The Christmas Stocking Murders

Frank Grasby Mysteries #2

by Denzil Meyrick

A case shrouded in secrets.It’s just before Christmas, 1953. Grasby and Juggers are investigating a puzzling murder in the remote village of Uthley’s Bay. A fisherman has been found dead on the beach, with a stocking wound tight round his throat.A festive mystery for one and all.Hundreds of pairs of stockings, in neat cellophane bags, soon wash up on the shore. A blizzard cuts off Grasby and Juggers from help, and the local innkeeper is murdered. Any remaining Christmas cheer goes up in smoke as the villagers refuse to talk, leaving the two detectives chasing false leads in the snow.A winter wonderland with no escape.To make matters worse, Grasby can’t stop thinking about stockings. Why does everyone seem to be enjoying strangely high standards of hosiery, even beneath their oilskins? Who is the sinister bespectacled man snooping around their hotel? And how can they solve the murder when everyone in the village is a suspect?

Genres: Christmas, Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Holiday, Audiobook

416 pages, Paperback

First published November 7, 2024

About the author

Denzil Meyrick was a Scottish bestselling novelist. Prior to that, he served as a police officer with Strathclyde Police then a manager with Springbank Distillery in Campbeltown, Argyll. Since 2012 Denzil Meyrick had worked as a writer of Scottish crime fiction novels. He was also an executive director of media production company Houses of Steel.

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspector Frank Grasby #2

It all starts just before Christmas in 1953 with a visit to Superintendent Juggers office. The pugnacious Juggers sends Frank to investigate the murder of a man found dead on Uthley Bay on the Yorkshire Coast; he’s been strangled with half a pair of stockings. That’s just for starters, especially as Frank discovers he has Juggers himself for company.

I love the tone that Denzil Meyrick strikes with these novels and Frank is lively and entertaining central protagonist, as he prevaricates and mulls things over! He’s funny,, witty, sarcastic and blooming good company. Juggers is hilarious although he won’t think he is and he could star in his own show.

This is a very atmospheric read, with the setting on the Yorkshire coast, the awful winter weather and its inevitable seaside North Sea chill utilised so effectively in the plot. Add in the locals who are all colourfully described but with an air of uncertainty over who to trust as our intrepid pair enter cold and choppy waters.

The plot meanders in a most engaging and compelling way into several very unexpected areas with plenty of chuckles along the way. Murder, mayhem and oodles of skulduggery, stockings and way more but you’ll have to discover that for yourself!

Some scenes make my eyes boggle (Reverend Grasby and Hetty Gaunt 🤐) and more than a couple worthy of pantomime season starring yours truly, the inimitable Juggers. Kudos to the author for the imagination!

As in the previous book, the context of the early 50’s is excellent with references to what’s gone before, tongue in cheek comments about the future as well as people, songs and events of the time period. The language used at this time and the Yorkshire parlance is spot on.

It’s maybe a tad on the long side but it’s undeniably great fun. What more can you ask for? It’s a ripping yarn, not just for Christmas.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK , Transworld for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Random Things Tours.

The Christmas Stocking Murders is the second book in a series but can be read as a stand-alone. I myself haven't read book 1 yet, and this didn't hinder or ruin this book for me in any way, shape, or form. I will most definitely be getting the first book to read ASAP, as this book was the perfect tonic for myself during a very stressful time.
We follow Frank Grasby as he goes away on a case with his superintendent Juggers. Set in 1953, during a very cold and snowy Christmas, they embark to Uthley Bay (on the Yorkshire Coast of the uk) to investigate the murder of a local man, found strangled by a pair of ladies stockings. The book is an amazing blend of seriousness (police business) and humour that had me laughing out loud at nearly every chapter. Frank and Juggers are as different as chalk and cheese, and what the pair get up to along with the added shock of some of the locals had me in tears (of laughter!). There were lots of twists, and I didn't expect the ending, which is always a pleasant surprise. I did figure out one of the twists (which I won't reveal), but only part of it, the other part to it I didn't expect. I hope there will be a continuation to this series as it's the best thing to uplift spirits during the festive season! For those not from the UK or familiar with Yorkshire slang and sayings, you may need to look them up or ask a friend familiar with them.
The main characters are so unique and easily likeable, and the setting really comes to life as you read along, making it feel like you're there within the action.

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Read 4.5 Stars!**

I've chosen for my last book of 2025 this very enjoyable and appropriate murder mystery, which is the 2nd volume of the "Inspector Grasby" series by the, sadly, late Denzil Meyrick.

Storytelling is excellent, all characters are very believable and lifelike, and the Christmastime atmosphere at Uthley Bay is wonderfully pictured by the author.

In this book you'll find references to the author's current domestic Scottish background, seen through his mother in this series, while his English roots, especially Yorkshire, come to the forefront through his father in this series.

It's Christmastime 1953 and clever Inspector Garsby and his boss, the robust Superintendent Juggers, are off to a village on the coast of Yorkshire and a place called Uthley Bay, to investigate the death of a fisherman, killed with a stocking.

Some factions will play and not play an active part in the smuggling of these stockings, and its for Grasby and Juggers, with in the background some Secret Services and dark forces at work, to find the guilty parties and especially the Mastermind behind it all and bring them in.

What is to follow is a very engaging and appropriate Christmas story, with all the trimmings of an active and delightful murder mystery, and that's brought to us in a most splendid fashion by this fabulous author.

Very much recommended, this is another wonderful addition to this superb series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "An Exciting Filled Christmas Stocking"!

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, The Christmas Stocking Murders by, Denzil Meyrick from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Its Christmas 1953, in Uthley Bay, and their has been a murder, and nobody is saying a word. People are not always what they seem, and you do not always know who to trust, This was a nice mystery.

[Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grasby is back, and just as entertaining as the last time!

We even get a few mentions of Christmas in this one, although the titular stockings are not, in fact, the ones that get hung up for Santa Claus.

I was hoping that Meyrick would write a straightforward murder mystery without any daft conspiracies this time. No such luck. This was just as convoluted, confusing, and ridiculous as the last one.

I'm not interested in "the mob" or "special branch" or extensive smuggling operations. Especially not if it's clear as mud what's actually going on.

In BOTH of the Frank Grasby stories so far, I couldn't tell you who did the actual murders for definite. This doesn't bode well for a murder mystery novel.

So, the detective side of these books are not up to scratch.

Having said that, they are very entertaining. Grasby's commentary makes me smile. He's such a hapless doofus. Fat-shaming aside, I enjoyed his interactions with Juggers (his polar opposite), and with the characters he meets along the way.

The Christmas Stocking Murders was a farcical good time, and I'm hoping that next year we get a plain and simple murder for Grasby to solve so I can give the book more than 3 stars.

[Shauna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[vince weldon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this a difficult book to get into...it's the second in Denzil Meyrick's Frank Grasby detective series set in an early 1950's Yorkshire. The opening chapters reference, and seem to rely on, an understanding of what went before in the previous novel (Murder At Holly House). The writing style seems dated to a period even earlier than this ..."Dear old pater...not a negative trait I recognise in my sire...Gosh yes sir"...all from Chapter 1...


Chapter 3 contains an irritating inconsistency - Grasby's father throws an overcoat "in the back of the car" BUT then we have a ridiculous exchange whilst the old boy gropes about his son's trouser pockets to get the keys to unlock the door on that same vehicle...eh? 


 As the book progresses through to Chapter 8 the level of absurdity (a trunk full of rifles carried in an old Oxford, a hard drinking policeman ordering a Pimm's) , coupled with the writing style lost my interest - I got the feeling that this should be described as a "comic novel" but I didn't find it funny...I couldn't warm to either Grasby or his improbably unfit, incomprehensible, infuriating superior "Juggers" and was skimming pages to try and find something positive to say about the book...I've got to be honest it proved to be a real struggle as every time I slowed down I found more to annoy me...whether it be dialogue, descriptive or situation (I don't want to give any spoilers so I'll not detail events as they unfold but I found "I can bally well...", "jolly japes" and the like too idiosyncratic for my liking.


Sadly after a totally unbelievable mistaken identity sequence, ending in a nonsense departure from a wife at the end of Chapter 14, about a third of the way in, I felt like I couldn't give the book any more of my time as I was not enjoying the experience.


There may be a market out there for the characters and/or the author but I'm afraid I'm not going to be included in any fan club on this experience.


 

[Leonie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frank Grasby is an idiot still, but not stupid. I rather liked this installment. 

[Marijn Woudstra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gekregen onder de kerstboom. passend bij Kerst, wel grappig, beetje flauw

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3.5. Enjoyed this!

[Theo Schömehl · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was such a disappointment 😭

First of all some positives, I enjoyed the setting a lot. A cold Yorkshire coastal town in the dead of winter after the war. An excellent setting for a crime story. However, the predictable stereotype of a smuggling business at a British coastal village is so overused. I was just hoping for a good old murder plot.

Another positive was the humour, it was all together quite funny writing, very cynical and dark humour with a sense of pessimism and degrading the main character.

On to the flaws and there are many. First of all the plot was dragged out and quite predictable. The switcheroo of the dead twins was so obvious based on hints given (there was no need to hint at it, just reveal it at the end). The big mastermind reveal at the end made no sense, and wasn’t backed up by any evidence really. And considering the evidence is based on witness accounts from back in the day, and we’re talking a very old lady here, that doesn’t make the evidence very compelling.

I was really hoping for a twisted Christmas murder plot but this just completely missed the mark for me.

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second in series, readable as a stand alone - and even better than the first!

As Christmas approaches, Frank Grasby and his senior officer, Juggers, are sent to the remote fishing village of Uthley Bay to investigate the murder of a fisherman whose body was found on the beach with a stocking wound around his neck. Before long, the beach is littered with hundreds of pairs of stockings brought in on the tide and a local innkeeper is murdered. Cut off from summoning help by a fearsome blizzard, Frank and Juggers just have to muddle through as best they can . . .

I loved the first book in this series and would say that this one is even better! Whilst creating a very involved crime mystery, Denzil Meyrick never misses the opportunity to introduce a bit of humour and I was back to trying to giggle silently while reading in bed. With it's beautiful cover, this will make a truly lovely gift. It's fair to say I found delight in everything in this one; highly recommended and definitely worth all five sparkling stars!

[Anne Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome back Frank! He is a lovable character who likes to let us know the how and why of everything he does. We are back in the ‘50s ( Frank is rereading his memoirs/diaries) and reliving the case of the stockings murders. The fact that it happens at Christmas allows the weather to play a huge part in the background of the story. This story has everything: organised crime, murder, snow, sex, accidents at sea, marriage proposals. All of which work together to produce a delightful narrative. I love Frank’s comments on what was happening, his predictions of the future. Juggers (his boss) is just as shambolic as the last escapade; taking credit for the efforts of others ( usually Frank), messing up. I particularly liked the exploding trousers and the old word for tobacco ( hadn’t heard that in a long time).
Thank you Denzil for another engaging, funny and entertaining read. Thank you also to Transworld for an ARC ebook.

[Mags · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first introduction to Inspector Frank Grasby and whilst I don't normally read cosy crime I found this one to be a really engaging one.

As it not only delivered on the crime but the humour and the characters too.

Not to mention it had plenty of Christmas cheer and the period detail and setting were spot on and all together it made for a really enjoyable murder mystery. That I would happily recommend to others.

My thanks to Transworld Digital and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of The Christmas Stocking Murders. ☺️

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Christmas Stocking Murders” is the second Yule tide mystery by Denzil Meyrick to feature Inspector Frank Grasby. The first book “Murder at Holly House” was an entertaining pastiche of the Golden Age of Crime mysteries, this second book follows in the same vein. Despite not quite reaching the heights of its predecessor it is still retains enough of what made that first book so engaging. As with the first book the story is taken from Frank’s memoirs with a few amendments for the modern readers sensitive ears.

“I have taken the liberty of replacing some of the saltier language, lest it should offend the contemporary reader. But the rest is, and will remain, the very particular voice of its author, Inspector Frank Grasby. - My only advice? Jolly well hold on to your hats before you read this. You’ll need to, as, yet again, I marvel at the fact I’m still here at all.”

