Top Holiday Cozy Mysteries & Other Favorite Books

Snowed in? Fogged in? Too cold to brave the weather? Or how about “I just want to stay home, but I’m bored”? Wonder Women Sixty has the solution!  Stay snug as a bug in your rug with these delightful holiday mysteries and other book favorites.

Some of these are new releases, some are older – but one thing they all have in common, they are all simply well-done and entertaining.

Wonder Women Sixty’s Favorite HOLIDAY MYSTERIES – Alphabetically by author

1. The Christmas Card Crime & Other Stories – British Library Crime Classics (compilation)
2. As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles, A Food Lovers’ Village Mystery – Leslie Budewitz
3. Peppermint Barked – Leslie Budewitz
4. A Cajun Christmas Killing, A Cajun Country Mystery – Ellen Byron
5. Crossed Skiis, An Alpine Mystery – Carol Carnac (British Library Crime Classic)
6. Stories for Christmas or Five Tales of Christmas by Charles Dickens – various versions and publishers.
7. Ho Ho Homicide, a Liss MacCrimmon Mystery – Kaitlyn Dunnett
8. Slashing Through The Snow, A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery – Jacqueline Frost
9. Stalking Around the Christmas Tree, A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery – Jacqueline Frost
10. A Dark and Snowy Night, A Seaside Knitters Society Mystery – Sally Goldenbaum
11. Murder At The Christmas Cookie Bake-Off, A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery – Darci Hannah
12. Ringing in Murder, A Pennyfoot Hotel Mystery – Kate Kingsbury (Victorian setting)
13. Murder After Christmas – Rupert Latimer (British Library Crime Classic)
14. Death of a Neighborhood Scrooge, A Jaine Austen Mystery – Laura Levine
15. Murder At An Irish Christmas, An Irish Village Mystery – Carlene O’Connor
16. The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries edited and intro by Otto Penzler (A Vintage Crime/Black Lizard original)
17. A Christmas Carol Murder – Heather Redmond (set in Dickens-times)
18. A Nutcracker Nightmare, A Killer Chocolate Mystery – Christina Romeril
19. A Christmas Candy Killing, A Killer Chocolate Mystery – Christina Romeril
20. Murder At Midnight – Katharine Schellman

OTHER BOOKS RELEASED IN 2023:

BEST NEW COZY SERIES:  A Cryptic Clue, A Hunter and Clewe Mystery (Book #1) – Victoria Gilbert

BEST PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER:  This is How We End Things – R.J. Jacobs

BEST NOSTALGIC HOLIDAY BOOKS: This is Christmas Song By Song by Annie Zaleski AND A Booze & Vinyl Christmas by Andre’ Darlington

BOOKS MAKE GREAT GIFTS! Visit the “books category” on this site for full book reviews for mysteries as well as other books.

GIFT IDEAS for Book Lovers: If you’re giving a book as a gift, why not make up a gift bag or gift basket. Add some treats that the recipient might enjoy with their books. Here’s some ideas to get you started: Old-school book markers, gourmet coffee, hot coco or teas, biscuits, cookies, gourmet popcorn, muffins, scones. Fresh breads or pastries from the local bakery.

GET CHEESY:  Perhaps they’d enjoy some wine and cheese with their reading. Embellish with gourmet crackers, jarred olives and festive cocktail napkins.

And “NO,” it isn’t tacky to give “yourself” plenty of books for Christmas! Curl up with a good book and: LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW!