Trish Harnetiaux

A crackling Christmas mystery that combines murder and blackmail at a holiday office party, in a mashup reminiscent of Big Little Lies and Clue. There are only a few rules in a White Elephant gift exchange: 1) Everyone brings a wrapped, unmarked gift. 2) Numbers are drawn to decide who picks first. 3) Gifts don’t need to be pricey—and often they’re downright tacky. But things are a little different in Aspen, Colorado, at the office holiday party for the real estate firm owned by Henry Calhoun and his wife Claudine. Each Christmas sparks a contest among the already competitive staff to see who can buy the most coveted gift: the one that will get stolen the most times, the one that will prove just how many more commissions they earned that year than their colleagues. Designer sunglasses, deluxe spa treatments, front row concert tickets—nothing is off the table. And the staff is even more competitive this year as Zara, the hottest young pop star out of Hollywood, is in town and Claudine is determined to sell her the getaway home of her dreams. Everyone is puzzled when a strange gift shows up in the mix: an antique cowboy statue. At least the sales agents are guessing it’s an antique—otherwise it’d be a terrible present. It’s certainly not very pretty or expensive-looking. In fact, the gift makes sense only to Henry and Claudine. The statue is the weapon Henry used to commit a murder years ago, a murder that helped start his company and a murder that Claudine helped cover up. She swore that no one would ever be able to find the statue or trace it to their crime. So which of their employees did? And why did they place it in the White Elephant? What could possibly be their endgame? Over the course of the evening, Henry and Claudine race to figure out who could have planted the weapon, and just what the night means for the secrets they’ve been harboring. Further adding to the drama is a snowstorm that closes nearby roads—preventing anyone from leaving, as well as keeping law enforcement from the scene. And by the end of this crazy night, the police will most definitely be required…

White Elephant

THIS YEAR, YOU'LL GET WHAT YOU DESERVE... _____________________ You're invited to a lavish Christmas party in an isolated mansion. And your hosts will do anything to keep you from finding out their secrets... When husband and wife Henry and Claudine organise their company's Christmas party in a remote mansion, they expect it to be a night to remember. But the festive mood quickly turns sour when a sinister gift is unwrapped in the Secret Santa gift exchange. As heavy snow traps the guests inside the mountainside lodge, it quickly becomes clear that one of the party is out for revenge. It's no longer just about enduring the evening. It's about making sure you get out alive. A lavish locked-room mystery with a seasonal edge, THE SECRET SANTA is packed with twists that will keep you guessing until the very last page. _____________________ 'Better than a pair of socks!' Readers say The Secret Santa is the Christmas gift they've been waiting for: 'Henry, Zara and Claudine are excellent characters. Highly recommended.' 'a fun mystery read ... you learn what people are really capable of as their true colours start to seep through' 'a good Christmas read for anyone who enjoys mysteries' 'This Christmas-themed murder mystery is well written, with believable, if not likeable, characters and enough twists and turns to make you want to know whodunnit. A nice atmospheric Christmas read.' 'A fun Christmas based thriller that had me laughing one moment and gasping the next' 'The characters were extremely well drawn and sympathetic, and the storyline was seamless.' 'A remarkably twisty tale with a surprisingly vicious villain (very sneaky and Machiavellian) and some feckless "innocents" and undeserving villains. This was a one-sitting read as I raced through breathlessly awaiting the unravelling of the puzzles.' 'This book is a compelling read, teasing you, urging you to read on and uncover the mystery of Montague House... a page-turner of a murder mystery - I read it in one day! An atmospheric, thrilling, good read.' My Weekly

This year, you’ll get what you deserve...

The Secret Santa

THIS YEAR, YOU'LL GET WHAT YOU DESERVE... _____________________ A lavish party. An isolated mansion. Two hosts who will do anything to protect their secrets. When husband and wife Henry and Claudine organise their company's Christmas party in a remote mansion, they expect it to be a night to remember. But the festive mood quickly turns sour when a sinister gift is unwrapped in the Secret Santa gift exchange. As heavy snow traps the guests inside the mountainside lodge, it quickly becomes clear that one of the party is out for revenge. It's no longer just about enduring the evening. It's about making sure you get out alive. A lavish locked-room mystery with a seasonal edge, THE SECRET SANTAis packed with twists that will keep you guessing until the very last page. _____________________ 'Better than a pair of socks!' Readers say The Secret Santa is the Christmas gift they've been waiting for- 'Henry, Zara and Claudine are excellent characters. Highly recommended.' 'a fun mystery read ... you learn what people are really capable of as their true colours start to seep through' 'a good Christmas read for anyone who enjoys mysteries' 'This Christmas-themed murder mystery is well written, with believable, if not likeable, characters and enough twists and turns to make you want to know whodunnit. A nice atmospheric Christmas read.' 'A fun Christmas based thriller that had me laughing one moment and gasping the next' 'The characters were extremely well drawn and sympathetic, and the storyline was seamless.' 'A remarkably twisty tale with a surprisingly vicious villain (very sneaky and Machiavellian) and some feckless "innocents" and undeserving villains. This was a one-sitting read as I raced through breathlessly awaiting the unravelling of the puzzles.' 'This book is a compelling read, teasing you, urging you to read on and uncover the mystery of Montague House... a page-turner of a murder mystery- I read it in one day! An atmospheric, thrilling, good read.' My Weekly

Secret Santa (paperback Original)

STRAIGHT ON 'TIL MORNING captures the recklessness of youth, unrequited love, best friends, fierce enemies, loyalty, and commitment as it provocatively deconstructs one young man's zest for life while battling his past, his present, and - god forbid - his future. The play draws inspiration from the life of J M Barrie and his fictitious Peter Pan with the life of a troubled, modern-day Brooklynite and the youth culture that surrounds him.

Trish Harnetiaux

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