Set in the secluded village of Midwinter in Yorkshire, this atmospheric mystery invites six down-on-their-luck guests to spend Christmas playing a murder mystery game—with a life-changing prize at stake. Overseen by six trustees, the event promises festive intrigue, but soon spirals into something far more sinister.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Edwards cleverly structures the narrative so readers can actively participate in the murder mystery game alongside the characters, solving puzzles embedded throughout the story. It’s a mystery within a mystery! I'm not someone who usually takes notes or highlights passages of text in books, but with this one I found that I needed to so that I could work out the puzzles. I did manage to solve most of them I'm happy to say, but it definitely tested my mettle.

Edwards has revived the 'cluefinder' at the end of this book - a nod to Golden Age fiction, which allows readers to check how many of the clues they noticed whilst reading the book. This was something I found really interesting. At the end of the novel I was satisfied with how things played out and didn't feel that there was any particular holes in the story or anything, but reading through the cluefinder I realised just how many hints there were that I paid little or no mind to. I've always thought I'm a reasonable armchair detective but if this was anything to go by then perhaps not.

The cast is varied and engaging. No one is outright despicable (though the chairman of the Trust comes close), and Harry, the protagonist, plays the role of a bumbling fool with convincing charm. Despite his constant reminders that it’s all an act, I still fell for it. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that no one is quite who they seem. With twelve guests and six trustees, I expected to struggle keeping track of everyone, but the book’s structure made it surprisingly manageable.

My only real critique is a late twist that felt slightly out of place. While the cluefinder does show how it ties in, the references were niche enough that I doubt many readers would catch them on first read. It didn’t ruin the experience, but it did momentarily pull me out of the story.

I'm usually wary of story within a story type books as I have found them hard to follow in the past, and often find I'm more invested in one story than the other. For this book I was equally as invested in both aspects, and thoroughly enjoyed the read. It definitely rewards you for paying close attention!

Thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Something different for crime fiction readers, a book where you can play along to solve the fictional murder. A real murder then happens, so the reader can solve that too. Absolutely brilliant.

Six people are invited to the village of Midwinter at Christmas by the mysterious Midwinter Trust. The invitation is to solve a puzzle crime - what could possibly go wrong?

I personally think I would have found this easier to read if I had a hard copy rather than a kindle version. The added puzzles between chapters would have been easier to refer back to in a hard copy - I am kind of intrigued to re-read in hard copy to see how I find it!

The book started very slowly for me, it was about 40% in before anything much happens. After this it was a much quicker read, and far more interesting - I was glad I stuck with it, as it was entertaining after that point. I liked Harry, and I liked the idea of solving clues alongside the characters. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I love a Christmas Murder Mystery especially a Golden Age one. This book was perfect for me. Martin certainly knows his stuff when it comes to murder stories and I loved everything about this one.
Set in the remote village of Midwinter, six people are invited to a murder mystery weekend. A prize for the winner makes them all the more competitive . Throw in a snowstorm which cuts them off from the outside world and a real murder to contend with and you have all the ingredients for a jolly good story.
Fascinating characters to get to know, an abundance of clues to find, I was totally immersed in the story and the puzzles. The clue finder at the end really helps to sort everything out and no, I didn’t manage to solve the mystery myself.
Martin Edwards is definitely one of my favourite crime writers and I can’t recommend this highly enough.

If you love crime fiction, brainteasers and the thrill of a classic whodunnit, this one is for you.

Six people connected to the world of crime writing are invited to a snowy North Yorkshire village for Christmas.

The challenge?

Solve the fictional murder of a crime writer to win a prize that could change their lives forever.

The setting is atmospheric, the tension deliciously high, and with a snowstorm on the way, being cut off from the outside world adds an irresistible layer of suspense.

But not everyone is playing fair… and when the stakes are this high, it is tempting to add a little real murder into the mix.

