Last Updated on December 1, 2025
I know that writing about Christmas-themed cozy mystery novels in November may seem like I’ve dashed out of the gates a little too early, but hear me out…
Firstly, at least I waited until after Halloween! Secondly, the cost of living is crazy, and all of these books have been published, so if you like any of them, you can request them at your local library and get them in time for some eggnog and murder solving by the Christmas tree!
That, and you can keep an eye out for online sales or Kindle offers, and get them discounted so you have them lined up for your December reading.
So not only am I bringing you ten top-tier holiday mysteries, but you’re going to bag yourself a bargain as well – some of them are already only $0.99!
These stories wrap up small-town charm, warm-hearted characters, and a festive whodunit all in one irresistible package, so if you’re ready to mix sleuthing with mince pies, let’s get to my list of brand-new Christmas mysteries for 2025.
The Christmas Cracker Killer by Alexandra Benedict
One for the puzzle aficionados, Alexandra Benedict returns with another clever, seasonal murder mystery set against a backdrop of mince pies, snowdrifts, and family drama.
When puzzle expert Edie O’Sullivan wins a luxury Christmas getaway on a remote Scottish island, she expects roaring fires, winter walks, and perhaps a hint of festive peace.
Instead, her idyllic trip turns deadly when one of the hotel guests is found dead after dinner.
As snow cuts them off from the mainland, a second body appears with each victim clutching a Christmas cracker hiding a dark riddle.
With her sharp mind and love of puzzles, Edie begins piecing together clues that point toward a killer among them. But the more she deciphers, the closer she edges to danger herself.
Surrounded by strangers, secrets, and an endless snowfall, Edie must solve the riddles before the murderer strikes again.
The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan
Mirren Sutherland never meant to become a book hunter, but after discovering a priceless antique volume in her great-aunt’s attic, she finds herself making a career of tracking down literary treasures.
As Christmas approaches, she’s hired by Jamie McPherson, the young laird of a fading Highland clan, to find a legendary book rumoured to be hidden somewhere within his crumbling ancestral castle.
On her journey north, Mirren unexpectedly encounters Theo Palliser, a charming rival book dealer with whom she shares a complicated past.
When a heavy snow traps them all inside the castle, alliances shift and secrets about Jamie’s late grandfather begin to surface.
Now, Mirren must race against the storm to uncover the McPherson family’s most valuable secret before Christmas morning.
Not Another Bloody Christmas by Jo Middleton
After last year’s catastrophe, Anna Johnson vows that this Christmas will be different.
No cooking disasters, no meddling relatives, and definitely no dead bodies. She books a rural holiday cottage for her family, dreaming of log fires, snowy walks, and peace at last.
But when another group of guests arrives uninvited and a snowstorm traps everyone inside, Christmas quickly slides into chaos.
Then a body is discovered in the library, and Anna realises her quiet getaway has turned into yet another festive nightmare.
With secret tunnels, hidden motives, and the ever-mysterious Mrs Haddock complicating matters, Anna must once again become an unwilling detective to stop Christmas turning truly deadly.
A Scrooge Mystery by Andreina Cordani
Nearly a year after the events of A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is doing his best to live as a changed man.
He donates to charity, befriends the Cratchit family, and organizes his Benevolent Christmas Feast for the Poor.
But maintaining virtue proves harder than achieving it. When a new business opportunity tempts his old greed, and a young woman is found murdered near Jacob Marley’s grave, Scrooge is haunted once more.
The ghost of the murdered woman appears, compelling him to solve her death or face the chilling return of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
As Christmas draws near, Scrooge must uncover the killer and protect his redemption before time and spirit run out.
Death at the Village Christmas Fair by Debbie Young
Alice Carroll is preparing for her first Christmas in the Cotswolds, delighted to be settling into life as the proud owner of the village Curiosity Shop.
The season promises cheer with the annual Christmas Fair and the rollicking Santa Run, until festive fun turns fatal.
When one Santa runner snatches an ornament from her mother’s knitting stall, Alice gives chase, only for the man to be found fatally injured outside the village hall.
The police dismiss it as an accident, but Alice’s instincts tell her otherwise.
