"Cozy" Christmas

"Do You Hear What I Hear"? What's the "Underneath the Tree"? Better watch out for "The Man With the Bag"!

Have yourself a cozy little Christmas and may the body count be light. That's right, Tis' the Season for murder and mayhem, (fictional of course). After all, what's "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" without a little mystery. 

A garland of bones by Haines, Carolyn

"Spunky southern private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney tackles a string of strange accidents while celebrating the holiday season in Carolyn Haines's cozy A Garland of Bones Sarah Booth has traded in hosting this Christmas season for a road trip with her besties. Each little Delta town has a special Christmas activity, and Sarah Booth's BFF and detective partner, Tinkie, has arranged to rent a limo for the gang and drive to Columbus, MS, to stay in a B&B. Visions of Christmas shopping, parade floats, and romantic rendezvous are already dancing in their heads. But Christmas cheer soon turns to Christmas fear when, at one event after another, people keep getting hurt. Christmas karaoke gets ugly when one singer's microphone gives her an electric shock. A party during a historic home tour ends with a fall down the stairs for one of Columbus's most disreputable "players." And when the woman who hires Sarah Booth to find the villain behind the so-called accidents is nearly killed with an arrow during a holiday mumming, Sarah Booth knows something more sinister is at work. The Christmas bells are ringing hauntingly in Columbus this year, and Sarah Booth and Tinkie-with a little help from hunky Sheriff Coleman Peters, of course-are determined to catch the wrong-doers and ensure they receive nothing but coal in their stockings"-- Publisher's description.

The nightingale before Christmas: a Meg Langslow mystery by Andrews, Donna

"As the holidays draw near in Caerphilly, Mother volunteers to take part in a big Christmas-themed decorator show house--each room of a temporarily untenanted house is decorated to the hilt by a different decorator for the public to tour. Of course, Mother insists that Meg pitch in with the organization, and she finds herself surrounded by flamboyant personalities with massive egos clashing and feeling their professional reputations are at stake. Then the rooms start to be sabotaged, and an unfortunate designer turns up dead--making Mother a prime suspect. Can Meg catch the real killer in time to save Mother the indignity of being arrested? The brilliantly funny and talented Donna Andrews delivers another winner in the acclaimed avian-themed series that mystery readers have come to love. Cozies make excellent stocking-stuffers, and Nightingale Before Christmas is guaranteed to put the "ho ho ho's" into the holidays for the legions of fans hungry for another Christmas book featuring Meg Langslow. Donna has won many awards for this very popular series and continues to come up with new hilarious adventures for her endearing heroine. The novel is full of superb screwball comedy as well as Donna's trademark crisp plotting, not to mention bushels of holiday cheer--it wouldn't be the most wonderful time of the year without it."-- Provided by publisher.

Six cats a slayin' by James, Miranda

December twenty-fifth is right around the corner, and Charlie is making his list and checking it twice. He is doing his best to show some peace and goodwill toward his nosy neighbor Gerry Arbitron, a real estate agent who seems to have designs on his house (and maybe on him, as well), while preparing for a very important role, indeed--his first Christmas as a grandfather. The last thing Charlie expects is to gain several new additions to his family. Charlie finds a box on his doorstep with five kittens inside and a note begging him to keep them safe. With Diesel's help, Charlie welcomes the tiny felines into the Harris household just as Gerry decides it is time to throw a lavish holiday party. Determined to make her mark on Athena, Gerry instead winds up dead at her very own party. Though attempts to dig into her past come up empty, Charlie and his girlfriend, Helen Louise, witness two heated exchanges involving Gerry before her death: one with a leading citizen and another with the wife of a good friend. Will one of these ladies wind up on the sheriff's naughty list? Charlie and Diesel have to wrap up the case before the special season is ruined by a sinister scrooge

Mistletoe Murder by MacInerney, Karen

It's Christmastime, and farmer Lucy Resnick is living the life she's always dreamed of. When she's not selling her jams, soaps, and mistletoe bundles at the Buttercup Christmas Market, she's enjoying cozy evenings by the fire with her knitting group--or her handsome veterinarian boyfriend Tobias Brandt. But less than a week before Christmas, a pall falls over the festive atmosphere when local man Randy Stone turns up with a knife in his back ... and a sprig of mistletoe in his hair. Local sheriff Rooster Kocurek, never the brightest bulb on the string, is convinced it's an open-and-shut case--murder by a jealous wife--but Lucy suspects otherwise. She soon discovers that Randy's life was more tangled than last year's Christmas lights ... and that unless she wraps up the case fast, there might be more than one funeral this holiday season.

Christmas cupcake murder by Fluke, Joanne

While Hannah speeds through a lengthy holiday checklist, drama in town grows like Santa's waistline on Christmas Eve. Her sister Andrea wants to stave off the blues by helping out at The Cookie Jar, Michele's love life is becoming complicated, Lisa needs Hannah's advice, and Delores has a Christmas secret she's not willing to share. But nothing dampens the holiday mood more than the chilling mystery surrounding the man found near death in an abandoned storefront two doors down from Hannah's bakery.

Christmas card murder

A collection of three holiday-themed novellas includes Leslie Meier's "Christmas Card Murder," in which the discovery of an old Christmas card with a nasty message finds Lucy Stone investigating a decades-old murder

The Christmas Fair killer by Meade, Amy Patricia

Tish Tarragon has themed her appetizing offerings for the Hobson Glen Holiday Fair around the festive performances by a local theatre group. In the Christmas spirit, she volunteers to deliver breakfast to the cast but is horrified to discover the star actress dead in her trailer. Can Tish expose a cold-blooded killer before the fair is over?

Holiday buzz by Coyle, Cleo.

When she stumbles upon the dead body of a hard-working baker's assistant during the Great New York Cookie Swap, coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi and her boyfriend, NYPD detective Mike Quinn, spend their holiday poring over the clues to catch a killer.

A cup of holiday fear by Alexander, Ellie

"Ashland, Oregon, looks as pretty as a postcard this holiday season. The halls are decked, stockings hung, and eyes are all aglow - mostly thanks to the buttered rum. Jules Capshaw and her staff at Torte are busier than ever...still, even the town's most in-demand bakers need to take a break. So Jules invites everyone to celebrate at the local Winchester Inn's Dickens Feast, a six-course extravaganza with Yorkshire Pudding, Christmas goose, and all the trimmings. But as the weather outside becomes frightful, things inside turn less delightful when one of the guests ends up as dead as Scrooge's doornail. Now it's up to Jules and her helpers to make a list of suspects - and check it twice - to try to find out who's naughty, who's nice, and who's guilty of murder..."--Publisher.

Swamp Santa by DeLeon, Jana

It's Christmas in Sinful, Louisiana, and a Christmas gala, caroling, and a sleigh ride are on the agenda. When someone bumps off Santa, Fortune is aware a killer is lurking among the holiday cheer. But with no client and no reason to interfere with a police investigation, it looks as if Fortune, Ida Belle, and Gertie will have to sit this one out. Big and Little Hebert might be criminals, but they prefer no competition in their territory, especially someone brazen enough to kill a man at the Christmas gala. When they hire Fortune to investigate the man's death, she gets her Christmas wish-- and Swamp Team 3 sets out to solve their final case of the year. -- adapted from the back cover

The gift of the magpie: a Meg Langslow mystery by Andrews, Donna

"New York Times bestselling author Donna Andrews returns with another Meg Langslow mystery written, "firmly in the grand tradition of Agatha Christie's Christmas books" (Toronto Globe and Mail). The 28th book and the seventh Christmas mystery in the Meg Langslow series, The Gift of the Magpie is yet another wonderfully merry and funny book from New York Times bestselling author Donna Andrews. Meg's running Caerphilly's Helping Hands for the Holidays project, in which neighbors help each other with things they can't do and can't afford to have done. Her hopes for a relatively peaceful (if busy) Christmas vanish when someone murders Harvey the Hoarder, whose house the Helping Hands were decluttering. Was there any truth to the rumor that he had something valuable hidden beneath all his junk? Was one of his friends, neighbors, or relatives greedy enough to murder him for the rumored treasure? And what about the magpie that has been bringing her family bits of tinsel and costume jewelry-does the bird's latest gift hold a clue to solving the crime? Full of intrigue, this Christmas mystery will take readers home to Caerphilly, where the suspense falls as thick as the snow"-- Provided by publisher.

Silent bite by Rosenfelt, David

"Andy Carpenter and his golden retriever, Tara, are finding that all is not calm or bright in Silent Bite, the latest Christmas mystery in this heartwarming series from bestselling author David Rosenfelt. Lawyer Andy Carpenter can finally take a breath; he's back on dry land after a family Caribbean cruise forced on him by his wife, Laurie, to get into the Christmas spirit. Of course, the family's first stop is to the Tara Foundation, the dog rescue organization that has always been Andy's true passion. But when Andy arrives, his partner, Willie Miller, needs his help. Willie's old cellmate, Glenn Anson, has been arrested for murder. Andy doesn't necessarily believe in Glenn, but Willie does. And Andy believes in Willie, which is why Andy decides to take the case. Once again David Rosenfelt puts readers in the Christmas spirit in a tale that is equal parts mystery and holiday cheer"-- Provided by publisher.

Books to Read After Watching Knives Out

Knives Out

If you haven't yet watched Knives Out, I highly recommend you check it out by clicking the link above!

A tribute to mystery mastermind Agatha Christie and a fun, modern-day murder mystery where everyone is a suspect. When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan's dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan's untimely death.

You can check out the trailer here: Knives Out Trailer

Along with watching Knives Out, you can check out any of these similar works

Death overdue by Kirwin, Mary Lou

Ropes, revolvers, daggers, arsenic . . . all classic murder weapons. But death by bookcase? True, a crafty killer can keep investigators guessing: did it fall or was it pushed? That's what Midwestern librarian Karen Nash must determine when an avalanche of books and wood fatally flattens Sally Burroughs. And Karen's squeeze, London B&B proprietor Caldwell Perkins, appears to be the most likely suspect. In the library. With the bookcase.

Fatal inheritance: a novel by Rhys, Rachel

"London 1948: Eve Forrester is stuck in a loveless marriage, isolated in her gray and gloomy house when out of the blue, she receives a letter. A wealthy stranger has left her a mysterious inheritance but to find out more, she must travel to the glittering French Riviera. There, Eve discovers she has been bequeathed an enchanting villa overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and suddenly, life could not be more glamorous. But while she rubs shoulders with the rich and famous, challengers to her unexplained fortune begin to emerge--challengers who would love to see Eve gone forever. Alone in paradise, Eve must unlock the story behind her surprise bequest--before her unexpected twist of fate turns deadly..."-- Provided by publisher.

The mysterious affair at Styles: a Hercule Poirot mystery by Christie, Agatha

Celebrating 100 years of Agatha Christie stories, The Mysterious Affair at Styles is Hercule Poirot's first case, performed on audio by Captain Hastings actor Hugh Fraser.

Malice [text (large print)] by Higashino, Keigo

A LibraryReads SelectionAcclaimed novelist Kunihiko Hidaka is brutally murdered the night before he's to relocate from Japan to Vancouver. His body is found in his locked office, within his locked house, by his wife and his best friend who both have rock-solid alibis. Police Detective Kyochiro Kaga recognizes the best friend. They were once teachers at the same public school. Then Osamu Nonoguchi became a full-time writer - but not with the success of his friend Hidaka.

The likeness by French, Tana

Six months after the events of In the Woods, Detective Cassie Maddox is still trying to recover. She's transferred out of the murder squad and started a relationship with Detective Sam O'Neill, but she's too badly shaken to make a commitment to him or to her career. Then Sam calls her to the scene of his new case: a young woman found stabbed to death in a small town outside Dublin. The dead girl's ID says her name is Lexie Madison--the identity Cassie used years ago as an undercover detective--and she looks exactly like Cassie--From publisher description.

An unwanted guest by Lapeña, Shari

A remote lodge in upstate New York is the perfect getaway. . . until the bodies start piling up. It's winter in the Catskills and the weather outside is frightful. But Mitchell's Inn is so delightful! The cozy lodge nestled deep in the woods is perfect for a relaxing--maybe even romantic--weekend away. The Inn boasts spacious old rooms with huge woodburning fireplaces, a well-stocked wine cellar, and opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or just curling up with a book and someone you love. So when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off the electricity--and all contact with the outside world--the guests settle in for the long haul. The power's down but they've got candles, blankets, and wood--a genuine rustic experience! Soon, though, a body turns up--surely an accident. When a second body appears, they start to panic. Then they find a third body. Within the snowed-in paradise, something--or someone--is picking off the guests one by one. They can't leave, and with no cell service, there's no prospect of getting the police in until the weather loosens its icy grip. The weekend getaway has turned deadly. For some couples, it's their first time away. For others, it will be their last. And there's nothing they can do about it but huddle down and hope they can survive the storm.

In a dark, dark wood by Ware, Ruth

"What should be a cozy and fun-filled weekend deep in the English countryside takes a sinister turn in Ruth Ware's suspenseful, compulsive, and darkly twisted psychological thriller. Leonora, known to some as Lee and others as Nora, is a reclusive crime writer, unwilling to leave her "nest" of an apartment unless it is absolutely necessary. When a friend she hasn't seen or spoken to in years unexpectedly invites Nora (Lee?) to a weekend away in an eerie glass house deep in the English countryside, she reluctantly agrees to make the trip. Forty-eight hours later, she wakes up in a hospital bed injured but alive, with the knowledge that someone is dead. Wondering not "what happened?" but "what have I done?", Nora (Lee?) tries to piece together the events of the past weekend. Working to uncover secrets, reveal motives, and find answers, Nora (Lee?) must revisit parts of herself that she would much rather leave buried where they belong: in the past. In the tradition of Paula Hawkins's instant New York Times bestseller The Girl On the Train and S. J. Watson's riveting national sensation Before I Go To Sleep, this gripping literary debut from UK novelist Ruth Ware will leave you on the edge of your seat through the very last page"-- Provided by publisher.

Clue by Allor, Paul

"Get a clue. Solve the world's favorite murder mystery in this graphic novel adaptation of the classic whodunit board game. When the mysterious Mr. Boddy turns up dead at his own dinner party, everyone's a suspect! Miss Scarlett, Colonel Mustard, Mrs. Peacock, Professor Plum - all the familiar faces from the famous board game are back, plus some new ones like Dr. Orchid, Detective Ochre, and Senator White. But will Boddy's body be the last to fall, or is it just the beginning?"-- Provided by publisher.

A fatal winter: a Max Tudor novel by Malliet, G. M.

Max--Anglican priest, former MI5 agent, and village heartthrob--investigates two deaths at Chedrow Castle. But his growing attraction to Awena Owen complicates his case, as does the recent arrival at Chedrow Castle of a raucous group of long-lost, greedy relatives, any one of whom has a motive for murder.

Last lessons of summer by Maron, Margaret.

Inheriting her family's business, Amy Stedman reflects on her marriage to a man who loves her only for her money, her mother's apparent suicide, her grandmother's unsolved murder, and the possibility that she may be targeted next.

And of course, when all is done and you still need more, don't forget this movie classic:

Clue

Sources:

https://getliterary.com/murder-mystery-novels-to-read-after-seeing-knives-out/

https://murder-mayhem.com/mystery-books-for-fans-of-knives-out

https://www.amazon.com/article/twib/knives-out-mysteries.html  

https://filmschoolrejects.com/knives-out-reading-list/

https://auntagathas.com/aa/2019/12/06/if-you-liked-knives-out/

Cozy Confections

July 21st is National Junk Food Day! As much as I would love to indulge in a vast array of brownies, cookies, cakes, and ice cream, I think I'm better off catering to my literary sweet-tooth. What better way to do this than to indulge in Culinary Cozies.

A catered cat wedding: a mystery with recipes by Crawford, Isis

When Susie Katz, the crazy cat lady of Longely, New York, is stabbed in the back during an extravagant wedding ceremony for her two Russian blues, caterers and sisters Bernie and Libby Simmons must paw through the clues to catch a killer.

The long quiche goodbye by Aames, Avery

Charlotte Bessette finds the grand opening of her new cheese shop, Fromagerie Bessette, marred by a crime of passion that causes her to become the prime suspect in the murder investigation.

Cake and punishment by Bell, Maymee

"Bucolic Rumford, Kentucky has glowing fields of bluegrass, a fine selection of bourbons, and now a professional pastry chef. Broken-hearted Sophia Cummings has come home from New York City. She's not there a minute before she's charmed into making her high school friend Charlotte's wedding cake. The kitchen at the Rumford Country Club seems perfect until Chef Emile's body is discovered, sprawled near the stove, a cast-iron skillet on the floor close by. With one look at the shiny, new frying pan, Sophia knows it's not Emile's. She offers her knowledge to Sheriff Carter and her talents to Evelyn, the manager, who needs an interim chef. The mood in the country club is grim: Emile's peppery personality had burned members and staff alike. Sophia wonders which one of them burned him?"--Amazon.com.

Assaulted caramel by Flower, Amanda

"When Bailey King hears her grandfather's heart condition has worsened, she rushes to Harvest, Ohio, where her grandparents still run Swiss men Sweets, the Amish candy shop. She finds her grandfather is doing better than she feared, she also finds a local Englisch developer dead in the candy shop kitchen--with her grandfather's chocolate knife buried in his chest"-- Provided by publisher.

Chocolate chip cookie murder: a Hannah Swensen mystery by Fluke, Joanne

Hannah Swensen already has her hands full, but when the Cozy Cow Dairy's beloved deliveryman is found murdered behind her bakery with her famous Chocolate Chip Crunchies scattered around him, Hannah sets out to track down a killer. Includes a bonus short story and brand-new recipes. Reissue.

Death by chocolate malted milkshake by Graves, Sarah

"Eastport's kindergarten teacher Sharon Sweetwater and Coast Guard Captain Andy Devine are getting married. When Sharon's bitter ex-boyfriend Toby is poisoned with an arsenic-laced milkshake, Andy is jailed as the prime suspect. Then Sharon makes a shocking confession in an attempt to clear Andy. Jake and Ellie put their chocolate treats aside to make sure justice is served"-- Provided by publisher.

Town in a blueberry jam by Haywood, B. B.

"In the quaint seaside village of Cape Willington, Maine, Candy Holliday has a mostly idyllic life, tending to the Blueberry Acres farm she runs with her father, and occasionally stepping to solve a murder or two ... Candy is just as shocked as the rest of the locals when two murders occur back-to-back. First, an aging playboy takes a midnight nosedive off a seaside cliff. Then, gossip columnist--and recently crowned town Blueberry Queen--Sapphire Vine stops the business end of a hammer with her head, right in her own home. When her friend, a local handyman, is accused of the murder, Candy investigates to clear his name. Was the gossip columnist moonlighting as a blackmailer? Was the playboy playing around with the wrong person? But as Candy sorts through the town's juicy secrets, things start to get very sticky indeed ..."--Page 4 of cover.

Sprinkle with murder by McKinlay, Jenn

Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura are finally living out their dream as the proud owners of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. Their first big order is a sweet deal, too -- five hundred cupcakes for a fashion designer's wedding. The only sour note is the demanding bridezilla who insists on original recipes for the cupcakes. When Mel stumbles upon the bride-to-be dead by cupcake, she immediately becomes the prime suspect. To clear her and their business, the ladies must find the real murderer.

To brew or not to brew by Tremel, Joyce

The Allegheny Brew House is a dream come true for Maxine "Max" O'Hara, who went all the way to Germany for her brewmaster certification and is now preparing to open her own craft brewpub in a newly revitalized section of Pittsburgh. But before she can start pouring stouts and lagers to thirsty throngs, there's trouble on tap. Suspicious acts of sabotage culminate in Max finding her assistant brewmaster and chef Kurt Schmidt strangled in one of the vats.

Chocolate a la murder by Weiss, Kirsten

"When paranormal museum owner Maddie Kosloski stops by the artisan chocolate shop and finds the owner dead, she vows to catch the killer and silence the rattling of the haunted Mexican whisk in her Magic of Chocolate exhibit" -- Provided by publisher.

If the confectionery cravings get to be too much, there's always The Cozy Cookbook.