Juvenile Books: 'The Trilogy of Two' by Juman Maloof

Books open up the world. The real world and the imaginary world. Suggested books for adolescent children and young adults.

Juman Malouf is an accomplished designer and costumer who shifted her career aspirations and decided to become an author and illustrator of books for children. She was born in Beirut, Lebanon; grew up in Saudi Arabia and London; attended the prestigious Brown University (USA); and now divides her time residing in Paris, the "city of love," and New York, the "city that never sleeps."

• Hartman, Eviana. "Quality | Profile in Style | Juman Malouf." T: New York Times Style Magazine 25 Oct. 2015: 92. Print.

In reading an article about this talented lady in the New York Times (referenced above), I learned a new word. She is described as a "peripatetic" outsider. (???) This word has two meanings. Not quite sure if one or both definitions apply to her.

Definition 1: moving about from place to place.

Definition 2: an Aristotelian, i.e., a follower of Aristotle (from Aristotle'shabit of conversing with students while they walked in the Lyceum, the garden in Athens, Greece, where he taught).

The article about Ms. Malouf was intriguing to me because it seems we have a few things in common and one main difference.

~ Ms. Malouf was the character Agnes in "Fantastic Mr. Fox."

I love "Fantastic Mr. Fox."

~ Ms. Malouf likes vintage stuff: fashion, art, etc.

I love vintage stuff. See my collection on Pinterest: Everything Vintage.

~ We both aspired to write books for children and young adults.

However, the main difference between Ms. Malouf and me? She succeeded in getting her children's book published. I did not. Life got in the way, and my drafts of stories written for children were put on a shelf. Maybe one day. After all, there's always tomorrow.

• "The Trilogy of Two" is a story about twin orphans growing up in a traveling circus. Sonja and Charlotte are identical twins, musical prodigies with extraordinary powers. They are the "Daughters of the Key."

This book was included in TIME Magazine's "Top 10 Children's Book of 2015".

♦

Press, Pushkin. “The Trilogy of Two by Juman Malouf.” YouTube Video. YouTube, June 7, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2wO7VBEajc.

‌More Book Suggestions:

Four (4) Authors of Books Recommended for Juvenile and Young Adults

Four (4) Authors of Books Recommended for Juvenile and Young Adults

At one time, I wanted to write children's books. But that aspiration was never achieved. In the process of trying to…

metime4entertainment.blogspot.com

Books for Children: The Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence

Books for Children: The Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence

Think you might like reading a historical mystery book series set in ancient Rome? (Written for young readers but…

metime4entertainment.blogspot.com

Thanks for reading.

40 Year Old Books That Are Still Relevant Today: Why “People of the Lie” Still Matters in 2026

If you are a regular visitor to this blog, you have probably noticed that I really enjoy Korean dramas. While watching a K-drama about a murder mystery, I noticed one of the characters at the library was reading a book titled “People of the Lie” by M. Scott Peck.  That book was key to the K-drama's storyline, so I became curious about the book.

M. Scott Peck’s “People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil” is one of those rare books that refuses to fade into irrelevance. It's a quick read.  Less than 300 pages.  First published in 1983 and reissued in 1998, it blends psychology, spirituality, and case study storytelling to explore a deeply uncomfortable question: What does everyday human evil actually look like?

People of the Lie posits that evil isn’t always dramatic or monstrous. More often, it shows up in subtle, socially acceptable forms—self-deception, scapegoating, manipulation, and the refusal to take responsibility for one’s actions.

[NOTE: Evil is subtle? “Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.” — Genesis 3:1 ]

Peck draws from his psychiatric practice (see bio notes below) to illustrate how “evil people” harm others not through violence, but through persistent dishonesty and the destruction of others’ dignity.

Key themes of the book include:

• Evil as a pattern of self-deception — people who lie to themselves so thoroughly that they must attack anyone who threatens their fragile self-image.

• The psychology of scapegoating — how families, institutions, and communities offload their dysfunction onto a single person.

• The possibility of healing — Peck argues that confronting evil honestly is the first step toward personal and societal transformation.

Definitely sounds like a plan!

BIO Facts About M. Scott Peck

• Peck was a Harvard-educated psychiatrist who became famous for The Road Less Traveled, one of the best-selling self-help books of all time.

• His career blended clinical psychology, spirituality, and moral philosophy, which made some consider him controversial. (In other words, they disagreed.)

• Peck founded the Foundation for Community Encouragement, reflecting his lifelong interest in how groups heal and grow.

Though First Published in 1983, It Feels Tailor-Made for 2026

“People of the Lie” feels relevant today and should be added to a modern reading list.  Here's why.

1. We’re living in an age of curated identities.  Social media encourages self-presentation over self-examination. Peck’s insights into self-deception and image management feel eerily prescient.

2. The concept of “everyday evil” helps explain modern conflicts.  Many of today’s social tensions—misinformation, polarization, scapegoating—mirror the patterns Peck described over 40 years ago.

3. It offers language for experiences people struggle to articulate.  Readers dealing with toxic workplaces, dysfunctional families, or manipulative relationships often find this book clarifying and validating.

4. It bridges psychology and morality in a way few books do.  In a time when people crave meaning as much as mental health tools, Peck’s hybrid approach resonates.

5. It challenges readers to examine themselves, not just “bad people out there.”  That kind of introspection never goes out of style.

Can you believe that I found this incredible treasure while watching a Korean drama? What was the name of the drama? You'd probably never guess. “The Lucifer” (2007).

FINAL NOTE: That K-drama also mentioned “Faust”, which I did not have to hunt down. It was required reading in high school (1970s).

Great Books In 10 Minutes. “Understanding Faust.” YouTube, 25 Feb. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8Hl7lG168U.

“Evil” isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes it looks like denial, blame shifting, & the quiet destruction of someone else’s dignity.

Have you ever struggled to understand toxic behavior?

M. Scott Peck’s “People of the Lie” is a tough read but useful. https://t.co/HEn90627wL…

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) April 14, 2026

Books: Korean Folktales: Celebrate Children's Book Day

Reading to children is a wonderful activity for both the child and the reader.  They are saying that coloring books are proving to be an excellent therapeutic activity for senior citizens.  I'm not really into coloring because I spend so much time online blogging,  They should also say that reading books for children is great therapy for adults as well.  This I know for a fact!  Children's books are usually very quick reads and provide me with a delightful escape.  They have tremendous therapeutic value.  

A specific genre that I enjoy reading is folktales from different countries.  I discovered folktales because when I first decided to work from home, one of the work-at-home ideas suggested was translating folktales.  I did not pursue this endeavor but I did find that our local public library had a treasure trove of folktales in the children's literature section.  I could suggest several; however, for this blog post, I'll only suggest one. Tales of a Korean Grandmother: 32 Traditional Tales from Korea

There is a description on Amazon that described this book better than any words I could come up with.

"This multicultural children's book presents classic Korean fairy tales and other folk stories—providing a delightful look into a rich literary culture."  

Tales of a Korean Grandmother: 32 Traditional Tales from Korea

Enough said. Need a diversion from the arduous grind of your daily work? Read a children's book. Pick a folktale.  Do you have a favorite folktale?

📚📚📚

Children's Book Day is celebrated annually on April 2nd.

Shaloo Walia Recommends 10 Children's Books Everyone Should Read

Meet Shaloo Walia, vlogger and book enthusiast. I am subscribed to her channel and you should be too. She shares her reviews and recommendations for books to add to your reading list.  I personally enjoy her videos about children's books, but she shares suggestions for a wide range of books, for children and adults.

Here are her 10 Children's Books EVERYONE Should Read

Check to see if Shaloo's suggestions are audio books available at Audible, an Amazon Company:  Books for Children

📚📚📚

Children's Book Day is celebrated annually on April 2nd.

Outdated or Insightful? Five (5) Reasons to Read a 1946 Book in 2026

I miss going to the local public library. (Home-bound for personal reasons.)  Do you know the best thing about public libraries? They throw away old books. I mean … literally throw them out like trash. A bunch of books were sitting in a box, and the librarian told me I could take whatever I wanted. They were free because they were trash! Isn't that insane? “One man's junk is another man's treasure.” Getting old books that had been thrown out for free was like being given a gold mine! (Sigh.) Those were the good old days.

OK! Took a short trip down memory lane. Now let's get to the post. For your reading list, book club, whatever ... I'd like to suggest “The Black Girl in Search of God and SomeLesser Tales” by George Bernard Shaw. 

📚 This book was published in 1946.

Why should you read it in 2026? 

5 Reasons Why.

1. It wrestles with big, timeless questions

The title story is basically a philosophical journey about religion, belief, and truth. Those questions—Does God exist? Which beliefs make sense?—haven’t gone away. If anything, they’ve become more complex in a modern, globalized world.

2. It’s a window into historical thinking
Shaw wrote this in the early 20th century, reflecting debates around Christianity, colonialism, and Western philosophy. Reading it now helps you see how people argued about these issues back then—and how much (or how little) has changed.

3. It’s provocative (sometimes uncomfortably so)
Shaw intentionally challenges religious institutions and cultural assumptions. Some parts can feel dated or even offensive today, especially in how race and empire are portrayed. But that discomfort can be useful—it sparks critical thinking rather than passive reading.

4. It’s short but dense with ideas
Unlike huge philosophical texts, this is relatively concise. You get satire, storytelling, and argument all mixed together, making it more approachable than, say, pure theology or philosophy.

5. It’s still discussed in literature and philosophy circles
Shaw was a major intellectual figure (Nobel Prize winner), and this work is part of broader conversations about satire, religion, and colonial critique. If you’re interested in those areas, it still comes up.

Bottom line:
You’d read it in 2026, not because it’s “current,” but because it helps you THINK about belief, history, and how ideas evolve.

About the Author:

George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) was an Irish playwright, critic, and political thinker, widely regarded as one of the most important dramatists in the English language. Largely self-educated, Shaw developed strong opinions on politics, society, religion, and art.

• A committed socialist and a prominent member of the Fabian Society.

• Advocated for social reform, women’s rights, and income equality.

• Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925 for his work.

Believe it or not! G. B. Shaw is considered one of the greatest playwrights after William Shakespeare.

Check out my other book suggestions on BlueSky.

💙📚 #booksky

Four (4) Authors of Books Recommended for Juvenile and Young Adults

At one time, I wanted to write children's books. But that aspiration was never achieved. In the process of trying to learn how to write books for children, I developed a guilty pleasure. I started reading books for children. Four (4) authors write books for juveniles and young adults. There is no reason why older adults can't enjoy reading their books too.

Madeleine L'Engle ( 1918-2007)

The late Madeleine L'Engle (born in New York City) established herself as a young adult writer. Her last book, The Joys of Love, was published in 2008, posthumously. But I will always remember her for her book A Wrinkle in Time, published in 1962. Like Ms. Paterson's book, Ms. L'Engle's book was also turned into a movie. Per Anita Silvey's Children's Book-A-Day Almanac: "On March 12, 1963, the New York Times wrote, 'A housewife and an artist today won the nation's top awards for the most distinguished children's book published in 1962.' This statement doesn't even hint at the truth-that the most courageous committee in the history of the Newbery and Caldecott Awards had just announced its results. [...]" There is only one thing that puzzled me about this book. Why wasn't this book listed as "required reading" in my school curriculum? That was then. Perhaps it's different now, as my teenage daughter has Ms. L'Engle's book on her desk, along with other books that were required reading during my school days. Books like: Harper Lee's, To Kill a Mockingbird; George Orwell's, Animal Farm; Charles Dickens', Great Expectations, and Nathaniel Hawthorne's, The Scarlet Letter. Madeleine L'Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time" has earned a place among them.

Katherine Paterson (1932 -)

Katherine Paterson (born in Huai'an, China) is another writer of books for young readers who may now be well known because of the movie "Bridge to Terabithia", which was based on her book by the same name. I know Ms. Paterson because of her book "Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom", a tale about a secret God-worshipping group and the Taiping Rebellion, set in 1851 in China. Ms. Paterson was born in 1932 in China to missionary parents and was a teacher and a missionary in Japan. No doubt this background was integral to the writing of this piece of historical fiction. Oprah recommends her!

Laurence Yep (1948 -)

Laurence Yep (born in San Francisco, California) holds the reputation as the premier Chinese-American writer. He is best known for his book "Dragonwings". Dragonwings is the first in a series of nine books collectively called the Golden Mountain Chronicles. It is a fictional work that combines the historical event of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the experience of Chinese immigrants in California, and a flying machine. I'm sure that unique mix sounds intriguing, and you want to know more.

JaneYolen (1939 - )

I stumbled upon Jane Yolen (born in New York City) in the juvenile section of the library when I was trying to get ideas for subjects to write about. To date, Ms. Yolen has authored 300 children's and fantasy/sci-fi books. In addition, she has written thousands of poems and short stories. Ms. Yolen has been called "the Hans Christian Andersen of America" by Newsweek and the "modern equivalent of Aesop" by The New York Times. It is very difficult to pick a favorite from her writings, because every time I read one of her works, it easily makes it to the list of "Favorites". I love reading Ms. Yolen's fantasy writing. According to Fantastic Fiction Limited, a UK-based website that provides bibliographies for over 30,000 authors of fiction, "Jane Yolen is one of the acknowledged masters of fantasy today."

Books written for young adults are often a very quick read (less than 300 pages). You should try it. Select any of the books by the authors profiled above. If you would like more suggestions, check Al's Book Club for Kids or the Kids' Reading List published by Oprah Winfrey. Or, if you have an opportunity to go to your local public library, consult the librarian for advice. Go ahead and indulge your inner child.

📚📚📚

Children's Book Day is celebrated annually on April 2nd.

“A book, too, can be a star, “explosive material, capable of stirring up fresh life endlessly,” a living fire to lighten the darkness, leading out into the expanding universe.”

~ Madeleine L'Engle, "A Wrinkle in Time."

“Houses don’t mean much. It’s the people inside them that are important, ...”

~ Laurence Yep, "Dragonwings."

“Under Heaven all men are brothers....”

~ Katherine Paterson, "Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom"

“The thing I want to know is, if you tell your brain not to do stuff... and it keeps doing it anyway, does that mean your mind has a mind of its own? And if it does, then who's in charge here, anyway?”

― Jane Yolen & Bruce Coville, "Armageddon Summer."

♦ ♦ ♦ REFERENCES:

Paterson, Katherine. Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1983. Print.

L'Engle, Madeleine. A Wrinkle in Time. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1962. Print.

"Jane Yolen." Fantastic Fiction. Web. 27 Apr 2011.

"Al's Book Club for Kids.", TODAY.com: Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry, Al Roker, Natalie Morales, TODAY Show Video, News, Recipes, Health, Pets. Web. 27 Apr 2011.

"Kids' Reading List - Oprah.com." Oprah Winfrey's Official Website - Live Your Best Life - Oprah.com. Web. 27 Apr 2011.

"Author Katherine Paterson After Bridge to Terabithia - Oprah.com."Oprah Winfrey's Official Website - Live Your Best Life - Oprah.com. Web. 27 Apr. 2011.

"FIND A BOOK: L'ENGLE, MADELEINE." Anita Silvey's Children's Book-A-Day Almanac. Web. 27 Apr 2011.

Books About Women in History | Oneworld Publications | A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women

📚Recommended Reading: A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women

Well!  Beyoncé did say that girls run the world.😃

Emma Southon has authored a book about women’s experiences in ancient Rome. The book paints a fuller picture of the Roman world — one that includes:

• family dynamics and domestic life
• social mobility and class tensions
• religion and ritual
• scandal, survival, and political maneuvering
• the everyday realities that shaped life far beyond the Senate and battlefield

It's a Fresh, Funny Rewrite of Roman History

Most Roman histories follow the same predictable arc: fratricide, tyrants, endless battles, a parade of emperors, and the occasional warning about what happens when women “don’t behave.” This book throws that entire formula out the window. Instead of centering the usual cast of generals and politicians, Emma Southon retells the rise and fall of the Roman Empire through the lives of 21 remarkable women who lived it, shaped it, and were often written out of it. 

Women Who Lived at the Heart of Empire

Each chapter spotlights a different woman — not just empresses or noblewomen, but figures from across Roman society. Some were powerful, some were ordinary, some were scandalized by ancient writers, and some were quietly influential in ways history rarely acknowledges. Through them, you see the Empire from the inside out: its politics, its domestic life, its dangers, and its contradictions.

A Sharp Look at How History Gets Written

One of the book’s biggest insights is how ancient historians shaped the stories we inherited. Women were often used as moral lessons, political props, or symbols of decline. Southon dismantles those tropes with humor and clarity, showing how much richer and more complex the real stories are. The book becomes not just a retelling of Roman history, but a critique of how history itself is constructed.
Accessible, Irreverent, and Very Well Researched

Southon’s writing is lively, modern, and often laugh‑out‑loud funny — a deliberate contrast to the “appallingly tedious list of battles and generals” that she jokes defines most Roman histories.

Despite the humor, the scholarship is solid. You get real historical depth without the dryness, making it a perfect entry point for readers who want history that feels alive.

---

Why This Book is Recommended?

If you’ve ever felt that history leaves out too many voices, this book is a refreshing corrective. It’s not just about adding women into the margins — it’s about rewriting the narrative so the margins become the story. It’s smart, funny, and eye‑opening, and it makes the Roman Empire feel new again.

Why would I want to read it?  I just like the history of ancient Rome.  It's like the story that ended, but it's never-ending.  But I am always curious about the contributions of women who are often overlooked.

***

RELATED OR SIMILAR LINKS:

Travel and Vacation: Explore the City Rome: Where to Go and What to See (Guest Post)

Wisdom of Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Ancient Rome vs The Movie 'Gladiator' (2000)

Books for Children: The Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence

What a Horrible Way to Go! : History of Ancient Rome: Executions

Continuing Education: Introduction to Arabic Philosophy (with Suggested Reading)

When you tackle a topic like this, the best place to start your research is in a reputable and reliable encyclopedia like the Encyclopedia Britannica. A perusal of several EB articles revealed the following eye-opening facts:

 
~ Islamic philosophy and Arabic philosophy are phrases that are used interchangeably, and the beginning of the philosophical movements in the Islamic world dates back to the 9th century.

~ Arabic philosophy combined the Western philosophies of Aristotelianism and Neoplatonism with other ideas introduced through Islam.

~ Al-Kindī is honored as being the first Muslim philosopher. He was known as “the philosopher of the Arabs”. How did he know so much about Western philosophy? He was appointed by the Abbasid Caliphs to work alongside his contemporaries and translate Greek philosophical and scientific works into Arabic.

~ An important distinction must be made between Islamic philosophy versus Islamic theology (or religion). That distinction is that … it is very similar to Western philosophy in that the philosophers sort of try to eliminate God or Divine Intervention from the picture and rely on non-religious secular human reasoning and science to explain TRUTH and the UNIVERSE.

~ In addition to Al-Kindī, others who made significant contributions to Arabic philosophy in the medieval Islamic world include: al-Farabi and Avicenna (Persia); Averroës (Andalusian Spain); and Ibn Khaldūn (Egypt).

~ Curiously, Christian and Jewish thinkers also participated in and influenced the Islamic or Arabic philosophical movements.

~ The first period, from the 9th to the 12th (or 14th) century, is referred to as classical or early Islamic philosophy. After that time, interest in the movement declined due to a lack of supporters. However, there were and are still those who pursued a course of philosophical study to this day.

* * *
The articles in the Encyclopedia Britannica provided a great introduction to Islamic/Arabic philosophy. ly, I would like to recommend one more article published via Encyclopedia.com, which is a much easier read. Arabian Philosophy | Encyclopedia.com. ~ www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/arabian-philosophy
- Image credit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_philosophy
- Secondary source link: tinyurl.com/3uze7k9a

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Societyand Culture: What Does Arab Mean? 

Genealogyof Abraham ~ Modern Day Arabs and Their Father Abraham ~ Why dobrothers fight?

Religions of Man: Quick Intro to Baha'ism 

• Oases of Wisdom. “Al-Kindi - The Father of Arab Philosophy (Philosophy).” YouTube, 6 Feb. 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rupVEtG4WU&t=2s.

• Kings and Generals. “Islamic Golden Age - Philosophy and Humanities.” YouTube, 30 Apr. 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M5wyH4kNZE.

Additional Reading:

**

Books: Reading List: Five (5) Popular Cozy Mysteries Published 2020 and Beyond!

When you checked out my previous post My TOP TEN (10) Best Cozy Mysteries to Watch During the Holiday Season, you may have thought: 'These are classics. But what about more recent cozy mysteries? 

OK! Need a festive reading list of 5 Popular Cozy Mysteries Published in 2020 and beyond!  Perfect for curling up by the fireside during the holiday season?

Cozy mysteries + holidays work: The contrast between cheerful seasonal settings and clever sleuthing creates comforting suspense — like Hallmark meets Miss Marple. (AARP)

---

🎄 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.

“Holiday Cozy Mysteries for the Festive Season.” PenguinRandomhouse.Com, https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/the-read-down/holiday-cozy-mysteries/. Accessed 18 Dec. 2025.

---

🧶 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!

