The Swedish Crime Academy announced their picks for top crime books of the year from a record 213 entries. The best crime novel of the year was Sot (pub. by Modernista) by Sara Strömberg. Strömberg previously won the Best Swedish Debut of the Year for Sly and Best Swedish Crime Novel of the Year for Skred. This year's best crime novel translated into Swedish was won by Sebastian Barry for Old Sins' Sake, translated by Daniel Gustafsson (pub. by Norstedts). Johan Rundberg was named the best Swedish debut of the year for The One Who Guards the Flock (pub. by Bokförlaget Forum). The best children/young adult detective novel was won by Martin Jern and Loka Kanarp for The First Case on the Golden Hill (pub. by Lilla Piratförlaget). This year, the Swedish Crime Academy also named a best non-fiction book of the year, a prize not always awarded. The prize goes to Anders Bergman for Crime Scene 1937: The Golden Age detective novel under the microscope (pub. by Aleph's Crime Library).
The Icelandic Publishers Association has revealed the shortlists for the Icelandic Blóðdropan Crime Fiction Prize. They include Alfa by Lilja Sigurðardóttir; Allar litlu lygarnar (All the Little Lies) by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir; Eftirför (Pursuit) by Anna Rún Frímannsdóttir; Líf (LIfe) by Reynir Finndal Grétarsson; and Lokar augum blám (Closing Blue Eyes) by Margrét S. Höskuldsdóttir. The winners will be announced in February.
Speaking of Iceland, the term ‘Jólabókaflóð’ (pronounced yo-la-bo-ka-flowth) first became an Icelandic tradition during the Second World War when books became a popular Christmas gift due to the scarcity of imported goods. Today, from September to early December, new releases come out in large volumes and are featured in Bókatíðindi, an annual catalog of new releases delivered free to every household in the country. Icelanders traditionally celebrate Christmas on December 24th, exchanging gifts (including new books) after a Christmas dinner, and people then sit down with their new book and read into the night, often by candlelight and with chocolates and a glass of malt & appelsín (a combination of a local malt extract drink and orange soda). Some of the crime fiction titles featured in this year's Bókatíðindi cataloge include books by Lára Sigurðardóttir, Magnea J. Matthíasdóttir, Magnús Þór Hafsteinsson, Jón Þ. Þór, and more.
Over the past 20 years, thriller author James Patterson has donated millions of dollars to schools, libraries, literacy programs, and others in the book community. Recently, he's made a tradition out of sending $500 checks around the holidays to 600 independent booksellers who have been recommended by peers or patrons. "I’ve said this before, but I can’t say it enough — booksellers save lives," noted. “What they do is crucial, especially right now. I’m happy to be able to acknowledge them and their hard work this holiday season."
Each year, Kate Jackson hosts a celebration over at her blog, Cross-Examining Crime (which just turned 10 years old in 2025), of all the classic mystery titles that have been republished during the current year from the likes of the British Library, Crippen & Landru, Dean Street Press, Pushkin Vertigo, Wildside Press and more. She asks her blogging friends to nominate two of their favorite titles for the Reprint of the Year Award, and then puts the list to readers for a vote. You can vote for your favorites among the 30 titles from 24 authors, up until the poll closes on the 30th December at midnight.
Janet Rudolph has updated her list of Christmas themed mysteries, which continues to grow to such a large number, it has to be divided into separate lists. Here are the books with titles from A to E; the titles from F-L; and books with titles beginning M-Z here. She also has a separate listing for Christmas short stories, anthologies, and novellas.
The authors at Mystery Lovers Kitchen shared some holiday recipes and reads, including Stovetop Cranberry Chicken with Holiday Spices from Cleo Coyle; Eggnog Loaf via Maddie Day; Vicki Delany’s Stained Glass Cookies; some Peppermint Bark Brownies, courtesy of Peg Cochran; Candy Cane Snowball Cookies from Kim Davis, and more.
The Mysteryrats Maze podcast featured the Christmas mystery short story "All is Bright" by Merrilee Robson, read by actor Larry Mattox and also "Peppermint Barking" by Jane Limprecht, read by actors Sean Hopper and Cymone Sandoval-Hopper.
In the Q&A roundup, Lisa Haselton chatted with mystery author Liisa Kovala about her new historical novel, Like Water for Weary Souls; Lesa Holstine spoke with Julia Buckley aka Veronica Bond about the third book in her Dinner and a Murder mystery series, Death at a Castle Christmas; and Matthew Pearl was featured at Author Interviews about his new book, The Award, which starts off as literary satire before turning into a darker psychological thriller.
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