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Emma Lord #3
The Alpine Christmas
An Emma Lord Mystery.
Christmas in the town of Alpine means fresh snow, carolers, even a sleigh. But then the discovery of a woman's leg in the lake, along with that of another young woman's nude, half-frozen body, deflates everyone's high spirits. But as Emma Lord, editor and publisher of The Alpine Advocate, follows up on the story, the bits and pieces of the young women who keep turning up start adding up to a murder scheme so sinister it may well land Emma on her own obituary page . . .
Christmas in the town of Alpine means fresh snow, carolers, even a sleigh. But then the discovery of a woman's leg in the lake, along with that of another young woman's nude, half-frozen body, deflates everyone's high spirits. But as Emma Lord, editor and publisher of The Alpine Advocate, follows up on the story, the bits and pieces of the young women who keep turning up start adding up to a murder scheme so sinister it may well land Emma on her own obituary page . . .
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
129 people are currently reading
437 people want to read
About the author
Mary Daheim
94 books442 followersMary Rene Richardson Daheim was an American writer of romance and mystery novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
March 13, 2023
This is another fun installment in Mary Daheim's Emma Lord Series. Christmas is approaching and Emma's brother Ben is visiting. Ben happens to be priest with a wicked sense of humor. When the parish priest is incapacitated by a stroke, Ben fills in. Meanwhile Emma is adding to her nativity scene piece by piece, day by day. On a darker side, pieces of a body are found in the local river. Who do they belong to and how did they get there are the mystery.
This book had a good mystery which I was able to solve. I loved Ben's character and I hope we see more of him. I also enjoy Daheim's sense of humor which kept me laughing throughout a grim story.
This book had a good mystery which I was able to solve. I loved Ben's character and I hope we see more of him. I also enjoy Daheim's sense of humor which kept me laughing throughout a grim story.
April 13, 2010
The Alpine Christmas is the third book in the Emma Lord Mystery series, but the first one that I have read. The characters were interesting and the storyline mildly thrilling. The story flowed well, not too slow, but not frantically fast paced either. The murder mystery left me guessing, which is always a huge bonus. Everything about The Alpine Christmas was just right, but the book felt tired. It wasn't dull, but it didn't leave me wanting more, which is the key to any series book. I'm going to give the Emma Lord Mystery series another try in the hopes that the indifference I feel is more book based than series based.
December 21, 2021
This is a Christmas-themed mystery in the Emma Lord series, the third in the series. Having never read this author before, perhaps that skews my review, but this reader found it slow to start, but definitely the action speeds up right near the end.
The author lays out the clues slowly, along with plenty of red herrings, but it moves so slowly that many of the little pieces of information went by the wayside about the mysterious death of two women in the little town of Alpine.
Emma Lord, the editor of the local weekly paper, investigates the murders while also dealing with getting the paper out and decorating her home, particularly putting out each and every piece of her nativity scene. With the help of her brother, a priest, and the local sheriff, she may find the killer before the killer finds her.
Who killed them, and why? Interesting and surprising denouement.
The author lays out the clues slowly, along with plenty of red herrings, but it moves so slowly that many of the little pieces of information went by the wayside about the mysterious death of two women in the little town of Alpine.
Emma Lord, the editor of the local weekly paper, investigates the murders while also dealing with getting the paper out and decorating her home, particularly putting out each and every piece of her nativity scene. With the help of her brother, a priest, and the local sheriff, she may find the killer before the killer finds her.
Who killed them, and why? Interesting and surprising denouement.
December 11, 2017
I love reading seasonal mysteries. I don't expect much from cozies, but this was fun to read even without the Christmas angle (which surprised me, because religion plays a big role in the story - the main character is Catholic and it comes up in conversation frequently). There are some nice descriptions of this mountain town, which sounds perilous to navigate in the winter, and the characters felt like they had their own internal worlds, even if they weren't fully developed. The murders were pretty grisly and the villain was surprisingly sinister, but there were also comedic moments and the usual descriptions of meals, decorating a tree, etc. that made it feel mostly cozy. I do want to read more of the series.
January 5, 2020
I am loving this series. I love the characters and the plot. Will continue the series.
December 4, 2023
This was the first I tried by this author and it as not really to my liking. The plot was fine, but I frequently felt like the characters were off a bit. The way they were all sort of jolly around missing body parts. I like at least a little psychology in my stories, and everyone in here felt like a bit of a sociopath, more concerned with the Ferrari they were driving and their clothes than the dismembered folks from their community
January 16, 2022
While the small-town paper in the mountains was interesting, the rest of the story was boring to me. I didn't solve the mystery on my own, but then I wasn't motivated to. And in my opinion the murderer's motive was ridiculous. There was a lot of going out to eat and gossiping about other townspeople - and not much else.
While I'm fine with a mystery lacking action, the quality of the characters needs to take up the slack. I can't put my finger on exactly what some authors do to bring characters to life, but this book didn't have it. On top of that, the characters were pretty judgemental. Now, I don't think a character always represents the author's views, but there were some pretty questionable lines thrown in here that weren't challenged at all.
While I'm fine with a mystery lacking action, the quality of the characters needs to take up the slack. I can't put my finger on exactly what some authors do to bring characters to life, but this book didn't have it. On top of that, the characters were pretty judgemental. Now, I don't think a character always represents the author's views, but there were some pretty questionable lines thrown in here that weren't challenged at all.
January 2, 2020
I was looking for a good mystery to read during the Christmas holidays. I found a fun one! My first boook by this author. It is a book lush with description. Set in small town USA during the 1990’s, the main character, Emma Lord, publishes the local paper in a mountain town known for logging. She is very excited about Christmas because her son will be home from college and her brother Ben, a Catholic priest, is coming for a visit. Only one slight problem, dumped body parts are being found in odd remote places near town. Who would do this and why? everyone knows everyone else and all their business in this small town.Is the murderer a local resident?
December 7, 2022
The small town of Alpine, Washington is getting ready for the holidays, and Emma Lord, the editor of the Alpine Advocate,the town's weekly paper, is busy with the prep for the next issue as well as finishing plans for her Christmas celebration. But when someone finds a woman's leg, and shortly after a partially frozen body is found near a river, there's suddenly a lot that needs to be uncovered in Alpine, and Emma digs in.
This book was good enough, but I really only finished it to see what the resolution was, and that was an interesting twist. But frankly it didn't grab me much otherwise.
This book was good enough, but I really only finished it to see what the resolution was, and that was an interesting twist. But frankly it didn't grab me much otherwise.
December 21, 2017
Satisfying.Read
The third in the Emma Lord series is as delightful as the other books in this series. The characters who people Alpine are overdrawn, but lovable. The setting in the Cascades is delightful. In this book, different body parts keep showing up and giving the sheriff headaches and the journalist something to report.
The third in the Emma Lord series is as delightful as the other books in this series. The characters who people Alpine are overdrawn, but lovable. The setting in the Cascades is delightful. In this book, different body parts keep showing up and giving the sheriff headaches and the journalist something to report.
December 13, 2017
This just moved way too slowly for me. If I was a reader of this series maybe I would have enjoyed it more, but there were just too many things that felt like a sidebar for those that are probably invested in this series and these characters.
December 8, 2020
It’s an okay book, except for the fact that the main character continues to pine (pun intended) after the father of her son after 20 odd years. No wonder she‘s bitter. What a waste. Therapists were popular even in 1993, she really should get help. Maybe in future books?
January 2, 2022
Looks like I have a new series to read!
I enjoyed this book and realized that it was one in a large series of Alpine books. The characters are likeable and leave a person wanting to follow their adventures further.
I enjoyed this book and realized that it was one in a large series of Alpine books. The characters are likeable and leave a person wanting to follow their adventures further.
September 9, 2024
This book was all over the place, switching characters, boring slow story, nothing to sustain interest - other than characters trying to solve a murder with no strategy or planning. Actually, I gave up and didn’t finish it.
July 10, 2017
Not as good as her bed and breakfast books.
September 17, 2017
I had a hard time finding this book, but it was worth the wait. Suspenseful and full of atmosphere. Read it twice through very quickly. Terrific read.
December 7, 2017
Christmas Mystery
I enjoyed the book very much. It had a lot of characters to keep up with. It had a surprising end. Does it really snow that much in the northwest?
I enjoyed the book very much. It had a lot of characters to keep up with. It had a surprising end. Does it really snow that much in the northwest?
November 27, 2018
3.5 - decent - not a cozy.
September 6, 2020
Too slow and full of descriptions with not enough plot.
December 28, 2020
Fast, interesting read.
I enjoyed this book. There were multiple plots that tied together, learning bits and pieces along the way. Didn't want to put it down.
I enjoyed this book. There were multiple plots that tied together, learning bits and pieces along the way. Didn't want to put it down.
December 7, 2021
I found the murderer’s motive in this mystery to be rather ridiculous and most of the characters overdone, however there was some humor in the book which redeemed it a bit, hence the two stars.
December 28, 2021
The 3rd book in the Emma Lord series. A light, cozy mystery.
December 27, 2022
I like this character and enjoy reading books set in the holiday season…this did drag a bit in the middle!
November 14, 2024
An excellent mystery book. Just the right amount of plot twists!
December 25, 2024
Really good, solid 3 stars. Witty, not schmaltzy, good cast of characters, maybe a crush that's a bit distracting for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2016
It seemed appropriate to read a book with a Christmas background so I chose this one. Yes, it's about murder but also about a brother/sister relationship. So enjoyed how Emma and her brother, Ben, related to each other. Their conversations and their interactions demonstrate so well how two close siblings can be.
It all begins with a leg being found in the river by a fisherman. Gruesome? Yeah, it is but that's only the beginning. The next finding is a complete body. Now there appears to be two murders but who are they? Male or female? An arm is discovered in the river. Many people suspect the strange young man who lives in a cabin in the woods until his cabin burns down fortunately without him in it. What is going on?
The bodies are identified as women who were roommates. How did they get to Alpine? They seem to have a connection with the young wife of a local young man as well as other women who went to private schools.
This is a good read with a plot that leads the reader about until the author begins giving clues about an unexpected individual who is strong and very organized. Close the climax I had determined who the murderer was but not why the murders were committed. Yes, this is a quick and enjoyable mystery. Try it!
It all begins with a leg being found in the river by a fisherman. Gruesome? Yeah, it is but that's only the beginning. The next finding is a complete body. Now there appears to be two murders but who are they? Male or female? An arm is discovered in the river. Many people suspect the strange young man who lives in a cabin in the woods until his cabin burns down fortunately without him in it. What is going on?
The bodies are identified as women who were roommates. How did they get to Alpine? They seem to have a connection with the young wife of a local young man as well as other women who went to private schools.
This is a good read with a plot that leads the reader about until the author begins giving clues about an unexpected individual who is strong and very organized. Close the climax I had determined who the murderer was but not why the murders were committed. Yes, this is a quick and enjoyable mystery. Try it!
January 2, 2009
My second Emma Lord mystery. I liked it better than the first, but possibly because I know the "regulars" better. The mystery itself was secondary to the tale. A couple of things I liked about this book-- the descriptions of Emma's son's room, which reminded me of guyczuk's room at various points in time and the playful way Emma's brother (a priest) manipulates her nativity scene characters so that she may find a camel on the roof or one of the sheep in the line with the wise men... we do that here, too, with our nativity. God loves playfulness, I hope!
The biggest thing I like is that the book is set in the Pacific Northwest-- a place I have never been, but that calls to me. The gray and rain really appeal to both javaczuk and me, despite the fact that we live in the sunny south.
The biggest thing I like is that the book is set in the Pacific Northwest-- a place I have never been, but that calls to me. The gray and rain really appeal to both javaczuk and me, despite the fact that we live in the sunny south.
June 13, 2015
As the holiday season freneticism descends, I always enjoy some light holiday reading, and The Alpine Christmas: an Emma Lord Mystery" fits the bill. Written by Mary Daheim, this mystery takes place in timber country in Washington state. Its protagonist is Emma Lord, a weekly newspaper editor. Not only does the mystery take place at Christmas, but the holiday theme runs through as you get insights to how small town Protestants and Catholics celebrate the season...and each other. The plot centers on young women disappearing from Seattle and an exploration of their connections to this small community. The Alpine Christmas in one volume in a 15-volume series, so there's lots more to keep you reading....all year.
April 30, 2013
I'm about halfway through the book. These books lend themselves so well to world building. I love how each subsequent book makes the town come more alive.
I'm reading the part about Emma making Christmas cookies. My mother always made sprintz cookies. I can't imagine eating only a quarter of the dough! My brother and I always managed to eat at least half the dough before Mom got it in the cookie press. We liked the dough better than the actual cookies.
I had not an inkling of who or why until the last couple of chapters. I really enjoyed the story despite the gruesome murders. I'm even more immersed in this world than in Heraldsgate Hill.
I'm reading the part about Emma making Christmas cookies. My mother always made sprintz cookies. I can't imagine eating only a quarter of the dough! My brother and I always managed to eat at least half the dough before Mom got it in the cookie press. We liked the dough better than the actual cookies.
I had not an inkling of who or why until the last couple of chapters. I really enjoyed the story despite the gruesome murders. I'm even more immersed in this world than in Heraldsgate Hill.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews