Have Yourself a Merry Little Murder -- Christmas Mysteries Group Read

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Have Yourself a Merry Little Murder -- Christmas Mysteries Group Read

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1rabbitprincess
Editado: Nov 23, 2013, 10:53 pm

Perhaps because it’s supposed to be "the most wonderful time of the year", Christmas is an irresistible setting for murder mysteries. If you feel like unwinding with some holiday crime over the Christmas season, come join us here!



If you’re looking for inspiration, check out some of these books pictured above, or take a look at the tagmash for "Christmas" and "mystery":

http://www.librarything.com/tag/Christmas,+mystery

If the pictures don't show up, these are the books:

Hercule Poirot's Christmas, by Agatha Christie (also published as A Holiday for Murder)
I Am Half-sick of Shadows, by Alan Bradley
Murder for Christmas, edited by Thomas Godfrey
Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop, edited by Otto Penzler
Christmas Stalkings, edited by Charlotte MacLeod
Past Reason Hated, by Peter Robinson
Benjamin Franklin and a Case of Christmas Murder, by Robert Lee Hall

And of course, be sure to let us know which Christmas books you would ask Santa to put into people’s stockings!

2rabbitprincess
Editado: Nov 23, 2013, 9:01 pm

I have Benjamin Franklin and a Case of Christmas Murder on its way from the library and am considering reading Christmas Stalkings when I go visit my parents (they own a copy and have done forever, so it's always the first thing I think of when I think about Christmas mysteries).

Also, I know there are two covers for Hercule Poirot's Christmas, but I have never been one to resist Fontana's extremely loony covers. You're welcome.

3cbl_tn
Nov 23, 2013, 9:05 pm

Thanks for starting this thread! I've been saving The Fleet Street Murders for a Christmas read. I'm also planning on The Christmas Mystery, but I'm not sure if that one involves murder.

4mysterymax
Nov 23, 2013, 9:12 pm

This thread will produce lots of BBs. I am putting Ben Franklin and Piorot on request at the library Monday!

5thornton37814
Nov 23, 2013, 9:23 pm

I'm going to have to browse through my list. I did just finish Not a Creature Was Stirring by Jane Haddam. It's set around Christmas, but it doesn't have as strong of a Christmas-y feel as some.

6majkia
Nov 23, 2013, 9:27 pm

#3 by cbl_tn> Oh Whopeee!!!!!!!!!!!! I am due for a Lenox, and Fleet Street Murders is my next read in that series. I hadn't realized it was set at Christmas time. I'll be joining you there!

7lkernagh
Nov 23, 2013, 9:45 pm

Wonderful thread idea! Not sure if I will read a book for this one but I do have a suggestion to add to the pile: Mr. Timothy by Louis Bayard. I read this one at Christmas time last year - fast forward A Christmas Carol to 1860 London with an adult tiny Tim, an appearance by Ebenezer Scrooge and yes, there is a mystery to be solved. ;-)

8Helenliz
Nov 24, 2013, 6:03 am

I've got a seasonal murder on reserve at the library - the chocolate snowman murders. No idea what it'll be like, but it's seasonal, if nothing else.
i wonder if I ought to buy some chocolate snowmen to murder eat while reading this?

9majkia
Nov 24, 2013, 6:57 am

I'm tempted to re-read (again!) The Man with a Load of Mischief..... If I can fit it in next month, I will!

10thornton37814
Nov 24, 2013, 9:55 am

I identified and pulled out several Christmas mysteries out of my stash. I haven't decided which ones I'm reading, and I'm trying to determine which box that my copy of Holmes for the Holidays is in because that one is calling my name (if I can find it).

11rabbitprincess
Nov 24, 2013, 10:39 am

>8 Helenliz:: Haha, definitely! Be sure to bite their heads off first ;)

Weird, I looked for Holmes for the Holidays at my library, but all that turned up was the sequel, More Holmes for the Holidays. I'm sure they can be read individually, but it seems odd to have the second volume and not the first. Great title though.

12thornton37814
Nov 24, 2013, 11:05 am

I think I've figured it out. It's a book that is borrowed from a friend so it should be in the boxes of her books. I'm off to find it now. Should make it much simpler to locate as there are only 3 or 4 boxes of her books now. (I used to have 5 so I'm making a bit of progress!)

13lsh63
Editado: Nov 24, 2013, 11:35 am

This is a great idea for a thread, I pulled the following from my shelves last week:

Murder at Christmas and Other Stories
A Redbird Christmas
A Catered Christmas
The Gingerbread Bumpoff

14mstrust
Nov 24, 2013, 11:57 am

I've read the Agatha Christie and liked it (and you're right, princess, that one cover looks like a crazy nightmare).
>7 lkernagh: Lori, I have Mr. Timothy but haven't read it yet. Sounds perfect.

15thornton37814
Editado: Dez 7, 2013, 9:21 pm

Okay, I've now pulled more than I will probably read this year, but I think I'll let mood dictate which ones I grab. Of course, I could end up reading them all. Who knows? Here are my options:

Manhattans and Murder by Donald Bain writing as Jessica Fletcher
Holmes for the Holidays edited by Martin Harry Greenberg and others
Murder in Ordinary Time by Sister Carol Anne O'Marie - Determined that although Christmas cookies play into this, it is set in January. Christmas is still important, but I'm putting it off for a bit. I might read it toward the end of the month.
Ringing in Murder by Kate Kingsbury
Deck the Halls with Murder by Valerie Wolzien
A Christmas Journey by Anne Perry - COMPLETED
Mad as the Dickens by Toni L. P. Kelner
The Merchant of Menace by Jill Churchill
The Shortest Day: Murder at the Revels by Jane Langton - COMPLETED

From the Library:
Murder for Christmas by Thomas Godfrey - Reading

16thornton37814
Nov 24, 2013, 12:14 pm

Lisa> I loved Fannie Flagg's A Redbird Christmas when I read it several years ago. I need to get to her latest novel soon.

17luvamystery65
Editado: Nov 24, 2013, 2:20 pm

I have Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop in transit from the library.

ETA: Thanks for doing this rabbitprincess

18LittleTaiko
Nov 24, 2013, 2:55 pm

Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop is waiting for me on the shelf. Trying to hold off until after Thanksgiving but am quite ready to read a holiday themed book.

19dudes22
Nov 24, 2013, 5:33 pm

I decided to switch out one of my planned reads for Dec, and will tuck in A Christmas Journey by Anne Perry instead. Plus it's a novella so should make it easier to reach my goal this year.

20mathgirl40
Nov 24, 2013, 6:49 pm

I might try to squeeze A Highland Christmas (Hamish Macbeth series) into December. Nice idea for a group read!

21DeltaQueen50
Nov 24, 2013, 6:52 pm

I've decided to give Anne Perry's Victorian Christmas Series a try and have download the first two, The Christmas Journey and The Christmas Visitor to read as the festive season draws near.

22lkernagh
Nov 24, 2013, 9:13 pm

> 14 - Jenn, I forgot to mention that Mr. Timothy is also set during the days leading up to Christmas. If you do get around to reading it, I will be very curious to see what you think of it.

23mysterymax
Nov 28, 2013, 7:09 am

Have finished Kissing Christmas Goodbye by M. C. Beaton and The Christmas Crimes at Puzzel Manor by Simon Brett. I have a feeling that most of the Christmas mysteries I lugged home from the library are going to be on the cozy/light side...

24luvamystery65
Editado: Nov 28, 2013, 8:48 pm

I got my copy of Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop and I plan to read one story a night. I've got two group reads in December and I am reading A View From Castle Rock. I'll look for another short story Christmas anthology so I can read a little murder mystery through Epiphany.

ETA: I found Crime for Christmas at the library and ordered it. Now my plan is in place.

25lindapanzo
Nov 28, 2013, 10:13 pm

I love Christmas mysteries and have read a few of the ones you mentioned in #1.

I'm aiming to read the new Leslie Meier Christmas mystery, Christmas Carol Murder.

Here's a list of Christmas cozies, from my favorite cozy website...

http://www.cozy-mystery.com/Holiday-Mystery-Books/Christmas-Mystery-Book-List.ht...

26lsh63
Dez 1, 2013, 2:14 pm

I finished The Gingerbread Bumpoff late last night, now I'm reading Wedding Cake Killer. The first book takes place around two weeks before Christmas and the second takes place after Christmas and into the New Year.

27mstrust
Dez 3, 2013, 1:20 pm

I started Mr. Timothy last night.

>22 lkernagh: Lori it's not often that you start a book at almost the exact day that the story begins. And my impression so far is that Little Tim is leading a very different life than Dickens expected!

28majkia
Dez 3, 2013, 1:23 pm

I finished The Man with a Load of Mischief . A many times comfort re-read for me. And just began The Fleet Street Murders.

29dudes22
Dez 6, 2013, 3:37 pm

I've finished A Christmas Journey by Anne Perry, first in her Victorian Christmas series. I have another ( not sure if it's #2 or not) and if I finish my 13 in 13 challenge early, might go on to read that one.

30majkia
Dez 6, 2013, 5:42 pm

I finiished The Fleet Street Murders today. Not my favorite Charles Lenox book, but good nonetheless.

31Helenliz
Dez 7, 2013, 1:08 pm

I finished the Chocolate Snowman murders. it was fun, but a bit to frothy and obvious to be really good. Murderer identified ~ 1/3 of the way in, then had to read another 200 pages to find out the motive.
Has left me with a hankering after a chocolate snowman or two though. nom nom nom.

32thornton37814
Dez 7, 2013, 2:07 pm

For those of you who read Anne Perry's A Christmas Journey, I've put it in the TIOLI challenge of the 75 group in challenge 11 (if you are in the 75 group and do TIOLI).

33thornton37814
Dez 7, 2013, 9:23 pm

I finished A Christmas Journey by Anne Perry last night and The Shortest Day: Murder at the Revels by Jane Langton today.

34luvamystery65
Dez 8, 2013, 9:19 pm

I was enjoying reading these short stories one per evening. Then RL intruded and I got behind. I caught up this weekend but they are more enjoyable one at a time. Other wise it's too much Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop WITH Otto Penzler. Apparently, the ones with him included made it into his anthology. LOL!

