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Death Comes For Christmas
A beloved aunt dies mysteriously. Fentanyl shows up in all the wrong places. Can a burned out lawyer with a drinking problem figure out who killed Auntie Freda?
Camelia Belmont is struggling to manage a stressful job, an escalating anxiety disorder, and a few too many cocktails. She just needs a nice, quiet family holiday back in Saskatchewan, away from her demanding law practice and a very unhappy boss to get her head straight. But when her beloved Auntie Freda dies suddenly, the Phoenix attorney is determined to find the killer. As she digs into the circumstances leading up to her aunt’s death, Camelia discovers a link to a local drug dealer and an exploding opioid crisis.
Despite scanty evidence, a keen RCMP retiree, and uncooperative relatives, Camelia is convinced the killer is one of their own. Tracking down clues despite their protests, Camelia worries her tactics could seriously alienate her closest family members, including her husband. Can she discover what happened before the RCMP take over and the whole mess blows up in her face?
Death Comes for Christmas is the first book in the suspenseful Camelia Belmont Murder Mystery series and an Origin Story. If you like soft-boiled whodunnits with a smart female sleuth, true-to-life characters, and dark insights into the opioid epidemic, you’ll love PJ Donison’s debut literary mystery.
A sudden death. A deadly toxic drug. A squabbling family.
Can Camelia Belmont find out who really killed Auntie Freda?
Camelia Belmont is struggling to manage a stressful job, an escalating anxiety disorder, and a few too many cocktails. She just needs a nice, quiet family holiday back in Saskatchewan, away from her demanding law practice and a very unhappy boss to get her head straight. But when her beloved Auntie Freda dies suddenly, the Phoenix attorney is determined to find the killer. As she digs into the circumstances leading up to her aunt’s death, Camelia discovers a link to a local drug dealer and an exploding opioid crisis.
Despite scanty evidence, a keen RCMP retiree, and uncooperative relatives, Camelia is convinced the killer is one of their own. Tracking down clues despite their protests, Camelia worries her tactics could seriously alienate her closest family members, including her husband. Can she discover what happened before the RCMP take over and the whole mess blows up in her face?
Death Comes for Christmas is the first book in the suspenseful Camelia Belmont Murder Mystery series and an Origin Story. If you like soft-boiled whodunnits with a smart female sleuth, true-to-life characters, and dark insights into the opioid epidemic, you’ll love PJ Donison’s debut literary mystery.
A sudden death. A deadly toxic drug. A squabbling family.
Can Camelia Belmont find out who really killed Auntie Freda?
404 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 2, 2022
3 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 4, 2022
Good first book of a series. The character cast was unusual and quirky, and at first unsympathetic. However, as the story moves on and events occur they grow on you, human flaws and all. I actually read the entire book in one day, which I will not do unless it totally sucks me into the story. I look forward to the second on this series (and truly hope some of these characters get help!)
March 14, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this different murder mystery. Shades of Knives Out with family relationships and drama. Very entertaining and pointed in its descriptions of addictions and how they impact lives, employment, relationships. I'm a slow reader and I read it in a couple of days. I was hooked from the first chapter and did not want to put it down. I'm looking forward to PJ Donison's next mystery.
March 11, 2022
I received an ARC for this book and I do know the author personally.
I quite enjoyed this book. I live in Regina and at times the book played like a movie in my mind when the author was describing the different locations and the cold winter conditions. The twists and turns of family dynamics will keep you guessing.
I quite enjoyed this book. I live in Regina and at times the book played like a movie in my mind when the author was describing the different locations and the cold winter conditions. The twists and turns of family dynamics will keep you guessing.
May 22, 2022
Great mystery!
This was a moving, fun, engaging, and smart mystery with painfully relatable characters. I’m looking forward to the next installment!
This was a moving, fun, engaging, and smart mystery with painfully relatable characters. I’m looking forward to the next installment!
August 2, 2023
“Death Comes For Christmas” is a suspense filled novel as it brings mental illnesses to the forefront. When you add alcohol, drugs to mental health issues, it is a recipe for disaster, the sudden death of a beloved aunt proves no one is sacred, not even Aunt Freda. The pace was perfectly maintained, the stage set with many capable suspects, making it an awesome crime story. It was filled with family squabbling drama at its core. The characters are relatable, some are nice and others not so much as they selfishly looking for the next fix and become genuinely greedy and self centred. Death does tend to bring out the darker side of those left behind, especially when the estate is worth lots of money. The plot has some interesting and surprising moments, the twists in the plot keeps the reader engaged.
Camelia Belmont, a favourite niece, a burnt out divorce lawyer with her own anxiety and an amateur sleuth is suspicious and investigates the sudden death of her aunt, she slowly unravels the facts and begins to arrange the pieces to the mysterious puzzle of why Aunt Freda suddenly died. Camelia digs and many chilling clues start to surface and an ugly truth begins to take shape at a magical time of year. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
It was thrilling whodunnit, and it was well written. I was impressed that the author included at the end of the novel a page dedicated to very helpful links for addictions and mental health issues, given the content of the book, it was an added bonus. A great read in the heat of summer!
Camelia Belmont, a favourite niece, a burnt out divorce lawyer with her own anxiety and an amateur sleuth is suspicious and investigates the sudden death of her aunt, she slowly unravels the facts and begins to arrange the pieces to the mysterious puzzle of why Aunt Freda suddenly died. Camelia digs and many chilling clues start to surface and an ugly truth begins to take shape at a magical time of year. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
It was thrilling whodunnit, and it was well written. I was impressed that the author included at the end of the novel a page dedicated to very helpful links for addictions and mental health issues, given the content of the book, it was an added bonus. A great read in the heat of summer!
April 14, 2022
4.5 stars
I am super excited to share my thoughts about this book. But disclaimer first. I first meet Pamela back in 2017 where we became part of Table 17 at SIWC. I jumped at the chance to read this book and share my thoughts, which in no way is influenced by our relationship.
Death Comes for Christmas has a wonderful mix of characters, some I loved right off the bat (Freda), others I didn’t and there were even a couple that creeped me right out.
There are many layers to this story, which also marks the beginning of a new series. Picture the dysfunctional family setting where alcohol plays a big part for some, there are secrets and a mysterious death. As you can read from the blurb above there is a lot going on.
I enjoyed the writing, getting to know the characters came naturally, it was atmospheric with the chilly Canadian winter storms and chilly vibes from this lot of players.
There were little droppings of clues along the way that left me scratching my head. But alas all things were wrapped up nicely with an ending I didn’t see coming at all.
Death Comes for Christmas is available for purchase in both print and digital (it's only $1.26!!). I recommend this for those that love a good whodunit with some savoury characters.
I am super excited to share my thoughts about this book. But disclaimer first. I first meet Pamela back in 2017 where we became part of Table 17 at SIWC. I jumped at the chance to read this book and share my thoughts, which in no way is influenced by our relationship.
Death Comes for Christmas has a wonderful mix of characters, some I loved right off the bat (Freda), others I didn’t and there were even a couple that creeped me right out.
There are many layers to this story, which also marks the beginning of a new series. Picture the dysfunctional family setting where alcohol plays a big part for some, there are secrets and a mysterious death. As you can read from the blurb above there is a lot going on.
I enjoyed the writing, getting to know the characters came naturally, it was atmospheric with the chilly Canadian winter storms and chilly vibes from this lot of players.
There were little droppings of clues along the way that left me scratching my head. But alas all things were wrapped up nicely with an ending I didn’t see coming at all.
Death Comes for Christmas is available for purchase in both print and digital (it's only $1.26!!). I recommend this for those that love a good whodunit with some savoury characters.
December 17, 2022
I was completely hooked on this book from the moment I started reading, and I finished in a week (which is v fast for me). The characters are well written and feel increasingly real as we learn more about them throughout the book. The murder mystery itself kept me guessing and had me racing through the pages to discover more clues. I can't wait for the next installment, I'm officially a Camelia fan.
November 1, 2024
I loved it! Camelia is headed home to Saskatchewan for Christmas. Just after her arrival her favourite aunt, Freda, passes away unexpectantly and in a curious manner. Chaos ensues because of all the different family members and Camelia sets out to find out what really happend. Great, quirky characters, a great story. I’m glad I read this first book in the series prior to reading her next book for my bookclub. Am even more looking forward to meeting PJ Denison at the bookclub session!
June 24, 2022
I just finished Pamela's book. I loved it! I couldn't put it down. I started it a few days ago, and I normally only read at bedtime. This one, I couldn't wait to get back to, so have been reading much more than usual. I can't wait for her next one!
March 25, 2022
Loved this book! It was fun!!!!!
September 7, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Can't wait for the second one to come out. It's at the top of my list of reads.
July 28, 2024
Who killed Auntie Freda and why??? She said that she mistook them??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.
October 11, 2022
Wonderful debut mystery novel, the first in what (I hope) will be a long series featuring investigative lawyer, Camelia Belmont. The writing is sharp, the characters vivid and relatable (if not always likable) and the mystery engaging and entertaining. Fair warning to individuals who are triggered when reading about alcoholics and addicts - you’ll encounter several here, including at least one who is likely to be recurring. This dimension is extremely well done and factors into the story being told, but the depictions are so eerily spot on it can make you cringe. Even so, can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews