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Ali Dawson #2.5
The Case of the Christmas Card
A festive murder mystery novella featuring Ali Dawson
No-one is more surprised than time-travelling detective Ali Dawson when Charles Dickens suddenly turns up on her doorstep a few days before Christmas. The Great Writer is as baffled as she is as to how he got there. Ali takes him in, despite being preoccupied with a new cold case around the murdered artist Sylvester Strong.
Dickens is a rather demanding house guest. However, as a detective, he shows distinct promise and together they embark on finding the truth behind the appearance of new paintings by the deceased artist. On top of that Nell, the daughter of Ali's best friend Meg, has vanished without a trace.
As the whole of London is in full festive swing and preparing for the most special day of the year, Ali and Dickens are exploring the town, desperate to solve not just one but two crime cases. Will they succeed before Christmas Day arrives and more importantly, will Charles find a way back home?
No-one is more surprised than time-travelling detective Ali Dawson when Charles Dickens suddenly turns up on her doorstep a few days before Christmas. The Great Writer is as baffled as she is as to how he got there. Ali takes him in, despite being preoccupied with a new cold case around the murdered artist Sylvester Strong.
Dickens is a rather demanding house guest. However, as a detective, he shows distinct promise and together they embark on finding the truth behind the appearance of new paintings by the deceased artist. On top of that Nell, the daughter of Ali's best friend Meg, has vanished without a trace.
As the whole of London is in full festive swing and preparing for the most special day of the year, Ali and Dickens are exploring the town, desperate to solve not just one but two crime cases. Will they succeed before Christmas Day arrives and more importantly, will Charles find a way back home?
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2026
About the author
Elly Griffiths
110 books9,896 followersElly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway novels take for their inspiration Elly's husband, who gave up a city job to train as an archaeologist, and her aunt who lives on the Norfolk coast and who filled her niece's head with the myths and legends of that area. Elly has two children and lives near Brighton. Though not her first novel, The Crossing Places is her first crime novel.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 12, 2026
A lovely, feel good Christmas story with the added interest of having Charles Dickens as part of it.
October 8, 2026
When you're part of a top secret detective squad whose speciality is time travel, it shouldn't really be a surprise when Charles Dickens turns up on your doorstep a few days before Christmas. All the same, it's not as if DI Ali Dawson doesn't already have enough on her plate. Her beloved son is going away with his girlfriend for the festive season; her boss has just handed her a new case; and her best friend's daughter has gone missing.
The Case of the Christmas Card is book three – or possibly two and half; it's a novella – in Elly Griffiths's unlikely but nonetheless engaging Frozen People series. This time the time-travelling happens in the other direction; instead of Ali going back to the mid-19th century, the mid-19th century comes to her, in the shape of Mr Dickens, who is as bemused as she is. All he did was sit on a chair...
Ali has encountered the time-travelling chairs during one of her previous cases and knows where to find one in 21st century London. Will it get him home, though?
But first there are mysteries to be solved. And Mr Dickens, once he's finished marvelling at the marvels of the 21st century, like television, pyjamas and electric Christmas lights, proves surprisingly useful on the detecting front.
They set out to discover what has happened to Nell, the drama student daughter of Ali's friend Meg, with whom she was planning to spend Christmas Day. Charles makes a number of helpful suggestions, which result in a visit backstage in a West End theatre, a trip to Norfolk and a hostel for homeless people, each one graphically portrayed with Griffiths's usual deftness and unique brand of slightly wry humour.
En route they encounter a couple of villains, who are involved in the conundrum of how new paintings by a long-dead artist are appearing in auction rooms. And Mr Dickens is introduced to pizza and Deliveroo (other food delivery firms are available), and Christmas shopping 21st century style.
All that remains is to get Charles Dickens back where he belongs. That doesn't prove as easy as Ali hopes and requires the input of the entire Frozen People squad: sensible John, quirky Dina and eccentric but technologically brilliant Bud.
Does Ali track down the missing Nell? Will the mystery of the paintings be solved? And will Charles Dickens get back to the 1850s in time to write another half-dozen novels? That's for Elly Griffiths to decide in her own inimitable way – and you to find out by reading about it. If you're not already a fan of her books, I guarantee you will be by the end of this one. You may even believe Charles Dickens could arrive for Christmas.
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Reviewer: Lynne Patrick
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)
The Case of the Christmas Card is book three – or possibly two and half; it's a novella – in Elly Griffiths's unlikely but nonetheless engaging Frozen People series. This time the time-travelling happens in the other direction; instead of Ali going back to the mid-19th century, the mid-19th century comes to her, in the shape of Mr Dickens, who is as bemused as she is. All he did was sit on a chair...
Ali has encountered the time-travelling chairs during one of her previous cases and knows where to find one in 21st century London. Will it get him home, though?
But first there are mysteries to be solved. And Mr Dickens, once he's finished marvelling at the marvels of the 21st century, like television, pyjamas and electric Christmas lights, proves surprisingly useful on the detecting front.
They set out to discover what has happened to Nell, the drama student daughter of Ali's friend Meg, with whom she was planning to spend Christmas Day. Charles makes a number of helpful suggestions, which result in a visit backstage in a West End theatre, a trip to Norfolk and a hostel for homeless people, each one graphically portrayed with Griffiths's usual deftness and unique brand of slightly wry humour.
En route they encounter a couple of villains, who are involved in the conundrum of how new paintings by a long-dead artist are appearing in auction rooms. And Mr Dickens is introduced to pizza and Deliveroo (other food delivery firms are available), and Christmas shopping 21st century style.
All that remains is to get Charles Dickens back where he belongs. That doesn't prove as easy as Ali hopes and requires the input of the entire Frozen People squad: sensible John, quirky Dina and eccentric but technologically brilliant Bud.
Does Ali track down the missing Nell? Will the mystery of the paintings be solved? And will Charles Dickens get back to the 1850s in time to write another half-dozen novels? That's for Elly Griffiths to decide in her own inimitable way – and you to find out by reading about it. If you're not already a fan of her books, I guarantee you will be by the end of this one. You may even believe Charles Dickens could arrive for Christmas.
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Reviewer: Lynne Patrick
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)
October 9, 2026
A perfect book to read anytime, but, reader beware, it has a special magic and undoubtedly has the potential to become a Christmas read every year. For it perfectly captures the spirit of that most special time of the year for families, children and of course discerning lovers of books.
There used to be a parlour game, showing my age. Something of an intellectual treat to prepare a dinner list of 4 guests, living or dead to sit around your table and share a meal and conversation with.
Elly Griffiths has gone one step further. Helped by her wonderful cold case crime team series with magical time travelling qualities she is able to produce a book about having a special guest to stay with you over Christmas. I cannot argue with her choice of inviting Charles Dickens into all our homes after he turns up on DI Alison Dawson’s doorstep.
I am a fan of Elly Griffiths’ work. Her crime fiction over a number of compelling series are character led around intriguing mysteries. Her writing is warm, inclusive, amusing but reveals the darker aspects of human nature.
The latest one, the cold case unit, set in contemporary London has a time-travelling element and her first two books ‘The Frozen People’ and ‘The Killing Time’ have been well received. The novella, 2•5 in this continuing series moves the story along but in truth is just a celebration of literature. It fits a Christmas brief wonderfully, good food, excellent drink and traditional festivities surrounded by friends, family and loved ones. It reveals character flaws, searches for meaning and introduces mystery.
In a sense the writing is complete, with warm soft edges. The resolutions are positive but isn’t Christmas a time to set reality and friction aside and consider others, being the best we can and embracing the spirit of the season.
This short story has that special joy Christmas can bring; the author tackles issues and looks for positive outcomes. It is a book full of humanity and while we cannot change people we encounter, hold dear or love, we can value the times we have with these individuals.
There used to be a parlour game, showing my age. Something of an intellectual treat to prepare a dinner list of 4 guests, living or dead to sit around your table and share a meal and conversation with.
Elly Griffiths has gone one step further. Helped by her wonderful cold case crime team series with magical time travelling qualities she is able to produce a book about having a special guest to stay with you over Christmas. I cannot argue with her choice of inviting Charles Dickens into all our homes after he turns up on DI Alison Dawson’s doorstep.
I am a fan of Elly Griffiths’ work. Her crime fiction over a number of compelling series are character led around intriguing mysteries. Her writing is warm, inclusive, amusing but reveals the darker aspects of human nature.
The latest one, the cold case unit, set in contemporary London has a time-travelling element and her first two books ‘The Frozen People’ and ‘The Killing Time’ have been well received. The novella, 2•5 in this continuing series moves the story along but in truth is just a celebration of literature. It fits a Christmas brief wonderfully, good food, excellent drink and traditional festivities surrounded by friends, family and loved ones. It reveals character flaws, searches for meaning and introduces mystery.
In a sense the writing is complete, with warm soft edges. The resolutions are positive but isn’t Christmas a time to set reality and friction aside and consider others, being the best we can and embracing the spirit of the season.
This short story has that special joy Christmas can bring; the author tackles issues and looks for positive outcomes. It is a book full of humanity and while we cannot change people we encounter, hold dear or love, we can value the times we have with these individuals.
October 9, 2026
One for fans of the series, wouldn’t go into this as a standalone.
For this Christmas themed novella, Ali finds herself with two modern mysteries and Charles Dickens on her doorstep. I think the best description is simply to say, this is a slightly fantastical side plot to the main series exploring what Charles Dickens would think of 2024 London. It’s sweet and festive but not particularly mysterious.
I await the next in the series and hope Alison returns to see Cain who was missing in this outing.
For this Christmas themed novella, Ali finds herself with two modern mysteries and Charles Dickens on her doorstep. I think the best description is simply to say, this is a slightly fantastical side plot to the main series exploring what Charles Dickens would think of 2024 London. It’s sweet and festive but not particularly mysterious.
I await the next in the series and hope Alison returns to see Cain who was missing in this outing.
October 11, 2026
A pleasure read as always ♡♡♡♡
October 11, 2026
The Case of the Christmas Card
This is a very enjoyable read, and once you start it, you just can't stop. It has a great ending. ENJOY!!
This is a very enjoyable read, and once you start it, you just can't stop. It has a great ending. ENJOY!!
Read
October 12, 2026Loved this book. I adore Elly Griffiths writing . Charles Dickens in modern day London was just wonderful
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews