Do You See What I See?: A Novella – A Chilling Holiday Mystery Novella of a Celebrity Writer's Christmas Party Gone Wrong

by Peter Swanson

New York Times bestselling author Peter Swanson pens another fantastically creepy holiday novella, featuring a young writer sent to a seaside mansion to help a famous novelist finish his next book—only, when two dead bodies turn up, he must uncover the killer before the clock ticks down to Christmas Day.

When author Nicholas Child is dropped by his publisher, his agent sends him to spend the holidays at the Cape Cod mansion of her other client, Marco Tavares. Marco needs to finish the long-overdue follow-up to his bestselling novel, and Nicholas is going to help him.

But when Nicholas arrives at Marco’s sprawling seaside estate, which is decked out in twinkling lights and a towering Christmas tree, he finds himself in the middle of a gathering where holiday cheer is in short supply—and every visitor seems to have a motive to kill their host.

Along with Marco and his wife Nora—who are currently sleeping in separate rooms—also present is Marco’s oddball sister, near-silent grandmother, ex-girlfriend and her jealous husband, and long-suffering best friend, Billy Sousa. The most intriguing guest is named James Beers, another writer who believes that Marco’s bestselling novel was based on one of his ideas.

As Christmas Day approaches, a single boozy night culminates in two corpses, and Nicholas becomes convinced that the whole thing was a setup from the start.

With his signature slow burn and deft exploration into the dark corners of the human psyche, Swanson’s latest mystery is a master class in twists and thrills. Dive into the story here, and find Can Nicholas uncover the truth before the killer strikes again?

Genres: Christmas, Mystery, Holiday, Mystery Thriller, Novella, Short Stories, Fiction

Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 6, 2026

About the author

See: Peter Swanson for the author of thrillers

Reviews

[Laura Lovesreading]

Oh this sounds like a doozy!
I cant wait to pick up this novella!
❤️❤️❤️

[Pav S. (pav_sanborn_bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's nothing quite like diving into short, quick novellas during the holiday season! With all the preparations and limited time to wrap up our reading goals, who has the hours to spend on a full-length novel? This makes novellas the perfect gift for someone special!

Another creepy holiday novella follows young writer Nicholas Child, sent to a Cape Cod mansion to help novelist Marco Tavares finish his overdue book. The festive atmosphere is shattered when two bodies are discovered, leading Nicholas to suspect foul play among the guests, each with potential motives. As Christmas approaches, he must unravel the mystery before the killer strikes again...

What I really appreciate is the brief character list provided at the start. In a novella, there simply isn’t enough time to fully explore every character, so having a quick reference is fantastic. It’s like having a menu of characters to refer back to! Nicholas stands out as a nice guy with a mysterious past, and as the story unfolds, we learn about his complicated relationship with Marco. But the intrigue doesn’t stop there; it also reveals how the others are intertwined with Marco's story. Secrets are waiting to be uncovered, and you won’t want to miss out on the excitement!

This novella presents a thrilling locked-room murder mystery featuring a cast of intriguing characters, each with their own history. It definitely gave off those Agatha Christie vibes! Several twists caught me completely off guard and the ending had me laughing out loud! Well done and beautifully executed! Just imagine what happens when you host a Christmas gathering, and everyone has a secret to keep. It’s bound to lead to someone turning up dead!

This novella is ideal for anyone who is busy but still wants something to read. It unfolds at a slow burn yet keeps you engaged with unexpected twists along the way. It would make a perfect holiday gift! I can’t wait to see this book in print and enjoy its binding! So, get cozy and get ready to step into the role of a detective alongside characters who all have motives for murder. I just hope my Christmas table isn’t filled with enemies—maybe I should check! Ha!

Thank you, William Morrow and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars ✨

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Your classic murder mystery dinner party or is it? Told in three “acts” we are told three different versions of a Christmas dinner party.
While there were some twists at the end I felt like this followed a very typical thriller premise. It would make for a fun read during the holiday season which is when it’s set to release.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced E-ARC for an honest review.

