Delicious Listening..
Having enjoyed the previous extract of this forthcoming title and the full reading copy was an absolute delight - this audiobook version adds even more joy and is beautifully produced and expertly narrated. What will soon be a Christmas murder mystery with a difference where six people, all with links to the literary world of crime, have been invited to a play a game by the rather elusive Midwinter Trust in an idyllic Yorkshire village. The prize, they are told, will be potentially life changing. With six members of the Trust also in attendance and the village about to become cut off by a snow storm, what could possibly go wrong? Well, the game is truly afoot. Just tremendous, a fully formed murder mystery combined with true puzzles for the reader to solve alongside, both intriguing and entertaining, brimming with red herrings, clues and misdirection galore. Delicious listening.

I had a great time with Miss Winter in the Library with the Knife. I loved the invitation at the start to engage with the story at different levels. Sometimes I want to throw myself into solving the mystery, other times I want to enjoy watching it unfold and knowing the book was designed with both reading experiences in mind was a great touch.

The story pays homage to the golden days of detective novels and had the feel of Agatha Christie and Clue. Given the intricate complexity of the plot, I was surprised at how easy it was to follow. The plotting was tight, and connected easily, making this a fast paced and engaging read. I wouldn’t say any of the characters were particularly likeable, but that added to the sense of mystery - everyone was a suspect. Coupled with the tongue in cheek tone, even as the bodies fell, this felt relatively cosy and low stakes, which I really enjoyed.

I was fortunate to read this both as an audiobook and ebook, which was the perfect combination. The benefit of the ebook was the built in images and resources (which are available as download for the audiobook), and the chance to skip back if I missed something. The audiobook was expertly produced, and I think the almost caricaturistic narration helped me to keep track of characters and their distinct personalises and motivations.

Thank you to the publishers for an advance copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Miss Winter in the library with a knife is a razor sharp, funny and twisty murder mystery. I really enjoyed listening to it and being a remote player in the game.

I really loved the clue finder at the end of the book, although I realised that I shouldn’t expect my invitation to Midwinter anytime soon as I had missed almost every clue. I’m really keen to check out some of Martin Edward’s other books to see if I can redeem myself next time.

I really liked the festive setting, right down to a murderous Santa Claus and explosive fairy lights. I also really liked how Harry Crystal’s books kept showing up in unexpected ways throughout the story.

I enjoyed the narration in the audiobook. John Telfer was particularly good at capturing Harry Crystal self deprecating reflections on his life and career in his journal but also expertly gave the cast of characters at midwinter a voice of their own. I liked that there was additional narration by Candida Gubbins of poppy’s journal, she perfectly captured Poppy’s musings on the game and I think we really needed her POV separately as she was pretending to be a lot more naive than she actually is to the other players in the game. It was also a great touch to have the author himself introduce and read the clue finder.

Overall I enjoyed this audiobook a lot and think it is the perfect choice for a long Christmas road trip with family where you can all be remote players in the game.

Thank you to Head of Zeus Audiobooks and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC.

This isn't just a book, it's a whole new experience. It's like playing Clue, you get all the elements and then you become a participant trying to solve the mystery. I think this will be very cool, played with friends, looking at all the clues while listening to the book and trying to solve the mystery first.

This felt like a murder mystery experience rather than just a book, the mystery is very well crafted and it grips you from the start. It might seem a bit chliche but that's the intention.

The novel feels like a classic Agatha Christie mystery and it's really fun to play along and try to figure out what's really going on.

If you are looking for a fun mystery game, this is for you.

Thank you Netgalley and Head of Zeus Audiobooks for an ALC of this novel, all opinions are my own.

This book was such a delightful surprise—a clever, funny, and intricately plotted murder mystery.
From the start, I loved the premise: six people with ties to the world of crime writing are invited to an exclusive game at a remote Yorkshire village, with the promise of a life-changing prize. But as the snowstorm seals them in, it quickly becomes clear that this isn’t just a game—someone has serious murderous intentions. The setting, with its festive, slightly sinister vibe, including a murderous Santa and exploding fairy lights, added a cosy yet mischievous atmosphere that really set the tone for the story.
What truly made this experience special was how immersive it was—especially as an audiobook. John Telfer’s narration was fantastic, capturing Harry Crystal’s self-deprecating reflections perfectly, while giving each character their own distinct voice. Candida Gubbins’ narration of Poppy’s journal was a lovely touch, offering a different perspective that added depth and intrigue. Having the author himself introduce and read the clue finder at the end was a clever and charming addition, making me feel like I was part of the mystery unfolding in real time.
I thoroughly enjoyed the interactive aspect—being a “remote player” in the game was a lot of fun. The book’s design encouraged engagement on multiple levels, whether I wanted to actively solve clues or just sit back and enjoy the story’s twists and turns. I had a lot of fun trying to pick up on the clues, although I have to admit, I missed quite a few! That just means I’ll be eager to revisit and see if I can crack the case next time.
The plot itself was tightly woven, with a nod to the golden age of detective fiction. Despite the numerous characters, the story was easy to follow, thanks to Edwards’ skilful plotting. I wouldn’t say any of the characters were particularly likeable, but that sense of suspicion made everyone a suspect, heightening the mystery’s intrigue. The tongue-in-cheek tone kept things light and fun, even as bodies started piling up—this felt cosy, with just enough stakes to keep me hooked.
I also appreciated how the book pays homage to the golden days of detective stories, balancing clever clues with a playful tone. I found it both charming and clever, with plenty of surprises along the way.
Listening to the audiobook was a great experience. The audiobook’s excellent production and character voices kept me engaged.
Overall, I loved “Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife”. It’s a clever, festive romp through a wintry, crime-filled landscape that manages to be both cosy and twisty.