Murder at the Carol Supper
A Cozy Christmas Murder Mystery Word Search Puzzle Book for Adults: 48 Story Chapters and Puzzles in Bold, Easy-to-Read Print, with Hints and Full Solutions
Murder at the Carol Supper is a 142-page, 6 x 9 inch paperback: a cozy Christmas murder mystery in 48 short chapters, each followed by a word search full of clues, from Honeykite Press, coming November 2026.
Planned price $13.99 on Amazon.com. Until it arrives, print free word search puzzles from our other series.
Snowed in on Christmas Eve, with a killer among the carol singers.
Christmas Eve in the English village of Hollyhock Lane. The snow has closed the lane and cut the telephone line, the lights come on after “Silent Night,” and Albert Crane, the man who owns the village hall, is found dead in the cloakroom. Eight people are snowed in until dawn, and one of them is a killer. Retired librarian Edith Pennywhistle notices small things. Now it’s your turn.
How the mystery works
- 48 short chapters, 48 word searches: read a chapter on the left page, then solve its puzzle on the right. Every word you find is evidence from the scene.
- Hidden clues: the letters left over in each grid spell out a clue, and one item on every word list is missing from the grid. The story always mentions it, so keep an eye out.
- Edith’s Notebook: one letter from each clue goes into a numbered box at the back. When the notebook is full, it spells out the key to the whole case.
- A suspect board under every chapter, so you can cross off each suspect as the clues clear them.
- A fair-play mystery: every clue you need is in the story before the reveal. Write your answer on the Accusation page, then turn to “How Edith Solved It,” which explains every clue and the chapter where you met it.
- Never stuck: three hints for every puzzle, from a gentle nudge to a strong one, plus full grid solutions.
- Bold, easy-to-read grids: 18 and 19 point bold letters in Atkinson Hyperlegible, a typeface designed by the Braille Institute to be easier to read for people with low vision.
- Three levels that grow with the case: in Part One words run across, down and diagonally; Part Two adds backward and upward; Part Three uses all eight directions.
- Illustrated throughout: a drawing for every chapter, portraits of the whole cast, a map of the village and a floor plan of the hall.
A thoughtful gift
Made for mystery lovers, puzzle fans, and anyone who enjoys a cozy whodunit by the fire at Christmas. Pour a cup of tea, sharpen your pencil, and see if you can name the killer before Edith does.
Every word you find is a clue
Book details
| Title | Murder at the Carol Supper |
|---|---|
| Series | A Hollyhock Lane Word Search Mystery, book 1 |
| Publisher | Honeykite Press |
| Format | Paperback |
| ISBN-13 | Assigned at publication |
| ASIN | Assigned at publication |
| Publication date | Coming November 2026 |
| Pages | 142 |
| Trim size | 6 x 9 in (15.2 x 22.9 cm) |
| Interior | Black print on white paper, glossy cover |
| Story | 48 short chapters on Christmas Eve in the English village of Hollyhock Lane, each on its own page, then the solution and a Christmas morning epilogue |
| Puzzles | 48 word searches, one after each chapter, 14 words each; one item on every list is missing from the grid, and the leftover letters spell a hidden clue |
| Levels | Part One (chapters 1 to 16): 11 x 11 grids, words across, down and diagonally. Part Two (17 to 32): 12 x 12, adds backward and upward. Part Three (33 to 48): 12 x 12, all eight directions. |
| Letter sizes | Grid letters 19 pt bold (Part One) and 18 pt bold (Parts Two and Three) in Atkinson Hyperlegible; story text 12 to 12.5 pt in Libre Baskerville |
| Help | Three hints for every puzzle, full grid solutions, and “How Edith Solved It,” which explains every clue and the chapter where you met it |
| Illustrations | A drawing for every chapter, portraits of the cast, a map of the village and a floor plan of the hall |
| Price | $13.99 (planned) |
| Language | English |
Questions about this book
When will this book be available?
It is planned for Amazon in November 2026 as a 6 x 9 inch paperback at $13.99. This page will link to it as soon as it is live.
Is the print large enough to read comfortably?
The puzzle grids are 18 and 19 point bold, set in Atkinson Hyperlegible, a typeface created by the Braille Institute for readers with low vision. The story pages are 12 to 12.5 point, so this is not a large print edition.
Do the puzzles really matter to the mystery?
Yes. The words in each grid are evidence from that chapter, the leftover letters spell a hidden clue, and the one missing item on each list is named in the story.
Is it too easy or too hard?
It grows with the case. In Part One words run across, down, and diagonally; Part Two adds backward and upward; Part Three uses all eight directions.
What if I get stuck?
Every puzzle has three hints at the back, from a gentle nudge to a strong one, and the full grid solutions follow the hints.
Is the mystery fair? Can I solve it before the reveal?
Yes. Every clue you need appears in the chapters before the reveal. Write your answer on the Accusation page, then read "How Edith Solved It," which explains every clue and its chapter.
How long is the story?
There are 48 one-page chapters, about 7,600 words. With the reveal and the Christmas morning epilogue, the story runs to about 10,300 words.
Is it gory or scary?
No. It is a cozy whodunit in the classic English village style, with no gore, no swearing, and no romance scenes. The murder happens off the page.
Are all the words really in the puzzles?
Every word was checked to appear exactly once in its grid, except the one missing item on each list, which is left out on purpose as part of the mystery.
Is it a good Christmas gift for a mystery lover?
Yes. It suits moms, grandmothers, book club friends, and anyone who enjoys a cozy whodunit by the fire with a cup of tea and a pencil.
Can we solve it together?
Yes. One person can read the chapter aloud while the others search the grid, and you can compare your guesses before turning to the reveal.
Coming soon to Amazon
Meanwhile, try our word search books below.
