When Christmas Comes

Starred review from August 30, 2021
As the holiday season descends on the lakeside town of Sweet Haven, public defender Victoria Grossburger recruits her old friend English professor Cameron Winter, the protagonist of this spare, heartfelt crime novel from Edgar winner Klavan (Werewolf Cop), to try to clear Travis Blake, a third generation Army Ranger who’s accused of murdering his girlfriend, Jennifer Dean, a beloved elementary school librarian. Victoria’s biggest problem is the evidence, including a videotape of Travis lugging Jennifer’s body from the murder site. Also, Travis has confessed to the crime. As Winter delves into the murder, he begins to suspect all is not what it seems in this tight-knit community of military veterans. In flashbacks, Klavan brings the victim to life, while sessions between Winter and his therapist, Margaret Whitaker, inform Winter’s backstory and take on a fairy tale–like tone that adds to the darkness of the novel and the central crime. The core of the book, though, is Winter, whose voice and strength of character drive the story, particularly in the satisfying and exciting conclusion. This terrific holiday-themed novel will leave readers unsettled and hopeful at the same time. (Oct.)Correction: An earlier version of this review incorrectly stated the author had been a finalist for the Edgar award.