I received a letter the other day from a site reader asking me this question regarding Mary Higgins Clark:
“… I’m trying to figure out if Clark was the first blockbuster crime writer to start a recurring Christmas series…. wondered if you know of any that predate Clark’s first Christmas book.”
I started writing her back, and then realized that since I haven’t read every single book on the list I came up with, I had better ask you all for help in addressing this question. The authors who I came up with that predate
Mary Higgins Clark…..Still watch ’84
Silent Night ’95
My Gal Sunday ’96
All Through the Night ’98
Santa Cruise ’07 (w/Carol Higgins Clark)
Dashing through the Snow (w/Carol Higgins Clark) ’08
are the following:
Marian Babson…..Murder, Murder, Little Star ’77(see Judith’s comment below)
The Twelve Deaths of Christmas ’79
Line Up for Murder ’80
Murder on a Mystery Tour ’85
(Babson’s are all Stand Alones)
Charlotte MacLeod…..Rest You Merry ’78
Murder Goes Mumming ’81
The Convivial Codfish ’84
(All three of MacLeod’s Christmas mysteries belong to different mystery series)
Robert Barnard…..Death in a Cold Climate ’81
The Habit of Widowhood ’96
(Barnard’s are Stand Alones)
Martha Grimes….The Man with a Load of Mischief ’81
Old Fox Deceived ’82
Jerusalem Inn ’84
(All three belong to the same mystery series)
First of all, since I haven’t read all of the books above, do any of you know if one of the listed books above is not a Christmas mystery? I try to make sure that they are when I update my Christmas mystery book list as best I can.
Also, are there any other “blockbuster crime writers” who you all know about who predate Mary Higgins Clark (other than the ones I have listed above)?
Thank you all for the help!
Patti says
How about Anne Perry? She has had a Christmas book out every year for quite some time. I have read them and they are really good.
Patti says
Sorry, I guess she really isn’t a crime writer.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Patti, I also thought about all of the Anne Perry Christmas books, but they didn’t pre-date Mary Higgins Clark’s books. Thank you.
Petie says
I’m not that familiar with Agatha Christie but did she have recurring Christmas mysteries?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Say it isn’t so, Petie! Yikes…. Run to your nearest library and check out an Agatha Christie (preferably Miss Marple) mystery!!!
Good idea, on the Christie Christmas mysteries… I think she had two…
Petie says
The nearest library is downtown by Katie (my look alike) so I’ll just have to go online & buy them to begin my collection! Thanks & hugs!
Petie says
OK – I just bought “Murder at the Vicarage” to start my collection …. I’m excited about my new ‘cozy author’!!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I cannot imagine living in a town where I didn’t have access to my library! Our library system isn’t as good as some of the Cozy Mystery site readers, but at least they get inter-library loans. (Years ago, they would actually get books from other cities’ libraries!)
PS>>> Let us know what you think of Murder at the Vicarage. I think it’s a good one!
Judith says
Murder, Murder, Little Star is about the making of a film – I don’t remember it being set at Christmas – and in Line Up for Murder the people are waiting in line for the New Year’s Day sale. Of course it’s been a while since I read either book – I may have to go back and re-read them to make sure!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Judith, when I make my lists up for the holiday mysteries I rely on my memory, as well as Cozy Mystery site readers, and then I do internet searches. I tried to read Murder, Murder, Little Star a few years ago during a holiday season, and when I didn’t get to the “Christmas part” of the mystery, I simply put it down. I believe you are right on that, and I’m going to go change my Christmas mystery list on the site right now…
Thank you!