[Melissa Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a young writer is sent to a seaside mansion to help a novelist finish his book, two people end up dead. Will Nicholas Child uncover who the real killer was as he writes the story of what happened?

Like all Peter Swanson’s books, this one is very clever. He is great at writing a compelling novella with enough background on the characters to keep you engaged!

[Carlos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

There’s a heatwave outside, so what better way to escape the 35ºC+ temperatures than by diving into Do You See What I See, Peter Swanson’s latest chilling Christmas novella?

Nicholas Child, a not-so-successful writer, is hired to help Marco Tavares finish his next novel, an author struggling with his latest project after the huge success of his previous book. To do so, Nicholas must travel to Marco’s Cape Cod mansion during the Christmas season. Once there, he discovers he’s not the only one invited to spend the holidays, and that every guest has a motive for wanting one of them dead. Soon enough, two bodies are discovered, and Nicholas will have to help the police by doing what he does best: writing a story detailing everything that happened.

Where does a story begin? That question is posed right at the start, and through three distinct sections we slowly get the answer. In classic Swanson fashion, this delivers a clever mystery with a nod to the Golden Age classics, one that gradually peels back its many layers until the very last sentence. I was hooked from the very first page, and this is one of those rare cases where I wouldn’t have minded a full-length novel with these characters.

A short Christmas novella that will delight mystery readers—and proves to be the perfect read for any season.

[Carm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

A dinner party at a Cape Cod beach house. All the guests have good reason and motive to murder their host. And… it’s Christmas?! Sign me up!

This was a delight. It hits classic murder mystery beats without feeling tropey, and a big part of that is the cast. Every guest is a fully loaded suspect, which is hard enough to pull off in a full-length novel, let alone a stocking stuffer–sized novella.

The festive atmosphere really works too. Cozy. Claustrophobic. Tense. Twinkle lights. Simmering resentment. Copious amounts of booze. Actually, murder aside, this feels like every Christmas I’ve ever had. Why do I love the holidays? I digress.

Swanson packs a full, layered mystery into a small space without it ever feeling rushed. Honestly, my only complaint is that I didn’t wait until December. This deserves a fireplace and a hot toddy. 🎄🥃

[Bethany Busse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect novella to read by the fire after dinner on a Christmas evening. It’s currently April and I’m excited to see this when it comes out in the colder months.

I would love more of these or if they became a collection of holiday mysteries!

I also love the character list at the beginning while we don’t have as much time to get to know everyone. The format of Nick recounting the events of the evening was different and I think it worked well.

I’d definitely pick up another one and recommend this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for this early copy!

[CynnieRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Peter Swanson Christmas novella! How did we get so lucky?
Spoiler: wonderful as expected.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was “fine” lol. First off if you’re putting off reading this because it’s a Christmas book it’s not really a Christmas book, some of the timeline is around Christmas but even then it’s not Hallmark Christmas vibes or anything relating to snowmen & drinking hot cocoa.

Overall the book was good. Well written, the writing was fluid & easy to read. The plot was interesting & then when you figure out the backstory (starts out present tense & then the main character goes back in time to piece everything & everyone together) it adds some interesting elements. What didn’t do it for me is there wasn’t any buildup or real excitement/suspense. Sure there was some murder in it & some clever aspects but it was just meh, not awful but not memorable. If it was a heartbeat it was pretty flat. I guess for a short story I’m surprised at how much it lacked in excitement. It took about half the book to where it kind of got to ‘the point’ & then the remaining was pretty much going back in time to make the present make sense. Often times the ending makes up for what the book might be lacking but even the ending of this was just a finality. No big wow moment, but more of a ‘yeah this person was a killer, I bet you never guessed, hope you liked the show, bye’😑.

3-1/2 stars because it wasn’t boring & I do enjoy Swanson’s writing, but you won’t find me making a point to suggest anyone read it either. I’m glad it was a short book 😉

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher William Morrow for the ARC, always appreciative for the opportunity!

[CrinM · Rating 4 out of 5]

This unfolded beautifully. I loved the retelling of three stories of the same event. Even though it’s murder mystery it was a lovely cozy one.

[Liberty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.25 stars.

Before I get into the review, a quick thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers over at Harper Collins for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. In Do You See What I See? we follow Nicholas who is a writer recently dropped by his publisher. His agent sends him to spend the holidays at the Cape Cod mansion of her other client, Marco Tavares. Marco needs help finishing his follow up to his hit thriller. But when Nicholas visits, Christmas cheer is in short supply and every visitor seems to have a motive to kill their host. As Christmas approaches, a single boozy night ends in two corpses leaving Nicholas to wonder if the whole thing was a setup from the start. Do You See What I See? comes out on October 6th and is available for preorder now.

This has been the smashing success of this year's Christmas in July. If I didn't have to wake up early this morning for work, I would have finished this in one sitting. It was so compelling. Which is a bit weird given that we miss out on the most action packed moments of the whole situation. We never see the murder or confront the murderer. And yet somehow I was hooked. I think Nicholas as a narrator makes a lot of sense for the story and he adds a layer of suspicion to the narration following the murders. We spend pretty much the entire novel not knowing who the murderer is, but we are led to believe a certain character may have been the one to handle the knife. And while I don't love sort of ambiguous endings, this one made sense and gave the reader enough of a nod that they can reasonably say who the murderer probably was. I was actually laughing at the final page of the novel because of how the sort of reveal was done. I liked the settings we followed the characters into, but it did lack some of the Christmas charm I was expecting.

The main drawback for this one is the length. At least for me. I know it appeals to a lot of readers to have this quick little Christmas Mystery stories, but I found I had a lot of questions and I wanted more time with certain characters (or should we call them suspects?). I once complained that a 750 page book wasn't long enough for me so we're not surprised that I found a novella to be too short. It just needed to be said. I also wish we had gotten a little more festive in the Cape Cod mansion. The characters did drink eggnog and there was a Christmas tree. But none of the scenes really gave a festive vibe. I know it's a Mystery, but humor me here.

Overall, this was the perfect way to end Christmas in July 2026. I think this is great for any Mystery lover in your life and also works well for Christmas fans. I can only hope for more Christmas Mystery novellas from this author.

[LindaPf · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Christmas novella of 2026! And it’s from Peter Swanson, who regularly and cleverly thrills me on a near annual basis, and who also authored a previous Christmas mini-mystery, “The Christmas Guest” in 2023.

“Do You See What I See?” is a Christie-esque locked room tale, with multiple characters and near enemies connected to the host and hostess of a holiday party in an isolated seaside mansion on Cape Cod. A narrator and another main character emerge: Nicholas Child, residing at Grey Gables since he’s been ghost-writing/co-authoring with the author/owner of the estate, trying to assist bestselling mystery writer Marco Tavares through a case of writer’s block; and Detective Hedges, who is asking Nicholas for his version of the murder that has taken place, and suggests he do it in storytelling form.

Marco, the obnoxious, remorseless, and drunken host, is the obvious murder victim, but another guest, one who had once accused Marco of plagiarism, is also found dead on the beach. Narrator Nicholas gives Hedges a typewritten story of the previous day’s events. After doing so, he writes a second version of the story that includes what he failed to disclose to the detective. The omissions? That everyone there had a motive to murder Marco, including him. But that’s not enough. There will be a third version as well.

Swanson expertly twists this story to the point that everyone is a valid suspect, and everyone but the cat might have done it and gotten away with the deed. As a novella, it was the perfect length (128 pages). A full length novel might have dragged on, but a compact form of chills, thrills, and evil minds was absolutely satisfying. 4.5 stars.

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Brigid O’Shaughnessy has green eyes (OK, she’s a cat).
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO The author is apparently familiar with the threat that Japanese knotweed is to Cape Cod’s wetlands.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

[Carrie Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒎 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆, 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒖𝒏𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒚.

Struggling writer Nicholas Child is sent to spend Christmas at the sprawling Cape Cod estate of bestselling author Marco Tavares to help him finish a long-overdue novel. Instead, Nicholas walks into what feels less like a festive holiday gathering and more like a pressure cooker disguised with twinkling lights and expensive liquor. Marco and his wife are barely speaking, an ex-lover and her suspicious husband are lurking around the house, a resentful friend is drinking his way through the tension, and another writer claims Marco stole the idea that made him famous. It’s the kind of gathering where everyone is smiling politely while quietly wondering who among them might snap first. You know, kind of like your last family get-together, perhaps?

This little novella is full of the delicious tension that this author excels at. The unease is palpable, and every offhand comment sounds like it might actually be a threat. Watching Nicholas try to figure out who he can trust is half the fun, especially once a wild, alcohol-fueled night leaves two people dead and the whole house suddenly feels like a locked room filled with motives. There’s something especially satisfying about a thriller that doesn’t rely on nonstop action but instead lets suspicion crawl slowly through every room until you realize the entire situation has been rotting from the inside all along.

And that ending...no spoilers, but when the final reveal lands, it’s one of those moments where you just sit there for a second thinking back through everything you read and realizing the author has been quietly playing chess while you were still learning the rules. I closed my Kindle, softly whispered, "what the f*ck," and immediately fought the urge to flip back to the beginning just to see how many clues I completely missed. If you love a slow-burn mystery where the tension builds, this one knows exactly what it’s doing. When you're finished with this twisted little tale, you might find yourself asking the same question the title does. Many thanks to William Morrow Books for this early copy that will publish October 6, 2026.

[Tami Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5 stars)

Thankful for the ARC provided by NetGalley

As a fan of Peter Swanson’s work, I was excited to pick up this ARC novella, and Do You See What I See? delivered exactly what I was hoping for: a quick, clever mystery that kept me guessing until the very end.

I immediately appreciated the cast list at the beginning of the story. For a novella with multiple characters and interconnected relationships, it made it easy to settle into the world of Grey Gables, a secluded seaside estate where mystery writer Nicholas finds himself assisting another author with a new project.

What starts as an intriguing literary setup quickly turns into something much darker when a body is discovered on the beach and in a writer’s office. From there, the story takes an unexpected turn as different versions of the same crime begin to emerge. I loved this concept. The structure felt fresh and creative, and I found myself constantly questioning which version of events, if any, was actually true.

The atmosphere was one of my favorite parts of the novella. The isolated coastal setting, complicated relationships, old romances, and shifting loyalties created a strong sense of unease despite the story’s short length. I especially enjoyed trying to unravel how all the characters were connected and whether their fascination with Maeve was influencing the events unfolding around them.

While I would have loved a little more room for character development, that’s often the trade-off with a novella. Even so, the story remained engaging throughout and packed quite a bit of mystery into a small page count.

The ending is definitely ambiguous, which I know can be divisive, but for me, it fits the story's tone perfectly. If you enjoy mysteries that leave room for interpretation and discussion long after you’ve finished reading, this one is worth picking up.

Overall, this was a fun, atmospheric, and inventive mystery novella that showcases Peter Swanson’s talent for keeping readers off balance.

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Swanson's mysteries are my jam! Although I've read a pile of mysteries with the premise of a gathering turned deadly at an author's estate, that came up short, I didn't hesitate for a moment to request this one as Swanson's style tends to deliver no matter the premise. I tried to wait as long as I could because this has an autumn release date and is a holiday story, but I didn't make it very long. 🤷🏻‍♀️An early review it is! 🎄🎁

Nicholas Child might be a published author, but his current prospects aren't looking up. He meets with his agent who has an odd request. She wants him to spend the Christmas holidays at Cape Cod with Marco Tavares at his sprawling seaside mansion to see if the disastrous follow up to his successful thriller is salvageable. Nicholas agrees with some reluctance and soon finds himself at an uncomfortable holiday gathering. The visitors all seem to hate the host which is all the more confusing when an alcohol-soaked night leads to two corpses come morning. As an author Nicholas recognizes a setup when he sees it, but is the danger over? And he has a feeling perhaps he was cast in a role....killer? victim? patsy? Past and present collide opening up possibilities.

I could not put this down the more I read the more I wanted to read. The characters seem pretty easy to understand at first, but as the story develops, they become more realistic and flawed. There are little human touches throughout that grounded what could've been a very surface experience adding a sprinkling of depth which isn't typical in murder mystery novellas, so it stood out. I may have to order a gorgeous hardback of this for my keeper shelf when it hits because every year, I set all my Christmas themed mysteries facing outward as decor to the delight or distress of visitors. (I'm a reader through and through 😆🎄)

If you enjoy a bloody mystery alongside the festive tunes, treats, and trimmings of the holiday season this is one worth checking out.

Thank you to William Morrow for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

🐝 VERY VERY EARLY BOOK BUZZ!

Peter Swanson started my love of thrillers with “A Kind Worth Killing” so when I get an ARC of one of his books-it goes straight to the top of my TBR-even if I am reading a 128 page Christmas novella in March! ☺️

“This is a Christmas Story but it doesn’t begin at Christmas”

Author Nicholas Child had a two book deal with his Publisher. “Dark at its Rising” was about a Detective who since returning from WW1 believes that he is dead. The first book had respectable sales-but the sequel did not-and he didn’t get a second deal.

His agent offers him an opportunity that he can’t pass up! He is being sent to spend the holidays at the Seaside Cape Cod mansion of her other client, Marco Tavares, to help him finish the long-overdue follow-up to his bestselling novel, “The Girl at the Door.” (Remember when all thrillers had the word GIRL in the title?) 😆

“This is a Christmas Story but it is NOT Charles Dickens”

But when Nicholas arrives, he discovers he is there alongside many other guests-most of whom HATE the HOST-and it feels like he is being dropped into the middle of a mystery novel, or a game of Clue. There is even a room with assorted weapons hanging on the wall.

And, it’s starting to feel like a SET-UP.

“This is a Christmas story-one that starts at Christmas time.” (But it isn’t fit for the Hallmark channel)

As always, I enjoyed my time spent with the ALWAYS ENTERTAINING Peter Swanson-this is my kind of Christmas story!

IF it sounds like your kind of story as well, ADD it to your TBR for Christmas 2026!

Expected publication date: October 6, 2026

A HUGE THANK YOU to William Morrow for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley! As always, these are my candid thoughts!

[Jamie (semi-hiatus for a few days) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do You See What I See? is a murder mystery written in three different versions, with the last two adding additional twisty details to the original story. While our narrator isn't entirely unreliable — he does eventually make his way to the truth in a roundabout sort of way — there's definitely more to the mystery than readers are initially led to believe.

And, I dunno, this was entertaining enough? It's twisty and turny with a somewhat outlandish plot, and it kept me reading despite it being a fairly slow burn. It's a little too short to get fully invested in and the narration style grated on me a bit (despite not being able to actually articulate what it is that I found irritating), but it was fun. Readers who have enjoyed other Peter Swanson books will probably appreciate this one, as it definitely has a similar feel to his previous novels.

I did especially enjoy how the characters are aware that they're in the perfect setting for a murder mystery — I mean, it's a Christmas gathering in a seaside mansion where every attendee has a reason to want the host dead, for crying out loud — and it adds just the right amount of foreboding to the tale. Is there a reason that these particular guests have been summoned to Marco Tavares' home for a Christmas celebration or is it all just a strange coincidence?

Overall, this was an entertaining read and I have no major complaints. While I wouldn't go so far as to say that he's one of my favorite writers, Peter Swanson is always good for a twisty and unusual mystery and this one is no exception.

3.7 stars, rounded up.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is October 6, 2026.

[Ella Droste · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a delicious little locked room holiday chaos situation and I absolutely devoured it like a Christmas cookie I was definitely not supposed to eat before dinner.

We’re dropped into a snowy Cape Cod mansion where everyone is a little too well dressed, a little too tense, and definitely hiding something behind that festive sparkle. There’s a writer trying to figure out his next move, a famous novelist with way too many secrets, and a guest list that feels like it was curated by someone who enjoys emotional damage. Naturally, things spiral into murder because of course they do, it’s the holidays.

What I really loved is how every single person in that house felt like a potential suspect. You are constantly side eyeing everyone like hmm… suspicious behavior, actually. And just when you think you’ve got it figured out, the story casually goes nope, try again bestie.

It also has that fun meta storytelling vibe where the truth keeps shifting depending on who is telling it, which made it feel like you’re piecing together gossip at a family gathering except the stakes are extremely deadly and nobody is safe. Very festive.

The setting deserves its own applause too. It’s cozy in that fake way where everything looks warm and twinkly but you can absolutely feel the chaos bubbling underneath. Like Christmas lights over a crime scene. Very merry, very unwell.

Honestly, this is exactly the kind of mystery I want during the holidays. A little bit of humor, a lot of suspicion, and that satisfying feeling of watching everything unravel in a way that makes you go ohhhh so THAT’S what was happening.

Solid 4 stars from me for pure entertainment value and festive murder energy.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Elaine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Do You See What I See?

I really like mysteries and thrillers set during Christmas because you don't associate murder and mayhem during the holiday season (unless you're me).

Murder and mayhem can happen any time.

** Minor seasonal spoilers ahead **

This is about a young writer named Nicholas trying to regain his former literary success when he's asked to ghostwriter a famous writer's upcoming book, which has stalled.

He's invited to the author's seaside home and meets a cast of characters, all who have a grudge against the famous author.

When the author is murdered and a potential suspect has taken his own life, the case is resolved.

Or is it?

Nick gives readers his version of the events, purposely leaving out clues until the very end when his ties to the victim and the suspects are explained.

I'm not really a fan of these types of mysteries where everyone is a suspect and has a grudge against the deceased, mainly because I've read so many thrillers lately with this premise.

I also found it hard to deal with all the coincidences and how Nick is familiar with the author and his widow.

I understand publishing is a small industry with an even smaller social circle but Nick's previous relationship with Maeve was hard to suspend disbelief for.

I didn't think the final twist was twisty - I guessed it.

I do like the author's writing style; it flows smoothly.

For a novella, it provided a decent amount of character development for Nicholas and the supporting characters in order to form an opinion about them.

I didn't like or dislike Nicholas. I just didn't care.

I wanted to figure out whodunnit and I did.

[RijaReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC! Release date: 10/6/26.
I’ve learned that reading Peter Swanson is always a gamble for me. His books are either a complete hit or a complete miss, and this one somehow landed right in the middle.
First, the good stuff. The Cape Cod setting was great. I’m a sucker for a New England backdrop (which you can probably tell from my recent reads). I also really appreciated the character list at the beginning. There are a lot of people for such a short book, so having that list to flip back to when I forgot who someone was actually came in handy.
I also like books that follow writers, so that part worked for me.
Now for the things that didn’t really work. I never fully understood why the editor brought him in to help in the first place. This man already has two failed novels… and that’s the person you want helping write? The reasoning just didn’t feel convincing.
I also think this would have been much better as a full-length novel instead of a novella. There just wasn’t enough time to build the mystery or develop the characters. Because of that, it somehow felt like it dragged in parts even though the book itself is short.
The mystery itself was just okay. Not bad, but nothing that really pulled me in either. If there had been more buildup, I probably would have cared a lot more about what was happening.
And yes, there’s technically a Christmas tree in the book, but I definitely wouldn’t call this a Christmas story.
Overall, it’s a quick, easy read if you want something short and light, but it’s not one I’d go out of my way to order.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Christmas mystery? Sure, even though it’s now April; why not? I saw “Do You See What I See?” offered on Goodreads and decided to give it a try.

We have a group of people gathered at a seaside mansion over Christmas–the perfect setting for a murder mystery. The house belongs to Marco, a bestselling author who is nonetheless struggling with his current work-in-progress. He lives there with his disgruntled artist wife, his quirky sister, and the grandmother who mostly raised him.

Coming for the holidays is our narrator, Nicholas. Nicholas and Marco share an agent and the agent asked Nicholas if he’d go for a week or two to try to help Marco get his latest book on track. We also have Marco’s best friend Billy, Marco’s ex and her husband, and James, another writer who has accused Marco of stealing a story idea from him.

So each of the people there have a reason to not like Marco. But when he and James turn up dead one day, it’s a mystery as to who is responsible. The book has a clever structure wherein Nicholas tells the story once, then writes it again for a detective, and finally writes it yet a final time for her. Each telling adds details to the plot. In the end, we still don’t definitively know who is guilty. But we’ve learned more of the characters’ backstories.

This didn’t blow me away, but it’s a pleasant short-ish read, especially during the Christmas season.

[Lily Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of the e-book from William Morrow through NetGalley.

Do You See What I See? is a murder mystery novella set around Christmas. It’s written in first-person POV and told through epistolary form. The story is told by Nicholas Child, who is a struggling mystery writer. The novella features metafiction, as the events unfold we see Nicholas Child make sense of his surroundings by comparing it to a setup for a murder mystery play. The story is seperated into three acts.

The first act had heavy Christmas imagery and was lighthearted, it gave the vibe of a cozy mystery, but the tone shifted to a darker and more serious tone in the second act. The shift was unexpected and the story got more complex as background information was revealed.

I loved how short the book was, I finished it in a day. Murder mysteries are best when they are fast paced and I’m glad the author didn’t feel the need to add unnecessary details to draw out the story. Even though I predicted whodunit, the events leading up to the reveal and the brevity of the novella allowed me to still enjoy the story without feeling like it was dragging.

Overall, nothing stood out to me that much after reading it. It’s a pretty standard murder mystery book, there are original elements to this story but nothing that really shocked me.

[Bo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun and charming Christmas read by the great Peter Swanson.

Nicholas Child, a published author on the brink of becoming obsolete, has been asked to step in and help another author, Marco, with his manuscript. Nicholas has no other choice if he wants to try to stay in the world of writing- a hefty payment from his agent doesn't hurt, either. He will stay with Marco's family in December and through Christmas at a beautiful mansion.

He walks into something out of a murder mystery- for he isn't the only one staying for the holidays. Marco's wife, sister, and grandmother live at the sprawling manor. Marco's ex-girlfriend and her husband are also there for a while, and the husband does not appear to trust Marco. Added in are a man who claims Marco stole his book idea and Marco's childhood friend. No one seems to really like the the man, so it's not a surprise when Marco is dead the following morning.

And Marco isn't the only one who didn't make it through the night.

The cops arrive and Nicholas gets to tell his point of view to try and help them catch the killer before there's another body.

Fun, short, and witty- a perfect holiday read!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Shannen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love a Christmas-themed whodunnit, and this one totally hit the spot (even in the middle of March). Swanson’s latest follows a writer named Nick who’s invited to spend Christmas at a remote seaside mansion to help another writer, Marco, work on his book.

What Nick doesn’t realize at first is that the house will also be filled with Marco’s closest friends and family- and every single one of them secretly loathes him. The morning after Christmas, two people are found dead. But who could have done it? Nick starts trying to piece everything together the only way he knows how- by writing his way through the mystery.

This one is short, but it really worked for me. I honestly don’t think it needed to be any longer. Swanson is so clever with his writing, and I truly suspected every single character because they all had their own motives. The way the MC walks us through three different versions of the same story felt like a trail of breadcrumbs and I just kept wanting more. It had all the elements of a classic whodunnit and kept me guessing right up until the last page.

Thank you so much William Morrow for an early copy of this one!

