5 new festive books to read this week

These are our top picks from this year’s new Christmas-themed books…

Fiction

1. All I Want For Christmas by Karen Swan is published in paperback by Pan

It’s that time of year again when the bookshops start to fill with festive romance reads, and Karen Swan is adding the cosy All I Want For Christmas into the mix. Set in Copenhagen’s art world, Darcy Cotterell isn’t feeling particularly festive as she digs through the vaults of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts to discover who the mystery woman on a newly recovered work of art. However, it’s not all academia for Darcy as her friend, Freja, lines her up with three blind dates. As Freja attempts to ignite the festive flame, Darcy matches with a lawyer who is both infuriating and heavily involved in her research. Karen Swan balances art mystery and dark subjects with the light hand needed for romance that can swell even Scrooge’s cold heart.

2. Murder Under The Mistletoe by Reverend Richard Coles is published in hardback by W&N

A family gathering and a feast of food to enjoy topped off with a secret recipe for bread sauce is surely a recipe for a perfect Christmas Day. But instead of eating, drinking and being merry, one of the guests drops down dead during a game of charades, shortly after a kiss under the mistletoe. The Reverend Richard Coles makes the reader wait until nearly the end of his latest book to reveal another murder in the parish of Canon Daniel Clement. Detective Sergeant Neil Vanloo is among the guests and joins the Canon in trying to solve the crime and catch the Christmas killer. Fans of the previous Canon Clement mysteries will love the trademark humour of Coles, the former Communards pop star turned vicar and radio host who now writes easy-to- read, funny, clever crime novels.

3. The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose is published in hardback by HarperCollins

Canadian author Nita Prose has made a name for herself with a series of murder mysteries set in a high-class hotel, with head maid Molly at the centre. Now, Prose has set her sights on Christmas in a standalone novella – which feels so cloying and cliched that it almost makes you wish for a spot of murder. Molly and her boyfriend Juan are counting down the days until Christmas, until Juan starts acting somewhat suspicious, and Molly spirals into thinking something is awry. To everyone other than Molly – including the reader – the mystery in question is evident from the beginning, making for a somewhat dreary read full of OTT Christmas cheer. If you want an easy festive read full of life lessons and characters who enjoy singing Christmas songs way more than the average person, this is the one for you – otherwise perhaps wait for Prose’s next full-length offering, which will hopefully feature a much juicier mystery.

Non-fiction

4. A Poem For Every Day of Christmas, edited by Allie Esiri, is published in hardback by Macmillan Children’s Books

With the boom in novelty advent calendars and new fads seemingly introduced every Christmas, this is a gorgeous tradition you will want to revisit year after year. A Poem For Every Day Of Christmas – a compilation of 31 poems arranged by date order from December 1-31 – contains a hit of culture for each day of the festive month, from the traditional Christmas poems we know and love, such as We Wish You A Merry Christmas, to work from contemporary legends like Brian Bilston and Wendy Cope. It’s the perfect countdown for the big day, and suitable for all, from parents reading to their children to anyone wanting to swap their social media scrolling for a bit of everyday wisdom. It’s a great way to get into the festive spirit while also making a commitment to some deeper contemplation at a time where consumerism is rife.

Children’s book of the week

5. The Christmasaurus And The Night Before Christmas by Tom Fletcher, illustrated by Shane Devries, is published in hardback by Puffin

The Christmasaurus And The Night Before Christmas is a charming tale of immense imagination with Fletcher creating a world that immediately brings the reader into the story and captures the sheer excitement of Christmas Eve. His loveable character, the Christmasaurus, is keen to help at the North Pole in the build-up to Christmas but failing to impress his elf peers with his baking, decorating and present wrapping. Unfortunately, he doesn’t quite feel the Christmas spirit, wondering whether anyone will care or notice if he’s not around this Christmas.

But it is Santa that lifts the story and drives home the heartfelt message of Fletcher’s book, going against majority opinion and loving Christmasaurus’ baking, decorations and wrapping, bringing the dinosaur back from hiding. A great Christmas Eve read for your kids, with vivid animation and a captivating and heartwarming storyline.