We’ve had the Starlight Parade, Holiday Village Market is abuzz in Centennial Park and the library’s shelves are filled with fresh, new holiday books. I’ve pulled together a list of 12 books of Christmas, plus two for those of different faiths.

“The Season of Us”

by Holly Chamberlin

Gincy Luongo fled her hometown and family 20 years ago. Now, she’s returning to visit her recently widowed mother in the weeks before Christmas.

“Christmas on My Mind”

by Janet Dailey

Sheriff Ben Marsden of Branding Iron, Texas, has no plans to attend the annual Christmas Ball until a pretty newcomer comes to town and gets involved in the planning.

“Christmas Caramel Murder”

by Joanne Fluke

Christmas normally descends on Lake Eden, Minnesota, as gently as reindeer alighting on a rooftop, but this season the only thing coming down Hannah Swensen’s chimney is murder.

“Fields Where They Lay”

by Timothy Hallinan

Burglar Junior Bender confronts his own deep-seated melancholy at the very notion of Christmas while investigating a string of shoplifting incidents at a shopping mall.

“A Shoe Addict’s Christmas”

by Beth Harbison

Noelle finds herself locked in the department store where she works on Christmas Eve and is taken on journey to Christmases past and future in this heartwarming twist on the Scrooge story.

“Winter Storms”

by Elin Hilderbrand

The conclusion to Hilderbrand’s Winter Street series finds the Quinn family together at Christmas preparing to host Kevin and Isabelle’s wedding at the inn.

“A Colorado Christmas”

by William Johnstone

At Sugarloaf Ranch, Smoke and Sally Jenson prepare to welcome Preacher home for the holidays — unaware their friend is trailed by a storm full of trouble.

“Closer to the Chest”

by Mercedes Lackey

When a ruthless blackmailer begins targeting the court of Valdemar over the Midwinter Holidays, Herald-Spy Mags and his wife Amily must use magic and wits to track down the culprit.

“Twelve Days of Christmas”

by Debbie Macomber

A plucky young woman clashes with a real-life Scrooge — her grouchy, annoyingly handsome neighbor — and tries to get even the only way she knows how: killing him with kindness.

“A Christmas Message”

by Anne Perry

In 1900 Jerusalem, Victor Narraway and his wife Vespasia are plunged into a dangerous adventure when a fellow traveler is murdered over a torn piece of parchment.

“The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories”

by P.D. James

Four holiday-themed stories include two featuring popular detective hero, Adam Dalgliesh, in his early years.

“The Twelve Dogs of Christmas”

by David Rosenfelt

A zoning law complaint about the number of puppies housed by a dog rescuer turns into a murder investigation for defense lawyer Andy Carpenter when the complainant turns up dead.

“Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us”

by Allen Salkin

Festivus, the anti-holiday made popular by TV show Seinfeld has become a worldwide phenomenon. Salkin takes us on a side-splitting romp through the Festivus landscape.

“How to Spell Chanukah: 18 Writers Celebrate 8 Nights of Lights”

Ring in the holiday with eighteen writers as they offer up funny, irreverent and even nostalgic takes on a holiday that holds a special place in Jewish hearts … and stomachs.

— Jenny Pedersen is a community librarian at the Redmond Library. Contact her at jenniferp@dpls.lib.or.us.