Mystery Of The Secret Santa

The Office meets Stephen King, dressed up in holiday tinsel, in this fun, festive, and frightening horror-comedy set during the horror publishing boom of the ’80s, by New York Times best-selling satirist Andrew Shaffer. Out of work for months, Lussi Meyer is desperate to work anywhere in publishing. Prestigious Blackwood-Patterson isn’t the perfect fit, but a bizarre set of circumstances leads to her hire and a firm mandate: Lussi must find the next horror superstar to compete with Stephen King, Anne Rice, and Peter Straub. It’s the ’80s, after all, and horror is the hottest genre. But as soon as she arrives, Lussi finds herself the target of her co-workers' mean-spirited pranks. The hazing reaches its peak during the company’s annual Secret Santa gift exchange, when Lussi receives a demonic-looking object that she recognizes but doesn't understand. Suddenly, her coworkers begin falling victim to a series of horrific accidents akin to a George Romero movie, and Lussi suspects that her gift is involved. With the help of her former author, the flamboyant Fabien Nightingale, Lussi must track down her anonymous Secret Santa and figure out the true meaning of the cursed object in her possession before it destroys the company—and her soul.

THIS YEAR, YOU'LL GET WHAT YOU DESERVE... _____________________ You're invited to a lavish Christmas party in an isolated mansion. And your hosts will do anything to keep you from finding out their secrets... When husband and wife Henry and Claudine organise their company's Christmas party in a remote mansion, they expect it to be a night to remember. But the festive mood quickly turns sour when a sinister gift is unwrapped in the Secret Santa gift exchange. As heavy snow traps the guests inside the mountainside lodge, it quickly becomes clear that one of the party is out for revenge. It's no longer just about enduring the evening. It's about making sure you get out alive. A lavish locked-room mystery with a seasonal edge, THE SECRET SANTA is packed with twists that will keep you guessing until the very last page. _____________________ 'Better than a pair of socks!' Readers say The Secret Santa is the Christmas gift they've been waiting for: 'Henry, Zara and Claudine are excellent characters. Highly recommended.' 'a fun mystery read ... you learn what people are really capable of as their true colours start to seep through' 'a good Christmas read for anyone who enjoys mysteries' 'This Christmas-themed murder mystery is well written, with believable, if not likeable, characters and enough twists and turns to make you want to know whodunnit. A nice atmospheric Christmas read.' 'A fun Christmas based thriller that had me laughing one moment and gasping the next' 'The characters were extremely well drawn and sympathetic, and the storyline was seamless.' 'A remarkably twisty tale with a surprisingly vicious villain (very sneaky and Machiavellian) and some feckless "innocents" and undeserving villains. This was a one-sitting read as I raced through breathlessly awaiting the unravelling of the puzzles.' 'This book is a compelling read, teasing you, urging you to read on and uncover the mystery of Montague House... a page-turner of a murder mystery - I read it in one day! An atmospheric, thrilling, good read.' My Weekly

A collection of holiday tales by four different authors includes Fern Michaels' "Mister Christmas," in which attorney Claire O'Brien travels to Ireland to change a wealthy client's will, only to face resistance from his nephew.

When the gang's Christmas presents are stolen, Shaggy and Scooby track down the thieves.

Someone knows who’s been naughty, and they’re not being nice about it Lexie Lincoln is excited about the holiday season. Stirling Mills puts on a big celebration, with elaborate light displays and numerous events. It’ll be like living in one of those TV Christmas movies she binges every December. There’s just one damper on her holiday spirit: the Secret Santa, an information vigilante who seems to have access to the Naughty list and who is sharing that information through anonymous notes sometimes slipped into pockets and sometimes left in people’s homes during the night. Since nothing is damaged or taken and there’s no sign of a break-in, no one has reported these incidents to the police, so they aren’t involved, but that doesn’t stop Lexie from investigating. Informing people about affairs, backstabbing, and workplace politics stirs up strife, and the fact that the Santa sometimes also leaves gifts that fulfill unspoken needs doesn’t help. Lexie’s not sure she believes in Santa, but someone who knows secrets, good and bad, and who can slip into homes during the night sounds a lot like St. Nick. Busting Santa might put Lexie on the Naughty list, but she feels she has to save the holiday celebration before the bad vibe drives the tourists away – and before her own secrets are revealed.

Nancy's third-grade class is having a Secret Santa gift exchange, but there are no presents for Nancy.

Everyone knows that when Christmas rolls around Santa employs a legion of helpers to ensure the season goes off without a hitch. But between the santas on parade, the santas at the malls, and the ones ringing bells in front of busy department stores...one intrepid investigator wants to know exactly WHO the real Santa is. Armed with a notebook, pencil, and a barrage of questions, can this young detective get to the bottom of Santa's secret?

In this fast-paced Peculiar Crimes Unit mystery, available as an eBook short story, detectives Arthur Bryant and John May must crack a puzzling Christmas case with some extra assistance from Santa’s little helpers. Includes a preview of Christopher Fowler’s upcoming Peculiar Crimes Unit mystery, Bryant & May and the Burning Man! The streets of London are covered in twinkling lights and freshly fallen snow, but the mood inside the Christmas department of Selfridges is decidedly less cheery. Bryant and May have arrived there to investigate the death of an eleven-year-old boy who inexplicably fled the store after a routine visit to Santa’s Wonderland. Their only clue is a torn scrap of blue cloth discovered at the scene. Now, Bryant and May are making a list of suspects, but they’d better check it twice to catch a shifty culprit in disguise. Praise for Christopher Fowler’s brilliant Peculiar Crimes Unit novels “Fowler, like his crime-solvers, is deadpan, sly, and always unexpectedly inventive.” —Entertainment Weekly “Delectably droll . . . brainy and pure.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times “Fowler reinvents and reinvigorates the traditional police procedural.”—The Boston Globe “May and Bryant make a stellar team.”—The Wall Street Journal “Fowler has few peers when it comes to constructing ingenious and intricate plots.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Noel thinks Christmas can't get any worse when her parents say she won't be taking a vacation until the class secret Santa drawing proves her wrong.

A Secret Santa—with a secret! Security expert for a British bank by day, horse trainer at night, Izzy Paterson is a multi-tasking, dressage-riding, computer whiz with an addiction to strong coffee and a penchant for CSI on Netflix. So when she's handed a perplexing riddle at her office Christmas party, she just can't ignore the mystery. Penned by a modern-day Robin Hood, the anonymous rhyme hints at financial misconduct that could put the future of everyone at her work in danger. Despite herself, Izzy is drawn into solving the puzzle, delving into the furthest reaches of the internet in her quest to track down the mysterious wrongdoer. Can she solve the mystery before the company implodes, or before her adversary takes things from the virtual to the physical—and still get home to Scotland in time for Christmas? :: Fans of M C Beaton, T E Kinsey and H Y Hanna will love this fun festive story, the prequel to the Highland Horse Whisperer cozy mystery series. Grab your copy of The Secret Santa Mystery and experience Christmas in London for yourself!