Merry Little Vengeance

by Joan De La Haye

Most people unwrap presents at Christmas—I’m busy wrapping bodies.

This year, though, my usual routine got personal. Going home for the holidays wasn’t exactly my choice, but when you’re a hitwoman with a complicated family and a past that refuses to stay buried, things tend to get... eventful.

Let’s just say some skeletons should stay buried; others demand justice. And me? I deliver it.

If you’re into thrillers spiked with snark, a touch of holiday mayhem, and a heroine who’s equal parts ruthless and relatable, Merry Little Vengeance will make your season bright—just not for those who prefer their holidays warm and fuzzy.

Genres: Christmas, Horror, Holiday, Short Stories, Ebooks

58 pages, ebook

Published December 14, 2024

About the author

I write dark and twisted thrillers featuring dangerous women, cold-blooded assassins, and survivors who turn the tables—violently. If you like fiction that pushes boundaries and heroines who don’t play nice, you’re in the right place.

Reviews

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good quick read!

I absolutely loved the FMC in this story! She had no chill and made it clear she would much rather be unaliving people this holiday season versus forced to spend the holiday with her family. Forced to take a break as a professional assassin, she definitely found “something to entertain her” while on her hiatus! Enjoyed the underlying revenge trope. Overall a quick holiday read that I would recommend!

[Lucia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story follows a revenge plot set against a Christmas backdrop. Because it's a short story, there isn’t much room for deeper character development. I found myself wanting a fuller sense of the characters’ personalities and relationships, as the pace moves quickly and focuses mostly on the central conflict. I enjoyed the supportive family dynamic woven throughout the story; it added warmth and grounding to an otherwise dark premise.

Overall, I’d recommend Merry Little Vengeance to readers looking for a fast, engaging holiday read—something with crime and attitude, rather than something festive and sentimental.

[travel_thru_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wickedly fun holiday thriller with a hitwoman who steals every scene — and she’s got vengeance simmering under every snarky line. Sharp, dark, and deliciously un‑festive in all the right ways.

[Ta'Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

not bad a quick fun revenge story, on Christmas eve

[Frieda]

Really enjoyed it

Well, that was surprisingly cheerful. I enjoyed all the Christmas Easter eggs thrown about. It's such a really good story.

[Tamra Alger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story was to die for...no pun intended! I love a good short read that gets straight to the point and gets everyone involved. I guess you can't always like your neighbors...especially when you think that neighbor killed your sister.

[Weekend Reader_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

You have to be ok with being in Marin's head. She's an assassin or psychopath, maybe both. But big picture it's a revenge plot, so if you like that you can ignore this short would have benefited from a few more pages. The ending just wasn't as rewarding if there was more buildup to the revenge. It was a quick read and the plot was fine but was pretty cut and dry.

Format: ebook
Romance tag: n/a
CN: DV, PTSD, grief, murder

[Tina A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Satisfyingly sinister and suspenseful!

I didn’t know everything in a good ol’ dark humour horror novel could be encapsulated in a 57 page short read!

Marin, a contract killer, returns home for a special visit. She’s my new favorite vigilante! I plan on reading the entire short read series! Highly recommend!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating 4.5 ⭐️
Spice NONE
Single POV

This is a straightforward revenge story that just happens to take place during a Christmas homecoming. It delivers exactly what it promises: a fast, easy read set against a holiday backdrop. Because the story is so short, there isn’t much room for deep character development, but the writing is strong enough that the story doesn’t suffer for it.

The main character, Marin, is traveling home for the holidays while on a temporary “killing probation.” She’s a contract killer; a role she gradually grew into after her sister was murdered when Marin was a child, and the crime went unpunished. Unable to find justice, Marin turned her grief and anger into something sharp and purposeful. When she discovers that her sister’s killer, the boyfriend at the time of her death, is living down the street from her parents’ house and has even invited the neighborhood, including her family, to his Christmas party, Marin sees an opportunity to finally right that wrong.

What I enjoyed most about the story was the blend of revenge and familial support. Marin attends the party with her parents, fully aware that they may learn the truth about what she’s done... and when they do, they don’t turn away from her. Instead, her parents recognize that justice was necessary for all of them to truly move on. Their willingness to help Marin clean up the crime is a powerful show of solidarity, grief, and love, emphasizing that this act wasn’t just about revenge, but about closure. That element, combined with the ending, makes it clear that this moment allows the family to finally begin healing after years of unresolved pain.

Overall, Merry Little Vengeance is an ideal pick for readers who want a sharp, sassy revenge tale that wastes no time and delivers a satisfying payoff.

[Reading_Utopia! · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Dark & Twisted Christmas!💚❤️

I am obsessed with dark and twisted stories, and Joan De La Haye totally nailed it with Merry Little Vengeance (Holiday Quick Kills Book 1)! This book has all the elements I crave: mind-blowing twists, a fierce female lead, trauma, revenge, and a good dose of violence! This dark holiday-themed novella was everything I hoped for and more!

[Tammy Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well that escalated quickly

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

[Teresa Daily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karma is amazing! I really enjoyed this quick read.

[G.G. Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick and thrilling read!

This book certainly didn't disappoint! If you're mood is "I want the blood of my enemies." Then this is definitely the book for you.

[Michele Narramore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun adventure

Satisfying and efficient little revenge romp. Quick read for a relaxing afternoon. All family reunions should go so well. Love it.

[Tasha's Book Journey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merry Merry, Blah Blah

🔥 45 minutes. One sitting. Zero regrets.
This novella was the perfect bite-sized plunge into Joan De La Hayes’ world, and wow, it hooked me right from page one 🙌

Marin? Oh, I adored her. She’s feral, driven by vengeance, armed with intent, and absolutely no time for nonsense, and I love a woman with priorities 😉😏 Her inner commentary? Felt like my own intrusive thoughts with spice added 😂

The dark humor had me snorting more than once, especially that bathroom scene with her parents. Don’t lie to me… you would’ve grinned too 😬

And as a South African reader, there’s something special about spotting those familiar textures of home woven into the story. It hits differently, like a secret nod from writer to reader 🖤

I’m already diving headfirst into the next book because I need more of Marin… and her little “side hustle.” Let’s just call it a specialized service.

Joan De La Hayes, you’ve officially made it onto my authors to obsess over list. More, please 😌📚

[Nicole Milazzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Merry Little Vengeance" by Joan De La Haye is full of dark humor and suspense! The story follows Marin, a hitwoman who returns home for the holidays to find the man responsible for her sister's death is now living down the street. This quick read is packed with snark, suspense, and festive chaos, making it a great choice for anyone that loves psychological thrillers and crime stories. I was hooked from the first page and loved every minute of it.

[Carol Gulliford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! A quick read, but a perfect Christmas thriller!

[Jade Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merry Little Vengeance is the perfect start to your festive season read; especially if like me, you aren’t really into the Hallmark warm & fuzzy style!

The humour was dark, and Marin was a fun character to follow; sarcastic, feisty, and confident. I was surprised by how much was put into just 57 pages, and I read it one delicious sitting! When Christmas can be the season of overindulgence, this was a great little appetiser!

I also loved the African representation, and found it a refreshing change to read a Christmas themed story that wasn’t set in a Wintery cold setting.

[Nij · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was exactly the kind of chaotic Christmas energy I needed.
Gingerbread men dying? Knives? Holiday murder vibes? Yes, ma’am — sign me up 🎁🔪

Joan De La Haye delivers a fast-paced, darkly funny revenge story wrapped in Christmas lights and dipped in blood. It’s quick, unhinged, and honestly way more entertaining than any Hallmark movie ever could be.

Perfect if you want a holiday read that’s festive but also morally questionable. My kind of Christmas spirit 😌✨

[Rachel Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Merry Little Vengeance” is a dark and twisted holiday thriller packed with atmosphere and tension. Joan De La Haye delivers a fast-paced, eerie story that keeps you hooked from start to finish. A perfect pick if you love seasonal reads with a sharp edge.

[Roxanne OBryon · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed this short story of well-deserved revenge. Perfect amount of humor. Marin is a great character. I can hardly wait to read the rest of the holiday themed stories!

[Samantha Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story was a good take on a Christmas that ends Joyful for a family. The plot was simple but packed with little details that made it.Will definitely read more from this author.

[Jessica Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are worse ways to spend the holidays...

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fun. Cute little short story about a hitwoman visiting family for the holidays. It could have been longer and I would have eaten the story up. Loved it.