It begins just before Christmas 1953. A year has passed since the episode at Holly House and once again Grasby is destined to spend Christmas in a remote village where the bodies pile up as fast as the snow. This time the murderers weapon of choice is nylon stockings. As he tries to get to the bottom of the crimes Grasby has to contend with a village full of oddities, his wayward father and the Americans.

“It doesn’t matter what you achieve in life, you can always guarantee that an American has done it bigger and better.”

What follows is a glorious mix of farce, murder mystery and northern humour.

‘I reckon he misunderstands our relationship, sir.’ I give Juggers a knowing look. ‘What do you mean?’ ‘You know, young man and older man sharing a hotel room.’ ‘Don’t be daft, lad. Mind you, I can understand why he might think you’re playing for Lancashire, but not me. And anyhow, if I were that way inclined, I wouldn’t be tipping my hat at a long streak of haplessness like you.’

And I still chuckle when I think of Jugger’s and his underpants! As well as the slapstick humour and wry observations there is the odd social comment too.

“I think of all the families on this little island of ours. The bottles of beer, singsongs round the family piano, Christmas puddings, the new Queen’s speech on the wireless, children playing with their toys – if they’ve been lucky enough to get any. It’s still so hard for far too many. I sometimes wonder how it would have been if the war had never happened. It was a beastly time, no doubt about it. But there was poverty before and there is still. I can’t help thinking we’re doing something wrong.”

In conclusion “The Christmas Stocking Murders” is another enjoyable slice of festive fun and I look forward to spending next Yuletide in the company of Frank Grasby.

[Allyx N · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shocker that the random Christmas book I picked up on a whim didn't go well lol. Not for me. Very slow paced, felt bored and annoyed with most of the characters. The writing style repetitive and slow, but quite a few good funny moments sprinkled in. Story was predictable and ending was good, just wish there was more happening in the middle to beef it up a bit.

[Mena MacKinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Audible listen and (in my opinion) just as good as the first book. Excellent narration once more. Great characters with dry humour and highly amusing interactions between them! Such good yarns evoking the era in which they are set. Definitely hoping for a book 3. Highly Recommended.

[Mel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a review copy of this book.

This is the second book in the series. I went into this book without having read the first. Although you can get away without reading the first in the series, I would recommend reading them in order as this book has references to and a reliance upon knowledge of events in the first book.

I found this book to be extremely hard to get into, and it didn't keep my interest, making it a very difficult read. I didn't find any of the characters to be likeable and often found the dynamic between Grasby and his superior Juggers off-putting.

There are inconsistencies in the storyline, such as it being established that Grasby's car is locked, Grasby's father throwing an overcoat on the backseat of the car, and then a sequence in which Grasby's father feels in all of his trouser pockets to find the keys to unlock the locked car he's supposedly just thrown the overcoat into.

With Grasby, and therefore the reader, being kept in the dark about much of the investigation and details that only seem to be picked up on by Grasby but not passed on to anyone else, I found this to be a rather slow, boring read that felt very rushed at the end, with most of the finer details being revealed in the last 5-10% of the book.

While there are people who will enjoy this book greatly, I am not one of them.

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️/ 5 – A Festive Mystery with Warm Humour but Slow Pacing

The Christmas Stocking Murders was my first time reading Denzel Meyrick, and although I didn’t realise it was part of a series, I still managed to follow along without feeling lost. What immediately stood out to me was the humour, it’s easily the book’s strongest charm. The back-and-forth banter between Juggers and Grasby genuinely made the story feel alive, and the antics from Grasby’s father added a brilliant layer of chaotic festive fun. Those moments really carried the book for me.

Where I struggled a bit was the pacing. For a large portion of the story, things moved quite slowly, and I found myself waiting for the mystery to kick into gear. But in the final few chapters, everything tightened up dramatically. The tone shifted, the tension rose, and suddenly the plot became gripping in a way I wish had been present earlier.

Overall, this is a cosy, humorous festive mystery with great character dynamics. The slower middle lets it down slightly, but the ending rewards your patience. And despite not starting with the previous book, this was still an enjoyable introduction to Meyrick’s writing, enough that I’d happily try more from him in the future.

