7 Cozy Christmas Mysteries You’ll Love—From Festive Whodunits to Holiday Surprises!

If you’re looking for a book featuring small-town charm, an amateur sleuth, lighthearted suspense and an eerie case that keeps you guessing, you’ll find all that and more in the cozy mystery genre. Even better? This popular literary genre is known for its wide variety of seasonal tales—and there’s a particularly large abundance of cozy mysteries set during the Christmas season! So, if you’re in the market for a great holiday whodunit, you’re in the right place! We’ve gathered up seven holiday cozy mystery books that are guaranteed to entertain and enchant from page one. 

Feel like traveling to a picturesque inn during Christmastime and cracking a dangerous case? Pick up Christmas & Killers by Josephine Smith. Or, escape to a Christmas tree farm in Maine and hunt down a suspect alongside the local sheriff in Jacqueline Frost’s Slashing Through The Snow.

Keep scrolling to uncover all of our holiday cozy mystery recommendations. Happy holidays—and happy sleuthing!

‘Holly Homicide’ by Tonya Kappes

Readers are transported to a festive town called Holiday Junction in this whodunit written by Tonya Kappes. Local journalist Violet Rhinehammer is prepping to cover the town’s seasonal festivities—not investigate a shocking crime. But Violet, who is also a part-time amateur sleuth, is immediately drawn into the center of this perplexing mystery. As the list of suspects grows, she taps charming lawyer Darren Strickland for extra help investigating. Can they solve the crime and find the culprit before Christmas?

What readers are saying: “Holly Homicide is an excellent addition to the Holiday Cozy Mystery series and might be the best installment so far. I liked the Christmas aspect and the extra coziness that came with it, and the festive atmosphere really put me in the holiday spirit.” 

‘Paws to Remember’ by Sofie Kelly

The holiday installment in beloved author Sofie Kelly’s Magical Cats series is a fun, festive whodunit featuring librarian Kathleen Paulson and her enchanted felines. A water leak leads to the discovery of a body in the walls of a store run by an artists’ co-op Kathleen’s friend Maggie is involved with. Then a friend with a connection to the body asks Kathleen to look into the case. Now, she and her detective boyfriend vow to find the answers—fast.

 What readers are saying: “A very interesting mystery with appearances by all our favorite characters—two-footed and four—and lots of holiday cheer—I strongly recommend!” 

‘Dashing Through the Snowbirds’ by Donna Andrews

Fans of author Donna Andrews’ Meg Langslow Mystery series are in for a treat: Dashing Through the Snowbirds is a holly jolly holiday delight! When Meg’s boss forces her to spend Christmas working on a DNA analysis project, she and the other programmers are beyond disgruntled. Then when their boss is found murdered, there are plenty of suspects. Now, it’s up to Meg to crack the case—and keep Yuletide spirits bright!

What readers are saying:  “I love all of Donna Andrews’ books in this series and really enjoy the Christmas stories, but this one was really special for the appearance of all of Meg’s usual cast of funny and sometimes exquisitely exasperating family and friends, as well as the visiting Canadians. All in all, I had fun reading this book. I will be putting it on my re-read list for the holidays.”

‘Christmas and Killers’ by Josephine Smith

This quirky holiday whodunit is set in the Pacific Northwest, where Simone is expecting a calm, cozy Christmas at the Hemlock Inn. But that all goes very awry when one of her staff members takes off on a cruise, her mom shows up in town with secrets up her sleeve and an acquaintance is murdered. Now, Simone must dig for clues to uncover the truth—or else this could end up being her own nightmare before Christmas!

What readers are saying: “I loved this sixth installment in the Hemlock Inn Mysteries series—it was fast-paced and kept me turning pages all night long! I also really enjoyed the Pacific Northwest setting and the cozy holiday details woven throughout the story.”

‘Twelve Motives for Murder’ by Fiona Sherlock

Packed with memorable characters, Italian settings and a perplexing mystery, this hilarious whodunit follows one murder with 12 suspects. When Jonty Caswell-Jones is found dead in his study on Christmas Day in the family’s Villa Janus in Como, his wife, Catherine, calls on private investigator Elizabeth Chalice to interview each suspect. Now, Elizabeth must crack the case and find the killer before Christmas ends!

What readers are saying: “I really enjoyed this book. A great array of characters and an Italian setting made it a great escapist read, which was just what I was looking for. Elizabeth Chalice is a refreshingly unusual detective with a hint of mischief about her that I really enjoyed.” 

‘Slashing Through the Snow’ by Jacqueline Frost

​​Humor, festive fun and a dash of danger abound in this holiday whodunit starring Holly White, the innkeeper of a new B&B at a Christmas tree farm in Mistletoe, Maine. But the joy in the air disappears when Karen, a vicious B&B critic, shows up…then the town sheriff, Evan Gray, finds Karen dead. Now, Holly and Evan must crack the case before the killer strikes again! 

What readers are saying: “I have read all three books in this series and this one didn’t disappoint! Holly White and her friends are a delight to go on an adventure with. The town of Mistletoe, Maine is certainly one I would love to visit—and I love visiting there through your books!”

‘It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder’ by Maria DiRico

An intriguing, adventurous holiday whodunit begins when Mia Carina is juggling a packed schedule of events at Belle View catering hall. Amid this chaos, her estranged mother returns and her friend Jamie discovers a secret about his own past. Then, to make matters worse, a body is found in the Santa’s workshop lawn display. Now, Mia must crack the Christmas case and find the culprit—or else! 

What readers are saying: “This third installment in the Catering Hall Mystery series is a great way to start your Christmas-themed reading! There are suspects galore and Mia is determined to prove that the guilty party isn’t anyone in her beloved family.”