Christmas Crime Round-Up 2025

Season’s greetings, dear readers!

In Iceland, there is a longstanding reading tradition known as Jólabókaflóð—or the “Christmas Book Flood.” On Christmas Eve, family members exchange books as presents and then settle in for the night to read them (together or separately), often while indulging in decadent sips and sweets. Dating back to the WWII years, the custom has continued to evolve, transcending time and place as its popularity has spread globally. Despite this proliferation, it remains at its core a celebration of literacy and connection—and, in more recent years, a welcome option for phones-down, screen-free entertainment.

As appealing as the idea of book gifting may be to many of us, the sheer quantity of titles published in the lead-up to the holidays can make selection a downright daunting task (hey, they don’t call it the “Christmas Book Flood” for nothing). In recognition of that fact, I humbly offer an inventory of recent releases in seasonal suspense. I hope you’ll find it helpful—but with the understanding that it’s far from exhaustive.

The Snow Lies Deep by Paula Munier

Author and agent extraordinaire Paula Munier gifts readers a seventh Mercy Carr mystery with The Snow Lies Deep. As Afghanistan war veterans Mercy and her husband Troy (and their fiercely loyal service dogs, Elvis and Susie Bear) prepare to celebrate their first Christmas with nine-month-old Felicity, the suspicious deaths of two Santas—one a family friend who Mercy and Elvis discover dead in the woods, a Yule log aflame upon his stomach—threaten to put a damper on the festivities. Working with local law enforcement, the two uncover a years-long international conspiracy that has infiltrated their charming Vermont village. And while danger and intrigue abound (including hints of an elusive Snow Queen whose identity may just provide the key to solving things), Munier also captures the true spirit of Christmas and community, seamlessly melding darkness and light in a palpably atmospheric tale that’s as magical as it is mysterious.

Epilogue to a Christmas Murder by Lauren Elliott

Meanwhile, the cozy corner features Lauren Elliott’s newest Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery, Epilogue to a Christmas Murder. Having returned to the seaside town of Greyborne Harbor, Massachusetts, following a sojourn to England (where she found herself both annoyed and enamored by Detective Inspector Noah Parker), bookstore owner, dog mom, and amateur sleuth Addie Greyborne inadvertently aids in the theft of a highly collectible book signed by O. Henry. As if being duped by an elf impostor weren’t bad enough, her housemate and employee is later arrested after the battered body of her ex turns up on the rocky shores of the lighthouse. Fortunately (or not), widower Noah happens to be in town and is enlisted by the authorities to help investigate. This is the catalyst for yet another wrinkle in their burgeoning relationship, which has grown from fractious to flirty but remains undefined in the wake of grief. While there are whos, hows, and whys aplenty, the real question is whether or not the possibility of romance in the air will materialize like the snowflakes that have blanketed the town in a sense of promise and purity.

And to All a Good Bite by David Rosenfelt

In the not quite so cozy department, David Rosenfelt returns with And to All a Good Bite—the thirty-second book to feature reluctant defense attorney and unabashed dog lover Andy Carpenter. Here, Andy takes on the case of Jeff Wheeler, who stands accused of killing the prominent businessman and art collector he publicly fingered as having caused a deadly gas explosion that claimed the lives of his girlfriend and several others. Andy is familiar with Jeff through his adoption of a golden retriever puppy from their family-owned dog rescue (which is based on Rosenfelt’s own Tara Foundation), and believes this benevolent act speaks to his true nature. Consequently, the pressure is on to exonerate Jeff and expose the truth, as there’s nothing quite as scary as the prospect of failing an innocent client. This caper is part comedic and part cunning—and positively sprinkled with canine cuteness. Despite its suggestive cover and punny title, however, there is little in the way of holiday spirit to be found, as Andy’s idea of the perfect Christmas day is one spent binge-watching sports from the comfort of his couch.

