Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year's - (A Mrs. Claus Mystery) by Liz Ireland (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

It's beginning to look a lot like New Year's in this creative and witty mystery featuring a unique heroine who's married to the real-life Santa Claus and living in the North Pole. Santaland is scrambling to keep its secrets hidden from a trio of unexpected guests, but before the New Year's Eve ball drops, the countdown is on for April Claus to catch a killer...

April Claus is looking forward to relaxing with her hubby, Nick (aka THE Santa Claus), in the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve. But just after Santa departs for his deliveries, an elf pulls into Santaland with three people he found lost in the frozen wilderness. The survivors of a scientific expedition are injured, but their presence endangers the future of Santaland. So, while the strangers recuperate at the infirmary, April convinces Christmastown to pull off its grandest, most impossible, most magical feat yet . . . pretend to be normal!

Posing as a touristy, albeit Christmas-centric, arctic town, the elves cover their ears, snowmen take a vow of silence, and the reindeer keep their hooves on the ground. But as New Year's Eve draws closer, hiding their true selves becomes harder to do, especially when one of the uninvited guests dies under highly suspicious circumstances. With a murderer in their midst, April sets out to find the uncorked culprit before any auld acquaintances should be forgot . . . or worse.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Mrs. Claus Mystery series:

"A bonanza for whimsy fans everywhere." --Kirkus Reviews on Mrs. Claus and the Trouble with Turkeys

"Ireland's third 'Mrs. Claus' title is a fresh take on a Christmas cozy. It's a delightful mix of humor, technology, and murder in an unconventional mystery." --Library Journal on Mrs. Claus and the Evil Elves

"Ireland's bizarre series conceit works, a tribute to her deft juggling of sleuthing and satire. Fans of Leigh Perry's Family Skeleton mysteries will be tickled." --Publishers Weekly on Mrs. Claus and the Evil Elves

"Entertaining...Fans of offbeat, humorous cozies will clamor for more." --Publishers Weekly on Mrs. Claus and the Halloween Homicide

"Multiple plot twists, quirky characters, plenty of humor, and the lovingly described, magical Santaland distinguish this entertaining cozy." --Booklist on Mrs. Claus and the Halloween Homicide

"Brings the Christmas cozy to dizzying new heights of cuteness." --Kirkus Reviews on Mrs. Claus and the Halloween Homicide

"Exceptional...This fun, well-plotted mystery is the perfect holiday entertainment." --Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW for Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings

"A funny mix of mystery, the holidays and a crime noir story, this will be perfect with some hot chocolate." --The Parkersburg News and Sentinel

"The perfect cozy mystery read for the Christmas season!" --Fresh Fiction

"Put on an extra sweater while reading this tale of the land of ice and snow, where ice sculptures never melt. The descriptions are so good, readers will long for a mug of hot chocolate and a few Christmas cookies." --Kings River Life Magazine

About the Author

Liz Ireland is the author of many works of women's fiction, romance, and mystery. She also writes under the names Elizabeth Bass and Liz Freeland. Like her character April Claus, Liz spends too much time in concert bands. Originally from the United States, she now lives on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. She's currently working on the next Mrs. Claus mystery. Visit her at LizIreland.Wordpress.com.