Hysteria at the Historical Society by Duncan, Emmeline

Celebrating spookiness is a year-round affair in the Halloween-themed town of Elyan Hollow, Oregon, but Christmas is a close second, and for Bailey Briggs' Lazy Bones Bookshop, it's extra hectic--especially when holiday festivities turn fatal . . .

When it comes to adding a touch of Halloween to Christmas, Elyan Hollow is in peak form. Downtown sports Nightmare Before Christmas decorations, and activities include a "Santa Claws" sasquatch game. And this year, there's something else to celebrate: The Elyan Hollow Historical Society has just received a Historical Preservation grant to map out the town's tunnel systems. Jude, their director, is thrilled. But Graham, the leader of the competing historical society, not so much . . .

At the Society's winter holiday reception, Jude argues loudly with Graham and Graham's second in command, Walter, a local attorney. As the pair is "escorted" out, Walter threatens ruinous revenge. Their arguing continues a few days later at a party in an escape room. But this time, there's no escape for Walter, who collapses . . . dead.

Jude is the obvious suspect, but Bailey soon realizes that despite his lawyerly good deeds, there were others on the outs with Walter--and there are other targets as well. Fortunately, Bailey can use several upcoming Christmas parties as fact-finding missions. Because she'll have to map a trail to a killer--before she's history . . .

Author: Emmeline Duncan
Publisher: Kensington Cozies
Published: 08/25/2026
Pages: 224
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.45lbs
Size: 8.30h x 5.70w x 0.70d
ISBN: 9781496746184

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 08/15/2026

About the Author
Emmeline Duncan is the Portland, Oregon-based author of the Ground Rules Mystery Series, as well as YA novels written under the name Kelly Garrett. She is a 2020 Oregon Literary Fellow, a board member of the Northwest Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, and co-organizer of the Friends of Mystery's Bloody Thursday lecture series. She's also a member of Sisters-In-Crime, Willamette Writers, and SCBWI. Visit her online at EmmelineDuncan.com, on Instagram and Facebook as @writeremmelineduncan, and on twitter as @duncanemmeline.