The Scrooge Conspiracy: A Homefront Sleuths Mystery

Homefront Sleuths #7

by Anna Elliott, Charles Veley

The Number-One Historical Mystery, Thriller and Suspense Bestseller on Amazon!

Christmas comes early to Crofter's Green—but so does murder.

When a charming American actor arrives to direct a Christmas production of A Christmas Carol for evacuee children at a grand country manor, it seems like the perfect holiday treat. But on the very day Pearl Harbor is attacked, the actor is found murdered—and he's been carrying mysterious coded messages that suggest this "Christmas spirit" hides something far more dangerous.

As snow blankets the English countryside and Christmas approaches, the Sleuths must unravel a web of theatrical deception, wartime espionage, and long-buried secrets. With a houseful of vulnerable children and a killer still at large, can they solve the mystery before the final curtain falls?

Packed with holiday atmosphere, wartime intrigue, and all the cozy charm you love about Crofter's Green, The Scrooge Conspiracy delivers the perfect blend of Christmas magic and mystery mayhem.

Readers say it's "Like Downton Abbey meets Miss Marple—delightful, heartwarming, and utterly addictive!" Scoll up and one-click to order now!

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Christmas

400 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 5, 2025

About the author

Anna Elliott is an author of historical fiction and fantasy. She enjoys stories about strong women, and loves exploring the multitude of ways women can find their unique strengths. She was delighted to lend a hand with the Sherlock & Lucy series, and thrilled to continue a new spin-off series featuring Becky and Flynn. Her first series, the Twilight of Avalon trilogy, is a retelling of the Trystan & Isolde legend. She wrote her second series, The Pride & Prejudice Chronicles , chiefly to satisfy her own curiosity about what might have happened to Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy, and all the other wonderful cast of characters after the official end of Jane Austen’s classic work.

WEBSITE: http://sherlockandlucy.com
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sherlockand...
FACEBOOK READER GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/77782...
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Anna-El...

Anna lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and five children.

Reviews

[C.G.Koens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needs a good line edit

This series started out strong, and don't get me wrong, I'm still enjoying them, but there are more and more redundancies and identical phrases and explanations of things we already know (that last bit is what makes it feel like a Nancy Drew, "whose father was Carson Drew, the famous criminal lawyer, and whose housekeeper was Hannah Gruen, who was like a mother to Nancy, ever since her mother died when Nancy was three..."). I also noticed more loose ends or quickly tied up ends (for example, Lyle's quick summary of what happened with the villain of the story and the leader of the Black Briars). The writing is fine, but rushed, and they fall back on a lot of cliches in their writing.

All the style critiques aside...it was fun to read this one at Christmas and enjoy the twist of the play (even though the hyper focus on the oil was a bit much for something that was then quickly explained). I'll keep reading, because they're clean and they're fun, and when I just want an easy, mindless read, this absolutely fits the bill and keeps me reading, but I'm still a bit disappointed that rather than getting better (as they did between books 1 and 2), they've settled into quick writing and pumping them out (a la Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys).

[Racheal Surridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

good story great characters

As always i ignore that they are all talking American and not English because the stories are good and I live the characters but please i beg you do some research. No one adds any kind of milk to chamomile and mint tea

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable

[Chautona Havig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like every time I review one of the books in this series, I say, "This one's my favorite." But this one definitely is. I liked the balance of personal lives, mystery, and espionage. Excellently done and woven nicely into the thread of the series. I'm not absolutely certain about this, but I think this one, more than the others, might be managed as a stand-alone. I recall just enough mentioned to ensure you followed the story without a complete rehash or leaving past stories out completely.

Of course, now I'm drumming my fingers for the next.

[Lorna Ball · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this might be the last of this series for me… I liked the earlier ones and I enjoy the characters but this felt like the first 2 thirds were full of unnecessary explanations or descriptions and then the last third which was supposed to be the resolution was raced through a breakneck speed. Leaving me very confused because the explanation was full of holes

[Lisa]

The theme on this one was strong and it was fun to have a bit of theater background and the information about how folks in the 1940s put on Dickens plays. I couldn’t help but be aware that the authors made the people caring for the refugee children kind and enlightened when in real life, for so many kids having to leave their parents resulted in abuse and neglect and trauma.

This book had more of a cozy mystery in the sense of the suspects being all in one locality rather than primarily international. I also appreciated the articulation of the mixed feelings Brits would have around the war—and the desire to have the USA involved.

[Hunter Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Scrooge play going along with the mystery was interesting. I took off a star because the US did NOT declare war on Germany until AFTER Hitler declared war on the US (much the chagrin of his generals). Silly. Anyway, glad these last two were free with Audible otherwise I would have given up on the series.

[Karla Sentíes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad, but it still bored me in some parts. The character development is getting better, but I wish it was a little bit more deep. I understand that with many pov's in the story, it is a little bit complicated, but I feel that something's missing.

[Les Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

You could tell this was by two writers, as the book looks like they wrote a book each then put it together by putting a chapter from one book then a chapter from the other. Story line was good but finished product very disappointing.

[The Library Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

ROTFLMAO that people would give this 5 stars.

[Amelia Lea]

This story had it all- Christmas coziness, lovely romance, gritty murder and elusive espionage. And the ending took my breath away! <3

[Amy Ingalls · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the characters and setting, but I am finding things a bit repetitious (certain lines or explanations repeated often). I think things get a bit madcap, but they are a fun diversion from more serious reads.

[RayleneD · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this series!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

December 1941 Oakwood Manor are holding a Christmas play for the evacuee children staying there when the American actor/director is found murdered. Soon the lovable Sleuths are involved in the murder and espionage.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery with its cast of likeable and interesting characters. Another good addition to this enjoyable series.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jette Katharina · Rating 1 out of 5]

At the beginning, I thought the series was quite promising, but it’s just getting worse and worse: the plotlines (and “coincidences”) more and more preposterous, the explanations and cliches more and more repetitive… (Hint: If you need to explain again and again about what happened in one of the previous parts of the series, it can become mildly annoying - but if you explain what happened in one of the earlier chapters (or repeat what has already been explained before, yes, in the same book), it’s just dumb.)
And could someone please kill the dog? I’ve been a dog-loving vegetarian for decades, but the way in which the authors bring in the dog again and again for no understandable reason makes me more aggressive than I care to admit. Comic relief should make you smile, not cry out in frustration.
Glad I didn’t have to pay for this.

[Madelon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Scrooge Conspiracy is an intricate weave of story and history. It tells of spreading Christmas joy to forty children evacuated from London, giving them a chance to survive the war. Lord Oakwood has opened Oakwood Manor to these children and is determined to give them the holiday they deserve. Professional American actor Edward Seymour has been engaged to play the part of Scrooge and to direct the children in their production of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. When the unfortunate Mr. Seymour meets with foul play, the sleuths go into action.

Of course, it is not enough to be dealing with murder. Detective Inspector Nigel Brewster has been tapped for a special assignment protecting American Ambassador Lyle, so Harry Jenkins, Scotland Yard retiree, once again finds himself in charge of a murder investigation. When Nigel and the ambassador are kidnapped, the question arises: is the murder related?

Between play rehearsals and investigations, there are myriad strings to pull and situations to unravel. The timing of the novel—December 7, 1941, “a date which will live in infamy”—is important to these Brits who have endured so much. The writing team of Elliott and Veley offer a “what if” that works well in the story and gives readers something to ponder.

The homefront isn’t easy during war. Sacrifices are made, yet life goes on. The stalwarts of Crofter’s Green soldier on. Weddings happen. Falling in love happens. Christmas happens. Along with sacrifice come moments of joy. In between come the horrors of war, alongside a criminal element that seeks to profit from others’ misery.

As mentioned above regarding story and history, you should read the Historical Notes section, which always contains interesting facts that will answer your “Did this really happen?” questions.

If you’ve read my reviews of the Sherlock and Lucy series penned by this father-and-daughter team, you know that I highly recommend reading their series in order. Although each book in the Homefront Sleuths Cozy Mystery series could be read as a standalone (with the exception of that one that ends on a cliffhanger), they do depend on one another to convey the growing relationships among the sleuths and their neighbors. The Scrooge Conspiracy is both delightful and hair-raising as only Christmas during wartime must be.

If you haven’t already done so, do read the highly entertaining About the Authors. The father-and-daughter team of Anna Elliott and Charles Veley have given me many hours of reading enjoyment. For that I am grateful.

[Miss Rachey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe one of my fave of the Home Front Sleuths mysteries so far!

Nothing is ever what it seems and no murder is simply just a murder when in Crofters Green.

When Scrooge turns up dead and it just doesn’t make sense why, or who…the gang get more heavily involved in the local production of A Christmas Carol for the village festive show not only to try and crack the case but also to keep an eye on the evacuees staying at the local manor whilst the killer is on the loose.

Nigel is also on a very important assignment to provide a local detail to a secret American diplomatic visit rumoured to be around the growing trouble in the Pacific and whether the US will join the war or not.

It doesn’t take the gang long to realise the 2 things are intertwined, particularly when Nigel and the ambassador are kidnapped and it becomes a race against time to solve the murder, catch the killer and save Nigel and Lyle.

As always, the gang all play a pivotal role in the case and they couldn’t have done it without their mutual involvement.

Wee nod at the end to Harry and Alice…could there be more than friendship there? I’d love that for both of them.

Particularly loved that Billy - one of the evacuees, and also an orphan after losing his parents in the blitz - playing Tiny Tim in the Christmas production seems to be a target for some reason, becomes vital in cracking the mystery of the killer…a case of wrong place and wrong time with locked away information that changes the gangs thinking. I was really hopeful that he’d become a standing resident of Crofters Green but wasn’t sure who’d be the one to take him in. The Bakers don’t really have the room, Katherine & Blake don’t yet have a house…I kind of thought Alice might? She didn’t but she used her whiles and ways to make sure he found a fitting home and I hope to see him in the next book!

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid seventh title in this series and so far the last. All 7 Books Take Place in 1941 World War II, England with a production of A Christmas Carol as the back drop in this one .There’s always a murder mystery with lots of war time spy
espionage intrigue as part of the plot.
The main characters of Harry, Nigel, Evie ,Dorothy, Alice, Blake and Catherine are part of the satisfying conclusion to the series
I’m giving it 4 stars instead of five stars I’ve given the last several books in series.

I found the overall premise really interesting of what was happening in the days following the attack on Pearl Harbor, but the identity of the involved criminals was unsurprising.
So much of the book was the main characters saying about every suspect:

“are they just a good actor ( because many of the suspects were actors) or could they be the murderer?” That got to be rather irritating.

How old is Alice supposed to be?

They referred to her as being old and she refers to herself as being old, but in this book, she says that her fiancé had been 23 when he was killed in World War I( so between 1914-1918 I don’t believe a year is mentioned)which would have been less than 30 years prior so if he were still alive, he would be in his early 50s at the most, and yet Alice is written as well into in her 60s in fact, I’m sure in one of the previous books she is mentioned as being in her 60’s.
That’s definitely one detail the author needs to look at if she’s gonna write further books in this series.


I enjoyed all seven books if they write more in this series I would certainly check them out. I liked the friendships that these main characters developed. I do appreciate the author adding historical notes to the end of every book .

[Jill E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pleasure to read

In each one of these mysteries, the authors come up with the most interesting and intricately woven plots.

The characters are like good friends, at this point. We see their strengths and how they use them not only to solve crime, but also to help each other. They have formed their own small community (oh the larger Village community) made up of diverse personalities, which I so enjoy. I have grown accustomed to the point of view changing from chapter to chapter, and I find that it heightens the suspense.

The ending is a little abrupt, as I wish that they would continue giving us more time with the characters.

The book is cozy; it is informative and educational. The authors are well able to conceal the identity of the true criminals, exposing layered and interconnected plots that are really interesting.

A lot of work went into the staging of the play of “A Christmas Carol.“ For those who are unfamiliar with the story, the detail would come in handy. If anything moved slowly in the story, I felt that it was the wealth of information included about Charles Dickens story and its theatrical construction.

At the same time, it was nice to see that the messages of the story were being applied to the diverse characters in this latest installment.

I greatly enjoyed it and look forward to the next book in the series!

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional mystery series! Love the WWWII Homefront setting in a small English village that seems to attract an inordinate amount of intrigue and espionage and plain old murder! Luckily the Homefront Sleuths are ready, willing and able to jump into the fray at a moments noice. They are an eclectic mix of villagers with varying ages and experiences including a retired Scotland Yard detective. The main character is Evie, a young American woman who came to the village after a stint of Resistance fighting in France. But all the sleuths get their own POV scenes so, by this seventh book, I feel like I really know (and love) them all.

The series should be read in order. All the characters have amazing backstories which are slowly revealed bit by bit through every book. Plus, there are occasional references to previous cases which would be major spoilers if you plan on catching up. The historical details are phenomenal and the authors have really captured the heart and spirit of this era in British history.

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Iona Campbell who does an amazing job bringing all the characters to life. Highly recommended for discerning audio 'readers'.

[Patricia Valentine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ladies and gentlemen, America has officially entered the war.

The Scrooge Conspiracy was enjoyable largely because I’ve grown genuinely attached to the characters. Their relationships, personalities, and arcs are what carried this book for me. Reaching this point in the series feels like arriving at a comfortable, familiar place with characters I care about.

That said, if I take a step back and really reflect, this plot felt like the most far-fetched of the entire series. The mystery stretched believability a bit too far, and unfortunately that’s been a growing issue for me as the series has progressed. While the historical setting and character moments still shine, the overall plot is what ultimately made this book fall short for me.

If the authors continue the series, I’ll likely choose to stop here. This felt like a natural endpoind, with a happy ending and enough closure to walk away satisfied. Overall, I’m glad I read the series and grew with the characters, even if the story itself didn’t quite stick the landing for me.

[My Fairytale Days · Rating 3 out of 5]

🎄 The Scrooge Conspiracy — Anna Elliott & Charles Vele 🎄

Recommended for:
Fans of the Homefront Sleuths series who enjoy cosy historical mysteries with light Christmas atmosphere and familiar characters.

This entry leans charmingly into its festive setting, especially with the Christmas Carol theatre element woven into the backdrop. The seasonal tone works well and adds warmth without feeling forced.

However, compared to earlier books in the series, this mystery felt a bit looser and less tightly constructed. The investigation didn’t feel as neat or satisfying as previous instalments, and at times it seemed to be reaching rather than building naturally toward its solution.

I didn’t dislike it. It was an easy, comfortable read, and I finished feeling content. But it also felt fairly forgettable. Only a few hours later, not much stands out strongly, and I’ve enjoyed other books in this series far more.

A pleasant but weaker entry overall.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

[Giannina Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Scrooge Conspiracy is a fascinating and intriguing story. I received a copy of this story for an honest review. Lord Oakwood has children evacuees from London staying at the manor. He has decided to have the children and some villagers involved in a re-enactment of "A Christmas Carol".
Nigel has to prepare for an American Ambassador's visit to England. Before the ambassador's visit a murder occurs at Oakwood Manor. Mr. Seymour, the director and Scrooge portrayer, is found murdered. That leaves the rest of the sleuths to investigate. There is alot of action and investigating, with kidnappings, attempted murders and cconspiracies happening. Very exciting with how each sleuth discovering all the pieces to the conclusion. I am hoping that there will be more adventures for the Homefront Sleuths, to come

[Avis Witter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous read as usual. Too good to be read in one sitting (although the temptation is great), this story has to be savoured. What a dream team these two authors make! They create scenes with tension, action, excitement and a drop of romance. I was on the edge of my seat a few times willing the characters on in certain situation and sighs of exasperation when they held back their actions and emotions. To me, this is the sign of excellent writing – to draw the reader in and immerse them in the story.

Thank you authors for my ARC. My only request is ……… can you please make your stories lengthier so that my enjoyment last longer???? Like the rest of the series this is a must read and highly recommended.

[Adena Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love a wedding and a Christmas pageant and the authors did a wonderful job of creating these as a background for the kind of murder mystery that Christie fans adore, all set in a historically accurate espionage story which history fans will appreciate. As grim and expedient as the demands of war may be, I enjoyed the humanness of the characters, as imperfect and morally grey as they were. This felt so real - I devoured this as soon as I got it. Already, I want the next.

I received an ARC from the authors and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Homerun2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed this World War II British series and getting to know the characters.

It's December 1941 and the Brits are hanging on by a thread, hoping the Americans will enter the war. There is a top secret visit to the village by the American ambassador which police inspector Nigel and former resistance agent Evie are involved with.

Meanwhile, Nigel's Uncle Harry, retired Scotland Yard, is investigating a murder of an American actor at the local manor -- where the ambassador is scheduled to stay.

The characters are very well-drawn and the action moves right along.

[CG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas Mystery

I am in love with this series, set in a rural village outside of London during WWII. This diverse group of Sleuths each contribute parts to solving murder and mystery while existing in wartime conditions. In this case, a prominent actor is killed while producing Scrooge for a Christmas performance. Refugee children from London, spies and more are in abundance. While the characters develop over the series, they can be read as stand alone. However it's recommended to start at the beginning. If you like historical mysteries, you'll love these books.

[Jackie Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for:
historical fiction
found family
investigation during the war
a tad of romance
this is for you!!

I think you can read these as a stand alone but they are so much better as a series. I have grown to love each and every character, the investigations they uncover & the dashes of romance sprinkled in every book. So sad there’s only one more book left in this series.

‼️ spoiler
I got everything I wanted in this book-
Nigel’s POV
And Nigel & Evie finally admitting how they feel towards each other

I was swooning at the end!!
5 ⭐️

[Barbara A · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining mystery set in WWII and the Christmas season.

Elliott and Veley are a wonderful team. The stories are always intricately plotted and very well-written. This was no exception. It is doubtful you’ll know the murderer before the end of the story, which is what I prefer. If I knew ahead of time, the ending wouldn’t be as enjoyable. Working a local production of “A Christmas Carol” into the story added an extra element of seasonal fun. As all the books in this series, I highly recommend it.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Christmas Carol is being rehearsed at Oakham Hall, this is to cheer up the children, evacuated to the countryside of Crofter’s Green and now living at Oakham Hall. All is going well until the actor who had been enlisted to help by the son of the house is murdered. As Nigel has been tasked with a top secret assignment it is up to Harry, with the help of Alice, Dorothy and the others to investigate.
Another good story set in WW2 with plenty going on in it.