A Christmas murder mystery. Includes a Cluefinder where you can check the clues you spotted - and missed - as well as puzzles to solve alongside the characters. The perfect gift for crime fiction lovers and for fans of Janice Hallett, Alexandra Benedict and Alex Pavesi.

A clever Christmas murder mystery about crime writers, deadly secrets and a puzzle you can solve yourself.

'A true master of British crime writing.' RICHARD OSMAN
'A delight from the first page to the last.' DAILY MAIL

SPOT THE CLUES, PLAY DETECTIVE AND SOLVE THE MYSTERY FIRST.

Six people connected to the world of crime writing have been invited to a remote village in north Yorkshire by the mysterious Midwinter Trust.

Their challenge is simple: solve the murder of a fictional crime writer and win a life-changing prize.

But as the village is cut off by a snow storm, the players - and the staff - must be extra vigilant. Midwinter is not kind to those who don't play by the rules.

The game is set – but playing fair isn’t on everyone’s Christmas list.

After all, when the prize is to die for, someone is bound to inject a little murder into the mystery...

Featuring a Cluefinder, MISS WINTER IN THE LIBRARY WITH A KNIFE is more than a story - it's a challenge. There are hidden clues and puzzles to solve alongside the suspects.

HOW TO PLAY

#1: Take nothing for granted. Are people simply making polite conversation – or giving you vital clues?
#2: Use the clues hidden throughout the story to solve the mysteries of Midwinter. Are you an amateur sleuth in the making? Or is your time better spent reading?
#3: Don't cheat! You mustn't look at the Cluefinder until you've finished the book.
#4: Trust no one...

The perfect gift for readers who enjoy:
*Classic murder mysteries
*Puzzle mysteries and interactive crime fiction
*Golden Age detective stories
*Christmas crime novels
*Locked-room and snowbound mysteries
*Clever clues and fair-play detection
*Amateur sleuth mysteries
*Books by Janice Hallett, Alexandra Benedict and Alex Pavesi

'Only a writer with Martin Edwards’s knowledge of and feeling for British crime fiction in all its breadth and depth could have pulled off Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife.' MORNING STAR
'Excellent.' CRITIC
'All the entertainment you'll need this Christmas... Wonderful stuff.' IAN MOORE' IAN MOORE
‘A real masterpiece. . . perfect for fans of crime, puzzles and escape rooms!’ DARLING READS, BOOKSELLER'S CIRCLE
'Very clever and funny, with lots of jokes about the book world to enjoy. Loved it.' MW CRAVEN
'A wonderful puzzle mystery from the master of the Golden Age.' RAGNAR JONASSON
'The king of the puzzle mystery novel.' ALEX PAVESI
'Nobody knows the game of murder like Martin Edwards.' ANTONY JOHNSTON
'Fiendish, hilarious and utterly addictive.' ORLANDO MURRIN
'A celebration of crime fiction... As thoughtful as it is fun.' CRIME FICTION LOVER
'What a treat.' SJ BENNETT
'I absolutely loved it.' MARY GRAND
‘Martin knows more about crime fiction than anyone.’ ANN CLEEVES
‘A fine writer.... . . his novels feature an acute sense of place as well as deep psychological insights.’ IAN RANKIN
Included in the i newspaper's best new crime and thriller books to read, September 2025

DISCOVER MORE THRILLING READS FROM THE KING OF CLASSIC CRIME, ALL FEATURING A CLUEFINDER SO YOU CAN PLAY DETECTIVE YOURSELF.

THE RACHEL SAVERNAKE GOLDEN AGE MYSTERIES
#1 GALLOWS COURT
#2 MORTMAIN HALL
#3 BLACKSTONE FELL
#4 SEPULCHRE STREET
#5 HEMLOCK BAY

STANDALONE MYSTERIES
#1 MISS WINTER IN THE LIBRARY WITH A KNIFE

"Written with Edwards' usual wry elegance, it is a delight from the first page to the last." - Daily Mail

"A mystery-within-a-mystery you can play along with, all done in the best classic style. Nobody knows the game of murder like Martin Edwards." - Antony Johnston

"Miss Winter is an absolute treat for armchair detectives! With a cast of suspicious characters, a bleak, snow-bound location, and a plot full of unexpected twists and turns, it’s a Christmas slay ride every murder mystery fan will enjoy." - Fiona Leitch

"Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife is a fiendishly clever murder mystery rooted in the traditions of the Golden Age but also fresh and innovative. Plot wrapped in plot, puzzle wrapped in puzzle - it's delicious fun to peel back the layers and see if you solved the mysteries of Midwinter before the hapless Harry Crystal and his fellow sleuths." - Andreina Cordani

"Brilliant" - The Courier, Dundee

"Full of twists, red herrings and whodunnit fun, this is a treat for crime fans." - Yours Magazine

"A fabulously twisty and delightfully devious Christmas mystery beautifully contained within a snowed-in remote hamlet in North Yorkshire." - LoveReading

"An absolute treat. This is really clever, cosy, and full of delicious twists. The perfect winter read to curl up with – just not at a remote manor house." - Twin Perspectives

"Only a writer with Martin Edwards’s knowledge of and feeling for British crime fiction in all its breadth and depth could have pulled off Miss Winter In The Library With A Knife such is its subtlety and ambition." - Morning Star

"A celebration of crime fiction... By mixing tradition with modern insight, Edwards presents a puzzle that’s as thoughtful as it is fun" - Crime Fiction Lover