WINTER SOLSTICE MYSTERIES

I love the Winter Solstice. I love light, so I'm glad the days will now begin to lengthen.

I put together a huge list of Christmas Mysteries again this year, and I'm sure some of those authors/titles reference the Winter Solstice. Here are a few that really center on the Winter Solstice. This is an updated list. Let me know if there are any titles/authors I should add.

Winter Solstice Mysteries

Cleeves, Ann: The Darkest Evening
Farren, C.: Winter Solstice Murders; The Solstice Murders; Winter Solstice Murders Notebook
Fitt, Mary: Death and the Shortest Day
Hess, Joan: A Holly Jolly Murder
Higgs, Steve: Solstice Goat

Johnson, Erin: Solstice Spirits
Langton, Jane: The Shortest Day: Murder at the Revels
Mankel, Henning: Italian Shoes
Marsh, Ngaio: Off with His Head
Mitchell, Gladys: The Dancing Druids

Murphy, Lois: Soon.

Oldre, Bonnie: Silent Winter Solstice
Snow, Melanie: Witch's Tail
Watson, Sophia: Solstice

True Crime: 

Sweeney, Martin: Death in the Winter Solstice

And, if you want to celebrate your Winter Solstice in chocolate, check out this Buche de Noel aka Yule log on my other blog, DyingforChocolate.com.

 

Cartoon of the Day: Holiday Scheduling

Happy Caturday!

Cartoon of the Day: Christmas Shopping

 From Tom Gauld:

A Tell-Tale History of Von Stray’s Crimestalker Casebook by Andrew McAleer

Mystery magazine Crimestalker Casebook was founded in 1997, by Edgar winner John McAleer and best selling mystery author Andrew McAleer. The magazine features original short-short mysteries, articles, interviews, and mystery poetry honoring classic crime fiction figures.

Crimestalker short stories rarely exceed 1,200 words, favor traditional mysteries, and avoid gratuitous sex, gore, and graphic language. In December 2025, Crimestalker released its first issue under its expanded name – Von Stray’s Crimestalker Casebook. Although the magazine hasn’t quite reached its third decade, one could argue it’s been nine decades in the making.

The backstory… 

Crimestalker was born at an unusual time. In 1997, few paper mystery magazines existed and on-line mystery magazines were likewise scarce. Crimestalker was created to give established and new mystery authors another home to publish their work. Over the years we’ve published authors like, Gold & Silver Dagger winner Peter Lovesey, Derringer winner Kris Neri, and Edgar winner Gregory Mcdonald. (Historical Note: Kris Neri’s “My Shadow’s Shadow” was the first story accepted by Crimestalker.)

Crimestalker interviews have been equally impressive: Robert B. Parker, William Link, Margaret McLean, and William G. Tapply. 

Feature articles honoring mystery icons include: Rumpole of the Bailey (this one actually received written praise from Sir John Mortimer himself!), Nero Wolfe, Thorndyke, and even a wonderful piece on Sam Spade by Murder, She Wrote showrunner Tom Sawyer. 

Thanks to the Short Mystery Fiction Society (founded in 1996), Crimestalker has had the honor of being received in the award-winner’s circle taking a Derringer Award and Derringer nomination.

Although irregularly released, Crimestalker published semi-annually. In 2015, I released what I thought would be the last issue. My father had passed away and I was busy knocking in a few boards after an Uncle Sam deployment. Then, the fickle finger of fate struck. 

A mystery story written by my father in the 1930s, “The Case of the Illustrious Baker,” was discovered. The story features London-based detective Henry von Stray and appears in A Casebook of Crime (Level Best Books). Since Henry was created during the Golden Age of Detection—by an author I admire very much—I couldn’t resist the temptation to get the Crimestalker presses rolling again. An expanded magazine name honoring the Golden Age of Detection with the name of a classic detective born during the Golden Age, was in order. Hence, Von Stray’s Crimestalker Casebook.

The comeback issue features brilliant “Golden Age” cover artwork by Level Best Designs and, all new stories from some of today’s top mystery writers, like: Barb Goffman, John M. Floyd, Libby Cudmore, Michael Bracken, Gay Toltl Kinman, Stephen D. Rogers, and Shawn Reilly Simmons. Plus, an interview with Mystery Readers International’s very own Janet A. Rudolph, a stirring tribute to a Golden Age author, and an original clerihew by Edgar winner Art Taylor.

For now, Von Stray’s Crimestalker Casebook submissions are by invitation only. December 2025 Kindle version now available at: www.amazon.com  

For hardcopy information visit: www.henryvonstraymysteries.com and say hello via the contact button. 

*** 

Andrew McAleer is the best-selling author of the Detective Henry von Stray classic British crime series created by Edgar winner John McAleer. Von Stray’s adventures appear in A Casebook of Crime Volume One. A second von Stray collection, A Casebook of Crime Volume Two, is scheduled for release in March 2026 (Level Best Books). Mr. McAleer taught classic crime fiction at Boston College and served in Afghanistan as a U.S. Army Historian before returning to public service in the criminal justice system. www.Henryvonstraymysteries.com

Cartoon of the Day: Cats!

Cats!

CHRISTMAS MYSTERY SHORT STORY ANTHOLOGIES AND NOVELLAS

Here's my list of Christmas Mystery Short Story Anthologies and Novellas. There may be some overlaps from my other lists, as well as omissions. Let me know, and I can easily update.

For the Christmas Mystery Novel lists by author, go here: Authors A-E,  Authors F-L, Authors M-Z.

Happy Holidays. Be sure and check back for Boxing Day Mysteries.

SHORT STORY ANTHOLOGIES

Adrian, Jack: Crime at Christmas.
Andrew, Donna, Barb Goffman & Marcia Talley (editors): Homicidal Holidays: Fourteen Tales of Murder and Merriment.
Asimov, Isaac (ed.): Twelve Crimes of Christmas.
Avocato, Lori. Sugarplums and Scandal.
Bedford, Jean (ed): Moonlight Becomes You.

Benedict, Laura, Carolyn Haines, & Lisa Morton (ed): Haunted Holidays.
Browning, Abigail (ed.): Murder Most Merry.
Burton, Tony (ed.): By the Chimney with Care; Carols and Crimes, Gifts and Grifters; Dying in a Winter Wonderland.
Cornwell, Bernard: Sharpe's Christmas--Two Short Stories.
Bill Crider, Terence Faherty, Wendi Lee, & Aileen Schumacher: Murder, Mayhem, and Mistletoe
Dalby, Richard (ed.): Crime for Christmas; Mistletoe & Mayhem.
Doyle, Arthur Conan: "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle".
Edwards, Martin (ed.): Crimson Snow (British Library Crime Classics); A Surprise for Christmas; Silent Nights; Who Killed Father Christmas and Other Seasonal Mysteries.
Floyd, John (ed.): The Gift of Murder.
Fowler, Christopher: "Bryant & May and the Secret Santa".
Gayford, Cecily (ed): Murder Under the Christmas Tree: Ten Classic Crime Stories for the Festive Season.
Godfrey, Thomas (ed.): Murder for Christmas--26 Tales of Seasonal Malice.
Goffman, Barb (et al., eds.): Chesapeake Crimes--Homicidal Holidays.
Greenberg, Martin H (ed.): Cat Crimes for the Holidays; Holmes for the Holidays; Santa Clues; More Holmes for the Holidays; Twelve Crimes of Christmas.
Halliday, Gemma (ed): Cozy Christmas Capers: 19 Holiday Short Stories.
Harris, Charlaine (ed.): Wolfsbane and Mistletoe.
Hartman, J. Alan (ed.): Santa Rage: A Killer Claus Compendium.

Heald, Tim (ed.): A Classic Christmas Crime.
Hochensmith, Steve: Naughty: Nine Tales of Christmas Crime.
Holmes, Dee: Silent Night.
James, P.D.: The Mistletoe Murder and other stories.
Knight, Stephen (ed.): A Corpse at the Opera House; Murder at Home; Crimes for a Summer Christmas; More Crimes for a Summer Christmas.
Lovesey, Peter (Forward by): The Usual Santas: A Collection of Crime Christmas Capers.
MacLeod, Charlotte (ed.): Mistletoe Mysteries--Tales of Yuletide Murder; Christmas Stalkings--Tales of Yuletide Murder.
McCoy, Judi, Katherine Hall Page, Joanne Pence, et al: Mistletoe and Mayhem.

McDermid, Val: Christmas is Murder
Manson, Cynthia (ed.): Christmas Crimes; Merry Murder; Murder Under the Mistletoe; Mystery for Christmas; Murder at Christmas.
Marks, Jeffrey (ed.): Canine Christmas.

O'Connor, Carlene, Maddie Day, Peggy Ehrhart: Christmas Scarf Murder.
O'Regan and Paul Kane (ed): Death Comes at Christmas

Penzler, Otto (ed.).: Christmas Crimes at the Mysterious Bookshop; The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries; Golden Age Christmas Mysteries.
Simenon, Georges: A Maigret Christmas and Other Stories; also published as Maigret's Christmas, Nine Stores (1976), Translated by Jean Stewart (UK).
Slater, Susan: Crooks, Crimes and Christmas.
Soles, Caro (ed.).: Blood on the Holly.
Todd, Charles. A Christmas Witness. 

Walling, R.A.J., Three Christmas Mysteries. Three Noel Pinson Mystery Stories.

Wilson, Gahan: Murder for Christmas: 26 Tales of Seasonal Malice.

Christmas Crimes: Stories from Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine and Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine: stories by Ron Goulart, Edward D. Hoch, John Dickson Carr, Anne Cleeves, and more.

NOVELLAS

Allan, Barbara: Antiques Fruitcake.
Baker, Deb: Murder Trims the Tree.
Barritt, Christy. Pranced.
Bennett, Jenna: Contingent on Approval.
Berry, Linda (and others): The Last Noel.
Block, Barbara (and others): Murder Most Merry.
Brewer, Steve (and others): The Last Noel; Sanity Clause (e-novella).
Burke, Christina: Queenie Baby: Pass the Eggnog.
Calhoun, Lynn: Santa Puppy.
Coco, Nancy: All I Want for Christmas is Fudge.
Collins, Kate:  Missing Under the Mistletoe.
Coward, Mat (and others): The Last Noel.
Dane, Catherine (and others): The Last Noel.
Early, Barbara: Gold, Frankincense, and Murder.
Emrick, K.J.: The Ghost of Christmas.
Faherty, Terence (and others): Murder, Mayhem and Mistletoe.
Fluke, Joanne (and others): Candy Cane Murder; Gingerbread Cookie Murder.

Genova, Rosie: The Seven-Course Christmas Killer.
Hathaway, L.B.: A Christmas Case: A Posie Parker Novella.
Jaffarian, Sue Ann: The Ghost of Mistletoe Mary. 
Kelly, Diane: Death, Taxes, and Mistletoe Mayhem.
Kelner, Toni L.P. (and others): Murder Under the Tree.
Khan, Vaseem: A Yuletide Murder in Old Bombay.

Langtree, Leslie: Merry Christmas Murder: a Merry Wrath Mysteries.
Martin, Nancy: Slay Belles.
Mitcheltree, Tom (and others): How Still We See Thee Lie.

Nardi, Christa: Holidays, Hijinks & Murder; Holly and Holidays, Another Murder.
O'Donohue, Clare: Cathedral Windows.
Pence, Joanne: Cook's Christmas Capers.

Prose, Nita: The Mistletoe Mystery.

Raybourn, Deanna: Silent Night--A Lady Julia Christmas Novella.
Robb, J.D. (and others): Silent Night.
Shelton, Connie: Holidays Can Be Murder.
Stout: Rex: Christmas Party.

Unger, Lisa: Christmas Presents.
Walker, Martin: Bruno and the Carol Singers.
Walling, R.A. J.: Three Christmas Mysteries: Three Noel Pinson Mystery Stories.

Ward, Tamara: Jade O'Reilly and the 12 Days of Christmas.
Winston, Lois: Elementary, My Dear Gertie.

There are so many short stories that appear in magazines that I can't list them all...but here's one..

Robert Lopresti "Christmas Dinner," AHMM