My TOP TEN (10) Best Cozy Mysteries to Watch During the Holiday Season

Let's Have a Cozy Mystery Holiday!

Cozy mysteries are a subgenre of crime fiction that emphasizes puzzle-solving and character over graphic violence, sex, or gritty procedural elements. Their roots trace back to the Golden Age of Detective Fiction in the 1930s, with authors like Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers crafting intricate whodunits often set in intimate communities.

Here is my curated “10 Best Cozy Mystery Watchlist for the Holidays" and a suggested line-up, i.e., how to maximize your entertainment (like if you're having a watch party).  Grab your cocoa! ☕ 😀

• Start with Jessica Fletcher or Father Brown; add a pinch of Phryne Fisher glamour to your hot chocolate. Save Poirot or Orient Express for last! By then, your puzzle-solving skills will be sharpened. Many people have already seen Murder on the Orient Express”. But there are a bazillion different adaptations for film and/or television. There's even a 2015 Japanese TV adaptation — a two-night miniseries version broadcast on Fuji Television.

1. Murder, She Wrote — “A Christmas Secret” (1992)

This episode leans into pure Christmas nostalgia—small-town charity events, long-buried family secrets, and Jessica Fletcher at her warmest. It’s often cited as the most beloved holiday episode of the entire series. The episode avoids a traditional “on-screen murder,” making it gentler and more emotionally resonant than usual—perfect for viewers who want maximum coziness, minimal darkness.

2. Agatha Christie’s Poirot — “Hercule Poirot’s Christmas” (1994)

A snowbound English manor, a tyrannical patriarch, and a locked-room mystery—this episode feels like a mystery advent calendar in motion. It’s one of the few Christie stories written specifically for the holiday market, and David Suchet considered it one of Poirot’s most psychologically complex cases.

3. Father Brown — “The Star of Jacob” (2014)

A jewel theft tied to the Nativity, candlelit churches, and moral puzzles rather than graphic crime. This episode blends biblical symbolism with classic whodunit logic, making it feel like a Christmas sermon disguised as a mystery.

4. Midsomer Murders — “Ghosts of Christmas Past” (2017)

Christmas in Midsomer means carolers… and corpses. This episode balances festive décor with sharp wit and eccentric villagers. It was filmed in real historic English villages decorated by locals, giving it an unusually authentic holiday atmosphere.

5. Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries — “Cocaine Blues” (2012)

While not explicitly Christmas-themed, its jazz-age glamour, champagne energy, and warm friendships make it ideal for December indulgence. Phryne Fisher’s character was intentionally written as a female fantasy figure of independence, and the TV adaptation amplified that spirit, turning her into a global cozy icon.

6. Agatha Christie’s Poirot — “The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding” (1991)

A lighter, almost playful holiday Poirot episode with country-house charm and clever misdirection. The episode adapts multiple Christie short stories into one narrative—making it a puzzle even for devoted Christie readers.

7. Aurora Teagarden Mysteries — “A Bone to Pick” (2015)

Book clubs, inherited houses, and amateur sleuthing in a quiet town—this is modern cozy comfort at its best. The fictional “Real Murders Club” is inspired by real-life mystery-reading groups that meet specifically during winter months.

8. Grantchester — Christmas Special (any season)

A vicar solving crimes during the most spiritually reflective time of year creates a gentle blend of mystery and meaning. Many Christmas episodes intentionally slow the pace, focusing on grief, forgiveness, and community—making them ideal for post-holiday viewing.

9. Agatha Christie’s Marple — “A Caribbean Mystery” (1989)

Sunshine during winter! Miss Marple solves a murder while on holiday, proving that coziness doesn’t require snow. This adaptation was filmed in locations Christie herself visited, giving the episode an unusually authentic connection to the author’s life.

10. Murder on the Orient Express (2017 Film)

A luxurious train, winter isolation, and one of the most famous endings in mystery history—perfect for New Year’s Eve viewing. The film emphasizes the moral dilemma of the ending more strongly than earlier adaptations, making it a conversation starter rather than just a whodunit.

Hot Chocolate Cocoa Mix Variety Gift Pack – 34 Individual Packets – French Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Mint & Chocolate Supreme Flavors – Instant Hot Cocoa...

Where to watch? Check here for the streaming guide.

Are you ambitious? How about a book pairing for your New Year readinglist? (Map the film or series episode to the book it was adapted from.)