Five Golden Wings by Donna Andrews

For those who prefer their animals a bit more on the exotic side, Donna Andrews returns with Five Golden Wings, the latest in her venerable Meg Landslow Mystery series. Here, it’s a battle of the Bridezillas when two of Meg’s “cousins” (and their entourages) come to Caerphilly for their competing weddings. Enemies since birth, Emily and Lexy have little in common but their differences—and the umbrella of suspicion they find themselves under when their (admittedly obnoxious) wedding photographer turns up dead. With a stormfront barreling down on them and no lack of suspects to consider, can Meg bring the guilty party into focus, or will the ceremonial bride(s) and groom(s) become brides(s) and doom? This one is chock full of the chaos (and occasional calm) that comes when family and friends gather for the holidays, and with a few feathered friends—including a one-winged golden eagle—thrown in for good measure.

Our Winter Monster by Dennis Mahoney

Now, we step away from humor and firmly into horror territory with Dennis Mahoney’s Our Winter Monster, in which two lovers are separated during a blizzard after a car crash derails the road trip meant to save their languishing relationship. Holly and Brian have noticed a distance creeping in since surviving a traumatic event that changed them both profoundly. Hoping to reconnect in an environment free from the shadows of their trauma, they instead find themselves trying to outrun the weather—and a rageful creature of indeterminate origin—as the ski village of Pinebuck, New York is pummeled by snow. They’re not the first couple to go missing under a cover of white, but beleaguered Sheriff Kendra Book is determined to redeem herself by achieving a better (read: determinate) outcome. This chilling, allegorical story alternates perspectives and timelines, serving as a reminder that sometimes the monsters living within us are more destructive than the ones that roam free.

Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards

And now we cross the pond to take a brief tour of this year’s British bounty. CWA Diamond Dagger winner Martin Edwards invites readers to play along in Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife—a game within a novel, replete with supplementary content that offers clues and context (and subtle misdirection, of course!). Six guests, all of whom are struggling through professional and/or personal misfortune, have been invited to spend the Christmas holiday at Midwinter, an exclusive hamlet where remoteness is part of the charm. A mystery has been painstakingly devised for them to solve, with the promise of cash prizes and a “life changing” reward for the overall winner. But when bodies start dropping for real, the contestants realize that they must look into the past if they hope to survive the present. Both timely and topical yet still evocative of a bygone era, the book allows its audience to choose whether they want to read casually or take on a more interactive role. Edwards provides a cluefinder at the end to prove that he played fair when things went foul. (Also of note: The author also served as editor for Who Killed Father Christmas? And Other Seasonal Mysteries, a new addition to the British Library Crime Classics collection.)

Murder Most Haunted by Emma Mason

Of course, no such list would be complete without an English manor mystery (or several). First up is Emma Mason’s Murder Most Haunted, a contemporary caper with a (possible) supernatural twist. As a retirement gift, detective Midge McGowan—who has spent much of her career overseeing the department’s evidence room—is presented with a ticket to attend a haunted house tour run by her former colleague, John Rendell. Though horrified at the thought, Midge acquiesces at the insistence of her cancer-stricken wife. But what begins as a bit of frivolity turns fatal when Rendell is found dead in the tub, his throat slit, and the door seemingly locked from within. Snowed in with a group of strangers who range from a pop star to a paranormal podcaster, Midge must call on her instincts and intellect to unmask a flesh-and-blood killer hiding behind the lore of a ghostly legend. Otherwise, she and the others may not make it home for Christmas—or ever. The author is a former detective constable herself and infuses Midge with endearing quirks and quibbles that render her utterly distinct and well worth revisiting.

Murder at Holly House by Denzil Meyrick

Then, there’s the late Denzil Meyrick’s Murder at Holly House, now available in America from Poisoned Pen Press. It’s December 1952, and bumbling but buoyant Inspector Frank Grasby has been dispatched to the town of Elderby, where a series of farm thefts have upset the citizenry. Upon arrival at the home of Lord and Lady Damnish, he endeavors to question the family, only to discover a dead body concealed within their chimney. Could this be the thief? The simplicity of that posit is tested when the husband of a local doctor is soon after stabbed to death, and the manuscript of an exposé he was writing is removed from their home. Under orders to cover things up a bit, Grasby nevertheless wants to impress the beautiful and brainy American intern he’s been working with (not to mention his curmudgeonly father) by bringing resolution to the case. But post-war sentiments and suspicions run high in a village whose townsfolk all seem to be keeping secrets. Though light on yuletide gaiety, the book is fairly bursting with mirth and memorable characters.

