The Christmas Eve Murders

Noelle Albright

A SCAVENGER hunt becomes a murder hunt when one of the regulars from the Merry Monarch pub in Yorkshire is murdered in a delightfully festive whodunit that proves to be as funny as it is gripping. 

The Christmas Eve Murders comes from the pen of Noelle Albright (pictured below), a Yorkshire-born author and poet based in the north-east of England who also writes poetry, romance novellas and the Kitt Hartley Yorkshire Mystery Series under the name of
Helen Cox. 

It’s Christmas Eve at the Merry Monarch. Nestled amongst the Yorkshire Dales, the pub is preparing to host its annual scavenger hunt for its rabble of regulars. 

There’s the landlord, Mickey, his wife Sofia and their wayward son James, local policeman Alex and his supernaturally minded deputy Don, along with Sita, Mrs Fazarkaley, the Kapoors, and Curtis who is never far from his beloved dog. Quite the crowd.

This year, they are interrupted by a knock at the door from Maddie Marlowe, a journalist who was homeward bound to Edinburgh for Christmas but has been left stranded by her car breaking down and by the snow storm that’s closing in on the village. But Maddie’s arrival won’t be the only surprise of the night. 

When the power is cut off and darkness descends, the hunt turns deadly. Maddie and her unexpected Christmas companions must try to find the murderer amongst them, as it seems one of the group would kill to win.

Enjoy dining out at the Merry Monarch with a veritable feast of tasty clues, fascinating characters, locked-room intrigue and Albright’s unbeatable brand of northern humour as the snow falls thick and fast and the suspense reaches boiling point. Cosy crime with a delectable Yorkshire flavour!
(Quercus, hardback, £14.99)