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X is for Xmas: A Christmas Mystery MEGAPACK ®
Christmas is a time for giving, for receiving. . . and for murder. We've collected ten Christmas stories, old and new, that will spike your eggnog, trim your tree, and hopefully add a dash of spice to your Christmas cheer. Included "A Christmas Pit," by John Gregory Betancourt
"A Reversible Santa Claus," by Meredith Nicholson
"A Stake of Holly," by Lillian Stewart Carl
"Believing in Santa," by Ron Goulart
"Death Will Trim Your Tree," by Liz Zelvin
"Ho Ho Homicide," by Sue Ann Jaffarian
"Mr. Wray's Cash Box," by Wilkie Collins
"Murder on Santa Claus Lane," by William G. Bogart
2 tales by Johnston "Thubway Tham's Chrithtmath" and "Death Play Santa Claus."
If you enjoy this ebook, don't forget to search your favorite ebook store for "Wildside Press Megapack" to see more of the 250+ volumes in this series, covering adventure, historical fiction, mysteries, westerns, ghost stories, science fiction -- and much, much more!
"A Reversible Santa Claus," by Meredith Nicholson
"A Stake of Holly," by Lillian Stewart Carl
"Believing in Santa," by Ron Goulart
"Death Will Trim Your Tree," by Liz Zelvin
"Ho Ho Homicide," by Sue Ann Jaffarian
"Mr. Wray's Cash Box," by Wilkie Collins
"Murder on Santa Claus Lane," by William G. Bogart
2 tales by Johnston "Thubway Tham's Chrithtmath" and "Death Play Santa Claus."
If you enjoy this ebook, don't forget to search your favorite ebook store for "Wildside Press Megapack" to see more of the 250+ volumes in this series, covering adventure, historical fiction, mysteries, westerns, ghost stories, science fiction -- and much, much more!
267 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2015
6 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Ron Goulart
603 books98 followersPseudonyms: Howard Lee; Frank S Shawn; Kenneth Robeson; Con Steffanson; Josephine Kains; Joseph Silva; William Shatner.
Ron Goulart is a cultural historian and novelist. Besides writing extensively about pulp fiction—including the seminal Cheap Thrills: An Informal History of Pulp Magazines (1972)—Goulart has written for the pulps since 1952, when the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction published his first story, a sci-fi parody of letters to the editor. Since then he has written dozens of novels and countless short stories, spanning genres and using a variety of pennames, including Kenneth Robeson, Joseph Silva, and Con Steffanson. In the 1990s, he became the ghostwriter for William Shatner’s popular TekWar novels. Goulart’s After Things Fell Apart (1970) is the only science-fiction novel to ever win an Edgar Award.
In the 1970s Goulart wrote novels starring series characters like Flash Gordon and the Phantom, and in 1980 he published Hail Hibbler, a comic sci-fi novel that began the Odd Jobs, Inc. series. Goulart has also written several comic mystery series, including six books starring Groucho Marx. Having written for comic books, Goulart produced several histories of the art form, including the Comic Book Encyclopedia (2004).
Ron Goulart is a cultural historian and novelist. Besides writing extensively about pulp fiction—including the seminal Cheap Thrills: An Informal History of Pulp Magazines (1972)—Goulart has written for the pulps since 1952, when the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction published his first story, a sci-fi parody of letters to the editor. Since then he has written dozens of novels and countless short stories, spanning genres and using a variety of pennames, including Kenneth Robeson, Joseph Silva, and Con Steffanson. In the 1990s, he became the ghostwriter for William Shatner’s popular TekWar novels. Goulart’s After Things Fell Apart (1970) is the only science-fiction novel to ever win an Edgar Award.
In the 1970s Goulart wrote novels starring series characters like Flash Gordon and the Phantom, and in 1980 he published Hail Hibbler, a comic sci-fi novel that began the Odd Jobs, Inc. series. Goulart has also written several comic mystery series, including six books starring Groucho Marx. Having written for comic books, Goulart produced several histories of the art form, including the Comic Book Encyclopedia (2004).
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 13, 2024
3½✨
I needed a book with a X for my alphabet challenge, and thought this one to be perfect. Especially at this time of the year.
I found most of the stories entertaining.
A Christmas Pit by John Gregory Betancourt
4✨
Like Mr. Smith said: 'I found this one fairly amusing.'
This is the first time I've ever even heard of Betancourt and Peter "Pit-Bull" Geller, but I loved it.
I'm definitely adding a few books to my TBR.
