Best Christmas Books

There's nothing better at Christmas than a cosy crime thriller or two, and when it comes to fulfilling our festive suspense, no one does it better than the 'Queen of Crime' P.D. James.

Delve into these four short stories uncovered from the archives and expect shocking family gatherings and dark, dark secrets.

The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories by P.D. James, Faber, £10

Bringing together the likes of Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Arthur Conan Doyle, this collecton of spooky Christmas tales will complete your festive break.

Imagine a Christmas goose with a surprising secret cargo, a murdered pantomime dame and an invisible killer, you'll see the likes of Inspector Rebus and Holmes come together for a very special occasion.

Murder Under The Christmas Tree, Profile Books, £7.99

Ever wondered where Christmas carols came from? Thanks to Andrew Gant's new book, you can trace the origin of some of your yuletide favourites as he tells the story of classics like 'The Twelves Days of Christmas' and 'Good King Wenceslas', among others. Perfect for creating festive joy all around.

Christmas Carols: From Village Green to Church Choir by Andrew Gant, Profile Books, £9.99

Nothing makes the perfect Christmas book like a Charles Dickens classic. A Christmas Carol is the ultimate heart-warming tale of sour Ebenezer Scrooge who journeys through the past, present and future and his emotional transformation into the spirit of Christmas.

Credited with rejuvenating the traditional spirit of Christmas in England, it certainly makes a joyful read to get you in the mood for Christmas.

A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings by Charles Dickens, Penguin, £14.99

Adapted for the big screen, John Grisham’s Skipping Christmas is a hilarious account of a family’s decision to boycott Christmas, instead opting to spend the festive season aboard a Caribbean cruise.

Anxiously waiting to depart, the family receive a surprise call that sees them hurriedly reorganising their usual Christmas traditions in chaos. Entertaining and uplifting, not what you’d expect from a best-selling author of legal thrillers.

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham, Cornerstone, £7.99

More famously known as the book which formed the basis of Philip Van Doren Stern’s tale of George Pratt who contemplates suicide one Christmas Eve bares striking similarities to the big screen version. While standing on a bridge ready to jump Pratt makes a wish that he’d never been born before confronting what life would be like without him.

Who needs Cary Grant for this heart warming short story?

The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern, Cluster Publishing, £15.99

Fans of best-seller Cathy Kelly will relish the opportunity to get lost in a collection of her festive short stories. Full of charming and witty tales of life, love and the everyday dilemmas that we all face, all told in Cathy′s unique voice. From Dolores and Genevieve, two spinster sisters who must finally break free from their mother's powerful personality, to Alice, who is facing having to open her home and her heart to the one visitor that she doesn't want this Christmas, this is a Christmas read that will make you laugh, cry and nod in recognition.

Christmas Magic by Cathy Kelly, HarperCollins, £6.99

A seasonal sizzler is where much loved India Knight expounds the delights and pitfalls of family Christmas. From memories of Christmas past to the three Christmases that occur when you start accumulating ex-husbands and new families. India Knight uses Christmas as a great linchpin for revealing her musings on modern relationships. Warm, funny and perceptive, it’s a fresh take on the festive season that we’re all ready for.

Comfort and Joy by India Knight, Penguin, £7.99

Forgive us, but we’re sensing a theme through our collection of the best Christmas books: they all have something of the big screen about them. Dr. Seuss’ Grinch sees the sour-faced fiend attempt to steal Christmas from the citizens of Who-ville. Jim Carey might’ve been brilliantly cast as The Grinch, but Dr Seuss’ original is a classic for both adults and children alike.

How the Grinch stole Christmas by Dr Suess, HarperCollins, £5.99

Read all our other best Christmas books? Jane Green’s The Holiday is perfect for those after a women’s fiction title with a sprinkle of festivities that won’t feel out of date come January. Jane Green, author of The Beach House and Spellbound, casts her magic along with her friends to deliver three enchanting tales ripe for the festive season. From the passion of falling head-first in love to the miracle of second chances, you won’t be disappointed.

The Holiday by Jane Green, Penguin, £7.99

Sitting right up there with fellow Christmas classics such as A Christmas Carol and The Night Before Christmas, The Snowman by Raymond Briggs might be designed as a children’s book but the unforgettable adventure will have you out in the snow in no time. For those unfamiliar, Briggs’ classic captures the magic of a snowman who comes to life and takes his owner on a journey of excitement on a winter’s night.

The Snowman by Raymond Briggs, Penguin, £5.99

If you’ve ever written a letter to Father Christmas, this collection of letters from J.R.R. Tolkien will put a new spin on childhood traditions. Alongside new archive material J.R.R.Tolkien reveals his softer side in a collection of letters his children would receive from the North Pole telling tales of the reindeer, accident-prone polar bears and elves. Charming, fun and imaginative, did you really expect anything else?

Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R Tolkien, HarperCollins, £8.99

‘T’was the night before Christmas’. If just reading that line doesn’t get you in the mood for Christmas cheer, nothing will. Clement C Moore’s magical interpretation of an excited Christmas Eve is arguably the best poem ever written in American history. First published anonymously in New York’s ‘Sentinel’ on December 23rd 1823, its festive cheer echoes through every line no matter how many times you’ve heard it before.

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C Moore, Harper Collins, £6.99

Told through Laurie Lee's own relationship with his hometown Slad Valley in the Cotswolds, we see him chart his and England's great history, from his memories of carol singing on Christmas Eve to his battle in old age to save his village from developers.

It will make you fall in love with your own home all over again.

Village Christmas and Other Notes on the English Year by Laurie Lee, Penguin Modern Classics, £7.99