12 Murder Mysteries to Cosy Up with this Winter

This winter, raging storms and monstrous blizzards might have forced many of us to spend holidays being cooped up at home Yet, in spite of it all, every cloud has a silver lining. Perhaps, it’s the perfect time to curl up with a hot cocoa and a cosy mystery and indulge in that guilt-free binge-reading you have always dreamt of. From beloved old classics to brand new releases, we have hand-picked twelve remarkably chilling tales of murder you will enjoy solving on a cold winter’s day. 

Murder, She Wrote: The Murder of Twelve by Jessica Fletcher

“Once again Jessica finds herself at her home away from home, Hill House, cut off from the rest of Cabot Cove during a colossal snowstorm, with a wedding party of twelve and a killer on the loose. But then The Murder of Twelve becomes this super-strange puzzler, a tragic tale of abandonment and greed, putting itself in a class all its own as Jessica comes face to face with the most sadistic killer of her crime-solving career. The Murder of Twelve starts off slow, then builds in intensity and packs a killer punch, much like the life-threatening snowstorm hitting Cabot Cove. Unlike Jessica’s past capers, this one puts her right in the eye of the killer, in danger herself every step of the way just like her fellow guests, which makes for exciting reading.”- MPWI

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Death on a Winter’s Day by Verity Bright

Winter, 1921. Lady Eleanor Swift, amateur sleuth and reluctant lady of the manor, has been invited to spend Christmas in Scotland, at the beautiful castle of her dear friends Baron and Baroness Ashley. After what was supposed to be a fun party game, Mr Eugene Randall is found dead at the feast. A somewhat unpopular business associate of the Baron’s from across the pond, it seems Mr Randall has certainly upset somebody. The killer must be in the castle… and when the Baron is arrested, Baroness Ashley begs Eleanor to investigate.

All too swiftly, someone else is found dead, having apparently fallen from a high balcony. As if one murder wasn’t enough to put a twist in the tinsel! Eleanor knows she’s skating on thin ice now. Can she catch the killer before it’s time for Christmas dinner?

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Murder on The Orient Express by Agatha Christie

One of the best-known gems in Agatha Christie’s collection of crime stories, this novel presents a mind-boggling case to be solved aboard a luxurious train travelling across Europe. When the snowstorm stops the Orient Express in its tracks, the passengers start to fear for their safety. However, they soon find that the bitter cold might be the least of their worries, when one of their travel companions is stabbed to death. The mystery surrounding the murder intrigues the Belgian detective, who promptly launches his own investigation. Capitalising on adverse weather conditions, Hercule Poirot makes the most of his captive audience by juggling the clues and the interviews with the most eccentric suspects.

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Mrs Hudson and The Christmas Canary by Martin Davies

“Mrs. Hudson and the Christmas Canary is a cozy mystery which is part of a series set in the world of Sherlock Holmes with his cook, Mrs. Hudson, and a housemaid named Flotsam doing most of the investigative work. It’s a light, easy-to-read Victorian-era mystery set in London and the English countryside during the Christmas season which ties together a missing violinist, several baffling deliveries of hens in London, damaged Christmas trees, stolen jewels, and a Christmas canary ornament that has been missing for 23 years. Although part of a series, this is fine as a standalone without having read the previous books in the series and it’s an entertaining mystery for the holiday season!”- L. Goodmurphy

It’s a Wonderful Knife by S. C. Wynne

“Amidst the holiday hi-jinx and mayhem of Max’s first Christmas with Royce at the Giggly Elves Christmas Tree Farm and Resort, another guest receives an early Christmas gift—a knife in his chest. As a storm cuts off the merrymakers from the outside world, a killer still on the loose, and Max’s arch-nemesis River scheming and skulking, and sniffing at their heels with evil intent, Royce is the one present who can solve the murder—with Max’s help whether he wants it or not. And where there’s one body, why not two? A fun story, a great mystery, and an all-around good time.”- David

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Frozen Detective by Amanda Flower

Intrigue, a fake relationship, and humor come together in a Knives Out-style cozy mystery from bestselling author Amanda Flower.

A wealthy doctor invites many of his associates to spend a week at a giant, luxurious ski villa. Darby Piper, a seasoned private eye, and Tate Porter, her new partner at the detective agency, are among the guests, going undercover as a romantic couple. They were hired by the doctor’s much-younger wife to investigate anonymous threats against her husband’s life. But before long, Darby and Tate are investigating a murder instead. As they dig up buried grudges, Darby’s jealous ex-boyfriend on the police force thinks they’re wasting their time. Will Darby and Tate figure out who the killer is…or will it become another cold case?

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A Fatal Winter by G. M. Malliet

“Max Tudor, former MI5 agent turned Vicar, is traveling back from a rather boring conference when he shares a train compartment with a woman from a nearby village. A short time later he learns that the woman has died under rather unusual circumstances and once again Max is called upon to use all of skills to ferret out the truth in this delightfully complicated tale.

This is the usual cozy fare, a charming out of the way location, filled with quirky characters, an impossibly high crime rate and an investigator with some unique qualifications.”- Jtass

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The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden by Kate Saunders

“Letitia Rodd, minister’s widow and private detective, is pulled into the unsavory world of stage actors to help a scorned wife receive a fair divorce settlement and lands in the middle of a murder investigation.

Soon, the bodies are piling up faster than Mrs. Rodd and her friend and colleague, Police Inspector Blackbeard, can investigate. With a list of suspects spanning the whole London theater scene, Rodd and Blackbeard are up to their ears in divas and drama.”- Darlene

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It Came Upon a Midnight Shear by Allie Pleiter

The holiday season looks merry and bright for Libby and her friends at Y.A.R.N. The store is expanding for a holiday boom, and she’s gathered Collinstown’s businesses to decorate a community Christmas tree. Dashing “Gallant Herdsman” Vincenzo Marani arrives to showcase the rare vicuña, whose coat produces the world’s most luxurious yarn. It’s a perfect yuletide—until Libby’s ex-husband, Sterling, turns up in town…and then turns up dead.

The murder unravels Libby’s life faster than a hand-knit Christmas stocking. The luxe yarn goes missing, Sterling’s domineering family comes to town, and the vicuña attempt an escape. If Libby can’t stitch up a solution to the case, she may be trading in her knitting needles for a set of handcuffs.

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The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Nestled in an upmarket village in Kent, Thursday Murder Club opens its doors to senior citizens with a flair for criminology. Having retired from high-powered careers, four self-styled detectives make use of every resource at their disposal to try and solve cold murder cases. Their past experience, wide range of skills and access to an extensive database that even MI5 would envy make this quartet a force to be reckoned with. So when a property developer gets killed on their doorstep, the TMC members launch their own live investigation. In their bid to catch the perpetrator, the amateur sleuths will beg, borrow and steal to charm their way into the police inquiry. Never underestimate a gang of country pensioners on a mission!

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The Maid by Nita Prose

Molly the maid is all alone in the world. A nobody. She’s used to being invisible in her job at the Regency Grand Hotel, plumping pillows and wiping away the grime, dust and secrets of the guests passing through. She’s just a maid – why should anyone take notice?

But Molly is thrown into the spotlight when she discovers an infamous guest, Mr Black, very dead in his bed. This isn’t a mess that can be easily cleaned up. And as Molly becomes embroiled in the hunt for the truth, following the clues whispering in the hallways of the Regency Grand, she discovers a power she never knew was there. She’s just a maid – but what can she see that others overlook?

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Sugar Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

For Hannah Swensen, an accomplished chef and an amateur sleuth, an annual Christmas buffet offers a chance to showcase her new cookbook to Lake Eden’s residents. As the creme de la creme of Minnesota society sample her culinary delights, more guests are ushered in by an icy blizzard. But soon the festive bash turns sour when one of the guests is found dead. Now it’s up to the hostess to roll up her sleeves and dig up some clues to solve the case. Enriched with a diverse cast of whacky characters and mouth-watering recipes, this cosy mystery delivers a puzzling read for a holiday season.

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