Hunter's Christmas and Other Stories.: A gripping collection of short stories especially for crime fiction readers.

by Val Penny

DI Hunter Wilson is looking forward to spending a holiday in India with his girlfriend Dr Meera Sharma, away from the cold, wet winter of Edinburgh. He looks to share his happiness with others when he is attacked by Santa Claus, he says.His team swing into action to catch his attackers but then receive information about an elf found dead in a car park and a car stolen by Mrs Claus.

Are the crimes by these Christmas characters connected?

Can Hunter’s team restore peace and good will to Christmas?

Hunter’s Christmas and Other Stories includes tales about DI Hunter Wilson and DS Jane Renwick along with those about new and different characters in this gripping collection of short stories especially for crime fiction readers.

219 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 15, 2023

About the author

Val Penny is an American author living in SW Scotland. She has two adult daughters of whom she is justly proud and lives with her husband and two cats.
She has a Llb from Edinburgh University and her MSc from Napier University. She has had many jobs including hairdresser, waitress, banker, azalea farmer and lecturer.
However she has not yet achieved either of her childhood dreams of being a ballerina or owning a candy store. Until those dreams come true, she has turned her hand to writing poetry, short stories and novels. Her crime novels,The DI Hunter Wilson and Jane Renwick Thrillers are published by SpellBound Books.

Reviews

[Lynsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful teasing titbit of Hunter and the team for those who are longing for the next book! I am a big fan of the series and couldn’t wait to get into these short stories. I don't read copious amounts of short stories as I prefer a longer plotline but I was pleasantly surprised to how much I enjoyed them. Don't worry if you haven't read the series it is very easy to pick this book up as a newbie to DI Hunter as it doesn't give away any spoilers to the main series really.

I picked these up to read just after Christmas and it was refreshing to read a story where all the characters of yuletime were the baddies! DI Hunter is about to go on holiday to India with his girlfriend Meera when he is attacked in Edinburgh City Centre by three Santas! Then an elf is killed and Mrs Claws is seen driving the get away car! The perfect antidote to the twee of Christmas! Side note I now want a story where Hunter and Meera go to India and have to solve a crime there.

Most of the stories feature the regular characters, they may feature heavily but in others a fleeting glance of them appear. I liked that to be honest as it keep me wanting to read more. I did like the book club story - that could definitely have been a whole book though. There is a lot of black humour in these stories and I was gripped! I read the whole book in one sitting and was bereft when I realised that there was no more.

Let me know if you pick this one up!

[Ritu Bhathal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've not read Val Penny's books as yet, but I was sent this collection, and I must say that this collection of stories has whetted my appetite for the different series Penny writes.
Each of the stories hook you in. Some are slightly longer, involving two of Penny's famous DIs, and some are shorter, but each story is captivating, and I thoroughly enjoyed each one!
It has made me want to add the rest of Penny's books to my neverending TPR pile!

[S.C. Skillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I write as one who loves Val Penny's 'Hunter' Edinburgh Crime Series.

In Val's latest offering, a collection of short stories called 'Hunter's Christmas', the first story in this collection is about Hunter and his team, familiar to those who love the series. The team are keen to identify the trio of villainous Santas who assaulted DI Hunter at the ATM; the murderer of the Elf found in the car park; and the Mrs Claus who stole the high-end vehicle from Thomson's Top Cars.

All these need to be identified, apprehended, ushered into the interview room, subjected to questioning alongside the dubious hospitality of the cheap plastic cup of police station tea, found guilty, booked, charged and hauled off to the cells, all before the Christmas festivities start. That is the challenge.

How Hunter's team achieve this makes for a highly paced, entertaining and captivating read - all carried out with Val Penny's familiar flair for sharp, colourful characterisation.

However, sadly I wasn't so keen on the other short pieces in this book, except for the final story, when we are back on safe ground again with Hunter and his team in 'The Second Chance'.

With many of the short stories, though the set-up and context was always interesting, along with some fascinating locations such as Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, the Paris Catacombs, and Venice, I found the endings very grim without my fully grasping and believing in the characters' motivation - which, to me, is always a redeeming factor.

With Hunter and his team, and the situations they encounter, humour, a lightness of touch, and warm and engaging characterisation are all at the very heart of Val's stories.

I look forward to the next full-length novel in the Edinburgh Crime series.

[Alyson Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here we have a collection of shorter stories perfect for any season. They range from the first and longest one “Hunter’s Christmas” where the regular and very likable team of detectives in Edinburgh have to contend with criminal Santas, a joyriding Mrs Claus and a murdered elf while it certainly doesn’t feel like the season of goodwill for DI Hunter confined to a hospital bed, through to short ones offering much food for thought. The stories cover a number of both humorous and deliciously dark crime based themes including a book group outing in the snowy highlands, a dating site with a link to one of Hunter’s cases, tales of revenge and retribution, and spooky happenings amongst the catacombs of Paris.
There’s something for everyone here and it was nice to see married couple DS Jane Renwick and DC Rachel Anderson starring in a couple of tales. Very enjoyable reading incorporating a well-established cast with some new characters.

[Donna Morfett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read these during Christmas. Not being a huge fan of the season, it was quite fun to read about a rampaging santa, Mrs Claus off for a little joyride and an elf found killed.
The stories are set in Scotland and feature much loved detectives DI Hunter, DS Renwick and DC Anderson.
The stories vary in length and seriousness. A bit of gruesomeness and a lot of humour.
I enjoyed these a lot more than I thought. I thought id drop in and out and read one here and there. Ha. Once I started I finished, so well written and addictive were they.
I have read some of Vals main series and her writing is top quality, and this shines here, even in short story form. A brilliant collection and a pure joy to read.

[Melanie Robertson-King · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this collection of short stories most entertaining. I admit I was partial to the stories with characters from Val's DI Hunter Wilson series, and its spin-off series featuring Jane Renwick and Rachael.

I loved the tie-in with Hunter's Christmas to the sixth book in the series, Hunter's Rules. Not sure if that classifies as a spoiler or not, but you can read the short story without having read the book or vice versa with no compromise.

Entertaining shorts. Just what a body needs after the Christmas holidays.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the season to be Jolly with all these Christmas Crime thrillers in one big bundle these are cracking reads.
DI Hunter Wilson and all the gang with loads of gripping tales in Scottish style celebrating the Christmas cheers.
Just get yourself a wee dram and curl up comfortable these are a treat from the author.
I loved reading all of them this book needs to be on your seasonal reads.
Absolutely smashing full of humour banter and most of all gruesome stories excellent from me.

[HAL · Rating 2 out of 5]

Partial read didn't finish

An okay plot on 1st story but it had mild to moderate swearing. As the second story covered lesbian relationships and some descriptive sex, I couldn't finish the book. That's not my escape.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really good. I got a taste of the gang & the mayhem that follows them or that happens & they deal with I should say.
Poor Hunter though!
Have to say reading about rampaging Santas while I’m sat in the sun in May was highly amusing to me!

[Mailmanr5 · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first story was so uninspired I decided to skip the rest.