A Merry Little Death Read online

  Janey teared up, holding the doll to her chest and Georgette teared up, holding her hand to her chest. In unison, each of them wiped away a tear.

  Charles shook his head. Georgette was a bad influence. Janey had learned to fight and use her wits from her. But he couldn’t see the wrong in it. She would grow up to be a clever woman who used her wits and didn’t need to depend on anyone.

  For the present, however, Janey was a girl and she was the only child in their lives. The pile of presents surrounding her was overindulgent to the extreme. No one minded. In fact, the only thing that anyone minded about Janey were the stitches on her chin, the bruise below her bottom lip, and the scratches on her hands and legs.

  “Thank you,” Janey breathed softly, glancing up at Charles and Georgette. “Thank you so much.”

  “You’re welcome, darling,” Georgette replied. “Happy Christmas.”

  Charles kissed Georgette on the temple and repeated, “Thank you.”

  He was so thankful for Georgette, the holiday, the cups of cocoa, and the oranges in their stockings. There was the flaming pudding from the night before, the happiness in the room at the moment, the general Christmas cheer. All of it.

  “You’re welcome, darling. Happy Christmas.”

  Despite the mistletoe being across the room instead of overhead, Charles gave her the first of many Christmas kisses, whispering against her lips, “Happy Christmas.”

  The END

  Hullo friends! I am so grateful you dove in and read the latest Poison Ink book. If you wouldn’t mind, I would be so grateful for a review.

  The sequel to this book is available for preorder now.

  April 1937

  When Georgette Dorothy Aaron first started writing books, she little expected to effect real life. When she dives into writing crime novels with Robert, she little expected to see fiction come to life once again.

  Once before she wrote a book and changed the fate of her neighbors. Was it happening again? Were the gods playing games with her? Or was she just noticing something else occurring. Georgette and family are once again drawn into the world around as they try to find out just what is going on.

  I hope you’ve been enjoying the Christmas books this holiday season. Keep on scrolling to see what else is available to brighten these few weeks.

  Order your copy here.

  December 1925

  Violet Wakefield is determined to dive into the holiday and enjoy every occasion. She's going to see the live nativity, listen to Handel's Messiah, and attend the Nutcracker ballet. She'll cover her house in all the holly and lights. In fact, Vi wants nothing more than to put up the largest Christmas tree she can locate and stuff it with gifts.

  She little expects, however, to stumble across a crime in action. When she gets pulled into the madness, her biggest concern isn't the crime, it's keeping Jack from committing a holiday homicide.

  Order here.

  Welcome to a very flapper holiday!

  Are you ready for the roaring twenties? For spunky young women crafting their own lives? If so, you’ll love Violet, Rita, Edwina, Julia, and Lola.

  Inside, you’ll find several short stories with adventures, cocktails, kisses, and fun. With stories from The Violet Carlyle Mysteries, The Piccadilly Ladies Club Mysteries, the Lola Star series.

  For fans of Carola Dunn, Jacqueline Winspear, Georgette Heyer, and Lee Strauss. A light, cozy mystery with a fun peek into a an evening with bright young things.

  Order your copy here.

  December 1922

  It's the first holiday away from home for the Wode sisters, and they're all homesick. All too soon, they realize they aren't the only ones who are restless.

  It's time to discover why the dead are antsy, and what they’re going to do about it. Will Ariadne, Circe, and Echo discover what is wrong? And will they be able to somehow solve the problem and fix their holiday spirits? Or, will they give up and go home?

  Join the Wode as they rise up and embrace just who and what they are in this newest holiday historical mystery adventure.

  Order your copy here.

  December 1922

  Hettie and Ro are fed up with everything. What’s better than a trip to Prince Edward Island?

  In between family obligations for Hettie, they discover a winter wonderland in Prince Edward Island. Oh! And a dead body.

  Irritated that their retreat is blighted with murder, they aim to solve the murder so they can get back to their locomotive tour. As the conductor is the victim, they used their trip to search for the killer a board. But, Hettie and Ro discover much more than they expected. Will they find the killer? Or will, perhaps, the killer find them?

  Order your copy here.

  Also By Beth Byers

  The Violet Carlyle Historical Mystery Series

  Murder & the Heir

  Murder at Kennington House

  Murder at the Folly

  A Merry Little Murder

  New Year’s Madness: A Short Story Anthology

  Valentine’s Madness: A Short Story Anthology

  Murder Among the Roses

  Murder in the Shallows

  Gin & Murder

  Obsidian Murder

  Murder at the Ladies Club

  Weddings Vows & Murder

  A Jazzy Little Murder

  Murder by Chocolate

  A Friendly Little Murder

  Murder by the Sea

  Murder On All Hallows

  Murder in the Shadows

  A Jolly Little Murder

  Hijinks & Murder (coming soon)

  Love & Murder (coming soon)

  The Hettie and Ro Adventures

  co-written with Bettie Jane

  Philanderers Gone

  Adventurer Gone

  Holiday Gone

  Aeronaut Gone (coming soon)

  Prankster Gone (coming soon)

  The Poison Ink Mysteries

  Death By the Book

  Death Witnessed

  Death by Blackmail

  Death Misconstrued

  Deathly Ever After

  Death in the Mirror

  A Merry Little Death

  Death Between the Pages

  The 2nd Chance Diner Mysteries

  Spaghetti, Meatballs, & Murder

  Cookies & Catastrophe

  Poison & Pie

  Double Mocha Murder

  Cinnamon Rolls & Cyanide

  Tea & Temptation

  Donuts & Danger

  Scones & Scandal

  Lemonade & Loathing

  Wedding Cake & Woe

  Honeymoons & Honeydew

  The Pumpkin Problem

  Copyright © 2019 by Beth Byers, Amanda A. Allen

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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