[Dig The Plot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book: Do You See What I See?
Author: Peter Swanson
Publisher: William Morrow
Pub Date: October 6, 2026

 A struggling writer, Nicholas Child, is sent to a secluded Cape Cod mansion over the holidays to help a famous writer author finish a book…sounds cozy, right? Wrong. What makes this so addictive is the classic locked room energy mixed with Swanson’s signature psychological edge. Another reason it hits is how quickly things unravel. One night, fueled by alcohol and buried resentment, shifts everything and suddenly Nicholas isn’t just an observer anymore. He’s in it. Deep. And the question isn’t just who did it…it’s why does this all feel so intentional? I love unreliable narrators and Swanson builds the unease page by page until you realize the story has been guiding you just as much as it’s been misleading you. This book is a perfect Christmas gift! A steady escalation of tension wrapped in a deceptively cozy holiday setting. This book absolutely delivers but I wish it had been more than novella.
 
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for this sneak peek! Publication date is October 6, 2026.

[Megan Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes… I absolutely read a Christmas story in the spring. No regrets. When NetGalley delivers, you answer. 🎄

This novella is the perfect quick-hit mystery — like a brisk winter ride you didn’t plan but end up loving. Snow flurries, strong drinks, Christmas music humming in the background… and a group of people who very clearly should not be spending the holidays together. You know the type.

The setup is classic whodunit, but it moves fast and never feels overdone. While the characterization isn’t especially deep (it’s a novella, after all), there’s just enough edge and backstory — especially with Nicholas Child (yes… very intentionally on-the-nose) — to give it an emotional undercurrent that keeps you hooked.

I also couldn’t help but feel a little nostalgic with the writer/residency dynamic — it brought me right back to my time at Fairfield’s MFA program on Enders Island. That slightly isolated, creative energy… but make it sinister.

If you love mysteries and Christmas, this is an easy recommendation. Toss it in your pannier for a cozy, slightly twisted holiday escape — no matter the season.

[Linda Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Do You See What I See?
Author: Peter Swanson
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: October 6, 2026

MYSTERY THRILLER
FICTION
CHRISTMAS
WHODUNIT
NOVELLA

When NetGalley gifted me this ARC, it jumped to the front of my reading list. I am a tremendous fan of Peter Swanson's books, and this did not disappoint.

The LMC, Nicholas Child, is a published author when he is invited to spend Christmas with Marco Tavares, a very successful writer who needs help finishing his next book. Marco has a mansion on the Cape, so his publisher sends Nicholas to help finish the book by the end of the year.

Basically, this becomes a mixed bag of characters and strange coincidences. There are a lot of people at the mansion and a strange vibe throughout. Of course, someone gets murdered.

I can’t tell much more, but I loved it. It’s a tall tale but believable. I enjoyed every minute of the read.

#doyouseewhatisee
@PeterSwanson
@HarperCollins
@netgalley
#murder
#mystery

I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect Christmas thriller novella that can be enjoyed throughout the year! I love Peter Swanson's oeuvre, including his first seasonal novella, and this book is a great addition perfect for his fans and anyone who enjoys a great little mystery.

I love metafiction, and the way this story is structured fits into that category. The narrative is told in the first person in the framework of the narrator giving a statement to the police. On several occasions, characters mention feeling as if the wintry Cape Cod setting might be the set of a murder mystery. The closed circle of suspects makes for interesting character studies. The three chapters each present a version of the story in slightly different ways, and the revelations they bring allow for a tidy wrap-up of the mystery.

Swanson packs a lot of plot into a short piece that feels like a much longer book. I really enjoyed this one!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[McBreakneck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Swanson’s The Christmas Guest was the first Christmas novella Mystery or Thriller that I had read, I’ve read a few more since and any Peter Swanson is a must read asap.

Do You See What I See? sees Swanson return to a reconstructed classic trope, the locked room mystery as guests gather for the Christmas festivities at house on Cape Cod. Home to successful author Marco who is struggling with his latest manuscript, one of the guests Nicholas is a fellow author, drafted in to try and assist and inspire in any way he can. One of the occupants won’t be leaving alive, the others will be suspects,

Peter Swanson works wonders, Nicholas retells his account of what happened bringing in new details and histories of the attendees. There are reveals, questions and twists.

Swanson reconstructed mysteries aren’t usually my favourites of his work, but in this novella format it worked really well.

Recommended for fans of Peter Swanson or any readers of classic m*r der mysteries.

Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow