Merry Murders – Crime at Christmas

Merry Murders – Crime at Christmas

Games of Cluedo with family, dramatisations of Agatha Christie novels on TV, plotting ways to secure the best Quality Street sweets – it isn’t a traditional British Christmas without a large dose of murder!

We have been really enjoying the excellent Lucy Worsley BBC series on Agatha Christie (Lucy’s fantastic biography can be found here) and have loved finding out more about the undisputed Queen of Crime and her books.  Whether it’s family tensions or being snowed in, Christmas has inspired hugely enjoyable writing from Agatha Christie and many more of our most loved crime writers. Grab a mince pie or mulled wine (or both) and lose yourself in some of our murderous favourite festive books.

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas

Christie, Agatha

Paperback / softback

Watching an Agatha Christie adaptation at Christmas is an enjoyable tradition for many people and this book, in which Christie’s best-known detective investigates a murder that takes place on Christmas Eve, is a perfect festive treat.

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A Christmas Party

Heyer, Georgette (Author)

Paperback / softback

Georgette Heyer is best known for her wonderful Regency novels but also wrote fantastic (and funny!) crime novels. This Christmas locked-room mystery is a great introduction to these brilliant books.

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Christmas is Murder

McDermid, Val

Paperback / softback

One of our greatest living crime writers, this collection of festive short stories from Val McDermid is evocative and atmospheric.

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Murder at the Theatre Royale

Moncrieff, Ada

Paperback / softback

A murder mystery based around a theatre production of A Christmas Carol – what could be more festive?! A thoroughly enjoyable historical novel set in December 1935. 

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The Very Merry Murder Club

Bello, Abiola

Paperback / softback

A fantastic collection of wintery crime and mystery stories for younger readers from 13 of the most exciting and diverse authors writing for children today. 

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For more fabulous tales of merry murders and Christmassy crime have a look at our further picks here.