The Merry Christmas Murders: Volume 1

Murder is AFOOT in this brand new murder-mystery series by leading adult crime writer, Alexandra Benedict. Perfect for fans of Robin Stevens and the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time with a puzzle hook for middle grade readers People will die for a good mince pie… Every year, six local schools compete to win the Christmas Cup. Last year, the rival school to Brooke Parkin’s school won for the most crackers pulled in a minute! This year, the cup will be judged and awarded to the school with the perfect mince pie. But when a series of murders seemed to be linked to the very mince pies (each with a clue from a letter from the alphabet imprinted in the pastry) the five neuro-divergent children must turn detective and combine their skill sets to find the killer. Can they prevent another death and save their out-of-school club from being shut down forever . . .?

Autorentext

Alexandra (A. K.) Benedict is a bestselling, award-winning writer of short stories, novels and scripts. Educated at Cambridge, Sussex and Clown School, Alexandra has been an indie-rock singer, an actor, an RLF Fellow and a composer for film and TV, as well as teaching and running the prestigious MA in Crime Thrillers at City University. She is now a full-time writer and creative coach.

As A. K. Benedict she writes acclaimed short stories, high-concept novels and award-winning audio drama for Big Finish, Audible UK, Audible US and BBC Sounds, among others. She won the Scribe Award for her Doctor Who radio drama The Calendar Man, and was shortlisted for the eDunnit Novel Award for The Beauty of Murder and the BBC Audio Drama Podcast Award for Children of the Stones. As Alexandra Benedict she writes puzzle-filled Christmas mysteries, of which The Christmas Murder Game and Murder on the Christmas Express were both bestsellers and The Christmas Murder Game was longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger. Her first festive thriller to feature Edie O'Sullivan, The Christmas Jigsaw Murders, was published in 2023. She lives on the south coast of England with writer Guy Adams, their daughter Verity, and dog Dame Margaret Rutherford.

Follow her on X @ak_benedict and Instagram @a.k.benedict

Klappentext

Murder is AFOOT in this festive, puzzle-packed mystery from bestselling crime writer Alexandra Benedict. Perfect for fans of Robin Stevens, The London Eye Mystery and readers who love solving clues as they read.

Every year, six local schools compete for the Christmas Cup. This year's challenge? Baking the perfect mince pie. But when the competition turns deadly and every victim is linked by a mysterious alphabet clue hidden in the pastry, Brooke Parkin and her neurodivergent detective club must unravel the pattern before the killer strikes again.

Each member of the club brings a unique way of thinking, spotting clues and making connections that everyone else misses. As the mystery deepens, readers can follow the clues, solve the puzzles and race to uncover the truth alongside Brooke and her friends.

A twist-filled festive whodunnit celebrating friendship, clever thinking and the power of seeing the world differently

 'Sometimes, to solve the toughest crimes, you need to see the world differently...enter our group of ND supersleuths. Not since the London Eye Mystery has an author championed the beauty of difference so enjoyably.' Phil Earle

'A deliciously clever festive mystery, brimming with heart, humour, and a cast of sleuths you'll cheer for on every page. I devoured it in one sitting.' Jenny Pearson