by Victoria Fair
It’s late in the evening and an eerie quiet has descended upon my home. Yet, I am full of nervous excitement as I sit in my wingback chair staring out at the night sky. Large downy snowflakes are fluttering to the ground in what is the first snowfall of the season, and I find myself too excited to sleep. Treasured memories of snow days filled with snowmen and snowball fights come rushing back. Just like in the song Snow by Irving Berlin, featured in the 1954 classic movie White Christmas. But, the ground is too warm for any accumulation and each flake dissipates as quickly as it lands. Still, I need to capture this moment of seasonal spirit and I can’t think of a better way than to start by making my Christmas book list for Santa…ahem…and family and friends.
For my Featured Five this month I’m going to focus on a few of the outstanding book releases that have made my list. But there are still so many more excellent offerings that are soon to release. Whether you celebrate the holidays or not, I challenge you to make a list of books to gift yourself or others. It will have you feeling like a kid again.
Featured Five
Just a week until Christmas, a very pregnant Penelope Prescott (née Banks) finds herself confined to bed, awaiting the arrival of the newest addition to the family. With her private investigation business on hold, she’s left with little to do but read the newspaper and watch the comings and goings in the new apartment building across the street. Or so she thought…When a familiar, jolly-faced, older man moves into the penthouse across the street and throws a family holiday party, Pen expects nothing more than festive cheer. But when the host vanishes, her sharp mind can’t help but suspect foul play. With the help of a few trusted friends—and her police detective husband—Penelope must solve the mystery before the arrival of Christmas…and her little one! — A Merry Little Murder by Colette Clark
Algiers: Belladonna (Blue) Wickam spends her days painting and her afternoons walking along the sandy shore of her quiet coastal town— the perfect routine. When the body of a famous environmentalist winds up in the nearby wetlands, Blue takes it upon herself to comb the sleepy shoreside for clues. She’s tossed into the deep end as the storm of the century threatens to make landfall just before Christmas Eve. Will she be able to collect all of the clues before the weather spins her cozy life into chaos? Blue thinks she can handle everything except the stubborn and objectively handsome out-of-town lawyer insisting on offering his help. For some reason, Blue can’t shake the feeling that she just needs to look at the information from a different perspective. A perspective that might come too late if Blue doesn’t hurry. — A Very Coastal Christmas by Camille Cabrera
Alnwick, Northumberland, 1813: Lady Percy’s worries about spending her first holiday season as a new countess grow worse upon their arrival at Alnwick Castle. When the old duke calls her by the wrong name, she is left with unsettling questions: Who was this mysterious woman in the duke’s past, and why does his fading mind cling to her memory so fiercely? Meanwhile, Lord Percy confronts a crisis outside the castle walls. Children are disappearing from neighboring villages, vanishing without a trace into the Northumberland wilds. Determined to put an end to the parents’ suffering, he heads a search party, risking all to find the missing before winter’s grip turns deadly. As they each delve deeper into their separate mysteries, Lord and Lady Percy are drawn into a web of secrets that stretch back through the ducal line. But with shadows closing in on Alnwick, time is running out. Can they uncover the truth before another child goes missing in the night? — The Emerald Threads by Lynn Morrison & Anne Radcliffe, Marketing Chair Press
Delve into CM Rawlins’ latest enchanting “Lady Darriby-Jones Murder Mystery” set against the backdrop of 1920s England at Christmas time. This gripping installment will whisk you away to an era where wealth and privilege dance with treacherous companions—greed, envy, and murder. — The Mystery of the Christmas Crackers by CM Rawlins, CleanTales Publishing
With a sinister clue left on their doorstep, Holly, Nick, and the Claus family find themselves tangled in a web of trickery woven by the mischievous Yule Lads, 13 impish pranksters who have returned to cause chaos. As Holly and her determined team—Father Christmas, Mrs. Claus, and the ever-resourceful Wiggles—race against the clock to find Gilbert, they must navigate a blizzard of clues, from mysterious notes to missing kitchenware. But as Christmas draws near, the stakes grow higher, and Holly uncovers a chilling plot that points to an unexpected culprit within their midst. In a thrilling adventure that takes them from the heart of Candy Cane Hollow to the eerie No Carols Cave, Holly must use every ounce of her sleuthing skills to bring Gilbert home and save Christmas. With the joy of the season hanging in the balance, will they be able to outwit the Yule Lads and restore peace to Claus Cottage? — Yule Be Sorry by Mona Marple
December 1
A Deathbed of Roses (The Jess O’Malley Mysteries, Book 4) by Jinny Alexander
A Wintry Kill (The Killing Seasons FBI Crime Mystery Series, Book 5) by JK Ellem
Alysoun (The Savernake Forest Medieval Murder Mysteries, Book 3) by Susanna M Newstead
An Act of Murder (Melting Pot Café, Book 9) by Polly Holmes
Dark Signs (Murder in the Dunes, Book 3) by Heidi Hinrichs
Fatality at the Festival (Nightmare, Arizona Paranormal Cozy Mysteries, Book 8) by Beth Dolgner
Forgotten (A Navajo Nation Mystery, Book 14) by R. Allen Chappell
Murder with a Hint of Peppermint (Whisper Hollow Mysteries, Book 2) by Laura M. Drake
False Witness (Mydworth Mysteries, Book 17) by Neil Richards & Matthew Costello
Slay, Bells, Ring (Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series, Book 18) by Joanna Campbell Slan
The Emerald Threads (The Crown Jewels Regency Mysteries, Book 4) by Lynn Morrison & Anne Radcliffe
The Lost Past of Billy McQueen by Neil Alexander
Thrown For a Scoop (The Shake Shop Mysteries, Book 4) by Dana Mentink
Two Spinsters and a Duel (Two Spinsters and a Murder, Book 2) by Eve TarringtonDecember 2
A Witchy Christmas (Witches of Whispering Pines, Book 5) by Rhonda Hopkins
Blind Date’s Bitter End (The Cook and Inspector Mysteries, Book 6) by Joanne Pence
Cozy Up to Mystery (The Cozy Up Series, Book 8) by Colin Conway
Endings and Beginnings (A Hope Herring Mystery, Book 16) by J A Whiting & Nell McCarthy
Fa-La-La-La-Lola: A Lola Cruz Christmas Caper (A Lola Cruz Mystery, Book 7) by Melissa BourbonDecember 3
A Killer Hold (A Larkspur Library Mystery, Book 3) by Leah Dobrinska
A Snake in the Barley (An Owen Archer Mystery, Book 15) by Candace Robb
Against the Grain (A Detective Peter Diamond Mystery, Book 22) by Peter Lovesey | Final in Series
Beneath the Estate by Nick Allen Brown
Chrysanthemum Tiger (A Gabriel Taverner Mystery, Book 6) by Alys Clare
Cold Bones (A Henry Johnstone 1930s Mystery, Book 10) by Jane A. Adams
A Christmas Caper (Cottage on Gooseberry Bay, Book 17) by Kathi Daley
Deadly & A-Dough-Rable (Witchy Donut Mysteries, Book 2) by Maddy Savanna
Good Lieutenant (A Jersey Girl Legal Mystery, Book) 6 by E.J. Copperman
Leviathan (The Matthew Corbett Novels) by Robert McCammon | Final in Series
Merry Hexmas (A Supernatural Speakeasy Cozy Mystery, Book 16) by Lily Harper Hart
Merry Mistletoe Madness (Lovely Lethal Gardens, Book 27) by Dale Mayer
Mistletoe, Mocha, and Murder (Orchard Hollow, Book 7) by A.N. Sage
Mistletoe, Mutts, and Murder (Samantha Davies Mysteries, Book 6) by S.A. Kazlo
Murder in Season (A Lady of Letters Mystery, Book 3) by Mary Winters
Murder on the Brighton Express (Cleopatra Fox Mysteries, Book 9) by C.J. Archer
Murder’s Snare (A Brother Athelstan Mystery, Book 23) by Paul Doherty
Schemes & Scandals (A Rip Through Time) by Kelley Armstrong | Novella
Scotzilla (A Last Ditch Mystery, Book 7) by Catriona McPherson
Sinister Snack Attack (A Two Broomsticks Gas & Grill Witch Cozy Mystery, Book 10) by Amanda M. Lee
Speak EZ by Elle E. Ire
The Theft of the Iron Dogs: A Lancashire Mystery (British Library Crime Classics) by E.C.R. Lorac
The Turnglass by Gareth Rubin
Trouble Island by Sharon Short
You Only Reap Once (Eeva Morelli Mysteries, Book 3) by Abigail Lynn ThorntonDecember 4
A Midwinter Murder (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery, Book 20) by Verity Bright
Caroling Chaos (Holiday Corner Christmas Cozy Mystery, Book 7) by D.B. McNicol
Frosty Fugitives (Holiday Corner Cozy Mystery, Book 8) by Sharon Michaels
Holiday Heist (Holiday Corner Christmas Cozy Mystery, Book 9) by Ileana Muñoz Renfroe
Peppermint Bark and Peril (A Chocolate Centered Cozy Mystery, Book 24) by Cindy Bell
The Incompetent Hacker (Mycroft Holmes Adventures, Book 12) by Amelia Price
The Mystery at Love’s Manor (An Emma Love Mystery) by D. W. Thompson | First in SeriesDecember 5
A Hopeless Beach (A Hope Walker Mystery, Book 13) by Daniel Carson
Another World (Amy Hammond Cosy Mysteries, Book 24) by Tia Brown
Christmas Party Murder (Country Cottage Mysteries, Book 28) by Addison Moore
Death Midwinter (Mrs. Mortimer Mysteries, Book 7) by Elizabeth Oakey
Death on the Prowl (Campbell & Carter Mystery, Book 8) by Ann Granger
Flowering Inferno (The Bloomin’ Psychic, Book 8) by Annabel Chase
Murder at the Bee Farm (Sunny Honey B&B Cozy Mysteries) by Sue Hollowell | First in Series
Murder Over Gold (Penrose & Pyke Mysteries, Book 7) by Rose Pascoe
The Case of the Beth-el Stone (Major Gask Mysteries, Book 3) by David Cairns of FinavonDecember 6
A Very Coastal Christmas (Cozy Christmas, Book 4) by Camille Cabrera
Death by Oxcart (Travel Can Be Murder Series, Book 10) by Jennifer S. Alderson
Malicious Intent (Lily Larkin Mysteries, Book 2) by Hannah Ellis
Murder by the Holly (An Evie Parker Mystery, Book 21) by Sonia Parin
Wed, Dead and Gingerbread (A Slice of Life Cozy Mystery, Book 2) by Rachel Beattie
December 8
Jingle Bells: Dew’s Mountain Christmas Basket (Dew Mountain, Book 2) by Riley BlakeDecember 9
A Merry Little Murder (Penelope Banks Murder Mysteries, Book 15) by Colette Clark
Deadly Performance (Deadly Series, Book 12) by Kate Parker
Notebook Mysteries: The Twelve Days of Murder by Kimberly Mullins
Ten Most Wanted (Saddle Key Mysteries, Book 10) by Sheila Fowler
The End of the Treachery (The Wichita Chronicles, Book 2) by H.B. BerlowDecember 10
A Whisper at Midnight (Raven & Wren, Book 2) by Darcy Burke
Booked for Murder (An Old Juniper Bookshop Mystery) by P. J. Nelson | First in Series
Death at an Irish Wedding (An Irish Castle Mystery, Book 2) by Ellie Brannigan
Gingerbread and Gremlins (A Witches of Willow Hollow Mystery, Book 9) by Kat McGee
Home for the Homicides (Hometown Mysteries, Book 4) by Rosalie Spielman
I Pittie the Yule by Kathryn Mykel
Mittens and Murder (A Meredith Brown Cozy Mystery, Book 5) by Rocky Bader
Pretty Dead Things by Lilian West
The Birdcage Library by Freya BerryDecember 11
Here Ghost Nothing (Salem Spirits Cozy Mysteries, Book 3) by Dina Marie
Love and the Divorce Lawyer by Barbara NewhartDecember 12
A Killer Booking (A Riley Morgan Mystery, Book 5) by Ryan Hoffman
A Red Christmas (A Murder Before Christmas Cozy Mystery, Book) 2 by Rosie A. PointDecember 13
Christmas Carols & Wedding Bells (Connie Cafe Mystery, Book 15) by Maisy Marple
The Killing Cave (Lady Fan Mystery, Book 11) by Elizabeth BaileyDecember 14
Feasts and Farewells (Sophie Brooks Mysteries) by Daisy Landish | First in Series
The Haunted Violin (A Lin Coffin Mystery, Book 19) by J A Whiting
The Surplus Women (Alfred Nickolson, Book 2) by Victoria Kane
Unholy Grail: A DCI Green and Dr Prudence Grey Artifacts of Doom Murder Mystery by CJ Clyde
December 15
Casting Out Secrets (The Witch of Henbane Island, Book 3) by Poppy Bridgeman
Cheating My Destiny (Detective Inspector Declan Walsh, Book 21) by Jack Gatland
Cove and Dagger (Serena Holloway Mysteries, Book 6) by Wynn Byrd
Lady Avely’s Guide to Lies and Charms (Matronly Misadventures, Book 2) by Rosalie Oaks
The Blighted Crosses (Sherlock Holmes – Echoes Through Time) Book IV by Anna Charlotte FoxDecember 16
Again with Feeling (The Last Picks, Book 6) by Gregory Ashe
Headshot (The Erin O’Reilly Mysteries, Book 26) by Steven Henry
Valentines and Villains (Killer Love Story) by Riley Blake | First in SeriesDecember 17
Dead End Diva (A Second Chance Van Life) by Elyse Monroe | First in Series
Mischief at Marsden Manor (Pippa Darling Mysteries, Book 6) by Jenna Bennett
Christmas in the Country (The Inn at Holiday Bay, Book 31) by Kathi DaleyDecember 18
A Perilous Package (Lakeside Cottage Cozy Mysteries, Book 2) by Cindy BellDecember 19
Lucky Waters (An Enchanted Waters Mystery, Book 8) by Jenna St. James
Miami Interlude by Linda Bennett PennellDecember 20
A Silent Christmas (A Murder Before Christmas Cozy Mystery, Book 3) by Rosie A. Point
Jingle Grinch (A Mackenzie Coven Mystery) by Sonia Parin
Yule Be Sorry (A Christmas Cozy Mystery Series, Book 6) by Mona Marple
December 23
Paris! (Bonnie Writes The Beatles, Book 2) by Kal SmaghDecember 24
Enchantments and Elves (Spellbrooke Mystery Series) by Renee Marski | Novella
Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine (A Salem B&B Mystery, Book 9) by Traci Wilton
Murder at the Christmas Casino (The Camille Divine Murder Mysteries, Book 13) by Andrea Hicks
The Case of the Missing Maid (Harriet Morrow Investigates) by Rob Osler | First in Series
The Matter of the Secret Bride (A Useful Woman Mystery, Book 3) by Darcie Wilde
What Dead Body? (The Chronicles of Brother Hermitage, Book 33) by Howard of WarwickDecember 25
A Hairy Scary Christmas (Spring Harbor Cozy Mystery, Book 8) by Amber Crewes
Moonlit Secrets (A Harry Sinclair Cozy Travel Mystery, Book 2) by Sabina O
The Mystery of the Christmas Crackers (A Lady Darriby-Jones Mystery, Book 11) by CM Rawlins
Twice Charmed (Silvermist Hollow Mysteries, Book 2) by Freya Fey Diehl
Weekends are Murder (Middle Age is Murder Cozy Mysteries, Book 3) by Nellie H. SteeleDecember 26
Iced at the Snow Gala (Wicked Witches of Bone Gap, Book 4) by Sara Bourgeois
Murder at a Flower Show (Lady Felicity Quick Mystery, Book 7) by Rosie Hunt
The Stolen Sparkler (Lady Rosalynd and Steele Mysteries) by Magda Alexander | NovellaDecember 27
Ghost of a Chance: An English Countryside Royal Assassin Mystery (Spies of Texas, Book 6) by Brittany E. Brinegar
Happy Homicide (The French Quarter Mysteries, Book 7) by Jen PittsDecember 28
The Watery Grave (The Lady Mortician’s Visions Series, Book 6) by Helen Goltz
Murder Among the Rubble (Adele Gossling Mysteries, Book 7) by Tam May
December 30
A Murder of the First Water (The Lady Jack Mysteries, Book 4) by Jane Hedwig
Among Her Final Words (A Ghosts of Landover Mystery, Book 13) by Etta Faire
Subtle Murder at the Spread Eagle and Crown (Anastasia Romanov Adventures, Book 2) by Auburn Seal
The Poisoned Pen (The Bookshop Detective, Book 2) by Kat FinnDecember 31
A Funeral to Die For (An English Librarian Cozy Mystery, Book 2) by K.J. Emrick
Corpse & Cards (Corpse Collector Cozy Mystery Series, Book 3) by Tammy Tyree
January Thaw (Murder by Month Mystery, Book 9) by Jess Lourey
Khan’s Clerkenwell Catnapping Caper (A Jessie Harper Paranormal Cozy Mystery, Book 4) by KJ Cornwall
Murder in the Mistletoe Shoppe (The Kitty Worthington Mysteries, Book 11) by Magda Alexander
The Happy Housekeeper’s Guide To Justice (A Barbara Hollis Murder Mystery, Book 10) by Blythe Baker
Where the Charm Magic Fades (A Murder, She Witches Mystery, Book 10) by Kat McGee
Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Also listen to our new mystery podcast where mystery short stories and first chapters are read by actors! They are also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify.
Click on this link to take you to Mysterious Galaxy’s website where you can purchase many of these books & a portion will go to help support KRL:
So many new titles in familiar series and
so many new series to try out – going to
be a busy month. thanks
txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com
Happy Holidays.