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Death is Coming to Town: Four Murderous Holiday Tales
It’s not your ordinary holiday season. In fact, you may never think of Christmas the same way again when you read these four murderous holiday tales.
"He’s Making a List." Marcie loves everything about Christmas, and she’s planning a very special holiday gift for her husband Kelly, the man of her dreams. However, her laptop computer reveals he may not be the man she thought he was, and that perhaps a much different gift is in order.
"Checking It Twice." Everyone tells Roger he’s handled divorce better than anyone they know. And that’s true—up to a point. This Christmas he’s busy keeping holiday traditions alive for his three young daughters, and things are looking up. Or are they?
"Gonna Find Out." It’s Christmas Day at York Town Races and Games casino in the mountains of West Virginia, and almost everyone at the blackjack tables is one of the regulars. But cards aren’t the only things in play as the regulars find themselves dealing with a case of boorish holiday behavior by one of their own.
"Who’s Naughty or Nice." Three things are certain in this small town: Death, taxes, and the fact that Mildred Puckett will most definitely win the holiday bake-off competition and sale—again. This year, though, Mildred may have bitten off a bit more than she can chew.
"He’s Making a List." Marcie loves everything about Christmas, and she’s planning a very special holiday gift for her husband Kelly, the man of her dreams. However, her laptop computer reveals he may not be the man she thought he was, and that perhaps a much different gift is in order.
"Checking It Twice." Everyone tells Roger he’s handled divorce better than anyone they know. And that’s true—up to a point. This Christmas he’s busy keeping holiday traditions alive for his three young daughters, and things are looking up. Or are they?
"Gonna Find Out." It’s Christmas Day at York Town Races and Games casino in the mountains of West Virginia, and almost everyone at the blackjack tables is one of the regulars. But cards aren’t the only things in play as the regulars find themselves dealing with a case of boorish holiday behavior by one of their own.
"Who’s Naughty or Nice." Three things are certain in this small town: Death, taxes, and the fact that Mildred Puckett will most definitely win the holiday bake-off competition and sale—again. This year, though, Mildred may have bitten off a bit more than she can chew.
77 pages, Paperback
First published December 6, 2013
2 people are currently reading
469 people want to read
About the author
Eleanor Cawood Jones
17 books30 followersEleanor Cawood Jones began her writing career in elementary school, using a #2 pencil to craft short stories based around the imaginary lives of her stuffed animal collection. While in college at Virginia Tech, she got her first paid writing job as a reporter with the Kingsport Times-News in Kingsport, Tenn., and never looked back. Her work appears in several mystery anthologies and in two solo books. She won the 2021 Derringer Award for "The Great Bedbug Incident and the Invitation of Doom" in Chesapeake Crimes: Invitation to Murder.
Eleanor now lives in Northern Virginia and is a reformed marketing director and freelance copywriter while working on more stories as well as her upcoming mystery novel series. She's an avid reader, people watcher, traveler, and remodeling show addict. She spends her spare time telling people how to pronounce Cawood (Kay'-wood).
Eleanor now lives in Northern Virginia and is a reformed marketing director and freelance copywriter while working on more stories as well as her upcoming mystery novel series. She's an avid reader, people watcher, traveler, and remodeling show addict. She spends her spare time telling people how to pronounce Cawood (Kay'-wood).
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 29, 2014
Death Is Coming To Town is a collection of four short stories which include, He's Making a List, Checking It Twice, Gonna Find Out and Who's Naughty or Nice. I found all four of these stories very enjoyable reads. Each of these stories have murder, mystery and twists which leave you wanting more.
If you're looking for a different sort of Christmas read over the holiday season be sure to grab yourself a copy of this one. A great fast read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
If you're looking for a different sort of Christmas read over the holiday season be sure to grab yourself a copy of this one. A great fast read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
December 9, 2013
Full length mysteries usually end with justice for the killer. With short mystery stories, a reader never quite knows what to expect. And in these holiday tales of murder, you may smile with that satisfying "hoo hoo, they DESERVED what they got" type of feeling - a la the Willy Wonka nasty kids, the Nazis in Indiana Jones movies, etc. Oh yeah. Santa brings some sweet twists in this book, all right.
Great job, Ms. Jones. I'm looking forward to the next collection!
Great job, Ms. Jones. I'm looking forward to the next collection!
March 14, 2014
Four Delicious Little Christmas Goodies
This is not your typical whodunit. In fact, it’s not a whodunit at all, since in every case the murder is done in plain view of the reader and the murderer’s identity is known. The fun of this book comes from the why – what is it in the character of the murderer that led him or her to commit the dastardly act? Not that the act is so dastardly – in each case the victim had it coming and we’re happy to see the murderer win out. The first two stories (“He’s Making a List” and “Checking It Twice”) grow out of dysfunctional domestic relationships and are premised on the orderly nature of the murderers, who kill impulsively but then work out relentlessly organized ways to escape detection. The third story (“Gonna Find Out”) is the most ingenious of the group – one murder, yes, but multiple murderers! In the fourth story (“Who’s Naughty or Nice”) the murder victim is exaggeratedly unpleasant (although women like her certainly exist), and one can’t help being pleased that the murderer appears likely to get away with his (again, impulsive) act and live happily ever after (even though to do so he must employ the nasty tactics he learned from the victim).
