Cyanide Night, Holy Night: A Brickstone Christmas Murder Mystery by E.K. Cozy is a Christmas in July Fete pick #cozymystery #christmasinjuly #giveaway
- N. N. Light
- Jul 1
- 6 min read
Title: Cyanide Night, Holy Night: A Brickstone Christmas Murder Mystery
Author: E.K. Cozy
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Book Blurb:
Historian Olivia Corbyn expected elegance and eggnog when she agreed to document the opening of a century-old time capsule at the prestigious Hawthorne Estate on Christmas Eve. Instead, she’s snowed in with a houseful of suspects after the family patriarch is found poisoned.
Trapped by a blizzard in a mansion teeming with secrets, Olivia must rely on her keen intellect, psychic glimpses that strike without warning, and her loyal companions—a hilarious talking pug named Maudine and her steadfast partner Vivian—to solve the case.
The deeper she digs, the more tangled the web becomes. The clues point to long-buried betrayals, stolen fortunes, and a suspicious death that might not have been an accident after all.
As holiday cheer clashes with dark family secrets, and a killer who may strike again, Olivia races to untangle the mystery before Christmas morning arrives.
Set against the backdrop of a picture-perfect New England Christmas, this charming cozy mystery combines humor, small-town warmth, paranormal intrigue, and the magic of found family. Perfect for fans of Victoria Gilbert and Bailey Cates, Cyanide Night, Holy Night delivers holiday cheer with a deadly twist.
“A delightful blend of holiday magic and deadly secrets. Maudine steals every scene!”
Excerpt:
The hallway was quiet. White Christmas lights from the upstairs tree glowed across the polished floor, illuminating a scattering of pine needles and the sad remains of a squashed chocolate truffle. Maudine nosed the truffle, then veered toward a curio cabinet instead.
“Smell more bitter almonds?”
“No. Just making sure, though.” Her tail wagged. “Oh, here’s a drop of olive oil, and…” She moved a few steps. “Three-day-old melted cheese from a pepperoni pizza.”
“Don’t even think about it.”
She gave me an offended look. “I would never eat three-day-old cheese off the carpet, mom.”
I resisted the urge to remind her of the times she’d snatched cheese I’d accidentally dropped on the kitchen floor at home. Maybe she strictly followed the five-second rule.
“Two bottles of cyanide in one house,” I said, resting a hand on my coat pocket. “Either someone’s running the most aggressive pest control campaign in Brickstone, or one was used and the other planted. The problem is, there’s no clear indication of who handled it. No convenient fingerprints jumping out at us.”
“Not that we’d be able to see fingerprints anyway,” Maudine pointed out. “We’re not exactly equipped with forensic tools here.”
“True, but I’d like to take another look at that security footage. See what everyone’s up to right now, too.”
Maudine’s curly tail gave a little wiggle. “Ooh, spy time. I love it when we go all Nancy Drew meets James Bond.”
I straightened up. “Let’s head back to the security room. I doubt anyone’s monitoring it at the moment with all the chaos going on.”
The security room door was ajar when we reached it, confirming my suspicion that no one was there. I crept in with Maudine close behind, pulling the door closed without a sound. I settled into the chair in front of the main console, and Maudine immediately launched herself onto my lap with the grace of a falling sack of potatoes.
“You’re not exactly a lapdog,” I grunted, shifting her.
“All dogs are lap dogs if they believe they are,” she declared, wriggling and curling into a compact spiral of smug contentment. “Also, your lap is unusually comfortable tonight. Did you switch laundry detergent?”
I ignored the commentary and turned to the monitors. The live feed system required a password. A small dialog box blinked expectantly on the screen, but I didn’t know the correct password, so I couldn’t access it. However, the PC and monitor with the saved footage that James had shown us earlier was still unlocked.
“Looks like we can’t see what’s happening right now unless someone wanders in front of an active feed, since we can’t adjust angles or anything, but we can review the earlier footage again.”
