How a Christmas Pickle Ornament Turned into a Murder Mystery

Every novel begins with a single idea. Sometimes it's a historical figure whose story deserves to be told. Sometimes it's a forgotten event hidden deep in the archives.

And sometimes…

It's a pickle.

Yes, really!

If you've never heard of the Christmas pickle tradition before, you're probably wondering whether I've finally lost my mind. Trust me, when I first came across it, I thought exactly the same thing. But the more I learned about this quirky Christmas custom, the more my imagination began asking one simple question:

What if something went terribly wrong?

As a novelist, that's usually where all the trouble begins.

I won't spoil the story, but one innocent-looking pickle ornament hanging on a village Christmas tree soon became the center of an entire mystery.

Then my imagination started asking more questions.

What if someone tampered with the tradition? Who would benefit from ruining a beloved village celebration? How would an entire community react if one treasured Christmas custom suddenly became the focus of a murder investigation?

Before long, I wasn't simply writing about a Christmas pickle ornament anymore. I had a sabotaged village celebration, a murdered pastor, a long list of suspicious villagers, and poor Nicko (the reluctant Saint Nicholas) and his best friend, Rupert (Servant Rupert - Saint Nick's companion in German folklore) trying desperately to untangle the mess.

The funny thing about writing is that ideas rarely arrive fully formed. One small spark often grows into something much larger than we ever expected. In this case, a tiny green ornament eventually turned into an entire Christmas mystery.

It's one of the things I love most about writing. You never know which seemingly insignificant detail will refuse to leave your imagination until it becomes a novel.

Sometimes it's an emperor.

Sometimes it's a queen.

And occasionally...

It's a Christmas pickle.

PICKLED FOR REVENGE releases on September 15, 2026, and I can't wait to introduce you to Nicko, his friend, Rupert, and the wonderfully eccentric villagers who prove that even the most cheerful Christmas traditions can hide a deadly secret.

by A. Piper Burgi

Piper is the award-winning author of The Country Girl Empress series. When she isn't busy typing on her computer, she can be found chasing after her furry children or holding on tightly to a good cup of coffee. Follow her on LinkedIn, Facebook, Medium, and Goodreads