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A hit woman’s work doesn’t stop for the holidays. As Paige prepares for her latest kill, a surprise awaits—her target’s young daughter. Defying orders, she retreats, unwilling to cross that line. But when she returns on Christmas Eve, the girl—and someone from Paige’s past—are still there. Now, haunted by old ghosts and hunted by her own, Paige must survive the night and make it to Christmas morning alive. Unwrap NYT bestselling author Lisa Unger’s short crime story with Prime & Kindle Unlimited.
‘Tis the season! At the time of this writing, the holiday season is just beginning to make its presence known: Christmas trees are popping up everywhere, houses and stores are decked out in decorations, Christmas carols are blasting out in many a playlist, and murder is cutting quite a few lives short. All the must-haves for a festive season, as far as I’m concerned!
Please don’t call the cops on me, though. I do like my jolly Christmas murder…but only in books. That’s why I set out to find eight wonderful Christmas thrillers and crime novels (yes, cozy mysteries included) to add a bit of Sherlockian flair to my festivities.
If you’re not a Christmas murder person though, fear not. Not all of these books are quite so gory. Some of them only have a spot of theft, for a bit of subtle holiday crime flavor. Regardless of whether they’re about theft or murder (or both), these books are all set during the holidays, they all feature a mystery to solve, and they are all delightful.
Grab a glass of eggnog or your holiday drink of choice, blast some Christmas music, and have a jolly criminal time!
Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger
Madeline Martin does not want to deal with Harley Granger. She can think of many other things she’d like better than to re-live the worst time of her life with a true crime podcaster, especially one known for his unethical practices. But Granger wants to know what happened the night Madeline was left for dead by Evan Handy, and she, well, she needs to know what’s been happening since.
Blackmail and Bibingka (Tita Rose’s Kitchen Mystery #3) by Mia P. Manansala
Lila Macapagal knows better than to trust her cousin Ronnie when he rolls back into town, claiming to be a new man. But when he’s accused of murder, Lila needs to put her resentment aside and prove his innocence. Because he is innocent, isn’t he?
The Mistletoe Mystery (Molly the Maid #2.5) by Nita Prose
Molly Gray loves the holidays, but the first few Christmases without her grandmother were hard. This year, however, promises to be an improvement; her beau, Juan Manuel, is set on making that happen. But when a new mystery embroils Molly, she has to ask herself if Juan Manuel is someone she can trust.
The Art of Theft (Lady Sherlock #4) by Sherry Thomas
Charlotte Holmes’ strength lies in solving mysteries, but it’s her more disreputable skills that are required in this book. Charlotte must recover stolen letters hidden in a Van Dyck painting that is about to auctioned off. What could possibly go wrong?
As Charlotte is about to discover: a lot.
The After Party by A.C. Arthur
Venus McGee, Draya Carter, and Jackie Benson can’t stand their horrible boss. In an impromptu gathering after their company holiday party, the three of them bemoan having to deal with him and fantasize about killing him. But when he does turn up dead the next day, and Draya is at risk of being held responsible, they come together to stop that from happening.
Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret (Ernest Cunningham #3) by Benjamin Stevenson
I was sold on this book when I read “If Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club kissed under the mistletoe” on the blurb.
Ernest Cunningham has a bad habit of getting stuck in the middle of mysteries. This holiday season is no exception: a famous magician’s benefactor has just been murdered, and Ernest needs to solve the case. Except there’s a problem. All of his suspects are masters of misdirection, and all of his clues look like they were taken straight out of a game of Clue. Will this be the case that finally stumps him?
Death in D Minor (The Gethsemane Brown Mysteries #2) by Alexia Gordon
When Gethsemane Brown goes undercover at a party to help clear her brother-in-law’s name after a theft accusation, she becomes the prime suspect for her host’s murder. Now she must clear her own name and avoid ending up dead in the process.
The Glass Thief (Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery #6) by Gigi Pandian
It’s one thing to solve a murder. It’s another entirely to solve three murders commited in a 70 year span, and blamed on the family ghost. Jaya ends up traveling to France and Cambodia to solve this case. Or should I say fleeing to France and Cambodia? After all, it’s a case that hits very close to home.
Can’t get enough of holiday murder? Keep your knives to yourself and give 8 Christmas cozy mysteries for a bloody good holiday a try. After all, ’tis the season for holiday mysteries.
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