What do you think?
Rate this book
Runaway Santa
A BRAND NEW Christmas comedy from the best-selling authors of the Clovenhoof books.
Christmas at Hedgelord Garden Centre should be simple—trees, tinsel, and a grotto full of jolly Santas. But when one of those Santas goes rogue and films an incriminating adult movie, with Hedgelord’s grotto as the backdrop, sales manager Charlotte Mitchell finds herself in the middle of a festive disaster.
The only way to save Hedgelord’s reputation is to track down the wayward Santa and secure the footage before it’s released. Unfortunately, she’s not the only one on the case — Jack Hartigan, her infuriatingly charming rival from Bloomers garden centre, is also in pursuit. Worse still, Santa has already fled to Lapland.
With time running out and disaster closing in, Charlotte abandons her responsibilities and embarks on a chaotic, high-stakes chase across Europe by sea, rail, and air — all while stuck with Jack at her side.
Runaway Santa delivers a tale of gangsters, gunmen, and unexpected corpses.
With Hedgelord’s future hanging by a thread, can Charlotte outrun disaster, outwit her enemies, and save Christmas?
Christmas at Hedgelord Garden Centre should be simple—trees, tinsel, and a grotto full of jolly Santas. But when one of those Santas goes rogue and films an incriminating adult movie, with Hedgelord’s grotto as the backdrop, sales manager Charlotte Mitchell finds herself in the middle of a festive disaster.
The only way to save Hedgelord’s reputation is to track down the wayward Santa and secure the footage before it’s released. Unfortunately, she’s not the only one on the case — Jack Hartigan, her infuriatingly charming rival from Bloomers garden centre, is also in pursuit. Worse still, Santa has already fled to Lapland.
With time running out and disaster closing in, Charlotte abandons her responsibilities and embarks on a chaotic, high-stakes chase across Europe by sea, rail, and air — all while stuck with Jack at her side.
Runaway Santa delivers a tale of gangsters, gunmen, and unexpected corpses.
With Hedgelord’s future hanging by a thread, can Charlotte outrun disaster, outwit her enemies, and save Christmas?
426 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2025
8 people are currently reading
3 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 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 21, 2025
We’re back at Hedgelord Garden Centre the week after the events of book one as Christmas is getting ever closer and it’s full speed ahead on all their attractions aimed at luring in the crowds. However it’s not a case of festive joy when Charlotte and Jack learn that blue movies involving Santas, a plastic reindeer and a turkey, and featuring both Hedgelord and rival Bloomers, are about to be sold off by a rogue elf and plastered all over the internet. Meanwhile Luka and Gallagher are being leaned on by an even bigger criminal than last time and have some very near fatal accidents. As Charlotte and Jack pool their resources and take off across Europe in a mission to retrieve the (very) offensive videos, elf Anika steps into the breach, juggling carriage rides, doggy grottos, children by the score and a dead body or two. Will it all end in tragedy or triumph?
This is a second very cleverly written and hilarious story in the trilogy. The main characters are joined by Karen, Sophie, Daffyd and Gillespie once again. All the characters are vividly painted and mostly likeable, still I think Luka is my favourite although this time bumbling boss Cameron comes a very close second! After a cracking ending, I can’t wait to read book 3, Rise of The Elves, to see if they all make it to the big day! 5*
This is a second very cleverly written and hilarious story in the trilogy. The main characters are joined by Karen, Sophie, Daffyd and Gillespie once again. All the characters are vividly painted and mostly likeable, still I think Luka is my favourite although this time bumbling boss Cameron comes a very close second! After a cracking ending, I can’t wait to read book 3, Rise of The Elves, to see if they all make it to the big day! 5*
September 29, 2025
"Runaway Santa," the second book in the "Festive and the Furious" series by Iain Grant and Heide Goody, is a fast-paced and hilarious Christmas adventure.
The story kicks off with sales manager Charlotte Mitchell trying to salvage her company's reputation after the evil machinations of a duplicitous Christmas elf, result in a public relations disaster.
To clean up the mess, Charlotte reluctantly joins forces with her rival, Jack Hartigan, for a frantic chase across Europe. The book is filled with the authors' signature witty banter, outlandish situations, and plenty of chaotic fun.
Grant and Goody expertly blend crime and comedy, making this a perfect read for anyone who enjoys zany plots and sharp dialogue.
With "Runaway Santa," Iain Grant and Heide Goody once again prove their mastery of comedic chaos.
The writing duo, based in the Midlands of the UK, have been collaborating since 2011. They are perhaps best known for their popular Clovenhoof series, which follows the misadventures of a redundant Satan exiled to suburban England. Their other works, such as the Oddjobs series, which chronicles a government agency tasked with managing the apocalypse, showcase their talent for blending the mundane with the fantastical for hilarious results.
Fans of their unique brand of witty, fast-paced humour will find "Runaway Santa" to be a worthy addition to their collection.
The story kicks off with sales manager Charlotte Mitchell trying to salvage her company's reputation after the evil machinations of a duplicitous Christmas elf, result in a public relations disaster.
To clean up the mess, Charlotte reluctantly joins forces with her rival, Jack Hartigan, for a frantic chase across Europe. The book is filled with the authors' signature witty banter, outlandish situations, and plenty of chaotic fun.
Grant and Goody expertly blend crime and comedy, making this a perfect read for anyone who enjoys zany plots and sharp dialogue.
With "Runaway Santa," Iain Grant and Heide Goody once again prove their mastery of comedic chaos.
The writing duo, based in the Midlands of the UK, have been collaborating since 2011. They are perhaps best known for their popular Clovenhoof series, which follows the misadventures of a redundant Satan exiled to suburban England. Their other works, such as the Oddjobs series, which chronicles a government agency tasked with managing the apocalypse, showcase their talent for blending the mundane with the fantastical for hilarious results.
Fans of their unique brand of witty, fast-paced humour will find "Runaway Santa" to be a worthy addition to their collection.
August 30, 2025
Runaway Santa by Heide Goody & Iain Grant.
Not to defame Heide but the advertising for this book says fiction, based on her experience playing Mrs Claus at a garden centre. From the obvious glee that shines through this story, I'm just convinced that it would be based on true stories, had she had the opportunity/an alibi.
Another great read from Grant/Goody, I'm really enjoying the world of Hedgelord! The characters are still people I know & with this entry I found myself really invested in Charlotte's love life & Anika's burgeoning career.
Strangely from this pair, in a Christmas book which features reindeer, horses, dogs & children, there are no festive donkeys! I assume they'll show up in book 3.
Heartily recommended for a fun, funny, warm read which works as a standalone whilst setting up nicely for the end of the trilogy.
Not to defame Heide but the advertising for this book says fiction, based on her experience playing Mrs Claus at a garden centre. From the obvious glee that shines through this story, I'm just convinced that it would be based on true stories, had she had the opportunity/an alibi.
Another great read from Grant/Goody, I'm really enjoying the world of Hedgelord! The characters are still people I know & with this entry I found myself really invested in Charlotte's love life & Anika's burgeoning career.
Strangely from this pair, in a Christmas book which features reindeer, horses, dogs & children, there are no festive donkeys! I assume they'll show up in book 3.
Heartily recommended for a fun, funny, warm read which works as a standalone whilst setting up nicely for the end of the trilogy.
September 10, 2025
If they ever decide to start making Carry On Movies again, I know who I would tap up for writing duties. This has all the slapstick, and humour carried across from the first book, just turned up a little bit.
To go too far into the plot would spoil it, suffice to say we are chasing Elves across Europe, discovering some Santas' should be on the naughty list, and Christmas parties should be avoided at all costs. We get to dive further into the home life of Anika, and the very different love life's of Charlotte and Sophie.
And can't forget Luka and Gallagher, who's plot line is left dangling ready for book 3.
Looking forward to seeing how it all wraps up
To go too far into the plot would spoil it, suffice to say we are chasing Elves across Europe, discovering some Santas' should be on the naughty list, and Christmas parties should be avoided at all costs. We get to dive further into the home life of Anika, and the very different love life's of Charlotte and Sophie.
And can't forget Luka and Gallagher, who's plot line is left dangling ready for book 3.
Looking forward to seeing how it all wraps up
October 5, 2025
The antics of the crew at Hedgelord Garden Centre continues with Charlotte and Jack (from Bloomers) race around Europe trying to find a former Hedgelord elf with a couple movies of an - ahem - adult nature involving both the Hedgelord Santa and Bloomers Santa. Meanwhile, back at the garden center, Anika tries to keep things running smoothly, and Luca and Gallagher are again caught in the middle of illegal activities.
August 31, 2025
There are a lot of thread/strands of tinsel in this sequel, one feeling a little Hallmark movie, but it is a Christmas trilogy, so I think that's allowed. I found it hard keeping up with the influx of new characters, but hopefully everything will be untangled in the last book.
September 6, 2025
Well what can you say
Sex, drugs and a dead dog just another day at the garden center
Another cracker from the troubled minds of Goody and Grant
Looking forward to the next book hopefully with more to follow.
Sex, drugs and a dead dog just another day at the garden center
Another cracker from the troubled minds of Goody and Grant
Looking forward to the next book hopefully with more to follow.
September 10, 2025
Absolutely brilliant and great story loveable characters
Hilarious laugh out loud book
Can't wait for the next one
Hilarious laugh out loud book
Can't wait for the next one
September 17, 2025
A thrilling, fast-paced, and delightful adventure with detailed and imaginative worldbuilding, unforgettable characters, and hilarious mishaps. And the ending!!
I loved the narration by Matthew Lloyd Davies.
A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.
I loved the narration by Matthew Lloyd Davies.
A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews