Holiday Homicide: A Snowed in Holiday Thriller Novella

by Michelle Powers

December is typically a joyful time of year. Unless there is a KILLER on the loose...Holly Frost and her family arrived at their lakeside cabin three days before Christmas. They were excited for all the holiday festivities. The lake was beautifully frozen, and the snow draped over the trees. The view nearly took their breath away, it was a true winter wonderland.

It was a picture-perfect holiday until their Christmas spirit was replaced by terror on Christmas Eve. Little did they know that they were now forced into a deadly game of cat and mouse. They had no idea who had come for them, and they didn’t know why.

There is a KILLER in the quiet town of Pinewood Hollow. And Holly's family is at the top of his naughty list.

***Newly Expanded Holiday Thriller Edition***

Genres: Christmas

126 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2024

About the author

Michelle Powers writes the kind of thrillers that keep you up way past bedtime—just one more chapter, right? What started with her breakout novella, The First Murder, quickly snowballed into a full-blown obsession with killers, clues, and crime scenes (the fictional kind, of course). She’s the internationally recognized indie author behind the addictive Detective Willoughby series, the fan-favorite Detective Kate Brown series, and a growing stack of standalone thrillers that will make you second-guess everyone you know. In 2024, she proudly earned the coveted KDP All-Star title—a gold star for authors who live on coffee, plot twists, and sheer grit. When she’s not working her day job in logistics or plotting her next murder (on paper, we swear), Michelle can be found writing at her desk with her Rottweiler sidekick, Ozzy, snoring nearby. Follow her on Facebook for new releases, giveaways, and all things murdery and mysterious. Just maybe leave the lights on.

Reviews

[Celeste Velocci (bookrecs_by_celeste) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a holiday horror / slasher novella that was pretty predictable. I thought it would be more of a thriller mystery. It was fine. Available on Kindle Unlimited.

[JessicaB · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really captivating, faced paced short story.

This was a first read for me from anything by this author and I really loved her style of writing. Perfect thriller for Christmas.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

[AmBerGUR · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very quick and tense read (in an enjoyable way).

[Annika Campbell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would believe you if you told me this book was written by a middle schooler. So blah, but I finished it so 2 stars I guess. (Only finished it for my reading goal)

[Gina Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author doesn't play around. She has a masterly way of instilling that same fright you feel while watching a horror movie, and she never lets up. The pacing is relentless, turning the holiday season into a backdrop of pure suspense. She takes the warmth of the season and turns it into a chilling backdrop for a total page turner. It’s rare to find a book that captures that “edge of your seat” movie energy so perfectly. She truly does not disappoint.

[Brooklyn Armstrong · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable

[Niki Brancato · Rating 2 out of 5]

useful just for a quick read when you need some time to kill. Otherwise, it's not really an enlightening read.

[Alix Kampen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I actually chose not to finish this book. It was riddled with mistakes and I only made it through three chapters. Please, authors, do your research when writing books... a Yukon's make is GMC, not Chevrolet.

[Miranda Austin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent thriller novella. Just predictable and the family seems to be made up of the dumbest humans.

[Alexis Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Holiday Homicide is a not great attempt at a festive mystery. While the premise had potential, the execution fell flat. The characters felt one-dimensional, and the pacing dragged in parts, making it difficult to stay engaged. Though the holiday setting added a nice seasonal touch, it wasn’t enough to save the overall story. If you’re a die-hard fan of cozy mysteries, you might find some enjoyment here, but for most readers, it’ll likely be a forgettable experience.

[Beth Casas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the story…for a while…but the premise is just so unlikely!! Rating: 2.5 Stars
Holly is going away for Christmas vacation with her Mom and Dad, sister Bailey, and brother Cole to their snowy cabin for a traditional family Christmas. She’s out on her own for the first time and doesn’t really look forward to going but will muddle through for her parents, who REALLY love the holidays! Her sister, Bailey, REALLY hates it. She’s more introverted and enjoys spending time on her phone on YouTube and stuff. She’s also found out about 6 months ago that she was adopted, but she’s always been very loved! Holly encourages to grin and bear it, tempting her with some peppermint schnapps she brought for their hot chocolate! Her youngest sibling, Cole, is so excited he can barely contain himself! He’s going ice-fishing with Dad for the first time this trip! Once everyone is packed in the car, Holly is even looking forward to it in a weird way! Except that she keeps getting a strange hair prickling on the back of her neck feeling that they are being watched along the way and once they arrive. Weird things are happening, too! Footprints in the snow at the back of the house, a dead squirrel found in mom and dad’s bed, really creepy stuff! Until the night Dad confronts someone on the porch with a baseball bat! You won’t believe what happens then! What is going on and who is doing this??

I really don’t want to go into it anymore. I’ll let you finish the novella to see how the story ends. It will definitely have your jaw on the floor!

[Ellie Witch · Rating 3 out of 5]

"She shut off the water and reached for a towel. As she wiped the fog from her face, she caught movement in the mirror. Her heart lurched. There, barely visible through the steam, smeared across the glass, were words. Two words." those TWO words- "The mirror was still fogged from Holly’s shower, but the message burned through the steam like a flare in the dark: SHE IS MINE."

So to say this book needs another edit would be an understatement. Beyond that, it was very mid.

There were filler chapters in which nothing of note happened, but I don't necessarily want those omitted because the story is already short, and very rushed towards the end.

What we could omit is the entire first chapter! With that out of the way, it is a true thriller/mystery, rather than us being spoon fed that Tammy and Tyler are Bailey's bio parents, and that she has something to do with them being there

Overall, mid. Writing was okay, the story premise was cool, but the execution is lacking. The true saving grace is the fact it is just over 100 pages long.

[Elisa Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michelle Powers never disappoints, and I’ll read anything she writes. This short story is yet another reminder of why she’s one of my go-to authors. From the very first page, she pulls you straight into a twisted, pulse-spiking ride that turns Christmas on its head.
What I love most is how effortlessly she layers tension—one moment you’re settling into a cozy holiday scene, and the next, you’re questioning every shadow, every sound, every secret lurking beneath the surface. She packs a punch in such a short space, leaving you flipping pages faster with every chilling turn.
After reading this, spending Christmas with the family will never feel the same again. If you’re looking for a quick read that’s equal parts festive and unsettling, this one hits the mark.
10/10—highly recommend this sharp, suspense-filled holiday thriller!

[Holly Cerutti · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second read by this author, and she wastes no time pulling you into a holiday tale that starts off merry and quickly spirals into something far more sinister. One moment it feels like a cozy Christmas read, and the next you’re bracing yourself as the unease creeps in from every corner.

For such a compact story, it’s incredibly impactful. The tension builds with precision, the atmosphere stays deliciously eerie, and every twist lands right where it should. By the end, I was racing through the pages just to see how the chaos would unfold.

After this, even the most cheerful holiday traditions might feel a little darker. If you want a quick, festive read with a sharp edge and plenty of suspense, this one delivers.

[Mama Of 2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful novella

I absolutely enjoyed this book. As someone also adopted, I can tell you I've probably had a nightmare similar to this story at least once a year, my whole life. I had a feeling the bad characters were who they were I just wasn't sure how it'd relate into the story until it did. The last few chapters I feel like I was reading at double speed because I was getting so anxious. Lol but that's the sign of a good thriller! I am so glad to have found this author because I haven't read anything from her that I didn't like.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

so this was a creepy novella about a family that goes on a winter holiday in a cabin in the woods that goes from a nice family vacation to a fight to stay alive. i did actually figure out the twist or ending pretty quickly so i was not surprised at all and more horrified if anything. it was a quick holiday read that held my interest and helped me get closer to getting to 100 books read this year so definitely worth reading.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining relationship mystery listening 🎶😯

This kindle ebook novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account

They are a family of five living out in the county. Two people escape from prison. They show up at the home. Why.

I would recommend this novella and author to readers of family members mystery novels 😉🙂 2025 🤓🏡

[Ayrie Peddie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t love it

This novella was a short read. It has an interesting story. It felt really jumbled. The points of view changed from paragraph to paragraph without the reader knowing until later. The tenses changed within the same paragraphs. I found it confusing. Like it hadn’t been edited. The ending was also kinda abrupt and sad. I just didn’t love it.

[Jessa Layne • readwithjessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michelle Powers’ Holiday Homicide is a quick and suspenseful thriller set against a picturesque winter wonderland that turns deadly. Holly Frost and her family’s Christmas getaway transforms into a harrowing fight for survival as a killer targets them in the quiet town of Pinewood Hollow. While the twist at the end was somewhat predictable, it was still entertaining and cleverly executed, keeping the story engaging. The pacing makes it a fast read, and though it feels more suited for a younger audience, it still delivers enough chills and thrills to keep readers hooked.

[Yasmine M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick and tense.
Didn’t expect it to be her parents at the beginning till they mentioned the adoption and her trying to find them.
But damn girl turning on the people who raised you for people who you were taken away from which clearly happened for a good reason.

[Sarah * Between the Lines Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow

Well that was a unexpected twist!!
This was a nice quick read, definitely going to be checking out more of Michelle Powers books!

[Haley Marotta · Rating 1 out of 5]

Short and sweet novella but definitely felt a little rushed. Didn’t love the writing style. I guessed the ending after a few chapters.

[Rachel Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Holiday Homicide" by Michelle Powers is a fast-paced, gripping thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The suspense builds with each chapter, leading to a shocking and unexpected ending that I never saw coming. It's a perfect holiday read for fans of festive thrillers—short, but utterly captivating. I couldn’t put it down!

[Teri Crutsinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun quick little holiday read.

[Rachael Potts Busby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooooh I really liked this novella! I was not expecting that at all!! This one’s great for a quick Christmas thriller!

[Ashli Ferguson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was odd. Mine even went from chapter 3 to chapter 5 with no 4 to be seen. I knew the twist as soon as they said “so and so is adopted” and it was not a surprise at all.

[Christina Hedgepeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow that was good! Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Although kind of predictable there was a turn at the very end that I did not see coming.

[Heidi Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess I am glad it wasn’t very long, because I kinda figured it all out within a few pages, but I didn’t not hate it.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and easy horror novella. I called the twist pretty early on but it was still an entertaining holiday horror read