Sixteen female sleuths face a challenging Christmas with robberies, murders, and the occasional spell gone awry. Here’s a sampling of our sleuths’ “Holi-Day in the Life,” whose authors hope their stories will spread Christmas cheer to Good Fortune Farm Refuge, a non-profit, no-kill animal refuge in southern Alabama, who’ve been especially busy after Hurricane Michael.
Organized For Christmas Wishes, an Organized Mysteries holiday tale by Ritter Ames
I’d planned for our new hometown of Hazelton, Vermont to associate the name Kate McKenzie with solving organization problems. Unfortunately, I’m becoming infamous with solving murders. All my husband wants for Christmas is for me not to find another dead body. Sounds simple, until one remembers I have a Vermont State Police lieutenant on speed dial. Then we delivered goodie boxes to the town cookie exchange and discovered our first mystery of the season—with more following. Fingers crossed I won’t need to get hubby golf clubs instead.
A Chemistree Of Witches by Morgana Best
What did Christmas Day 1936 in a sleepy little Australian town bring me? A murder to solve by sunset, ancient indigenous magic, and two kittens. What more could I want? We’re Thelma and Wolff Spelled and looking forward to our first Christmas Day together, when our friend, Mavis Fuller, comes to seek our help. The police have discovered Mavis’s husband’s body.
With a crooked city detective replacing the local cop that night and Mavis as the main suspect, can we navigate ancient Australian indigenous magic, solve the murder by sunset, and be home in time for Christmas dinner?
Familiar Hijinks, Reluctant Familiar Mysteries by Sam Cheever
When a bunch of human Santa Claus stand-ins are infected with magic they can’t control, Christmas suddenly becomes more menacing than merry. I’m L.A. Mapes, a Familiar, and the last thing I need is to deal with a problem that could bring the whole human population to my doorstep with pitchforks and torches.
Especially when the suspect list includes some pretty heavy hitters in the magical realm. It’s starting to look a lot like crisis, and I’m afraid a pair of rosy cheeks and a jolly giggle might not be enough to keep the Peace on Earth this year.
Misfits & Mistletoes, A Missy Rae Mystery Short, by Ava Mallory
The women of the Rae family never shy away from a challenge, but when elaborate plans for the inaugural Magic of Christmas Festival land on our doorstep, we found ourselves in way over their heads. With a tight timeline, a to-do list longer than Santa’s naughty list, and a town full of meddling busybodies, it’s all we can do to stay focused. But when a pair of seemingly generous men come to town to spread Christmas cheer, the organized chaos turns disastrous.
Will my precocious grandmother and I be able to pull off a Christmas miracle or will our errant spell-casting ensure the inaugural celebration will be our last?
The Robbery Of Mystic Springs by Mona Marple
All I want for Christmas is love. Which seems unlikely, since I finally got rid of my no-good weasel of a boyfriend. When my friend Nick convinces me to take on a seasonal job as the Mrs. Claus to his Santa in the local department store, I expect light-hearted fun – not discovering a robbery at the store! All of the evidence points to my ex-boyfriend being the perp, but I’m not so sure. The only thing that guy steals is other men’s girlfriends!
As the town police eagerly try to tie up the case so they can get on with their last-minute Christmas gift-buying in peace, it’s down to me to prove the innocence of the man who broke my heart. Is my intuition right, or am I still under Lance’s spell? And will I get the love I want for Christmas?
Ghostly Fowl, A Lorna Shadow cozy ghost mystery novella by K.E. O’Connor
A Thanksgiving celebration in the English countryside! It’s a dream job. When I get there with my best friend and cook extraordinaire, Helen Holiday, and my faithful furry friend, Flipper, the dream shatters. I’m known for my organizational skills, and Lorna Shadow never runs from a challenge, but with nothing arranged and a week to go, this party could go down in Thanksgiving orange flames! Then a beautiful, but angry ghost appears and I must add solving her murder to my to-do list! With turkeys everywhere, a thief in the house, and a whole lot of party planning to do, this will be a Thanksgiving I’ll never forget.
A Christmas Quick Sketch, A Cherry Tucker Mystery prequel novella by Larissa Reinhart
Even though the name Cherry Tucker is known as a portrait painter in Halo, Georgia, I’m bringing my artistic gifts on the road this Christmas for a little Viva Las Vegas. My sort-of boyfriend Todd won a chance to play in an amateur poker tournament in Sin City. On the way, we’re stopping in Memphis at the Heartache Motel. Looks like there’s been some sin going on in Memphis, too. It seems Todd’s cousin ran into some poker scammers, and even though he may deserve a Blue Christmas, his kids and wife sure don’t. I’m fixing to get those scammers All Shook Up with my kind of Trouble.
Christmas Trees & Felonies by Jenna St. James
Gracie Kellerman is in need of a Christmas miracle! Not only is my Christmas tree farm struggling financially to stay open, but my Santa up and left me without warning. When Nic Claus and my recently-discharged brother, Troy, show up to help me out, I believe my prayers have been answered.
However, when a dead body is dumped on my Christmas tree farm, I fear the worst. A dead body means my Christmas tree farm may be shut down for the rest of the season! Enlisting the help of my best friend, Evie the Elf, we follow the clues to capture the killer. With the added help of Santa and Miss Claws, I’m sure we can discover the real killer before it’s too late. But with the hunky Sheriff, Jake Matthews, dogging my every move, I’m finding it hard to sleuth. Can we find out who the real murderer is before everything I hold dear is ripped from me? Or will my amateur sleuthing bring about fatal results?
Hark! A Homicide, a Mattie and Mo Mystery prequel novella by Tricia L. Sanders
I’m Mattie Modesky, and it’s Christmas in my hometown of Pine Grove. It’s also time for the 25th annual toy drive and charity dinner. My best friend, Lizbeth and I have been planning this event for months. We are days away from the celebration when a dead body—an elf no less—is discovered in the toy donation box. The elf is a small-time hoodlum, and the killer is Santa Claus. Not the real Santa obviously.
My husband, Mo, the Chief of Police of Pine Grove sustains a shoulder injury in a scuffle with the fake Santa. Now Mo’s out of commission, and the donations have been confiscated as evidence. Mo suspects my stepfather, Lazy Lou, and it’s up to me to prove Lou’s innocence, figure out why our town councilwoman is railroading my husband into retirement, and solve this caper so we can get our celebration back on track.
Other Novellas:
For Sale By Santa, A Lily Sprayberry Realtor Cozy Mystery Christmas Novella by Carolyn Aspenson
Canine Conundrum by Sheryl Babin
Strangle All The Way by Clare Kauter
The Christmas Button by Loraine J Hudson
A One Horse Open Slay by Tara Meyers
Holiday Lights Out, A Thief River Falls mystery by Laina Turner
A Christmas Present by Abby L Vandiver
Sleigh Bells and Sleuthing: A Collection of 16 Cozy Mystery Novellas Featuring Female Sleuths – With All Proceeds Going To Saving Animals!
Get comfy this holiday season with a cup of tea or cocoa, and while you’re enjoying a delightful seasonal cozy mystery, you’ll be helping rescue animals with Good Fortune Farm Refuge, a NO KILL animal refuge located in Alabama.
You’ll love these sixteen cozy mystery stories, many from Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Amazon best-selling authors! Murder, mystery, magic, and mayhem don’t stop just because it’s the holiday season!
All profits from this collection go to Good Fortune Farm Refuge. Find out more about them at goodfortunefarmrefuge.org.
Each author is a member of the Sleuthing Women author collective, a select group of women mystery authors who have joined together to connect with our readers through a Facebook group called Sleuthing Women—Read. Sleuth. Solve. Repeat. Check us out on Facebook.
Stories come from both traditionally and independently published authors Abby L. Vandiver, Ava Mallory, Clare Kauter, Larissa Reinhart, Lorraine Hudson, Mona Marple, Morgana Best, Ritter Ames, Sam Cheever, S.E. Babin, Tara Meyers, Tricia L. Sanders, Carolyn Ridder Aspenson, Jenna St. James, K.E. O’Conner, and Laina Turner.
Purchase Link
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What do you love best about Christmas mysteries? Tell us and we’ll draw from comments for a variety of giveaways from our authors. This is a fantastic giveaway where not one, not two, not three, but nine lucky commenters will win an e-book and one person (U.S. only) will win a print book from several of these authors. The giveaway ends November 24, 2018. Good luck everyone!
All comments are welcomed.
Wow, what a book! So many good stories to tell! I love a good Christmas mystery! When the characters are doing their best in trying to prepare for the holidays, juggling work, social obligations, family and friends, and then a murder happens, well what is not to love! I also like the different ways the murders take place and the places the bodies are found.
Thank you for the great giveaway.
Happy Holidays to all of you!
Thanks Debbie! Happy holidays to you, too!
Yes, Debbie, you’ve hit it exactly. We put our characters into so many stressful situations during the holidays, I’m surprised they’re still speaking to us 🙂
My book club chooses a Christmas book for our December meeting. Would love to recommend this one. And thanks for donating the profits to help the animals.
Hey Sharon! Thanks so much! That would be great and I hope your book club enjoys Sleigh Bells!
Hi Sharon, thank you for suggesting us for your book club. We love book clubs 🙂 And the animals thank you, too 🙂 Hope your club picks us!
That would be amazing! They would get sixteen great stories to discuss!
Thank you-
Thanks for the chance to win. I like Christmas mysteries because I love mysteries and my favorite holiday is Christmas. It is like the best of both worlds. I love a good who done it and whatever place it’s in it is getting ready for Christmas.
Tammy Hudson
Tighefan42@gmail.com
Yes, Tammy, Christmas surprises are wonderful! Good luck in the drawing and happy holidays!
Wow–two amazing ideas in one book! Short Christmas mystery stories and help for animals affected by the recent terrible hurricane! Thanks!
Christmas is the perfect time to hibernate with a cup of cocoa and a cozy Christmas mystery.
I think so, too, Amy!
Cocoa and Christmas–great combination, Amy!
I like how the season almost becomes another character in the story.
We always hope for that, Sandy 🙂 So glad you thought so too! Happy holidays!
Thank you, Dru Ann. You always help authors. We appreciate it.
I enjoy Christmas mysteries because of the holiday atmosphere, activities and often recipes in the story, and because it’s my it’s my favorite time of year. The last thing you’d expect at such a festive time is a murder! But Christmas decorations can be deadly, and there is always a Scrooge lurking somewhere ~
LOL Celia! Always a Scrooge. Hoping my decorations aren’t deadly this year! Thanks for commenting!
There’s definitely a Scrooge always lurking somewhere, Celia–LOL! Not all of the stories have a murder, but they all have a mystery tied to the holiday, and that’s one of the things that makes participating in projects like this so fun. So much variety! Good to see you here, Celia–happy holidays!
Christmas mysteries are always doubly interesting to me. They are mysteries-what’s not to be interesting as you read along and challenge yourself to figure out “who done it” before the author reveals the culprit! Secondly, they are like peeping into other people’s lives as we learn how they decorate or celebrate or even ignore the holiday that most of us consider to be very special. I love learning what foods are involved in the lives of the story people, or what presents they buy and other things they do specifically for the holiday season. Nothing like a few (or 16) Christmas stories to put me in a great holiday frame of mind. I can’t wait to start reading them!
I love trying to figure out the whodunnit before the sleuth, too, Barbara! Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Barbara, thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. Yes, here you get more than even a baker’s dozen in Christmas mysteries. And I think every aspect of the holidays is touched on as our sleuths are on the case 🙂 Happy Holidays
I love the Christmas background in holiday mysteries. The presents, decorating & partying.
Me, too, Doward! Thanks for stopping in!
It is such a great time–the whole package! I totally agree, Doward. Happy Holidays!
I love Christmas mysteries because it’s my favorite holiday and I love the setting. The parties, the food, presents, decorations, and the suspense of it all.
It truly is a wonderful season,Siobhan! Thanks so much for stopping by, and happy Christmas!
So many great authors in this collection! I can’t wait to start reading Christmas stories.
Thanks for stopping in, Ashley! I hope you enjoy Sleigh Bells!
It really was a joy to do the project–all of us liked working together, and we’re thrilled that we can help an animal rescue with the sales. Giving truly is the best! Hope your holidays are wonderful, Ashley 🙂
This sounds like a terrific collection of stories!
We think so, Libby, but we’re probably a little biased–LOL! Hope your holidays are fabulous! Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂
Thanks Libby! We’re excited to be able to have so many stories for our readers and help Good Fortune Farm Refuge.
I do love mysteries in general, and holiday cozies are a favorite way to relax. In addition to solving the puzzle, I can enjoy the holiday through the characters— as I often “see” myself in their hectic lives. The bonus is to be able to support those who help the animals! I can’t wait to hop into the genre when Thanksgiving is over. Thank you all for making this possible.
I completely agree, Linda! I love reading mysteries where I can identify with the characters, and Christmas stories need that little bit of hectic-ness too. We’re so pleased to be able to share our stories with our readers and help animals at the same time 🙂 Thanks so much for dropping by. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas!
Christmas is and will always be the time to celebrate and worship the birth of our Lord and Savior. Although it has become too commercialized, it always comes back to the birth of a wee babe in a manger. Sure it’s wonderful to remember each other, family and friends, with gifts and to get together, but first and foremost is the gift of Jesus.
Amen, Robin! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!
Absolutely, Robin. We have to all keep our priorities straight because there is so much “noise” this time of year 🙂
This looks like a good book, I love holiday stories & mysteries and this combines both of those!
Hi, Audrey, thank you for stopping by. We’ve enjoyed putting this project together. Good luck in the drawing and happy holidays!
I love that in Christmas mysteries there is always a sense of hope, which is what the Christmas season is all about! Thanks for the chance to win!!
You’re so welcome! Good luck!
Yes, Lori, we all want justice to be served, and mysteries help us celebrate that. Which just leads to more wonderful opportunities with Christmas mysteries 🙂
How cool—what a great giveaway. I pre-ordered the book and am eager to read it. Legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com
Hey Kara,
Thanks for stopping by! Have a happy Thanksgiving!
I know, Kara. I was so excited to get my preordered copy at midnight and read several stories. I love Christmas-themed stories anyway, and mysteries make it even better 🙂
What a really nice list!
Thanks Reen! Have a happy Thanksgiving!
I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving, Larissa!
You’re right, Reen! It’s been so much fun to work with these authors on this project! Happy holidays!
Thank you, Dru Ann, for sharing the collection! I’m so thrilled to be a part of such an amazing group of authors and to be helping a great animal sanctuary. 🙂
I like almost all mysteries, but if they are centered around Christmas that’s even better. It helps me get in the Christmas mood and they are just all around more enjoyable if read in season!
We’re all for jollying everyone into the Christmas spirit, Carolsue! Thanks for stopping by and Merry Christmas!
I love seeing family that I dont see often all year…this year, there are two brand new babies to enjoy!!!
Oh, there’s nothing more wonderful than seeing a baby’s first Christmas, and you get it in tandem this year! Enjoy! Good luck in the drawing, Cynthia 🙂
Thanks so much, Dru Ann, for helping us spread the news about our anthology and the Good Fortune Farm Rescue. You offer such a terrific forum to connect authors with readers. Thanks again! Also, I’d like to thank all the readers who’ve stopped by to read the post. Happy holidays, everyone!
thank you
What a great drawing. I love Christmas mysteries because I love reading about how other people celebrate, and the inevitable family squabbles the develop.
It really does give us some great ways to write our mysteries differently when a holiday is added to the mix, Rochelle! Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the drawing 🙂
I like to read Christmas mysteries because it combines two of my favorite things, Christmas and mysteries. Love to figure out who did it, with scenes of Christmas time put into the story. Thanks for a chance to win.
**** WINNERS ****
Cynthia Wong
Linda Farabaugh
Debbie Price
Tammy
Linda S Johnson
Barbara Hackel
Carolsue
Rochelle F
Robin L. Coxon
Siobhain