October is looking to be a very big month for holiday-themed Cozies this year, particularly Christmas-themed Cozies! There are going to be 13 Christmas novels coming out by established site authors! Wow! That’s a lot, so I’m going to split this one up across several posts.
First up, Donna Andrews will be releasing The Twelve Jays of Christmas, which will be the 30th entry in the Meg Langslow Mystery Series! Meg is preparing for an annual holiday celebration, but the family celebration is marred somewhat by a visiting artist who is occupying the family library while preparing painting illustrations for Meg’s grandfather’s latest nature book. Naturally, the crotchety old artist turns up dead, and Meg will need to discover who truly killed him.
Next, Ginger Bolton (aka Janet Bolin) will be putting out Deck the Donuts, the 6th entry in the Deputy Donut Mystery Series. Emily is preparing for the holiday season, decorating her donut shop and getting ready for the annual Ice and Lights Festival. Meanwhile, a tour bus has been forced to stay over in town due to an accident – and the driver is found dead beneath the ice sculpture.
Rhys Bowen will be putting out God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen, the 15th in the Royal Spyness Mystery Series. Georgie is preparing for her first Christmas in a new household with Darcy, but a letter from his aunt Ermintrude suddenly changes their plans, leading both to spend Christmas in Sandringham, near the royal estate. When she arrives, she quickly learns that this isn’t just a family request – there have been strange accidents at the estate recently, and two gentlemen of the royal household have died mysteriously, while a third has been shot in a hunting accident.
Catherine Bruns will be putting out The Enemy You Gnocchi, the 3rd in the Italian Chef Mystery Series. Chef Tess Esposito is preparing for the holiday season and the upcoming annual Festival of Lights, despite the recent arrival of Mario Russo, a rival business owner opening up an espresso bar disrupting her business – who quickly turns up dead at the festival’s opening, deceased face down in a Santa suit.
Lynn Cahoon will be putting out Have a Holly, Haunted Christmas, a story in the Kitchen Witch Mystery Series. Mia is preparing for Christma sin Magic Springs, Idaho, when a ghost begins pulling pranks for attention. The ghost claims she was murdered, and wants her killer brought to justice – which might be difficult, as it is believed locally that the deceased perished peacefully in her sleep.
Laura Childs (aka Gerry Schmitt) will be releasing Twisted Tea Christmas, which will be the 23rd in the Tea Shop Mystery Series. Theodosia Browning is preparing to cater a Victorian Christmas party at a mansion in downtown Charleston. Unfortunately, the host becomes unwell partway through the party – but it quickly becomes apparent that it was some sort of foul play, as there is a syringe sticking out of her neck.
Finally (at least for today!), Maria DiRico (aka Ellen Byron) will be putting out It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder, which will be the 3rd in the Catering Hall Mystery Series. Mia Carina’s holiday season is turning out to be very busy, preparing for both a Nativity-themed first birthday party and a Sweet Sixteen. Her preparations will be interrupted when a body is discovered at a local Santa’s workshop display lawn.
Wow, that’s already a lot of Christmas! I’ll be back in another few days with the rest of the Christmas entries for October!
For more Christmas-themed Cozies, see my Christmas Mystery Book List page!
