Large Type Mysteries: Halloween Edition

Laurien Berenson's 26th Melanie Travis Mystery is titled Howloween Murder.  "As the town of Greenwich, Connecticut, counts down to a spooky celebration on October 31st, a horrifying murder leaves Melanie Travis pawing for clues in a hair-raising game of trick-or-treat . . .With just a few days left before Halloween, everyone at Howard Academy is anticipating the guaranteed sugar high they’ll experience from gorging on Harriet Bloom’s famous marshmallow puffs. The school’s annual costume party revolves around the headmaster’s assistant and her seemingly supernatural batches of gooey goodies. So, it's a shock when Harriet’s elderly neighbor is suddenly found dead with the beloved dessert in his hand. Melanie knows her tenured colleague would never intentionally serve cyanide-laced puffs to a defenseless old man. But as explosive neighborhood gossip reveals a potential culprit, it also brings her closer to sealing her own doom. Because on an evening ruled by masked revelers, Halloween might just be the perfect opportunity for a cold-hearted killer to get away with murder once again—this time sending a nosy, unsuspecting sleuth to an early grave!" (from Amazon.com)

Crypt Suzette is a Five-Ingredient Mystery by Maya Corrigan. "Val Deniston is catering the debut of Bayport’s newest bookstore—but the death of a customer is about to draw her into a real-life murder mystery …Suzette Cripps has been occupying a spare bedroom at Val’s granddad’s house while she takes classes in this Maryland Eastern Shore town—but she’s always seemed a little secretive and fearful, and any talk about her past is a closed book. After winning the costume contest at the Halloween-themed bookstore party, Suzette is mowed down by a hit-and-run driver—and Val and her grandfather start to wonder whether it was really an accident or if someone was after Suzette. Granddad is a little distracted by his new enterprise as a ghost-buster, but as Val talks to Suzette’s coworkers and fellow creative writing students, she grows more convinced that the dead woman’s demons weren’t imaginary—and that she needs to rip the mask off a killer …" (from Amazon.com)

The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer is a Paws & Claws Mystery by Krista Davis. "Wagtail, Virginia, the top pet-friendly getaway in the United States, is gearing up for a howling good Halloween—until a spooky murder shakes the town to its core.. Holly Miller doesn’t believe in spirits, but the Sugar Maple Inn is filled with guests who do. The TV series in development, Apparition Apprehenders, has descended on Wagtail’s annual Halloween festivities to investigate supernatural local legends, and Holly has her hands full showing the ghost hunters a scary-fun time. But the frights turn real when Holly’s Jack Russell, Trixie, and kitten, Twinkletoes, find a young woman drowned in the Wagtail Springs Hotel’s bathhouse—the spot of the town’s most infamous haunting. The crime scene is eerily similar to the creepy legend, convincing Holly that the death wasn’t just accidental. Now she’ll have to race to catch a flesh-and-blood killer—before someone else in town gives up the ghost..." (from Amazon.com)

Peggy Ehrhart's sixth entry in her Knit & Nibble series is called Knit of the Living Dead. "When a spooky celebration in Arborville, New Jersey conjures real scares, can Pamela and the Knit and Nibble Club sink their teeth into a bone-chilling mystery that just won’t rest in peace? Among the countless revelers at the town’s much-anticipated Halloween parade, a woman dressed as Little Bo Peep is the only one making people scream bloody murder. In a scene straight out of a horror movie, the Knit and Nibblers find the nursery rhyme character dead with thick strands of yarn looped around her neck. Pamela and her best friend, Bettina, are set on pinning down who wanted the woman gone forever, but it’ll take every trick they can muster to catch the culprit without becoming the next poor souls to join Little Bo Peep’s dark, endless sleep . . ." (from Amazon.com)

The Spook in the Stacks is a Lighthouse Library mystery by Eva Gates. "Halloween in North Carolina’s Outer Banks becomes seriously tricky when librarian Lucy Richardson stumbles across something extra unusual in the rare books section: a dead body. Wealthy businessman Jay Ruddle is considering donating his extensive collection of North Carolina historical documents to the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, but the competition for the collection is fierce. Unfortunately, while the library is hosting a lecture on ghostly legends, Jay becomes one of the dearly departed in the rare books section. Now, it’s up to Lucy Richardson and her fellow librarians to bone up on their detective skills and discover who is responsible for this wicked Halloween homicide. Meanwhile, very strange things are happening at the library—haunted horses are materializing in the marsh, the lights seem to have an eerie life of their own, and the tiny crew of a model ship appears to move around when no one is watching. Is Lucy at her wit’s end? Or can it be that the Bodie Island Lighthouse really is haunted?" (from Amazon.com)

Large Print Christmas Fiction

Here Comes Santa Paws is a Melanie Travis Mystery by Laurien Berenson. "It’s the most wonderful time of the year in Connecticut, but Melanie Travis finds surviving this December may take a real Christmas miracle when a yuletide murderer comes to town . . . As Melanie attempts to deck the halls in a house overrun by pampered Poodles, her event planner friend, Claire, is busy playing Santa—beard and belly not included—for the wealthiest clientele on Connecticut’s Gold Coast. A personal shopper gig in the affluent town of New Canaan seems like business as usual. Except Claire’s stylish stint comes at a higher price than she bargains for when she stumbles over her newest customer’s dead body on the job. Named a prime suspect for murder, she begs for Melanie’s help, then vanishes like cookies and milk on Christmas Eve. Determined to track down Claire, Melanie and her nosy Aunt Peg dash into a dizzying investigation that leads to even more questions. Why was homicide victim Lila Moran, a secretive woman with an untraceable past, permitted to live on a well-known socialite-turned-recluse’s private estate, and is Claire keeping her own incriminating secrets under wraps? Now, with a grinchy New Canaan detective on their case and disturbing clues piling up like presents beneath the tree, the crime-solving duo must rein in a sinister Kris Kringle before they’re the next ones on someone’s deadly wish list." (from Amazon.com)

You get three stories of faith, family, and love in An Amish Second Christmas. "For the Amish, the day after Christmas is for family, feasting, and exchanging simple gifts. And for three different couples, it will bring another precious chance for love.

THEIR SECOND CHANCE by Shelley Shepard Gray
Amish nanny Hannah Eicher never thought she’d ever see Rob Prince again. There was no way a relationship between her and the handsome English fireman could overcome her family’s objections—and their personal differences. But when he saves her from a sudden blaze, Hannah longs to see if they can turn holiday hope into a lifetime of happiness.

HIS AMISH ANGEL by Patricia Johns
She’s too outspoken to be a proper Amish wife. So as advice columnist “Miss Amish,” Maggie Lapp helps Amish and English with their romantic problems. But when her tradition-minded former fiancé accidentally reveals her secret, Maggie will need more than a miracle to make things right—and find a perfect love for all the Christmases to come.

AN HEIRLOOM CHRISTMAS by Virginia Wise
Rachel Miller won't let her disability keep her from selling heirloom plants and proving she can be independent. She certainly doesn't need reckless Joseph Webber working at her greenhouse to pay off a disastrous Rumspringa stunt. But she and Joseph have more in common than they think—and their surprising holiday partnership might just blossom into forever joy." (from Amazon.com)

"#1 New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella returns with a festive new Shopaholic adventure filled with holiday cheer and unexpected gifts. 'Tis the season for change and Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) is embracing it, returning from the States to live in the charming village of Letherby and working with her best friend, Suze, in the gift shop of Suze's stately home. Life is good, especially now that Becky takes time every day for mindfulness . . . which actually means listening to a meditation tape while hunting down online bargains. But Becky still adores the traditions of Christmas: Her parents host, carols play on repeat, her mother pretends she made the Christmas pudding, and the neighbors come 'round for sherry in their terrible holiday sweaters. Things are looking cheerier than ever, until Becky's parents announce they're moving to ultra-trendy Shoreditch--unable to resist the draw of craft beer and smashed avocados--and ask Becky if she'll host this year. What could possibly go wrong? Her sister demands a vegan turkey, her husband insists that he just wants aftershave--again, and little Minnie demands a very specific picnic hamper: Surely Becky can manage all this, as well as the surprise appearance of an old-boyfriend-turned-rock-star and his pushy new girlfriend, whose motives are far from clear. But as the countdown to Christmas begins and her big-hearted plans take an unexpected turn toward disaster, Becky starts to wonder if chaos will ensue, or if she'll manage to bring comfort and joy to Christmas after all." (from Amazon.com)

"Gathered in one volume for the very first time, here are three yuletide tales of mystery, murder, and romance, featuring your favorite sleuths . . .Includes Luscious Holiday Recipes!

THE TWELVE DESSERTS OF CHRISTMAS by JOANNE FLUKE
It’s the perfect mix of naughty and nice when two lovestruck boarding school teachers watch six kids over Christmas break. But when someone wants the cozy couple’s romance to burn out faster than a scorched fruitcake, it’s Hannah Swensen to the rescue, armed with her sleuthing
skills—and twelve deliciously festive recipes.

NIGHTMARE ON ELF STREET by LAURA LEVINE
Aside from the mortifying costume, how bad can a gig as a mall Santa’s elf be? Jaine Austen finds out when she’s teamed up with the Santa from Hell. But things go from bad to worse when he’s found murdered on the job—and Jaine is a suspect. Now all she wants for Christmas is to find the real killer.

THE CHRISTMAS THIEF by LESLIE MEIER
Elizabeth Stone is ready for a white Christmas in Tinker’s Cove, Maine—until a fancy Yule ball at the Florida hotel where she works dumps snow on her plans. The sponsor’s jewels have gone missing and the police are asking about her ties to a cute mystery guest. Good thing Elizabeth’s mother, Lucy Stone, flew down to surprise her. ʼTis the season for a little investigating." (from Amazon.com)

Cozy Christmas Mysteries

Wagging Through the Snow is a Melanie Travis Canine Mystery by Laurien Berenson. Melanie Travis is juggling her demanding teaching job at Connecticut's prestigious Howard Academy, her five poodles scampering around the house, and the demands of the Christmas holidays. When her brother and her ex-husband announce their plans to expand their successful country cafe by buying a dilapidated pine tree farm, she has even more on her plate. The ten-acre plot had, at one time, been a popular seasonal destination, but when the previous owner died, it fell into disrepair and will require more than a little tidying up. When a squatter is found dead on the land, it is assumed that he met his end when a fir limb fell on his head. Melanie and Aunt Peg aren't convinced that is what happened, however, and they go digging into Pete the squatter's history. What they find is a terrible habit that cost him everything and probably got him killed.

A Cajun Christmas Killing is a Cajun Country Mystery by Ellen Byron. Maggie Crozat is back home in Pelican, Louisiana and looking forward to the Christmastime traditions of bonfires on the levee, zydeco carols and pots of gumbo, but a dark cloud descends over the Crozat Plantation B & B. Travel websites are being flooded with vicious reviews of the B&B and Maggie thinks she has identified the culprit as rival businessman Donald Baxter. Well, that is, until he is found stabbed to death at Maggie's workplace and she and her loved ones become prime suspects. Maggie and the rest of the Crozat clan are able to establish alibis, but her boyfriend, Detective Bo Durand, remains a person of interest. With Bo sidelined in the investigation, Maggie finds herself making an unlikely alliance with family rival Rufus Durand. Maggie and Rufus are hot on the trail of the killer, but their meddling hasn't gone unnoticed. Will it be "Joyeux Noel" or "Bon Nuit" for Maggie?

Murder on the Toy Town Express is a Vintage Toyshop Mystery by Barbara Early. Liz McCall has come to love running her father's vintage toyshop in East Aurora, NY, so she is excited when the train and toy show comes to town. Craig McFadden has set up his booth right next to Liz's. The only problem is that Craig was Liz's childhood bully and he's now her business rival. When Craig falls from the ceiling in a publicity stunt gone wrong, everyone believes it's a horrible accident. The evidence, however, points to something much more sinister and the brother of Liz's high school sweetheart, Jack, becomes a prime suspect. Pulled into the case by her feelings for both Jack and the police chief, Ken, Liz dives in headfirst only to find that the actual target may have been her father.

How the Finch Stole Christmas is a Meg Langslow Christmas Mystery by Donna Andrews. At home in Caerphilly, Meg's husband has decided to expand his one-man show of Dickens's A Christmas Carol into a full scale production with a larger cast, Meg as stage manager, and their sons Jamie and Josh playing Tiny Tim and young Scrooge. When the famous--and obviously over-the-hill--actor hired to headline the play comes to town, he brings with him a sleigh full of baggage and more enemies than you can shake your jingle bells at. On top of all this, Caerphilly seems to be overrun with more than its share of beautiful caged finches. What is up with that? Meg and company are in for one interesting holiday.

Christmas "Stalkings"

It’s a cold winter evening. The Christmas decorations have been hung, the presents are wrapped and you have just slid a pan of cookies into the oven. Now, it’s time to settle down in a comfy chair (by the fireplace if you have one) and open up a great murder mystery! Some of my favorite mysteries are set during the Christmas season and the following is just a few of them:

Aunt Dimity’s Christmas by Nancy Atherton is the story of Lori Shepherd who is anticipating celebrating Christmas with her husband, Bill and twin sons in the beautiful cottage willed to her by Aunt Dimity. Lori makes a disturbing discovery beneath the cottage's snow-covered lilac bushes -- the body of a mysterious stranger, barely alive. Lori must put her plans on hold to team up with the devilishly attractive Roman Catholic priest JuLian Bright and seek out the tramp's identity. Lori unveils the tragic secret that led the stranger to her door, and must confront painful truths about herself and the true meaning of a perfect family Christmas.

Jingle Bell Bark by Laurien Berenson stars dog trainer Melanie Travis, in a cozy canine mystery set during the Christmas holidays. This year, all Melanie wants for Christmas is a dull moment--but she's not going to get it. Between her eight-year-old son, her teaching job, her show dog, and now the mysterious death of her son's bus driver, she's got her hands full.

Iced by Carol Higgins Clark is set in the old silver-mining town-turned-trendy resort of Aspen, Colorado. Many rich and famous folks have arrived in Aspen to celebrate the holidays, as has Regan Reilly who has has arrived with her mystery-writing mom and suave, funeral director father to spend the Christmas holidays on the slopes and visiting friends. Million-dollar paintings start disappearing from elegant condos and chic chalets all over town and suspicion immediately falls on a congenial ex-con caretaker named Eben Bean. Since Regan helped Eben get his caretaking job, she is the only person in town who believes he is innocent, and must prove this to everyone else.

Wreck the Halls by Sarah Graves is one of the “home repair is homicide” murder series. When ex—Wall Streeter Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree buys a charming 1823 fixer-upper in tiny Eastport, Maine, she figures she’s also bought herself a tranquil, stress-free life. When Jake and her best pal, Ellie, arrive at Faye Anne Carmody’s kitchen door, they knock and walk right in. But though Christmas is just two weeks away, what they find is far from festive: a dazed Faye Anne covered with blood, and her no-good husband — the town butcher, Merle — nowhere in sight. Nowhere, that is, until Jake discovers his body — tidily wrapped in his own butcher paper. Jake can’t believe that Faye Anne is a murderer, but can she and Ellie stop the shrewd killer before he chisels another victim’s name onto a tombstone?