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** FROM THE WINNER OF THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS CRIME AND THRILLER BOOK OF THE YEAR **

* THE SMASH-HIT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER *
* AN INSTANT TIMES BESTSELLER *
* A GUARDIAN BEST BOOK OF 2023 *

‘A Christmas treat’ – OBSERVER
‘A great deal of festive fun’ – GUARDIAN
‘Sharp, witty and suspenseful’ – SUNDAY EXPRESS

One dead Santa. A town full of suspects. Will you discover the truth?

Christmas in Lower Lockwood, and the Fairway Players are busy rehearsing their festive pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk. But there’s not much good will among the amateur dramatics enthusiasts. Sarah-Jane is fending off threats to her new position as Chair, the beanstalk might be full of asbestos, and someone is trying to ruin the panto before the curtain even goes up.

Plus, there’s the small matter of the dead Santa. Who had the victim on their naughty list? Read the round robins, examine the emails and pore over the police transcripts to discover the truth. Will the show go on?

‘A perfect stocking filler’ – INDIA KNIGHT
‘Hallett is as good as ever’ – OBSERVER

Publisher Review

Cosy, but clever cosy, and a perfect stocking filler * Sunday Times * A highly entertaining mix of mayhem, panic, snobbery, drunkenness, family feeling and mirth * Times * Breathlessly brilliant, it’s cosy crime with that familiar bite that makes Hallett one of the best * Sun * Fans of Janice Hallett’s fiendish whodunits will enjoy her latest festive offering * Good Housekeeping * Hallett is as good as ever at showing her characters in all their petty, ridiculous, warm-hearted glory. A Christmas treat * Observer * Hallett is particularly good on small-town snobberies, rivalries and social dynamics… There is a great deal of festive fun to be had * Guardian * A festive read with a difference… It’s great fun trying to work out who knows the truth, amid the characters’ vicious backstabbing and passive aggression. A sharp, witty and suspenseful read * Sunday Express * Few authors have managed to write mysteries as fun and inventive as Hallett… Quite the treat * iPaper * A laugh-out-loud festive murder-mystery with an entertaining storyline that will have readers crying out for an encore * Woman * Laugh-out-loud funny with an entertaining storyline * Woman & Home * Expertly captures the essence of small-town rivalries and social dynamics, skilfully interweaving humour and puzzlement… Another excellent work of crime fiction from Janice Hallett, offering an enthralling blend of mystery, humour and holiday cheer. Its pacy plotting and well-developed characters make it the perfect choice for those seeking a light and highly entertaining read during the festive season * Crime Fiction Lover * The undisputed queen of crime puzzles… A delightfully cosy festive mystery * Crime Monthly * A dazzlingly clever yuletide mystery * Sainbury’s Magazine *