Book Synopsis:
A lavish party.
An isolated mansion.
Two hosts who will do anything to protect their secrets.
When husband and wife Henry and Claudine organise their company’s Christmas party in a remote mansion, they expect it to be a night to remember.
But the festive mood quickly turns sour when a sinister gift is unwrapped in the Secret Santa gift exchange.
As heavy snow traps the guests inside the mountainside lodge, it quickly becomes clear that one of the party is out for revenge.
It’s no longer just about enduring the evening. It’s about making sure you get out alive.
A lavish locked-room mystery with a seasonal edge, THE SECRET SANTA is packed with twists that will keep you guessing until the very last page.
The Secret Santa is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
The Secret Santa is an atmospheric, intriguing read which is perfect for anyone wanting an unusual Christmas read.
The story is told from the point of view of Claudia and Henry, a husband and wife team who run an upmarket estate agents, Zara who is a rather spoiled celebrity and a mysterious person who the reader is lead to believe is involved with what was going to happen. I liked how the author had managed to give each of them their own voice so it was easy to follow each of their stories individually and not get confused between them. My favourite character was Henry as I felt very sorry for him over how he had been treated my Claudia. I also really liked the way he described things which made me, like Zara, hang off his every word. Claudia was someone I loved to hate and really didn’t warm to. She’s very calculated and likes things how she likes them, and wow betide anyone who thinks different. She’s willing to do anything to get ahead and I actually found myself hoping she’d get taken during a peg or two.
The setting of this book in Aspen is brilliant and I enjoyed learning more about the posh lifestyles people live there. The author does a great job of describing the snowy beauty of the place so I felt I could really imagine it in my mind. It sounds like a fun, beautiful place and one I’d love to visit in the future.
The actual murder mystery part of the story was very interesting as there aren’t many suspects to choose from. Throughout the story we slowly learn more about the characters, their relationships with each other and the secrets they are hiding which made for intriguing reading. I found it incredibly fun trying to work out who the mysterious narrator was and who was responsible for the murder.
Overall I thought this was an enjoyable murder mystery which will make a great book to curl up with and escape from the relatives this Christmas. I felt it was similar in style to The Hunting Party so if you liked that book I think you’ll enjoy this one too.
Huge thanks to Rachel from Arrow publishers for sending me a link to this book via Netgalley.
About The Author:
Trish Harnetiaux is a playwright whose work has been published by Samuel French. She has received fellowships from MacDowell, Yaddo and the Millay Colony. This is her first novel. She is originally from Washington State and currently lives in Brooklyn, New York, which means she is partial to hard rain, volcanic ash, and artisan flea markets.
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