I have another book coming out later this month (I know, nothing for a while then everything at once). This is a collection of holiday short stories called Seven Crimes of Christmas. There are six all new stories and the Kate and Ada story Christmas, Corpses, and Clockwork Kittens which has been out for a while now. I’ve wanted to get that into print, but it’s too short on its own, so I’ve included it here. As for the other stories, two are Cassie Pengear, two have a modern setting, one takes place on a train, and one in a boarding house. It’s up for pre-order now and will be released November 24, 2026. And the ebook going to be on sale for $.99 until the beginning of January, then go up to $4.99. I’ll let you know more details about the print version closer to release date. Here’s the information and the pre-order links I have so far. I’ll update here as I get more.
Seven delightfully clever short mysteries set at Christmas from the author of Cassie Pengear Mysteries.
Christmas on Redbourne Square: Theodora Bexley did not consider boarding house problems to be her problems. But with the landlady away for the holidays, someone had to step in when the maid found a body in the front hall along with the morning post. Now Theodora, fellow tenant and artist Joseph Baxter Martin, and Mr. Martin’s model Robert Clarkson—who hasn’t left Mr. Martin’s rooms since Mrs. Gibbons left for her holiday, must find out who the unwanted visitor was and how he ended up in their front hall.
The Party at the Periwinkle Room: When Cassie Pengear delivered the last of the invitations she’d typed for a client’s Christmas party, including the three she’d had to correct, she thought she was done with the project—until Inspector Burrows tells her one of her invitations might have been used to help a murderer gain access to the office.
The Flea Market Photograph: When Tracy Linton’s sister, Maria, finds a blurry photo of the last office Christmas party of the firm where they’d both worked years ago, the party where Roger Danvers died, Tracy is less than enthusiastic. She didn’t like working there. But if Roger really died of an allergic reaction, why did Wally Jenkins keep a blurry photo of the party in a frame all these years?
Tinsel and a Tea Set: Cassie Pengear’s cousin Milly is having troubles with a gentleman caller again. This one is accusing her of stealing a silver tea set. But as usual with Milly’s gentlemen, nothing is quite what it seems.
How Uncle Edgar Ruined Christmas (Again): Tracy Linton and her sister Maria know that Uncle Edgar will always find a way to spoil Christmas. He can’t help it. Although the police calling to ask if someone could come identify Uncle Edgar’s body is a new low even for him.
Christmas, Corpses, and Clockwork Kittens: While preparing their tinkering/ haberdashery shop for the Christmas season, Kate and Ada find a body on their doorstep. When Inspector Wainwright is sent to investigate, they start looking into the murder themselves before Inspector Wainwright can scare away all of their Christmas patrons.
Mr. Greyson’s Christmas Holiday or The Body in Car Seven: William Greyson didn’t have any plans for the holidays, but he knew his landlady was hoping everyone would be out of the boarding house while she went for a Christmas visit with her sister, so he invented some friends in Syracuse. William was expecting a boring train ride and a quiet holiday, but the presence of the handsome Mr. Fenwick in his compartment certainly promised to make it all more interesting. The discovery of a dead body in another compartment also made it more interesting, but in a decidedly less enjoyable way.
