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The Killing Seasons #9
A Festive Kill: A chilling holiday thriller novella that lingers long after the snow melts
Some guests bring wine. Others bring your past. The storm outside is nothing compared to the one inside.On Christmas Eve, Carolyn Ryder accepts a holiday dinner invitation she doesn’t want. When a polite young stranger arrives claiming car trouble, her instincts whisper that something’s wrong.
As the storm isolates the guests, every contradiction deepens the dread. What begins as a cozy dinner soon becomes a night of blood and revelation — and by dawn, Carolyn will learn that evil doesn’t die easily; it only sends new faces to her door.
A FESTIVE KILL is a fast-paced, pulse-pounding novella thriller that will keep you guessing until the final page—and leave you breathless long after the snow melts.
Lock the doors. Don’t answer for anyone. And when the knock comes again—be ready.
As the storm isolates the guests, every contradiction deepens the dread. What begins as a cozy dinner soon becomes a night of blood and revelation — and by dawn, Carolyn will learn that evil doesn’t die easily; it only sends new faces to her door.
A FESTIVE KILL is a fast-paced, pulse-pounding novella thriller that will keep you guessing until the final page—and leave you breathless long after the snow melts.
Lock the doors. Don’t answer for anyone. And when the knock comes again—be ready.
120 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 22, 2025
About the author
J.K. Ellem
36 books237 followersJK Ellem was born in London and spent his formative years preferring to read books and comics rather than doing his homework.
He is the innovative author of short chapter, Hitchcock-style adult thrillers in the genres of crime, mystery, and psychological thrillers which have multiple plot lines that culminate in explosive, unpredictable endings that will leave you shocked.
In 2022 he was accepted into the Curtis Brown Creative, Writing Your Novel in Six Months course which he undertook in London while working on his manuscript for future submission.
He splits his time between the US, the UK and Australia.
Are you following JKE on Amazon? Great way to keep up-to-date with all my new releases, prime and kindle deals. Just click on the Follow Button found at the top of his author page. By following me you will receive notifications about all deals on all his books.
Just click here and "Follow"→ https://amzn.to/3qK8YI2
Why not curl up and read one of his can't put down thrillers:
Ravenwood Series:
Mill Point Road
Ravenwood
The Sisterhood
An Unkindness of Sinners
The Killing Seasons:
A Winter’s Kill
A Spring Kill
A Summer's Kill
A Fall Kill
A Wintry Kill
A Dark Kill
A Forgotten Kill
Thrillers:
All Other Sins
Murder School
Audrey Kills Again!
Taxi Man
No Justice Series:
Deadly Touch
No Justice
Cold Justice
American Justice
Fast Justice
Sinful Justice
Dark Justice
Hidden Justice
Raw Justice
Final Justice
Octagon Trilogy:
Soldiers Field
Octagon
Infernum
Visit my Author Page on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/jkellem
Follow me on Facebook: https://goo.gl/pQZ9Du
Follow me on Instagram: https://goo.gl/jLKruA
Visit my YouTube Channel : https://bit.ly/3pMqV5X
He is the innovative author of short chapter, Hitchcock-style adult thrillers in the genres of crime, mystery, and psychological thrillers which have multiple plot lines that culminate in explosive, unpredictable endings that will leave you shocked.
In 2022 he was accepted into the Curtis Brown Creative, Writing Your Novel in Six Months course which he undertook in London while working on his manuscript for future submission.
He splits his time between the US, the UK and Australia.
Are you following JKE on Amazon? Great way to keep up-to-date with all my new releases, prime and kindle deals. Just click on the Follow Button found at the top of his author page. By following me you will receive notifications about all deals on all his books.
Just click here and "Follow"→ https://amzn.to/3qK8YI2
Why not curl up and read one of his can't put down thrillers:
Ravenwood Series:
Mill Point Road
Ravenwood
The Sisterhood
An Unkindness of Sinners
The Killing Seasons:
A Winter’s Kill
A Spring Kill
A Summer's Kill
A Fall Kill
A Wintry Kill
A Dark Kill
A Forgotten Kill
Thrillers:
All Other Sins
Murder School
Audrey Kills Again!
Taxi Man
No Justice Series:
Deadly Touch
No Justice
Cold Justice
American Justice
Fast Justice
Sinful Justice
Dark Justice
Hidden Justice
Raw Justice
Final Justice
Octagon Trilogy:
Soldiers Field
Octagon
Infernum
Visit my Author Page on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/jkellem
Follow me on Facebook: https://goo.gl/pQZ9Du
Follow me on Instagram: https://goo.gl/jLKruA
Visit my YouTube Channel : https://bit.ly/3pMqV5X
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 22, 2025
Oh the weather outside is frightful but the stranger at the door is definitely not delightful.
Caroline and Morelli have been invited to a christmas eve dinner with old friends Janice and Phillip Hale. But still suffering from her near death experience Caroline really isn't in the festive mood.
As the evening gets started and drinks are poured there is a Knock at the door and a young man asks to use the phone as he has broken down and has no mobile reception.
Caroline's old FBI habits go into overdrive and she doesn't believe a word he is saying.
But Janice is very insistent that the young man stays for dinner, as the evening progresses and no sign of the winter storm stopping, things start to take a sinister turn of events.
Who is this young man and what does he want from Caroline?
Brilliantly written, wonderfully executed thriller!
Caroline and Morelli have been invited to a christmas eve dinner with old friends Janice and Phillip Hale. But still suffering from her near death experience Caroline really isn't in the festive mood.
As the evening gets started and drinks are poured there is a Knock at the door and a young man asks to use the phone as he has broken down and has no mobile reception.
Caroline's old FBI habits go into overdrive and she doesn't believe a word he is saying.
But Janice is very insistent that the young man stays for dinner, as the evening progresses and no sign of the winter storm stopping, things start to take a sinister turn of events.
Who is this young man and what does he want from Caroline?
Brilliantly written, wonderfully executed thriller!
November 30, 2025
Another brilliant, fast paced and suspense filled read from the author in the Caroline Ryder series. Set on Christmas Eve, it is a very atmospheric, short read to wet your appetite for a longer follow up. I really enjoyed it and recommend the series to lovers of thrillers.
December 30, 2025
Observe always
This is a series of mystery like no other. Always the unknown factor and the ever vigilant retired FBI profiler. As always a head scratcher. Glad J L M failed to do his school work.
This is a series of mystery like no other. Always the unknown factor and the ever vigilant retired FBI profiler. As always a head scratcher. Glad J L M failed to do his school work.
December 25, 2025
Full review to follow as soon as Santa clears the premise!
January 26, 2026
Great read!
I read this non-stop from start to finish. I simply couldn't put this short story down. AJ Rivers has written another riveting story.
I read this non-stop from start to finish. I simply couldn't put this short story down. AJ Rivers has written another riveting story.
February 12, 2026
Carolyn and Morelli are visiting friends on Christmas Eve when a stranger pops in during a snowstorm. Carolyn’s hackles are raised, but no one else seems alarmed. A quick and thrilling read.
March 3, 2026
Quick read but a very good story line.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews