⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A devilishly clever mystery wrapped in snow and secrets

If Agatha Christie wrote a locked-room whodunit set during a British Christmas with a dash of meta-mystery, it might look a lot like Winter in the Library with a Knife. Martin Edwards delivers a sharp, atmospheric puzzle that feels both delightfully classic and inventively modern.

Six struggling crime fiction insiders—authors, editors, bloggers—are summoned to a remote Yorkshire village under the guise of a mysterious competition. The challenge? Solve a fictional murder for a life-changing prize. But as the snow falls and the isolation sets in, fiction and reality begin to blur in unsettling ways.

The layered setup is brilliant: a mystery within a mystery, complete with hidden motives, unreliable characters, and twisty reveals. Edwards pays homage to Golden Age traditions while slyly poking at the industry itself, and I couldn’t get enough. Everyone has something to hide, and no one is above suspicion—including the hosts.

Equal parts eerie and exhilarating, this is a holiday mystery for the true puzzle-lover—smart, suspenseful, and packed with red herrings. Curl up by the fire and prepare to suspect everyone.

This is a fun, clever mystery that feels like an Agatha Christie story with a modern twist. Six struggling crime-writing fans are invited to a snowy Yorkshire village to play a murder mystery game for a big prize. But when the fake murder turns real, the old library setting becomes creepy and exciting. Edwards keeps you guessing with a smart plot, fun clues, and a cozy yet tense vibe that’s perfect for a winter read.

The format of the book is unique in that it uses podcast clips, text messages, and journal entries to tell the story. While that definitely makes it feel fresh, it did take a little bit of getting used to. The snowy village and double-mystery idea are great, but only two characters get first-person chapters, which feels uneven. Some of the Trust staff seem more like types than real people, but the story still pulls you in with its fast pace and clever twists.

Overall, it is a charming, suspenseful read for fans of classic mysteries and games like Clue. It’s playful but keeps the stakes high, earning 4.5 stars (rounded to 5). If you love cozy mysteries with a dark edge, this book is a great pick for a chilly night.

Many thanks to NetGalley , Martin Edwards, and poison pen press for providing me with advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

A whodunit that had everything you would find in a mystery book: locked doors, snowbound village, clues, secrets and much more. This is a very interactive mystery with puzzles to solve, as well as a game to play and very interesting characters that are ever changing. This mystery is told through interviews, extracts, diary entries, lists, and much more. We have Harry Crystal, Baz Frederick, Poppy DeLisle, Carys Neville, Zack Jardine and Grace Kinsella who have all been selected to play a game about murder at the MidWinter Trust. Each one is done on their luck and needs some help in revising their careers. What they find when they arrive at MidWinter Trust is not only a game but that their group is dying one by one. You can enter the game to try to solve the mystery or just be a bystander and see who will die next. An enjoyable read with plenty of layers and great characters. I would recommend this book especially if you love puzzles. Thank you Netgalley and Head of Zeus (Aries Book) for the ARC in Exchange for an honest review.

Hold onto you cold drink and dream of winter! Six down-on-their-luck individuals connected to the world of crime writing are invited to a remote Yorkshire village by the mysterious Midwinter Trust to play a holiday-themed murder mystery game. The prize? A life-changing reward. But as the snowstorm rolls in and the village becomes cut off, the line between fiction and reality begins to blur. With cryptic clues, locked-room puzzles, and a Cluefinder feature that lets readers play along, the story unfolds like a modern-day Agatha Christie tale—with a dash of Cluedo charm.

The narrative is layered with podcast snippets, diary entries, and character perspectives that make the mystery feel immersive and playful. While some found the pacing a bit brisk in the early chapters, most agree the concept is clever and the setting delightfully atmospheric. It’s not just a murder mystery—it’s a puzzle box wrapped in snowflakes and secrets. If you’re a fan of classic crime tropes with a modern twist, this one’s a charming pick for your holiday reading list—even if it’s Christmas in July.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Head of Zeus -- an Aries Book for this ARC!

A snowed-in murder game. A cast of desperate crime-adjacent misfits. And a library with secrets between the shelves. What could possibly go right?

The structure is different: letters, journals, clues and while the POVs might not be evenly spread, they’re distinct enough to make them unique. It's a little slow and drags in some parts but I think that's just because while I like the idea of a locked room murder, I do find them pretty boring so given the fact that I'm prone to getting bored easily with this setup, I think it did a good job.

