Do You See What I See?: A Novella

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, Novella, Fiction, Short Stories, Mystery Thriller

128 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication October 6, 2026

About the author

Peter Swanson is the author of six novels including The Kind Worth Killing, winner of the New England Society Book Award, and finalist for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, Her Every Fear, an NPR book of the year, and his most recent thriller, Eight Perfect Murders. His books have been translated into 30 languages, and his stories, poetry, and features have appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction, The Atlantic Monthly, Measure, The Guardian, The Strand Magazine, and Yankee Magazine.

A graduate of Trinity College, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Emerson College, he lives in Somerville, Massachusetts with his wife and cat.

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 in Bookland · 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!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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 · 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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
Floundering author Nicholas Child is given a writing opportunity by his agent - spend Christmas at the home of a hugely successful author, Marco Tavares, who's struggling with his new book to see if they can salvage it for the looming publish date. Child agrees, and finds himself in Tavares's posh Cape Cod manse, with not just the author and his family, but several of Tavares's friends. But after an alcohol-fueled night two of the party members turn up dead, Child will have to sort through a house full of suspects to figure out what really happened.
As a quick read thriller with some original and unexpected twists, the book was spot on. Just when it seems the story is being fully revealed, the plot takes very surprising turns in directions you won't see coming. Which lead it to being a book you just have to go with the flow, because it definitely goes against any pretense of being a fair play mystery. If you're OK with that, it makes for an enjoyable read.

[Lauren (sharonoldsfanclub) · Rating 4 out of 5]

(ARC - out 10/06/26 via William Morrow) (3.5 rounded up) I was pleasantly surprised by Peter Swanson’s Christmas novella from a few years ago, “The Christmas Guest.” I found the twist in it really worked for me. So, I was excited to read this, his newest Christmassy novella, and, for the most part, wasn’t disappointed. I love locked room mysteries so much, that that may add to my enjoyment a bit as well, because this mystery isn’t reinventing the wheel, but I still had fun. The plot is one that I feel like has become quite common - a down on his luck author,Nick, is asked by his agent to help a more prominent writer, Marco, with a bad case of writer’s block. Nick travels to Marco’s mansion on Cape Cod where he meets the other players in this mystery, among them Marco’s wife, sister, grandmother, and friend (who believes Marco stole his story idea). All suspicious! Then people die and Nick becomes certain that this was all a set-up. This is such a short read - it took me a little over an hour - and it’s worth it, even if large parts of it feel predictable.

[Ryan Brandenburg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when I received an advanced copy of this book, which is set to release on October 6, 2026. However, I found myself thoroughly enjoying it!

Peter Swanson’s writing is incredibly captivating, which immediately drew me into this intriguing story. The narrative progressed rapidly, and I reached approximately 33% before I couldn’t help but wonder, “When is the mystery element coming?”

And boy, does it deliver! The middle section of the book was truly captivating and seamlessly integrated into the overall plot. I won’t reveal any spoilers, but once you uncover the backstory, the present-day timeline becomes incredibly intriguing.

One minor drawback is that the book has very little to do with Christmas, aside from the time frame. If you’re seeking a cozy Christmas mystery, this one might not fully satisfy your expectations.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher, William Morrow, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced copy of this book.

I really love this Christmas novella for its clever structure and depth. The inclusion of a "cast list" at the very beginning is a brilliant move; by identifying the characters before the first chapter starts, the narrative never gets bogged down in clunky introductions, allowing the tension to remain front and center. Despite the shorter length, the story offers a surprising amount of depth, unfolding in layers that make the narrative feel far larger than its page count suggests.

The book consists of only three long chapters, which helps it read like a full-length novel. The constant sense of mystery is captivating and kept me turning pages until the end. Nicholas is an exceptionally well-developed protagonist for a novella, and the "story-within-a-story" approach—written from his perspective as he writes his own account—is a particularly engaging way to reveal the plot.

#DoYouSeeWhatISee #NetGalley

[Bama Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided with an Advanced Reader Copy of Do You See What I See? by Peter Swanson, and I must admit I enjoyed every minute of it. I grew up reading Agatha Christie and other mystery writers, so the “locked room mystery” aspect of this novella really appealed to me. At just 87 pages, it’s a quick read—I devoured it in one sitting.

A group of writers and their spouses gather at the home of a famous but unlikeable author. Their paths have enmeshed over the years, creating the tension of “who hated who more?”

When the author is murdered, the real secrets come out. Nicholas, seemingly unrelated to the other guests, has been invited to help the writer finish his current project. As the narrator, he tells the story by typing out statements to the police—but the story continues to evolve with each new version.

I felt the nostalgia of a classic whodunit, which reminded me why I love to read. I gave the book four stars

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though it's April, I couldn't resist reading this Christmas novella by Peter Swanson. I really enjoyed this one, and it would be perfect for a cozy evening by the fire. In Do You See What I See?, struggling author Nicholas Child is hired to help bestselling mystery writer, Marco Tavares, finish his current book. Nicholas joins Marco and his family at their Cape Cod house over the holidays to help Marco finish his book. When two occupants of the house die, Nicholas helps the detectives with their investigation--who better to assist than a writer of crime? This short book packs quite a punch, and I felt like Peter Swanson does an amazing job fleshing out the characters and providing a creepy and festive atmosphere simultaneously. The background info and the slightly ambiguous ending make this Christmas mystery a satisfying read for a cold night! Thanks to Netgalley, William Morrow, and the author for the librarian preview copy.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicholas Child is sent to help Marco Tavares write the long-overdue, and much anticipated, followup to his best selling novel. When he arrives at Marco's house, he discovers that he's not the only guest and everyone there has a reason to murder their host. Marco is truly a vile person and has done something to everyone there.

Nicholas feels like he's been dropped into a real life game of Clue when the murders occur and that this all possibly could have been a setup.

When Detective Hedges enters the scene, she asks Nicolas for his version of what happened, but to present it like a story he was telling. Nicholas submits three versions, each adding something that was omitted in the prior one.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novella and read it in one sitting. There's a lot going on in the book and we learn why everyone has a reason to hate their host. I enjoyed the reveal and the twist at the end.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicholas Child is dropped by his publisher but his agent has an opportunity for him. Go and spend the Christmas holidays at a Cape Cod mansion with her client, Marco Tavares. Marco, the best-selling novelist, must finish his next book but is stuck and Nicholas may be the person to help him.
When he arrives, things are not as Nicholas expected. There isn't much Christmas cheer, instead each visitor seems to dislike their host. Marco and his wife are also sleeping in separate rooms and things seem grim. And that is before the dead bodies.
This was told in such a unique way by our narrator! This is the first novella I've read in some time, as they usually leave me wanting more, due to the length. I need not have worried here, as the author weaved such a clever story, with plenty of intriguing characters and twists that will astound you. Thoroughly enjoyable. 4.5*

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this gifted review copy.