Janet Rudolph is continuing her Crime for the Holidays lists of Chanukah and Christmas themed mysteries, over on the Mystery Fanfare blog. The latter list has grown so large that it's split into multiple parts. Here's the first installment, Christmas Books by Authors A-E, following by authors F-L, and finally those that fall under M-Z. She even has a separate list of Winter Solstice Mysteries.
I've reported on this before, but Smithsonian Magazine recently took note of how "Iceland’s Christmas Book Flood Is a Force of Nature," and definitely a tradition I'd love to see embraced everywhere. Bibliophiles the world over cherish the legend of Jólabókaflóð, Iceland’s "Christmas book flood" in which publishers release new titles in time for the holidays. As the legend goes, each and every citizen of the uniquely literary nation gifts and receives books, and on December 24 everybody curls up with steaming cups of hot chocolate and plenty of reading with family and friends.
The Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast has been featuring Christmas-themed episodes this month. The first is the mystery short story, "The Afternoon Before Christmas" by Mark Murphy, as read by actor Sean Hopper; the second is the "Saint Nicked," written by Herschel Cozine (first published by Untreed Reads) and read by actor Larry Mattox.
Kings River Life also has several Christmas mystery short stories for the holiday season, including "Police Navidad" by Josh Pachter; "Bring It" by Terry Shames; "Santa's Helper" by John M. Floyd; and "Home for Christmas" by C.B. Peterson.
Charles Dickens, already a bestselling author of novels such as Oliver Twist, visited the United States just before the Civil War in 1842 and was not impressed. He didn't set foot back on American soil until a quarter-century later, lured by the tireless efforts of James T. Fields, the exclusive American publisher of Dickens's literary works. The resulting tour was a little like the Beatles U.S. event a century later, with crowds camped in frigid streets all night for one-dollar tickets that scalpers sold for $10. Dickens performed alone behind a podium without the aid of scenery, props, music, amplification, or costumes, including a December 1867 version of his abridged A Christmas Carol. One critic wrote that Dickens "dazzles you with 20 personalities."
The Brazos Bookstore in Houston, Texas, shared a photo on Instagram of its Lone Star state alternative to a snowman, noting: "We don't get snow (usually) in Houston, but there's always enough supplies to make a boxman! Everyone, we'd like to introduce you to Bertram the Boxman!" Inspired by that, fellow Houston bookstore, Murder by the Book, posted an image of its own version, Sherlock Boxman.
Did you know that "Carol of the Bells" comes from Ukraine? Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych wrote "Shchedryk" in 1916, originally as a winter folk song. The Ukrainian National Chorus brought it to the U.S. a few years later when they performed it at Carnegie Hall in October 1922 as part of a cultural diplomacy tour of the U.S. Later, American composer Peter Wilhousky gave the song its English lyrics and title in 1936, creating the contemporary Christmas staple. And now, a century after the song's North American debut and during Ukraine's latest fight for freedom, Ukrainian musicians brought "Shchedryk" back to Carnegie Hall earlier this month when the Shchedryk Children's Choir, along with several choruses and soloists, performed a concert of Ukrainian carols.
The authors at Mystery Lovers Kitchen have some suggestions for your holiday baking, including Sparkly Christmas Cookies from Peg Cochran; Candy Cane Frosting, courtesy of Cleo Coyle; Cranberry Sauce Bread via Maddie Day, Professor Plum Cake by Maya Corrigan, Abby L. Vandiver's Christmas Cookies, and many more.
Ever wonder where Advent Calendars come from? Did you know there were literary versions?Ever wonder where Advent Calendars come from? Did you know there were literary versions?
Need a little diversion when you have a few minutes between holiday parties, baking, reading, TV watching, etc.? The UK's intelligence service, Government Communications Headquarters (commonly known as GCHQ) has released its second annual GCHQ Christmas Challenge with a series of seven fiendish brainteaser puzzles (based on the seven disciplines of languages, engineering, codebreaking, analysis, maths, coding and cyber security) and a final twist: once you solve all seven puzzles, you'll need to think outside the box, using the design on the front of the card to assemble the answers.
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