St. Nick

Written by Alan Russell

When Santa Claus is a cop, you better watch out.

It’s not looking like a very merry Christmas for San Diego cop Nick Pappas. Suspended from his job, alienated from his family, and persecuted by the press, he’s sorely tempted to turn his gun on himself. Except for his first name, he couldn’t possibly have less in common with jolly old St. Nicholas. But when a local mall decides it needs a secret Santa to help collar some vicious muggers preying on its holiday shoppers, Nick’s persuaded to red-suit up so as to take the naughty punks down and avert a ho-ho homicide. For a chance to bust bad guys, Nick’s willing to deal with crying kids, pushy parents, and a chronically cheerful “elf” sidekick. But the biggest challenge for this cop-turned-Claus is one that would confound even the real Kris Kringle: making a pair of next-to-impossible Christmas wishes come true for two children in need…before it’s too late.

This book was initially released in episodes as a Kindle Serial. All episodes are now available for immediate download as a complete book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Mar 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781480589568

Alan Russell

Critical acclaim has greeted bestselling author Alan Russell's novels from coast to coast. Publishers Weekly calls him "one of the best writers in the mystery field today." The New York Times says, "He has a gift for dialogue," while the Los Angeles Times calls him a "crime fiction rara avis." Russell's novels have ranged from whodunits to comedic capers to suspense and have been nominated for most of the major awards in crime fiction. He has been awarded a Lefty, a Critics' Choice Award, and the Odin Award for Lifetime Achievement from the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild. A California native, Russell is a former collegiate basketball player who nowadays plays under the rim. The proud father of three children, Russell resides with his wife in Southern California.

Reviews for St. Nick

[Monica Mullane · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The journey of the anguished cop unable to see a future to a type of redemption is a wonderful Christmas book

[alanteder · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Don't let the bullet holes in the bullseye target cover fool you. This is not a Bad Santa or even a Bad Cop Santa book but rather a seasonal cozy with a redemptive story line. Probably its closest parallel is "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens with grouchy suspended policeman Nick Pappas getting the Christmas spirit through his encounters while playing mall Santa while actually on stakeout for a gang of muggers targeting shoppers. Nothing deep here but a fun seasonal read (or listen).

[dorisannn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Hadn't read a book by Russell for quite some time. I loved St. Nick. The depressed cop and leave until his case is settled and he's sure he'll be fired is often thinks about suicide. When his old partner urge him to take a job undercover as Santa at a Mall, he reluctantly agrees to do it for two days. But something happens when he puts on that Santa suit. It will be one of my regular Yuletide reads from now on.

[mpr2000-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Nick Pappas has a big dilemma in his life, to eat the sugar or to eat the pistol.But when an old partner from his previous years in the police asks for his help, he will have to postpone his dilemma and become Saint Nick.Nick will not just will have to discover the burglars of the shopping mall he is working in, he will have to make true some Christmas wishes... and all in just 24 days!I can only say good things about this book, Alan Russell has written a cop book with dark humour, a big soul and a white Santa.I know Christmas has just passed, but you will love this book whatever season of the year you read it, it has all the ingredients you search in a book, and all wrapped in a cop book, so what else more do you need?Ready to open your delayed Christmas present?