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Christmas at Thornton Park
One missing doll, one dead man and one chance to unmask a killer.
On Christmas Eve 1930, Thomas Thornton unveils a set of Russian Dolls he had commissioned master craftsman, Sergey Zolotarev, to create.
Each doll was carved to tell the tale of The Snow Queen. But when one—the Little Robber Girl—vanishes, suspicion falls on guests who joined the Thorntons for Christmas Day.
That night, Higgins the Beauregarde butler is found murdered, and Viktor Zolotarev, Sergey’s brother, is struck by a car and later attacked.
When the same guests gather for New Year’s Eve at Thornton Park, Alexandra wonders, will the killer be unmasked before the night is over.
On Christmas Eve 1930, Thomas Thornton unveils a set of Russian Dolls he had commissioned master craftsman, Sergey Zolotarev, to create.
Each doll was carved to tell the tale of The Snow Queen. But when one—the Little Robber Girl—vanishes, suspicion falls on guests who joined the Thorntons for Christmas Day.
That night, Higgins the Beauregarde butler is found murdered, and Viktor Zolotarev, Sergey’s brother, is struck by a car and later attacked.
When the same guests gather for New Year’s Eve at Thornton Park, Alexandra wonders, will the killer be unmasked before the night is over.
134 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 17, 2025
3 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Read
31 books102 followersMulti Award Winning, multi genre author, Ellen Read, is the author of The Thornton Mysteries – cosy murder mysteries set in Australia. Ellen also writes ghost stories and thrillers. Her latest book is a fantasy, based on the Triple Goddess of Celtic mythology and soon to be published by Serenade Publishing.
When she’s not writing, she’s reading, painting or taking photographs.
Ellen loves to read fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. She particularly loves history and stories of ancient myths and legends. Authors such as Agatha Christie, Mary Stewart, Robert Graves, Edgar Allan Poe, and Victoria Holt have influenced her work.
www.ellenread.com
https://linktr.ee/ellenreadauthor
When she’s not writing, she’s reading, painting or taking photographs.
Ellen loves to read fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. She particularly loves history and stories of ancient myths and legends. Authors such as Agatha Christie, Mary Stewart, Robert Graves, Edgar Allan Poe, and Victoria Holt have influenced her work.
www.ellenread.com
https://linktr.ee/ellenreadauthor
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 30, 2025
This delightful cosy Christmas mystery with a fairytale/fantasy theme set in 1930 is part of The Thornton Mystery Series. One thing I adored about it is the numerous references to Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen. Starting with a themed set of seven Russian Nesting Dolls that have been carved to demonstrate the fairytale. On Christmas Eve, these beauties commissioned by Thomas Thornton and created by Sergey Zolotarev, are to be unveiled. But, of course, during their introduction, we discover one has gone missing. And the guests become suspects.
On top of this, the butler named Higgins is murdered and Viktor, Sergey’s brother is struck by a car. There’s lots of suspicious activity and intriguing conversations focused on these events. A murder must be solved and a theft. How these two plots work throughout the story is brilliant. And the later joining of these threads is ingenious creative writing by Ellen Read.
There are a number of Agatha Christie elements here, too, with the setting, atmosphere, red herrings and guest suspects! Alexandra and Edith are even mentioned reading Mrs Christies’s novels. I also loved the clever comparisons of the characters and the plot to Andersen’s beloved Snow Queen. It took the cosy mystery format up another notch by crossing it with a fairy tale! This provides another layer of historical literary depth. Miss Allard has been called the Snow Queen for she threw her ice shard into Viktor’s heart and he has changed after meeting her. Lana and Viktor are like Gerda and Kai. Great Expectations is another book mentioned, too. I loved how these stories were worked into the novel to portray various characteristics. And I cannot forget our two canine friends Molly and Bella as they are a nice addition!
This bright little novella size book is a quick read but not short on details or well developed characters. It hums along at a steady pace as we try to solve two mysteries that interwine towards the end. I loved all the characters and their antics. I don’t want to give any plot points away so I won’t say more, but I encourage everyone to read Christmas at Thornton Park! A power packed cosy mystery with a unique touch of fairy tale influence. Clever, charming and memorable! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
On top of this, the butler named Higgins is murdered and Viktor, Sergey’s brother is struck by a car. There’s lots of suspicious activity and intriguing conversations focused on these events. A murder must be solved and a theft. How these two plots work throughout the story is brilliant. And the later joining of these threads is ingenious creative writing by Ellen Read.
There are a number of Agatha Christie elements here, too, with the setting, atmosphere, red herrings and guest suspects! Alexandra and Edith are even mentioned reading Mrs Christies’s novels. I also loved the clever comparisons of the characters and the plot to Andersen’s beloved Snow Queen. It took the cosy mystery format up another notch by crossing it with a fairy tale! This provides another layer of historical literary depth. Miss Allard has been called the Snow Queen for she threw her ice shard into Viktor’s heart and he has changed after meeting her. Lana and Viktor are like Gerda and Kai. Great Expectations is another book mentioned, too. I loved how these stories were worked into the novel to portray various characteristics. And I cannot forget our two canine friends Molly and Bella as they are a nice addition!
This bright little novella size book is a quick read but not short on details or well developed characters. It hums along at a steady pace as we try to solve two mysteries that interwine towards the end. I loved all the characters and their antics. I don’t want to give any plot points away so I won’t say more, but I encourage everyone to read Christmas at Thornton Park! A power packed cosy mystery with a unique touch of fairy tale influence. Clever, charming and memorable! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 7, 2025
It's a truly wonderful Christmas Eve Mystery story ❤️
The Thornton's are holding a Christmas Eve party, and the list attendance keeps growing as Thomas Thornton is a softy, much to his daughter's dismay.
Thomas is very excited as he has commissioned a master craftsman to make him a set of Russian dolls, which will be unveiled on the night.
A set of events happen, a missing doll in the collection is the start, and this will make everyone question how, why, and the mystery begins.
When you read this book, you feel like you are there solving the mystery with them all.
Loved it ♥️
The Thornton's are holding a Christmas Eve party, and the list attendance keeps growing as Thomas Thornton is a softy, much to his daughter's dismay.
Thomas is very excited as he has commissioned a master craftsman to make him a set of Russian dolls, which will be unveiled on the night.
A set of events happen, a missing doll in the collection is the start, and this will make everyone question how, why, and the mystery begins.
When you read this book, you feel like you are there solving the mystery with them all.
Loved it ♥️
November 15, 2025
I adore the way Alexandra finds herself inexplicably entwined in solving mysteries and murders. She is such a fine sleuth, and I particularly loved the inclusion of Russian dolls in this one. It was cleverly written by the author, Ellen Read, with two plots circling each on the perimeters until combined in the finale! Loved the tower scene at the end!
October 19, 2025
This book can be read as a Standalone.
When I first started to think about a Thornton Christmas book, I decided that guests should be invited. But who? Bridget and Duncan Campbell, and Ruby and Tony would obviously be with the Thorntons at Christmas. But who else?
As this book follows on the heels of book #7, I knew that the Thorntons would want to invite the Beauregarde sisters, and Elora Tomes and her father—all characters from The Body in the Bookshop . In Book #7, Angela Sapphire had gone to be with her family in Tasmania.
The Christmas guest list kept growing until there was a big cast of characters, some invited and some grudgingly invited.
I have always loved Russian Dolls. I have one set. They are also known Matryoshka dolls, stacking dolls, nesting dolls, or Russian tea dolls. They are a set of wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside another. The name Matryoshka is a diminutive form of Matryosha (Матрёша). A set of matryoshkas consists of a wooden figure, which separates at the middle, top from bottom, to reveal a smaller figure of the same sort inside, which has, in turn, another figure inside of it, and so on.
Russian Dolls feature in this book.
I hope you enjoy Christmas at Thornton Park, as much as I enjoyed writing it.
When I first started to think about a Thornton Christmas book, I decided that guests should be invited. But who? Bridget and Duncan Campbell, and Ruby and Tony would obviously be with the Thorntons at Christmas. But who else?
As this book follows on the heels of book #7, I knew that the Thorntons would want to invite the Beauregarde sisters, and Elora Tomes and her father—all characters from The Body in the Bookshop . In Book #7, Angela Sapphire had gone to be with her family in Tasmania.
The Christmas guest list kept growing until there was a big cast of characters, some invited and some grudgingly invited.
I have always loved Russian Dolls. I have one set. They are also known Matryoshka dolls, stacking dolls, nesting dolls, or Russian tea dolls. They are a set of wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside another. The name Matryoshka is a diminutive form of Matryosha (Матрёша). A set of matryoshkas consists of a wooden figure, which separates at the middle, top from bottom, to reveal a smaller figure of the same sort inside, which has, in turn, another figure inside of it, and so on.
Russian Dolls feature in this book.
I hope you enjoy Christmas at Thornton Park, as much as I enjoyed writing it.
December 4, 2025
A festive tale in the Thornton Mysteries series, Alexandra is looking forward to a wonderful festive season with her family and friends. Especially as it’s her little daughter’s first Christmas. But things never seem to run smoothly for the Thorntons, and it isn’t long before the family are embroiled in a missing Russian doll, a foreign love triangle, and a stolen ruby.
Can Alexandra put all the pieces of the puzzle together before New Year’s Eve? Aided by the ever-faithful Edie, Alexandra also must cope with a houseful of guests — most invited, some not — helping to plan gargantuan meals (honestly, this family never stop eating), running the family antique shop, and being a good mother and wife to the constantly patient Benedict.
A short and sweet read for the Christmas season and a charming addition to this historical cosy crime series.
Can Alexandra put all the pieces of the puzzle together before New Year’s Eve? Aided by the ever-faithful Edie, Alexandra also must cope with a houseful of guests — most invited, some not — helping to plan gargantuan meals (honestly, this family never stop eating), running the family antique shop, and being a good mother and wife to the constantly patient Benedict.
A short and sweet read for the Christmas season and a charming addition to this historical cosy crime series.
November 23, 2025
Christmas at Thornton Park delivers a clever, atmospheric 1930s holiday mystery, blending elegant period detail with escalating suspense. Ellen Read crafts a tightly woven plot where missing clues, family secrets, and a festive setting create a compelling whodunit.
January 25, 2026
A delight gift wrapped for Christmas.
This charming easy-read Christmas novella is full of the glamour of the 1930’s and the sparkle of love and friendship within the Thornton family.
Amidst Christmas celebrations however comes a daring jewel theft that leads to murder.
Another case for Lexy and Edith to solve. Gosh!
This charming easy-read Christmas novella is full of the glamour of the 1930’s and the sparkle of love and friendship within the Thornton family.
Amidst Christmas celebrations however comes a daring jewel theft that leads to murder.
Another case for Lexy and Edith to solve. Gosh!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews