this shop is by invitation only and patrons feel grateful for the opportunity to enter. It is Christmas Eve and the current shoppers are having trouble leaving this magical place, and then they discover that they can’t leave. What began as a privileged adventure has become an escapade to survive.
This was delightful to read, the perfect book for a snowy day during the holidays. I appreciate the locked room thriller with a Christmas theme and it was actually a little dark. I picked up on some Willy Wonka type vibes which made this book feel a little nostalgic.
The audio narration was fantastic performed by Katherine Press.
Thank you Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and the author for this ALC in exchange for my honest review. This book is currently available for purchase
December 8, 2025
3.5 rounding up. This is a fun locked room Christmas themed murder mystery with plenty of dirty secrets. While I did guess who the mastermind was, I didn’t guess one of the big twists and that was a nice surprise. Weirdly, I wish we got more of a backstory on Peggy the automaton and that the villain’s machinations were a little more believable
Merry steals her boss’ invite to a VIP gathering at the Emporium, an old school toy store that only allows a select few through the doors. However, once she’s inside she and the rest of the guests find themselves trapped with a dead body and at the whim of the mastermind who knows all their terrible secrets
I guessed the villain from the earliest flashback chapter but it still made knowing the connection to each person a lot of fun. The villain did feel really over the top and inconsistent with their manipulations and I found the ending too dramatic for my taste. As long as you don’t mind frequent flashbacks and a lot of revenge, this is a great holiday murder mystery
Merry steals her boss’ invite to a VIP gathering at the Emporium, an old school toy store that only allows a select few through the doors. However, once she’s inside she and the rest of the guests find themselves trapped with a dead body and at the whim of the mastermind who knows all their terrible secrets
I guessed the villain from the earliest flashback chapter but it still made knowing the connection to each person a lot of fun. The villain did feel really over the top and inconsistent with their manipulations and I found the ending too dramatic for my taste. As long as you don’t mind frequent flashbacks and a lot of revenge, this is a great holiday murder mystery
December 23, 2024
I devoured this !! AgathaChristie-esque whilst also having so many wonderful back stories and Cordani touches.
I found the characters to be well developed and I liked the different past and present points of view. Also reading this a few days before Christmas Day is quite thrilling and magical (if that doesn't sound too odd considering this is a murder mystery).
I found this through the Libby Library app and downloaded it on my IPad. I am so thrilled to find new authors that I love and I will definitely be reading more by Andreina Cordani !!
Rita turning out to be Peggy was a 360 back flip that I did not see coming !! However, it made so much sense and wrapped the story up quite nicely. There was no stone left unturned in this book.
I found the characters to be well developed and I liked the different past and present points of view. Also reading this a few days before Christmas Day is quite thrilling and magical (if that doesn't sound too odd considering this is a murder mystery).
I found this through the Libby Library app and downloaded it on my IPad. I am so thrilled to find new authors that I love and I will definitely be reading more by Andreina Cordani !!
Rita turning out to be Peggy was a 360 back flip that I did not see coming !! However, it made so much sense and wrapped the story up quite nicely. There was no stone left unturned in this book.
December 19, 2025
I would probably rate this book 3.5 overall. 6 individuals are selected seemingly at random to visit the Christmas Emporium, a place oozing history and secrets of the Verity Family. However, as the hours go on, they become locked in the emporium with a murderer and it becomes apparent that their selection wasn't so random after all. It was good, and I liked how every character had a link to one another.
December 23, 2025
I enjoyed this one - twists and turns, flashbacks and creepy mini versions of the characters kept me guessing for a long time.
I partly worked out a couple of things, but didn't see the final link that brought everything together.
I felt that losing the last part of the last chapter would have given it a better ending. It felt like it was only added to give another twist, and I honestly didn't think it needed it.
Definitely one to recommend, but not for a cosy Christmas read.
I partly worked out a couple of things, but didn't see the final link that brought everything together.
I felt that losing the last part of the last chapter would have given it a better ending. It felt like it was only added to give another twist, and I honestly didn't think it needed it.
Definitely one to recommend, but not for a cosy Christmas read.
November 5, 2025
I’m a little bit speechless over this book! I was hooked from the very beginning with the magical toy store setting and the cast of interesting characters. I couldn’t stop trying to piece everything together as the author slowly built the suspense into a PERFECT finale! Truly a must read especially during the Christmas season.
December 9, 2025
Absolutely loved this book! It's complex and twisty - A group of strangers trapped together with too many secrets that come back to haunt them! The author writes the characters stories well and everything all links together, completing the story!
A unexpectedly brilliant and engaging murder mystery!
A unexpectedly brilliant and engaging murder mystery!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews