Mystery Puns That Will Sleigh You

Dark, cold winter evenings, the stress of holiday gatherings and the crowds of shoppers, it's no wonder that cozy mystery authors find murderous inspiration in the Christmas season.

Below find a list of recent mysteries with a Christmas pun twist:

 'Twas the Knife Before Christmas by Jacqueline Frost
The second book in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series. When a body turns up in the dumpster behind Caroline’s Cupcakes, Holly White is horrified to learn her best friend Caroline is the main suspect.

Murder With All the Trimmings by Shawn Simmons
The sixth book in the Red Carpet Catering Mysteries series. Penelope Sutherland is catering her first documentary, a history of the Vitrine Theater and the Big Apple Dancers, who put on the world-famous Christmas Extravaganza. When one of the dancers mysteriously disappears then turns up dead right before opening night, it looks like Christmas might be cancelled.

Six Cats a Slayin' by Miranda James
The tenth book in the Cat in the Stacks series. Charlie Harris and his Maine Coon cat, Diesel, are busy decking the halls for the holidays when an unexpected delivery and a shocking murder conspire to shake up the season.

A Cup of Holiday Fear by Ellie Alexander
The tenth book in the Bakeshop Mystery series. To cap off the merry season, Jules and Helen host their annual staff party at the historic Winchester Inn’s Dickens Feast. Just as the dessert course is about to be served the power goes out and Jules finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. Her only wish this Christmas is to catch a killer.

Dachshund Through the Snow by David Rosenfelt
The twentieth book in the Andy Carpenter series. This Christmas, lawyer Andy Carpenter and his golden retriever, Tara, can't say no to helping young Danny and his dachshund, Murphy.

Owl Be Home for Christmas by Donna Andrews
The twenty-sixth book in the Meg Langslow series. It's a few days before Christmas, and Meg's grandfather is hosting a scientific conference on owls at the Caerphilly Inn. An unexpectedly severe snow storm traps the conference-goers in the hotel, and one of the visiting ornithologists is murdered.

Silent Knit, Deadly Knit by Peggy Erhart
The fourth book in A Knit & Nibble Mystery series. When murder silences the Christmas cheer in charming Arborville, New Jersey, Pamela and her Knit and Nibble pals must unravel the most bone-chilling mystery this side of the North Pole . . .

Nine Mysteries You Should Read for the Pun of It

One of the fun parts of my job as a librarian here at Carnegie-Stout is selecting the new mystery books, which means I get to sit in the workroom and giggle at all of the terrible puns. If you don't read many mysteries, you might not be familiar with the cozy mystery sub-genre. Cozy mysteries tend to be lighter in tone and less violent (though there will still be murders to solve). The main character in a cozy mystery is usually an amateur sleuth who has a day job as a baker, a pet sitter, or a baker who specializes in dog treats, but spends their free time investigating crimes.

I've gathered together a list of some of our newer mystery novels with especially clever titles. Check one out for a fun read on a relaxing summer weekend!

Nine Mysteries You Should Read for the Pun of It:

And Then There Were Nuns by Kylie Logan

B&B owner Bea Cartwright has taken on the responsibility of taking meals to ten visiting nuns, but the peace of the retreat is shattered when one of the nuns is found at the water's edge--murdered. And when a second nun is killed, Bea and the other members of the League of Literary Ladies start to wonder about eerie parallels with the Agatha Christie mystery classic And Then There Were None. 

Breach of Crust by Ellery Adams

Socialite Beatrice Burbank hires Ella Mae to teach the tasty tricks of her trade to the members of the Camellia Club, but when Bea's body is found floating in Lake Havenwood Ella Mae must find the killer.

Fifty Shades of Greyhound by Sparkle Abbey

It was a killer party. Caro Lamont, Laguna Beach’s favorite pet therapist, is thrilled to support the elite fundraising gala for Greys Matter, a SoCal greyhound rescue group. The champagne and donations are flowing, and there are fifty gorgeous greyhounds in attendance. But before the evening ends a stranger in their midst is dead. 

For Cheddar or Worse by Avery Aames

Lara Berry, pretentious cheese whiz, pompous bestselling author, and pungent critic whose extra sharp tongue can crumble a reputation, has been murdered, and Charlotte Bessette is determined to clear her friend's name of the crime.

Foreign Éclairs by Julie Hyzy

White House executive chef Ollie Paras has served plenty of meals to foreign dignitaries from around the world. But someone is ready to serve her an ice-cold dish of revenge... 

Laying Down the Paw by Diane Kelly
When a raging tornado hits Forth Worth, Megan's squad car is flipped over-and her devoted police dog, Brigit, is not amused. But that's not all that's upside-down. The streets are littered with looters-and members of a violent street gang-and no local business is safe. It's time to get back on all fours and see that the job of protecting the public is done.

Silence of the Lamps by Karen Rose Smith

Business has never been better for home stager Caprice De Luca, until her main rival is found bludgeoned to death with one of his grandmother's antique Tiffany lamps. Now, Caprice must act fast to illuminate the truth before a cold-blooded killer puts her lights out next...

Tea with Jam and Dread by Tamar Myers
Deciding that the PennDutch Inn needs to go more upmarket, Magdalena Yoder is delighted to welcome the Earl and Countess Grimsley-Snodgrass and their family as honoured guests. But, as Magdalena is about to find out, the Grimsley-Snodgrasses are by no means the easiest of guests, and at the same time she has to contend with the discovery of a mummified corpse trapped in her elevator shaft.

Thread and Gone by Lea Wait
Angie investigates after a piece of embroidery the Mainely Needlepointers identified as possibly knitted by Mary, Queen of Scots, is stolen and the lawyer who was safeguarding the precious antique is murdered.

~Sarah, Adult Services