I'm waiting for Crime for Christmas which has some Golden Age authors in it I believe.

35lindapanzo
Dez 8, 2013, 9:24 pm

In a few days, I'll probably start Leslie Meier's Christmas Cookie Murder. Net Galley sent a collection of Christmas short stories, which I might also look at.

36LittleTaiko
Dez 8, 2013, 9:40 pm

>34 luvamystery65: - good to know that one at a time is best. That's what I've been doing, but have been sorely tempted to finish them off. It's given me something to look forward to.

37luvamystery65
Dez 13, 2013, 12:06 pm

38mathgirl40
Dez 13, 2013, 11:05 pm

I finished M.C. Beaton's A Highland Christmas. The mystery element is pretty weak, but if you're a fan of Hamish Macbeth and friends, you'll enjoy this one, as I did.

I searched through some on-line Christmas mystery lists and did not see Kathy Reichs mentioned, but while I was browsing at the library, I found Monday Mourning, which seems to be set in Montreal in the days leading up to Christmas. I'm planning to save this for my actual holiday vacation, which starts in a week.

39lsh63
Editado: Dez 16, 2013, 7:55 am

40rabbitprincess
Dez 16, 2013, 5:39 pm

I gave up on the Benjamin Franklin mystery but have borrowed an e-copy of A Highland Christmas, as that sounds interesting too. I am on a bit of a Scottish kick at the moment so it should fit in nicely!

41thornton37814
Dez 16, 2013, 7:42 pm

I just had a nice visit with Jessica Fletcher for the holidays.



Manhattans and Murder by Donald Bain

42mathgirl40
Dez 17, 2013, 8:57 am

I started Louise Penny's latest Inspector Gamache mystery, How the Light Gets in, and I was surprised and absolutely delighted to discover that it's set in the days leading up to Christmas. Christmas in Three Pines ... what could be better? I loved this passage from a CBC article about the book:

A Quebec Christmas is "magical, it kind of breaks almost into the mystical," she said. "It's everybody's chocolate box view of what Christmas could be and should be. And so that's what I try to paint." But that beauty is also a "counterpoint," Penny explained. "Because the books are about light and dark, and the light only comes in when there's a crack, or a violation of some sort. So it's about the juxtaposition of that great beauty and the quietude that happens with Christmas and the joy of Christmas, and the violations that are happening."

An early book in the series, A Fatal Grace, is also set in Three Pines at Christmas.

43rabbitprincess
Dez 19, 2013, 8:32 pm

Ooooo I have to read that Louise Penny soon! Or rather they have to hurry up and release it in paperback. Also, I still have to read The Beautiful Mystery.

This week I read the very delightful Rumpole at Christmas, by John Mortimer. The stories had a similar sort of structure but were all fun. Just the sort of low-stress reading one needs at the holidays.

44lindapanzo
Dez 19, 2013, 10:17 pm

At the library today, they had a big display of Christmas books. I nearly chose Charlotte MacLeod's Rest You Merry but I pulled out my iphone, checked LT and noted I read it many years ago. I did pick up Crime for Christmas, a collection of mystery short stories from British authors.

45luvamystery65
Dez 20, 2013, 2:29 pm

#44 Linda I am reading Crime for Christmas right now. It's perfect for the season.

46cbl_tn
Dez 21, 2013, 1:22 pm

I just finished A Killer's Christmas in Wales, a cozy mystery set in a Welsh village. The murder took place at Conwy Castle, which I've actually visited! The mystery isn't earth-shattering, but I enjoy the characters and setting. This book also has a fun connection to Jeanne Dams' Dorothy Martin series.

47cbl_tn
Dez 21, 2013, 9:43 pm

I finished another Christmas murder mystery this evening. A Christmas Grace is one of Anne Perry's Christmas novellas. This one features Charlotte Pitt's sister, Emily, solving a cold case while visiting their aunt in Ireland just before Christmas. I loved the characters and the setting, but the mystery plot is weak.

48lsh63
Dez 23, 2013, 8:08 am

I was having trouble settling on a book so I chose Silent in the Sanctuary. I didn't realize it would fit this thread, but Julia and her brothers are being summoned home to England for Christmas after spending months in Italy.

49DeltaQueen50
Dez 24, 2013, 12:53 pm

I've started on A Christmas Journey by Anne Perry and have A Christmas Visitor waiting in the wings. These are first two novellas in her Christmas series.

50luvamystery65
Dez 24, 2013, 2:00 pm

I'm in the middle of Crime for Christmas and listening to The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens as narrated by Jim Dale.

Merry Christmas to all of you!

51cbl_tn
Dez 28, 2013, 1:01 pm

I finished Murder on the Candlelight Tour by Ellen Elizabeth Hunter while I was at my brother's for Christmas. This is probably my last Christmas mystery until next year. I had a few other Christmas-themed mysteries on my reading list for December, but now that Christmas is over I'm ready for something else.

52majkia
Dez 28, 2013, 1:13 pm

I'm about halfway through Rest You Merry. Enjoying it heartily.