‘The Christmas Tree Killer’ by Chris Frost

Published by HarperCollins,
16 November 2025.
ISBN: 978-0-00870767-5 (PB)

 A great Christmas read!  This is partly a follow up to the author's previous book The Killer's Christmas List.  It involves the same detective - DI Tom Stonem who is still suffering stress caused by the gruesome case which he dealt with the previous Christmas. 

 In the bitter winter a hiker is determined to complete a walk on the Pennine Way.  She finds a parcel in the snow along the way, and it is addressed to her!  Horrifyingly the parcel does not contain a festive treat but a severed limb!  Tom Stonem and his team are called in to investigate this dreadful find and more gruesome packages are found under trees - addressed to various local people. 

The author cleverly dates the investigation right up to Christmas Day and a bit like an Advent Calender it is impossible to ignore!  Some of the plot requires an element of suspension of disbelief but on the whole I found the story engaging and very well constructed. 

We are left wondering what will be the next step in Tom's private life.....  I especially liked the author's dedication of this book to the NHS.
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Reviewer: Toni Russell 

Chris Frost He is the author of ten crime books, including the Erika Piper trilogy and The Stonebridge Mysteries. He is a scriptwriter, and a regular voice on The Blood Brothers Podcast and Friends Of The North. He is a fan of football, heavy metal and dogs. He grew up in Northern Ireland and now lives in the appropriately named Marple. 

Toni Russell is a retired teacher who has lived in London all her life and loves the city.  She says, ‘I enjoy museums, galleries and the theatre but probably my favourite pastime is reading.  I found myself reading detective fiction almost for the first time during lockdown and have particularly enjoyed old fashioned detective fiction rather than the nordic noir variety.  I am a member of a book club at the local library and have previously attended literature classes at our local Adult Education Centre.  I am married with three children and five grandchildren.