Snow, Shortbread, and an Icy Mystery
Christmas in July: Snow, Shortbread, and an Icy Mystery
Christmas in July is the perfect excuse to enjoy everything you love about the holiday season without waiting for December. Whether you’re escaping a summer heat wave, celebrating with a Christmas in July party, or simply craving snowy settings and festive mysteries, holiday books are a surprisingly refreshing seasonal read.
If you’re looking for Christmas in July books with cozy settings, suspenseful mysteries, magical touches, and plenty of holiday atmosphere, these three novels offer very different takes on the season.
July is a good time for fake snow.
It is also a good time for cookies, a little trouble, and a mystery that gives you a break from the heat.
So if you want a Christmas in July read that feels a little cozy, a little spooky, and not too heavy, I have three that fit the mood.
Why read Christmas books in July?
There’s something wonderfully contradictory about reading about snow while sitting in the sunshine. Christmas in July has become a tradition for readers who enjoy revisiting festive stories halfway through the year.
Holiday mysteries are especially satisfying because they combine familiar seasonal traditions—cookies, decorations, family gatherings, gift exchanges, and winter weather—with page-turning suspense. You get all the warmth of Christmas alongside puzzles that keep you guessing.
Whether you enjoy paranormal mysteries, culinary cozies, or police procedurals, Christmas-themed mysteries let you experience the season from an entirely different angle.
Yule’s Sinister Spell
Start with Yule’s Sinister Spell if you want the chilly side of the list.
This is Reg’s first Yule in Black Sands, and things do not stay festive for long. Starlight gets sick, and that turns the holiday into a race to figure out what is wrong.
It has that wintry, magic-at-the-edges feel that works so well when the real weather is hot enough to melt your shoes.
If you want a Christmas in July read that leans more eerie than sweet, this is the one.
Perfect for readers who enjoy:
- paranormal cozy mysteries
- magical Christmas stories
- psychic detectives
- cats with personality
- holiday mysteries with supernatural elements
Although the story takes place during the holidays, the mystery itself remains front and center. The Christmas setting raises the emotional stakes while adding cozy winter atmosphere.
Santa Shortbread
If Christmas baking is part of your holiday tradition, Santa Shortbread captures that atmosphere beautifully. Between batches of cookies and preparations for Christmas celebrations, Erin Price finds herself investigating stolen gifts before they ruin Christmas for local families.
Somebody is stealing Christmas gifts from the Bald Eagle Falls children, and Erin Price and her friends are trying to sort it out before Christmas Eve gets here.
It is one of those stories that feels very holiday and very busy at the same time. There are treats, trouble, and just enough pressure to keep you turning pages.
This is the one I reach for when I want the bakery side of Christmas.
Beneath the Icy Depths
If you want to step away from the snow and the cookies for a minute, Beneath the Icy Depths gives you a different kind of mystery.
This isn’t a traditional cozy mystery. Instead, it blends police investigation with the realities of a northern winter and a Métis Christmas celebration. The result is a holiday mystery that feels authentic, thoughtful, and atmospheric.
This one is a good pick when you want a story that feels grounded and sharp, with a colder edge and a holiday thread that still matters.
| If you want… | Read… |
|---|---|
| Magic and paranormal mystery | Yule’s Sinister Spell |
| Christmas cookies and cozy baking | Santa Shortbread |
| A police investigation with winter atmosphere | Beneath the Icy Depths |
| Christmas suspense | All three |
| Holiday mystery series | All three |
More Christmas Mysteries
Looking for even more mysteries? Browse my complete collection of cozy mysteries, paranormal mysteries, and more for readers who enjoy page-turning mysteries with memorable characters.
Christmas in July is a reminder that holiday stories don’t belong to just one month of the year. Whether you’re in the mood for magical mysteries, Christmas cookies, or a gripping winter investigation, these books let you enjoy snowy adventures whenever the temperature climbs.
So grab a cold drink, imagine fresh-fallen snow, and settle in with a Christmas mystery. December can wait.
Frequently Asked Questions about Christmas in July Books
Why do people celebrate Christmas in July?
Christmas in July began as a way to enjoy the fun of the holiday season during the middle of summer. Today it has become popular for themed parties, movie marathons, book promotions, and festive reading challenges. For readers, it’s the perfect excuse to revisit snowy settings while escaping the summer heat.
What are the best books to read for Christmas in July?
Many readers enjoy holiday mysteries because they combine festive traditions with engaging puzzles. If you’re looking for Christmas in July books, consider:
- Yule’s Sinister Spell for paranormal mystery
- Santa Shortbread for a culinary cozy mystery
- Beneath the Icy Depths for a winter police procedural
Each offers a different style of Christmas mystery.
Are Christmas mystery books only good in December?
Not at all. Christmas mysteries work well year-round because the holiday setting adds atmosphere without requiring readers to wait until winter. Many readers deliberately save holiday novels for Christmas in July as a fun seasonal tradition.
What makes a good Christmas cozy mystery?
A Christmas cozy mystery usually combines festive traditions with an engaging mystery. Readers can expect holiday decorations, seasonal baking, family gatherings, snow-covered settings, and a puzzle to solve—without graphic violence. The best Christmas cozy mysteries balance warmth, humor, and suspense.
What is a Christmas paranormal mystery?
A Christmas paranormal mystery combines holiday traditions with supernatural elements such as psychics, ghosts, witches, magical creatures, or unexplained events. In Yule’s Sinister Spell, Reg Rawlins uses her psychic abilities while trying to protect those she cares about during the holiday season.
Are these books part of a series?
Yes. Each novel belongs to one of my mystery series, but new readers can generally enjoy them without reading every previous book. Returning readers will appreciate seeing familiar characters celebrating Christmas together while tackling a brand-new mystery.
