It's Christmas 1952. Blizzards come to Elderby, a remote village high on the North York Moors. Is the dead stranger found lodged up the chimney at Holly House a simple thief or something much more sinister?

 

Inspector Frank Grasby finds himself heading up the investigation. But who is friend or foe? The victim of some most unfortunate misunderstandings, Grasby needs to clear his name. But as is often the way with the unlucky detective, things most certainly don't go according to plan.

 

As the village is cut off by snow, the local doctor's husband is found murdered. Grasby is on his own, but is everyone in Elderby lying? If he can't uncover the truth, the whole country will pay a dreadful price...

 

But with a detective like Frank Grasby on the case, everything will be fine - will it?

A quintessential slice of Yuletide murder mystery. - Sun

A fun book. Playful. One to make you smile. - Stuart Macbride

An intricately plotted, seasonal mystery, shot through with black humour. - Mail on Sunday

A crime Christmas-stocking must. - Yorkshire Life