2023 Independent Publisher Book Award Winner (Best Holiday Book, Gold)

"This charming work is good fun for youngsters who prefer their holiday cheer with a dark twist.” —Kirkus Reviews

It’s almost Christmas, but the nights in Tinseltown are anything but silent. In this hardboiled parody of The Maltese Falcon, Ruprecht, a twelve-year-old krampus and wannabe detective, gets more than he bargained for when he takes the case of a terrified elf. Finding himself at the top of the Tinseltown Police Department’s naughty list, Ruprecht is joined by his best friend, a ghost named Marley, to explore the underbelly of this festive but gritty metropolis, solve the mystery, and clear his name for good.