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Christmas Crimes at the Mysterious Bookshop
  • Published: 17 November 2026
  • ISBN: 9780857509734
  • Imprint: Bantam
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 336
  • RRP: $40.00

Christmas Crimes at the Mysterious Bookshop

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A collection of twelve, cosy Christmas-themed crime stories, set in New York's oldest mystery bookstore, the perfect stocking-filler for fans of cosy and seasonal mysteries.

Twelve festive crime stories set in New York City’s beloved mystery bookstore.

The oldest mystery bookstore in the world, The Mysterious Bookshop, has for most of its forty-five-year history commissioned an original short story as a holiday gift for its customers.

The prompt for each story requires three elements: that it be set at Christmastime, that it involve a mystery, and that it takes place at least partially inside the Mysterious Bookshop.

The dozen tales included in this volume – by celebrated crime fiction authors, such as Laura Lippman, Ragnar Jonasson, and Jeffery Deaver – are among the finest to be produced in this annual tradition, sure to charm any reader looking for a Christmas escape.

‘A must for every mystery lover’s wish list’ Kirkus

‘Something to please every reader this holiday season’ Wall Street Journal
  • Published: 17 November 2026
  • ISBN: 9780857509734
  • Imprint: Bantam
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 336
  • RRP: $40.00
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About the author

Otto Penzler

Otto Penzler owns The Mysterious Bookshop in New York City and founded the Mysterious Press and Otto Penzler Books. He has written and edited several books, including the Edgar Award-winning Encyclopaedia of Mystery and Detection, and is the series editor of the annual Best American Mystery Stories of the Year.
OP

Also by Otto Penzler

Golden Age Bibliomysteries
Golden Age Christmas Mysteries
Golden Age Locked Room Mysteries
Golden Age Detective Stories
Golden Age Whodunits
The Big Book of Espionage
The Big Book of Reel Murders
See all

Praise for Christmas Crimes at the Mysterious Bookshop

Mystery fans will find some of their favorite writers up to holiday no-good in Christmas Crimes at the Mysterious Bookshop. . . Even if you just pay attention to the conversations between characters, there are so many recommendations of excellent mysteries you may have missed that Christmas Crimes sometimes feels like a book club and gift guide all in one.

Minnesota Star Tribune

Each tale's brevity makes it easy to dip into and out of the collection, and the mix of big names . . . with lesser-knowns offers a spirited survey of contemporary crime fiction.

Publishers Weekly

The stories are all refreshingly good-natured and, in the spirit of the season, lean toward peace on earth and good will to most. A must for every mystery lover's wish list.

Kirkus

This collection is stellar, and each story does a fine job of highlighting both the store and the Yuletide season.

BookReporter

With crimes ranging from theft to death, these stories' plots will have you second-guessing everything, but throughout all of them, the cozy bookshop remains a reliable (if occasionally murder-rific) setting.

Oprah Daily

The variety of plot agendas represented (from revenge to redemption) should guarantee something to please every reader this holiday season.

Wall Street Journal

If you like books, bookstores, and booksellers, you'll love this miscellany of seasonal hijinks that highlights different storytellers, styles, and subgenres. It's also an ideal stocking stuffer for the bibliophile in your life.

CrimeReads