Secrets in the Snow & Other Christmas Crime Stories

by Matthew Booth

Crime doesn’t stop for the holidays, as this anthology of gripping Christmas mysteries shows with its baffling robberies, mysterious deaths and family gatherings that go terribly wrong.

Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, cloth-bound, pocket-sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. The stories in More Classic Christmas Crime Stories have been selected and introduced by writer Matthew Booth.

When snow falls and darkness comes early, it’s the perfect setting for murder and intrigue. And when family and friends gather in country houses for jolly festivities, they’re certainly not expecting guests and priceless jewellery to go missing. But it’s fertile ground for classic crime writers such as Arthur Conan Doyle, G. K. Chesterton and Dorothy L. Sayers who, amongst others, are showcased in this nail-biting collection.

Genres: Classics, Christmas, Fiction, Mystery, Short Stories, Crime

320 pages, Hardcover

Published September 9, 2025

Reviews

[4cats · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great classic winter crime collection, perfect for the dark evenings that lie ahead.

[Simon Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute collection of short crime stories from a previous age. A throwback to Victorian times and later; I read a story a day and really enjoyed them as they were short enough and fast enough to be able to do this. As with any collection, some are stronger than others, or more mysterious etc but that will inevitably be to the reader’s preference.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love these McMillan Collectors Editions and this one is nice and seasonal, in a small hardback version which is a pleasure to read. The downside is that there is not a single 'new' story and pretty as it is the contents don't really stand comparison with the British Library Crime Classics collections of short stories, good chunky paperbacks packed with stories tracked down by their indefatigable editor, many of which haven't seen the light of day since their original 'Golden Age' publication dates.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slightly disappointed in these.

[Charles Belvideer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice time period piece collection. They vary from creepy and good to very much borderline Scooby Doo. All in all a decent winter read in the glow of Christmas lights.

[Graeme Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew Booth curates a festive yet suspenseful anthology in Secrets in the Snow & Other Christmas Crime Stories, bringing together a rich selection of classic mystery tales set during the holiday season. The collection highlights how the warmth and cheer of Christmas can quickly turn into settings for theft, deception, and murder, especially within the confined intimacy of family gatherings and country estates.

Booth’s selection showcases the strengths of traditional crime writing, featuring atmospheric storytelling, clever plotting, and a strong sense of place. With contributions from renowned authors such as Arthur Conan Doyle, G. K. Chesterton, and Dorothy L. Sayers, the anthology offers both nostalgia and intrigue. Each story captures the tension between festive celebration and underlying menace, making this a compelling seasonal read for mystery lovers who enjoy classic storytelling with a dark twist.

[Mitsy_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this collection of Christmas mystery stories. I always liked the idea of reading classic crime stories in Dec but didn’t know what to read. With this book, I didn’t have to do any research and could just sit back and enjoy stories picked by Matthew Booth. The opener is a Sherlock Holmes story. I think it was my first proper SH experience off screen, and found it engaging. I enjoyed all stories but a couple of them gave me chills!

4-4.5 🌟

[Elizabeth Ducie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightful little book that makes a perfect Christmas present. The stories are mostly from the golden age and therefore feel a little dated in places. But good for curling up in front of the fire on a winter's evening.

[Josi · Rating 4 out of 5]

~3.5

[Annie Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully presented little book…Christmas gift from Son. Perfect for wintery reading!

[Beth Thornton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Varied. Some of the stories are good and quite entertaining. But at least 2 of them were decidedly uninspiring. And one of them wasn’t even set in winter, let alone at Christmas. Not a bad read overall, and it’s nice to have a short story format when you’ve not got time to be concentrating on a big, complex tale. But would I buy or read it again? Probably not.