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Carlyle & Silver Cozy Mysteries #2
Silver and the Christmas Caper
A dead priest. A stolen treasure. And a detective duo with three days to save Christmas.
When Laura Carlyle and Sebastian Silver receive an urgent Christmas summons to the Cotswolds, they expect quaint village charm and mulled wine. What they find is the village priest dead in the church crypt and the most sacred treasure missing from St. Botolph's altar.
Lady Margaret Sinclair insists the theft and murder are connected - Her family has loaned priceless religious artifacts to the village church every Christmas for generations. Now, with Midnight Mass just three days away, both the consecrated pyx and the priest who guarded it are gone.
But Sebastian knows something about aristocratic families and their carefully buried secrets. And Laura knows that when people kill to protect the past, they're usually hiding something worth more than money.
From ancient church crypts to crumbling family estates, the Christmas lights of Ashwood St Boltoph hide centuries of lies. And if Laura and Sebastian can't decode the truth before Christmas Eve, the entire village will lose more than their most treasured celebration...
When Laura Carlyle and Sebastian Silver receive an urgent Christmas summons to the Cotswolds, they expect quaint village charm and mulled wine. What they find is the village priest dead in the church crypt and the most sacred treasure missing from St. Botolph's altar.
Lady Margaret Sinclair insists the theft and murder are connected - Her family has loaned priceless religious artifacts to the village church every Christmas for generations. Now, with Midnight Mass just three days away, both the consecrated pyx and the priest who guarded it are gone.
But Sebastian knows something about aristocratic families and their carefully buried secrets. And Laura knows that when people kill to protect the past, they're usually hiding something worth more than money.
From ancient church crypts to crumbling family estates, the Christmas lights of Ashwood St Boltoph hide centuries of lies. And if Laura and Sebastian can't decode the truth before Christmas Eve, the entire village will lose more than their most treasured celebration...
- GenresMystery
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 22, 2025
109 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Jack Gatland
76 books244 followersJack Gatland is the pen name of #1 New York Times Bestselling Writer Tony Lee, who has been writing in all medias for over thirty years including comics, graphic novels, middle grade books, audio drama, TV and film for DC, Marvel, BBC, ITV, Random House, Penguin USA, Hachette and a ton of other publishers and broadcasters on licenses such as Doctor Who, Spider Man, X-Men, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Doctors, Wallace and Gromit and Shrek. As Tony, he’s toured the country talking to reluctant readers with his ‘Change The Channel’ school tours.
He’s currently a member of the Writer’s Guild of Great Britain, the Society of Authors, The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers and the Crime Writer’s Association.
As Jack, he’s writing a new series of Crime Thrillers starring Detective Inspector Declan Walsh, recently seconded to the City of London Police department known as the Last Chance Saloon.
The first twelve of these, LETTER FROM THE DEAD, MURDER OF ANGELS, HUNTER HUNTED, WHISPER FOR THE REAPER, TO HUNT A MAGPIE, A RITUAL FOR THE DYING, KILLING THE MUSIC, A DINNER TO DIE FOR, BEHIND THE WIRE, HEAVY IS THE CROWN, STALKING THE RIPPER and A QUIVER OF SORROWS are available now, with book thirteen, MURDER BY MISTLETOE released in December 2022 – with further adventures continuing throughout 2023.
In addition to that, the first book in a new series of Adventure Mysteries starring Robin-Hood style con-man forger-turned treasure hunter Damian Lucas, THE LIONHEART CURSE was released in January 2022, and he has both a new series of crime procedurals, spinning out of the DI Walsh series and featuring ‘Cop for Criminals’ Ellie Reckless including PAINT THE DEAD and STEAL THE GOLD, and a new spy series, spinning out of the DI Walsh series and featuring burned MI5 agent Tom Marlowe including SLEEPING SOLDIERS and TARGET LOCKED.
He can be found at www.tonylee.co.uk and www.jackgatland.com.
He’s currently a member of the Writer’s Guild of Great Britain, the Society of Authors, The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers and the Crime Writer’s Association.
As Jack, he’s writing a new series of Crime Thrillers starring Detective Inspector Declan Walsh, recently seconded to the City of London Police department known as the Last Chance Saloon.
The first twelve of these, LETTER FROM THE DEAD, MURDER OF ANGELS, HUNTER HUNTED, WHISPER FOR THE REAPER, TO HUNT A MAGPIE, A RITUAL FOR THE DYING, KILLING THE MUSIC, A DINNER TO DIE FOR, BEHIND THE WIRE, HEAVY IS THE CROWN, STALKING THE RIPPER and A QUIVER OF SORROWS are available now, with book thirteen, MURDER BY MISTLETOE released in December 2022 – with further adventures continuing throughout 2023.
In addition to that, the first book in a new series of Adventure Mysteries starring Robin-Hood style con-man forger-turned treasure hunter Damian Lucas, THE LIONHEART CURSE was released in January 2022, and he has both a new series of crime procedurals, spinning out of the DI Walsh series and featuring ‘Cop for Criminals’ Ellie Reckless including PAINT THE DEAD and STEAL THE GOLD, and a new spy series, spinning out of the DI Walsh series and featuring burned MI5 agent Tom Marlowe including SLEEPING SOLDIERS and TARGET LOCKED.
He can be found at www.tonylee.co.uk and www.jackgatland.com.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 15, 2026
Great original story
This is such a clever original take on an English murder mystery. Who knew the widow if a British diplomat and a man with two personalities could be such brilliant detectives. I look forward to the next story.
This is such a clever original take on an English murder mystery. Who knew the widow if a British diplomat and a man with two personalities could be such brilliant detectives. I look forward to the next story.
December 24, 2025
Great read. Could not put it down
One of his best yet. Can hardly wait for the next one. Great characters, love the setting,cou!d feel the tension
.
One of his best yet. Can hardly wait for the next one. Great characters, love the setting,cou!d feel the tension
.
December 12, 2025
Silver and the Christmas Caper by Jack Gatland is book 2 in the Laura Carlyle and Sebastian Silver series. After successfully completing another investigation at a retirement home, they are called on by Lady Sinclair, an acquaintance of Laura’s Aunt Celia, to investigate the theft of a valuable religious artefact from St Botolph’s Church, which was stolen when Father Patrick was murdered. Laura, Sebastian and Kyle, Laura's grandson, head to the Cotswold village to investigate murder and theft. It is terrific to find out more about the enigmatic Sebastian Silver, with his many walking canes. However, not just him, but all the characters. They are all a delight. This is cozy crime, but not too cozy. There is still murder and intrigue dating back centuries, fraud, theft, family and church secrets. Big secrets. This is shaping up to be a fabulous series, and I look forward to the next book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews