A Killer Chistmas by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Faley Moran

Christmas is not an easy time to sell a house, but in Boston tycoon John Bragdon, Cabot Cove Realtor Eve Simpson has found a buyer for the old Jarvis homestead. Unfortunately, Eve gets a lump of coal in her stocking in the form of Kenny Jarvis, who has been missing for years and presumed dead but has now come back to stop his sister from selling their childhood home. Eve presses on, organizing a welcome dinner for Bragdon and his wife, Marlene, to meet the leading citizens of the town, including Jessica Fletcher. Dinner is interrupted by an uninvited guest—not Santa but Kenny, who threateningly promises Marlene she will never live in his house. When Marlene is found dead a few days later, Kenny is the natural suspect. But Jessica isn′t so sure he′s on the naughty list . . .

Pride and Perjury by Alice McVeigh

"I have very little hope," said Mr Bennet, "of disposing of even one of my daughters much before luncheon." (from McVeigh's Pride and Perjury) What really happened when Wickham eloped with Lydia? What did the Longbourn servants secretly think of the Bennet sisters? Take a deep dive into Caroline Bingley's schemes, Lady Catherine's de Bourgh's diary - and Mr Knightley’s heart.

The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan

Poirot can’t resist a case, even when holidaying in Brighton with Hastings. When a necklace goes missing, the case is a simple matter of logic for the little Belgian.

Best Canadian Short Stories 2025 by Steven W. Beattie

Selected by editor Steven W. Beattie, the 2025 edition of Best Canadian Stories showcases the best Canadian fiction writing published in 2023. Featuring: Chris Bailey • Christine Birbalsingh • Cody Caetano • Kate Cayley • Lynn Coady • Caitlin Galway • Marcel Goh • Beth Goobie • Mark Anthony Jarman • Saad Omar Khan • Chelsea Peters • Kawai Shen • Liz Stewart • Glenna Turnbull • Catriona Wright • Clea Young

Murder on the Train by Faith Martin

Former Detective Hillary Greene is off on holiday. For a blissful two weeks, her life will be free of murder victims, murder suspects — and, best of all, no paperwork. She’s heading for the beautiful Welsh town of Hay-on-Wye, where she plans to spend her time browsing old bookshops and generally relaxing. Hillary arrives at the picturesque Riverside Inn where the other guests are an eclectic a charming Irishman, a rich American and his spoilt daughter, a thrice-married Canadian influencer, a wealthy widow and a taciturn taxidermist. The next day, Hillary and her fellow guests set off on a steam train ride through the stunning Cambrian Mountains. But when the train arrives at its final destination, not all the passengers get off. One of them has been stabbed neatly and cleanly through the heart. Which of the five passengers who shared the carriage is the killer? And how come no one saw a thing . . . ?

The Complete Inspector Henry Beaumont Mysteries by Meg Elizabeth Atkins

BOOK 1: BY THE NORTH DOOR When a young woman disappears, Inspector Henry Beaumont sets out on a personal mission to find her. His investigation takes him to the mysterious village of Nine Maidens, where he meets the enigmatic Deane family. Roland Deane has just married Lucy after a whirlwind romance. But Lucy soon discovers that the family are hiding dangerous secrets that can’t be explained. Do they hold the key to Henry’s search or are they best left buried? BOOK 2: SAMAIN Henry inherits a house left by his mysterious aunt in the village of Marchstearn. It is a place where dark secrets linger, and the villagers are haunted by the past. Twenty-one years ago, ten-year-old Helen disappeared and has never been seen again. On Samain night, when the dead walk among the living, an unknown woman appears. She knows too much about the disappearance to be a stranger. Is she the answer to this decades’ old mystery and can she lead Henry to the truth? BOOK 3: TANGLE Mildred Hewitt falls to her death one snowy night in the quiet village of Avenridge. Her hapless son, Gilbert, is left directionless and seeks the help of a medium, Madame Lily. There he meets the mysterious Veronica, who quickly makes herself irreplaceable. But Gilbert’s friends don’t trust Veronica. They ask Henry to find out about the enigmatic woman, who already seems tangled up in another strange case in Avenridge. That time someone died. It’s up to Henry to make sure Gilbert doesn’t meet the same fate. MEET INSPECTOR HENRY BEAUMONT Lancashire-born Chief Inspector Henry Beaumont is tall, lean, and good-looking, with an eye for a bright and bonny woman. In both his work and his life away from it, Henry is an independent thinker: intelligent, open-minded, and perceptive. He’s not afraid to look beyond the everyday to find the answer, even if it means venturing into the unearthly.

In the Winter by Lauren Kukla

From the author of Being Me from A to Z comes the charming illustrated tale In the Winter. Travel through snowy woods, over frozen lakes, and beneath dark winter skies aglow with sparkling stars and northern lights. Animals make silent tracks in the snow, while others snooze in their burrows. Communities prepare for events and festivities. This delightful story celebrates the gentle beauty of winter, showing how it brings us together with a quiet sense of coziness and the warmth that comes from human connection. In the Winter invites readers to embrace the season’s beauty while awaiting warmer days. With soft, cozy illustrations capturing the essence of winter, this book is the perfect companion for bedtime and cherished family moments. In the Winter is the inaugural print title from the team behind mylittledigital.com, an online platform for interactive children's stories.

Murder with Mercy by Veronica Heley

Ellie’s friend on the police force asks her to enquire about some deaths in the community which might or might not be suicide, and various relatives of the deceased confirm their suspicions. Unbeknown to the police, an elderly lady moving in and out of dementia has come across some drugs and is using them to ease people in pain out of their misery. At the same time, the project to turn the quirky, turreted Pryce House into a hotel is dogged by problems and suspicion falls on the difficult twelve-year-old boy Mikey who Ellie has taken in. Social Services threaten to remove him into care. And Ellie’s pregnant daughter Diana has been juggling problems caused by the slow convalescence of her estate agent husband. Can Ellie track down whoever it is who is killing for mercy, keep Mikey at home, and steer Diana into calmer waters?

The Bea Abbot Agency Mysteries Books 1-5 by Veronica Heley

Bea Abbot runs a domestic agency that doesn't 'do' murder. There's nothing sinister about Zander's request for Bea to accompany him on an errand to a grieving widow, but it's awkward because it was Zander who'd exposed the scam that his boss Denzil had been running on the Tudor Housing Trust...after which Denzil had, unexpectedly, died. His widow, 'Lady' Honoria, turns out to be a bullying racist who wants to sue the Trust for defamation of character, while the paperwork that could have proved her husband's guilt has gone missing. Oliver, Bea's computer geek of an assistant, is delighted to delve into the mysteries left on Denzil's computer, while Bea is cajoled into silence by elderly Lord Murchison, whose family has run the charity for ever...and who faces ruin if the truth comes out. Zander and Oliver find themselves suspected of murder, while Bea thinks up a novel way to rescue her son's failing marriage. As the plot thickens, it emerges that although the first death may have appeared natural, those which follow definitely do not.

Holly Bloom's Garden by Shari Dash Greenspan

Holly Bloom wants to be a great gardener but she doesn’t seem to have the knack. Despite suggestions and support from her mom Iris, and her siblings Bud and Rose – all great flower-growers – Holly just can’t seem to get her garden to bloom. She tries water and fertilizer, uses all the right tools, even paints her thumb green, but her daisies keep drooping. Through trial-and-error and with great perseverance, Holly finally realizes that she does not need to grow flowers with soil and seeds. Inspired by her artistic father, she taps into her natural creative abilities and surprises everyone by “growing” her own unique flowers from paper and paste, pipe cleaners and paint, and best of all, these flowers are made especially by Holly Bloom. This charming book uses playful language to teach plenty about gardening, but more about the joy of being yourself and finding your own true talents – even if that makes you a late bloomer.

Alley Oops by Shari Dash Greenspan

This story relates the painful and embarrassing aftermath of name-calling and bullying from the perspective of the bully. J. J. Jax has been tormenting an overweight boy named Patrick, calling him Pig-Pen and Porky, to the point that Patrick is now afraid to go to school. Learning of his son's behavior, J. J.'s father lectures him to stop bullying Patrick. When that approach fails, Mr. Jax tries another tack and shares an experience he had as a youthful bully and the consequences he recently faced as a result of his actions. Touched by his father's words, J.J. reaches out to Patrick in a school arm-wrestling contest and experiences the "alley oops" moment of empowerment and self-esteem that comes from doing the right thing. Snappy dialogue highlights the harmful, lasting effects of bullying and the importance of finding common ground toward conflict resolution. Believable contemporary illustrations bring the story to life with expressive body language.

That Cat Can't Stay by Tad Krasnesky

Narrated by a cat-loving little girl, this story is a hysterical romp through a family's pet adoption dilemma. Poor Dad does not like cats, and he voices his opposition to the steady stream of stray cats that always seem to wind up on his doorstep—thanks to a cat-loving Mom who wants to save every stray she finds. In an effort to win Dad over, the little girl hides a tiny stray kitten in her hood and convinces Dad to just give it one small squeeze. Dad manages, with trepidation, to stick out his pinkie and pet the creature. But now that five cats have taken over his favorite chair, he becomes desperate and makes a visit to the pound. Dad returns happily with a big, fat puppy—everyone gets something that they want. With hilarious ink and watercolor illustrations, this picture book demonstrates the resourcefulness, love, and compromises of a pet-loving family

Dragon Captain by P R Allabach

Hey, Pirate. What are you doing in my sandbox?” “I'm not a pirate. I'm the captain of a ship.” What is Captain doing in Dragon's sandbox? He is moping. Because he’s lost his ship. “Oh, no! I'll help you find it! Come on!” “Where are we going?” “To my cave! I know I have a map somewhere.” Armed with a (toy watch) compass, a (paper-towel tube) telescope, and a (hand-drawn) map, Dragon and Captain set off on a great adventure. Dragon is a boy in pajamas and a dragon robe. Captain is a boy with a three-sided hat. But as the boys' imaginations take over, we see them as they see themselves and the backyard as the boys see a dark forest, a craggy cliff, and the immense sea. Illustrated like a comic book, this book is a fantasy-filled graphic novel for the picture book set. Young readers will be enchanted with—and parents will appreciate—the creative backyard play, in which the boys use the simplest found items and the backyard features to create an elaborate adventure. Can Dragon and Captain find the lost ship before lunch?

Maya was Grumpy by Courtney Pippin-Mathur

An artful mixture of fantasy and reality, humor and heart, Maya Was Grumpy celebrates the power of imagination and humor to improve moods. Maya wakes up on the wrong side of the bed, tangled in her blanket, and in a crispy, cranky, grumpy, grouchy mood. She doesn’t want to color or wear her favorite shorts or go outside to play. What’s worse, she’s determined to share her grumpiness with everyone as she glumps, clumps, and thumps around the house. But when Maya growls at her grandmother, she graciously takes Maya’s mood in stride, and even has a solution: Gramma suggests a series of unusual activities that Maya will probably not want to do since she’s feeling grumpy—and then dismisses her own silly suggestions before Maya can reject them. Children will find it hard to keep from smiling as they watch Maya’s grouchiness dissolve into glee at Gramma’s giggle-inducing ideas, while adults will find Gramma’s clever tactic a useful strategy to add to their repertoire when kids are grumpy.

Carla's Sandwich by Debbie Herman

"Carla's Sandwich" is a delightful and humorous picture book about a young girl named Carla and her quest to find the perfect sandwich. With vivid illustrations and a charming storyline, this Carla's Sandwich book is sure to entertain and engage young readers. Join Carla as she travels to different parts of the world, trying out different sandwiches, and learning about different cultures and cuisines. Along the way, Carla realizes that the perfect sandwich is not just about the ingredients, but about the memories and experiences that make it special. This heartwarming Carla's Sandwich book teaches children about the importance of trying new things and appreciating the simple joys in life. Get ready for a tasty adventure with Carla and her quest for the perfect sandwich in Carla's Sandwich book.

Pterodactly Show and Tell by Thad Krasnesky

When a boy brings his pterodactyl to school for show-and-tell, hilarious havoc ensues. The creature's delightfully demented antics, the kids' expressions as they try to avoid the hungry pterodactyl, and the out-of-control imagination of the boy yield a wild and wacky romp. Kids who dig dinosaurs will devour this preposterous pterodactyl tale written in rhyming couplets and teeming with edgy school-age humor and giggle-inducing illustrations.

When a Dragon moves in Again by Jodi Moore

If you build a perfect castle, a dragon will move in – and that’s exactly what happens to one very lucky boy when his family gears up for some changes. The boy and his dragon bounce in their castle, duel with delight, and have an amazing time together…until they find out that their castle is a crib for a new baby. Huh? As soon as they get used to the news, the boy and dragon are back in roaring form, entertaining the infant with marching music, aerial acrobatics, and baby-bottle bowling. But merriment turns to mischief and mischief leads to consequences. Can a dragon friend – real or not – help smooth the transition to big brotherhood? Find out…When a Dragon Moves In Again.

No More Noisey Nights by Holly L. Niner

When tired Jackson climbs into bed after unpacking all day, he hears… OOOEEEeeeOOOEEEeeeOOO! BOOGETY WOOGETY WOO! Plink! Plunk! Plink! Who is making so much noise and how will Jackson ever get to sleep? Despite some silly, sleepy mistakes, genteel Jackson finds a fun and quiet activity for each of his noisy neighbors. He finally gets a great night’s sleep – and discovers three new friends in the morning. Cozier than a mole in fuzzy pajamas, No More Noisy Nights is an underground, under-the covers read-aloud, perfect for calming bedtime boogety-woogeties.

Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood

Belladonna Blackthorn hasn’t lost her magical spark . . . but she hasn’t seen it in a while, either. Balancing work at her beloved Lunar Books with protecting it from her toxic boss, who’s running it into the ground, and all the while concealing her witchcraft from the non-wicches around her – Belle is burnt out. Perfecting the potential of her magic is the last thing on her mind. But when her 30th birthday brings a summons from her coven, and a trial that tests her worthiness as a witch, Belle risks losing her magic forever. With the month of October to fix things, and signs that dark forces may be working against her, Belle will need all the help she can get – from the women in her life, from an unlikely mentor figure, and even an (infuriatingly handsome) watchman who’s sworn to protect her . . . With found family, slow burn romance and an uplifting message about self-love, this is the cosy, autumnal read that you've been waiting for.

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

Tao is an immigrant fortune teller, traveling between villages with just her trusty mule for company. She only tells "small" fortunes: whether it will hail next week; which boy the barmaid will kiss; when the cow will calve. She knows from bitter experience that big fortunes come with big consequences… Even if it’s a lonely life, it’s better than the one she left behind. But a small fortune unexpectedly becomes something more when a (semi) reformed thief and an ex-mercenary recruit her into their desperate search for a lost child. Soon, they’re joined by a baker with a knead for adventure, and—of course—a slightly magical cat. Tao sets down a new path with companions as big-hearted as her fortunes are small. But as she lowers her walls, the shadows of her past are closing in—and she’ll have to decide whether to risk everything to preserve the family she never thought she could have.

Death by Windmill by Jennifer S Alderson

A Mother’s Day trip to the Netherlands turns deadly when a guest plummets from a windmill. Was it an accident or a murder? For Lana Hansen, the answer will mean freedom or imprisonment for someone close to her… Wanderlust Tours guide Lana Hansen and her mother, Gillian, haven’t seen eye to eye in over a decade, ever since Lana was wrongly fired from her job as an investigative reporter. So when Lana’s boss invites Gillian to join her upcoming Mother’s Day tour to the Netherlands, Lana is less than pleased. What could be worse than spending ten days with her estranged mother? Lana is about to find out… The tour begins on a high note when the majority of guests bond during their visit to the Keukenhof flower gardens and a cruise around the picturesque canals of Amsterdam. Despite her initial reservations, Lana thinks this might be the best group she had ever led. Until she discovers one of her guests—a recent retiree named Priscilla—is the person who destroyed her career in journalism. All Lana can see is red. But circumstances dictate that she figure out a way to lead the tour, make peace with her mother, and not murder her guest. She doesn’t know whether she can handle the pressure. Lana needn’t worry. Shortly after their fight, Priscilla falls off the balcony of a historic windmill at Zaanse Schans. Was she pushed or simply careless? The investigating officers suspect murder—and topping their suspect list is Lana’s mom! Can Lana save Gillian? Or will her mother end up spending the rest of her days in a Dutch prison?

The Missing Checkout Girl Mystery by Rachel Ward

The little town of Kingsleigh is a place where nothing ever happens. Until . . . a young woman is attacked in an alley on her way home from the supermarket. The headlines shriek ‘Kingsleigh Stalker!’ The locals just keep calm and carry on. But then one of the women on the till at Costsave doesn’t turn up for work. Checkout girl Bea Jordan is determined to find out what happened to her friend. The police don’t seem to be doing anything, so it’s up to her to get to the bottom of things. And the only person who will help is Ant Thompson, the new guy. But he’s so useless he can’t even mop up a broken bottle of sauce . . .

Cozy Cat Caper Mystery Box Set: Books 1-3 includes murder, framed, and poisoned in Cherry Hills by Paige Sleuth

Murder in Cherry Hills (Book 1) How do you solve a murder when the only eyewitness can't talk? Kat Harper has barely settled back into small-town life in Cherry Hills, Washington, when she spies her neighbor's tortoiseshell cat Matty sitting on her doorstep. But Matty's not making a social call. The newly orphaned feline has just witnessed her owner's violent death. But who would want to kill the elderly Mrs. Tinsdale? Was it one of her fellow animal rescue volunteers? A money-hungry daughter? A local veterinarian with something to hide? Or someone completely unexpected? If Kat wants to put the murderer behind bars, the amateur sleuth is going to need Matty to lend a furry paw to her investigation. But how do you convince a cat eyewitness to reveal "whodunit"? Framed in Cherry Hills (Book 2) What happens when big trouble comes to a small town? Cherry Hills resident Kat Harper doesn't expect her first meeting with the Furry Friends Foster Families animal rescue to kick off with the mysterious absence of another member. But it soon becomes clear why Willow Wu is a no-show; she's been arrested for a crime that nobody can believe. Kat's convinced someone framed Willow. But who would do such a thing? A crooked small-town cop with big dreams? A local teenager looking for revenge? Or the disgruntled caterer who lost out on a lucrative job? With this case hitting so close to home, Kat's determined to find the guilty party. And if she can cajole her cat Matty into lending another helping paw, the amateur detective might just succeed. Poisoned in Cherry Hills (Book 3) Animal rescue can be a deadly business. Murder is the last thing on Kat Harper's mind when she shows up for the Furry Friends Foster Families benefit dinner. But that's exactly what she gets when one of the guests drops dead. Now the focus of the evening has shifted from cat adoptions to catching a killer. Between an old childhood rival, a sister in line to inherit everything, and a couple with opportunity aplenty, there's no shortage of suspects. Kat's going to need all of her sleuthing skills if she hopes to identify "whodunit" this time . . . especially when her cats Matty and Tom turn the case on its head and force her to question everything that happened that tragic night.

Case of the Ice Cream Crime by J M Poole

Zack and Jillian rush home from their previous case at the distressing news that her kitchen shop, Cookbook Nook, has been broken into and ransacked. It’s a puzzle indeed, when it appears the only thing the thief took were some tubs of ice cream from the café section of the store. Luckily, her security cameras caught the thief in the act. Now they just have to locate him. But things get complicated when the thief is found murdered. And so is his next of kin, and that’s when the police pretty much hit a dead end. Two jurisdictions are involved—it’s Pomme Valley versus Medford. A bet takes place between the two police chiefs, as each races to put their best detectives on the case to figure out why anyone would steal very specific flavors of ice cream, leaving others behind. More ice cream stores are targeted, and the stakes ramp up. Sherlock and Watson and Zack are on the case (for the Pomme Valley team, of course). Zack has a lot riding on the hope that the dogs can spot enough clues to put the whole story together. Readers are loving these indomitable dog sleuths. Meet Zack and the corgis, Sherlock and Watson, in this delightfully humorous cozy mystery series that pulls you right in.

The Fells by Cath Staincliffe

Yorkshire Dales, Summer 1997. Vicky Mott slips out the door of her remote cottage, and into the pale dawn light. She scrawls a note for her friends. Gone to see the sunrise. V xxx That’s the last anyone ever hears from twenty-year-old music lover Vicky. Another victim of the Fellside Strangler? That would make Vicky the fourth young woman to lose her life this summer. Snatched by a mysterious killer who stalks the fells . . . But Vicky’s body is never found. 2019. A skeleton is discovered in a twisty network of caves beneath the fells. Detectives Leo Donovan and Shan Young think they can finally give Vicky’s mother the closure she so desperately wants. After twenty long years of questions and anguish. But the deeper they dig into the past, the less certain they become. And nothing can prepare them for the shocking truth . . .