Must-Listen Mystery Holiday Audiobooks: Perfect for Road Trips & Gift-Wrapping
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As the holiday season approaches, there’s no better way to get into the festive spirit than with a great audiobook. Whether you are on a long road trip to visit family, wrapping gifts by the fire, or simply soaking in the cozy vibes, a holiday-themed audiobook can add that perfect touch of magic and mystery. This list features a mix of holiday romances, cozy mysteries, and thrilling tales—all designed to make your multitasking moments memorable. From sleuthing in small towns to Christmas romances with a twist, these audiobooks will surely bring cheer and chills this season. So, grab your headphones, settle in, and let’s dive into these captivating holiday listens!
For even more seasonal reading inspiration, be sure to check out our Holiday Cozy Mysteries and visit our Holiday Hub, which is filled with festive book recommendations to make your season even cozier. So, grab your headphones, settle in, and let’s dive into these captivating holiday listens!
Festive Cozy Mysteries & Thrillers: Holiday Audiobooks for Your Next Trip
The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett
The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett follows the Fairway Players, an amateur theater group staging *Jack and the Beanstalk* for charity. Despite holiday cheer, tensions run high backstage with rivalries, absences, and rumors of asbestos in the set. When a dead body is found onstage, lawyers Femi and Charlotte are called to investigate. Using Christmas letters, emails, and police transcripts, they dive into the drama to uncover the victim’s identity and find the killer before the holiday play is permanently closed.
The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose
In The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose, Molly the Maid, a beloved character from *The Maid*, faces a new challenge during the holiday season. With cherished memories of Christmases past and her supportive boyfriend Juan Manuel by her side, Molly is determined to make this holiday joyful. However, when a Secret Santa gift exchange at the Regency Grand Hotel stirs up trust issues, Molly senses something amiss. Determined to get to the truth, she embarks on a mystery that’s both personal and seasonal, discovering that love may be the most complex puzzle of all.
The Most Wonderful Crime by Ally Carter
In The Most Wonderful Crime by Ally Carter, mystery writers Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt, rivals in both genre and personality, are invited to a Christmas party at an English estate hosted by their enigmatic fan, the world-famous author Eleanor Ashley. But when Eleanor vanishes from a locked room just as a snowstorm isolates the mansion, Maggie and Ethan must reluctantly team up to find her. With each new clue, their rivalry softens as they dig into the mystery, testing their wit and growing trust—and maybe even romance—before time runs out on solving the case.
A Cup of Holiday Fear by Ellie Alexander
In A Cup of Holiday Fear by Ellie Alexander, Jules Capshaw, owner of the popular Torte bakery in Ashland, Oregon, gears up for the holiday season by attending a festive Dickens Feast at the Winchester Inn. But the evening’s cheer quickly fades when a guest is found dead, casting a shadow over the celebrations. Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, Jules and her staff compile a list of suspects and sift through clues to catch the killer. Amidst holiday treats and cozy decor, Jules faces a race against time to bring peace back to the season.
Murder at the Irish Christmas by Carlene O’Connor
In Murder at the Irish Christmas by Carlene O’Connor, Garda Siobhán O’Sullivan’s holiday getaway in West Cork takes a grim turn when renowned conductor Enda Elliot, her future in-law’s grandfather, is found dead under a harp. While the family gathers for Christmas, Siobhán’s focus shifts from festivities to investigating the murder, with suspicions falling on those closest to Enda, including his young wife Leah. Balancing family dynamics and a complex web of motives, Siobhán must unravel the truth before another tragedy strikes, all while navigating her own postponed wedding plans.
Want even more access to holiday audiobooks and beyond? Many libraries across the U.S. offer non-resident library cards, allowing you to borrow ebooks and audiobooks for a small fee—perfect for expanding your holiday reading list! With just a few clicks, you can unlock thousands of titles to enjoy all season long. Check out our guide to non-resident library cards for more details on signing up and borrowing today!
A Christmas Candy Killing by Christina Romeril
In A Christmas Candy Killing by Christina Romeril, twins Alex and Hannah run Murder and Mayhem, a mystery bookstore known for their “Killer Chocolates.” Their quiet village life turns deadly when Alex’s elderly neighbor, Jane, hints at a murderer in town and is found dead shortly afterward—with a box of Killer Chocolates beside her. As the sheriff focuses on Alex and handyman Zack, Alex dives into her own investigation, uncovering secrets from Jane’s journal and examining the villagers’ motives. Racing against time, Alex must unmask the killer before she becomes the next victim.
Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas by Vicki Delany
In Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas by Vicki Delany, Merry Wilkinson, owner of Mrs. Claus’s Treasures in Rudolph, New York, finds herself tangled in a holiday murder mystery. As the local drama society rehearses *A Christmas Carol*, tensions and rivalries escalate. When a cast member is found dead after visiting Merry’s shop, suspicions quickly fall on everyone involved, including Merry’s mother and her eager shop assistant, Jackie. With the holiday spirit under threat, Merry must unravel the clues and expose the killer before another curtain call leads to disaster.
Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bakeoff by Darci Hannah
In Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bakeoff by Darci Hannah, Lindsey Bakewell, owner of a cozy bakeshop in Beacon Harbor, Michigan, looks forward to her first Christmas in town, hoping to win the town’s cookie bake-off. But holiday cheer turns to chaos when Felicity Stewart, her cutthroat rival, stirs up the competition, and the bake-off judge is found dead with crumbs from Lindsey’s cookie nearby. Now, Lindsey must juggle family, festive demands, and a murder investigation to clear her name and uncover the true culprit before her Christmas dreams crumble completely.
Conclusion
Whether you’re cruising down the highway with twinkling lights passing by or cozying up indoors with a mug of hot cocoa, these holiday audiobooks bring a little extra magic and mystery to the season. From charming small towns to festive thrillers, each story offers a perfect mix of holiday spirit and page-turning suspense.
If you’re hungry for more seasonal reads, don’t forget to explore our Holiday Cozy Mysteries and Holiday Hub for even more recommendations to keep the festive vibes going all winter long. Happy listening, and may your holiday season be filled with joy, mystery, and maybe even a bit of sleuthing!
