Murder at the Christmas Emporium

A Novel

Andreina Cordani

“A handful of lucky people have been invited to a Christmas Eve shopping party, an old fashioned store in London specializing in gorgeous handcrafted toys. Imagine their dismay when it turns out that what they’ve signed up for is not a lovely evening, but Murder in the Christmas Emporium. Cordani is an expert at misdirection. She leads you in one direction and then, slamming the door in your face, sends you down another path entirely.”—Sarah Lyall, The New York Times Book Review

In this brilliant follow up to The Twelve Days of Murder, a group of Christmas shoppers discover the doors have been locked and that they’ve been trapped by someone who knows their darkest secrets.

It's Christmas Eve at the Emporium, a bespoke gift shop hidden in the depths of London's winding streets, where a select few shoppers are browsing its handcrafted delights.

But when they go to leave, they find the doors are locked and it isn't long before they realize this is no innocent mix-up. The shoppers have been trapped here by someone who knows their darkest secrets, someone will stop at nothing until they have all been unwrapped—and there is a gruesome gift waiting in Santa's grotto . . .

For those that survive the night, it will be a Christmas to remember.

Andreina Cordani has published several young adult novels with Little Brown in Britain. The Twelve Days of Murder is her first adult novel—and her first novel to be published in America. She lives in Dorset.

Buy it now in print:

Buy it now in ebook:

Endorsements & Reviews

“A handful of lucky people have been invited to a Christmas Eve shopping party, an old fashioned store in London specializing in gorgeous handcrafted toys. Imagine their dismay when it turns out that what they’ve signed up for is not a lovely evening, but Murder in the Christmas Emporium. Cordani is an expert at misdirection. She leads you in one direction and then, slamming the door in your face, sends you down another path entirely.” Sarah Lyall The New York Times Book Review

“Told from multiple points of view, both past and present, this compelling, stand-alone mystery with its myriad plot twists, well drawn characters, and a lovingly described Christmastime setting will appeal to locked-room mystery fans.” Booklist Booklist

“Told from multiple points of view, both past and present, this compelling, stand-alone mystery with its myriad plot twists, well-drawn characters, and a lovingly described Christmastime setting will appeal to locked-room-mystery fans.” Booklist

"Holiday magic goes horribly wrong in Cordani’s delightfully eccentric follow-up to The Twelve Days of Murder. Cordani’s plotting is devious and perfectly calibrated, revealing just enough to heighten dramatic irony while leaving plenty of room for shocking twists. This canny combination of whodunit and horror makes for a gleefully demented stocking stuffer." Publishers Weekly

Praise for The Twelve Days of Murder:

"Cordani makes an impressive adult debut with this devious holiday whodunit. Cordani starts in the key of a holiday cozy but gets dark fast, a risky transition she pulls off without a hitch. Mystery lovers of all stripes will walk away satisfied.” Publishers Weekly

"Told from multiple points of view, this compelling, complex, page-turning locked-room mystery is set in both the past and the present and is chock full of plot twists.” Booklist

"A murder-mystery weekend turns deadly. The pace quickens as the frenemies grow increasingly suspicious of one another. Scandals, hurt feelings, and secret ambitions are the suspected motives, but by the time one character rises to the top as a suspect, they’re killed off. Good for spreading holiday fear.” Kirkus Reviews

Past praise for Andreina Cordani:

"A fascinating look into the world of influencers where things certainly aren't as perfect as they seem. An excellent cast of believable characters and some jaw-dropping twists—a brilliant read.” Catherine Cooper, bestselling author of The Chalet

"I haven't been able to stop reading this wonderful book. It grabbed me from the first page and would not let me go.” Sarah Ann Juckes, author of Outside

“A glitzy thriller and I felt every high, every low and every pressure. Perfect for fans of Gossip Girl and Karen M. McManus.” Naomi Gibson, author of Every Line of You