Recent Reads: Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards

Source: From Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards
Publisher:  Head of Zeus -- an Aries Book
Publication Date:  September 11, 2025 

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Six contestants. One chance at a new life. Who wouldn’t be tempted to cheat?

Six down-on-their-luck people with links to the world of crime writing have been invited to play a game this Christmas by the mysterious Midwinter Trust. The challenge seems simple but exciting: Solve the murder of a fictional crime writer in a remote but wonderfully atmospheric village in north Yorkshire to win a prize that will change your fortunes for good.

Six members of staff from the shadowy Trust are there to make sure everyone plays fair. The contestants have been meticulously vetted but you can never be too careful. And with the village about to be cut off by a snow storm, everyone needs to be extra vigilant. Midwinter can play tricks on people's minds.

The game is set - but playing fair isn't on everyone's Christmas list.

Review: 

If you’re looking for a cozy mystery to curl up with this winter, this one will be a great fit. It has all the right ingredients: a snowed-in Yorkshire village, a cast of down-on-their-luck contestants, and a game that promises to change their lives. But with that many secrets in one place, it was never going to stay cozy for long.

The story unfolds through journal entries from some of the contestants, each with their own motives and secrets. I liked getting inside their heads since everyone has lost their way within the publishing world and seems a little haunted by the outcomes. It makes for a surprisingly eerie and lonely atmosphere beneath the cozy holiday trimmings.

I also really enjoyed the game element, the puzzles, clues, and layers of mystery were well done and fun to participate in and try to solve. The book encourages you to “play along,” but honestly, as a murder mystery reader, isn’t that half the fun anyway? I found myself doing that naturally, scanning every scene for a hint of who might be cheating or lying.

There are quite a few characters to keep track of, but they’re well defined, and the tension among them builds nicely as the group starts to dwindle. The setting gave me The Shining vibes: isolated, snowbound, and just unsettling enough to make you want to keep the lights on.

Overall, it’s a decent murder mystery with a great wintry feel—equal parts cozy and creepy, perfect for a quiet night by the fire.