Holidays are Murder

Cover artwork with present, stocking and mug

Holidays are Murder

A Christmas mystery play
Kiernon James

5 F, 5 M (ages 19 – 60s)

Two Acts | ~2 hours

Holidays can be stressful. Especially when unexpected guests arrive, farfetched rumors are exchanged, and someone commits a murder.

Welcome to the Baxter family Christmas where anything can happen. The decorations keep blowing a fuse, the hostess invites a stranger to dinner, and a blizzard ensures no one can leave. Tensions rise when it appears that family secrets are about to be exposed. And the latest Monica Butler mystery novel hits a little too close to home.

This comical script is filled with laughs and twists that will keep the audience guessing. And some returning for a repeat performance to see what they missed the first time around.

Script available in Q4 2026

To inquire about this script, email us at questions@kiernonjames.com

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CAST LIST

TOM BAXTER – the professor dad
CAROL ARMSTRONG – the retired aunt
SUZY BAXTER – the maternal hostess
AARON MARTIN – the holiday stranger
JONATHAN BAXTER – the world traveler son
KAITLYN RODGERS – the artistic granddaughter
ANGELA RODGERS – the prim daughter
JACOB EVANS – the charming TV personality
HOLLY ARMSTRONG – the cousin; Jacob’s assistant
COL. BEN RODGERS – the militant son-in-law

NOTE: The adult Baxter children (Angela and Jonathan) can be adopted to allow for diversity casting.

TIME PERIOD:
Mid-December in the late 1990s

SETTING:
The remote Baxter home not far from an urban city

THEMES:
Cozy Mystery | Whodunit | Christmas | Family Gathering

PERFORMING GROUPS:
High Schools | College Theatre | Community Theatre | Professional

Media

Play preview — Video credit: M&D Media

Audience reactions — Video credit: M&D Media

Lucy describes what she saw the other night. Photo credit: BTE Media

Testimonials

“The concept brings to mind the 1954 Alfred Hitchcock classic, Rear Window…the play is well written, and the characters have depth.”

— Eden Prairie News (Twin Cities, Minnesota)

“A delightful adventure with interesting characters, plot twists and turns. Just when you thought you knew whodunit, you will be surprised!!”

— Peggy F.

“Hilarious and captivating. We had a great time trying to solve the mystery.”

— Stephen G.

“It Wasn’t Murder? is a brilliant twist & turns adventure for any mystery fan.”

— Greg L.

“A menagerie of compelling characters make this mystery a wild ride.”

— Kate W.

“I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out whodunit!”

— Soma D.

Performance History

DATES	VENUE	TYPE	LOCATION	ACTIONS
Jun 21-30, 2024	Plymouth Playhouse	Production	Plymouth, MN	Show Info
Oct 21 & 23, 2023	Merril Arts Center	Staged Reading	Woodbury, MN
Dec 17, 2022	Theatre in the Round	Staged Reading	Minneapolis, MN
Oct 2008	Bloomington Gallery Theatre	Production	Bloomington, MN
Feb 2006	Eden Prairie Players	Production	Eden Prairie, MN

About the Playwright

Kiernon James is a mystery playwright specializing in entertaining stories that keep audiences guessing until the very end. Having studied film and stage, he brings a unique blend to his writing where things happen in front of the audience – often without them noticing until after the fact. His passion is developing new works with a focus on telling the story both verbally and visually to entertain audiences of all ages.

Other Scripts

Finding J Mitchell

A Comedy Mystery

Can a private detective find a cunning burglar after her cover is blown?

It Wasn’t Murder?

A Comedy Mystery

Can a little neighborhood gossip hinder a murder investigation?

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Please email us at questions@kiernonjames.com