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A Chilling Christmas Eve
A promised inheritance. An estranged father. A wealthy grandmother and a gardener with ulterior motives.
On Christmas Eve, Francesca gets a call from her wealthy grandmother. Her father is dead. He promised to leave her an apartment building when he passed away and told her she’d be rich beyond her wildest dreams. But he didn’t have a will.
Her aloof grandmother will leave the estate to the gardener, who is by her side, helping her every day. But Francesca won’t let her dreams of wealth wither. She’s determined to claw back the money she deserves.
She files with her brother to California to intervene and convince their grandmother to divert the flow of money to family. Francesca and her brother are convinced they are the rightful heirs.
The greedy gardener doesn’t deserve to inherit the estate. Or does he?
Dive into a tale of deception, betrayal, secrets and lies.
Read A Chilling Christmas Eve, a mystery-thriller filled with murderous intentions!
“A thrilling book about greed and family dynamics”
“Brace yourself for a twist‑filled ride that turns holiday cheer into chilling intrigue.”
“Who gets the inheritance? 5 star fun story !”
“A Chilling Christmas Eve is a great, quick thriller packed with lies, deception, and long-buried secrets. Every chapter brings unexpected discoveries that kept me turning the pages. A tense, twisty read that delivers the perfect dose of holiday suspense.”
The book can be read as a standalone.
On Christmas Eve, Francesca gets a call from her wealthy grandmother. Her father is dead. He promised to leave her an apartment building when he passed away and told her she’d be rich beyond her wildest dreams. But he didn’t have a will.
Her aloof grandmother will leave the estate to the gardener, who is by her side, helping her every day. But Francesca won’t let her dreams of wealth wither. She’s determined to claw back the money she deserves.
She files with her brother to California to intervene and convince their grandmother to divert the flow of money to family. Francesca and her brother are convinced they are the rightful heirs.
The greedy gardener doesn’t deserve to inherit the estate. Or does he?
Dive into a tale of deception, betrayal, secrets and lies.
Read A Chilling Christmas Eve, a mystery-thriller filled with murderous intentions!
“A thrilling book about greed and family dynamics”
“Brace yourself for a twist‑filled ride that turns holiday cheer into chilling intrigue.”
“Who gets the inheritance? 5 star fun story !”
“A Chilling Christmas Eve is a great, quick thriller packed with lies, deception, and long-buried secrets. Every chapter brings unexpected discoveries that kept me turning the pages. A tense, twisty read that delivers the perfect dose of holiday suspense.”
The book can be read as a standalone.
- GenresChristmas
140 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 3, 2025
About the author
Susan Specht Oram
47 books119 followersWriting mysteries-thrillers and creative nonfiction. Author of SHORE LODGE, THE THIEVES, CABIN EIGHT, THE MOTHER's THREAT and SECRETS AT THE CAFE, UNDER JACKSON BRIDGE, MISSING MAN, BY MIDNIGHT, THE WINTER STORM, THE COLD NIGHT. I live in a windy part of the Pacific Northwest with my husband and rescue dog.
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 27, 2025
Another great book by Susan Specht Oram. Siblings Troy and Francesa are stunned to learn that their estranged father has passed sway. They travel to their grandmother’s house to spend time with her. They are anxious because they were never close to her. They are also concerned about their inheritance.
While there they experience a range of emotions. They never had the opportunity to know their father well as he left when they were very young.
The family dynamics in this book are amazing. This book also teaches us a lesson about family relationships.
This book is a must read
Thank you Susan Specht Oram for the arc!
While there they experience a range of emotions. They never had the opportunity to know their father well as he left when they were very young.
The family dynamics in this book are amazing. This book also teaches us a lesson about family relationships.
This book is a must read
Thank you Susan Specht Oram for the arc!
November 27, 2025
If you’re looking for a great, short, Christmas thriller, here it is!! I got into it right away and it held me until the end! Lots of betrayal, greed and secrets in this one! Pre order on Amazon now!
Release date December 3, 2025
Release date December 3, 2025
February 20, 2026
A Chilling Christmas Eve
By: Susan Spect Oram
If you like suspense/thrillers, you will definitely enjoy this short story from Susan Spect Oram. It’s a fast ready with multiple POV’s.
Spoiler Alert
Background:
The story begins with a family of 3 : mom, son, and daughter, celebrating Christmas. They quickly get a phone call from their estranged fraternal grandmother informing them that their father has died.
Plot:
The entire storyline centers on the estranged children trying to convince their fraternal grandmother to leave her inheritance to them instead of to the estates gardener.
Pros:
It’s a quick read and has varying points of view. It does keep you guessing until the end on how everything is going to unfold.
Cons:
Since it’s a short story, there is very little character development
Overall Rating:
5 Stars ⭐️
It’s a very quick read, it quickly sucks you in with the family dynamics and the plot twist is unexpected.
Tropes: Psychological Thriller, suspense, mystery, family drama
By: Susan Spect Oram
If you like suspense/thrillers, you will definitely enjoy this short story from Susan Spect Oram. It’s a fast ready with multiple POV’s.
Spoiler Alert
Background:
The story begins with a family of 3 : mom, son, and daughter, celebrating Christmas. They quickly get a phone call from their estranged fraternal grandmother informing them that their father has died.
Plot:
The entire storyline centers on the estranged children trying to convince their fraternal grandmother to leave her inheritance to them instead of to the estates gardener.
Pros:
It’s a quick read and has varying points of view. It does keep you guessing until the end on how everything is going to unfold.
Cons:
Since it’s a short story, there is very little character development
Overall Rating:
5 Stars ⭐️
It’s a very quick read, it quickly sucks you in with the family dynamics and the plot twist is unexpected.
Tropes: Psychological Thriller, suspense, mystery, family drama
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2025
I enjoyed this short story. Once again, Susan Specht Oram focuses on family members, embroiled in issues. In this case, a brother and sister come together, following the death of their Dad. Their grandmother is the executor of the estate, and the children are looking to receive a healthy, much needed sum of money .
It’s Christmas, and the two siblings decide to visit Grandma, and discuss their father’s will, but find out that their father’s estate will revert back to Grandma! Enter a third party, the gardener, who also expects a piece of the inheritance.
be
This short story is a reminder that not all Christmas’s are happy and loving!
It’s Christmas, and the two siblings decide to visit Grandma, and discuss their father’s will, but find out that their father’s estate will revert back to Grandma! Enter a third party, the gardener, who also expects a piece of the inheritance.
be
This short story is a reminder that not all Christmas’s are happy and loving!
December 3, 2025
A Chilling Christmas Eve is a great, quick thriller packed with lies, deception, and long-buried secrets. Every chapter brings unexpected discoveries that kept me turning the pages. A tense, twisty read that delivers the perfect dose of holiday suspense.
December 21, 2025
This was such a great story! I love Susan's books! All her books I have thoroughly enjoyed! Such a great author! This book was no different!
Thank you Susan for such a great read!
Read it in one day!
Thank you Susan for such a great read!
Read it in one day!
December 23, 2025
Most certainly not a thriller.
December 3, 2025
If you’re craving a suspenseful, chilling thriller for your winter reading, Susan Specht Oram’s A CHILLING CHRISTMAS EVE is the perfect choice.
Wrap yourself in a warm blanket, because Oram has a knack for pulling readers in with startling revelations. Brace yourself for a twist‑filled ride that turns holiday cheer into chilling intrigue.
On Christmas Eve, the sudden death of their father forces Troy and Francesca into an unnerving bargain—one that threatens to shatter their festive spirit and plunge them into a disturbing web of secrets.
Wrap yourself in a warm blanket, because Oram has a knack for pulling readers in with startling revelations. Brace yourself for a twist‑filled ride that turns holiday cheer into chilling intrigue.
On Christmas Eve, the sudden death of their father forces Troy and Francesca into an unnerving bargain—one that threatens to shatter their festive spirit and plunge them into a disturbing web of secrets.
December 24, 2025
I didn’t connect with the characters at all, and the book just didn’t work for me. The storyline had potential but didn’t quite deliver, and the writing felt stiff and a bit odd. I considered DNFing it, but finished it since it was short.
December 3, 2025
I love all of Susan Specht Oram's books and this one does not disappoint. After Francesca and Troy's father unexpectedly dies, their first thought is about their inheritance. But with no new will, their grandmother is the sole heir. Her gardener has taken over the responsibility of caring for her and she wants him to inherent her estate leaving Francesca and Troy with nothing. A thrilling book about greed and family dynamics with a nice twist and satisfying ending.
December 13, 2025
Christmas eve story
This is short story with very brief chapters. Interesting how each chapters with characters names etc. Thought it was pretty good
This is short story with very brief chapters. Interesting how each chapters with characters names etc. Thought it was pretty good
January 1, 2026
Not a thriller, imho
The writing was good. Only one real "ah, ha" moment I didn't see coming. I did enjoy the wrap up at the end.
Kinda "meh".
The writing was good. Only one real "ah, ha" moment I didn't see coming. I did enjoy the wrap up at the end.
Kinda "meh".
March 28, 2026
Lol!! It's so good.
January 1, 2026
Has potential! Unfortunately it read like one of my gifted 4th graders wrote it. The fact that it was not a thriller as it was marketed, plus the very weak character development and overall storyline wasn’t really cohesive are what kept me from giving past one star. Keep writing!!!
May 18, 2026
Didn't see some of the twists coming
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews