According to The Guardian: ‘Readers have been pouncing on stories of murder and revenge [in 2020], with nearly 120,000 more crime and thriller books bought in the last two weeks of June, when compared to the same point last year.’
It’s time to get out your metaphorical magnifying glass, light the fire and put your feet up. Here are some of our favourite crime capers to read and watch this Christmas.
Murder Under the Mistletoe by Richard Coles
In Murder Under the Mistletoe, everyone’s favourite popstar turned vicar turned radio host turned author Richard Coles delivers a festive mystery with a dark twist. Set during a Christmas gathering at Champton Rectory, Canon Daniel Clement is joined by his spirited mother Audrey, and together they welcome friends and neighbours for a day of good cheer that soon turns to tragedy when a guest collapses under suspicious circumstances. What begins as a kiss beneath the mistletoe quickly spirals into an investigation, with Daniel uncovering secrets that threaten to put paid to the seasonal goodwill. Set in the late 1980s, the novel captures the tensions of the era, from debates within the Church over women’s ordination to Daniel’s more personal struggles. Against a backdrop of Christmas traditions – including a chaotic dinner, a Nativity play, and Midnight Mass – Coles brings the world of the rectory to life with warmth, wit and humour. Buy it.
Playing Nice, ITV
James Norton stars in this gripping psychological thriller adapted by Grace Ofori-Attah from JP Delaney’s best-selling novel. A compelling family drama begins with a shocking revelation: Peter (Norton) and Maddie (Niamh Algar) learn that their toddler was accidentally swapped at birth with the child of another couple, Miles (James McArdle) and Lucy (Jessica Brown Findlay). As the families grapple with the unimaginable decision of whether to keep the children they’ve raised or reclaim their biological sons, deeper questions arise: How far can they trust one another, and what secrets might lie beneath the surface? Tense, thought-provoking, and emotionally charged, Playing Nice promises to be unmissable. Airing December, transmission date TBC.
Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency by Josie Lloyd
Josie Lloyd’s Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency introduces readers to the titular Alice Beeton, an unlikely amateur sleuth who runs an elite household staffing agency catering to society’s upper crust. A distant relative of *the* Mrs Beeton, Alice has carved out a serene and well-organised life, sharing a cosy Kensington flat with her loyal terrier-corgi mix, Agatha. Her days are spent matching the perfect staff to her wealthy clients – that is, until her carefully ordered world is upended by a shocking crime. When one of her placements – a housekeeper for the well-heeled Messent family – is found dead during their glittering New Year gala, Alice is thrust into the middle of a mystery. Dissatisfied with the local detective’s half-hearted investigation, she draws on her love of classic crime fiction, sharp instincts, and help from her quirky circle of friends to uncover the truth lurking behind the Messents’ gilded façade. With playful nods to Victorian culinary queen Mrs Beeton – complete with Alice’s own recipes and observations – Lloyd offers the perfect mix of cosy mystery and character-driven storytelling. Perfect for fans of sharp-witted sleuths and charming domestic drama. Buy it.
Conclave
Whether you could classify it as cosy is debatable, but Conclave, which transforms Robert Harris’s bestseller into a taut, atmospheric thriller, skilfully directed by Edward Berger, is certainly gripping. Set within the Vatican during the secretive election of a new pope, the film explores the tensions between tradition and progress. Ralph Fiennes anchors the story as Cardinal Lawrence, navigating high-stakes politics and moral dilemmas while uncovering secrets about the candidates.. Conclave balances suspense and drama with elegance, delivering a high-calibre thriller that’s engaging and thought-provoking. Expect standout performances from Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and, of course, the great Fiennes himself. In cinemas now.
Sister Boniface Mysteries Christmas Special 2024, BBC
The Great Slaughter Amateur Dramatics Society’s rehearsals for their festive pantomime, Cinderella, take a dark turn when a cast member is found, quite literally, stabbed in the back. Enter Sister Boniface, whose sharp wit and investigative prowess are urgently needed to uncover the killer lurking among the cast. Things escalate when Tibbles the cat delivers a chilling clue – a human eyeball – plunging the nun further into the tangled mystery. As another cast member meets their end, the stakes rise: can Sister Boniface solve the case in time to save the show and ensure the town enjoys its much-anticipated Christmas spectacle? Witty, suspenseful, and full of seasonal charm. There is no trailer as yet, but you can catch up on Sister Boniface’s previous adventures here.
The Christmas Stocking Murders by Dezil Meyrick
Denzil Meyrick’s The Christmas Stocking Murders unfolds in the snowbound village of Uthley’s Bay in 1953, where Inspector Frank Grasby and his boss, Superintendent Juggers, investigate a fisherman’s murder – his neck tied with a stocking. As a fierce storm traps them in the eerie village and more bodies inevitably surface, the case takes a darker turn. Grasby’s bumbling charm and sharp wit add humour to the tense atmosphere, while the village’s odd residents and their strange fixation on hosiery deepen the mystery. With a mix of suspense, dark comedy, and festive twists, Meyrick delivers a compelling holiday whodunnit. A perfect for a winter read. Buy it.
Towards Zero, BBC
New Agatha Christie adaptations have become a Christmas tradition and we are all anticipation for Towards Zero, this year’s offering, which stars Anjelica Houston and Matthew Rhys. When Nevile Strange and his ex-wife Audrey decide to spend the summer at Gull’s Point – the coastal estate of Nevile's formidable aunt, Lady Tressilian (Houston) – it raises more than a few eyebrows. The arrangement is made even more volatile by the presence of Nevile’s glamorous new wife, Kay, creating an atmosphere charged with jealousy and unresolved emotions. The house is soon brimming with an eclectic and uneasy group: a long-suffering companion, a resentful cousin, a crafty valet, an orphan with a sharp eye, a duplicitous Frenchman, and the family’s aging lawyer. Beneath the genteel surface, old grudges and hidden agendas simmer. When murder strikes, a disillusioned detective must untangle the threads of envy, deception, and dysfunction to uncover the truth. But with tensions escalating, can he stop the killer before they strike again? Adapted for screen by BAFTA-nominated Rachel Bennette and directed by the Olivier Award-winning Sam Yates, it’s set to be a cosy Christmas corker. Airing December, transmission date TBC.
We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
If you loved The Thursday Murder Club, then Richard Osman’s latest whodunit will make perfect Christmas fodder. It centres on Steve Wheeler who we find content with his quiet retirement, sticking to his routines: pub quizzes, his favourite bench, and his loyal cat awaiting his return home. His days of high-stakes action are behind him, leaving the thrills to his daughter-in-law, Amy, whose private security work keeps her constantly on the move. Amy thrives on excitement, guarding high-profile clients like renowned author Rosie D’Antonio on a remote island. It should have been a straightforward assignment – until a murder, a bag of cash, and a determined assassin upend everything. Desperate, Amy turns to the one person she can trust. Together, she and Steve are swept into a pulse-pounding global chase, trying to outwit a relentless foe. But will their combined wits be enough? Buy it.
