Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards

Just in time for the holiday season, Miss Winter in the Library With A Knife by Martin Edwards is the perfect “gift” for armchair sleuths and mystery fans.

Question: What’s so unique about this particular book? Answer: It can be read two ways. 1) It includes detailed clues scattered throughout the book for armchair detectives to really dig into this mystery and a chance for them to solve it themselves. OR 2) It can easily read and enjoyed without playing along. Either way, this superbly crafted tale is sure to have you anxiously reading it cover to cover.

Midwinter Village is located in a remote corner of England and owned by the Midwinter Trust. A mix of six eclectic contestants have been invited to Midwinter to spend their Christmas holiday and participate in mystery game created especially for the occasion. The winner will offered a “special prize.”

It’s an all-expenses-paid Christmas break. The contestants have no idea what this “special prize” is –only that it will be “life-changing” for the winner.

Who wouldn’t accept the invite when you’re down on your luck or have no plans for Christmas and nowhere to spend it? And so, the six contestants, all strangers to each other, yet somehow connected through their relationships with the crime fiction genre, all accept the challenge.

But after the contestants arrive and get settled in, what should be a unique and interesting holiday experience, begins to take on an ominous atmosphere. A deadly snowstorm closes in, trapping them – no way in and no way out – no communication with the outside world.

Everyone tries to make the best of it – everyone wants to continue with the game. After all, they have comfortable accommodations, superb food – and still, a chance to win that “life-altering” prize.

But when someone has a horrible accident, things take an even darker turn. And when a second person dies from another accident, you, as well as the contestants, begin to question the validity of their upbeat, congenial hosts and staff. Now they wonder: Were both of these really accidents? Why are they “really” there? What ulterior motives are lurking within Midwinter’s walls? And what is this valuable “special prize” their hosts have been dangling in front of them?

Hardcore armchair detectives will have a field day with all the carefully scattered clues provided by the author, Martin Edwards. Edwards has been called “a master of British crime writing” and I wholeheartedly agree.

Miss Winter In The Library With A Knife gives you two mysteries to solve: Play along with the contestants to solve Midwinter’s fictional Christmas mystery. Then tackle the other mystery of exactly who and why someone at Midwinter Hall is committing some very sinister crimes.

As mentioned, this is a perfect gift for mystery fans on your holiday list. But don’t forget – and this is important – grab a copy for yourself!

A copy of this book and cover photo were provided by Poisoned Pen/Sourcebooks.