M/BABSON
Babson, MarianThe Twelve Deaths of Christmas1979, 180p.

London at Christmastime is full of busy shoppers—and one mad murderer. The killer is one of twelve lonely residents of a roominghouse, but which one? Detective-Superintendent Knowles finds out at their Christmas dinner, but only after he witnesses the twelfth death.

M/BRETT
Brett, SimonThe Christmas Crimes at Puzzel Manor1992, 185p.

Jack Tarant, a former Scotland Yard detective and his girlfriend Maria have high hopes for a Christmas holiday weekend at the luxurious Puzzel Manor estate. However, soon after they arrive, they discover a body, and Jack and Maria are pitted against a devious murderer who goads them with puzzles and clues. In a race against time, they must solve the puzzles—each one bringing them closer to the true culprit.

M/BURLEY
Burley, W.J.Wycliffe and the Quiet Virgin1986, 179p.

Chief Superintendent Charles Wycliffe is looking forward to a relaxing Christmas holiday in the country. However, when the Virgin Mary of the local Christmas pageant turns up missing, her mother turns up dead, and her father has vanished, Wycliffe’s holiday is cut brutally short as he is called on to solve the disappearances and murder.

M/CHRISTIE
Christie, AgathaMurder for Christmas1938, 308p.

Wealthy, eccentric Simeon Lee, surrounded by his family at Christmas, is writing a new will—when murder interrupts his threats to disinherit all and sundry. Family members provide more than enough motives, and Hercule Poirot, a guest nearby, must exert his famous “little grey cells” to solve the crime.

M/SHORT STORIES/CHRISTMAS
Christmas Stalkings1991, 264p.

Burst the bubble of holiday gaiety with one of these cozy tales of Christmas mayhem by some of the most famous mystery writers of our time. Authors include Elizabeth Peters, Dorothy Cannell. Robert Barnard and of course Charlotte MacLeod.

M/CONSTANTINE
Constantine, K.C.Upon Some Midnights Clear1985, 232p.

The holidays may be a time for frivolity for some but not for Inspector Mario Balzic who has to deal with muggings, thefts, and even a protest from a group of Vietnam veterans. A variety of colorful characters move the diverse plots along as Balzic and his department uncover the complex clues and insure that indeed justice is served.

M/CRAIG
Craig, AlisaMurder Goes Mumming1981, 180p.

The northern tip of New Brunswick provides the setting for Graylings, an imposing house where Christmas pranks turn to murder. Inspector Madoc Rhys of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and his fiancee Janet are among the guests, and Rhys must separate the murderer from the practical jokers.

M/DRUMMOND
Drummond, John Keith’Tis The Season to Be Dying1988, 277p.

It’s the Christmas season and what should be a time to spread peace and harmony is anything but at the home of General Henry Anderson and his wife Lady Fairgrief. While the clan has gathered and tensions rise, the General collapses after drinking orange juice spiked with poison. Matilda Worthington, Lady Fairgrief’s niece and the series detective is called upon to discover which family members have a motive for murder.

M/GRIMES
Grimes, MarthaThe Man with a Load of Mischief1981, 263p.

A pair of bizarre murders brings Inspector Jury of New Scotland Yard to the picturesque village of Long Piddleton at Christmas. Although the first victims are strangers, it soon becomes obvious that the killer is one of the members of the village’s upper crust—for whom murder has become a habit.

M/HEYER
Heyer, GeorgetteEnvious Casca1941, 284p.

In his desire to have a “real English Christmas” after years abroad Joseph Herriard has planned a house-party, much to the disgust of his Scrooge-like brother Nathaniel. For Nat Christmas is a time of family quarrels. When Nat is found stabbed to death in a locked room just before the Christmas feast, the suspects are myriad.

M/JORDAN
Jordan, CathleenA Carol in the Dark1984, 215p.

A small South Dakota University at Christmas is the setting for this intriguing mystery. When a corpse is discovered on a snowy road, Dr. Will Gray is shocked to discover that his colleague, Tom Donahue, is the unfortunate victim. Suspecting foul play, Will does a little digging into Tom’s background and unearths some mysterious connections to several local residents, and the clue to the murder in a most unlikely place.

M/LANGTON
Langton, JaneThe Memorial Hall Murder1978, 260p.

The bombing of Memorial Hall shatters the peace of Harvard Square—especially when Ham Dow, a beloved and respected musician and teacher, is found in the rubble. Homer Kelly, formerly assistant to the District Attorney in East Cambridge and now a visiting professor, becomes suspicious, and in December, at the annual community presentation of Handel’s Messiah, dedicated this year to Ham’s memory, the murderer is brought to justice.

M/MCBAIN
McBain, EdSadie When She Died1972, 180p.

Brutally murdered two weeks before Christmas, Sarah Fletcher appears to be another holiday burglary-murder victim. But her husband’s cold-blooded attitude toward her death makes Detective Steve Carella suspect foul play in this big-city Christmas murder.

M/MACLEOD
MacLeod, CharlotteRest You Merry1978, 182p.

Finally goaded into decorating his house for the annual Christmas celebration at Balaclava Agricultural College, Professor Peter Shandy goes all out with the most garish display imaginable and then leaves for the seclusion of a sea trip on a tramp steamer. On his return, however, he finds the celebration’s chairwoman dead on his living room floor. Police call it an accident, but Shandy suspects murder.

M/MARON
Maron, MargaretCorpus Christmas1991, 214p.

Turn of the century art is not the only interesting aspect of the Erich Breul House—an obscure little museum in the middle of Manhattan. The murder of a despised trustee during the Christmas holiday has everyone stumped—including Lieutenant Sigrid Harald of the NYPD. From art historians to the janitor the cast of suspects keeps growing, and Sigrid is caught in a race against time to solve the crime before the killer strikes again.

M/MARSH
Marsh, NgaioTied Up in Tinsel1972, 286p.

Invited to Halberds Manor to paint Hilary Bill-Tasman, Troy Alleyn finds herself in the midst of a traditional English Christmas celebration, complete with druid pageant—and a corpse. Her husband, Superintendent Roderick Alleyn of the CID, appears on the scene to sift through the motives and unmask the murderer.

M/SHORT STORIES/MURDER
Murder for Christmas1982, 465p.

Twenty-six tales of Christmas murder and mayhem by favorite mystery writers, highlighted by Gahan Wilson’s inimitable holiday cartoons.

M/PULVER
Pulver, Mary MonicaOriginal Sin1991, 202p.

Winter in the Midwest is the setting for this Christmas mystery featuring Detective Peter Brichter and his wife Kori. A houseful of guests, a winter blizzard, and no communication with the outside are all ingredients which make for a unique holiday. However, the gathering becomes even more bizarre when one of the guests is murdered. Peter then uncovers some hidden family secrets and discovers more than one visitor had a motive for murder.

M/RAY
Ray, Robert J.Merry Christmas, Murdock1989, 292p.

It’s four days before Christmas and Matt Murdock is preparing for the Christmas “blues” to set in. He is rescued from his doldrums, however, when the teenage daughter of Senator Jane Blasingame is almost run down, and his expert investigative service is required. The accident and the sudden disappearance of another teenager keep Murdock’s holiday season from being anything but dull.

M/ROBERTS
Roberts, GillianPhilly Stakes1989, 218p.

When Amanda Pepper, a teacher at an exclusive Philadelphia prep school, decides her students will cook and serve a meal for the homeless, she has no idea how the well-meaning event will turn into a nightmare. After the wealthy father of one of her students hosting the meal is murdered and the house set on fire, Amanda and her friend Detective C.K. MacKenzie spend the rest of their holidays solving the mystery.

M/SIMENON
Simenon, GeorgesMaigret’s Christmas1976, 326p.

Maigret’s quiet Christmas at home is disturbed by a call for assistance from neighbors across the street. A seemingly sensible little girl insists she has seen Father Christmas, and Maigret’s investigation reveals an un-Christmasy secret.

M/SHORT STORIES/TWELVE
The Twelve Crimes of Christmas1981, 254p.

A dozen noted mystery writers prove that the Christmas spirit is not always benevolent.

Prepared by Sheila Guenzer, Joyce Saricks, December 1983, Rev. December 1993