The weather has turned cold, even here in the sunny South. As winter approaches and many folks find themselves with a little spare time between holiday events, ’tis the season for a cozy title or two. Northwest Shoals Community College library director Lori Skinner has these chilly day titles to recommend:

“The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp”

By Leonie Swann

If quirky, eccentric senior citizens hot on the trail of a murderer sounds like a good time, make sure you pick up “The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp” by Leonie Swann. This darkly comedic murder mystery follows a group of seniors in the sleepy English countryside who attempt to solve a murder, in order to pin another death on the murderer – that of the body they are hiding in a shed. The characters, including Hettie the tortoise, are delightful and engaging, which adds up to a cozy mystery and a thoughtful portrayal of aging. Originally published in German, translation is provided by Amy Bojang.

“The Twenty-Ninth Day: Surviving a Grizzly Attack in the Canadian Tundra”

By Alex Messenger

Fans of wilderness survival will enjoy the award-winning “The Twenty-Ninth Day: Surviving a Grizzly Attack in the Canadian Tundra” by Alex Messenger. Filled with roaring white water, big fish, grizzlies and wilderness triage, Messenger’s tale shares the realities of a backcountry canoeing trip that shifted from exhilarating to life-threatening in a matter of minutes.

“A Holly Jolly Diwali”

By Sonya Lalli

Visit the beautiful beaches of Goa and celebrate Diwali in Sonya Lalli’s fun novel, “A Holly Jolly Diwali.” When practical analyst Niki Randhawa spontaneously books a last-minute trip to India for her friend’s wedding, she meets Sameer Mukherji and is drawn into their mutual attraction. With a surprise change in her career, at the end of her vacation Nikki must decide if she will return to her practical life or embrace a boldness that the old Nikki would never have dreamed to pursue.

“The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas”

By James Patterson and Ted Safran

A new modern holiday classic, “The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas” by James Patterson and Ted Safran will delight the whole family. A heartbroken family has given up on Christmas and everything else after the loss of the one who held them all together. After the children disastrously attempt to set their dad up with a date online, mysterious and chaotic gifts begin to appear each day. As the family bands together to deal with the chaos of each gift, they find a way to move through their grief and become close to each other once more.

“The Complete Autumn and Winter Cookbook”

By America’s Test Kitchen

Chilly weather, short days and special occasions might have you ready to flex your culinary muscles with comforting recipes. America’s Test Kitchen has you covered with a collection of seasonal recipes that celebrate the flavors of fall and winter in “The Complete Autumn and Winter Cookbook: 550+ Recipes for Warming Dinners, Holiday Roasts, Seasonal Desserts, Breads, Food Gifts, and More.”

“The Twelve Dogs of Christmas”

By Susan Wiggs

After Brenda and her husband rush their beloved pup to the emergency vet on Christmas Eve, Brenda’s life changes drastically when strange lace undies are removed from the poor pup’s stomach. “The Twelve Dogs of Christmas” by Susan Wiggs sees Brenda a year into her breakup, heart frozen toward all things Christmas, and volunteering with a local dog rescue operation in Houston, Texas. While transporting 12 sweet pooches to their forever homes in New York, things go amok when she deals with a blinding snowstorm and an escaped mutt.

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Lori Skinner is the head librarian for Northwest Shoals Community College. She can be contacted at 256-331-6288 or lori.skinner@nwscc.edu. NW-SCC Libraries are open to the public and look forward to serving your library needs. The library now has an app, Librista, available on android and Apple devices.