“Better than nothing.” Maudine stared at the screens. “Let’s roll the tapes. I’ve got a gut feeling—and I don’t just mean from dinner.”
I navigated through the files, finding the footage from earlier in the day, and the timestamps helped me locate the hours leading up to the party. I focused on the kitchen and pantry areas, watching staff come and go as they prepared for the evening’s festivities.
“Wait, who’s that?” Maudine asked, her snout pointing toward a figure that had just entered the kitchen.
I leaned forward, trying to make out who it was. He was in his late twenties, with sandy hair and a lean build, dressed in a footman’s uniform that he seemed uncomfortable moving around in. It took me a moment, but I recognized him.
“That’s Jed. The gardener. He was helping out with the party.”
Jed entered the kitchen, exchanged a few words with one of the caterers, and then moved toward the pantry. He lingered there, appearing to look for something, before one of the kitchen staff approached him. He nodded, took something on a tray, and left.
“Hmm,” I murmured, scrolling through more footage. “He comes back several times, but we already know he was helping. He does spend a lot of time in the pantry, though.”
“What do you think he’s doing?” Maudine tilted her head as she watched.
“Hard to say,” I said, rewinding and replaying one segment. “He’s not doing anything suspicious on camera, but he does seem to have a lot of reasons to visit the kitchen, especially near where the poison was stored.”
“Maybe he’s just hungry?” Maudine suggested. “I mean, gardening and waiting on people is hard work. I’d need snacks, too.”
“You always need snacks, regardless of the activity.”
“Food is life, mom. Literally.”
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What I love most about the holiday season:
The warmth I feel inside at this time of year. Truly cozy. Truly joyful. I love the lights, the happy vibe and good mood/cheer that everyone feels. I love Christmas music – traditional carols are my favorite. I love watching classic Christmas TV shows and movies. I love the crisp, wintry air and gentle snow. It is a happy and joyous time of year. Magical. I love hot cocoa, candy canes, and eggnog. I love the fresh smell of pine and cinnamon. The world celebrates as one. Everyone seems kinder. I love the nostalgia of Christmas.
Why is your featured book a must-read to get you in the holiday mood?
Cyanide Night, Holy Night is a cozy holiday mystery set in the snowy mountains above Brickstone, a charming small town in New England where everyone knows everyone and secrets are never buried for long. Between the crackling fireplaces, twinkling lights, and festive Christmas trees, there’s a sense of magic in the air… even as a suspicious death threatens to turn the holiday cheer into holiday fear.
The story is steeped in all the magic of the season: a grand Victorian mansion dressed to the nines in holiday splendor, a sumptuous candlelit Christmas feast, mouthwatering descriptions of bakery treats and coffee shop delights, and a cozy town holiday gathering that celebrates community and connection. It’s everything I love about Christmas wrapped in a classic locked room whodunnit (think Agatha Christie meets Knives Out) with plenty of humor.
At the heart of the story is a sharp-witted historian who’s learning to love again, her talking pug (equal parts sass and charm), and the found family she’s built in Brickstone.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Open internationally.
Runs July 1 – 31, 2025
Drawing will be held on August 1, 2025.
Author Biography:
E.K. Cozy writes cozy mysteries, paranormal cozies, and cozy fantasies that weave together mystery, supernatural elements, humor, and heartwarming found family bonds. Her stories feature everything from amateur sleuths with psychic abilities to talking animal sidekicks, all designed to stir the spirits while keeping readers guessing (and laughing) until the final page. With cozy vibes and diverse representation, her books create welcoming worlds where everyone belongs.
When she’s not crafting her next whodunit, E.K. can be found scouting spooky new settings for future books, cuddling with her dogs, or on the eternal quest for the perfect cup of coffee.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://ekcozybooks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EKCozyAuthor
Amazon Author Central page: https://www.amazon.com/author/ekcozybooks