Hey, hey, my favorites 😁💚. #annieethebookiee is back with another book review.

Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife is cozy mystery perfection wrapped in a snowstorm and sealed with a bloodstained clue. Martin Edwards delivers a golden-age whodunit that feels like a holiday treat for mystery lovers. Picture it: a snowy Christmas in an isolated English village, six crime writers trapped in a house, and one chilling murder that blurs the line between fiction and reality.

This book had everything I wanted—gothic atmosphere, literary twists, and the kind of clues that dare you to solve the crime before the final chapter. Miss Winter is a fabulous character: sharp, clever, and delightfully mysterious. Edwards plays fair with his readers while still keeping us on our toes.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the early peek! I’ll be recommending this one to anyone who loves their mysteries classic with a modern edge.

Looks like horrified Christmas comes early!!

Book Trope
• Murder in a Library
• Everyone’s a Suspect
• Secret from the Past
• Quite Women with a Mysterious Past
• Christmas Environment

Six people, All writers of thriller’s went to Miss winters cottage. This book is not a simple murder mystery but it’s play along book. Every page unfolds like a puzzle 🧩.

If you are a fan of Agatha Christie then this one is for you. This book contains multiple pov’s which is quite confusing for me but that won’t be a problem for you, I guess.

Inside book, The content’s carry two journals, One is of Harry crystal (visitors of midwinter) and another one is of Poppy de Lissel (visitors of midwinter) adding on there is a content of Midwinter (People of Midwinter trust)

This is a fantastic murder mystery novel with so many layers to it. Its so gripping and twisty you never know what's coming next. I loved the immersive, interactive feel of this even on Kindle. Its a fantastic way of writing I've never come across before! I.hope he writes more like this!

📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Martin Edwards and Poisoned Pen Press📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚

Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards is a clever, festive whodunit that expertly blends a locked‑room style mystery with an interactive puzzle element. Set in a remote North Yorkshire village cut off by snow, the story brings together six guests connected to crime writing, all invited to solve a staged fictional murder only to find themselves amidst a real one.

My only reservation is that character development occasionally takes a backseat to puzzle mechanics, and some narrative formats—like journal entries, letters, and pamphlets—feel unevenly integrated. Still, the immersive, snow‑bound setting, make this a highly entertaining holiday mystery.

I totally recommend for fans of interactive puzzle mysteries, Christmas‑set whodunits, and anyone who enjoys playing detective while reading.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The author is a genius at crafting the perfect mystery. The characters jump off the page. The clues are wonderful little found nuggets. This is a rollicking whodunit that need to be read by any mystery fan. The plot was just plain fun.

As a big fan of the Clue board game as well as classic whodunit novels, I was happy to be able to get this ARC! Some of the dialogue was choppy and forced while the twists were mostly predictable. With that said, go into this with no expectations and simply have fun!

This book was so fun to read. It reminded me of Clue and I loved all the characters and the plot. Highly recommend!

This has all of the best elements of a mystery for me- closed door, multiple POV, cozy winter scenery. With all the right elements, it still didn’t fully add up for me and the twist at the end was a little too out there for my liking. That being said, I appreciated the creativity of the book and game.

DNF

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I just couldn't get into it. A lot of the dialogue felt wooden in a way that felt like it was there only for exposition and maybe that was the point because this book is a mystery that the reader can participate in, so there did need to bed some exposition shoved at them, but it still didn't catch me. I just didn't find myself being interested in the characters.

Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife is pure, clever fun with a razor-sharp edge—like a cozy mystery that wandered into a dark corner and got a little blood on its hands. Martin Edwards knows exactly what he’s doing here, blending classic whodunit charm with sly literary humor and just enough bite to keep things deliciously tense.

From the moment Miss Winter arrives on the scene—cool, composed, and carrying a trail of secrets—I was hooked. This isn’t just a nod to golden-age mysteries; it’s a loving twist on the genre, full of bookish mischief, sharp dialogue, and a plot that unfolds like a puzzle box you’re dying to solve. And the setting? An old library, of course. Claustrophobic, atmospheric, and absolutely perfect.

What I loved most was how playful the tone is without ever feeling flimsy. Edwards layers in real suspense and emotional depth while still winking at the reader. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to curl up with a cup of tea… but maybe keep one eye on the door.

