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Father Christmas Mystery #2
Eleven Pipers Piping
Father Tom Christmas, the recently widowed vicar adjusting to life in the English village of Thornford Regis, would do almost anything to avoid attending the annual Robert Burns Supper at the local hotel. But as chaplain to a traditional Scottish pipe band, Father Tom must deliver the grace—and contend with wailing bagpipes, whiskey-laced parishioners reciting poetry, and the culinary abomination that is haggis.
As snow falls to unprecedented depths, the revelers carry on—briefly interrupted by an enigmatic stranger seeking shelter. Then Will Moir, proprietor of the hotel and a dedicated piper, inexplicably goes missing—only to be found later in the hotel’s dark tower, alone and dead from what appears to be a heart attack.
Father Tom’s own heart sinks when he learns the actual cause of Will’s demise. When word gets out, the flurry of innocent speculation descends into outlandish gossip. And, for all its tranquil charm, Thornford Regis has plenty to gossip about—illicit trysts, muted violence, private sorrows, and old, unresolved tragedies. The question is: Who would benefit most from the piper’s death? Suspicion swirls around many, including Will’s beautiful widow, their shadowy son, Will’s obnoxious brother-in-law, and even the mysterious party crasher, who knows more than she lets on about the grudges she left behind—but never forgot.
Brimming with wit, full of genuine surprise, and featuring one of the most memorable (and unlikely) detectives in mystery fiction, C. C. Benison’s second Father Christmas mystery will delight readers with a puzzle that truly defies solution.
Praise for C. C. Benison’s first Father Christmas mystery, Twelve Drummers Drumming
“Splendid . . . An intelligent and empathic protagonist and skillful prose make this a winner.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Benison does an admirable job balancing humor with suspense. . . . Father Christmas’s first case leaves you eager for his next.”—The Wall Street Journal
“A crime novel that Agatha Christie might have been justly proud to claim as her own.”—Margaret Maron, New York Times bestselling author of Christmas Mourning
“Highly recommended . . . [a] marvelous series debut.”—Library Journal
“The perfect treat for suspense fans in a holiday mood.”—BookPage
As snow falls to unprecedented depths, the revelers carry on—briefly interrupted by an enigmatic stranger seeking shelter. Then Will Moir, proprietor of the hotel and a dedicated piper, inexplicably goes missing—only to be found later in the hotel’s dark tower, alone and dead from what appears to be a heart attack.
Father Tom’s own heart sinks when he learns the actual cause of Will’s demise. When word gets out, the flurry of innocent speculation descends into outlandish gossip. And, for all its tranquil charm, Thornford Regis has plenty to gossip about—illicit trysts, muted violence, private sorrows, and old, unresolved tragedies. The question is: Who would benefit most from the piper’s death? Suspicion swirls around many, including Will’s beautiful widow, their shadowy son, Will’s obnoxious brother-in-law, and even the mysterious party crasher, who knows more than she lets on about the grudges she left behind—but never forgot.
Brimming with wit, full of genuine surprise, and featuring one of the most memorable (and unlikely) detectives in mystery fiction, C. C. Benison’s second Father Christmas mystery will delight readers with a puzzle that truly defies solution.
Praise for C. C. Benison’s first Father Christmas mystery, Twelve Drummers Drumming
“Splendid . . . An intelligent and empathic protagonist and skillful prose make this a winner.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Benison does an admirable job balancing humor with suspense. . . . Father Christmas’s first case leaves you eager for his next.”—The Wall Street Journal
“A crime novel that Agatha Christie might have been justly proud to claim as her own.”—Margaret Maron, New York Times bestselling author of Christmas Mourning
“Highly recommended . . . [a] marvelous series debut.”—Library Journal
“The perfect treat for suspense fans in a holiday mood.”—BookPage
496 pages, Hardcover
First published October 30, 2012
103 people are currently reading
835 people want to read
About the author
C.C. Benison
9 books166 followersC.C. Benison is the pen name of Douglas Whiteway, a journalist and author who lives in Winnipeg, Canada. He has a degree in journalism from Carleton University in Ottawa and has worked for the Winnipeg Tribune and the Winnipeg Free Press.
He is most recently the author of The Unpleasantness at the Battle of Thornford, a Father Christmas novella, published in November 2020. This follows his last work of fiction, Paul is Dead: A Novel, published in 2018, which is a literary thriller set in an isolated lakeside cottage.
He is also the author of a series of murder mysteries set on the estates of Queen Elizabeth II where the crimes are solved by housemaid Jane Bee, with the Queen's help. Titles include Death at Buckingham Palace, Death at Sandringham House, and Death at Windsor Castle. He is, as well, the author of Death in Cold Type, a murder mystery set in Winnipeg.
In 2011, the first of the Father Christmas mysteries, Twelve Drummers Drumming, was published. The novels feature Tom Christmas, Anglican priest, widower and single father, solving crimes in and around the village of Thornford Regis in Devon, England. Eleven Pipers Piping followed in 2012. Ten Drummers Drumming was published in autumn 2013.
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best First Novel (1997): Death at Buckingham Palace
He is most recently the author of The Unpleasantness at the Battle of Thornford, a Father Christmas novella, published in November 2020. This follows his last work of fiction, Paul is Dead: A Novel, published in 2018, which is a literary thriller set in an isolated lakeside cottage.
He is also the author of a series of murder mysteries set on the estates of Queen Elizabeth II where the crimes are solved by housemaid Jane Bee, with the Queen's help. Titles include Death at Buckingham Palace, Death at Sandringham House, and Death at Windsor Castle. He is, as well, the author of Death in Cold Type, a murder mystery set in Winnipeg.
In 2011, the first of the Father Christmas mysteries, Twelve Drummers Drumming, was published. The novels feature Tom Christmas, Anglican priest, widower and single father, solving crimes in and around the village of Thornford Regis in Devon, England. Eleven Pipers Piping followed in 2012. Ten Drummers Drumming was published in autumn 2013.
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best First Novel (1997): Death at Buckingham Palace
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
December 5, 2017
A light mystery that reminded me a little bit of an Agatha Christie novel. There's the same companionship between the characters, the rifts, the loyalty, etc. There's also the same easy going, everyday chatter where clues, hints & red herrings are dropped. Things meander along until the end when a flurry of activity winds things up. It's all good, cozy and interesting.
The names are a bit corny: Father Christmas and Detectives Bliss & Blessing. However, the characters themselves are interesting. I rather like Father Tom Christmas.
All in all, an enjoyable read. I will look into the other 2 Father Christmas mysteries. Sadly, it appears that the author didn't write more than that.
The names are a bit corny: Father Christmas and Detectives Bliss & Blessing. However, the characters themselves are interesting. I rather like Father Tom Christmas.
All in all, an enjoyable read. I will look into the other 2 Father Christmas mysteries. Sadly, it appears that the author didn't write more than that.
December 12, 2017
Another enjoyable and well crafted mystery by C.C. Benison. I loved his first series (only 3 books!!) featuring Queen Elizabeth II, and this series featuring Father Tom Christmas, C of E, widower and father, ex-magician is good too.
He makes the village so real and makes me wish I could move there, snow or no snow. (Especially considering they have the NHS.) The Christmas and post-Christmas festivities are charming. But the mystery and the motivation behind it are well crafted too. For a cozy mystery, it has some excellent suspense!
He makes the village so real and makes me wish I could move there, snow or no snow. (Especially considering they have the NHS.) The Christmas and post-Christmas festivities are charming. But the mystery and the motivation behind it are well crafted too. For a cozy mystery, it has some excellent suspense!
July 25, 2013
When this book arrived pre-armed as a traditional British mystery, I was prepared for just that. Upon reflection I should not have been surprised at the depth of character development, the intricate plot with several surprising twists and turns, the careful and even loving development of understanding and human insight residing in the pages.
The writing draws one in almost instantly and never really lets go until the end. Yes, the book is long, yes there are many characters and yes, there is an important if sprawling back story that is vital to an understanding of the present-day machinations of the characters.
The Reverend Tom Christmas, widower, father and rather recently appointed Vicar of the hamlet of Thornford Regis, is still learning the ins and outs of the social and political life of the town and its inhabitants. Father Christmas is the focus of this novel, and the entire story devolves through his kindly if somewhat distorted lens. Father Christmas is dealing, you see with the still unsolved murder of his wife a few years ago. This novel follows Twelve Drummers Drumming and will be followed soon by Ten Lords A-Leaping. Therein lies a clue as to what this novelist is all about, something worthy of a reader’s time and attention.
The author employs an interesting literary device. The novel begins with an elaborate and newsy letter from Father Christmas’s housekeeper to her mum, an interesting device used to impart vital information that is mostly outside of the ken of Father Christmas. Periodically Madrun Prowse writes these letters which help readers follow the action. The town hosts a musical aggregation called Thistle but Mostly Rose pipe band gathered, as the novel continues, to celebrate the birth of poet Robert Burns at a sumptuous dinner. At the dinner as the plot swiftly develops amid a rare snowstorm, and readers will meet nearly all of the forty-some characters in the book.
“Eleven Pipers Piping” is a warm, thoughtful if long, traditional English mystery in all the best possible ways. Well and nicely written, the narrative takes the reader by the arm and carries her comfortably through an enthralling and heartfelt story.
March 21, 2013
Mystery. Sarcasm. Biting humour. Bad weather. Did I mention mystery?
I'm not normally a fan of mysteries, but this one...this one had me riveted from the first sentence.
You know how sometimes you read a book, and you develop a kind of internal narrator? Kind of like a mix between the librarian in grade one and Magnum, P.I.? Well the narrator for Eleven Pipers Piping is Patrick Stewart. In my head. And he's perfect.
Benison's characters do more than pop off the page; they show up at your doorstep in the middle of a blizzard asking after your neighbours. This is one of those books you dream about after you put it down at night.
I'm not particularly good at plot summaries and spoilers. But what I can tell you is that this is a really, really good read, and is worth every minute of your time. I'm going to buy all of the books in this series. I might even pre-order the next ones.
I'm not normally a fan of mysteries, but this one...this one had me riveted from the first sentence.
You know how sometimes you read a book, and you develop a kind of internal narrator? Kind of like a mix between the librarian in grade one and Magnum, P.I.? Well the narrator for Eleven Pipers Piping is Patrick Stewart. In my head. And he's perfect.
Benison's characters do more than pop off the page; they show up at your doorstep in the middle of a blizzard asking after your neighbours. This is one of those books you dream about after you put it down at night.
I'm not particularly good at plot summaries and spoilers. But what I can tell you is that this is a really, really good read, and is worth every minute of your time. I'm going to buy all of the books in this series. I might even pre-order the next ones.
January 7, 2020
I did not find this book as interesting as the first. I started it as a Christmas read ( it takes place right after Christmas) It took me almost 3 weeks to read. I read several others over the same time . There’s only one more, though the pattern in the title to me suggests a longer series was planned. I hope the last book provides a satisfactory solution to the on going story line.
November 29, 2012
Despite the fact that author C.C. Bennison's character is named Father Christmas, and he uses the "Twelve Days of Christmas" as a basis for his book titles (the first was last year and was titled "Twelve Drummers Drumming"), the books are not "holiday" or "Christmas" mysteries at all. Father Christmas is actually a recently widowed young Anglican priest with a young daughter living in a pretty town in the south of England. We met Father Christmas last year when he had just moved to his new parish after losing his beloved wife to brutal, and as yet unsolved, murder. He is still grieving for his wife, but is also attracted to the local village bobby, an attractive young woman. The story takes place shortly after Christmas. An unusual very deep snow has fallen on the night of the dinner for a local piping group. Haggis will be served - something Tom (aka Father Christmas) is not looking forward to eating. However, he serves as Chaplain to the group so he can't miss it. One of the members dies from an apparent heart attack that evening. However, because of his age an autopsy is done which shows that he actually was poisoned. This was one of the more complex mysteries. I really appreciated all of the twists and turns that the author presented. Father Tom Christmas is an appealing and interesting character. His dead wife was a physician and also a Jew so his daughter is being raised in that faith. So cozy up and enjoy this with a cup of tea and, perhaps, a biscuit (aka cookie!) or two!
December 6, 2016
An engrossing mystery with village vicar, Father Christmas, at the center of it all. He is a most complex man and this second in the series gives the reader more insight into his lifestory. The book is quite longish and not a quick read but it is a mystery you can sink your teeth into! I definitely will be reading the next in the series.
February 6, 2019
Eleven Pipers Piping is book two in the Father Christmas Mystery series by C. C. Benison. The Vicar of Thornford Regis Father Tom Christmas did not want to go to the annual Robert Burns Supper. However, he had to attend as he is the chaplain of the local Scottish pipe band. During the festivities the owner of the Hotel Will Moir went missing. The readers of Eleven Pipers Piping will continue to follow the twists and turns in Father Tom Christmas investigation into finding Will Moir's.
Eleven Pipers Piping is the first book I have read of C. C. Benison, and I enjoy the characters and the plot of this book. I love C. C. Benison portrayal of the characters and the way they interacted throughout Eleven Pipers Piping. I like C. C. Benison writing style and his description of his characters and their interaction with each other.
