Holiday Mysteries Part Two

            Relax and enjoy some more Christmas-themed mysteries from our library.

            The Mistletoe Murder: And Other Stories is from renowned British mystery author P.D. James, who passed away in 2014. Two of the stories feature poet-detective Adam Dalgliesh; the other two bear some resemblance to the writing style of Agatha Christie.  

            In Murder for Christmas, written by Francis Duncan, the party guests of Benedict Grame discover a body that bears a striking resemblance to Father Christmas under the tree. It is up to Mordecai Tremaine to find the culprit before another death occurs.

            Nantucket Red Tickets is written by Steven Axelrod. It’s Christmas Eve on Nantucket and prominent businessman Jackson Blum is about to live out his own version of A Christmas Carol.

            The Usual Santas: A Collection of Soho Crime Christmas Capers is published by Soho Crime. This is a compilation of eighteen holiday crime short stories set in locations around the globe.

            Wagging through the Snow is written by Laurien Berenson and is another in the series of Melanie Travis canine mysteries. With Christmas approaching, Melanie investigates a possible murder after discovering a whimpering Maltese beside the dead body of a squatter on the property that her ex-husband just bought.

            Yuletide Homicide is written by Jennifer David Hesse. Family law attorney and Wiccan Keli Milanni goes undercover when mayoral candidate Edgar Harrison, her boss’s old friend, is blackmailed. Before finding the culprit, Harrison winds up dead, and Keli must risk her own rebirth during the Wiccan holiday Yuletide to catch the killer.  

           

Holiday Mysteries

            Though the season may be merry and bright, murder and mayhem never take a holiday at Christmas. Here are some novels that prove the point.

            A Cajun Christmas Killing: A Cajun Country Mystery, written by Ellen Byron, describes how Maggie Crozat must pair up with an unlikely ally and longtime family enemy to catch the killer before Christmas on the bayou is ruined. Includes recipes.

            The Christmas Mystery: A Detective Luc Moncrief Story is written by James Patterson. The story follows French NYPD detective Luc Moncrief during a busy Christmas season as he investigates the theft of a cache of priceless paintings and the murder of a wealthy socialite.

            A Christmas Return: A Novel is the newest annual Christmas mystery by author Anne Perry. Spurred by holiday cheer and a surprise hidden in a Christmas pudding, and elderly aristocrat endeavors to correct a past wrong by solving a decade-old murder.

            Crimson Snow: Winter Mysteries is a short story collection edited by Martin Edwards. It shares Christmas mysteries from such authors as Fergus Hume, Margery Allingham, and Michael Gilbert.

            The Ghost of Christmas Past, written by Rhys Bowen, features Molly Murphy Sullivan and her husband Daniel. They are invited to spend the holidays at a Hudson mansion, only to be embroiled in the mystery of their hosts’ daughter’s disappearance.

            How the Finch Stole Christmas! A Meg Langslow Mystery is written by Donna Andrews. When Meg’s husband organizes a full-scale production of “A Christmas Carol” with a famous veteran actor in the starring role, she finds herself navigating unexpected challenges in the star’s baggage and enemies.  

 

Holiday Mysteries -- Part Two

Are you ready for some more holiday mayhem? Here it is.

            Christmas Caramel Murder, the latest in a series written by Joanne Fluke, finds protagonist Hannah preparing for the town’s annual production of A Christmas Carol. She also is supporting her friend, Lisa, who is implicated in the murder of her husband’s ex-girlfriend. The book features more than 20 holiday-themed recipes.

            In Smoke and Mirrors, written by Elly Griffiths, DI Edgar Stephens and magician Max Mephisto hunt for a killer during Brighton’s holiday season. Two children were gruesomely murdered at a crime scene resembling that of the fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel”.

            Fields Where They Lay: a Junior Bender Holiday Mystery is written by Timothy Hallinan. It features Junior, who has been hired by a murderous Russian gangster to look into a rampant shoplifting problem at the Edgerton Mall. He also uncovers two murders.

            Eggnog Murder presents three holiday-themed mysteries by three popular authors. The title mystery, written by Leslie Meier, is one in which a gift-wrapped bottle of eggnog proves to be a killer concoction for a Tinkers Cove local, leading Lucy Stone to seek out the murdering mixologist.

            Wishes for Christmas, written by Fern Michaels, is a crossover holiday story featuring favorite characters from both the Sisterhood and Godmothers series. In it, Maggie is preparing a tribute to a beloved teacher while Toots investigates a mystery surrounding a designer from an exclusive Charleston firm. 

            In A Christmas Escape: a Novel, written by Anne Perry, widower James Latterly seeks comfort in his loneliness in a small Mediterranean hotel during the holiday season where he is introduced to the island’s beauty by an orphaned teen. Then a violent murder takes place.

 A Christmas Message: a Novel is also written by Anne Perry. While on a once in a lifetime trip to Jerusalem for the Christmas holiday, Victor and Vespasia Narraway meet a fellow traveler who soon is murdered over a torn piece of ancient parchment. The Narraways risk their lives to complete the man’s mission.

The Twelve Dogs of Christmas is written by David Rosenfelt. Here, Andy Carpenter defends a friend who has been reported by a cranky neighbor for fostering homeless puppies during the holiday season. Then more trouble is thrust upon him when the neighbor is found murdered. 

Holiday Mysteries

            Crime never takes a holiday, even at Christmas. To prove this theory, here are some recently published holiday mysteries.

            The Bark before Christmas, written by Laurien Berenson, introduces us to Melanie Travis who is returning to her old job at a posh private school where she hopes to make the Christmas Bazaar its biggest success ever. Then a prize show dog disappears, and Santa Claus is found dead. This isn’t what’s supposed to happen at Christmas!

            Away in a Manger, written by Rhys Bowen, features Molly Murphy who steps in on behalf of two young beggars who are severely mistreated by their aunt when one is accused of stealing a purse. Molly’s investigation into the children’s background uncovers a disreputable aspect of New York upper class society.

            Deck the Hallways is written by Kate Carlisle. Contractor Shannon Hammer is trying to transform a Victorian mansion into apartments for homeless families in time for Christmas. Her work is interrupted when her father is accused of murdering a miserly bank president. Shannon must find the real killer before it’s too late.

            Harbour Street is written by Ann Cleeves. When Vera Stanhope and Joe Ashworth discover the murdered body of a woman on the metro during Christmas, they begin a search near the victim’s home. They then discover some secrets around the neighborhood and a second murder.

            Ornaments of Death, written by Jane K. Cleland, is the story about Josie who meets her charismatic distant relative Ian during the holiday season in Rocky Point. Suddenly Ian disappears! And so do two priceless seventeenth-century miniature portraits in his possession.

            Dying for Christmas, a thriller written by Tammy Cohen, features Jessica Gould, whose date with the charming Dominic leads to a horrifying Christmas celebration. Jessica is held captive by him, forced to wear his missing wife’s clothes, and open her gifts. Will he murder her or will Jessica’s secret help her stay alive?

            Purebred Dead, written by Kathleen Delaney, features heroine Mary McGill whose discovery of a bloodstained corpse and a cowering dog in a manger at Santa Louisa’s Christmas pageant leads her to investigate.

            Mystery in White: a Christmas Crime Story was originally written in the 1930s by J. Jefferson Farjeon. In this classic, a train breaks down and the passengers take shelter in a deserted country house. Then a murderer strikes.

Merry Christmas Mayhem: Yuletide Mysteries

            Just in time for Christmas! Find out whodunit in one or all these holiday mysteries.

            The Nightingale before Christmas: a Meg Langslow Mystery is written by Donna Andrews. In this book, Meg’s mother signs up to participate in a Christmas-themed decorator’s show house, with Meg helping out. The designers’ egos clash, then one of them turns up murdered. Will Meg’s mother be held responsible?

            Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas: Being a Jane Austen Mystery is written by Stephanie Barron. Detective Jane solves a murder mystery set over the twelve days of a Regency-Era Christmas party.

            Cold Snap is written by Allison Brennan. On her trip home for the holidays, FBI Agent Lucy Kincaid and her boyfriend are snowed in at a Denver hotel, with a dead body. And Lucy’s family in San Diego face further dangers.

            Mrs. Jeffries and the Merry Gentlemen is written by Emily Brightwell. Once again, Mrs. Jeffries keeps house and solves a mystery for Inspector Witherspoon. Here, she investigates the murder of a London stockbroker.

            The Diva Wraps it Up is written by Krista Davis. Yuletide mishaps evolve into murder; domestic diva Sophie Winston investigates.

            Spirit of Steamboat is written by Craig Johnson. Sheriff Walt Longmire, the main character of the popular A&E show, is interrupted in his reading of The Christmas Carol by a young woman looking for the previous town sheriff.

            Silent Night: a Spenser Holiday Novel is written by Robert B. Parker with Helen Brown. During the holiday season, Spenser is approached by Slide, a homeless boy. He belongs to an organization called Street Business, a worthwhile community group dedicated to helping the homeless. They are being threatened by criminals.

            The Christmas Wassail is written by Kate Sedley. Christmas in 1483 has Roger the Chapman ready to enjoy the festivities with his family until two of the town’s most prominent citizens are murdered.

            Shadows on a Maine Christmas: an Antique Print Mystery is written by Lea Wait. At a Christmas gathering with family and friends, secrets about a crime from the past are unwittingly revealed, placing the partygoers in danger.

 

Some Romance for Christmas

 Get in the holiday spirit when you read some of these new romance books.

 

 Christmas Bliss, written by Mary Kay Andrews, presents an anxiety-inducing time for antique shop owner Weezie as both her wedding date and her friend BeBe’s delivery date draw near and scandal threatens to erupt.

 

 A Virgin River Christmas, written by Robyn Carr, tells the story of Marcie, a widow of an Iraq War Marine, who seeks out Ian, the man who originally rescued her husband and returned him to medical care, allowing him three more years to live. She finds Ian to be an emotionally scarred man who she is able to rescue.

 

 A Wreath of Snow: a Victorian Christmas Novella, is written by Liz Curtis Higgs. In the late 19th century, on a train ride in Scotland, we find Meg Campbell, a schoolteacher, running away from her estranged family’s Christmas celebration. She runs into Gordon Shaw, an equally troubled young man. Can their futures intertwine?

 

Winter Street: a Novel, is written by Elin Hilderbrand. It is about Kelley Quinn, owner of the Nantucket Winter Street Inn, who plans a holiday celebration with his four children and his second wife Mitzi at the inn. Mayhem erupts when the children bring their romantic problems along with them and his wife is caught in a compromising position with another man.

 

Our First Christmas is a compilation of four Christmas love stories: Under the Mistletoe by Lisa Jackson, A Ranger for Christmas by Mary Burton, A Southern Christmas by Mary Carter, and Christmas in Montana by Cathy Lamb.

 

'Twas the Night After Christmas is written by Sabrina Jeffries. The Earl of Devonmont Pierce Waverly and a vicar's widow Camilla Stuart, who also is his estranged mother's paid companion tangle after Camilla lures him home for Christmas by pretending his mother is on her deathbed. What starts as Camilla's good-hearted attempt at reconciliation ends with romance between her and the Earl.

 

Angels at the Table: a Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy Christmas Story, is written by Debbie Macomber. This is a fantasy in which four angels accidentally cause a chef and a food critic to meet a year before they were destined to meet and marry. The relationship flops, but eventually the angels are able to get things right and get them together again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holiday Fiction: Christmas Romances

    Anytime is the right time for romance, especially at Christmas. Here are some new stories, some written by your favorite authors.

    Candlelight Christmas: the Lakeshore Chronicles is written by Susan Wiggs. Logan, a single father with a son, invites family and friends to his home at Willow Lake for Christmas. Then he meets his sister’s best friend, Darcy, also a veteran of a broken marriage. Can this romance survive? (Christmas recipes also included).

    Christmas in Snowflake Canyon is written by RaeAnne Thayne. Wealthy Genevieve is running from her philandering fiancé; her father insists she marry him or he will disinherit her. Then she meets up with returning wounded veteran Dylan. Will he be her true love?

    The Dogs of Christmas is written by W. Bruce Cameron. When Josh takes ownership of some abandoned puppies he consults with staff of the local animal shelter for advice. This is where he meets Kerri, a volunteer. Romance ensues.

    Merry Christmas, Cowboy is written by Janet Dailey. Denver police officer Paula Lewis volunteers at the Christmas House to help local children, where she is drawn to local rancher Zach Bennett, as they work together to help a young boy.

    No Place like Home contains four Christmas novellas in one book: Linda Lael Miller’s The 24 Days of Winter; Mary Carter’s The Christmas Carousel; Laura Florand’s A Rose in Winter; and Kat Martin’s Christmas Angel.

Holiday Readings: Mysteries for Christmas

    Murder doesn’t take a holiday at Christmas. Enjoy these seasonal mysteries when you have some free time.

    The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries is edited by Otto Penzler, the owner of The Mysterious Bookshop in Manhattan. This is the twelfth annual collection; it features sixty mysteries originally published between 1877 and 2011.

    A Catered Christmas Cookie Exchange: a Mystery with Recipes is written by Isis Crawford. It presents Bernie and Libby, sisters and owners of a catering and bakery business and heroines of Crawford’s earlier mysteries. They again put their amateur sleuthing skills to use when a Christmas-cookie-baking contestant is murdered.

    Christmas Carol Murder: a Lucy Stone Mystery is written by Leslie Meier. Reporter Lucy Stone is on the case when one of the owners of a shady mortgage company is murdered during the holiday season.

    A Christmas Hope: a Novel is written by Anne Perry. A volunteer at a women’s clinic, unhappy with her marriage and her high society life, becomes involved with the murder of a prostitute who crashed an upper-class holiday party.

    Duck the Halls: a Meg Langslow Mystery is written by Donna Andrews. Just before Christmas, pranksters are leaving a variety of animals at several of the local churches, but then things take a serious turn when an elderly vestryman is murdered.

Christmas Fiction

Some holiday romances:

A Fool’s Gold Christmas, by Susan Mallery, is about injured dancer Evie Stryker and her return to her hometown of Fool’s Gold and her estranged family. In a “bah, humbug” mood, Evie is talked into staging the town’s winter festival and then she plans to leave. But an unlikely attraction to her brother’s best friend results in a Christmas miracle.

The Christmas Singing: A Romance from the Heart of Amish Country, by Cindy Woodsmall, portrays the celebration of Christmas among the Amish, while telling the story of Mattie Eash, for whom Christmas has painful memories since her fiancé Gideon abruptly broke up with her three years ago. Although her move to a new town has brought her a new life as a cake decorator and a new love, Mattie unexpectedly must return home where she meets up with Gideon again.

An O’Brien Family Christmas, by Sherryl Woods, presents the reader with two romances within the O’Brien family as they celebrate Christmas in Dublin, Ireland. Playboy Matthew falls for older woman Laila but then she breaks off their romance. Can he win her back? Then matriarch Nell meets up with an old boyfriend and the sparks fly. Will these two couples end up happily ever after?

Christmas and mysteries:

Twelve Clues of Christmas, written by Rhys Bowen, features Lady Georgiana Rannoch, who is 35th in line to the British throne and in need of funds, in this Depression-era story. She is able to hire herself out as a paid hostess at a country Christmas house party. The holiday festivities begin; until the murder victims begin to pile up. Christmas recipes and period party instructions are included.

Merry Christmas, Alex Cross, by James Patterson, shows us Alex Cross at home with his family after finding the thief who stole from his church’s poor box. Then, he gets another phone call summoning him to investigate and solve a complex hostage situation.

Dashing Through the Snow

Mother and daughter suspense writers Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark team up again for another Christmas-holiday novel. Writing in their usual light mystery/romance style, the Clarks revisit some of their favorite characters: lottery winner/amateur sleuth Alvirah Meehan and her husband Willy, and private investigator Regan Reilly and her NYPD officer husband Jack. This time around, while visiting a quaint New Hampshire village celebrating its first annual “Festival of Joy”, they become involved with a local mystery: a man has disappeared shortly before it is discovered that he shares a winning lottery ticket with his co-workers. It is determined that he has been abducted. The kidnappers are con men who find themselves in over their heads when some really nasty hard-core criminals take over the job. Not to worry; a rescue ensues and all ends happily.