If you’re a fan of Agatha Christie, metafiction, or just smart, stylish mysteries with a dark twist, Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife is a killer pick. I devoured it—and I already want to go back and catch all the clues I missed.

This book was something different for me. I enjoyed every moment of it. It felt like playing a game of clue. I really enjoyed all of it. With the different puzzles that were included made it feel more real and i wanted to really solve it on my own lol.

The premise is fairly simple. You receive an invitation to a Christmas murder mystery party from the mysterious Midwinter Trust, in a village out in the middle of nowhere, where someone died mysteriously 5 years earlier. What could possibly go wrong? Ha! Everything of course. Can you think of any book with a similar set up that doesn’t involve a real murderer on the loose? No. So, clearly these guests - who all supposedly work in publishing but are washed up in some way - haven’t read any of the books we have read and therefore do not know that they are doomed! There’s a life changing grand prize though, and that is what most are focused on.

Joining us for this festive murder vacation are 6 staff members from the Trust who are supposed to keep things in order. Unfortunately for them, a huge snowstorm moves in and guess what? They are completely cut off from civilization! (That is sarcasm - I am from New Jersey). Or is it unfortunate? These folks do not really seem to have family that is going to be panicked and calling the authorities when they cannot make contact. It almost seems planned, but planning a snowstorm is not a thing so it is an unfortunate occurrence for our would-be detectives.

My favorite character did survive and win the huge prize, which they promptly used to fly off somewhere tropical.

The book is interesting, but it has some flaws. It was easy to figure out, so that is always disappointing. It is an unpolished copy so the spelling and grammatical errors will be dealt with and most of them I could figure out. But the British sayings of which I am completely unfamiliar made it a bit harder to enjoy. If it were an audiobook I could pick up the general meaning from the narrator’s tone but that obviously was not the case here. There was something about hanging sheep and a lamb? I cannot imagine what that is supposed to mean. Hopefully, these are things that will be taken care of before final publication.

The book is a bit disjointed. It feels like some information is missing. I know it’s supposed to be a mystery, but it still feels like something we should know is off the page. It is like being at a dinner party where the people around you are old friends. Inevitably they start telling stories that rely heavily or entirely on inside jokes. It is uncomfortable, confusing and results in a lot of “you had to be there” remarks. That kills a bit of the enjoyment, maybe that can be fine tuned as well.

An interesting feature of the book is that there is a clue finder in the back. If you feel like you are missing clues, you can check it out. It will have page numbers attached so you can see where you missed them.

Overall, it is mostly entertaining and if you like a murder party with your Christmas Dinner, you might love this book. Some of the spirit may be missing from my read since it is June, but there is not a whole lot of Christmas spirit to begin with in this story. Though, there are some terrifying balloons and Santa costumes.

I received an advanced reader copy from Poisoned Pen Press through NetGalley, which I appreciate, in exchange for my honest review.

Definitely a favorite read of mine for this year! Martin Edwards does a clever and thoroughly enjoyable mystery that pays homage to classic whodunits I grew up reading and loving. The atmosphere is fantastic and I felt fully immersed in the story. The plot is intricate and sharp, I loved the progression of the story and enjoyed playing a long trying to guess with our protagonist. Incredible.

If you're a fan of interactive murder mysteries, Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife is an absolute treat. Set in a remote, snowbound Yorkshire village during Christmas, this cleverly structured novel invites the reader to become a detective, with clues scattered through lists, diary entries, maps, website extracts, codes, and riddles.

Six contestants—each with a background in crime writing and a desperate need for a win—are invited to Midwinter to take part in a festive murder mystery game. Hosted by the Midwinter Trust and staffed by six mysterious employees, the event quickly turns sinister. As snow cuts off the remote house, the line between fiction and reality blurs, and the stakes rise with real secrets—and real bodies—coming to light.

This book is more than just a whodunit; it’s an immersive puzzle that pulls you into the mystery. The format is fresh and engaging, giving you all the tools to try and solve the crime alongside the characters. I really enjoyed the interactive elements—it made the experience feel personal and compelling.

A great read for anyone who loves to play detective.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completed my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Martin Edwards for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A perfect Cosy murder mystery which I couldn’t out down
It was such a super fun read did i solve it
Nope I was totally rubbish loved the puzzles loved the characters loved the unique can’t wait to buy it in paperback form. A fantastic classic crime with great character an amazing who done it !!
Love it