In this all-new Christmas mystery from the author of Ghost in the Guacamole, Granny Apples, medium Emma Whitecastle, and psychic PI Jeremiah Jones join forces to find a missing homeless woman. When a homeless veteran on LA’s Skid Row claims he’s seen the ghost of Mistletoe Mary, a down-and-out prostitute, private investigator Jeremiah Jones seeks the assistance of medium Emma Whitecastle and her great-great-great grandmother, the spirited Granny Apples, to determine if the woman is merely missing or if indeed someone has murdered her. Praise for The Ghost of Mistletoe Mary "Jeremiah Jones, introduced in Ghost in the Guacamole, is center stage here in Sue Ann Jaffarian’s grittiest and most moving story in this mystery series. With the action all taking place within a few blocks of downtown Los Angeles, the sense of place is present on every page. Sue Ann Jaffarian is one of my favorite living traditional mystery writers—you won’t be able to guess who did it!"—Naomi Hirahara, Edgar Award-winning author of Murder on Bamboo Lane “Gritty, hardboiled and ghostly all in one, Sue Ann Jaffarian invents a new genre—Ghost Noir—and makes it her own in the engaging and fast-paced The Ghost of Mistletoe Mary, the latest in her addictive Granny Apples series.”—Paul D. Marks, Shamus Award Winning author of the noir-thriller White Heat “For fans of Granny, it is well worth reading The Ghost of Mistletoe Mary. It might not be your typical Christmas cozy, but the story is enjoyable and will stick with you after you’ve read it.”—Carstairs Considers Praise for the Granny Apples Mysteries "Sue Ann Jaffarian never fails to make me chuckle."—New York Times bestselling author Joanne Fluke "Likable characters and steady suspense...[Jaffarian] makes paranormal activity seem plausible. One of the best cozy authors for light chatter and low-key humor."—Library Journal (starred review) "A charming tale, as appealing as apple pie."—Harley Jane Kozak, author of Dating Dead Men "Officially proves the vivacious Jaffarian is the literary heir apparent to Lucille Ball...A rollicking good time...Refreshing, enthralling, and absolutely scrumptious...an eclectic mix of laugh-out-loud fun, heart-touching moments, whimsy, and rapid-fire page turning."—The Book Resort "Delectable...[An] appealing ghost story."—Publishers Weekly "Another charming entry in a series that remains fun while seamlessly incorporating an incorporeal spirit who feels real and whose love of pop culture is always welcome...[A] mystery that expertly blends a novel of mature romances, spirits, and exciting action."—Kings River Life Magazine INCLUDES A TEASER FOR THE NEXT GRANNY APPLES MYSTERY, GHOSTS OF MISTY HOLLOW, COMING FROM BERKLEY PRIME CRIME IN 8/16!

The soft beauty beside him at the altar would make the perfect bride. Roderick MacDougall would do anything to stop the feud without more bloodshed. Too bad the gorgeous woman is the daughter of his greatest enemy who murdered his da. Trust in a Comyn is hard won, even if she tempts his senses. Mary Comyn only wants to stop the wars and live a life of peace and goodwill. Tricked by her father and forced by the English king to marry her clan’s enemy, Mary fears she’s sacrificing finding true love for peace. A Christmas wedding sounds romantic, but why would the handsome MacDougall laird, her greatest clan enemy, love her? A man conflicted by duty charged to find peace. A woman whose father betrayed all. When betrayal looms from within, can enemies find love and forge a new future for both clans?

An important figure in the development of crime fiction, Mary Elizabeth Braddon (1835-1915) wrote more than 80 novels, numerous plays, poems, essays and short stories, and edited two magazines during her 55-year literary career. Her bestselling Lady Audley's Secret secured her reputation as a leading "sensation novelist." Though critics called her work immoral, Braddon's novels influenced the detective fiction of the late Victorian period. With entries on all her published writing, characters, relationships and influences, and themes and contexts, as well as numerous illustrations, a career chronology, and a chronological and alphabetical listing of all of her works, this companion to Braddon's mystery fiction is the definitive reference on this provocative but overlooked writer.

The author of Ghost in the Guacamole returns as a spiritual medium and her spectral sidekick encounter murder and mystery in a Massachusetts farmhouse— Mysterious plots abound when spiritual medium Emma Whitecastle offers aid to a famous novelist, but her spectral sidekick Granny Apples will help her write all the wrongs... Bestselling crime writer Gino Costello is working on his next book in a historic farmhouse in the heart of Massachusetts. His story features some paranormal elements so he’s invited family friend Emma to provide her input as a medium. But as soon as Emma arrives—with her fiancé, Phil, and Granny Apples in tow—that’s when the real trouble begins. Emma is immediately contacted by the Browns, a family of ghosts who originally owned the house in the early nineteenth century. They need Emma to help them locate the spirits of their two children who disappeared. Meanwhile, a dead body appears at the house. Now Emma, Granny, and Phil must read between the lines to find answers before a killer books it...

Murder Under The Mistletoe - Ultimate Christmas Murder Mystery Collection weaves a chilling tapestry of mystery and intrigue against the festive backdrop of the holiday season. This anthology amalgamates a dazzling array of literary styles, from the methodical deductions of the archetypal detective to the suspenseful ambiance of psychological thrillers. Reflecting the rich literary context of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, each story within this collection, helmed by iconic figures like Charles Dickens and Arthur Conan Doyle, thrives on the diverse interpretations of the yuletide spirit intermingled with dark and often profound narratives. The selected works stand as a testament to the versatility and depth of the murder mystery genre, exploring themes of guilt, redemption, and the human propensity for moral ambiguity under the veil of holiday cheer. The contributing authors and editors, hailing from various cultural and literary backgrounds, bring a wealth of experience and innovation to the anthology. Their collective works, embedded in historical, cultural, and literary movements ranging from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction to the intricate plot twists of Gothic mysteries, offer a panoramic view of changing societal norms and the unending quest for justice amidst chaos. Authors such as Agatha Christie and Edgar Allan Poe, among others, contributed foundational texts that have shaped the contours of crime and detective literature. This collection acts as a crucible, melding these diverse voices into a singularly gripping narrative on crime, set against the contrasting innocence of Christmas. Murder Under The Mistletoe is a compelling invitation to readers seeking to explore the shadows cast by the festive lights through the lens of master storytellers. For those fascinated by the interplay between societal festivity and the darker aspects of human nature, this anthology promises a journey through varied landscapes of suspense, framed by the universal theme of holiday gatherings. Beyond its entertainment value, the collection offers invaluable insights into the evolution of the murder mystery genre and encourages a dialogic engagement with the works of some of its greatest practitioners. It is an essential volume for readers desiring not just a tale of mystery and suspense but a richer understanding of the cultural and literary forces that shape these narratives.

Welcome to North Star Village U.S.A., a picturesque city that has grown out of the Valley, formed by the surrounding Mountains. North Star Village is a 4-Season multicultural place, an example of many cities across America. It is a melting pot of good and bad things, good and bad people living their best lives. As the city motto goes, follow the North Star. Meet N.O. Chance Jr, a lifelong resident of North Star Village, a successful Accountant and Award-winning business Owner of N. O. Chance Financial Agency. N. O. Chance is also known as a mean-spirited man that hates all things Christmas. He is a melting pot of the best and worst qualities of Man and Mankind. When he’s good he’s really good, but his bad side has gotten the better of him. There’s a battle going on in his Soul. The storm is over for now, replaced by the breakup to make up relationship he has with Christmas. N.O. Chance Jr will have to face his problems. But the truth can present itself as a confounding coincidence found in a wispy cloud or a Celestial event, such as a shooting Star. Mr. N.O. Chance Jr will have to see past the first interpretation of the superficial kiss that hang all the mistletoe implies to see the well wishes of friends and family come to fruition. What is the profit for a man to gain the world and lose his own Soul? Find yourself in the people of North Star Village and the Spirit of this Christmas story and the Black Ebenezer that finds he is akin to others through time. A Black man that has lost his way in the world, only to find himself when he, Hangs All The Mistletoe.

Get Ready for Winter with these Romantic Stories...

This volume contains descriptions of 1,245 books in nine fiction genres, including author or editor's name, publication information, story type, major characters, setting, plot summary, and more.

Are you ready to step over the edge? This grand horror collection contains the greatest supernatural mysteries, gothic novels, dark romances & macabre tales: Bram Stoker: Dracula The Squaw… John William Polidori: The Vampyre James Malcolm Rymer & Thomas Peckett Prest: Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street Washington Irving: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Rip Van Winkle Edgar Allan Poe: The Cask of Amontillado The Masque of the Red Death The Premature Burial Mary Shelley: Frankenstein The Mortal Immortal The Evil Eye Gaston Leroux: The Phantom of the Opera Marjorie Bowen: Black Magic Oscar Wilde: The Picture of Dorian Gray Henry James: The Turn of the Screw The Ghostly Rental… H. P. Lovecraft: The Dunwich Horror The Shunned House… Charles Dickens: The Mystery of Edwin Drood The Haunted House… Wilkie Collins: The Haunted Hotel The Woman in White Richard Marsh: The Beetle Arthur Conan Doyle: The Hound of the Baskervilles The Silver Hatchet… Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu: Carmilla… Arthur Machen: The Great God Pan… William Hope Hodgson: The Ghost Pirates The Night Land E. F. Benson: The Room in the Tower The Terror by Night… Nathaniel Hawthorne: The Birth Mark The House of the Seven Gables… Thomas Hardy: What the Shepherd Saw The Grave by the Handpost Jane Austen: Northanger Abbey Charlotte Brontë: Jane Eyre Emily Brontë: Wuthering Heights Guy de Maupassant: The Horla Horace Walpole: The Castle of Otranto William Thomas Beckford: Vathek Matthew Gregory Lewis: The Monk Ann Radcliffe: The Mysteries of Udolpho The Italian Théophile Gautier: Clarimonde The Mummy's Foot M. R. James: Ghost Stories of an Antiquary A Thin Ghost and Others Ambrose Bierce: Can Such Things Be? Present at a Hanging and Other Ghost Stories M. P. Shiel: Shapes in the Fire Rudyard Kipling: My Own True Ghost Story The City of Dreadful Night The Mark of the Beast… Stanley G. Weinbaum: The Dark Other Émile Erckmann & Alexandre Chatrian: The Man-Wolf… Amelia B. Edwards: The Phantom Coach… Pedro De Alarçon: The Nail Walter Hubbell: The Great Amherst Mystery Some Real American Ghosts Some Chinese Ghosts…