The Ghost of Christmas Past

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The Ghost of Christmas Past Page 22

by Rhys Bowen


  “I’ve got a better idea,” I said. “Come and help me in the kitchen, and we’ll make a hot punch and warm up some of that gingerbread and we’ll invite them for a celebration.”

  “Oh, yes. A celebration.” Without warning she wrapped her arms around me. “You’re the only mother I remember,” she said.

  We stood there, while tears of relief and happiness flowed down both our cheeks. The year had started off as one of losses, but it had ended with many things being found again. I looked around at my family with satisfaction and it came to me that I could look forward to the future with hope.

  Also by Rhys Bowen

  The Molly Murphy Mysteries

  Time of Fog and Fire

  Away in a Manger

  The Edge of Dreams

  City of Darkness and Light

  The Family Way

  Hush Now, Don’t You Cry

  Bless the Bride

  The Last Illusion

  In a Gilded Cage

  Tell Me, Pretty Maiden

  In Dublin’s Fair City

  Oh Danny Boy

  In Like Flynn

  For the Love of Mike

  Death of Riley

  Murphy’s Law

  The Constable Evans Mysteries

  Evanly Bodies

  Evan Blessed

  Evan’s Gate

  Evan Only Knows

  Evans to Betsy

  Evan Can Wait

  Evan and Elle

  Evanly Choirs

  Evan Help Us

  Evans Above

  About the Author

  RHYS BOWEN is the author of the Anthony Award–and Agatha Award–winning Molly Murphy mysteries, the Edgar Award–nominated Evan Evans series, the Royal Spyness series, and In Farleigh Field. Born in England, she lives in San Rafael, California.

  Visit her online at www.rhysbowen.com, or sign up for email updates here.

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  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Notice

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Also by Rhys Bowen

  About the Author

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST. Copyright © 2017 by Rhys Bowen. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

  www.minotaurbooks.com

  Cover design by Rowen Davis

  Cover photographs: woman by Shirley Green; mansion © John van Decker/Alamy Images; bushes © Hans Lippert/Westend61/Superstock; trees © superstock; mistletoe © alicedaniel/Shuterstock.com; paper © markaumark/Shutterstock.com; scarf © Sergarck/Shutterstock.com; texture © Flas100/Shutterstock.com; type © akaiser/Shutterstock.com

  The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:

  Names: Bowen, Rhys, author.

  Title: The ghost of Christmas past / Rhys Bowen.

  Description: First edition. | New York: Minotaur Books, 2017.

  Identifiers: LCCN 2017024853 | ISBN 978-1-250-12572-9 (hardcover) | ISBN 978-1-250-12573-6 (ebook)

  Subjects: LCSH: Murphy, Molly (Fictitious character)—Fiction. | Women private investigators—New York (State)—Fiction. | GSAFD: Mystery fiction.

  Classification: LCC PR6052.0848 G48 2017 | DDC 823/.914—dc23

  LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017024853

  eISBN 9781250125736

  Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at [email protected].

  First Edition: November 2017

 

 

 


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