Nevertheless, in every story an element of doubt is left. Will the murderers really succeed in getting away with their crimes? They did commit murder, no matter how justified – but still the reader can’t help hoping …
The book is well written and edited and appeals to me because I like stories based in character. I strongly recommend it for anyone who likes murder tales with a different twist.
This is not your typical whodunit. In fact, it’s not a whodunit at all, since in every case the murder is done in plain view of the reader and the murderer’s identity is known. The fun of this book comes from the why – what is it in the character of the murderer that led him or her to commit the dastardly act? Not that the act is so dastardly – in each case the victim had it coming and we’re happy to see the murderer win out. The first two stories (“He’s Making a List” and “Checking It Twice”) grow out of dysfunctional domestic relationships and are premised on the orderly nature of the murderers, who kill impulsively but then work out relentlessly organized ways to escape detection. The third story (“Gonna Find Out”) is the most ingenious of the group – one murder, yes, but multiple murderers! In the fourth story (“Who’s Naughty or Nice”) the murder victim is exaggeratedly unpleasant (although women like her certainly exist), and one can’t help being pleased that the murderer appears likely to get away with his (again, impulsive) act and live happily ever after (even though to do so he must employ the nasty tactics he learned from the victim).
Nevertheless, in every story an element of doubt is left. Will the murderers really succeed in getting away with their crimes? They did commit murder, no matter how justified – but still the reader can’t help hoping …
The book is well written and edited and appeals to me because I like stories based in character. I strongly recommend it for anyone who likes murder tales with a different twist.
January 7, 2014
Four twisted mystery short stories in this collection, meaning crime tales from the Hitchcockian tradition, each with a nice little twist at the end. All of them are good: the wife with the perfect life who accidentally learns otherwise; the divorced father who's trying to keep Christmas traditions alive for his daughters; the regulars around a casino table who're sharing a tad more than is good for one of them; and that woman who always wins the bakeoff at church finally getting hers. Those ending twists aren't that easy to pull off; author Eleanor Cawood Jones does a great job here. Five strong stars.
December 9, 2013
Oh My! I so thoroughly enjoyed reading these stories. I figured on reading 1 story per day, but once I got to page 2 of the first story, I was hooked. There was no doing anything else until I'd read all 4 stories. No house cleaning, no laundry, no lunch. I'm glad I started reading during the day, or it would have been no sleep. The characters were very well written and believable. I found myself liking some and really hating others. The outcomes were very satisfying. The only fault I could find with this book, is that it ended. I wanted more.
January 28, 2015
This book was a Christmas present to myself.
4 excellent short stories of murder extraordinary performed by very ordinary folk. That is to say that I will never look at Christmas or my neighbours the same way again.
There is an art to writing a good short story and Eleanor is an artist. They are well written, fast paced with witty endings.
Death is Coming to Town also as a tale from the author's next set of short stories "A Baker's Dozen" that I want to read as well.
4 excellent short stories of murder extraordinary performed by very ordinary folk. That is to say that I will never look at Christmas or my neighbours the same way again.
There is an art to writing a good short story and Eleanor is an artist. They are well written, fast paced with witty endings.
Death is Coming to Town also as a tale from the author's next set of short stories "A Baker's Dozen" that I want to read as well.
February 14, 2014
Loved all 4 stories, nicely written, every story had a nice twist in them, since reading this book, not trying to give any spoilers but I read this book over the Christmas holidays, and had to look twice at the Santa's on people's roofs, and some how cannot drink hot chocolate anymore, but will be waiting patiently for Eleanors next book
February 23, 2015
While I truly enjoyed Cawood-Jones first book of short stories (Bakers Dozen), I liked this collection even better. I read the entire book in one sitting, because I couldn't put it down. It was totally twisted and Hitchcockian!
May 27, 2014
Creepy! These people got what the deserved, scary that they could though!
December 23, 2018
I enjoyed this collection of mysteries. The stories were quick reads. Most of the people were likable even though these were quick reads. I thought about which was my favorite and discovered that I couldn’t pick one. Surprisingly, I truly enjoyed every one. I haven’t read anything else by this author but I think I would like to.
December 24, 2018
Eleanor Cawood Jones has a diabolical mind. Four mysteries designed to give bad people their comeuppance. Loved it
January 4, 2019
Wicked
Who’s on Santa’s naughty list? Well you better be careful because he shared his list with the Grim Reaper this year
Who’s on Santa’s naughty list? Well you better be careful because he shared his list with the Grim Reaper this year
December 21, 2021
I didn’t read the story set in a casino because it just wasn’t my cup of tea. However I read and so enjoyed the other stories. Very clever and fantastic twists!
December 20, 2022
A different take on the Christmas story. A quick read, this book has four short stories that have a dark twist. Thoroughly enjoyable if you want something intriguing and different. A must read.
December 21, 2015
For a very inexpensive Kindle purchase this was a surprisingly fun little book. I wasn't expecting much, but each little plot driven tale gave me just enough to have feels about each character and how death came to town. Alternately sad, and downright funny, this was a fun holiday read.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews