A turkey stuffed with a mysterious surprise. A blackmailer's note posted in the dead of a winter's night. A Bonfire celebration that turns to a crime scene as soon as the first match is struck.

As the snow falls and the frost thickens on the windowpanes, these ten classic tales of murder and intrigue will bring an irresistible sense of mystery to your Yuletide festivities. From the greatest crime writers of the last century, including Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Ellis Peters and Julian Symonds, each story will leave you puzzled and delighted in equal measure. Pull up an armchair, throw another log on the fire, and prepare for a Christmas of criminally good entertainment.