If your cozy tastes run more towards PBS than Hallmark Channel, you’ll love the first book in the Heathcliff Lennox Series. After discovering a body on his doorstep, Heathcliff travels to his uncle’s home, Melrose Court, to get to the bottom of things, and celebrate Christmas. But as the snow piles up, so do the bodies, and it’s clear things in Lord Melrose’s home are more complicated than they appear.

In this delightful novella by one of my favorite cozy mystery authors, we return to Shady Hollow. The anthropomorphic residents are preparing for the yearly celebration of the winter solstice. But at the tree-lighting ceremony, the beautiful evergreen meant to anchor the event goes missing! Intrepid journalist and amateur sleuth Vera Vixen jumps at the chance to save her beloved town’s solstice celebrations.

Wit and wonder abound in this historical cozy mystery. Rakish woman-about-town Lady Georgina Rannoch is staring down the barrel of a dreadful Christmas snowed in with her boring brother and his boring wife. So of course, she jumps at the chance to host a New Year’s Eve bash in the charming town of Tiddleton-under-Lovey. Despite its quaint first impression, the town shows its true colors soon enough when the bodies begin piling up.

A cozy mystery with an enemies-to-lovers romance? Sign me up! Maggie Chase – queen of cozies – and Ethan Wyatt – king of thrillers – hate each other. As publishing rivals they cringe at the mention of the other’s name. But neither of them can resist an invitation to a private Christmas party at the secluded manor of Eleanor Ashley, the ultimate empress of crime writing. But when Eleanor goes missing, Maggie and Ethan have to put aside their animus and solve the mystery together.

Despite the unusual lack of creativity in the title, this story still has Christie’s signature twists and delightful writing in a juicy, snowed-in mystery. The aristocratic Lee family holds their annual gathering at Gorston Hall when the family patriarch turns up dead, with his throat slashed. The Lees call in Poirot, who has his hands full when he quickly realizes that every member of the family had a reason to kill the wicked old man.

Domestic Goddess Sophie Winston is doing her darndest to keep the neighborhood holiday on track after someone pinches the Christmas dinners and presents! But her family is none too pleased when her sister’s father-in-law shows up to the neighborhood gift swap, new paramour in tow, only a month post-separation. The family drama ramps up further when a body appears. Zany small-town antics follow as Sophie tries to solve the murder and save Christmas. Includes bonus recipes and entertaining tips!

Bev is always happy to provide whatever comfort she can to her patrons at the Weary Dragon Inn in the village of Pigsend. But the town reaches its limit of hospitality when a winter storm sweeps in, trapping travelers on their way to a Solstice Party at a nearby manor. The cabin fever increases when someone begins blackmailing Bev’s next door neighbors and best friends – and no one is safe from her suspicion.

There are few things as classic as a murder mystery at a country manor on a Christmas Eve thickly blanketed with snow. This retelling of the Christie Classic …and Then There Were None follows a group of seeming strangers, all with something to hide, all with motives for murder, on a cold and snowy December 24th. Who will survive long enough to solve the mystery?

A contemporary of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers, this book is also published under the title A Christmas Party. No one is terribly surprised when the deeply disliked host of a Christmas celebration is found dead. But no one can figure out how it was done in a room locked from the inside. The answer it seems, may lie in plain sight, if only they could see it.

If you’re looking for a short but compelling book to sneak in between family functions, look no further than this mystery novella by the queen of crime herself. The Dornan family’s New York Christmas has more to do with experimental medical treatments than holiday magic. When young Brian follows a stranger who steals his mother’s wallet, he gets the adventure of a lifetime.

A gluten-free baker in a seaside town is pretty much a guaranteed winner when it comes to cozies. Poppy McAllister was hoping for a quiet Christmas, but she’s drawn into a murder nonetheless when a deceased fishmonger is found in her ex-husband’s restaurant with a cryptic note pinned to him, “Get Poppy.” The police enlist her to go undercover at the restaurant, but will it be enough to catch the killer?

Things seem to be going well for Lila Macapagal. She has a profitable cafe and a blossoming relationship to tend to. But then her good-for-nothing cousin Ronnie comes back to town, with big apologies and even bigger promises. Her Tita Rosie is thrilled, but when Ronnie is accused of murder, Lila reluctantly agrees to help clear his name. But is it actually worthy of clearing?

Sleepy Briar’s Creek, Connecticut holds nothing back when it comes to celebrating the holidays. But the library’s author-in-residence Helen Monroe’s attitude veers more towards Scrooge than Santa. Helen’s efforts to keep her distance from the town soon prove fruitless when her stalker shows up in town – murdered, with her latest manuscript in hand.

Regency forms the third leg of the British historical cozy mystery triumvirate with the 1920s and Victorian London. Not looking forward to a lonely winter in London, Lady Worthing jumps at the opportunity when a neighbor invites her to the country. It turns out their host is a magistrate with a dark past – and all of the guests are connected to the miscarriage of justice. Trapped in a blizzard with a list of suspects as long as her arm, Lady Worthing must get the killer before they get her.

Charlotte Cavendish is much more comfortable with her nickname – Charlie – than her inherited title – Lady. Nevertheless, when her grandmother dies Charlie jumps at the chance to explore her new hometown of Haversham. Each book follows Charlie’s adventures exploring the charming – and sometimes shenanigan-filled – small town each Christmas.

Book 1: Lady Cavendish’s Christmas Caper

If you, like me, are allergic to cats, you’ll likely appreciate Delany’s canine-oriented sleuths. Merry Wilkinson has always loved her hometown of Rudolph, New York, and its special love of Christmas. As the proprietor of Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, she’s happy to be in the Christmas spirit all year round. Each book follows Merry as she does what she can to protect her town’s love of the holidays – and catch killers.

Book 1: Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen

If you like a dash of the paranormal in your cozies, Bella Falls is the author for you! Aurora Hart hates Christmas. A town that celebrates year-round is pretty much her worst nightmare. But when she runs afoul of the law, serving a year of probation in Holiday Haven seems preferable to spending longer in jail. Each book follows a different character in the holiday town – each embroiled in the middle of a crime.

Book 1: Sleigh Spells

Audiobook narrator? 10/10. Author’s pen name? 12/10. Musical puns as titles? 1000/10. After being jilted practically at the alter, Holly White returns to her hometown of Mistletoe, Maine, to lick her wounds. Her unhappiness at being forced to move back in with her parents, however, is quickly replaced by curiosity when a body is found on their tree farm. You’ll come to love this little town with each successive installment.

Book 1: Twelve Slays of Christmas

This is not your mother’s Mrs. Claus. After a whirlwind romance with a man named Nick, April is surprised to find herself as one half of the North Pole’s most important couple – the Clauses. Each book follows April as she tries to keep the elves – and Nick – in line with each successive Christmastime crime.

Book 1: Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings

The name isn’t terribly unique, but what this series lacks in originality it more than makes up for in charm. Driving home for Christmas, Holly Wood crashes into a snowbank and is rescued by Mr.s Claus (for real). Whisked away to Candy Cane Hollow to recover, Holly falls in love with the town (and one of its inhabitants). She stays on to live, and solve murders, in the cozy village.

Book 1: Christmas Corpse

Despite her love of baking sweets, Cinnamon Peters is far from a sweetie pie. She takes baking, and baking competitions very seriously. Less saccharine than typical cozy Christmas mysteries, the goings-on in Christmas are nonetheless the perfect balance of mysterious and spirited. All of the books have fun pseudo-film noir covers that add an extra cheeky pizzazz.

Book 1: Murder in Christmas River

Mad props to Andrews’s incredible bird and Christmas puns.

• Six Geese A-Slaying
• Duck the Halls
• The Nightingale Before Christmas
• How the Finch Stole Christmas!
• Lark! The Herald Angels Sing
• Owl Be Home for Christmas
• The Gift of the Magpie
• The Twelve Jays of Christmas
• Dashing Through the Snowbirds
• Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow!
• Rockin’ Around the Chickadee

• Mrs. Jeffries and the Silent Knight
• Mrs. Jeffries and the Feast of St. Stephens
• Mrs. Jeffries and the Yuletide Weddings
• Mrs. Jeffries and the Mistletoe Mix-Up
• Mrs. Jeffries and The Merry Gentleman
• Mrs. Jeffries and the Three Wise Women
• Mrs. Jeffries and the Alms of the Angel
• Mrs. Jeffries and the Midwinter Murders

Starring a male septuagenarian as its central amateur sleuth, this delightful 1920s mystery series features several holiday mysteries, generally at grand English manors. With a teenage Watson at his side, Lord Edgington quickly becomes a renowned detective. The art deco-inspired cover art is some of my favorite in all the cozies. Best of all, each books stands well on its own.

• The Mystery of Mistletoe Hall
• The Snows of Weston Moor
• What the Vicar Saw
• The Christmas Bell Mystery

Postal worker Tess and her golden retriever Tilly are comfortable with their small-town life in White Eagle, Montana. Thanks to her job, Tess is at the center of the town’s communication – both legitimate and illegitimate. Another book for the dog lovers out there, you’ll have a special appreciation for Tilly’s chicanery.

• The Christmas Letter
• The Christmas Clause
• The Christmas Visitor
• The Sleuthing Game: A Cozy Mystery

In Lake Eden, Minnesota, everyone agrees that no one bakes like Hannah Swensen. And she’s as good as sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong as she is at whipping up a batch of cookies. This series is light on twists but heavy on delicious recipes (I’ve tried many).

• Sugar Cookie Murder
• The Twelve Desserts of Christmas
• Candy Cane Murder
• Plum Pudding Murder
• Gingerbread Cookie Murder
• Christmas Caramel Murder
• Christmas Cake Murder
• Christmas Cupcake Murder

Much like Fluke, Meier’s murders aren’t terribly deep, but they’re riddled with charm and a certain stubborn nostalgia (the main character literally works for a mail-order company).

• Mistletoe Murder
• Christmas Cookie Murder
• Candy Canes Of Christmas Past
• Gingerbread Cookies And Gunshots
• The Christmas Thief
• Christmas Carol Murder
• Eggnog Murder
• Yule Log Murder
• Christmas Card Murder