‘Tis the season for festive whodunnits! It is no secret around these parts that I love both mysteries and seasonal reading. Picture me as excited as Will Ferrell yelling, “Santa, I know him!” in Elf to share twelve Christmas mysteries you may want to add to your To Be Read list.
Reading holiday mysteries is a relatively new tradition for me. About eight years ago, I discovered the beautifully designed Seth’s Christmas Ghost Stories series published by Bibliooasis and quickly started reading the short stories during my winter breaks. Before that I mainly read Hallmark movie-type stories but the mysterious aspect of the ghost stories had me seeking out more unique yule tales. Enter puzzling and thrilling Christmas mysteries—and the rest is history!
Mayhem and murder may not seem to be typical yuletide fare but these mostly cozy whodunnits are perfect for the holidays. They are brimming with families and friends celebrating the season in wonderful settings. (With a side of crime, of course!) Plus, you’ll find more decorations, yummy treats, twinkle lights, presents, and Christmas cheer than the Grinch stole from all of Whoville.
Reading Christmas mysteries helps me make the season bright. Listening to whodunnits on audio while wrapping presents makes the time fly by—which is saying something since that is one task from Santa’s workshop I don’t like, even with team member Shannan’s excellent tip. They are also great to play while driving around town in holiday traffic running all those last minute errands that pop up in December. Spending a quiet afternoon reading an entire mystery with a mug of hot cocoa in hand by our Christmas tree is one of my favorite treats.
Luckily, there are many festive options for a jolly good time. If you prefer your mysteries without murder, you’ll find plenty to choose from below. Busy this time of year? We’ve got you covered since this list ranges in length from short stories to full novels. While most of these books are part of a series, you’ll be delighted to learn many can be read as standalones, with the exception of one as noted below. (A few titles are only available as ebooks but they are nevertheless worth seeking out.)
With so many merry mysteries out there, I took inspo from the Twelve Days of Christmas carol to whittle down the list. Now I have a holiday wish for our readers: would you please gift us your top recommendations for Christmas mysteries in the comments below?
12 Christmas mysteries for your holiday season
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One of my favorite gifts last year, I was ecstatic to unwrap the lovely hardcopy of this holiday themed follow-up to The Appeal on Christmas morning. Janice Hallett writes fascinating mixed media mysteries filled with emails, texts, letters, transcripts, and handwritten notes that I just can’t put down. The Fairway Players have found themselves at the center of another mystery when a dead body is found at the theatre. (It’s giving Only Murders in the Building season 3 at Christmastime.) Luckily lawyers Femi and Charlotte are back to review the evidence and solve the case. As a bonus, it can be read without reading its predecessor and I can confirm the beautiful print copy makes an excellent present for mystery readers. More info →
Oh what fun it is to read a fabulous romystery! I told Anne this 2024 Fall Book Preview title was legit created in a lab for me. It has a ton of my favorite things: a locked room setting, smart comedy, intriguing flashbacks, steamy chemistry, and SO. MUCH. BANTER. The story begins with Maggie Chase, cozy mystery writer, and Ethan Wyatt, tough guy thriller author, receiving identical mysterious invites to spend the holidays abroad. They find themselves smack dab in the middle of a real-life whodunnit at the estate of enigmatic best-selling murder author Eleanor Ashley. The clever plot and layered romance had me turning the pages as fast as I could. (Closed door.) More info →
Ernest Cunningham, quick-witted expert on Golden Age mysteries, keeps finding himself caught up in real life murders to solve and this Christmas is no exception. When an important person from Ernest’s past wakes up covered in blood with a magician’s dead body nearby, Ernest agrees to help clear their name. I loved how the holiday weather in Australia mirrors the typical December forecast in my south Florida home. Plus, the festive format of this fair play whodunit revolves around an Advent calendar and presents under the tree. Filled with jolly humor and twisty turns, this third book in the series can totally be read as a standalone. It's got the comedy of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, the entertainment of a BBC Christmas special, and the magic of the Now You See Me movies. More info →
Agatha Raisin is back at it in this long running series and by “it,” I mean solving murders in her Cotswolds village of Carsely. Having always dreamt of the perfect Christmas, she is determined to make the season merry and bright. Those plans are quickly put to the side when Agatha gets hired by a local widow who is sure someone is out to get her. Now Agatha must catch the culprit before the holidays are ruined. While there are romantic subplots that are built throughout the series, this festive cozy mystery would be a jolly spot to jump right in! (I suggest picking this one up in print since the audiobook is one of the rare Agatha Raisin titles not performed by my preferred narrator, Penelope Keith.) More info →
Family secrets and inheritance puzzles abound in this twisty tale. Lily Armitage joins her extended family at Endgame house for the holidays for the first time since her mother died over twenty years ago. With Lily’s Aunt Lillian recently passing, the annual Armitage family Christmas game has turned deadly as this year’s prize is the deed to the grand home. I really enjoyed all the Clue board game vibes and nods to Agatha Christie’s books. Fans of puzzles will be keen on the anagrams, word searches, and fun games included in the book and even as part of the acknowledgements. I highly recommend this one in print to get the most out of these brainteasers! More info →
Delicious Filipino food and family drama abound in this third installment from the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series. The story begins with Tita Rosie on cloud nine because Lila’s cousin Ronnie is finally back in town to start a new winery after years away. The excitement is short lived when one of Ronnie’s main investors suddenly dies while Lila and the rest of the family are busy testing recipes for Shady Palm’s annual Winter Bash. Once the death is ruled a murder and Ronnie named the prime suspect, Lila sets aside her concerns about his recent return to help prove his innocence. With both the Winter Bash and Simbang Gabi (nine days of Christmas masses) quickly approaching, Lila is determined to stop the true killer before they strike again. This series is great in print and audio as narrated by Danice Cabanela. More info →
Reminiscent of O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi, this Molly the Maid novella is a sweet and jolly tale. It's Secret Santa time at the Regency Grand Hotel and there are strange happenings afoot. Normally, Molly’s cases involve murder so I was glad to find this one less deadly and more heartwarmingly personal. I am always fond of Molly’s kindness and uniquely charming personality. The novella is cute in hardcover and would make a lovely gift for those who enjoy the series, which is best read in order. More info →
I read this entertaining and slightly gritty novella by a new-to-me author in a single sitting thanks to its quick pacing and tight prose. It features one of my favorite types of characters in Mikayla, a slick con artist trying to fly under the radar. But Mikayla’s annual Christmas Eve train trip goes awry when she meets recently divorced Ashton and they are both thrown into a shocking murder investigation. Think The Polar Express meets Murder on the Orient Express. Content warnings apply. (Open door.) More info →
Brigid says: An amusing short story featuring thriller writer and occasional sleuth, Sophie Katz. It's Christmas time in San Francisco and Sophie’s sister needs help event planning a tech-millionaire’s Swan Lake flash mob-inspired marriage proposal. But all those plans fly south when Sophie finds the prima ballerina dead and the engagement ring missing. Now she has to track down the culprit and help save her sister’s livelihood in more ways than one. I had never read this series before and was able to jump right in and quickly fell in love with Sophie’s cat, Mr. Katz. More info →
Tempest Raj, secret room builder and former stage magician, has arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland just in time for a yuletide museum heist. Staying with her grandparents in a vacation rental overlooking the castle, they soon learn that a local museum has been robbed and the case seems impossible to solve. With a delightful sense of place and lots of delicious food descriptions, I devoured this short story with no murder. While it is officially #1.5 in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone. More info →
How I simply adore this series and its adorable community of creatures! This festive short story is an excellent place to meet (or reacquaint yourself) with the delightful townsfolk of Shady Hollow. The Winter Solstice evergreen tree has been stolen so it is up to local reporter Vera Vixen to find it before the holiday arrives. Luckily she has the help of her kind friends and a few clever hunches to go on. A mystery without a murder, this cozy tale is just perfect with a cup of coffee and a slice of pie on a cold winter afternoon. More info →
Miriam Quiñones, Miami cooking show host, is looking forward to visiting her parents in Punta Cana with her young son from Christmas to Three Kings Day. Her plan is to relax and enjoy her time off but of course, mysterious happenings have followed pregnant Miriam. Things get even more suspicious when she embarks on a surprise trip to Old San Juan for work. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened to the missing telanovela heartthrob. Filled with lush tropical locales, delectable food, and delightful side characters, this third in the series can be read as a standalone. The audiobook is fantastic as performed by one of my favorites, Frankie Corzo. More info →
Do you have any favorite Christmas mysteries? Please share in the comments.
About the author
Brigid Misselhorn is our MMD Book Club Community Administrator. Her go-to genres are mystery, romance, and sci-fi. You can find Brigid on Instagram @brigid_emily.
I enjoy a mystery that doesn’t involve murder, and those are difficult to find. But this year, I found two with Christmas themes:
The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan involves a search for missing book in an inherited estate from the previous hoarder laird.
The Lane That Leads to Christmas by Melanie Lageschulte is a charming mystery involving a stolen priceless nativity.
Brigid says:
Yes, Carole, I agree those types of mysteries can be hard to come by so I was delighted to share a couple today. And my mom just gifted The Secret Christmas Library to me cause I have enjoyed Jenny Colgan’s books in the past, perfect timing!
Sandy says:
The funniest holiday book I’ve read is “Dear Satan” by Eve Langlais, about a misspelled letter to Santa.
Brigid says:
Oh that does sound like a funny mix up, Sandy!
Donna Goodin says:
I loved The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year. Read it one Sunday in January when we were all homebound due to a severe ice storm. Hubby built a fire in the fireplace, and I sat on the couch and read this book. It was perfect! I would add to the list of recommendations Anne Perry’s Christmas mysteries. There are twenty-one in total, and at least those that I have read, can be read as a stand-alone. The first book in the series is The Christmas Journey. And several of them don’t have a murder, for those who prefer their mysteries murderless.
Brigid says:
Donna that sounds like the ideal reading experience!
Sylvia Heacock says:
The Mistletoe Murder by PD James contains four short mysteries. Just right for a reading breaks during the busy Christmas holidays. (2004)
Brigid says:
I didn’t realize that was a collection of shorter Christmas mystery stories, thank you Sylvia!
Susan says:
The audiobook is well done too!
Kim P says:
Yes! Just listened to this one last week. Good call.
Ellen says:
If you like a cozy mystery, try the Meg Langslow series by Donna Andrews. There’s a bunch of them set at Christmastime and they all have puny bird related titles (Duck The Halls, The Gift of Magpie, Five Golden Wings, etc.).
Brigid says:
I love a punny title! Thank you for the rec, Ellen.
Virginia Kessen says:
I was going to recommend those too. I just love Meg and her crazy family.
Elizabeth says:
Are any of these appropriate for teens? I have a daughter who is a sophomore in high school who LOVES all mysteries! I need the books to be closed door though – do some of these fit into that category? Or are there ones on this list I definitely should steer her away from? Thanks!
Brigid says:
Yes, Elizabeth, would definitely recommend Evergreen Chase and The Christmas Caper for teens. (Both are parts of series that may enjoy reading the rest of if she likes the holiday ones.) I also think the Molly the Maid series would be a good fit but that series is best read in order. Hope she enjoys them!
Kim P says:
I recommend Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas by Stephanie Barron if you and your daughter haven’t heard of this series. Very clean and tons of Easter eggs in the characters if you know Jane Austen books. This series has Jane as the sleuth.
This list looks fun! I’ve enjoyed the Christmas entries in the Flavia de Luce series (I Am Half Sick of Shadows) and Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness series (there are two). Merry merry!
I’m not usually a mystery person for the Christmas season, but I loved The Christmas Appeal. I literally made me laugh out loud. I will probably re-read this year!
Brigid says:
Her books are criminally fun! (Pun intended)
Gayle Thomas says:
Try Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas by Stephanie Barron. Part of a series that places Jane Austen in the middle of mysteries to be solved in the course of her well-documented life, this one takes Jane and Cassandra to stay with family at the home of a prominent family. Of course, as the group become snowbound, a death occurs; is it murder? I love this series, and this book is a holiday gem.
Chris C says:
I agree! I keep hoping for more by this author. Also I was glad to learn in Brigid’s very enjoyable essay that others also are not fond of gift-wrapping. Audio books sound like a great way to make it more pleasant.
Jenna says:
I love the Mistletoe Murder series on Audible. If you haven’t listened you’ve got 4 seasons to catch up on!
Beth D says:
I really enjoyed Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews – not a murder but still involves a mystery.
Okay. This doesn’t strictly apply, but I bought my December Short Stack at B&N last night and they had ‘Murder at Holly House” by Denzil Meyrick for five bucks if you were buying other books. Not my genre and know nothing about it or the author, but, hey! Five bucks. Not sure if this is at all stores or just this one…
Kaia says:
The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson was a really great quick read! I found it really interesting and read it all on a quick hour flight. It’s a bit more on the murder mystery side, but still somehow manages to feel cozy.
Comments are closed.
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26 comments
I enjoy a mystery that doesn’t involve murder, and those are difficult to find. But this year, I found two with Christmas themes:
The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan involves a search for missing book in an inherited estate from the previous hoarder laird.
The Lane That Leads to Christmas by Melanie Lageschulte is a charming mystery involving a stolen priceless nativity.
Yes, Carole, I agree those types of mysteries can be hard to come by so I was delighted to share a couple today. And my mom just gifted The Secret Christmas Library to me cause I have enjoyed Jenny Colgan’s books in the past, perfect timing!
The funniest holiday book I’ve read is “Dear Satan” by Eve Langlais, about a misspelled letter to Santa.
Oh that does sound like a funny mix up, Sandy!
I loved The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year. Read it one Sunday in January when we were all homebound due to a severe ice storm. Hubby built a fire in the fireplace, and I sat on the couch and read this book. It was perfect! I would add to the list of recommendations Anne Perry’s Christmas mysteries. There are twenty-one in total, and at least those that I have read, can be read as a stand-alone. The first book in the series is The Christmas Journey. And several of them don’t have a murder, for those who prefer their mysteries murderless.
Donna that sounds like the ideal reading experience!
The Mistletoe Murder by PD James contains four short mysteries. Just right for a reading breaks during the busy Christmas holidays. (2004)
I didn’t realize that was a collection of shorter Christmas mystery stories, thank you Sylvia!
The audiobook is well done too!
Yes! Just listened to this one last week. Good call.
If you like a cozy mystery, try the Meg Langslow series by Donna Andrews. There’s a bunch of them set at Christmastime and they all have puny bird related titles (Duck The Halls, The Gift of Magpie, Five Golden Wings, etc.).
I love a punny title! Thank you for the rec, Ellen.
I was going to recommend those too. I just love Meg and her crazy family.
Are any of these appropriate for teens? I have a daughter who is a sophomore in high school who LOVES all mysteries! I need the books to be closed door though – do some of these fit into that category? Or are there ones on this list I definitely should steer her away from? Thanks!
Yes, Elizabeth, would definitely recommend Evergreen Chase and The Christmas Caper for teens. (Both are parts of series that may enjoy reading the rest of if she likes the holiday ones.) I also think the Molly the Maid series would be a good fit but that series is best read in order. Hope she enjoys them!
I recommend Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas by Stephanie Barron if you and your daughter haven’t heard of this series. Very clean and tons of Easter eggs in the characters if you know Jane Austen books. This series has Jane as the sleuth.
This list looks fun! I’ve enjoyed the Christmas entries in the Flavia de Luce series (I Am Half Sick of Shadows) and Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness series (there are two). Merry merry!
Oh I loved that Flavia one too, Katie!
I’m not usually a mystery person for the Christmas season, but I loved The Christmas Appeal. I literally made me laugh out loud. I will probably re-read this year!
Her books are criminally fun! (Pun intended)
Try Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas by Stephanie Barron. Part of a series that places Jane Austen in the middle of mysteries to be solved in the course of her well-documented life, this one takes Jane and Cassandra to stay with family at the home of a prominent family. Of course, as the group become snowbound, a death occurs; is it murder? I love this series, and this book is a holiday gem.
I agree! I keep hoping for more by this author. Also I was glad to learn in Brigid’s very enjoyable essay that others also are not fond of gift-wrapping. Audio books sound like a great way to make it more pleasant.
I love the Mistletoe Murder series on Audible. If you haven’t listened you’ve got 4 seasons to catch up on!
I really enjoyed Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews – not a murder but still involves a mystery.
Okay. This doesn’t strictly apply, but I bought my December Short Stack at B&N last night and they had ‘Murder at Holly House” by Denzil Meyrick for five bucks if you were buying other books. Not my genre and know nothing about it or the author, but, hey! Five bucks. Not sure if this is at all stores or just this one…
The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson was a really great quick read! I found it really interesting and read it all on a quick hour flight. It’s a bit more on the murder mystery side, but still somehow manages to feel cozy.
Comments are closed.