[Beba Andric · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're wanting a cute, sweet read for Xmas, this ain't it. If you're wanting something different, something unique, this IS it! This is my first time reading this author and I'M HOOKED! Firstly as a fellow South African, I can sooooo relate. I know the lingo, I know the places mentioned, just making it that much more enjoyable. BUT.... what really was enjoyable is this authors command on her narrative. Right from the start, even the chapter header "Home for the Homicide" had me, actually , ALL the chapter headers are brilliant! I liked the almost nonchalant form of prose, the 'hidden' humour, "There are so many ways to kill someone on a plane or in an airport. But anyway. Moving along swiftly." and that was page 1....as I delved deeper into the book, so my enjoyment escalated, until I was out of 'the real world' and firmly alongside Marin. THAT speaks of an author who knows what she's doing and Joan sure as heck does! Her prose is so elegant, eloquent and effortless, just lovely to swallow, like water for a parched throat, heaven! There's a lightness to her prose, the content is anything but.

Marin is an assassin extrordinaire, flitting around the world doing her 'job' but is forced by her handler to take a break after, well, getting a bit more stabby than normal, so she's off to visit her family, not something she's looking forward to, especially not over Xmas. What started her...ummm...'career' was the devastating death of her sister.

A quick and exceptionally well packed read, it didn't even feel like a short story. This book is not only a book of vengeance, it's a book of helplessness, of abuse, of psychopathic individuals, of naivety, all of which the author handled delicately, sensitively, exposing a truth that affects many. Not the stabby type...This read is gritty and surprisingly heartwarming and, at by end of it, I was reaching for a lekker piece of boerwors to put on the braai...

At the time of writing my review, this book was free, I highly suggest you grab it!

[Susannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4-Star Review: Merry Little Vengeance by Joan De La Haye

If your idea of a festive read includes candy canes… dipped in chaos… then Merry Little Vengeance might just be your new holiday tradition. This book is the perfect mix of dark humor, holiday dysfunction, and a heroine who could probably take out Santa’s entire security detail without breaking a sweat.
Our narrator—a hitwoman with family issues that make most Christmas gatherings look downright peaceful—returns home for the holidays, and let’s just say things get messy. Not in a cookie-crumbs-on-the-table way… more like “some of these skeletons need to stay underground, and some need settling.” And honestly? Watching her deliver holiday justice felt like a slightly unhinged gift to myself.
The snark? Chef’s kiss. The pacing? Fast enough to keep me flipping pages. The vibes? Definitely not warm and fuzzy, but still weirdly fun in that “I shouldn’t be laughing, but here we are” kind of way.
I really enjoyed the mix of grit and holiday mischief, and the main character manages to be ruthless and relatable—which is a tricky combo, but Joan De La Haye pulls it off so well.
If you like your Christmas stories spiked with adrenaline instead of hot cocoa, this one will absolutely brighten your season… just maybe not in the traditional way. 🎄🔪

[Constance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick and easy read. The plot was decent and the characters were well developed. I wasn't fond of the main character getting characterized as a borderline personality when in fact there were little qualities that resembled the disorder. The main character was smart. calculated and able to control her emotions and use them to work for her which is not a clinical standard for this disorder even if medicated (which there was no mention of). Risk taker, yes, but the ability to long term plan and be insitful about others emotions, not likely. I appreciated the short novella, especially for free and I would say it's a very nice break between more dense content.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marin doesn’t visit her family often, but this Christmas she’s going home. Marin is a hitwoman and her newest case is personal. This will not be your typical Christmas celebration. Marin is out for revenge and she is determined to get it.

This is a clever, intriguing short story. It’s a quick thriller which packs a punch in an exciting novella. I was taken by surprise at how much I enjoyed this. It’s filled with dark humor and is quite twisty. Not to mention a tough main character who never backs down from a fight.

I was delighted to see this is a series of books. The next one is Deadly Little Valentine. I’m looking forward to reading that one and continuing with this series.

[Sarah McKean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agree with the overall 3-star vibe. The premise is great—I love a revenge story, and Marin is a total badass. A contract killer coming home for the holidays only to find her sister’s murderer throwing a party? Perfect setup.

My only gripe is how rushed the big fight felt. I know it’s a Quick Kill story, but I wanted more detail and tension before the payoff. Gareth had some serious nerve returning to the neighborhood, and honestly, he got exactly what he deserved. Tammy finally getting peace was a satisfying ending, even if the climax felt a bit too quick.