[Adam Carson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. Set in a Yorkshire fishing village at Christmas. DI Frank Grasby and his superior, Superintendent Juggers investigate strange goings on and a murder.

Generally this book doesn’t really know what it is - part light hearted festive crime, part whodunnit, part thriller. There are some pretty massive hints at what’s going on and who is to blame too, but all that I can get over with an overall enjoyable plot and setting.

What really spoils it for me is the relationship between Juggers and Glasby, and Juggers constant barbs at his officer, and keeping him in the dark. At best it stretches credibility in their interactions, at worst it’s downright irritating and makes their interactions tiresome and unreadable. In fact most characters treat Grasby like this. I wish the author would dial it down to make the rest of the plot can shine.

[Neil Fulwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume two in the Inspector Grasby series sees Meyrick gleefully playing with the formula established in the first volume: Yuletide backdrop, isolated location, outnumbered protagonists, a conspiracy uncovered and the return of … but that would be telling. And like the previous volume, title and set-up serve to wrong-foot the reader. Volume three is slated for the end of the year; whether the series will sink into repetitiveness at that point or continue to fashion something fresh from its already established set of tropes remains to be seen.

[Nikita Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Christmas Stocking Murders by Denzil Meyrick

A Case Shrouded in Secrets

A Festive Mystery For One And All

A Winter Wonderland With No Escape

✨ Been waiting all year to this as it’s two things I enjoy, Christmas Season and Crime, but unfortunately it didn’t grip me as much as I had hoped it would! Was readable and likeable enough to want to find out what was going on, but I wasn’t thrilled to pick it up! I definitely think my 2026 reading-resolution will be to DNF more books I don’t enjoy too much! ✨

[John Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I found that my wife had put this one on our shelf,  I remembered that I had already read, and been quite enthusiastic about, its predecessor, it became an obvious choice for this season of Advent.

Whatever my feelings were for the earlier book, I struggled a bit with this one. Here we are in the memoires of Inspector Grasby where he recalls an earlier Christmas that he and his Superintendent Juggers spent on a 'hush-hush' mission. On the face of it and as far as he is told, they are off to a village on the north east coast (Whitby?) to investigate the murder of a local fisherman.

If something can become complicated and boring at the same time then this achieves it. I think what I enjoyed about the last was the humour found in the village life but that was missing here. Also I felt nothing for the characters - the two main ones seemed merely unreal and few of the villagers came alive in the reading.

There was a bit of excitement at the end which tried to explain everything and a final disclosure after that which, unusually, I felt, added little.

With the Christmas spirit, I rounded my score up to a generous 3


18th December 2025

[John Swift · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another year, one more Detective Frank Grasby Christmas adventure. Again, we have an albeit whimsical story line, but this is set alongside a warm and funny book, with lots of “laugh out loud” moments. The book moves along at a good pace and you enjoy the characters, particularly the relationship between Frank and his father and his working relationship with Juggers.

[Georgina Candy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great Christmassy cosy murder mystery set in the small village of Uthley Bay in the snow. Grasby and Juggers get called to investigate the murder of a fisherman, washed up on the beach with a stocking tied round his throat. The pair soon find that not all is as it seems, when hundreds of pairs of stockings appear on the beach.

The investigation that follows soon unravels more mystery than they were expecting, as well as Juggers not seeming to have much of a clue about what is going on despite being the more senior detective. I love the sarcasm and wit of Grasby, who seems to never catch a break during their time in the village - including the fact his vicar father turning up with a lady friend!

Really well written and fun with a few twists throughout, this is actually the second in a series but a good standalone novel.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank's back with Inspector Juggers - love these two! This time they're at the seaside taking down a bunch of smugglers & their illegal stockings. Is the Mafia really responsible or someone a little less suspicious?

[Leni Dytrych · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insp Frank Grasby can do no wrong in my eyes. A perfect Christmas read, and another opportunity to spend a little time with my favourite North Yorkshire Inspector

[Samantha Main · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas book completed 🤝

[Margaret Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, lighthearted and sarcastically funny if was wonderful