It’s that most wonderful time of the year. No, not Halloween—though that is pretty wonderful. I am speaking of Christmas! Whether your winter holidays are snowy and white or sunny and verdant green, I have a list of the best Christmas cozy mysteries, at least in my opinion. This was hard to narrow down because if it is Christmas and cozy I already like it.
Best Christmas Cozy Mysteries
Rest You Merry by Charlotte MacLeod (A Peter Shandy Mystery)—This is my sentimental favorite and it gets a reread every year. I love the Professor Peter Shandy mysteries, but this first offering in the series is a hands-down favorite. I will give an honorable mention to (Sarah and Max Mysteries) because her insane relations remind her rather a lot of the characters in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
The Meg Langslow Mysteries—specifically the Christmas stories. All of them. Every year, I wait with anticipation to find out what has been happening Caerphilly since I last visited Meg and her eccentric but lovable family. What will the Baptist choir be singing for the Christmas concert? Will Michael be reading A Christmas Carol in the town’s favorite one-man show? Will a blizzard ruin the Christmas parade? Around August when Las Vegas temperatures have become unbearable, I pull out the entire series and take a vacation from the summer heat. Begin with Six Geese A-Slaying.
Hm, I have just realized that both of my very favorite Christmas mysteries of my best Christmas cozy mysteries list share several things in common. They are set in small East Coast college towns with quirky—but completely believable—characters.
The Diva Cooks a Goose (Domestic Diva Mysteries) by Krista Davis. All of her series are fun and have charming animals in them, but I will admit to having a strong fondess for this one. Perhaps it his ongoing rivalry with her childhood friend, Natasha, and their dueling advice columns.
Tis the Season to Be Jolly
Aunt Dimity’s Christmas by Nancy Atherton. The quaint village of Finch is merry and bright even if the past is haunting the villagers in a very real way.
A Cajun Christmas Killing by Ellen Byron. Maggie Crozat is back home in bayou. Christmas bells may be ringing but it won’t be a Joyeux Noël if they can’t find the killer.
Best Christmas Cozy Mysteries Continued…
Treacherous Toys by Jim and Joyce Lavene. Hail ye, gentle men and gentle ladies, and welcome to Christmas at the Renaissance Faire Village.
Trojan Gold by Elizabeth Peters. Historian Vicky Bliss is on the trail of the missing Trojan gold in a festive Bavarian village.
Spells, Bells and Murder by Carol J Perry. This story is part of the Witch in Salem series and should be on a paranormal list, but I put it here because the atmosphere will appeal to regular cozy readers.
Sweet Holidays by Connie Shelton. This installment of the Samantha Sweet Mysteries is enchanting and gives us a taste of New Mexico in the holiday season.
Holiday Hostage by Kathi Daley. This part of the Zoe Donovan series. There may be a dead man at the dinner party but there will still be fun with the Donovan family.
Menace at the Christmas Market (Murder on Location Book 5) by Sara Rosett. With the holidays nearing, Kate has time off, a rare occurrence for a location scout. The Jane Austen documentary series is in a production lull. Kate goes to the local Regency-themed Christmas Market in search of a gift, but a new acquaintance is poisoned. Kate is drawn into the investigation and soon realizes she must discover who wants to make sure she doesn’t ring in the New Year.
That’s it. My best cozy Christmas mysteries list. As you have figured out by now, I also write Christmas mysteries and each of the series has at least one.
Don’t miss the Best Thanksgiving Cozies List.
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