The Night Before Christmas

Written by Alex Pine

Narrated by Sid Sagar

This Christmas, the hunters become the hunted…

When four trail hunters go missing in the fells of Cumbria on Christmas Eve, the race is on to find them before nightfall – when the temperature plummets.

After hours of searching, the first body is found… Not frozen in the snow, but brutally murdered and bearing a warning: the real hunt has begun.

As a snowstorm descends, three lives hang in the balance. But can the killer be caught before the trail goes cold?

From the master of Christmas crime comes a thriller that will chill you to the bone this Winter, perfect for fans of James Patterson, Clare Mackintosh and anyone who prefers their mince pies with a side of murder.

Readers are gripped by The Night Before Christmas:

‘This is by far the best book I've read all year. Top marks for storyline, pace and setting. Alex Pine always delivers a cracking Christmas treat. As far as I'm concerned the festive season would no longer be the same without a dose of Christmas crime in Cumbria!’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Such a breath of wintery fresh air to the thriller genre.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This is the kind of book where you say just one more chapter, and before you know it, you have finished it.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I was desperate to get into this … I was not one bit disappointed. It was fast paced and exciting. I found it hard to put it down.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I raced through it this weekend. Such a smart idea: twisty, warped, credible, brilliantly plotted and compelling. Deserves to be such a hit.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Loved this festive crime thriller. Gorgeous Lake District setting but with a very dark storyline. Excellent characters and fast paced.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A fast paced storyline with plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing how it will all come together.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Definitely worth reading on a cold night, maybe as the snow falls outside.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Release date: Oct 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9780008621001

Alex Pine

Alex Pine was born and raised on a council estate in South London and left school at sixteen. Before long, he embarked on a career in journalism, which took him all over the world – many of the stories he covered were crime-related. Among his favourite hobbies are hiking and water-based activities, so he and his family have spent lots of holidays in the Lake District. He now lives with his wife on a marina close to the New Forest on the South Coast – providing him with the best of both worlds!

Reviews for The Night Before Christmas

[sharlenehsmith · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My Christmas Fave!
I listened to the ambience & sound effects whilst reading this book, from the app 'Booktrack'. The app is great. It takes how fast you turn the page to time when you hear the effects. It's really great and adds to the whole reading experience.

[cynical_ames · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I try to read this every year as it never fails to return me to my 5-year-old self, filled with excitement over the great and powerful Santa's impending visit. The catchy rhythm and rhyme of this delightful poem is contagious. I used to repeat it often as a child until the first lines were branded into my brain:
''Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.'
It always leaves me with a warm and satisfied glow as I read the last words:

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

[wickedshizuku · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read this with my daughter at a Night Before Christmas function at her school. It was an enjoyable time reading to five other children as well. This is the classic tale that I'm sure anyone who celebrates Christmas has heard. The illustrations are nice, and the poetry is lovely. While reading this it's nice to curl up with your child and share a nice mug of hot chocolate. Cheers and Happy Holiday Readings!

[lmeza-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's Jan Brett, what can I say?

[ahernandez91 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A Christmas classic that almost all children are familiar with. It is the night before Christmas and everything is closed, people are sleeping waiting for the arrival of Saint Nicholas. As a child I always loved Christmas books, the holiday cheer, the excitement, and the love- therefore I know in the classroom students will get antsy around the holidays. This would be a great book to read around Christmas, not only for fun, but for connecting it with the poetry and the rhymes that the book is all about. The acrylic illustrations are just beautiful and are sure the keep the readers attention.

[tterry6901 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The book tells the story of Christmas Eve and how Santa creeps very quietly to deliver presents. The man in the story says that he hears him and he sees him fly away calling out his raindeer and telling everyone Merry Christmas!The story is a classic and is something I read to my family every year. The colors and pictures are very detailed and hopefully this will be a book I can pass down to my daughter.Children try and hold onto the fantasy of Santa Claus as long as possible and this book is very good at holding their spirits just a little longer.When reading this story it would be beneficial to really get the kids into the book. Read a little softer than normal and show excitement at the right places. If you really put your beliefs in the book you can really hold a child's hope just a little longer.

[jessy555_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Genre: PoetryCritique of Genre: This is a wonderful example of poetry because it flows nicely with a lot of rhyming words such as, nose and rose or foot and soot. You can get a rhythm going from the start and it continues to flow right through to the end. Media: acrylic

[mccin68 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful illustrations paired with the classic poem.