Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "christmas"
Richard Montanari's Kiss of Evil - Review
Kiss Of Evil by Richard MontanariMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Detective Jack Paris returns in the sequel to Richard Montanari's first novel, 'Don't Look Now'/'Deviant Way'.
Christmas is fast-approaching and a serial killer is beginning his work. A woman drawn into an online fantasy world is brutally murdered. A con artist finds herself cornered when one of her cons goes wrong. Someone is watching her and someone is also watching Jack Paris.
Another case playing on Jack's mind is that of the murder of Mike Ryan, a police officer murdered two years before by a woman who has recently been found dead, her lawyer determined to give Jack a hard time. As the body count rises, Jack is drawn into the worlds of Santeria (an ancient religion comprised of elements of Yoruba religion and Christianity) and sexual deviance. Unbeknownst to him, the killer has an endgame in mind with Jack as its star performer.
Relentlessly fast-paced with multiple twists and turns, all of the strands come together for a heart-stopping finale, neatly tying all the loose ends in what at first appears to be a novel featuring multiple cases, but is revealed to be far more complicated, with potentially deadly consequences for Jack.
'Kiss of Evil' is a masterstroke in suspense, told in gruesome detail and with some surprises along the way - a superbly plotted and complex psychological thriller.
View all my reviews
Alone - A Supernatural Mystery
My Christmas novella Alone is available from Amazon and iBooks amongst other retailers.
_______
All things must end.
Recovering from a recent accident and faced with the prospect of spending another Christmas alone, Jessica accepts the invitation of an old flame to spend Christmas with him and his aged aunt at his manor house in the midst of the Brecon Beacons.
Feeling her arrival is unwelcome, Jessica awaits her reunion with a face from the past, while a snowstorm postpones his arrival and renders her trapped within the house. Behind the silence, something dark is lurking.
Left with little choice, Jessica finds she must face the secrets the old house hides. Yet what she may come to learn is that nothing haunts us more than the secrets of our own pasts, and that burying them does not make them forgotten.
_______
Read on for a sample below:
December 16th
_______
You can order now for:
Amazon's Kindle
Apple's iBooks
Rakuten's Kobo
Barnes & Noble's NOOK
and is also available in multiple formats on Amazon and Lulu.com.
Merry Christmas!
_______
All things must end.
Recovering from a recent accident and faced with the prospect of spending another Christmas alone, Jessica accepts the invitation of an old flame to spend Christmas with him and his aged aunt at his manor house in the midst of the Brecon Beacons.
Feeling her arrival is unwelcome, Jessica awaits her reunion with a face from the past, while a snowstorm postpones his arrival and renders her trapped within the house. Behind the silence, something dark is lurking.
Left with little choice, Jessica finds she must face the secrets the old house hides. Yet what she may come to learn is that nothing haunts us more than the secrets of our own pasts, and that burying them does not make them forgotten.
_______
Read on for a sample below:
December 16th
The gentle trickling of a glittering melody drifted on the air, creeping into the ears of the sleeping woman who lay on the bed in the corner of a sparsely furnished room. Her skin was deathly white, the only sign of life the water vapour escaping between her delicate lips as she breathed.
A shadow crossed her face, a slight creasing of anguish in her expression. There was something troubling about the sight of seeing innocence vanquished in something as subtle, like the moment a child suffers the loss of believing in magic. Worse still was that there was no one to witness the sight. Emptiness swirled around her clammy skin, dancing a Viennese Waltz with the silence that fell like frost in the wake of distant music that wasn’t quite alive.
Jessica awoke, her eyes drifting over the high ceiling. From her memory she grasped vaguely at what had woken her. A metallic tinkle. She listened to the dense blanket of night. The sound of being alone.
She rubbed her heavy brown eyes and sat up. Her unfinished glass of Irish Cream whisky sat on the bedside table, beside the candle that still held the ghost of its extinguished flame. She pulled her cardigan tighter around her shoulders, looking to the window, the landscape aglow even in the black of night.
She closed her eyes and touched her face. If she tried hard enough it was as if a hand reached from memory, fingertips brushing over her fingers, grasping her hand, lips bowing to graze her skin.
She shivered involuntarily. She had a feeling she could hear music, faint and distant, like bells carried on a still wind.
Her toes were cold. She flexed them on the worn carpet. Her feet were weary as she stood, crossing slowly to the window, watching the sky and the snow covered earth, the stars glowing beyond and the desolation of the stretch of beacons. She was lost, a lost girl nearing the end of her journey.
Turning from the window, she found the owner of the metallic tinkle. She stooped, a silver chain grasped in her fingers as she withdrew her hand. She felt the beads grasped under her cold fingertips, squeezing them as the crucifix fell across her palm. She felt the weight of her soul on her heart, sinking to her knees and bowing her head to her hands.
All things must end. And this was how it began.
_______
You can order now for:
Amazon's Kindle
Apple's iBooks
Rakuten's Kobo
Barnes & Noble's NOOK
and is also available in multiple formats on Amazon and Lulu.com.
Merry Christmas!
Festive & Fiendish - Christmas Book Reviews
Some book reviews for the festive season, beginning with a mystery from the Mistress of Suspense...
Deck the Halls by Carol Higgins Clark
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
An entertaining, cosy, Christmas mystery.
This was my first encounter with both Mary Higgins Clark's Alvirah and Willy and Carol Higgins Clark's Regan Reilly, pulled together in a kidnap and ransom tale that takes place just days before Christmas.
For one reason and another, I was struggling to get into the Christmas spirit this year, but this book was the perfect remedy to that. I read it across three days and wanted to keep reading even when I had to place the book down.
This was a light-hearted delight - I hope the other co-written Christmas mysteries prove to be just as enjoyable!
Now for something a little darker...
Ghosts of Christmas Past by Tim Martin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A haunting mix of Christmas ghost stories, featuring a mix of the brilliant, the poignant, the humorous and the downright bizarre.
Highlights for me were: 'Dinner for One' by Jenn Ashworth, the story of a couple in a dysfunctional, at times abusive, relationship; 'This Beautiful House' by Louis de Bernieres, the reminiscence of family Christmases spent long ago; 'The Step' by E.F. Benson, a classic haunting of a gentleman stalked by a mysterious step; and 'The Visiting Star' by Robert Aickman, the retelling of the time a famous actress visited a small town to star in a theatre production.
An enjoyable collection to devour over the festive period - Neil Gaiman's amusing 'anecdote' on a cursed Nicholas may be perfect for reading to a crowd when the children are out of earshot.
After encounters with the paranormal, time for some adventure...
The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
An entertaining festive adventure from David Baldacci.
Journalist Tom Langdon, unable to fly from Washington to LA for Christmas, is forced to take the journey by train, a journey he hopes will help him discover himself and result in a new piece of writing. Aboard the train, he meets a host of colourful characters, finding himself offered to work on a movie project by a famous director, assisting eloping lovers with their wedding, a thief, an avalanche and coming face to face with the one true love of his life.
Well-written and fast-paced, 'The Christmas Train' is a light and frothy treat amongst the murder and skulduggery of many Christmas mystery and suspense novels.
And, finally, some classic Christmas crime...
Murder on Christmas Eve: Classic Mysteries for the Festive Season by Cecily Gayford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A thrilling collection of mystery and murder from a host of brilliant authors.
It's incredibly difficult to select the highlights from this collection, which includes appearances from Rebus, Father Brown and Campion. Possibly my favourites were: 'The Trinity Cat' by Ellis Peters, where a cat assists in the investigation of a murder; 'No Sanity Clause' by Ian Rankin, which sees Rebus attending a murder mystery evening; 'A Wife in a Million' by Val McDermid, the tale of a malign poisoner; and 'Cambric Tea' by Marjorie Bowen, where a young doctor uncovers a diabolical poisoning.
Credit must go to editor Cecily Gayford for selecting a perfect concoction of Christmas crime stories, making 'Murder on Christmas Eve' a delight to be revisited for many Christmases to come.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
View all my reviews
Deck the Halls by Carol Higgins ClarkMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
An entertaining, cosy, Christmas mystery.
This was my first encounter with both Mary Higgins Clark's Alvirah and Willy and Carol Higgins Clark's Regan Reilly, pulled together in a kidnap and ransom tale that takes place just days before Christmas.
For one reason and another, I was struggling to get into the Christmas spirit this year, but this book was the perfect remedy to that. I read it across three days and wanted to keep reading even when I had to place the book down.
This was a light-hearted delight - I hope the other co-written Christmas mysteries prove to be just as enjoyable!
Now for something a little darker...
Ghosts of Christmas Past by Tim MartinMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
A haunting mix of Christmas ghost stories, featuring a mix of the brilliant, the poignant, the humorous and the downright bizarre.
Highlights for me were: 'Dinner for One' by Jenn Ashworth, the story of a couple in a dysfunctional, at times abusive, relationship; 'This Beautiful House' by Louis de Bernieres, the reminiscence of family Christmases spent long ago; 'The Step' by E.F. Benson, a classic haunting of a gentleman stalked by a mysterious step; and 'The Visiting Star' by Robert Aickman, the retelling of the time a famous actress visited a small town to star in a theatre production.
An enjoyable collection to devour over the festive period - Neil Gaiman's amusing 'anecdote' on a cursed Nicholas may be perfect for reading to a crowd when the children are out of earshot.
After encounters with the paranormal, time for some adventure...
The Christmas Train by David BaldacciMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
An entertaining festive adventure from David Baldacci.
Journalist Tom Langdon, unable to fly from Washington to LA for Christmas, is forced to take the journey by train, a journey he hopes will help him discover himself and result in a new piece of writing. Aboard the train, he meets a host of colourful characters, finding himself offered to work on a movie project by a famous director, assisting eloping lovers with their wedding, a thief, an avalanche and coming face to face with the one true love of his life.
Well-written and fast-paced, 'The Christmas Train' is a light and frothy treat amongst the murder and skulduggery of many Christmas mystery and suspense novels.
And, finally, some classic Christmas crime...
Murder on Christmas Eve: Classic Mysteries for the Festive Season by Cecily GayfordMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
A thrilling collection of mystery and murder from a host of brilliant authors.
It's incredibly difficult to select the highlights from this collection, which includes appearances from Rebus, Father Brown and Campion. Possibly my favourites were: 'The Trinity Cat' by Ellis Peters, where a cat assists in the investigation of a murder; 'No Sanity Clause' by Ian Rankin, which sees Rebus attending a murder mystery evening; 'A Wife in a Million' by Val McDermid, the tale of a malign poisoner; and 'Cambric Tea' by Marjorie Bowen, where a young doctor uncovers a diabolical poisoning.
Credit must go to editor Cecily Gayford for selecting a perfect concoction of Christmas crime stories, making 'Murder on Christmas Eve' a delight to be revisited for many Christmases to come.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
View all my reviews
Coming soon... 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
’Twas the Night Before Christmas will be available to download on Friday, 13th December.
---
A visitation on Christmas Eve with diabolical intentions…
Ellie and her family are preparing for their annual festivities, while the weather begins to deteriorate and threatens to cut them off from the outside world.
A man arrives out of the snowstorm, stranded and in need of their help, so they invite him to join them for the evening.
But as the snow continues to fall, Ellie discovers that behind a façade of innocence may hide the face of evil.
---
This will be the second story from my upcoming collection, Whispers from the Dead of Night, following the release of A Deathly Shade of Pale on Hallowe’en.
’Twas the Night Before Christmas can be pre-ordered from Amazon for just 99p and will be available from Lulu.com on Friday the 13th, with other retailers to follow.
A Deathly Shade of Pale can be downloaded FREE from Lulu.com.
You can also pre-order Whispers from the Dead of Night for download from Amazon.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
---
A visitation on Christmas Eve with diabolical intentions…
Ellie and her family are preparing for their annual festivities, while the weather begins to deteriorate and threatens to cut them off from the outside world.
A man arrives out of the snowstorm, stranded and in need of their help, so they invite him to join them for the evening.
But as the snow continues to fall, Ellie discovers that behind a façade of innocence may hide the face of evil.
---
This will be the second story from my upcoming collection, Whispers from the Dead of Night, following the release of A Deathly Shade of Pale on Hallowe’en.
’Twas the Night Before Christmas can be pre-ordered from Amazon for just 99p and will be available from Lulu.com on Friday the 13th, with other retailers to follow.
A Deathly Shade of Pale can be downloaded FREE from Lulu.com.
You can also pre-order Whispers from the Dead of Night for download from Amazon.
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
'Twas the Night Before Christmas - Preview
She would always remember the first night he visited, on a cold and treacherous Christmas Eve so many years before. Not unlike this one, with the wind howling down the chimney and a young child awaiting the arrival of St. Nicholas. Through the thin glass, she watched the cobbled street, awaiting the purr of the engine and crunch of tyres, fearful of a faraway tread of hooves and wheels bouncing from the cracks.
Her fingertips touched the cold pane, as the first snowfall of winter began; flakes gently floating against the glass, vanishing as if at the touch of her fingers. That day had seen the first snowfall of winter too, while she had been walking the fields with her younger brother, her father having gone down into the village to stock up on provisions. She had raised her arms to the sky, thanking the Lord that it was to be a white Christmas.
Laughing, she and her brother had run back to the house, where they found their mother assisting Mrs Gibbon, the cook and housekeeper, with the preparations for this evening’s dinner and tomorrow’s celebratory luncheon. It was a tradition for their mother to help in the kitchen each Christmas; so as never to forget her roots, she said.
“Would you like any help, Mother?”
“No, thank you, Ellie. You just keep your brother occupied until your father gets home and we can prepare for this evening.”
Which she dutifully did. Holidays, Christmas in particular, while they were children had been filled with games and laughter, the sheer joy that only children can feel. Reminiscing, then, had always overflowed with a warm glow, not tinged with the cold edge of sadness and the bitterness of regret. Childhood should be as sweet as candy cane and she was glad of it, but only wished she could see it otherwise than as through the glass of a snow globe.
She remembered the many Christmases spent baking in the kitchen with Mrs Gibbon, singing carols along to the wireless with her brother, taking long walks in the countryside in the brisk air with her father. She could shake all of these images and watch the snow fall around them the way the icing sugar used to fall through a sieve to top a Victoria sponge, each one like a scene from the handmade Christmas cards which her mother would send to cousins and aunts and uncles whom she had never met. The mirage of a perfect Christmas.
They spent the afternoon in the sitting room, listening to the wireless, watching out of the window as the snow fell thicker, listening to the carols. A radio play aired, a tale of goblins who hijacked St. Nicholas’ grotto and forced the elves to make monstrous toys to be delivered to the world’s children on Christmas Eve and trap them all in a time loop, so that Christmas morning would never again dawn. Darkness fell slowly from mid-afternoon, the white haze growing thicker. The snow was sticking and getting deeper before they finally heard the clattering of the front door.
A flurry of snow preceded their father into the hallway.
“Maud and her brood assured me they were leaving promptly as I left. She said we shouldn’t wait for her to serve dinner.”
“Hugo, that simply won’t do. They are our guests; I should not be seen to be ungracious enough to sit down to dinner prior to their arriving.”
“Very well, Carolyn, we shall await their arrival.”
Ellie listened to this exchange as she watched the snow begin to pile in the driveway. Her aunt Maud, Maud’s husband Gregory, and her cousins, Jack and John, would likely struggle to reach them. It would be a shame. They visited every Christmas. The boys, aged nine and ten, were like brothers to Eustace, her own nine-year-old brother. When it snowed, she and her father would help the three boys build a snowman while her mother assisted Mrs Gibbon in preparing the luncheon.
“Eleanor, perhaps you and your brother should help your mother prepare the dining room and then get yourselves ready for dinner.”
“Yes, Father.” She switched off the wireless and beckoned to her brother.
After laying the table for eight, Ellie filled herself a bath, enjoying the hot water enveloping her body whilst listening to the wind howling outside, rattling the window pane, whipping the snow into a blizzard.
Washing and drying herself, she pulled her clothes tight around her to block out the chill, filling the bath again and calling out to her brother that his bath was ready as she passed his bedroom on the landing. She sat on her bed and watched the snow for a while, the trees shrouded in white, branches reaching out like claws in the darkened evening.
She changed into her eveningwear, her garments finished with a winter gown featuring a fitted corset and dresses flowing to the floor. Her brother knocked on the door, asking her to secure his bow tie for him, a skill he’d not yet mastered.
They returned to the sitting room, where they found their parents also dressed in preparation for dinner. They settled to await the rest of the family’s arrival, listening to the wireless forecast the most severe snowfall in several years, recommending they do not venture out of their homes unless in the most necessary circumstances.
‘In other news, authorities are seeking a man who absconded from prison earlier today. Edward Hitchfield, 42, who was convicted of two murders in March this year, escaped prison officials early this morning after being admitted to hospital following a minor injury. He has been described as medium-build, bearded, with dark hair but balding, last seen wearing prison-issue garments. Police have advised the public to be vigilant. They suspect he will have made changes to his appearance and urge the public to report any suspicions they may have.
‘Elsewhere…’
“My sympathies are with anyone who is without shelter in this weather, whomever they be,” Carolyn commented.
“This fellow won’t get far in this weather,” Hugo added. Ellie wondered fleetingly if it was truly their minds he was attempting to put at ease. “They’ll have caught him in no time at all.”
“Assuming he doesn’t freeze to death,” Ellie added aloud, looking out into the ever-falling snow. It sounded more savage to the ears than she intended. Neither of her parents commented.
They were silent as the news programme was succeeded by carols, the lyrics of God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman swelling to fill the room. They all gazed thoughtfully through the window into the ghostly glow of the dark night. No one broke the silence. Satan’s power seemed particularly potent at that moment, with a man led astray somewhere out there in the wilderness, cloven hooves treading in his shadow.
A loud knock roused them from their rumination.
___
'Twas the Night Before Christmas will be available from Amazon and Lulu.com on Friday the 13th, with other retailers to follow.
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Her fingertips touched the cold pane, as the first snowfall of winter began; flakes gently floating against the glass, vanishing as if at the touch of her fingers. That day had seen the first snowfall of winter too, while she had been walking the fields with her younger brother, her father having gone down into the village to stock up on provisions. She had raised her arms to the sky, thanking the Lord that it was to be a white Christmas.
Laughing, she and her brother had run back to the house, where they found their mother assisting Mrs Gibbon, the cook and housekeeper, with the preparations for this evening’s dinner and tomorrow’s celebratory luncheon. It was a tradition for their mother to help in the kitchen each Christmas; so as never to forget her roots, she said.
“Would you like any help, Mother?”
“No, thank you, Ellie. You just keep your brother occupied until your father gets home and we can prepare for this evening.”
Which she dutifully did. Holidays, Christmas in particular, while they were children had been filled with games and laughter, the sheer joy that only children can feel. Reminiscing, then, had always overflowed with a warm glow, not tinged with the cold edge of sadness and the bitterness of regret. Childhood should be as sweet as candy cane and she was glad of it, but only wished she could see it otherwise than as through the glass of a snow globe.
She remembered the many Christmases spent baking in the kitchen with Mrs Gibbon, singing carols along to the wireless with her brother, taking long walks in the countryside in the brisk air with her father. She could shake all of these images and watch the snow fall around them the way the icing sugar used to fall through a sieve to top a Victoria sponge, each one like a scene from the handmade Christmas cards which her mother would send to cousins and aunts and uncles whom she had never met. The mirage of a perfect Christmas.
They spent the afternoon in the sitting room, listening to the wireless, watching out of the window as the snow fell thicker, listening to the carols. A radio play aired, a tale of goblins who hijacked St. Nicholas’ grotto and forced the elves to make monstrous toys to be delivered to the world’s children on Christmas Eve and trap them all in a time loop, so that Christmas morning would never again dawn. Darkness fell slowly from mid-afternoon, the white haze growing thicker. The snow was sticking and getting deeper before they finally heard the clattering of the front door.
A flurry of snow preceded their father into the hallway.
“Maud and her brood assured me they were leaving promptly as I left. She said we shouldn’t wait for her to serve dinner.”
“Hugo, that simply won’t do. They are our guests; I should not be seen to be ungracious enough to sit down to dinner prior to their arriving.”
“Very well, Carolyn, we shall await their arrival.”
Ellie listened to this exchange as she watched the snow begin to pile in the driveway. Her aunt Maud, Maud’s husband Gregory, and her cousins, Jack and John, would likely struggle to reach them. It would be a shame. They visited every Christmas. The boys, aged nine and ten, were like brothers to Eustace, her own nine-year-old brother. When it snowed, she and her father would help the three boys build a snowman while her mother assisted Mrs Gibbon in preparing the luncheon.
“Eleanor, perhaps you and your brother should help your mother prepare the dining room and then get yourselves ready for dinner.”
“Yes, Father.” She switched off the wireless and beckoned to her brother.
After laying the table for eight, Ellie filled herself a bath, enjoying the hot water enveloping her body whilst listening to the wind howling outside, rattling the window pane, whipping the snow into a blizzard.
Washing and drying herself, she pulled her clothes tight around her to block out the chill, filling the bath again and calling out to her brother that his bath was ready as she passed his bedroom on the landing. She sat on her bed and watched the snow for a while, the trees shrouded in white, branches reaching out like claws in the darkened evening.
She changed into her eveningwear, her garments finished with a winter gown featuring a fitted corset and dresses flowing to the floor. Her brother knocked on the door, asking her to secure his bow tie for him, a skill he’d not yet mastered.
They returned to the sitting room, where they found their parents also dressed in preparation for dinner. They settled to await the rest of the family’s arrival, listening to the wireless forecast the most severe snowfall in several years, recommending they do not venture out of their homes unless in the most necessary circumstances.
‘In other news, authorities are seeking a man who absconded from prison earlier today. Edward Hitchfield, 42, who was convicted of two murders in March this year, escaped prison officials early this morning after being admitted to hospital following a minor injury. He has been described as medium-build, bearded, with dark hair but balding, last seen wearing prison-issue garments. Police have advised the public to be vigilant. They suspect he will have made changes to his appearance and urge the public to report any suspicions they may have.
‘Elsewhere…’
“My sympathies are with anyone who is without shelter in this weather, whomever they be,” Carolyn commented.
“This fellow won’t get far in this weather,” Hugo added. Ellie wondered fleetingly if it was truly their minds he was attempting to put at ease. “They’ll have caught him in no time at all.”
“Assuming he doesn’t freeze to death,” Ellie added aloud, looking out into the ever-falling snow. It sounded more savage to the ears than she intended. Neither of her parents commented.
They were silent as the news programme was succeeded by carols, the lyrics of God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman swelling to fill the room. They all gazed thoughtfully through the window into the ghostly glow of the dark night. No one broke the silence. Satan’s power seemed particularly potent at that moment, with a man led astray somewhere out there in the wilderness, cloven hooves treading in his shadow.
A loud knock roused them from their rumination.
___
'Twas the Night Before Christmas will be available from Amazon and Lulu.com on Friday the 13th, with other retailers to follow.
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The Cosy & The Creepy - Christmas Book Reviews
Here are my reviews of the Christmas crime, horror and mystery I've been reading in the run-up to Christmas...
A Christmas Guest by Anne Perry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A Victorian murder mystery in the tradition of the Golden Age of crime fiction.
This was the first of Anne Perry's Christmas novellas that I read, this one featuring Mariah Ellison, who is incensed to discover she will not be spending Christmas with her granddaughter as usual, but will instead be sent to spend time with her ex-daughter-in-law and her new husband. Once there, she is determined not to enjoy herself, becoming further distressed when another guest arrives unexpectedly. But when this guest is found dead, Mariah becomes convinced she may have been murdered, and sets out to find the perpetrator.
I flew through 'A Christmas Guest' - at times humorous, at other moments touching, with a classic mystery at its heart - a traditional tale of the redemption of a human soul through discovering the spirit of Christmas.
Spirits of the Season: Christmas Hauntings by Tanya Kirk
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A collection of creepy and chilling tales of hauntings of the Christmas season.
Featuring short stories originally published between 1867 and 1940, 'Spirits of the Season' is a wide-ranging collection featuring the gothic and macabre, continuing the tradition of telling ghost stories in the days leading up to Christmas, particularly on Christmas Eve - as editor Tanya Kirk explains, much like on Hallowe'en, souls of the dead are most active on the eve of a holy day.
Personal highlights were Frank R. Stockton's 'The Christmas Shadrach', telling of a gift that holds supernatural influence; Marjorie Bowen's 'The Prescription', the tale of a visitation and the legend of a local murder; and A. M. Burrage's 'Smee', the ghostly tale of a party game joined by an extra player.
If your Christmas is not complete without a horror story on a chilly evening, this collection will satisfy your craving.
The Christmas Pudding Murders by Various
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Another delightful seasonal collection of short stories, curated by Cecily Gayford.
With appearances from classic characters such as Campion and Rumpole and standalone stories from crime fiction greats such as Ellis Peters and Dorothy L. Sayers, 'The Christmas Pudding Murders' is the perfect companion to Christmas evenings, featuring deceptively cosy tales of murder and skulduggery.
My personal highlights were Ellis Peters' 'Let Nothing You Dismay', an atmospheric story about a break-in on the night before Christmas Eve; Julian Symons' 'Twixt the Cup and the Lip', about the planning and execution of a jewellery robbery; and my favourite, Gillian Linscott's 'A Scandal in Winter', as a young girl recounts a story of how she may have witnessed a murder, featuring some surprise appearances that I shan't ruin for those that won't expect them as I didn't.
This annual tradition demonstrates how crime fiction and the Christmas season are natural companions.
Merry Christmas!
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A Christmas Guest by Anne PerryMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A Victorian murder mystery in the tradition of the Golden Age of crime fiction.
This was the first of Anne Perry's Christmas novellas that I read, this one featuring Mariah Ellison, who is incensed to discover she will not be spending Christmas with her granddaughter as usual, but will instead be sent to spend time with her ex-daughter-in-law and her new husband. Once there, she is determined not to enjoy herself, becoming further distressed when another guest arrives unexpectedly. But when this guest is found dead, Mariah becomes convinced she may have been murdered, and sets out to find the perpetrator.
I flew through 'A Christmas Guest' - at times humorous, at other moments touching, with a classic mystery at its heart - a traditional tale of the redemption of a human soul through discovering the spirit of Christmas.
Spirits of the Season: Christmas Hauntings by Tanya KirkMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A collection of creepy and chilling tales of hauntings of the Christmas season.
Featuring short stories originally published between 1867 and 1940, 'Spirits of the Season' is a wide-ranging collection featuring the gothic and macabre, continuing the tradition of telling ghost stories in the days leading up to Christmas, particularly on Christmas Eve - as editor Tanya Kirk explains, much like on Hallowe'en, souls of the dead are most active on the eve of a holy day.
Personal highlights were Frank R. Stockton's 'The Christmas Shadrach', telling of a gift that holds supernatural influence; Marjorie Bowen's 'The Prescription', the tale of a visitation and the legend of a local murder; and A. M. Burrage's 'Smee', the ghostly tale of a party game joined by an extra player.
