AN EXTRACT 

'A true master of British crime writing.' RICHARD OSMAN

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 the north Pennines 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.

After all, when the prize is to die for, it’s so tempting to inject a little murder into the mystery.