Determined to get to the truth, she begins her own investigation, uncovering curious connections to her shop’s antiques and long-buried village secrets.
The Austen Christmas Murders by Jessica Bull
The festive season is nearing, and Jane Austen fears it will be a dreary one without her siblings home for Christmas.
But when she stumbles upon a skeleton in the cellar of Deane Rectory, her melancholy gives way to intrigue.
The discovery connects to the local legend of a runaway bride, who is said to haunt the nearby woods after vanishing on her wedding day.
Determined to uncover the truth, Jane begins to investigate, delving into village secrets and uncovering tales long buried beneath the snow.
With Christmas celebrations underway and mysterious footsteps echoing through Deane Rectory, Jane realises this haunting may not be quite what it seems.
A Very Merry Murder by Kate Wells
When Jude Gray inherited Malvern Farm, she never imagined she’d grow to love the mud, livestock, and early mornings of rural life.
But just as things are finally settling, chaos arrives in the form of a popular national TV crew filming their Christmas special on her land.
The show promises to showcase the rustic charm of farm living, until one of the crew members is found dead in suspicious circumstances.
At first, everyone assumes it’s a tragic accident, but Jude soon realises that tempers, rivalries, and secrets are simmering behind the scenes.
As the cameras keep rolling, she sleuths her way through a tangle of false alibis, jealous co-stars, and long-held grudges.
With the snow falling and the holiday season fast approaching, Jude must unearth the truth before the killer silences her next.
The Cornish Christmas Pantomime Murder by Fiona Leitch
It’s Christmas in the Cornish village of Penstowan, and the local amateur dramatics group, the Penstowan Players, is set to dazzle with their festive pantomime, Aladdin.
Among the cast are Jodie Parker’s irrepressible mum Shirley, who’s thrilled with her chorus role, and family friend Tony Penhaligon, playing the villainous Abanazar.
The evening’s festivities take a dark turn when Tim, the mayor’s husband and this year’s Widow Twankey, stumbles across a body backstage, right beside Aladdin’s bloodstained magic lamp.
With chaos erupting both onstage and off, Jodie and her husband, DCI Nathan Withers, find themselves investigating the murder.
As tensions flare and the curtain rises on a dangerous secret, Jodie must solve the case before anyone else takes their final bow.
The Mistletoe Murder Club by Kate Marsh
When former actress and struggling private detective Clio lands a part in her town’s Christmas pantomime, she’s thrilled at the chance to get back in the spotlight.
But the festive fun turns deadly when the panto’s formidable director, Dame Beatrice Butler, is found murdered on opening night.
Determined to catch the killer before the final curtain, Clio enlists her best friends, Amber and Jeanie, to go undercover in the production.
As they dig into backstage rivalries, bruised egos, and dark grudges among the cast, the trio discovers that the real drama is happening offstage.
With the clock ticking toward Christmas and the killer growing bolder, they’ll need all their wit and teamwork to unmask the murderer before the show, or their lives, ends for good.
A Christmas Murder in Merrywell by Jane Bettany
The festive season arrives in the picturesque village of Merrywell with the launch of its first-ever Christmas Market, drawing crowds, carol singers, and the scent of mulled wine.
But the cheer is short-lived when, as stallholders celebrate the market’s opening in the village bookshop, news breaks that a body has been discovered nearby.
Violet Brewster, an ex-journalist with a nose for trouble, once again finds herself at the heart of a murder investigation.
While the police are quick to call the death a tragic accident, Violet isn’t convinced.
As snow falls and secrets unravel, Violet must find the killer lurking among her neighbours, before another Merrywell Christmas ends in tragedy.
Wrapping Up the Christmas-Themed Mysteries
There’s nothing quite like the sparkle of a Christmas tree mixed with the thrill of a good mystery.
This year’s cozy titles deliver exactly that: wintry settings, amateur sleuths, and plenty of holiday heart.
Whether you prefer a village fair body count or a festive panto gone wrong, these stories turn cold nights into the coziest escapes.
I know I’ll be spending December with a blanket, a biscuit tin, and at least one of these new festive whodunits.
After all, Christmas and cozy mysteries were made for each other — both are better shared, and both always end with a satisfying twist.