Perfect for fans of puzzles, clever twists and the cosy-yet-deadly feel of a festive mystery.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗞
Six strangers, all tied to the world of crime writing, are invited to a murder mystery game in a remote English village. A snowstorm closes in, cutting them off, and suddenly the line between game and reality starts to blur.

𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡
This has that classic country house mystery vibe - isolated setting, suspects with secrets, and a blizzard to keep everyone locked together, without police interfering!

I enjoyed the format. The book encourages you to play along, dropping in journals, maps, pamphlets, and other puzzle-like extras. That was a fun touch, even if I was a little disappointed when the “Rules of the Game” mentioned a website that doesn’t actually exist - seriously, how fun would that have been?!

The murder game itself was amusing, though I wished it connected more directly to the main whodunnit. It mattered to the story, but mostly felt like a side activity.

My main issue was pacing. Scenes often repeat from different perspectives - Ethan’s POV, then Harry’s journal, then again when the guests discuss the situation. I wanted more action and fewer retellings. I’d also have loved more one-to-one moments between the characters to add some depth beyond the group dynamics.

Even so, it’s a solid nod to Golden Age mysteries. Harry, the mystery writer, acts as “the detective”, there’s plenty of red herrings, twists and a strong mystery. I especially liked that at the end of the book, all the clues are listed so you can check what you caught and what you missed.

𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
Definitely one for readers who enjoy a Christmas locked-room mystery with puzzles mixed in. It’s playful, atmospheric, and very British. While it doesn’t always go as deep as I’d like with the characters, it makes for a cozy, cute Christmas whodunnit.

Thanks to @Netgalley and @headofzeus for this #gifted ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

4.5 rounded up.

I really liked this, it was a fun read. I am a fan of Golden Age crime novels and I loved all the nods to the various ones I have read and no doubt there are other nods I missed.

There is a lot going on in the book, there is the Miss Winter puzzle for the guests, the mystery of what happened at Midwinter 5 years previously, the "accidents/murders" in the present day of the guests themselves and the mystery of Midwinter itself.. I enjoyed all 3 plots aspects and managed to work out the Miss Winter one and a couple of things (no spoilers) made me suspect part of the mystery of the Trust itself although I doubted myself because I thought it was unlikely and i was still surprised at the final reveals about the Trust.

I thought all the events and characters were well thought out and well drawn. In the early conversations there is some repetition but that is only at the start.

I liked Harry and I thought the pun titles of his books were very funny - I would like to read one of his books! I would read more about Harry, maybe he should become a detective.

Martin Edwards needs little introduction to readers of Golden Age and golden age style crime. Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife fits neatly into this genre and doesn't disappoint. The reader is invited to play along by the narrator and is expressly drawn in to the puzzle. Alongside that there is a standard murder mystery. This is ideal for readers who like to solve the crime as well as read about it.

We've all heard the premise before, six people are invited to a remote location and people start dying. This story is slightly different in that the six people are invited to take part in solving a murder mystery written by one of the hosts. We, the reader, get the same clues as the guests and can join in the fun of playing along.

Of course, the guests and hosts start dying one by one, so as well as trying to solve the game, we're also trying to work out who is the real murderer.

No one can leave as the setting is high up in Englands Peak District, in a remote village accessed by a single track. The party is a few days before Christmas and a snow storm has cut off all access, meaning the killer must be one of them.

You can't help but compare this to Agatha Christies now titled "And Then There Were None" but the addition of a mystery within the mystery does set this apart. The provided clues are interesting and sufficiently difficult to not be obvious.

I did find the characters a bit one dimensional and I didn't care much about them living or dying. The 'pretend' case we were given clues for just seemed to peter out with no satisfying reward to the reader for solving it and only a passing comment to suggest one possible solution was actually the correct one.

The mystery was well plotted and I loved the Cluefinder chapter at the end, which showed a quite inticrately planned story. However, the whole book left me wanting. There was no big reveal, the sub-plot of solving the mystery alongside the guests practically disappeared

I would like to convey my thanks to Netgalley and Aria & Aries Publishers for the chance to review this novel. All opinions are my own.

Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife is due to be released on 11th September 2025.

The title is great and sets the scene for an intriguing murder mystery with a close cast of victims and suspects. The setting is an isolated, snow bound retreat with six carefully selected guests invited to solve a murder mystery over Christmas. As the festivities begin, one of the guests is found dead, apparently as a result of an accident and there are now two mysteries to solve. Not all is as it seems! The retreat management’s team and support staff are tied together by a past tragic incident and there is a suggestion that history is repeating itself.

The sense of intrigue gradually builds up as the murder mystery scenario is introduced to the guests. The reader is encouraged to also solve the puzzles that are posed and to seek out clues in the text. Part of the mystery scenario is a fictional detective crime writer of cosy whodunits. The interspersion of extracts from this fictional author makes for a somewhat confusing storyline.

Overall a very clever plot skilfully told

I read this as an eARC, thank you Netgalley and the author and I'm voluntarily reviewing this book

I thoroughly enjoyed this murder mystery which invites the reader to join in the quest with clues to test your skills as you go along. It can be easily read without getting involved if you prefer a gentle read but for those budding amateur sleuths this is a great interactive fun read.

The plot was cleverly laid out with the main characters being invited to a remote retreat over Christmas where they're to solve a made up murder mystery game. In true detective novel style everything is there to see once you work out it, but can you tell the real clues from the red herrings? There were twists and turns and the writing was engrossing so it kept me turning the pages.

There were plenty of references to the great crime detectives of yesteryear and if you're a fan of those then you will truly love this book. That being said it has a modern edge to it which is perfect to engage newer readers to this genre.

I can't wait to read more by this author

Thank you Aria & Aries for my #gifted e-ARC via NetGalley. My thoughts are my own.

Its Christmas and six people linked to crime writing find themselves answering an invitation to a mystery-themed retreat at the mysterious Midwinter Trust in a remote part of England's North Pennines. The task is straightforward, especially for these 6 down-on-their-luck individuals: whoever solves the murder of a fictional crime writer in time will win a lifechanging prize from the Midwinter Trust. Overseeing the challenge are 6 members of the Midwinter staff. But when a fierce winter storm cuts the twelve of them off from all contact and escape, the fictional murder mystery starts bleeding into real life, and it's all they can do to stay alive until the new year.

This was an entertaining fairplay mystery in the tradition of the Golden Age of Detection, when mysteries followed certain rules and the reader could play along to solve the mystery before the big reveal at the end. It even includes a section after the story in which Edwards lays out the clues that the reader should have seen along the way and how the different threads were there all along. For the first third of the book or so, the reader is engaged by riding the growing sense of being unseated and confused. The storm...the isolation...they both do their job and the suspense was built nicely. I didn't work to solve the codes and puzzles with my e-ARC the way I might have with a print boo, but the literary mystery-within-a-mystery was fairly straightforward anyway. The mystery of the people at the retreat took an abrupt left turn about three-quarters of the way through that I really didn't see coming, and I felt that was the thinnest, most contrived plot point (and that's not just sour grapes talking!). I did see the rest coming, though, as I had followed the clues well. This is my first Martin Edwards work and I see why he's so lauded as a fair play crime fiction author!

Triggers: violent death, murder, mental health challenges, adoption child abandonment

This was just pure puzzle-solving fun. A mystery within a mystery, both contemporary but also in the spirit of Golden Age detective stories. The internal mystery (the "fictional" one the characters are trying to solve) is the simplest, not posing much difficulty to anyone familiar with such things, although I found it enjoyable because of its very familiarity, reminding me fondly of countless other stories and characters. But the main mystery, the "real life" one, is more complex and satisfying. Edwards provides plenty of clues and mostly plays fair, although a couple of details are a bit of a stretch. And you will have to suspend your disbelief quite a bit, but that too is in the spirit of the genre. Did I guess the solution? Some of it, but not everything, and I'm happy with that. All in all, one of the best mysteries I've read for a while. 4.25 stars.

Earlier in the year, I got the chance to read an extract of this novel, and I was very excited to read the full version – it did not disappoint.What a smorgasbord of Christmas crime novel treats to read.

Think you are in for a cosy chistmas at Midwinter’s village, think again! We have all the traditional format of a Golden Age Crime Novel, with the isolated locale, a small group of unlikely people to go on holiday together, and a ruthless murderer.

It reminded me a lot of And Then There Were None and other Golden Age novels. As with any good traditional ‘whodunit’, the novel presents the reader with many clues that enable them to guess along with crimewriter Harry Crystal. We also had the plot containing a murder mystery game for the characters to play.

There are elements that kept the novel contemporary, so there was something for everyone. Outside of the crime, Harry Crystal’s journal had a lot of satirical quips about the publishing profession – a lot of fun. The ending for the murderer also had an element of satire to it. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

This book wasn’t for me I’m afraid. Maybe it was because I was reading it on a kindle rather than a physical book where I could flick back, but it was just too confusing!

Aside from a couple of CWA anthologies which he edited, I hadn't read anything by Martin Edwards prior to this. I'm so glad Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife was my first, because I loooooved it, and now I just want to lock myself away with his back catalogue. 🗡️
Now I know you want me to tell you all about this book and why I love it so much. I'm not going to go into detail about the plot, the blurb speaks for itself. I will tell you that, while this could be categorised as a cosy mystery, it's not a quick read. This is one of those books where you get to use your little grey cells and try to solve the mystery or, in this case, the mystery within the mystery. 🗡️
I had a lot of fun with this. I played along with the characters, trying to solve the clues with them. Yes peeps, clues are very kindly provided for your perusal. You'll have to watch out for those red herrings, though. 🔍
I made copious notes, and managed to solve one of the mysteries. 🗡️
So there you have it peeps. Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife is a fun, immersive mystery within a mystery. It won't be to everyones taste, but that can be said for all books. 🗡️
Thanks to Head of Zeus and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

This was an absolute hoot! I love Martin Edwards' Rachel Savernake mystery series, and in this he has used his unparalleled knowledge of golden age mysteries to create a fascinating modern read that riffs with old fashioned ciphers and clues. A really entertaining read. I would heartily recommend.

I had read an extract of Miss winter in the library with a knife, so I was curious to find out more. And I wasn’t disappointed.
Six people are invited to play a game by the Midwinter trust to solve a fictional murder. In a remote spot in a middle of a snowstorm. The six has all failed careers and to win the prize money will change their lives altogether. But turns out to be a game suddenly turns into a real life and death situation. And the rest of them need to find out who the killer is fictional and real before time runs out.
I found this an interesting read they way not only the story was constructed, with it clues, diary entries and bonus content. But the urge to find out what was really going on with the midwinter trust. If you are a fan of Agatha Christie, you will love this. The only concern if you are looking for a quick read, this isn’t for you as it is quite long, but the author is clever at keeping you engaged thought out. 4 stars from me

I liked this book but i was also disappointed by this book. the premise of the story is so interesting. 6 people gather to spend a Christmas murder game together. Sound interesting. Except that the game that they are playing is not interesting and felt flat for me. I didn’t care for it and was kind of annoyed that they kept playing it. I liked that we could play detective and the clues that were given to help us thought and the mystery was good.
Overall the book was enjoyable but not as original as it wanted to be

I had high hopes for this book when I requested the ARC. However, although this book is definitely trying to do something different I'm afraid it really didn't work for me. I was reading it on a kindle but I think the format is more conducive to being read in a book which would make it easier to move between clues. The characters didn't appeal to me so I didn't care what happened to them. I thought the mystery within a mystery overcomplicated the plot, making me lose interest before the end of the book. This was my first Martin Edwards book and I'm afraid it hasn't encouraged me to seek out more of his books.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.