Mr. Wray's Cash Box by Wilkie Collins
2✨
Not really Christmassy, very slow and a bit boring
HO HO Homicide by Sue Ann Jaffarian
4✨
Interesting setup, with a twist I didn't see coming. But I'm not sure if I like Odellia.
Murder on Santa Claus Lane by William G. Bogart
3✨
An older one, had to book up some references I didn't get. But it was good enough.
Thubway Tham's Christmath by Johnston McCulley
2✨
The fact that Tham has a lisp makes for a difficult read, but I enjoyed the story.
Death will trim your tree by Elizabeth Zelvin
4✨
Really enjoyed this one, my only complaint is that I wanted more. The ending felt a bit rushed.
I'm curious to read more of Zelvin's work
Death Plays Santa Claus by Johnston McCulley
3✨
Everything felt a bit too convenient in this one, but I liked the twist.
A Stake of Holly by Lillian Stewart Carl
5✨
I think this is my favourite. A Christmas Carol will forever be my favourite Christmas story and almost all the stories I read adding to it in one way or another fascinates me.
This little mystery was done splendidly.
A Reversible Santa Claus by Meredith Nicholson
4✨
This was something a bit different. Even with the slow start it turned out full of action and thrill.
Believing in Santa by Ron Goulart
3✨
A cute little story of an ex's hate and a daughter's love.
I needed a book with a X for my alphabet challenge, and thought this one to be perfect. Especially at this time of the year.
I found most of the stories entertaining.
A Christmas Pit by John Gregory Betancourt
4✨
Like Mr. Smith said: 'I found this one fairly amusing.'
This is the first time I've ever even heard of Betancourt and Peter "Pit-Bull" Geller, but I loved it.
I'm definitely adding a few books to my TBR.
Mr. Wray's Cash Box by Wilkie Collins
2✨
Not really Christmassy, very slow and a bit boring
HO HO Homicide by Sue Ann Jaffarian
4✨
Interesting setup, with a twist I didn't see coming. But I'm not sure if I like Odellia.
Murder on Santa Claus Lane by William G. Bogart
3✨
An older one, had to book up some references I didn't get. But it was good enough.
Thubway Tham's Christmath by Johnston McCulley
2✨
The fact that Tham has a lisp makes for a difficult read, but I enjoyed the story.
Death will trim your tree by Elizabeth Zelvin
4✨
Really enjoyed this one, my only complaint is that I wanted more. The ending felt a bit rushed.
I'm curious to read more of Zelvin's work
Death Plays Santa Claus by Johnston McCulley
3✨
Everything felt a bit too convenient in this one, but I liked the twist.
A Stake of Holly by Lillian Stewart Carl
5✨
I think this is my favourite. A Christmas Carol will forever be my favourite Christmas story and almost all the stories I read adding to it in one way or another fascinates me.
This little mystery was done splendidly.
A Reversible Santa Claus by Meredith Nicholson
4✨
This was something a bit different. Even with the slow start it turned out full of action and thrill.
Believing in Santa by Ron Goulart
3✨
A cute little story of an ex's hate and a daughter's love.
May 21, 2023
Entertaining Xmas listening 🎶🔰
Ten novella novels about Christmas and family and friends relationships adventure thrillers during the Christmas Season. Each story is different with interesting well developed characters lots of action and misdirection leading to each unexpected conclusion. As with all Megapacks some stories are better than others but I was pleasantly surprised by the pleasure each story provided for $0.99. 2023 🎅👒😤😀
Ten novella novels about Christmas and family and friends relationships adventure thrillers during the Christmas Season. Each story is different with interesting well developed characters lots of action and misdirection leading to each unexpected conclusion. As with all Megapacks some stories are better than others but I was pleasantly surprised by the pleasure each story provided for $0.99. 2023 🎅👒😤😀
January 8, 2024
Ugh this was a slog. There were a couple great stories, a couple horrible stories and a few okay stories. I find it hard to rate a book of short stories because it's not fair on all the authors.
If you're tired of holiday romances, this could be a good alternative, but just know there are some not very good stories mixed with gems.
3 stars and 5/10. Middle of the road to be fair to all.
If you're tired of holiday romances, this could be a good alternative, but just know there are some not very good stories mixed with gems.
3 stars and 5/10. Middle of the road to be fair to all.
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December 8, 2023DNF at 19%.
February 14, 2020
Mostly enjoyed this (despite an appalling number of typos). Most of the stories are older, in some cases much older. There were two I really liked and two I really disliked. The rest were at least entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews