There Goes Santa Claus


Book Description

IVY TOWERS-TUCKER IS LOOKING FORWARD TO HER FIRST CHRISTMAS AS A MARRIED WOMAN. . . . But a few days before December 25, Ivy and her husband Amos are awakened by noises on their rooftop. Amos's joke that Santa Claus must have arrived early loses its humor when a body goes flying past their second-story window. A look outside reveals two legs covered in red velvet trousers and black boots sticking out of a snow bank! Ivy and Amos are even more surprised to find they belong to a dead man dressed as Santa Claus. The story circulates quickly through the small town of Winter Break that Ivy and Amos have killed Santa. Who is the dead man and why was he on their roof? Ivy has a Christmas mystery to solve that will bring a satisfying conclusion to the Ivy Towers Mystery series.




I Saw Mommy Killing Santa Claus


Book Description

THIS EXCLUSIVE MURDER MYSTERY PARTY KIT WILL WORK FOR GROUPS OF SIX TO 50. You WON'T NEED to copy anything. Simply take apart this 8.5" X 11" book and you'll have what you need to orchestrate the mystery. Those who aren't suspects help investigate the case. Can you solve the case called "I Saw Mommy Killing Santa Claus"? Here's the scenario: It's Christmas time again and the toy department at Lacy's is selling more merchandise than its chief competitor, Tidewater's Toys. The main reason for this explosion of sales is Elmer Ellsworth, Lacy's holiday Santa Claus. Before Elmer was hired for last year's Christmas season, Lacy's toy receipts were so bad that the store was ready to stop selling toys altogether. Now, business is booming because Elmer makes Santa come alive to young and old alike. In a daily holiday ritual, kids hug Santa and mothers give him kisses as photos are taken for Christmas albums. But, in the midst of parents and children lined up to tell the jolly old elf all about their wish lists, Elmer stands up, utters a faint "ho, ho, ho," and falls to the floor in front of his chair. He is dead. Someone has done in the department store Santa before he could grant everyone's wishes. The suspects . . . Yul Tidewater-The owner of Tidewater's Toys. Elmer used to work for Yul until they had an argument and Elmer took his talents to Lacy's. Tidewater's sales took an immediate dip. Mary Mostly-Christmas tree lot owner and the mother of five. Last year, Elmer promised that Santa would bring her brood everything it asked for. When the presents didn't materialize, Mary's Christmas turned chilly. Kip Ringle-the former Santa at Lacy's. When Kip was replaced by Elmer last year, Kip got a job as the Santa at Kimble's Department Store, directly across the street from Lacy's. Ginger Redman-Seamstress and costume maker. She supplies all of the stores in the city with Christmas costumes for Santa and the elves. Elmer asked for some unusual alterations to his Santa suit. Mick Flashburg-the photographer at Lacy's. During the Christmas season, he takes photos of children sitting with Santa and sells the photos to proud parents. Holly Hall-Elmer's high school sweetheart. He left her standing at the altar on Christmas eve many years ago. She's never forgotten how he destroyed the holiday season for her. ------------------------------------------------- This complete Murder Mystery Party Kit from Mysteries on the Net contains everything you need to host your own event at home or in a large facility. YOU WON'T NEED TO COPY ANYTHING for a party of up to 50 people. The kit includes: - Complete instructions on how to run your party, - Facilitator instructions, - 6 suspect roles and role player instructions, - 16 invitations to your party, - 12 copies of "The Metro Spotlight" newspaper, - 14 copies of a letter from the Police Chief, - 24 individual clues, - 8 copies of the answer sheets to be completed by your investigative teams, - And, of course, the solution to the case. You'll need to take apart the kit to prepare the material for your party, and everything will be right there at your fingertips. Your friends and colleagues will enjoy the challenge of solving a murder mystery that will be talked about for years to come.




Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings


Book Description

“Exceptional…the perfect holiday entertainment.”— Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW This Christmas season, travel to the North Pole you’ve never seen before—where Santa’s new wife, April Claus, is not only set on creating the perfect holiday—she’s also set on solving the perfect crime… Love is full of surprises—though few compare to realizing that you’re marrying the real-life Santa. April Claus dearly loves her new husband, Nick, but adjusting to life in the North Pole is not all sugarplums and candy canes. Especially when a cantankerous elf named Giblet Hollyberry is killed—felled by a black widow spider in his stocking—shortly after publicly arguing with Nick. Christmastown is hardly a hotbed of crime, aside from mishaps caused by too much eggnog, but April disagrees with Constable Crinkle’s verdict of accidental death. As April sets out to find the culprit, it’ll mean putting the future of Christmas on the line—and hoping her own name isn’t on a lethal naughty list . . .




Mrs. Claus and the Halloween Homicide


Book Description

April Claus knows being married to the real Santa makes every day feel like Christmas. But when a different holiday arrives at the North Pole, so does murder . . . For the first time ever, Christmastown is celebrating a strange new tradition—Halloween. But not everyone is willing to watch their dependable winter wonderland get overrun by carved pumpkins and costume parties. As a series of scary happenings hit Santaland, each one more intense than the last, April realizes having a role in the festivities could cost her family, friends—even her own life. April isn’t the only unlucky target. Outspoken elf Tiny Sparkletoe is found dead in the snow outside his cottage, crushed in the middle of what appears to be a monstrous footprint. With mayhem descending like reindeer on rooftops, April must stop the Halloween killer before the fate of Mrs. Claus becomes another creepy tale to tell in the dark . . . “An exceptional series launch . . . This fun, well-plotted mystery is the perfect holiday entertainment.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)




The Case of the Santa Claus Mystery


Book Description

Sleuths Jigsaw and Mila take on a difficult case when their client Sally wants to meet Santa Claus.




The Santa Claus Killer


Book Description

There's a murder in the heart of Manhattan, a simple corpse... stretched out upon a bench in Herald Square Park. On any other day, in any other city, the bloody slaying would be a sidebar of filler news for the networks to bury. But this was Christmas in the city that never slept, the Big Shiny Apple... a 24-hour media show of spectacular brilliance. At the center of the universe, the King of Christmas, Mr. Jolly Old Santa Claus didn't end up dead in broad daylight. The Mayor knew the murder was a real tourist killer, a heartbreak story that could destroy the biggest shopping season of the year. Thus, with City Hall wanting answers, the Police Commissioner is leaning on his men for answers. Enter the tough talking, street savvy, Puerto Rican Lieutenant, Rico Martinez, and his crackerjack Irish Sergeant, Mike Murphy. Dispatched to the scene to hunt down leads, they are intent on cracking the case. What nobody expected was a parallel FBI Serial Killer Task Force investigation into similar murders. When the agencies come together, it doesn't take long for everyone to figure they're hunting the same psychotic, diabolical lunatic who's already on police radar. In a rush against time... New York's Finest must break out the killer's Naughty List, and hunt down the monster intent on ruining Christmas. Lock the doors, close the blinds, and run for your life. It's gonna be a merry, scary Christmas. Called 'The 'Scariest book since The Exorcist', Smith hits a home run with this psychological thriller.




Latkes for Santa Claus


Book Description

//*// Finalist for the 2022 International Book Awards in Children's Picture Book and Children's Religious categories \\*\\ To: Santa From: Anna My new dad and stepbrother celebrate Christmas, so you’re coming to my house for the very first time. And I think you must be REALLY tired of cookies. I’m going to leave you the best Santa treat ever. Anna is excited that Santa will be visiting her house for the first time, and she wants to leave Santa a treat that blends the holidays her new family celebrates: Christmas and Hanukkah. She expresses this idea to her stepbrother, Michael, who insists that Santa doesn't need anything but his sugar cookies. Anna imagines Santa has to be bored with cookies by now and is determined to find a Jewish recipe that he'll enjoy. The catch? It has to be something easy for Santa to grab and go. It can't be matzo ball soup—soup in a sleigh with galloping reindeer will never do. It can't be noodle kugel—imagine that by the handful. What a mess! And as certain as Anna is that Santa would devour tzimmes, she knows he just doesn't have the time to sit and enjoy a hearty stew on Christmas Eve. Anna retreats to her thinking corner to figure out the perfect finger food for Santa, not wanting to disappoint him on his very first visit to her house. In this humorous and endearing picture book, blending both Christmas and Hannukah, a little girl and her stepbrother compete to leave Santa the best treats ever. Latkes for Santa Claus concludes with Anna and Michael's winning recipes, ready for children to replicate for Santa in their own kitchens.




The Case of the Santa Claus Mystery


Book Description

Jigsaw and Mila try to help Sally Ann Simms meet Santa Claus.




Santa Cruise


Book Description

Alvirah Meehan, the lottery winner turned amateur sleuth, and her husband Willy, private detective Regan Reilly, her new husband Jack, and Regan's parents are all guests on the Royal Mermaid's maiden voyage, the Santa Cruise. The ship's passengers include members of the Oklahoma Readers and Writers group - who are planning a mystery seminar dedicated to a Ghost of Honour, the late Left Hook Louie - as well as assorted other charitable folk all planning on a restful post-Christmas vacation. What the guests don't know is that two escaping criminals have been smuggled on board. The hoped-for tranquility quickly vanishes when a terrified mystery fan swears she has spotted the Ghost of Honour in the ship's chapel, and soon after - while a storm develops outside - an attempt is made on the life of a feeble passenger. As the Royal Mermaid sails on through troubled waters, Alvirah, Regan and Jack are uncovering clues that lead them to dangerous criminals.




The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries


Book Description

The Edgar Award-winning editor collects sixty of his all-time favorite holiday crime stories—from Arthur Conan Doyle and Thomas Hardy, to Sara Paretsky and Ed McBain. • “Anyone who cares about the best mystery writing of the past century and beyond would be lucky to receive this thick volume during the holidays." —The Washington Post This collection touches on all aspects of the holiday season, and all types of mysteries. They are suspenseful, funny, frightening, and poignant. Included are puzzles by Mary Higgins Clark, Isaac Asimov, and Ngaio Marsh; uncanny tales in the tradition of A Christmas Carol by Peter Lovesey and Max Allan Collins; O. Henry-like stories by Stanley Ellin and Joseph Shearing, stories by pulp icons John D. MacDonald and Damon Runyon; comic gems from Donald E. Westlake and John Mortimer; and many, many more. Almost any kind of mystery you’re in the mood for--suspense, pure detection, humor, cozy, private eye, or police procedural—can be found in these pages. FEATURING: - Unscrupulous Santas - Crimes of Christmases Past and Present - Festive felonies - Deadly puddings - Misdemeanors under the mistletoe - Christmas cases for classic characters including Sherlock Holmes, Brother Cadfael, Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, Ellery Queen, Rumpole of the Bailey, Inspector Morse, Inspector Ghote, A.J. Raffles, and Nero Wolfe.




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