The Case of the Christmas Card
A festive murder mystery novella featuring Ali Dawson
Will be published approx. on 8. October 2026
Book
Hardback
176 pages
978-1-5294-4957-0 (ISBN)
Description
A festive murder mystery novella featuring Ali Dawson
No-one is more surprised than time-travelling detective Ali Dawson when Charles Dickens suddenly turns up on her doorstep a few days before Christmas. The Great Writer is as baffled as she is as to how he got there. Ali takes him in, despite being preoccupied with a new cold case around the murdered artist Sylvester Strong.
Dickens is a rather demanding house guest. However, as a detective, he shows distinct promise and together they embark on finding the truth behind the appearance of new paintings by the deceased artist. On top of that Nell, the daughter of Ali's best friend Meg, has vanished without a trace.
As the whole of London is in full festive swing and preparing for the most special day of the year, Ali and Dickens are exploring the town, desperate to solve not just one but two crime cases. Will they succeed before Christmas Day arrives and more importantly, will Charles find a way back home?
PRAISE FOR THE ALI DAWSON MYSTERIES
'Warm and engaging characters and a wildly brilliant story wittily told' Ann Cleeves
'Ali Dawson is a delight - a detective you'll want to spend more time with' JP Delaney
'Elly Griffiths has done it again. Warm, witty and outrageously believable. I loved it' Sarah Hilary
'Here's a paradox: a thriller that is full of zest and joy' Nicci French
'Ali Dawson could be the most fun time-travelling detective since Dirk Gently' Chris Brookmyre
No-one is more surprised than time-travelling detective Ali Dawson when Charles Dickens suddenly turns up on her doorstep a few days before Christmas. The Great Writer is as baffled as she is as to how he got there. Ali takes him in, despite being preoccupied with a new cold case around the murdered artist Sylvester Strong.
Dickens is a rather demanding house guest. However, as a detective, he shows distinct promise and together they embark on finding the truth behind the appearance of new paintings by the deceased artist. On top of that Nell, the daughter of Ali's best friend Meg, has vanished without a trace.
As the whole of London is in full festive swing and preparing for the most special day of the year, Ali and Dickens are exploring the town, desperate to solve not just one but two crime cases. Will they succeed before Christmas Day arrives and more importantly, will Charles find a way back home?
PRAISE FOR THE ALI DAWSON MYSTERIES
'Warm and engaging characters and a wildly brilliant story wittily told' Ann Cleeves
'Ali Dawson is a delight - a detective you'll want to spend more time with' JP Delaney
'Elly Griffiths has done it again. Warm, witty and outrageously believable. I loved it' Sarah Hilary
'Here's a paradox: a thriller that is full of zest and joy' Nicci French
'Ali Dawson could be the most fun time-travelling detective since Dirk Gently' Chris Brookmyre
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Trade binding
Illustrations
N/A
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 138 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-5294-4957-0 (9781529449570)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
approx. 10/2026
Quercus
€9.49
Not yet available
Person
Elly Griffiths is a multi-award-winning author and a No. 1 bestseller. She has written twenty-seven crime novels for adults; four for children, and a volume of short stories. Her books for adults include the Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries, the Brighton Mysteries and the Detective Harbinder Kaur series, as well as The Frozen People, the first book in the Ali Dawson Mysteries.
Elly's many accolades include the CWA Dagger in the Library, the Edgar Award, the Fingerprint Award for Crime Novel of the Year and the Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution Award, as well as being shortlisted multiple times for the Theakston Crime Novel of the Year Award.
Elly has two grown-up children and lives near Brighton with her archaeologist husband and their cat, Pip.
Elly's many accolades include the CWA Dagger in the Library, the Edgar Award, the Fingerprint Award for Crime Novel of the Year and the Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution Award, as well as being shortlisted multiple times for the Theakston Crime Novel of the Year Award.
Elly has two grown-up children and lives near Brighton with her archaeologist husband and their cat, Pip.