A Christmas Witness by Charles Todd

For a less lengthy historical whodunit, you might wish to pick up Charles Todd’s novella, A Christmas Witness, featuring popular series character Inspector Ian Rutledge. The year is 1921, and Rutledge—recently promoted to the role of Chief Inspector within Scotland Yard—is made to prove his worth when he is ordered to report to the Kentish home of Lord Braxton, who is recovering from a head-wound sustained during a reported attempt on his life. Rendered confused and contemptuous by the resultant concussion, Braxton has insisted that all evidence of Christmas be removed in the aftermath of his near demise. Addled by the ghosts of his wartime experience, Rutledge has little sympathy for the former military man, though he dutifully launches an inquiry into what transpired. An homage to Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, the work is a bit of a trifle (and could easily have been a short story), with Rutledge made to review, and ruminate over, his case notes when at a loss for anything else to do. The ending is suitably hopeful and conciliatory, if not surprising, and Todd musters admirable levels of goodwill and good cheer, particularly in the moments where Rutledge is seen at the local inn and pub where he has taken up lodging.

Golden Age Christmas Mysteries from American Mystery Classics

In the anthologies annex, The Mysterious Bookshop’s owner and resident expert Otto Penzler presents Golden Age Christmas Mysteries, the latest installment of American Mystery Classics. Featuring fourteen stories of varying style and substance by a who’s who of authors both celebrated and forgotten (from luminaries like Ellery Queen and Mary Roberts Rinehart to lesser knowns such as Meredith Nicholson and Pat Frank), the collection evokes a welcome sense of nostalgia—even as datedness occasionally, if inevitably, creeps in. Adding to the overall appeal, Penzler offers introductions to each piece, which provide biographical and historical notes that help to put them in their proper context for a contemporary audience. While such compendia tend to be a mixed bag, this one stands out as consistently strong and would make an ideal stocking stuffer. Even better, it’s suitable for dipping in and out of over time or doing an immediate deep dive.

The Kill Clause by Lisa Unger

In the singular short stories shop, Lisa Unger follows 2023’s seasonal novella Christmas Presents with the slighter, tighter Amazon Original, The Kill Clause. Paige is a contract killer with a conscience—but a stipulation of her unconventional employment agreement renders her unable to step away from her work without risk of lethal consequences. Like Santa in the night, she does the (not so good) deed before disappearing without a trace. But when Paige fails to complete an assignment after finding the target’s young daughter unexpectedly in residence, she is warned that Christmas Eve will be her last chance to accomplish the mission . . . or else. With the pressure on, and her ex-husband blowing up her phone with missed calls and cryptic texts, she must step up her game to stay alive. Surprisingly complex despite its brevity, this is the perfect one-sitting read for a few moments of perverse pleasure amid the holiday pandemonium.

The Last Death of the Year by Sophie Hannah

And finally, in the tradition of “a Christie for Christmas,” Sophie Hannah once again revisits Dama Agatha’s iconic Belgian detective Hercule Poirot in The Last Death of the Year (which follows 2023’s Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night). It’s now 1932, and Poirot and his sidekick, Edward Catchpool, take a post-Christmas holiday on the small Greek island of Lamperos, where they have been invited to celebrate the impending new year with a group of individuals living in a communal home that has seen better days. But when a party game turns sinister, with an anonymous participant resolving to deliver “the last and first death of the year” (after which a murder does occur), Poirot reveals that his true intention in coming to Lamperos is to solve the first crime in order to prevent the latter. Indeed, his little grey cells may be the only thing that can prevent a killer from marking the new year in blood.

Thus concludes our little tour of this year’s seasonal offerings. May your days be merry and bright—and may your nights bring tales of comfort and fright.

Happy reading!