One of the joys of writing (and reading) Christmas stories is the almost limitless variety in characters and their approaches to the holidays. The three of us have written such different stories (not just because Gin chose to write about a different winter holiday), and none of us could have written the same stories as the other authors in Holidays & Homicide, despite starting with the same assignment. It’s all in the character point of view. Each unique character = different approach to Christmas.
Lena Gregory: I wrote about Christmas in Watchogue, New York, a small town on the south shore of Eastern Long Island. A small town has its downs (like prom night, when Dani’s humiliation spread like wildfire), but it also has its ups (like picking up where she left off with her best friend when she returned home from college to take over her Uncle Jimmie’s ice cream parlor and turn it into her very own café). But nothing touches Dani like the holidays, with Main Street decorated in tinsel and lights, the whole town gathered for the tree lighting ceremony, and…the body Dani discovers beneath the town Christmas tree.
Misty Simon: I was so very excited when I heard about the wintery anthology call. I have a special place in my heart for diners, having previously been a busgirl and have always loved the holidays so being able to put them together into one story was awesome! The many different authors and takes on the holidays has been the extra sprinkles on my Christmas cookies!
Gin Jones: I wrote about a different holiday, but the three sisters of the Bourbon B&B Mysteries experienced Christmas in a previous story. Jess was all about extensive digital to-do lists, Em was a skilled thrifter, and CJ mostly cared about getting enough snow for extreme skiing. Then on Valentine’s Day, Jess will be practical about B&B work, Em will be a total romantic, and CJ will be more interested in cross-country skiing than either work or romance.
So, which of the HOLIDAYS & HOMICIDE characters reminds you of yourself or perhaps a best friend during the holidays?
A HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS CAPER (Hometown Mysteries) by Rosalie Spielman
Tessa: My non-holiday regular (coffee) was a London Fog latte, but between
Thanksgiving and New Year’s, a peppermint mocha was my regular. With lots of whip and chocolate shavings, of course.
GOSSIP, GUILT & GINGERBREAD (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries) by Lena Gregory
Dani: And I’d promised my boyfriend, Detective Jake Barlow (a.k.a. Detective Dreamy), that I’d stay out of trouble this holiday season. Though we both understood it was probably an empty promise. Like a gift, it was the thought that counted.
LARCENY & TWINKLE LIGHTS (Jamie Winters Mysteries) by Kelly Rey
Jamie: I’d planned to delay [my holiday shopping] until Christmas Eve when I’d head to the local supermarket to buy gift cards for everyone.
HOLIDAYS & HEISTS (Aloha Lagoon Mysteries) by Anne Marie Stoddard
Kaley: “What do you get the hot lifeguard-slash-entrepreneur who has everything?” … Noa Kahele, my childhood best friend … was now much more than that. … Shopping for him had never been this challenging when we were just friends.
ORNAMENTS, SURPRISE & DEAD GUYS (Gianna Mancini Mysteries) by Jennifer Fischetto
Gianna: The shop, where I ordered a custom gift for Julian, closes in six minutes. Today is Christmas Eve, and the shop doesn’t open again until the new year. I have to make it on time. If only we hadn’t dawdled during lunch.
IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE MISCHIEF (Northwoods Mysteries) by Annie McEwen
Em: “Sweet Saint Nick” [was] one of my usual G-rated expressions. Growing up, cursing had been a big no-no in our house, so I’d long ago adopted a collection of silly, wholesome phrases instead.
YOU CAN’T SEE THE FOREST FOR THE CHRISTMAS TREES (Modern Midwife Mysteries) by Christine Knapp
Maeve: Hot cocoa, cider, giant pretzels, popcorn, roasted chestnuts, gingerbread cookies, and a variety of chocolates were for sale. “Winter Wonderland” was playing softly in the background. The joy and excitement emanating from the crowd, especially the children, was almost palpable.
JINGLE BELL ROCKER (Sunny Side UP Mysteries) by Misty Simon
Jax: But it was the Christmas season, so I told myself we could just look at this as a wonderful time of the year, and after the first, we’d go back to our normal, competent but not necessarily overachieving staff. It would all be fine.
HOLLY, HANDCUFFS, AND HEARSAY (Camelot Flowers Mysteries) by Erica Wynters
Gwen: I wasn’t going to let anything ruin my day. Despite the lack of gifts for half the people on my list, I loved Christmas, and the annual Star Junction Christmas Festival was a huge part of my holiday tradition.
SEARCH FOR THE SILENT SANTA (Ghost Town Mysteries) by Jamie L. Adams
Lily: This year felt different, though—like the town itself was holding its breath. I couldn’t quite explain it. My gut twisted, warning me of something I couldn’t see. Maybe it was the weather. Or the calendar ticking down. Or something else entirely.
NOTHING BUT TRUFFLE (Cookies & Chance Mysteries) by Catherine Bruns
Sally: “Our first New Year’s Eve as a married couple.” I sighed with contentment and glanced at the clock. Three-thirty. Josie and I were closing early today because of the holiday.
A HEARTLAND HOMICIDE (Bourbon B&B Mysteries) by Gin Jones
Em, on hearing that the roads are closed due to a blizzard, and her boyfriend can’t get to the planned romantic dinner, but he would get down on one knee the moment the roads were even close to safe: “It’s not the same if it doesn’t happen on Valentine’s Day, and I’m not waiting another year.”
HOLIDAYS & HOMICIDES by Rosalie Spielman, Gin Jones, Lena Gregory, Misty Simon
short story collection
From twelve USA Today bestselling and award winning authors, comes a short story collection stuffed full of mirthful mysteries, clever criminals, and holiday cheer! These short holiday bites are perfect for enjoying between rounds of wrapping or binge-reading over a cup of cocoa!
Stories include:
A Hometown Christmas Caper (Hometown Mysteries)
by Rosalie Spielman
Gossip, Guilt & Gingerbread (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
by Lena Gregory
Larceny & Twinkle Lights (Jamie Winters Mysteries)
by Kelly Rey
Holidays & Heists (Aloha Lagoon Mysteries)
by Anne Marie Stoddard
Ornaments, Surprise & Dead Guys (Gianna Mancini Mysteries)
by Jennifer Fischetto
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Mischief (Northwoods Mysteries)
by Annie McEwen
You Can’t see the Forest for the Christmas Trees (Modern Midwife Mysteries)
by Christine Knapp
Jingle Bell Rocker (Sunny Side Up Mysteries)
by Misty Simon
Holly, Handcuffs, and Hearsay (Camelot Flowers Mysteries)
by Erica Wynters
Search for the Silent Santa (Ghost Town Mysteries)
by Jamie L. Adams
Nothing But Truffle (Cookies & Chance Mysteries)
by Catherine Bruns
A Heartland Homicide (Bourbon B&B Mysteries)
by Gin Jones
Mystery Anthology [ Gemma Halliday Publishing, On Sale: December 2, 2025, e-Book, / eISBN: 9798215178997 ]
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