A Grave Christmas

DI Erica Swift

by M.K. Farrar

It’s a few days before Christmas.Snow is coming, the lights are lit.And a madman is stalking Central London…He’s strangling his victims.Stringing them up like Christmas decorations.Decorations are the last thing on DI Erica Swift’s mind. She doesn’t like Christmas or the unnecessary pressures that come with it.Plus this year she won’t even have her daughter home…Except she won’t be alone. She’ll be with her team. On the trail of a killer.A killer who’s murdered a Christmas shopper out celebrating the festive season.A killer who’s been caught on camera.But who’s clever enough to keep his – or her – face hidden.It’s going to be A Grave Christmas for Erica.Even the twinkling of fairy lights can’t keep the dark nights at bay.And then it gets darker…A second body is discovered.And if Erica doesn’t act fast there’s going to be a third. And a fourth…Someone out there really doesn’t like Christmas.***Get this standalone Christmas special of the DI Erica Swift series today!

Genres: Christmas, Crime

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 15, 2022

About the author

M K Farrar had penned more than ten novels of psychological noir and crime fiction. A British author, she lives in the countryside with her three children and a menagerie of rescue pets. When she’s not writing—which isn’t often—she balances out all the murder with baking and binge-watching shows on Netflix.

Reviews

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great short story of Christmas shoppers who are murdered and strung up with the Christmas lights.
DI Erica Swift is on the case.
I love her character so it's a good fast paced book.

[Christine Rennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Grave Christmas by M K Farrar I a short story but full of murder and Christmas presents. DI Erica Swift and her team investigate a murder of a woman who had been out doing her Christmas shopping and she is brutally murdered and her shopping left with a homeless man. Then there follows another murder and then the third murder is stopped when another woman intervenes. This third attempt means that the team are able to know who the killer is.
Then he tries to kill the boss but Erica and her team mnge to get there is time.
An interesting story with a moral to the tale.
Highly recommended

[Linden · Rating 5 out of 5]

London DI Erica has a disturbing case come up right before Christmas. A shopper has been strangled with a strand of Christmas lights. Then there is another murder, and Erica and her team are racing to stop the killer. The motive wasn't robbery, so what could it be? There is a parallel story set 20 years earlier about a neglected child--is this the back story of a murderer?

[Patty U. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I enjoy reading books by this author. She never disappoints. This book was a very entertaining Christmas read. If you like fast paced mysteries this one should be on your to be read list!

[T.M. Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book: A Grave Christmas: A DI Erica Swift Christmas Special
Author: M K Farrar
My Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by: Tammy - Book Nook Nuts

REVIEW
Wowzers, talk about putting the C in CREEPY!
Who would hate Christmas so much that they actually kill people with the lights on a tree? Well, this killer is all about taking the twinkle right out of the eyes of those who love all things Christmas but why?
I didn't figure this one out till the very end and OH I didn't see that coming.
If you like an excellent thriller to cuddle up with on a cold winter's night... GRAB this one! Again this author's tales are cryptic, twisted, and darkly delicious! And I love Erica Swift.

**I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book**

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just read my first M.K. Farrar book – A Grave Christmas. It is part of the DI Erica Swift series. I have had some of this series on my tbr pile for ages but they kept getting pushed back. I thought it was about time I started. From the very beginning, I thought to myself that I’m going to enjoy this series and if this book is any indication, I can’t wait to get stuck into the rest of them. It was a great story, and the characters are so good and so likeable. Someone is murdering Christmas shoppers in a gruesome way but at the same time, we are getting the sad story of the murderer in the background.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

hopefully the next book will be better

⭐️ - awful, probably DNF
⭐️⭐️- didn’t like but not terrible, actually finished it
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - it was ok, passed the time
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - good story, good writing, entertaining, just not great
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - great, could not put it down, excellent writing and story

Okay, I waffled between three and four stars. Could have gone either way. Just a little something about the writing that makes me think the author could have put more time into a rereading and made some revisions. But not a bad book, just not a big wow. I will give the next book a shot and hope the writing is improved.

[Nicolette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not sure I’ve ever read a Christmas book for the sake of the season, but this was a seasonal thriller that I would have enjoyed anytime of year. A Grave Christmas was well put together and didn’t have any of that cheesy holiday feel I dread. I always love a good female detective lead, and DI Erica Swift was one I could get behind. Plus, the way MK Farrar gave the ‘why’ behind the killings really provided a solid foundation to the story. I will certainly be diving into the DI Swift series next!

[Julie Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sad reflection on today's world, where too many people live in poverty and what can result given the unfortunate circumstances.

It's well-written and fast-paced and highlighted the many dilemmas facing women who want a career. It also showed the chasm between lives, especially at Christmas, some say the worst time of year.

Overall, I thought this was an engaging crime thriller, if rather sad.

Worth a look.

[Susan Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Grave Christmas completed my book club challenge for 2025, a book by a self published female author. What a book! I was hooked from the start A woman is murdered a few days before Christmas on a busy London street. This was a one sitting read for me. DI Erica Swift and her team investigate this horrendous murder. Now to track down further books in this series. a cracking read.

[Ashley Lister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutley brilliant police procedural. The pacing was superb. The detail was everything I needed (without being too much). And all the character were well-realised. I look forward to reading more of DI Erica Swift's adventures.

[poodlechick17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

This is one of my favourites. I like how the backstory flashbacks run along side the present story.I love the main characters and how Erica juggles being a single mum. The story was really quite sad and poignant.

[Carol Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

riveting

I love reading about Erica, Shawn and the team and I will stand by what I have said previously- Erica and Shawn should be together

[Rosemarie Swayze · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Grave Christmas

Really enjoyed this book with its twist and turns. I will definitely be reading more of M K Farrar's books. Highly recommend it

[barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

wasn't keen bit predictable .

[Pat Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ebook

A killer is stalking people just before Christmas. She and her team must find him before he kills again. They get a break and hunt him down.

[Peggy LaZette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looks like I’m a fan of psychological thrillers. Great read, couldn’t put it down.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shallow.

[Lula Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting Christmas Crime Twist

Loved the path the crime took and the way the author entwined the past with results of the present . A complete different crime story!

[Janice Mcculloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not your typical cozy Christmas read, but I loved it. I always enjoy a murder mystery and this fit the bill. Looking forward to reading more books featuring DI Erica Swift

[Marissa Teng · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book...well, I think in every single chapter someone said: "It's hard to lose someone during in holidays." Or some variation of it. This book was part of a book club so I had to force myself to read it. It took me four damn months! Also, it fell soulless. I'm not going to put off this author though. I'll try a few more books from here but for now, I need a break.
It's hard to lose someone during the holidays.