A best-selling new novel written last Christmas on the Sunshine Coast may play on popular Christmas song lyrics – but the story is far from whimsical.

Twelve Days, written by USC Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing Dr Paul Williams, has been described as full of tension and suspense.

“It’s a murder mystery crime novel, a remake of an old Agatha Christie closed room mystery called And Then There Were None,” Dr Williams said.

“I wrote it in three months last Christmas after the idea grew from my fascination with the hidden meaning of the old carol.”

Released last week by UK-based independent publisher Bloodhound Books, the e-book has reached number 133 on the Amazon Bestsellers Kindle Rank (UK), and number 15 in the psychological fiction chart (books and Kindle).

Dr Williams said he was delighted when Twelve Days received great reviews and became a UK Kindle best-seller in its first week.

The thriller revolves around 10 people who meet at a remote castle for a reunion organised by a preacher. As murders start happening, the killer remains hidden in their midst.

“Crime fiction is a new genre for me,” said the author of multiple award-winning books.

“Working with this innovative publisher has been an exciting experience and a learning curve to see how rapidly the publishing world is changing.

“Bloodhound Books is a disrupter. It has managed to overtake major publishers in the UK to become the top independent crime publisher, selling more than 3,000 copies a day.”

Dr Williams said USC’s Creative Writing program taught crime fiction as part of a first-year course called Playing with Genre.

“Our courses are taught by successful writers and we aim to ready students for these changes in publishing,” he said.

Twelve Days will be launched at Annie’s Books on Peregian, Kingfisher Drive, Peregian Beach tomorrow, Thursday 5 December, at 6pm.