by Ngaio Marsh
First published 2022
Christmas arrives at a remote country estate, but the holiday spirit sours when a heated argument erupts in the kitchen. The trouble centers on an unpopular visiting servant who has come to help with the festivities. After donning the Santa Claus costume for the guests, the man vanishes completely, leaving no trace behind. What initially appears to be an unexplained disappearance quickly reveals itself as something far more sinister. The investigation focuses not on the household staff, but on the assembled guests themselves. These are people of impeccable reputation and social standing, making the notion that one among them could commit murder seem nearly impossible to accept. Into this puzzling situation steps Superintendent Roderick Alleyn, who cuts short his Australian travels to return home unexpectedly. He discovers that his wife has become deeply involved in unraveling the mystery, placing her at the center of a dangerous game where respectability masks deadly secrets.
Genres: christmas, 20th-century, mystery, thriller, detective, cozy-mystery
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, unexpected-return
Setting: Australia
Period: Christmas
292 pages · Paperback · HarperCollins