Edgar Award-winning anthologist Otto Penzler selects Christmas-themed mysteries from the American authors active during the genre’s Golden Age, including stories by Mary Roberts Rinehart, John Dickson Carr, Ellery Queen and more

Christmas has served as a fertile background for mystery fiction for a long time, perhaps because it has the appearance of a time of peace and love while being so deeply at odds with violence, crime and even murder. Many of the stories in this anthology have been written by some of the greatest Golden Age authors, undoubtedly inspired by the juxtaposition of the disparate elements of love and hate. The range of subjects and styles may be surprising, ranging from truly chilling to heart-warming to hilarious to puzzling. This is no accident, since genuinely talented authors have their own voices and, like snowflakes, no two are alike. Golden Age Christmas Mysteries is the perfect gift for the season, to be read on a cold, snowy night, in a comfortable chair near a blazing fire.