Whispers in the Snow
(Heartwarming Christmas)
By Heidi Eljarbo
Publication Date: 27th January 2026Publisher: Independently Published
Print Length: 125 Pages
Genre: Historical Romance
Of course, a young woman in Norway during the late nineteenth century can be a successful amateur sleuth, and goodness knows, Cornelia’s days are always more exciting when she can devote her time to resolving a local mystery.
Cornelia Gran is a dedicated daughter, friendly and kind; although, she has an exorbitant amount of curiosity. She devours Arthur Conan Doyle’s magazine articles and tries to follow the fictitious Sherlock Holmes’s investigative examples, but her fascination with solving puzzles always gets her into mischief.
Each morning, Cornelia reads the newspaper, looking for a conundrum to solve. Searching for clues—and then chronicling her discoveries—thrills her. She certainly finds those activities more entertaining than taking her grandmother’s advice and attending one Christmas ball after another in search of a husband.
But chaos and danger turn Cornelia’s quiet days upside down when her attempt to find information about the owner of a nearby abandoned cottage takes her into dangerous territory. As winter winds rattle the windows and swirl snowdrifts against the doors, she faces off with a ghost, gets in trouble with the police, and finds herself staring down danger without thinking of the consequences. In the middle of it all, she meets Simon and is captivated by his charm, good looks, and personality.
Meanwhile, a real killer is after her, and he won’t stop until he gets information she doesn’t have! Christmas, with all its cheery festivities, hygge, and family traditions, has never been more threatened. Cornelia must call on all her investigative skills, not only to stop the ruination of her family’s holiday, but also to make certain Simon and his aunt keep what belongs to them. And maybe, just maybe, the amateur sleuth will discover the meaning of true love.
Set in a fictitious town in Norway in 1891, this cozy historical mystery is perfect for those who enjoy curious and determined women sleuths, clean and wholesome romance, and the discovery of buried secrets in an abandoned house.
The influence of the works of Arthur Conan Doyle and his fictitious Sherlock Holmes can have an astounding effect on the naturally curious and inquisitive. Cornelia Gran has always been drawn to uncovering the truth behind mysteries and delving into problems to find solutions, but these novels have given her a purpose. She understands the inner workings of Sherlock Holmes: his unquenchable desire to solve mysteries and to investigate them until an answer is found. However, such a way of life does not come without its dangers, and it is not long before Cornelia learns where the line between fact and fiction begins to blur.
The abandoned yellow house at the end of Hasselveien has never caught Cornelia’s interest before. But when it is mentioned in the newspaper, reported as abandoned, she cannot help but feel drawn towards it. Who lived there? Why did they leave the house and never return? The questions are endless, pulling her in until revealing the truth becomes less a matter of quenching curiosity and more a case of life and death.
“Whispers in the Snow (Heartwarming Christmas)” by Heidi Eljarbo entices the reader to step inside the mystery, to join Cornelia in her investigations, and captivates its audience until the secrets within its pages are unravelled and the final word is reached.
Cordelia is an intriguing and inquisitive individual. With her father often called away on business and her mother having passed away many years ago, Cordelia frequently finds herself alone, without the restraint of anyone telling her what she may or may not do. She is fiercely independent, believing, like her father, that marriage should occur because of love rather than obligation. Remaining unwed at twenty-five has granted her the freedom to shape her own day-to-day life. Her willingness for adventure and her desire to find something worth investigating lead her down a dangerous path—one she could never have predicted. Cordelia is certainly a character the reader can get behind, as her way of thinking has a distinctly modern feel. She refuses to be ignored or cast aside because she is not a man and has no inclination to step back and allow others to solve problems for her. She is a strong young woman whose kindness, curiosity, and willingness to help cast her as a very favourable heroine.
Cordelia refuses to allow the secrets hidden within the walls of the abandoned house to evade her, and her determination leads her back to the property time and again. Neither the flicker of candlelight nor the ghostly whispers of the night is enough to deter her from finding the answers she so desperately seeks. She soon finds herself caught in the middle of an intricate web of deception and precarious uncertainty. It is not long before Cordelia realises that her safety is not the only thing at risk when investigating a long-abandoned house. Nor is she the only person with a vested interest in discovering the identity of its owners. The carefully concealed truth surrounding who owns the house—and where they are—creates an eerie atmosphere throughout the first part of the novel. The desire to uncover the truth draws the reader in just as strongly as it draws Cordelia. This intense need to know is instilled within the very pages of the story, creating a sense of ominous foreboding as the narrative unfolds. The reader is never quite sure where the pages will lead, yet remains thoroughly engrossed in following the mystery to its conclusion.
Although Cordelia is invested in the mystery regardless, it certainly does not hurt that one of those involved is charmingly attractive. Simon initially rebukes her involvement, but Cordelia’s persistence places her firmly within a carefully concealed conspiracy—one where lives are at stake, and knowledge itself can prove dangerous. With such high risks, further investigation must be meticulously planned, as even a slip of the tongue could attract the attention of the wrong people. As the novel progresses, the stakes rise dramatically, and tensions grow exponentially. If the first part of the novel entices the reader with mystery, the second part holds their attention captive, pushing them to the edge of their seat as they read furiously on—eager to ensure the safety of the characters and to witness the outcome unfold with bated breath.
With a setting steeped in mystical winter whimsy, creating a chilling yet beautiful backdrop for the narrative, “Whispers in the Snow (Heartwarming Christmas)” by Heidi Eljarbo is a captivating novel. Within its pages lie the uncertainty of an unsolved puzzle, the intensity of a high-stakes thriller, and the gentle wonder of a Christmas romance.
Review by Ellie Yarde
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Whispers in the Snow
Publication Date: 27th January 2026
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Heidi Eljarbo
Heidi Eljarbo is the bestselling author of historical fiction and mysteries filled with courageous and good characters that are easy to love and others you don't want to go near.
Heidi grew up in a home filled with books and artwork and she never truly imagined she would do anything other than write and paint. She studied art, languages, and history, all of which have come in handy when working as an author, magazine journalist, and painter.
After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She and her husband have fifteen grandchildren—so far—in addition to a bouncy Wheaten Terrier.
Their favorite retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summertime and ski the vast, white terrain during winter.
Heidi’s favorites are family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.
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