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6 Must-Read Holiday Mysteries

We know it's January, but we aren't quite ready to give up the festive spirit yet. From heartwarming whodunits to yuletide thrillers, these novels promise to add a dash of mystery to your holiday cheer. Grab a cup of cocoa, snuggle up, and embark on a journey through festive tales filled with twists, turns, and a touch of seasonal magic.

Deck the Halls with Danger: A Crime Scene Kosovo Yuletide Novella

by Tasmin Turner

Release Date: December 15, 2023

The festive season in Kosovo takes a dangerous turn. A body at the Christmas market and a cryptic message bring gangs and forbidden Russian connections into play, disrupting a family visit. Can international lawyer Kit Chase rescue her cousin, solve the murder and thwart organized crime - all before the holidays? Unwrap the mystery alongside Kit this holiday season.

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Santa Claus Surprise

by Tonya Kappes

Release Date: December 17, 2023

In the heart of Holiday Junction, where festive cheer and snowflakes blanket the streets, journalist Violet Rhinehammer prepares for the most anticipated event of the year: the Mistletoe Masquerade Ball. However, the holiday mood is deeply marred when a chilling mystery comes to light. The gruesome discovery of a man, brutally murdered behind the living manger scene in Holiday Park, casts a dark shadow over the town's festivities.

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The Mystery Down Under: Two private detectives have a busman’s holiday

by Christine McHaines

Release Date: January 1, 2024

Quentin Cadbury and Wanda Merrydrew have only been private detectives for a short time. Yet after locking horns with London’s criminal underworld, they now have a murderous villain on their tail. Faced with mortal danger, Quentin decides it is a good time to finally visit his family in Australia and lie low for a while. But when he hears about a spate of robberies in their Sydney neighbourhood, Quentin cannot resist the opportunity to put his detective skills to the test. And hopefully prove his worth to his ever-disapproving father.

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Carol of the Witches

by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson

Release Date: December 13, 2023

HOLIDAY HILLS CAN'T CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS WITHOUT BESSIE'S CHARMED CAROLING MUSIC! Join Abby and friends as they make it their number one priority to find the music sheets and bring the holidays back to Holiday Hills.

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A Ghost of Christmas Present

by Sam Whittaker

Release Date: December 13, 2023

It’s been a hard year for Steve and Katie Nicholas. They fought vengeful ghosts as well as psychotic living relatives, and that was just their first year of marriage. But when Steve surprises Katie with a peaceful Christmas getaway at a secluded cabin in the mountains they awaken slumbering spirits with unfinished business. Tying together seemingly unrelated supernatural threads Steve fears his picture-perfect vacation will be shattered and his peace dashed. Gradually the ghosts reveal themselves and drag Steve kicking and screaming into their mystery. Can Steve uncover the truth and resolve a years-long conflict or will his plans of giving Katie the perfect gift during a perfect getaway be ruined?

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Sweet Christmas Conundrum

by J A Whiting

Release Date: December 15, 2023

It is December in the cozy seaside town of Sweet Cove, Massachusetts and the holiday season is in full swing. Angie and her three sisters are in her Sweet Dreams Bake Shop decorating the space with poinsettias when a woman they know hurries into the bakery looking upset. Mrs. Bell owns the Pine Peak Tree Farm and trouble is brewing there. The farm isn’t bringing in the money it used to, and there have been attempts on the manager’s life. Mrs. Bell asks the Roseland sisters and Mr. Finch to look into the mystery.

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The Story Behind Deck the Halls with Danger: A Crime Scene Kosovo Yuletide Novella by Tasmin Turner

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Deck the Halls with Danger?

Let me share with you the inspiration and thought processes behind this addition to the Crime Scene Kosovo series. From the outset, my goal was to weave together the festive spirit of the holiday season with the gripping suspense that fans of my series expect. I wanted this novella to serve as both an introduction to new readers and a deeper exploration for those who have been following the adventures of international lawyer Kit Chase.

Writing a seasonal novella was a decision made with both heart and strategy. There's something special about holiday stories that readers love to savor. By setting a thriller during this time, I played with a delightful contrast – the warmth and nostalgia of the holidays against the backdrop of danger and high stakes that is a hallmark of the Crime Scene Kosovo universe.

Continuity is key in a series, which is why I brought back the sinister organized crime group Black Sun from the Halloween special, "Halloween and the Black Sun." This not only creates a thread that connects the stories, but also deepens the series narrative, adding layers of complexity and intrigue.

In this novella, I introduced a new character – Kit's young cousin Paige from New Zealand. Her storyline is particularly close to my heart. Paige, in her innocence and eagerness to follow in Kit’s footsteps, doesn't fully grasp the perils of Kit's world. This interplay between the two characters allowed me to delve into themes of naivety, experience, and the familial bonds that both bind and challenge us.

Perhaps the most relatable aspect of this story is Kit's struggle to balance her intense professional life with her family responsibilities during Christmas in Kosovo. This constant juggling act is something many of us face, especially during the busy holiday season. It adds a layer of authenticity to Kit's character, making her someone readers can connect with.

In "Deck the Halls with Danger," my aim was to create a story that is not just a suspenseful read but also a narrative that resonates on a personal level. It's a blend of holiday cheer and edge-of-your-seat action, and I sincerely hope it adds an extra thrill to readers’ holiday season. It’s free on Kindle Unlimited.

Tasmin Turner is the author of the new book Deck the Halls with Danger: A Crime Scene Kosovo Yuletide Novella

Tasmin Turner is the author of the new book Deck the Halls with Danger: A Crime Scene Kosovo Novella

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Interview with Richard O’Brien, Author of Break Glass

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Break Glass: In Case of Genocide?

I am descended from survivors of genocide. I studied how noninvolved people became heroes and prevented massacres. It led me to Found The Center for the Prevention of Genocide. This book includes the stories of the heroes and the work of the CPG saving lives.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Biography.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The first chapters which I wrote while traveling and researching around the world.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I tend to percolate, then when it’s ready, I write like my father in a torrential stream.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Like so many others: Carpe Diem.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Genocide can be prevented - but since it’s part of human nature, we need to take specific steps to end it. Those steps are clear and are in this book.

Richard O’Brien is the author of the new book Break Glass: In Case of Genocide

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Interview with Drusilla Carlisle, Author of Possession

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Possession?

When I was a kid, I was obsessed with the Fear Street series by R.L. Stine. I loved the fast-paced plots and how I could wile long hours away devouring these books. I started the Horror High series because I wanted to give teens a similar experience to the one I enjoyed so much.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Possession, what would they be?

I’ve actually created an entire playlist for Possession that you can find posted on my website.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Horror is my favorite genre.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

More than I can count. Right now, I’m reading NOS4A2 by Joe Hill. Next up on my list is If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I really enjoyed the journey through Lana’s mind near the end of the book. I had a lot of fun writing that sequence and revisiting some of her past.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Writing is best when my cat Samara is lying on the floor next to me. She loves to stretch out and slow blink at me while I write.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

It sounds cheesy, but you can truly do anything you really set your mind to. Don’t give up on your dreams.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Found family is every bit as important as blood family, if not more. It’s one theme that I really wanted to be present in the entire series. Tropes will come and go, but Horror High will always be about misfit teens finding a home among their peers.

Drusilla Carlisle is the author of the new book Possession: Horror High Book 1

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Interview with Robert Whanslaw, Author of The Boy Who Changed His World

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Boy Who Changed His World?

I wanted to write a story about real people. A story any of us could find ourselves in, given the circumstances. There were a number of things bouncing around in my head, and Potts, a Second World War hero, was there from the start. The location of Whitstable was where my parents owned a bit of land in the middle of nowhere and where I spent many childhood holidays, so this gave me the location with Potts living as a recluse. Callum sprung up later, who is the main protagonist coming from a troubled family. With the two main characters and location, the story started to piece itself together easily.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of The Boy Who Changed His World, what would they be?

In the book, there are many references to songs, so all of them. You’ll have to read the book to find the answer to that question.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

The two main genres I read are realistic fiction and crime noir. Realistic fiction I love as it makes you realise how close we all walk to taking a turn down some road that could change our lives forever. Crime noir fascinates me, showing characters driven by the dark side of human nature.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I tend to make choices on the spur, but at the moment, anything by JoJo Moyes. I love the way she writes. She is somebody who knows how to grab the reader with her words and can convey such emotional feelings that open up the characters and bring them to life.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

All of them. There was not one scene I did not enjoy writing. When I write, I get into the character mentally and emotionally, so it’s impossible not to get totally absorbed in the scene. If I am not fully into the characters or the scene on the page, it doesn’t make it into the book. It’s a pretty exhausting experience, and I definitely need a holiday by the end of it.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I am not aware of any; that’s not to say I don’t have them. Maybe it would be best to ask my wife that question.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

I like to make a conscious effort to do a good deed or help someone each day. I believe in the butterfly effect. I hope that my good deed gets passed on and is amplified around the world. And if it doesn’t, it makes me feel better about myself for the day.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

The story is about friendship and how that can better your life. It’s sometimes forgotten in a world where we are all so busy and consumed with technology firing information at us every second of the day. But friendship is important, and that is the one thing it would be nice to think a reader takes away with them.

Robert Whanslaw is the author of the new book The Boy Who Changed His World

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Interview with David Doersch, Author of The Fury

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Fury?

I have spent my entire adult life training and teaching historical swordplay. It is my passion. I have also spent my entire adult life as an avid fan and reader of epic fantasy. This series of books is my way to merge the two passions and tell sweeping tales from the perspective of the 'language of the sword.'

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of The Fury, what would they be?

Anything by Bear McCreary.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Epic Fantasy!

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I have two books by Bernard Cornwell to read. Hard to believe since I've read everything he's written, but somehow I fell behind and these two got by me. Eagle in Exile and Sharpe's Command.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

There's a scene at court in the kingdom of Lachland where the newly crowned Queen Darienne is facing a banquet table full of skeptical nobles. One in particular mouths off, under his breath, and she takes him to task. What I love about it is that if it had been a king sorting this fellow out, no one would have thought anything was amiss. But the fact that it is a young queen...really sets them back a pace until they realize she is within the royal prerogative.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Cat on lap, for sure. Not my habit or choice - entirely hers. If she sees that I'm in my recliner and my lap is free...that's all there is.

David Doersch is the author of the new book The Fury: Chronicles of the Raven Book II

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Interview with Sam E Taylor, Author of Sapphire Brown

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Sapphire Brown?

This is my first novel, and it was formed from knowing women who were married but felt trapped in their lives, swapping fantasy and desire for the security or convenience of marriage. This book was inspired by trying to find some sort of release for them.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I read many genres and don't stick to one. I tend to read classics or fantasy, stuff that gets my imagination going!

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Life of Pi, a present given to me for Christmas!

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The card game, when Sapphire spends the evening being a Maid and Hostess for a gentlemen's cards evening. I'll let you read what happens after!

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I always go out for a walk before I write. I live near a nature reserve so I find it a great way to clear my head and put me in the right frame of mind to write.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

I think I'd like readers to appreciate things aren't always black or white. Life is often much more nuanced than that, and that's what makes it worth living.

Sam E Taylor is the author of the new book Sapphire Brown

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Interview with E.D. Herman, Author of Binding Roots

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Binding Roots?

I have rewritten this book six times front to back now, along with countless sectional rewrites along the way. I don’t think I even remember the original inspiration. But it was actually at my grandmother’s funeral that I got the idea to use her as a loose inspiration for the main character, Yukina. Making Yukina an old lady looking to reconnect with her homeland and heritage that she had left in her youth helped to make the pieces that had never felt quite right start to fall into place.

I finally understood that it was a story about what binds people together and how everyone has their own unique journey. No one else will ever have the opportunity to live our lives again. It is up to each of us to cherish the time we have, regardless of what life may throw at us. Yukina faces unexpected challenges while trying to reconnect with her family and culture. Some of them pleasant, others… not so much.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I tend to enjoy fantasy and sci-fi, both for reading and writing! They are marvelous for exploring what it means to be human by changing the rules. How does the human condition change when magic is introduced? How about whether that magic is innate and easy to use, or requires years of study to create the most rudimentary effect? Do people become fearful and distrustful? Hopeful and inspired? This extends well beyond magic. Simply having another intelligent race in the mix changes the calculation for humanity. Do we band together against those who are different, or do we remain in conflict with ourselves?

The stories I like best are either single books that delve into one topic really well, or an expansive world that takes itself seriously and remains a consistent vessel for exploring humanity.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I enjoyed writing reunions between Yukina and her children. It is fascinating to try to consider the image people may have of one another. How that image may change over time, reinforcing emotions as memories are twisted or exaggerated. All of it had to be considered along with the new experiences each has had since they last met. How have they changed as people compared to how they are remembered? When the characters meet again, they are near strangers and must work together to put their memories in order. Writing these conversations and feelings took a lot of time and care to feel authentic.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I often carry around a tablet anywhere and everywhere! I’ve written on busses, trains, and planes… in front of desks, at beaches, and on park benches. If I suddenly hit inspiration, I’ll whip out the tablet and start writing!

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Look for the best in people and they will often surprise you. Everyone wants to be good. We simply disagree on what good looks like.

E.D. Herman is the author of the new book Binding Roots

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New Mystery and Thriller Books to Read | January 2

Hold on to the edge of your seat as we hunt for clues and solve the case with these exciting new mystery and thriller books for the week! There are so many bestselling authors with new novels for you to dive into this week including Tasmin Turner, Brianna Labuskes, Colleen Coble, and many more. Enjoy your new mystery, thriller, and suspense novels. Happy reading!

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New Romance Books to Read | January 2

Looking to fall in love with some new romance reads? You’ll adore these exciting new novels! This week you can get your hands on books by bestselling authors Sam E. Taylor, Beth Merlin, Danielle Steel, and more. Enjoy your new romance books and happy reading!