The readers of Eleven Pipers Piping will learn about Huntington's disease on the suffers and their family. Also, the readers of Eleven Pipers Piping will start to understand the importance of communications within families.
I recommend this book.
Eleven Pipers Piping is the first book I have read of C. C. Benison, and I enjoy the characters and the plot of this book. I love C. C. Benison portrayal of the characters and the way they interacted throughout Eleven Pipers Piping. I like C. C. Benison writing style and his description of his characters and their interaction with each other.
The readers of Eleven Pipers Piping will learn about Huntington's disease on the suffers and their family. Also, the readers of Eleven Pipers Piping will start to understand the importance of communications within families.
I recommend this book.
November 13, 2012
Aha! I know what you're thinking - it's another Christmas book review. Well....yes and no.
The main character is Tom Christmas - a vicar in England - you could refer to him as Father Christmas. The book is set during the winter. And the title - well, the first book in this series was titled Twelve Drummers Drumming. And if you're looking for a great book for the reader on your Christmas list this year, Eleven Pipers Piping would be a really good choice.
But no matter what, C.C. Benison's latest book is a wonderful, well written, cozy mystery, perfect for reading anytime. (Although by the twinkle of the Christmas lights on my tree seemed fitting.)
Widower Father Tom has been the vicar of the English village of Thornford Regis for a few years now. He's been asked to give the blessing at the local Robbie Burns dinner. But when of one of the members of the The Thistle But Mostly Rose South Devon Pipe Band goes missing and is later found dead, Father Christmas again finds himself in the thick of things. For it seems that one amongst them might be a murderer.....
Eleven Pipers Piping opens with the daily letter that Father Tom's housekeeper Madrun writes to her mother. These letters are full of gossip, speculation and Madrun's take on the goings on in the village. (I quite enjoy them.) Father Tom is very circumspect with what his parishioners tell him - he's known to keep confidences to himself, but Madrun's knowledge sometimes proves useful. His young daughter Miranda is enamored of a fictional French Nancy Drew character and her observations have also been of help to her father.
Thornford Regis reminds me of one of those English village displays you'd see on a mantle at Christmas - a tea room, the church, the local meeting hall, the corner store, the manor house and more. Benison has populated his village with quite an eclectic cast of characters, providing us with a wealth of choices for whodunit. (He's also thoughtfully provided a Cast of Characters reference at the beginning of the book) Each reader will find a favourite in this cast of many.
Christmas is a wonderful protagonist whose character has more depth than just the local curious reverend. His personal story is ongoing, believable and engaging. His demeanor and dialogue are pitch perfect.
I thought I had figured out the culprit early on, but there are lots of red herrings and my initial hunch was proven wrong. The strength of this series is in the characters, setting and interactions among the population of the village. Those who enjoy cozy mysteries will love Father Tom and his congregation.
And there's more to come - Father Christmas is planning a charity skydive to raise money for the new church roof.....in Ten Lords A-Leaping...watch for it in late 2013.
The main character is Tom Christmas - a vicar in England - you could refer to him as Father Christmas. The book is set during the winter. And the title - well, the first book in this series was titled Twelve Drummers Drumming. And if you're looking for a great book for the reader on your Christmas list this year, Eleven Pipers Piping would be a really good choice.
But no matter what, C.C. Benison's latest book is a wonderful, well written, cozy mystery, perfect for reading anytime. (Although by the twinkle of the Christmas lights on my tree seemed fitting.)
Widower Father Tom has been the vicar of the English village of Thornford Regis for a few years now. He's been asked to give the blessing at the local Robbie Burns dinner. But when of one of the members of the The Thistle But Mostly Rose South Devon Pipe Band goes missing and is later found dead, Father Christmas again finds himself in the thick of things. For it seems that one amongst them might be a murderer.....
Eleven Pipers Piping opens with the daily letter that Father Tom's housekeeper Madrun writes to her mother. These letters are full of gossip, speculation and Madrun's take on the goings on in the village. (I quite enjoy them.) Father Tom is very circumspect with what his parishioners tell him - he's known to keep confidences to himself, but Madrun's knowledge sometimes proves useful. His young daughter Miranda is enamored of a fictional French Nancy Drew character and her observations have also been of help to her father.
Thornford Regis reminds me of one of those English village displays you'd see on a mantle at Christmas - a tea room, the church, the local meeting hall, the corner store, the manor house and more. Benison has populated his village with quite an eclectic cast of characters, providing us with a wealth of choices for whodunit. (He's also thoughtfully provided a Cast of Characters reference at the beginning of the book) Each reader will find a favourite in this cast of many.
Christmas is a wonderful protagonist whose character has more depth than just the local curious reverend. His personal story is ongoing, believable and engaging. His demeanor and dialogue are pitch perfect.
I thought I had figured out the culprit early on, but there are lots of red herrings and my initial hunch was proven wrong. The strength of this series is in the characters, setting and interactions among the population of the village. Those who enjoy cozy mysteries will love Father Tom and his congregation.
And there's more to come - Father Christmas is planning a charity skydive to raise money for the new church roof.....in Ten Lords A-Leaping...watch for it in late 2013.
April 28, 2015
What an enjoyable series this has turned out to be. I am saddened to see that currently there is only one book remaining at this time and can only hope more are to follow to see this series to the end of its Christmas song verses. Despite the Christmas song titles and the main character being named Father Christmas, this is not a Christmas-themed serial but actually a very engaging and intricate "WhoDunnit". Father Tom Christmas is still adjusting to life as a Vicar in a small village with his daughter in the Devon countryside after losing his beloved wife over a year ago in Bristol to a brutal murder that still remains unsolved. A number of village personalities from the first book have reappeared in this one like Tom's slightly neurotic housekeeper Madrun, her brother Jago and Swan the belligerent pub owner along with some new characters to keep it interesting. Mairi White, the fetching bobby, is also back and Tom's interest in her has not waned as conflicted as he is still carrying the very real love he had for his wife. At the traditional Thistle but Mostly Rose piping band's Burns dinner taking place on an extraordinary snowy night, one of the pipers turns up dead of an apparent heart attack. Further investigation rules the death murder and suspects abound. Father Tom is trusted by the villagers, a good listener and an astute observer and slowly begins to put the pieces together of this very complex puzzle. Another murder occurs and Tom becomes more and more frightened as the reality and horror of what led to what happened that snowy night in January and later on at a village celebration, sinks in. A wonderful series; fun to read and murders challenging to solve. Well worth the read.
July 17, 2013
Eleven Pipers Piping is the second in the Father Christmas Mystery series, which I already adore. Father Christmas, an Anglican priest and widower, lives with his daughter Miranda in a small English village. Escaping in the aftermath of a personal tragedy, Miranda and Father Christmas (Tom), are newcomers in the village and, as such, offer a fresh perspective on the residents and their going-on. The author uses the Christmas' housekeeper, Madrun, as a counterpart to that. A lifelong resident of the village, her letters to her mum are sprinkled throughout the story and offer the background detail that Tom is often unaware of.
As a huge fan of the English village type mysteries, I find these enormously satisfying. This second offering follows Tom's efforts to look into the sudden death of one of his parishioners at the annual Burns supper, thrown by the pipe and drum band known as the Rose and the Thistle. Along the way, we meet more residents of the village,catch up on characters we met in the first novel, and delve a bit more into Tom's personal life. All in all, it was wonderful! I am quite looking forward to the next installment in this entertaining series.
As a huge fan of the English village type mysteries, I find these enormously satisfying. This second offering follows Tom's efforts to look into the sudden death of one of his parishioners at the annual Burns supper, thrown by the pipe and drum band known as the Rose and the Thistle. Along the way, we meet more residents of the village,catch up on characters we met in the first novel, and delve a bit more into Tom's personal life. All in all, it was wonderful! I am quite looking forward to the next installment in this entertaining series.
December 5, 2012
What would Christmas be without The 12 Days of Christmas? Eleven Pipers Piping is Book #2 in the Father Christmas mystery series by C.C. Benison (yep, he’s counting backward). You’ll be happy to know that this English cozy mystery reads quite well as a stand-alone novel. Cozy mysteries and the holidays just seem like a perfect fit to me, and who can resist a vicar named Father Christmas? Read the rest of my review at http://popcornreads.com/?p=5049.
November 3, 2017
This was an enjoyable enough read, which on beginning made me think of a Louise Penny/Agatha Christie hybrid....though as it turned out the characters, while credible enough, weren't as quirky or eccentric as those of Penny's. In some ways it's quite a slow book. The murder happens fairly early on & it's not until nearly the end of the book that something else crucial happens (don't want to be too specific, wary of spoilers!). But while it could be described as slow it's not boring, well it kept me entertained to the end. I particularly liked Madrun's letters to her mother but that leads me to the first of my three criticisms. As I said, I like Madrun's letters which were printed as if handwritten complete with crossings out (some of which I found very amusing!) BUT then it's stressed she used a typewriter & "White-Out", so why make them look hand written & surely she would have "whited-out" (?) any errors! Perhaps I'm just being picky...
My main criticism is it was longer than it needed to be! In some cases there was more detail than I felt necessary for building up a picture of events, although it was well-written, it would have been even better 100 pages shorter IMHO.
Third & final moan....& this is really, REALLY picky.....what's with saying everyone hates haggis...I LOVE IT :o)
Overall, I found it an enjoyable enough read. I'd certainly read more in the series although I won't be rushing off to add to buy them.
My main criticism is it was longer than it needed to be! In some cases there was more detail than I felt necessary for building up a picture of events, although it was well-written, it would have been even better 100 pages shorter IMHO.
Third & final moan....& this is really, REALLY picky.....what's with saying everyone hates haggis...I LOVE IT :o)
Overall, I found it an enjoyable enough read. I'd certainly read more in the series although I won't be rushing off to add to buy them.
September 17, 2022
3.5 stars, rounded up
Despite the series name - and the MC's name - these books have nothing at all to do with Christmas. The pipers in this book refer to a group who plays the bagpipes, and Father Christmas is a religious official whose last name is Christmas. With that out of the way...
I'm apparently in the minority in that I enjoy this series. It's not among my favorites, but I've read far worse books than these. The setting is described so well, I feel like I'm right there in Thornford Regis, meeting the village residents and enjoying their hospitality.
The mystery in this book was complex, with so many connections and relationships between the characters, it was sometimes hard to keep them straight. There were several possible suspects to keep track of, and the name at the top of my list changed as the story progressed. I was not able to identify the killer ahead of time, and would never have guessed the motive.
There is at least one thread carried through from the first book that I hope will be resolved in the third (and final) book of the series. Even without that hook, though, I'd still look forward to reading the next book.
Despite the series name - and the MC's name - these books have nothing at all to do with Christmas. The pipers in this book refer to a group who plays the bagpipes, and Father Christmas is a religious official whose last name is Christmas. With that out of the way...
I'm apparently in the minority in that I enjoy this series. It's not among my favorites, but I've read far worse books than these. The setting is described so well, I feel like I'm right there in Thornford Regis, meeting the village residents and enjoying their hospitality.
The mystery in this book was complex, with so many connections and relationships between the characters, it was sometimes hard to keep them straight. There were several possible suspects to keep track of, and the name at the top of my list changed as the story progressed. I was not able to identify the killer ahead of time, and would never have guessed the motive.
There is at least one thread carried through from the first book that I hope will be resolved in the third (and final) book of the series. Even without that hook, though, I'd still look forward to reading the next book.
October 13, 2017
Father Tom Christmas is invited to a gathering of bag pipers during his first year at his new church. During the meal the owner of the inn drops dead quickly followed within days by two more deaths. Soon a tail of lies and, lust, and revenge are uncovered.
February 11, 2015
I typically read at least 3 books simultaneously and have never had an issue jumping in and out of the different narratives. One book I reserve for my 'bed-time' reading --- typically a book being read for pleasure and not review purposes.
During this holiday season I started the Christmas-themed mystery ELEVEN PIPERS PIPING. It is the second mystery in the Father Tom Christmas series and, even though there is not much yuletide in it, the setting is a snowy Scottish village around holiday time.
This is not a tea cozy mystery --- it is a top-notch murder mystery in the style of Dame Agatha Christie. It's a lengthy and fulfilling read with oodles of suspects/local characters and plot twists that will keep you guessing long into the night. The recently widowed Fr. Christmas is a great character and I want to spend more time with him.
Unfortunately, author C.C. Benison has (to date) only written one more novel in this terrific series. I implore him to continue with the series and take us right through the carol to the infamous partridge. If you feel like I feel --- please share your thoughts of similar support with Bennison and hopefully he'll keep providing us these annual Christmas gifts!
During this holiday season I started the Christmas-themed mystery ELEVEN PIPERS PIPING. It is the second mystery in the Father Tom Christmas series and, even though there is not much yuletide in it, the setting is a snowy Scottish village around holiday time.
This is not a tea cozy mystery --- it is a top-notch murder mystery in the style of Dame Agatha Christie. It's a lengthy and fulfilling read with oodles of suspects/local characters and plot twists that will keep you guessing long into the night. The recently widowed Fr. Christmas is a great character and I want to spend more time with him.
Unfortunately, author C.C. Benison has (to date) only written one more novel in this terrific series. I implore him to continue with the series and take us right through the carol to the infamous partridge. If you feel like I feel --- please share your thoughts of similar support with Bennison and hopefully he'll keep providing us these annual Christmas gifts!
March 5, 2013
Eleven Pipers Piping by C.C. Benison is also a Net Galley read. Classified as a cozy (and the titles in this series, the setting, and the main character are definitely part of the cozy genre), the novel has deeper characterization and some edgier elements than many cozy mysteries.
Once you get over the Father Christmas nomenclature and begin to view Tom Christmas as a real man and not as a caricature, the characters and situations become more intriguing. Vicar of a small English parish, Tom has a tragedy in his past that influences his behavior and makes him seem less the typical cozy protagonist and more of a real person.
The interplay of all the villagers and the role of gossip move the plot forward in an interesting way as the reader contemplates various red herrings and tries to interpret situations from various sources.
I enjoyed this mystery and will look for the first in the series, but found the conclusion a bit convoluted and deus ex machina.
Net Galley; Delacourt Press
Fiction. Mystery. 2012. print version 496 pages.
March 4, 2014
I like mysteries; I like contemporary english settings; I like series; and I like books with a religious touch in them. So how could I not like Eleven Pipers Piping!
I tend to mostly read ponderous non-fiction, so running into Father Christmas, first in his "12" iteration and now in his "11", has just been a total delight. My incination is to immediate go for "10" ... but like setting aside a delicious cookie to eat tomorrow instead of gobbling it down following the present cookie means that I can get additional enjoyment out of "10" -- just the knowing that it will be waiting for me!
I particularly enjoy deciphering what English English words mean. One of my husband's relatives speaks of squash, and it doesn't mean the vegetable; it is a drink. And in Father Christmas' village, people "hoover" their rugs instead of vacuuming them. (Or as my husband and I decided, we then panisonic ours!).
In this book, "who-dun-it" is a little long in coming, but that's ok for me, because it gave me more time with this clever book. I liked it a lot!
I tend to mostly read ponderous non-fiction, so running into Father Christmas, first in his "12" iteration and now in his "11", has just been a total delight. My incination is to immediate go for "10" ... but like setting aside a delicious cookie to eat tomorrow instead of gobbling it down following the present cookie means that I can get additional enjoyment out of "10" -- just the knowing that it will be waiting for me!
I particularly enjoy deciphering what English English words mean. One of my husband's relatives speaks of squash, and it doesn't mean the vegetable; it is a drink. And in Father Christmas' village, people "hoover" their rugs instead of vacuuming them. (Or as my husband and I decided, we then panisonic ours!).
In this book, "who-dun-it" is a little long in coming, but that's ok for me, because it gave me more time with this clever book. I liked it a lot!
December 15, 2012
I dragged myself through this book for the first 35%. I would have given the book one star at this point. I had checked out four books, and this book was due at the library. I thought this book was a Christmas story. The Vicars name was Mr. Christmas. I read the book on my kindle, and the library doesn't allow renewals. I started getting into the story two days before it was due. I thought it was way to long. The chapters didn't flow into each other. I would get to a new chapter, and think where the heck am I. There were a lot of characters, and I became confused with a few of them. The book was taken off my kindle, and I went to see if I could check it out again, which I did. The last half of the book was a fast read. I sort of figured out who murdered Judith, but not why. I wasn't sure who murdered Will, or why he died.
January 14, 2013
I would have given this book a higher rating if it weren't so long. The plot was inventive and the characters well developed but that was compromised by the convolutions of both along the way. To people who stick with it, the ending is a major surprise. I'm glad I finished it, but along the way I alost put it down many times. If you are expecting an excapist cozy mystery, this is not it. the I'm really not sure I'll read his next book, and at this point I have no desire to back and read the last.
December 31, 2016
A Christmas Crime
Enjoyable novel with plenty of red herrings and twists. The Canadian author has the nuances of contemporary English down perfectly. Since the sleuth is a minister, he cannot tell the police what he's told by suspects, which makes for complications. Other characters are well-rounded and interesting too. Recommended for someone who likes their British cozies with a twist.
Enjoyable novel with plenty of red herrings and twists. The Canadian author has the nuances of contemporary English down perfectly. Since the sleuth is a minister, he cannot tell the police what he's told by suspects, which makes for complications. Other characters are well-rounded and interesting too. Recommended for someone who likes their British cozies with a twist.
December 10, 2012
I liked it and I didn't figure out the whole mystery until the end. The references to past events, the current events, all tangled together to make a story that has enough twists to satisfy Christie. Fortunately, they're all out in the open, so you do stand a chance of figuring it out.
January 4, 2013
I finally finished this book! It took a long time to get into the story. I think I will pass on reading future books in this series.
March 23, 2013
perfect mystery,perfect mixture of old England charm and modern trouble. looking very much forward to "ten ....."
February 3, 2017
I agree with other reviewers who said this could have been about 100 pgs. shorter. That said, it was a pretty good story. Not sure that I will seek out more from this author.
December 28, 2020
I was introduced to the Father Christmas mystery series by Pat, my bride. I got the first book, Twelve Drummers Drumming, two weeks ago for my birthday. It took me a little while to get into it, but I ended up hooked, to the point where I wanted to read the next book in the series ASAP. Imagine my delight when I learned that there have been TWO sequels published since the first: Eleven Pipers Piping is the first of those two sequels.
By the way, we're not talking about THAT Father Christmas. In these books, Tom Christmas is a CoE vicar. In the wake of the brutal slaying of Tom's wife, Lisbeth, the Reverend Christmas has moved with his nine year old daughter Miranda to the English village of Thornford Regis, where he has assumed leadership of St. Nicholas Church. Despite the grim forecast of a daunting snowstorm, the local members of the Thistle but Mostly Rose corps of bagpipers decides to proceed with their celebration of Burns Night. The celebration will be held at the Thorn Court Country Hotel, owned by owned by Caroline Moir, the spouse of Will Moir, a member of the corps. The Reverend Christmas has been recruited to say grace at the dinner part of the celebration, featuring the dreaded (but duly honored) haggis as the main course. The evening begins congenially enough, but the cordiality is soon sundered by Nick Stanhope, brother in law to Will Moir. Stanhope drinks too much, gets handsy with one of the serving girls, and demonstrates not the slightest element of tact or restraint. Weary of Stanhope's machinations, the group agrees to a break in the festivities after the main course is endured. Those in attendance scatter to do what people do during breaks in festivities.
Tom passes through the lobby and encounters a curious interloper. Judith Ingley, a retired nurse, grew up in Thornford Regis but left when very young. She has returned to see if a local coffee shop that has been put up for sale would be a worthy means of enjoying her retirement. Mrs. Ingley is unnerved by the steadily increasing snowfall, and has turned to the Thorn Court for accommodations, unaware that the hotel has in fact closed for renovations. Being the vicar, Tom invites her to join in the remainder of the celebration, and invites her to stay at the vicarage, assuring her that he is not alone there and that the vicarage has room to spare. The group reassembles and the evening resumes, and thus begins the mystery: one of the attendees--Will Moir himself--is missing. Two members of the corps, headed up by the Reverend Christmas, offer to search. They are joined by Mrs. Ingley, who suggests that her experience as a nurse may come in handy. Before long, Mrs. Ingley finds Will in the tower of the hotel, quite dead.
One of the greatest appeals of C. C. Benison's series is that the sequence of events, and the characters, seem and sound quite plausible. I am not a fan when a story allows itself to get mired in a mix-up of who is related, knowingly or otherwise, to whom, but this entry pulls off the tangled family tree reasonably enough. Benison's stories have been favorably compared to those of Agatha Christie. I am not as well versed in the works of Dame Agatha as I wish I were, but I can see some apt comparisons. The first is the presence of a character who suffers from a terminal illness. I can recall some of Christie's perpetrators being otherwise good people who have been informed that their days are numbered, and they thereby act to put a not-always-legal end to the wrongdoings of others. An additional similarity is the use of multiple means to unfold the story. Key elements are revealed in letters composed by Madrun Prowse, the housekeeper at the vicarage, who writes daily letters loaded with misspellings and malaprops to her mother. Mrs. Prowse is briefly suspected of wrongdoing in this story. She provided some yewberry tarts as a dessert for the Burns Nights celebration. At the inquest, it is revealed that Will Noir died by ingesting a poison derived from lethal parts of the yew tree.
In fact, if I have one criticism of the two entries in the series that I have read so far, it's that Mrs. Prowse--via her letters--delivers the denouement. There is no shortage of wit in the letters, but I would like to learn of the final disposition of some of the characters and events in a more sober tone. That said, getting to the end is more than half the fun. I already have the next book in the series, Ten Lords a Leaping--the story of which is hinted at in Eleven Pipers Piping--and I eagerly look forward.
By the way, we're not talking about THAT Father Christmas. In these books, Tom Christmas is a CoE vicar. In the wake of the brutal slaying of Tom's wife, Lisbeth, the Reverend Christmas has moved with his nine year old daughter Miranda to the English village of Thornford Regis, where he has assumed leadership of St. Nicholas Church. Despite the grim forecast of a daunting snowstorm, the local members of the Thistle but Mostly Rose corps of bagpipers decides to proceed with their celebration of Burns Night. The celebration will be held at the Thorn Court Country Hotel, owned by owned by Caroline Moir, the spouse of Will Moir, a member of the corps. The Reverend Christmas has been recruited to say grace at the dinner part of the celebration, featuring the dreaded (but duly honored) haggis as the main course. The evening begins congenially enough, but the cordiality is soon sundered by Nick Stanhope, brother in law to Will Moir. Stanhope drinks too much, gets handsy with one of the serving girls, and demonstrates not the slightest element of tact or restraint. Weary of Stanhope's machinations, the group agrees to a break in the festivities after the main course is endured. Those in attendance scatter to do what people do during breaks in festivities.
Tom passes through the lobby and encounters a curious interloper. Judith Ingley, a retired nurse, grew up in Thornford Regis but left when very young. She has returned to see if a local coffee shop that has been put up for sale would be a worthy means of enjoying her retirement. Mrs. Ingley is unnerved by the steadily increasing snowfall, and has turned to the Thorn Court for accommodations, unaware that the hotel has in fact closed for renovations. Being the vicar, Tom invites her to join in the remainder of the celebration, and invites her to stay at the vicarage, assuring her that he is not alone there and that the vicarage has room to spare. The group reassembles and the evening resumes, and thus begins the mystery: one of the attendees--Will Moir himself--is missing. Two members of the corps, headed up by the Reverend Christmas, offer to search. They are joined by Mrs. Ingley, who suggests that her experience as a nurse may come in handy. Before long, Mrs. Ingley finds Will in the tower of the hotel, quite dead.
One of the greatest appeals of C. C. Benison's series is that the sequence of events, and the characters, seem and sound quite plausible. I am not a fan when a story allows itself to get mired in a mix-up of who is related, knowingly or otherwise, to whom, but this entry pulls off the tangled family tree reasonably enough. Benison's stories have been favorably compared to those of Agatha Christie. I am not as well versed in the works of Dame Agatha as I wish I were, but I can see some apt comparisons. The first is the presence of a character who suffers from a terminal illness. I can recall some of Christie's perpetrators being otherwise good people who have been informed that their days are numbered, and they thereby act to put a not-always-legal end to the wrongdoings of others. An additional similarity is the use of multiple means to unfold the story. Key elements are revealed in letters composed by Madrun Prowse, the housekeeper at the vicarage, who writes daily letters loaded with misspellings and malaprops to her mother. Mrs. Prowse is briefly suspected of wrongdoing in this story. She provided some yewberry tarts as a dessert for the Burns Nights celebration. At the inquest, it is revealed that Will Noir died by ingesting a poison derived from lethal parts of the yew tree.
In fact, if I have one criticism of the two entries in the series that I have read so far, it's that Mrs. Prowse--via her letters--delivers the denouement. There is no shortage of wit in the letters, but I would like to learn of the final disposition of some of the characters and events in a more sober tone. That said, getting to the end is more than half the fun. I already have the next book in the series, Ten Lords a Leaping--the story of which is hinted at in Eleven Pipers Piping--and I eagerly look forward.
January 11, 2020
I'm so glad I found yet another cozy mystery series set in a little English village where crimes are solved by a member of the clergy. I can't wait to read the rest!
You could make a study of the way mysteries in general locate moral authority away from conventional moral, legal, or professional authority. The cop who solves the crime on his own after being forced to turn in his badge--the amateur detective who gets to the solution before the baffled cops--all the way back to Wilkie Collins and the Moonstone or Edgar Allen Poe, contravening conventional authority in order to show how intelligence, initiative, courage, and pursuit of justice lies outside allowed channels like police is part of the genre; it's also hugely satisfying for those of us who love truth but don't have much official power. All the Miss Marples could be us.
When the moral authority within a mystery lies with a person in a conventional religious role, it helps heal some of the cynicism that might be fostered by all this divorcement of right from might which usually characterized the form. Brother Cadfael, Dame Frevisse, Father Brown, Father Maxon Tudor all use their Bible-honed applied virtue skills not just to build community, ,but to repair and heal a community torn by murder. They do this by catching the bad guy directly. Kind of a graduate level Christianity. (I'm sure other series invoke other official religions, but I"m not familiar with those.)
Father Tom Christmas ably reprresents his type. He cares for the soul of the perpetrator as much as the victims'. I find this refreshing in our modern world where we tend to demonstrate righteousness through selective hatred and rejection of the evil "other". We tend to identify what we believe by vilifying what we do not believe. No spoilers--but in general, to know that the bad guy has recourse to religious consolation and spiritual counsel, through the very individual who stops them from doing evil, is a healing balm to many souls distressed by finding conventionally-defined "evil others" in the ranks of their own workplaces, neighborhoods, and families.
I came in in the middle of the series, so some of Father Tom's backstory was implied or referred to throughout. I think it wasn't too intrusive or confusing to first-time readers like myself. Knowing about previous murders in the parish is helpful but not necessary to understanding the relationships. The solution was fairly indicated, but still came as a surprise. Red Herrings abounded.
Like all good cozies, this series asks us to think about importatnt questions: what is it right and proper to do for love? Is there a righteous reason to kill someone? What would I do if I had to face these circumstances? Once death is in the garden of paradise, how do we keep living there? In today's world, these arent' abstractions. We all need to know as we decide who to vote for and where we should war, the answer to a question posed by a satirical bumper sticker, "Who would Jesus kill?" Father Tom, facing his own dangerous and painful questions ("When do I take off the collar? When do I take off the RING?") helps us work through these frightening hypotheticals as kindly, gently, and sanely as Jesus would, yet with the same firm refusal to hate even the worst, as the least, of these children of God who kill.
The question not stated but implied is, "Why does God allow conditions that drive people to these extremes?" The answer is also not stated but implied: "Sometimes that's the only way to know just how blessed we can be." These implications, dismal and relentless sandgrains regardless of how joyous the eventual pearl, keep the work from being naive.
Thanks, C.C. Benison. You are well named.
You could make a study of the way mysteries in general locate moral authority away from conventional moral, legal, or professional authority. The cop who solves the crime on his own after being forced to turn in his badge--the amateur detective who gets to the solution before the baffled cops--all the way back to Wilkie Collins and the Moonstone or Edgar Allen Poe, contravening conventional authority in order to show how intelligence, initiative, courage, and pursuit of justice lies outside allowed channels like police is part of the genre; it's also hugely satisfying for those of us who love truth but don't have much official power. All the Miss Marples could be us.
When the moral authority within a mystery lies with a person in a conventional religious role, it helps heal some of the cynicism that might be fostered by all this divorcement of right from might which usually characterized the form. Brother Cadfael, Dame Frevisse, Father Brown, Father Maxon Tudor all use their Bible-honed applied virtue skills not just to build community, ,but to repair and heal a community torn by murder. They do this by catching the bad guy directly. Kind of a graduate level Christianity. (I'm sure other series invoke other official religions, but I"m not familiar with those.)
Father Tom Christmas ably reprresents his type. He cares for the soul of the perpetrator as much as the victims'. I find this refreshing in our modern world where we tend to demonstrate righteousness through selective hatred and rejection of the evil "other". We tend to identify what we believe by vilifying what we do not believe. No spoilers--but in general, to know that the bad guy has recourse to religious consolation and spiritual counsel, through the very individual who stops them from doing evil, is a healing balm to many souls distressed by finding conventionally-defined "evil others" in the ranks of their own workplaces, neighborhoods, and families.
I came in in the middle of the series, so some of Father Tom's backstory was implied or referred to throughout. I think it wasn't too intrusive or confusing to first-time readers like myself. Knowing about previous murders in the parish is helpful but not necessary to understanding the relationships. The solution was fairly indicated, but still came as a surprise. Red Herrings abounded.
Like all good cozies, this series asks us to think about importatnt questions: what is it right and proper to do for love? Is there a righteous reason to kill someone? What would I do if I had to face these circumstances? Once death is in the garden of paradise, how do we keep living there? In today's world, these arent' abstractions. We all need to know as we decide who to vote for and where we should war, the answer to a question posed by a satirical bumper sticker, "Who would Jesus kill?" Father Tom, facing his own dangerous and painful questions ("When do I take off the collar? When do I take off the RING?") helps us work through these frightening hypotheticals as kindly, gently, and sanely as Jesus would, yet with the same firm refusal to hate even the worst, as the least, of these children of God who kill.
The question not stated but implied is, "Why does God allow conditions that drive people to these extremes?" The answer is also not stated but implied: "Sometimes that's the only way to know just how blessed we can be." These implications, dismal and relentless sandgrains regardless of how joyous the eventual pearl, keep the work from being naive.
Thanks, C.C. Benison. You are well named.
October 27, 2024
One of Vicar Tom Christmas' duties is serving as the chaplain to The Thistle But Mostly Rose South Devon Pipe Band. That's a bagpipe band, btw, and the words 'Thistle' and 'Rose' reference symbols in heraldry - Thistle is Scotland and Rose is England. It makes me laugh every time it is referenced and some of those references are quite amusing (as in there being a Lotus among them).
Anyway, back to the story. One of Father Christmas' prime annual duties is the saying of the blessing for the annual Robert Burns Diner for the Pipe Band, which of course is held in January right after the holidays and features haggis, 'taters, and 'nips. Poor Tom, he's only been in the village a few months and not looking forward to his first haggis experience, and no one will tell him if other food is served, just 'promising a surprise.' Well, there is a surprise but not what anyone expected. The host, a man in his prime named Will is found dead from yew berry poisoning partway through the dinner. Oh and to complicate matters, there is a blizzard raging across England, making roads impassable and shrinking the dinner attendees from the customary 20 to a mere 11 pipers plus the chaplain.
As the days go by, and the assumption is made it was murder, Father Christmas finds himself learning more about the secrets within this village than perhaps he's comfortable learning, especially about those he feels a beginning friendship with. Along the way, we the reader are treated to a wonderful cast of characters, plenty of humor, great traditions like the Wassail Celebration (also held in January) and making of wassail lanterns, and quite a complex mystery. I did guess many aspects of the solution to the layers of the murder mystery, but I didn't have them arranged in the solution. One of its strengths to me is how the vicar is not a stereotypical vicar found in murder mysteries or other fiction set in small towns. He's a widower with a young child, well-educated and traveled, with a rather unusual history. He's a vibrant physical man in his prime, who is struggling with the return of sexual longings that have been dormant since his wife's death, as well as issues of single parenting and when exactly does he take off his wedding ring. So is the other vicar we meet briefly -- who has a hot wife and is wearing motorcycle leathers and is a member of a biker club of others in religious orders.
This reads so much like an Agatha Christie mystery, though contemporary, that it had me smiling. Though at nearly 500 pages, it's a tad long, lingering in village life and relationships far more than Dame Agatha every did. This is 2nd in a series in which only 3 books and a short story were published of a planned 12 book series. Alas the publisher elected to drop the series and the author did not press on with it. I wish he'd reconsider. These are far superior to much of the cozy mysteries being published today.
Anyway, back to the story. One of Father Christmas' prime annual duties is the saying of the blessing for the annual Robert Burns Diner for the Pipe Band, which of course is held in January right after the holidays and features haggis, 'taters, and 'nips. Poor Tom, he's only been in the village a few months and not looking forward to his first haggis experience, and no one will tell him if other food is served, just 'promising a surprise.' Well, there is a surprise but not what anyone expected. The host, a man in his prime named Will is found dead from yew berry poisoning partway through the dinner. Oh and to complicate matters, there is a blizzard raging across England, making roads impassable and shrinking the dinner attendees from the customary 20 to a mere 11 pipers plus the chaplain.
As the days go by, and the assumption is made it was murder, Father Christmas finds himself learning more about the secrets within this village than perhaps he's comfortable learning, especially about those he feels a beginning friendship with. Along the way, we the reader are treated to a wonderful cast of characters, plenty of humor, great traditions like the Wassail Celebration (also held in January) and making of wassail lanterns, and quite a complex mystery. I did guess many aspects of the solution to the layers of the murder mystery, but I didn't have them arranged in the solution. One of its strengths to me is how the vicar is not a stereotypical vicar found in murder mysteries or other fiction set in small towns. He's a widower with a young child, well-educated and traveled, with a rather unusual history. He's a vibrant physical man in his prime, who is struggling with the return of sexual longings that have been dormant since his wife's death, as well as issues of single parenting and when exactly does he take off his wedding ring. So is the other vicar we meet briefly -- who has a hot wife and is wearing motorcycle leathers and is a member of a biker club of others in religious orders.
This reads so much like an Agatha Christie mystery, though contemporary, that it had me smiling. Though at nearly 500 pages, it's a tad long, lingering in village life and relationships far more than Dame Agatha every did. This is 2nd in a series in which only 3 books and a short story were published of a planned 12 book series. Alas the publisher elected to drop the series and the author did not press on with it. I wish he'd reconsider. These are far superior to much of the cozy mysteries being published today.
March 8, 2024
Book #: 20
Title: Eleven Pipers Piping
Author: C.C. Benison
Series: Father Christmas Mystery #2
Format: 496 pages, Hardcover, ILL
Pub Date: First published October 30, 2012
Started: 3/1/24 Finished: 3/5/24
Awards: none
Categories:
PS13 A book originally published under a pen name (C.C. Benison is a pseudonym of Doug Whiteway); GR26 A book by an author known by their initials; GR32 A book with a number in the title; GR37 A book that is part of a series; CCLS17 A Book with a Male Protagonist; CCLS20 A Book with a Number in the Title; CCLS35 A Mystery; CCLS37 A Book set in a Different Country (England);
CCLS42 A Book with more than 200 Pages;
Rating: ****-1/2 four and a half out of five stars
It's the Annual Roberts Burns Society dinner. Fortunately for Father Tom Christmas, dinner consists of one small teaspoon of haggis followed by a delicious curry dinner. Will Muir, the owner of the hotel and their host, goes missing. He's found up in one of the upstairs rooms, dead.
I gave the first novel in the series three stars because it was trying too hard to be the set up novel for the rest of the series. This was a far better novel. It moves at a far more realistic pace. The death doesn't occur until nearly 150 pages in, and it's believed to be a heart attack. The possibility of murder doesn't occur right away. If you're the sort of person who likes to try to solve the murder before it's revealed, open a spread sheet. Motives and opportunities appear and disappear nearly continuously for the rest of the book. It's an closed circle mystery, the snowstorm traps everybody at the hotel which has no other guests because it's closed for renovations and the phone lines are down as well. I will be going on with the next book in the series.
Title: Eleven Pipers Piping
Author: C.C. Benison
Series: Father Christmas Mystery #2
Format: 496 pages, Hardcover, ILL
Pub Date: First published October 30, 2012
Started: 3/1/24 Finished: 3/5/24
Awards: none
Categories:
PS13 A book originally published under a pen name (C.C. Benison is a pseudonym of Doug Whiteway); GR26 A book by an author known by their initials; GR32 A book with a number in the title; GR37 A book that is part of a series; CCLS17 A Book with a Male Protagonist; CCLS20 A Book with a Number in the Title; CCLS35 A Mystery; CCLS37 A Book set in a Different Country (England);
CCLS42 A Book with more than 200 Pages;
Rating: ****-1/2 four and a half out of five stars
It's the Annual Roberts Burns Society dinner. Fortunately for Father Tom Christmas, dinner consists of one small teaspoon of haggis followed by a delicious curry dinner. Will Muir, the owner of the hotel and their host, goes missing. He's found up in one of the upstairs rooms, dead.
I gave the first novel in the series three stars because it was trying too hard to be the set up novel for the rest of the series. This was a far better novel. It moves at a far more realistic pace. The death doesn't occur until nearly 150 pages in, and it's believed to be a heart attack. The possibility of murder doesn't occur right away. If you're the sort of person who likes to try to solve the murder before it's revealed, open a spread sheet. Motives and opportunities appear and disappear nearly continuously for the rest of the book. It's an closed circle mystery, the snowstorm traps everybody at the hotel which has no other guests because it's closed for renovations and the phone lines are down as well. I will be going on with the next book in the series.
January 27, 2019
As with the previous book in the series, this mystery manages to surprise me in the end. I was sure I had it all figured out and was somewhat disappointed that it had been so transparent. However, as the plot played out, I was very wrong. I enjoyed this mystery and, once again, the great characters that inhabit Thornford Regis. There were two small details that bothered me though. I found several instances of incorrect sentence structure (obviously a proofing error or typo); not just an incorrect word here and there, but bungling of a sentence so that it made no sense. Granted, a small detail, but still bothersome. Also in the last chapter, as the housekeeper (Mrs. Prowse) was giving a rundown of the two deaths in the village, she incorrectly names the wrong person as being responsible. It caused me to backtrack to see if I had got something wrong, but I hadn’t. It was confusing to say the least. I guess I’m to presume she was mistaken and would know the truth eventually. I do like the varied characters sprinkled throughout the book and the fact that the vicar and his daughter give them all a sense of normalcy. There is only one more book in this trilogy and I do think I will miss this village after I finish that last book.
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