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Euphemia Martins Mystery #4.5
The Mistletoe Mystery
The Mistletoe Mystery is a seasonal installment in the excellent Euphemia Martins Mysteries by Caroline Dunford.
It's Christmas, and Euphemia is again working for Bertram Stapleford at his ill-fated estate in the Fens, White Orchards. As it’s Bertram's first Christmas at White Orchards since he purchased it, he has a sudden desire for a big Christmas party – which creates a huge task for Euphemia, one which her normally excellent staff are reluctant to take part in. For, as she struggles with her responsibilities, Euphemia learns that White Orchards is built on the site of Hadwell House, a manor which suffered a terrible fate one Christmas Eve …
As Christmas draws closer, and people start behaving strangely, there is a palpable sense in the air that something is very, very wrong. Forming an unlikely alliance with Bertram's step-sister Richenda, Euphemia tries to prevent disaster befalling the entire household, and faces her most terrifying mystery as she sets herself against seemingly supernatural forces…
It's Christmas, and Euphemia is again working for Bertram Stapleford at his ill-fated estate in the Fens, White Orchards. As it’s Bertram's first Christmas at White Orchards since he purchased it, he has a sudden desire for a big Christmas party – which creates a huge task for Euphemia, one which her normally excellent staff are reluctant to take part in. For, as she struggles with her responsibilities, Euphemia learns that White Orchards is built on the site of Hadwell House, a manor which suffered a terrible fate one Christmas Eve …
As Christmas draws closer, and people start behaving strangely, there is a palpable sense in the air that something is very, very wrong. Forming an unlikely alliance with Bertram's step-sister Richenda, Euphemia tries to prevent disaster befalling the entire household, and faces her most terrifying mystery as she sets herself against seemingly supernatural forces…
40 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 12, 2013
About the author
Caroline Dunford
50 books48 followersLike most authors I did several jobs before I settled down to writing full time. I've been a journalist, a development officer, and a psychotherapist. I am a novelist, short story writer, mentor, tutor and playwright.
Throughout my life I've been fascinated by people - to the extent I even did a psychology degree before training in psychotherapy. I firmly believe that we all make sense of the whole through narrative- even if it's only the one inside your own head.
My Euphemia Martins Mysteries are inspired by my maternal great grandmother, who left a life of luxury to go into service.
However, everything I do inspires me. The best way of me to make sense of what often seems a very chaotic world is to tell stories. And in those stories I'm always asking questions.
Recently my play Burke has gone into its third production. It tries to make sense of what Burke and Hare, still the UK's most successful (?) serial killers did what they did. How they started.
You'll find traces of questions like this is the Euphemia stories where I often explore why people can and do do unpleasant things.
But - and this is a big but - I also believe that if you want to look at the darker side of human nature you must also pay homage to the lighter side, the truly selfless and generous acts that all humans are capable of doing.
And you need humour. Life can deal all of us harsh knocks and laughter is one of the greatest weapons in our armoury - along with love.
Throughout my life I've been fascinated by people - to the extent I even did a psychology degree before training in psychotherapy. I firmly believe that we all make sense of the whole through narrative- even if it's only the one inside your own head.
My Euphemia Martins Mysteries are inspired by my maternal great grandmother, who left a life of luxury to go into service.
However, everything I do inspires me. The best way of me to make sense of what often seems a very chaotic world is to tell stories. And in those stories I'm always asking questions.
Recently my play Burke has gone into its third production. It tries to make sense of what Burke and Hare, still the UK's most successful (?) serial killers did what they did. How they started.
You'll find traces of questions like this is the Euphemia stories where I often explore why people can and do do unpleasant things.
But - and this is a big but - I also believe that if you want to look at the darker side of human nature you must also pay homage to the lighter side, the truly selfless and generous acts that all humans are capable of doing.
And you need humour. Life can deal all of us harsh knocks and laughter is one of the greatest weapons in our armoury - along with love.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 29, 2014
A fun little Christmas ghost story. The characters are interesting and engaging and the ghost story was quite interesting. I was thinking there would have been more of a romance. But I think I will definitely check out some of her non-seasonal stories.
December 15, 2019
An Odd Little Story
Honestly, I'm not sure I totally got the point of this story except that in tiny towns and in this case a village in England, superstitions run wild even when circumstances are really pretty much ordinary. This story had a touch of the paranormal set a Christmas time. The characters are eccentric and the ending did not totally make sense to me. It was an odd story.
Honestly, I'm not sure I totally got the point of this story except that in tiny towns and in this case a village in England, superstitions run wild even when circumstances are really pretty much ordinary. This story had a touch of the paranormal set a Christmas time. The characters are eccentric and the ending did not totally make sense to me. It was an odd story.
January 7, 2022
This is the last of the Euphemia Martins novels, and it does feel slightly as though it was added to give some closure as Euphemia lost a baby on a mission in the previous novel. This book starts with the fact that she has a daughter now, and she is writing for her.
However, it's a fun, short little Christmas story which can be easily red in one sitting, and the characters are as well drawn as ever.
A nice Christmas read!
However, it's a fun, short little Christmas story which can be easily red in one sitting, and the characters are as well drawn as ever.
A nice Christmas read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2023
Still on a female sleuth mood and this time it’s a mystery with a supernatural angle. Okay but nothing outstanding about it.
November 28, 2015
A charming Victorian mystery with a hint of the supernatural, Euphemia has been asked by Bertram to organise a Christmas party as a housewarming for his new country home but the servants are uneasy as the last owner burned the place down one Christmas after getting drunk over a doomed love affair and some of the bricks from the last structure were even used in the rebuild!
Strange things are happening, Bertram is acting out of character, very angry and uptight and as if he is being taken over by the spirit of the former owner.
Things come to a head one night as the occupants smell smoke!
A wonderful festive and spooky read, perfect for this time of the year and a lovely short novella that can easily be read in one sitting.
Strange things are happening, Bertram is acting out of character, very angry and uptight and as if he is being taken over by the spirit of the former owner.
Things come to a head one night as the occupants smell smoke!
A wonderful festive and spooky read, perfect for this time of the year and a lovely short novella that can easily be read in one sitting.
June 25, 2014
Short instalment of this series with Euphemia having to pretend to be a member of royalty whilst solving a crime.
Love to see Bertram come up with some nonsense, whilst missing the truth about our heroine and her family.
Love to see Bertram come up with some nonsense, whilst missing the truth about our heroine and her family.
May 12, 2014
A short story. Left me a bit wanting. The story built and then just died and left me wanting more.
April 9, 2016
Short and fun
Strangely fun, short Christmas-time story with Euphemia, Bertram and Richenda spending the first Christmas at Bertam's new holdings, White Orchards.
Strangely fun, short Christmas-time story with Euphemia, Bertram and Richenda spending the first Christmas at Bertam's new holdings, White Orchards.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews