Cartoon of the Day: Fruitcake

Today is National Fruitcake Day! Celebrate!

 

BOXING DAY MYSTERIES

Today is Boxing Day (the Day after Christmas). I've put together several lists that cover 1000+ mysteries that take place at Christmas, and although I'm sure several of the mysteries on the list continue mystery and mayhem through to Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, I've only found a few mysteries that focus or start specifically on Boxing Day.

One Boxing Day mystery is Nicholas Blake's Thou Shell of Death (1936). Nicholas Blake is the pseudonym of Cecil Day Lewis, the late British poet laureate.

Thou Shell of Death features Fergus O'Brien, WWI flying ace. Fergus receives four letters predicting that he will be murdered on Boxing Day. Despite this, or maybe because of this, he plans a party and invites all the suspects (there are several people who might want to do him in) plus private detective Nigel Strangeways. O'Brien does die, and it's up to Nigel Strangeways with the help of Inspector Blount of Scotland Yard to solve the crime. This is Blount's first appearance in the series. Thou Shell of Death is an oldie but goodie, especially if you like houseparty mysteries.

There are three other novels that focus on Boxing Day. A frozen body is found on Boxing Day in Viveca Sten's In Harm's Way. Another mystery is Gilbert Adair's The Act of Roger Murgatroyd that takes place entirely on Boxing Day. This is part of his series of novels about Evadne Mount, and is clearly a play on Agatha Christie novels. In another Boxing Day mystery, Death at Sandringham House by C.C. Benison, Her Majesty the Queen, along with her housemaid Jane Bee, investigates. 

Thanks to Aubrey Nye Hamilton for the Boxing Day addition of Murder After Christmas by Rupert Latimer. It's a British Crime Library Classic, and I enjoyed reading it.

Keith Raffel points out that the murder in A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny takes place the day after Christmas.. Boxing Day, for sure.

And, if you're unfamiliar with Boxing Day, it's the day after Christmas, when "servants and tradesmen traditionally would receive gifts from their superiors." Today it's a National Holiday in most of the British Commonwealth and former British colonies.

As far as why it's called Boxing Day, there are several different theories:

A ‘Christmas Box' in Britain is a name for a Christmas present. 

Boxing Day was a day off for servants and when they received a ‘Christmas Box’ from the master. The servants would also go home to give ‘Christmas Boxes’ to their families.

A box to collect money for the poor was placed in Churches on Christmas day then opened the next day.

Great sailing ships when setting sail would have a sealed box containing money on board for good luck. If the voyage were a success the box was given to a priest, opened at Christmas and the contents given to the poor.

Are there any other Boxing Day Mysteries I've forgotten?

CHRISTMAS MYSTERY ROUND-UP!

If you read this blog, you know I post lists of crime fiction with all the holiday settings from New Year's Day through New Year's Eve (Halloween, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Presidents Day, and all the rest). Christmas, of course, features the most mysteries, so I divide this list into 5 posts. Here's the list to links for this year's Christmas Crime Fiction, celebrating authors A-Z. 

Let me know if any Authors/Titles are missing, so I can update. Happy Holidays!

Christmas Mysteries: Authors A-E

Christmas Mysteries: Authors F-L

Christmas Mysteries: Authors M-Z

Christmas Mysteries: Short Story Anthologies and Novellas

Boxing Day Mysteries 

NO COMMENT: Christmas Gift Ads from the 1950s

No Comment: Christmas Gift Ads from the 1950s.

 

ICELANDIC CHRISTMAS BOOK TRADITION: Jolabokaflod

Iceland is a hot spot for tourists, but it's also known for Jolabokaflod or The Christmas Book Flood. And this holiday tradition in Iceland involves chocolate, as well as books! The holiday really takes off on Christmas Eve.

On Christmas Eve, every family member is given a brand-new book, and then you cozy up in your favorite reading place or in front of the fire with a mug of hot cocoa.You spend the rest of the evening reading.This is how Icelandanders celebrate Christmas each year.-- Jolabokaflod -- "Christmas Book Flood."

Jolabokaflod started during World War II, when paper was one of the few things not rationed in Iceland. Because of this, Icelanders gave books as gifts while other commodities were in short supply, turning them into a country of bookaholics to this day, according to jolabokaflod.org. 

Read More here:

Christmas Specials: Death in Paradise and Return to Paradise Air Dates

We finally got U.S. broadcast dates for the Death in Paradise and Return to Paradise Christmas specials. 

Both will air on BritBox.

Be sure and note that these specials are usually the first episode of the new season which will air in 2026.

Death in Paradise: December 29.

Streaming December 29 E1 • Christmas Special 2025

Mervin returns to Saint Marie, juggling a puzzling festive murder and the uneasy first meeting with his charismatic yet elusive half-brother.

Return to Paradise: December 25.

Streaming December 25 E1. Christmas Special 2025.

Festive chaos erupts as Humphrey tackles holiday cases while Martha rushes to complete a secret plan before a life-changing surprise.