🎄 1. The Mistletoe Mystery — Nita Prose (2024)
Hotel maid Molly Gray (from The Maid) is looking forward to a peaceful holiday… until a Secret Santa twist and a light mystery about trust and gifts put her on the sleuthing trail. It’s heartwarming, gentle, and a lovely festive read with cozy vibes rather than gruesome crime.
Author: Nita Prose: Canadian mystery author Nita Prose garnered major attention with her debut The Maid, blending quirky protagonists with warm mysteries; she brings the same charm to this holiday outing.
Tidbits:
- This title is short enough to enjoy in one sitting — perfect for a night in with cocoa and cookies! It’s part of Molly’s expanding cozy world, so fans of character-driven mysteries will adore it.
- Mistletoe Murders is a holiday mystery TV series — not a direct adaptation of one of the mystery books on your holiday reading list. It’s based on an Audible original podcast series rather than a published holiday mystery novel. Even so, the series premiered on Hallmark+ on October 31, 2024, and later aired on the Hallmark Channel during the 2025 holiday season. Stars Sarah Drew as Emily Lane, a small-town Christmas shop owner who investigates murders around her town of Fletcher’s Grove. The series is based on a podcast by creator Ken Cuperus (not on a mystery book), though it carries the cozy holiday mystery vibe your readers will love. It’s been renewed for at least Season 2 in 2025, expanding the story and mysteries each year.
REF: DeRenzo, Nicholas. “These Holiday Mysteries Offer Cozy Chills.” AARP, 15 Nov. 2024, https://www.aarp.org/entertainment/books/holiday-mystery-books/.
Herman, Joly. “Mistletoe Murders.” Common Sense Media, 31 Oct. 2024, https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/mistletoe-murders.🧶 2. It Came Upon a Midnight Shear — Allie Pleiter (2022)
Libby Beckett’s yarn shop holiday celebration unravels when her ex turns up dead, and a rare luxury wool goes missing. As decorations go up, sleuthing begins, blending holiday cheer with small-town mystery.
Author: Allie Pleiter: a bestselling cozy mystery author with dozens of books to her name and a special knack for knitting and craft-based mysteries. Her experience as a knitter and speaker adds heart to her cozy settings.
Tidbits: Knitting patterns are sometimes included in Pleiter’s books — a festive bonus for crafty readers!
REF: Allie Pleiter, https://alliepleiter.com/books/the-riverbank-knitting-mysteries/it-came-upon-a-midnight-shear/. Accessed 18 Dec. 2025.
It Came Upon a Midnight Shear. 8 Nov. 2022, https://dianneascroft.com/2022/11/08/it-came-upon-a-midnight-shear/.🎅 3. Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen — Vicki Delany (2021)
In Rudolph, New York — a town that celebrates Christmas year-round — cozy sleuth Merry Wilkinson finds that even endless holiday cheer can’t hide a murder. A cheerful setting with holiday traditions on every page.
Author: Vicki Delany: has written over 30 mysteries with heart and place-based charm, often featuring strong amateur sleuths in quirky communities.
Tidbits: This book launches the Year-Round Christmas series — great if you love holiday legend, season-long cheer, and a bit of sleuthing that never leaves the festive spirit.
REF: “Holiday Cozy Mysteries for the Festive Season.” PenguinRandomhouse.Com, https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/the-read-down/holiday-cozy-mysteries/. Accessed 18 Dec. 2025.
📚 4. The Thursday Murder Club — Richard Osman (2020)
In a retirement community, four friends meet weekly to solve cold cases — and suddenly they’ve got a live case on their hands. While not strictly holiday-themed, this cozy (and hilarious) mystery has the warm feeling of gathering with friends — ideal for the season.
Author: Richard Osman: British TV presenter turned bestselling author, Osman’s debut was a global hit thanks to its delightful characters, witty prose, and lovable amateur detectives.
Tidbits:
- This book became a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller and is often gifted during the holidays for its charm and wit.
- The first book in Richard Osman’s beloved series (The Thursday Murder Club, 2020) was adapted into a major motion picture that was released in 2025. It starred Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, and Ben Kingsley, among others, and debuted on Netflix after a theatrical run.
REF: Contributors to Wikimedia projects. “Thursday Murder Club (Series).” Wikipedia, 1 Nov. 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thursday_Murder_Club_%28series%29.
🕯️ 5. Blackmail and Bibingka — Mia P. Manansala (2024)
In Shady Palms during Christmastime, Lila Macapagal must untangle family drama and murder suspicions involving her estranged cousin — all while navigating cultural holiday traditions.
Author: Mia P. Manansala: brings a fresh, multicultural voice to cozy mysteries, blending heart with holiday spirt, family themes, and sharp sleuthing.
Tidbits: The title’s fun wordplay and inclusion of bibingka (a Filipino holiday treat) make it an especially tasty read for food-loving mystery fans!
REF: “Holiday Cozy Mysteries for the Festive Season.” PenguinRandomhouse.Com, https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/the-read-down/holiday-cozy-mysteries/. Accessed 18 Dec. 2025.
✨ Fun Ideas
📌 Pair each book with a themed drink — check out the drink pairings on my foodie blog.
📌 More fun for the holiday? Pick a “mystery reading night” and invite family and friends, book club members, etc. They'll need a blanket, string lights, their favorite warm drink, and one or more of these books!
