Books
12 cosy Christmas murder mysteries
Christmas is the perfect time to curl up with a cosy murder mystery – especially one with a festive theme. You can expect close-knit rural communities where everyone is a suspect, sharp-eyed detectives piecing together clues, and lavish parties at manor houses that are disrupted by murder.
Whether you’re in the mood for a classic crime novel, or looking for one of the latest bestsellers, we’ve rounded up the best cosy Christmas mysteries below.
Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson
1. Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson
A magician’s benefactor has been killed backstage at a Christmas show and it’s Ernest Cunningham’s most intriguing mystery yet. Every suspect – from the magician’s assistant to the hypnotist – is a professional trickster. Plus, Cunningham is working with some baffling clues: a suspect covered in blood who has no memory of how it got there, an advent calendar left at the scene, and the murder location being a locked room where nobody could have gone in or out. This is the latest witty murder mystery from Benjamin Stevenson, the bestselling author of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone and Everyone On This Train is a Suspect.
Murder at Mistletoe Manor by F.L. Everett
2. Murder At Mistletoe Manor by F. L. Everett
In this charming festive mystery, journalist Nick ends up at Mistletoe Manor with a group of strangers after his car breaks down on a snow-bound country lane. When a dead body is discovered, his new friends become suspects and, as the police can’t access the hotel due to the snow, Nick takes on the role of investigator. The plentiful twists and red herrings will keep you guessing until the final reveal.
Murder At Midwinter by Ada Moncrieff
3. Murder At Midwinter by Ada Moncrieff
Twenty years ago, a classmate went missing from Midwinter Academy and Daphne King solved the crime. Now, she returns to the school for a reunion, where old friendships – and rivalries – resurface, until the following day when one of them is found dead. Could this case be linked to the one 20 years ago? Daphne must once again turn sleuth to find out. With nods to Golden Age crime fiction, this is the perfect cosy mystery to curl up with on a winter afternoon.
The Austen Christmas Murders by Jessica Bull
4. The Austen Christmas Murders by Jessica Bull
This Christmas special from the brilliant Miss Austen Investigates series is a delight. When Jane uncovers a skeleton in the cellar of Deane Rectory, she turns detective to uncover the dead person’s identity: were they really a soldier or could they be the missing bride who mysteriously disappeared years ago? As with the rest of the series, Jessica Bull has delivered another witty, cleverly constructed mystery and the gorgeously festive cover makes it perfect for a gift this Christmas.
The Christmas Stocking Murders by Denzil Meyrick
5. The Christmas Stocking Murders by Denzil Meyrick
In this cosy Christmas mystery, Inspector Frank Grasby investigates a murder in a remote seaside town: a fisherman’s body has been discovered with a pair of stockings wrapped round his throat. As more and more stockings wash up on the shore, and a local innkeeper is murdered, this festive mystery becomes even more puzzling. So many things don’t add up to Grasby: why do all of the villagers have such high-quality hosiery? Who is the sinister stranger snooping around? And how can Grasby solve the murder when everyone is a suspect?
The Christmas Jigsaw Murders by Alexandra Benedict
6. The Christmas Jigsaw Murders by Alexandra Benedict
On 19 December, renowned puzzle setter Edie O’Sullivan finds a jigsaw puzzle on her doorstep with a disturbing message: ‘Four, maybe more, people will be dead by midnight on Christmas Eve, unless you can put all the pieces together and stop me.’
Edie and her nephew begin to piece together the clues, but when someone is murdered, and found clutching a jigsaw piece, they realise they’re in a race against time. This is a complex, well-plotted mystery that will keep you guessing until the end.
The Murder Game by Tom Hindle
7. The Murder Game by Tom Hindle
Nine guests assemble at Hamlet Hall for a 1920s-themed murder mystery party. But before the festivities can commence, one of the guests is found murdered. Everyone there has their own motive for killing the victim – an infamous businessman – and old rivalries run deep…
This murder mystery, set on New Year’s Eve, is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie.
The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett
8. The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett
It’s Christmas in Lower Lockwood, and an amateur dramatics group is putting the finishing touches to their pantomime. Things are already not running smoothly behind the scenes – and then a dead body turns up.
Now it’s up to lawyers Femi and Charlotte to sift through round robins, emails, and police transcripts to figure out the person responsible. But in this small town, everyone is a suspect.
Murder Most Festive by Ada Moncrieff
9. Murder Most Festive by Ada Moncrieff
Christmas Eve, 1938. The wealthy Westbury family and friends are gathered at their country house for a festive celebration. But on Christmas morning, one of them is found dead, with a pistol beside him and only one set of footprints. It’s down to amateur detective Hugh Gaveston to investigate.
Ada Moncrieff has made a name for herself for her cosy Christmas crime novels. If you enjoy Murder Most Festive, we recommend Ada Moncrieff’s other festive titles, Murder at the Theatre Royale and Murder at Maybridge Castle.
Murder For Christmas by Francis Duncan
10. Murder for Christmas by Francis Duncan
If you’re in the mood for a classic Christmas crime novel, we recommend Francis Duncan’s Murder for Christmas. This locked-room mystery was originally published in 1950 but it’s a timeless tale that’s full of intrigue.
Mordecai Tremaine arrives at a country manor on Christmas Eve, where festivities are in full swing. But at the stroke of midnight, the guests discover a body underneath the Christmas tree – and the victim bears a striking resemblance to Father Christmas. Now, it’s down to Mordecai to investigate – and hopefully solve the case in time to prevent another murder.
Mistletoe and Murder by Robin Stevens
11. Mistletoe and Murder by Robin Stevens
Robin Stevens’ Christmas murder mystery is a perfect gift for younger readers. It follows the detective duo Daisy and Hazel, who are spending the holidays in Cambridge when, two days before Christmas, there’s a murder.
The young detectives are on the case. But with annoying adults and a rival agency trying to get in their way, they’ll have to use all their cunning to find the killer in time for Christmas.
Murder in the Snow by Gladys Mitchell
12. Murder in the Snow by Gladys Mitchell
This classic Christmas crime novel stars an amateur sleuth who could rival Miss Marple. Sharp-eyed detective Mrs Bradley is spending the holidays with her nephew at his beautiful home in the Cotswolds. But when local villagers start receiving threatening letters and then a dead body turns up, her festive plans are put on hold as she must solve the murder.
What’s your favourite Christmas crime novel? Let us know in the comments below…
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Murder After Christmas, by Rupert Latimer, from 1944. Very evocative, very arch and very witty.
Murder in the Snow by Gladys Mitchell sounds intresting
Hercule Poirots Xmas is great