Author: Edwards, Martin

Christmas

Published on 11 September 2025 by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (Head of Zeus — an Aries Book) in the United Kingdom.

Hardback | 448 pages, 5 Maps
157 x 237 x 41 | 642g

‘A true master of British crime writing.’ RICHARD OSMAN’All the entertainment you’ll need this Christmas. Wonderful stuff.’ IAN MOORE’A delight from the first page to the last.’ DAILY MAILIf you want to, you can play along! Includes a Cluefinder where you can check the clues you spotted – and missed – along the way…

Can you find the clues and solve the murder first?Six people with links to the world of crime writing have been invited to play a game this Christmas by the mysterious Midwinter Trust. Solve the murder of a fictional crime writer in a remote village in north Yorkshire and win a life-changing prize. Each guest has been meticulously vetted by the shadowy Trust, which has staff on-hand to make sure everyone plays fair. But with the village about to be cut off by a snow storm, they must be extra vigilant. The game is set but playing fair isn’t on everyone’s Christmas list. And when the prize is to die for, it’s so tempting to inject a little murder into the mystery…

The perfect gift for crime fiction lovers and fans of Janice Hallett, Alexandra Benedict and Alex Pavesi.

Included in the i newspaper’s best new crime and thriller books to read in September 2025.

‘Only a writer with Martin Edwards’s knowledge of and feeling for British crime fiction in all its breadth and depth could have pulled off Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife.’ MORNING STAR’Excellent.’ CRITICA real masterpiece perfect for fans of crime, puzzles and escape rooms!’DARLING READS, BOOKSELLER’S CIRCLE ‘The king of the puzzle mystery novel.’ ALEX PAVESI’Nobody knows the game of murder like Martin Edwards.’ ANTONY JOHNSTON’Fiendish, hilarious and utterly addictive.’ ORLANDO MURRIN’A celebration of crime fiction… As thoughtful as it is fun.’ CRIME FICTION LOVER’What a treat.’ SJ BENNETT’I absolutely loved it.’ MARY GRANDMartin knows more about crime fiction than anyone.’ANN CLEEVESA fine writer…. . . his novels feature an acute sense of place as well as deep psychological insights.’IAN RANKINDISCOVER MORE THRILLING READS FROM THE KING OF CLASSIC CRIME, ALL FEATURING A CLUEFINDER SO YOU CAN PLAY DETECTIVE YOURSELF.

THE RACHEL SAVERNAKE GOLDEN AGE MYSTERIES#1 GALLOWS COURT#2 MORTMAIN HALL#3 BLACKSTONE FELL#4 SEPULCHRE STREET#5 HEMLOCK BAYSTANDALONE MYSTERIES#1 MISS WINTER IN THE LIBRARY WITH A KNIFE