As Christmas approaches, it's a great time to settle down with a hot drink and a blanket and immerse yourself in a festive read. Here, we look at the 12 must-read Christmas books for the festive season.
A Christmas Carol
It's not Christmas without including the phenomenon that is A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens in 1843. Published on the 19th of December, the book sold out by Christmas Eve and tapped into the Victorian revival of Christmas. Completed in six weeks, Dickens was facing financial difficulty before A Christmas Carol propelled him even further into the limelight as one of England's finest literary influences.
Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot's Christmas
The Queen of Crime made sure that she covered Christmas when writing her classic mysteries. Called away from his festive holidays by a fiendishly complicated locked room mystery, Poirot uncovers a hotbed of malice and dark secrets and a victim that just about everybody wanted dead. Set on Christmas Eve, this is a cosy mystery perfect for investigating when the nights are dark.
The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding
Sticking with Christie, we turn to The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding. This story features a few wintery-themed works by the Torquay-based writer. It features stories such as The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding and The Under Dog.
The Christmas Bookshop
The Christmas Bookshop, written by Jenny Colgan has become a firm favourite every year for readers of Christmas-themed books. Set in Edinburgh, the character Carmen must transform an old, dusty bookshop into one that can survive. If you like heart-warming romance, this is definitely the one for you.
The Christmas Guest
In this novella, Peter Swanson brings you a classic murder mystery described as being funny and clever by one reviewer. Set in a stately house, strange things happen in an idyllic setting.
Who Killed Father Christmas?
Who Killed Father Christmas? (And other seasonal mysteries) is a British Library Classics book. The murder of Father Christmas in London draws you in, but you'll find works by writers such as such as Patricia Moyes and John Dickson Carr. This is a collection of stories that will certainly intrigue.
The Christmas Wish
This festive comedy is perfect if you like your celebrity references and like the film Groundhog Day. Lindsay Kelk brings you two childhood sweethearts who return to their family visit for Christmas. However, the main character Gwen Baker wakes up every morning and finds it is Christmas day, and nobody else remembers. Can she get herself out of the continuous loop?
A Midwinter's Tale
A Midwinter's Tale is set close to Christmas and features a mystery that needs solving. Character Mina is about to sign a life-changing deal when a letter comes through her door with a key included. Mina discovers that she has to look after her godfather's cottage and his cute cat.
The Christmas Swap
This festive romance is set in London and sees a fake romance become something more. Margot needs to have a fake boyfriend for the festive season and chooses Ben. But when she arrives at Ben's home, she discovers an attraction to Ben's sister, Ellie.
That Festive Feeling
Heidi Swain is the author of numerous feel-good romances, and That Festive Feeling is one of them. Holly is looking after a friend's home this Christmas, and gets to spend some time alone and she figures out the next steps in her life. She meets Bear and his rescue dog, and it soon becomes clear that Holly has to decide if she should stay on Nightingale Square, or leave it all behind.
Mog's Christmas
One for the kids, Mog the cat is back at Christmas. Mog escapes to the roof and refuses to come down as the bustling business of Christmas proves to be too much for the famous tabby cat.
The Christmas Cat at St Fagan's
If you like cats and Christmas, why not try The Christmas Cat at St Fagan's? Published by Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, this festive read is set in the Welsh history museum and is a perfect family read.