If your Christmas is not complete without a horror story on a chilly evening, this collection will satisfy your craving.
The Christmas Pudding Murders by VariousMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Another delightful seasonal collection of short stories, curated by Cecily Gayford.
With appearances from classic characters such as Campion and Rumpole and standalone stories from crime fiction greats such as Ellis Peters and Dorothy L. Sayers, 'The Christmas Pudding Murders' is the perfect companion to Christmas evenings, featuring deceptively cosy tales of murder and skulduggery.
My personal highlights were Ellis Peters' 'Let Nothing You Dismay', an atmospheric story about a break-in on the night before Christmas Eve; Julian Symons' 'Twixt the Cup and the Lip', about the planning and execution of a jewellery robbery; and my favourite, Gillian Linscott's 'A Scandal in Winter', as a young girl recounts a story of how she may have witnessed a murder, featuring some surprise appearances that I shan't ruin for those that won't expect them as I didn't.
This annual tradition demonstrates how crime fiction and the Christmas season are natural companions.
Merry Christmas!
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James Lovegrove's Sherlock Holmes & The Christmas Demon - Review
Sherlock Holmes & the Christmas Demon by James LovegroveMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
A gripping new case for Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson for the Yuletide season.
There have been many follow-ups and interpretations of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, as well as spin-offs featuring other characters from the canon, both in print and in film and television. Some are widely successful - Anthony Horowitz's two authorised novels and Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss' modern-setting BBC TV series amongst the most notable. James Lovegrove has written several Sherlock Holmes stories since 2013, with this the latest, published in 2019.
'Sherlock Holmes & The Christmas Demon' begins a few days before Christmas in 1890 with the arrival of a potential new client in the form of Eve Allerthorpe, who is terrified that she is being haunted by preternatural forces - a ghost who may or may not be the spirit of her dead mother; and a folkloric demon known as the Black Thurrick, one of the many interpretations of a Christmas demon (Krampus being the most widely-known in the 21st century).
Intrigued by the story of her persecution, and not at all convinced her tormentor is supernatural in origin, Holmes agrees to take on the case. He and Watson travel to the Allerthorpe family home in Yorkshire, where they encounter Eve's immediate family, who immediately make it known they are not welcome. As Holmes begin to unearth secrets and lies, the Black Thurrick selects Watson as his next target, followed by a suspicious death that may finally crack open the case.
'Sherlock Holmes & The Christmas Demon' is a thrilling Victorian mystery, packed full of Holmes' deductive brilliance and wry wit, foreboding atmosphere and a seasonal chill. Revisiting Holmes and discovering a new story that captures the essence of Conan Doyle's storytelling and Holmes' character is a joyous gift - this reminiscent of a Christmas 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', with its remote setting, historic dynasty and folkloric horrors. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this while enjoying a few days off over the Christmas period.
I sincerely hope that Lovegrove writes more Holmes mysteries in this vein. Synopses and reviews of his other Holmes' novels suggest they stray considerably from the tradition of Conan Doyle's stories, but on the merit of 'The Christmas Demon', I may explore them in the future.
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Agatha Christie's Midwinter Murder - Review
Midwinter Murder: Fireside Mysteries from the Queen of Crime by Agatha ChristieMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A delightful collection of twelve midwinter mysteries from the Queen of Crime to enjoy by the fire over the festive season.
Sitting at the fireside with hot chocolate, Poirot recalls a case from his time in the Belgian Police, one which he regards as one of his rare failures…
Miss Marple tells of a Christmas tragedy which she unravelled some years before…
The mysterious Mr Quin assists in solving an old mystery on New Year’s Eve…
Poirot investigates the discovery of a corpse in the Baghdad Chest…
Tommy and Tuppence Beresford assist a clergyman’s daughter to uncover the secret of a family legacy...
Poirot is called upon when a woman’s body is found aboard the Plymouth Express…
Parker Pyne assists true love to blossom at Pollensa Bay…
A dying man seeks sanctuary in a church and Miss Marple is called upon to solve the mystery...
While Poirot is bedridden with flu, Captain Hastings is dispatched to Hunter’s Lodge to be his eyes and ears…
High atop the snowy mountainside of World's End, Mr Quin oversees the final act of another emotional drama...
Thirsty for adventure, Edward Robinson is drawn into a daring caper and an evening of romance...
During Christmas Day celebrations, Poirot is perplexed by a warning left for him to not eat the Christmas Pudding...
A hugely enjoyable collection of Agatha Christie's festive and wintry short stories, 'Midwinter Murder' features appearances from many of her famous creations. I had read most of these stories in the past, but what a pleasure it was to revisit them all these years later - particularly those featuring Poirot and Miss Marple. If I had to choose favourites, it would be those featuring these two characters.
Each story is a little mystery that can be read in one sitting - while enjoying a morning coffee or an evening hot chocolate, or just before you put out the light for bed. Highly recommended for old and new Christie fans, this would be a marvellous introduction for readers new to her work or a nostalgic treat for those who first enjoyed these stories many years ago.
It wouldn't be Christmas without a mystery or two, and no one does them better than Agatha Christie. So set the fire ablaze and get set to tease your little grey cells once again.
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Val McDermid's Christmas is Murder - Review
Christmas is Murder: A Chilling Short Story Collection by Val McDermidMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
A collection of twelve gripping short stories to curdle the blood during the festive season.
Tony Hill and Carol Jordan hunt a killer who threatens to strike next on Christmas Day…
A malicious poisoner targets supermarket shoppers at random…
A traditional family Christmas is disrupted by murder…
A woman reflects on the crimes that stole her adopted daughter’s mother…
A little girl defends her home on Christmas Eve…
Sherlock Holmes takes on a case that will shape the course of history…
A couple discover a hidden structure built into the cliffside…
Long-buried secrets threaten to surface when an old barrel of whisky is discovered in a cave…
Gavin’s dreams of becoming a writer are finally realised when he meets Natasha…
Ghosts may finally be laid to rest one dark night in St. Petersburg…
A woman’s adulterous husband leaves her on Bonfire Night…
A team of bingo callers find themselves in the firing line, until an armed robbery changes their destiny…
‘Christmas is Murder’ begins with a bang and doesn’t let you go until the final page. Each story is engrossing and lightning-paced, closing with a satisfying twist. This is amongst the best short story collections that I have enjoyed, every story of the utmost quality. My favourites were the Tony Hill and Carol Jordan story ‘Happy Holidays’ (‘The Mermaids Singing’ was the first Val McDermid novel I read and remains amongst my favourite psychological thrillers); ‘Holmes for Christmas’ (I cannot resist a new well-plotted Sherlock Holmes story, this one with an historical twist); ‘Ghost Writer’ and ‘White Nights, Black Magic’ – though it was difficult to choose even those above others.
Val McDermid is exceptional at delving into the criminal mind, showcasing that superbly in a variety of ways in this collection – whether that be in the unbalanced machinations of a serial killer, or the well-meaning intentions of a child; you will find a variety of hot-blooded and cold-blooded criminal motivations. Each set of characters is drawn perfectly, their stories well-written and superbly plotted. This collection also blends other genres into the mix – there’s a touch of tragic romance, some humour along the way, and even a supernatural twist amongst them.
‘Christmas is Murder’ is a delicious seasonal indulgence; twelve treats to devour during a winter’s evening.
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Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol - Review
A Christmas Carol by Charles DickensMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
The classic Christmas ghost story of redemption and seasonal goodwill.
Ebenezer Scrooge despises Christmas and sees no reason why he should embrace the spirit of the season and wish goodwill to his fellow man. But one Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of his long-dead business partner, Jacob Marley. Marley, dragging behind him the chain he forged in life, implores Scrooge to change his ways, else suffer the same damnation as him.
Marley tells Scrooge that he will be visited by three spirits – the ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Yet-to-Come – to offer him a final hope of salvation. Discomforted by this encounter, Scrooge retires to bed exhausted – but his Christmas night has only yet begun.
As the spirits show him memories of the fixed past, events of the present, and shadows of the possible future that will come if he continues on his current course, Scrooge’s cold heart is urged to thaw and finally embrace the true spirit of Christmas.
Perhaps the most famous Christmas ghost story of all time, and certainly amongst if not the most famous of all Dickens’ works, ‘A Christmas Carol’ is a timeless classic. Originally published in 1843, ‘A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost Story of Christmas’ was an instant success, the first and most successful of Dickens’ Christmas books. There have been innumerable adaptations for stage, film and television, but the novella itself remains unrivalled.
The book is chilling and heartwarming in equal measure, possessing a fable-like quality with its simple message of hope and caring for others, and imploring people to change for the better. Told in staves rather than chapters, it brims with classic Christmas imagery that remains with you long after reading. It is credited not only with immortalising the tradition of a Victorian Christmas, but also with popularising it, perhaps even inventing it.
We all know this story, yet never tire of revisiting it. Over a hundred and fifty years later, a tale that speaks of the woes of pride and avarice and the virtues of altruism and selflessness is as timely and significant as it was then. Humanity still has need to learn of its best qualities and put aside its worst, making this a fable for the ages and one that will doubtless be read and enjoyed at Christmas for many centuries to come.
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