Last Updated on April 22, 2026
If you’re anything like me, the arrival of winter means a good excuse to curl up indoors with a brand-new stack of mysteries and a steaming mug of tea.
December is always an exceptional month for fresh releases, and 2025 is delivering a real treat for cozy mystery readers like us.
I’ve put together a list of ten new books getting released in December 2025, some with a supernatural twist, others pure cozy comfort, all perfect for reading by the glow of your Christmas tree lights.
Whether you love haunted libraries, tricky cold cases, or bookshop sleuths, you’ll find something in this lineup sure to get you turning pages late into the night.
After all, December can be chaotic enough, so take some time to unwind and you won’t regret it!
Pearls and Poison by Erin Lindsey
Pearls and Poison sweeps us back to Gilded Age New York, where Pinkerton agent Rose Gallagher faces her first solo case after years of usually working with her partner Thomas.
This time, stolen jewels and suspicious deaths, each touched by supernatural markings, lead Rose through high society séances and into danger’s path.
With Thomas absent and her heart still bruised, Rose finds herself relying on her instincts and inner strength.
What really shines is how Rose’s relationships, especially with friends and family, deepen throughout her investigation.
Classic mystery fans and anyone craving a touch of magic will find this fourth installment a satisfying, fast-paced read.
The Forgotten Wife by Alex Sigmore
Alex Sigmore’s The Forgotten Wife delivers fast-paced psychological suspense that will keep you guessing long after you’ve turned the last page.
The story centers on a woman grappling with trust issues rooted in a troubled past. When her fiancé betrays her, she’s forced to confront old wounds and secrets she thought she’d left behind.
As new lies unfold, so does a twist-filled plot full of intricate turns and red herrings.
Sigmore’s tight narrative and authentic emotion make this a gripping psychological thriller, perfect for those who love mysteries built on secrets, domestic tension, and the depths of human relationships.
The Living and the Dead by Christoffer Carlsson
Set in a small Swedish town gripped by tragedy, The Living and the Dead explores the ripple effects of a night gone wrong.
The book follows a group of teenagers whose choices at a party lead to devastating consequences.
Twenty years later, their adult selves return home for a funeral, driving the story in dual timelines rich with suspense and emotion.
Carlsson shines a light on trauma, guilt, and friendship in a beautifully paced, atmospheric narrative that rewards careful reading.
Expect layered characters, Nordic noir atmosphere, and a story that lingers long after the final chapter.
The Library of Fates by Margot Harrison
Margot Harrison’s The Library of Fates draws readers into a world where secrets shape destiny, and libraries hold the power to rewrite futures.
When the mysterious librarian keeper dies and a rare book goes missing, two former classmates reunite to find it.
The twist? The book isn’t just valuable; it reveals and dictates your fate when you confess long-buried secrets.
Told through dual timelines, this novel combines academic intrigue, romance revisited, and a literary mystery full of suspense.
Margot Harrison’s thoughtful exploration of free will versus destiny and her immersive world-building make this a standout for fans of magical realism and bookish mysteries.
Everyone in the Group Chat Dies by L.M. Chilton
Next up on our list of new books for December 2025 is this whip-smart modern mystery that balances laugh-out-loud humor with escalating thrills.
Chillton’s protagonist, Kirby, just wants to escape her troubles, but she gets pulled back in when a chilling message appears in her old group chat… from a friend who’s been dead for a year.
What follows is a wild ride blending comedic roommate banter, true-crime obsessions, and secrets that refuse to stay buried.
Think Friends meets I Know What You Did Last Summer, with a darkly witty take on social media and the way digital breadcrumbs can haunt us.
It’s both suspenseful and genuinely funny, which is perfect for fans of modern, character-driven mysteries.
Friends and Liars by Kit Frick
Set against the lush backdrop of Lake Como, Friends and Liars reassembles a group of estranged friends still shadowed by the accidental death of heiress Clare Monroe years ago.
When they return to her family’s Italian palazzo for a memorial, buried secrets and betrayals resurface, and someone is orchestrating high-stakes mind games.
Frick spins a richly suspenseful tale, using alternating timelines and shifting perspectives to ramp up the tension.
If you’re drawn to glamorous settings, complex friendships, and a sense of mounting danger amid beautiful surroundings, this one’s not to be missed – it’s as twisty as it is elegant.
Booked for Murder by P.J. Nelson
Set in a charming Victorian house transformed into an eclectic bookstore, Booked for Murder introduces us to Madeline, a former actress turned reluctant sleuth.
When a shocking death rocks the store, Madeline and her quirky allies, including an elderly professor and a local pastor, jump in to solve the crime.
The heart of this cozy debut isn’t just in the compelling mystery but also in its celebration of friendship, food, and small-town life.
Nelson leans into Southern charm and gently pokes fun at amateur sleuthing, making this a quick, delightful read for lovers of bookish whodunits.
The Cold Case and the Corpse by Debra Sennefelder
Debra Sennefelder is back with another food blogger caper, this time wrapped around a decades-old cold case that points to a chilling new discovery.
When a corpse is unearthed, chef-turned-sleuth Hope finds herself navigating secrets, old grudges, and a recipe for murder that spans generations.
Sennefelder does a great job building suspense and laying out connections between characters, layering her cozy atmosphere with just enough intrigue to keep the pages turning.
Food plays a prominent role, so expect plenty of culinary comfort to go along with your mystery cravings – perfect for cozy fans and armchair detectives alike.
Murder on a Frosty Night by Verity Bright
Verity Bright invites us back to the wintry world of Lady Eleanor Swift, a sleuth as clever as she is charming.
In this 24th installment, Eleanor faces new mysteries amid snow-dusted English estates and festive gatherings.
The writing, as always, remains witty and entertaining, with just the right touch of seasonal spirit and intrigue.
While the series’ continuity rewards returning readers, this story’s mystery and brisk pace can captivate newcomers as well.
If you love classic British cozies filled with well-drawn characters, tongue-in-cheek humor, and the elegance of a bygone era, settle in for another delightful adventure.
The Curious Poisoning of Jewel Barnes by Terry Shames
In The Curious Poisoning of Jewel Barnes, Terry Shames takes readers to a close-knit community still reeling from shock.
When local woman Jewel Barnes strangely dies, secrets simmer beneath the surface. With an investigator digging into old feuds and whispered scandals, the story unfolds through a cast of memorable characters and red herrings aplenty.
Shames excels at small-town storytelling with warmth, wit, and a sharp eye for the ways personalities clash and secrets unravel.
The puzzle is clever, but it’s the vivid setting and authentic relationships that make this mystery a satisfying page-turner for winter evenings.
Wrapping Up: December’s Must-Read Mysteries
There’s something so special about discovering fresh mysteries just as the year winds down.
December 2025’s slate of new releases offers a wonderful mix of supernatural surprises, bookshop sleuths, psychological twists, glamorous locales, and good old-fashioned puzzle-solving.
As someone who adores curling up with a warm blanket and a stack of new books, I think these titles are going to make winter reading pure joy.
Each book brings its own flavor, from magical libraries to festive mansions, from group chat chills to the laughter and tears of friendships old and new.
If you’re searching for the perfect cozy to keep you company through the holidays and beyond, I hope you’ll find something to love in this list.
Here’s to a winter filled with irresistible mysteries and many late-night reading sessions!
