The Thanksgiving Day Murder

Christine Bennett #6

by Lee Harris

A CELEBRATION OF ABUNDANCE BECOMES A DAY OF LOSS.More than a year ago Natalie Gordon went to buy a balloon at the Thanksgiving Day Parade and dissolved into thin air. The police and a private investigator still have no leads. So when Natalie's despairing husband pleads with ex-nun Christine Bennett to help, she can't say no.Not only are Natalie's present whereabouts a mystery, but so is her past. Someone has stripped her personnel file in her old office. Even her husband knows strangely little about her.Starting with a cardboard box of Natalie's belongings--a few books, keys, some cosmetics--Chris searches for a life someone has tried very hard to erase and finds a cast of characters so chilling that murder seems not only inevitable but likely to happen again. . . .

Genres: Mystery, Thanksgiving, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Holiday, Audiobook

257 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 27, 1995

About the author

A pseudonym used by Syrell Leahy.

Lee Harris is the author of the mystery novels featuring ex-nun Christine Bennett, who first appeared in The Good Friday Murder, an Edgar Award nominee. She also writes the New York Mysteries, which debuted with Murder in Hell's Kitchen. In 2001, Lee Harris received the Romantic Times magazine Career Achievement Award for her distinguished contribution to crime writing.

Reviews

[Jason Koivu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Thanksgiving! It's probably my favorite holiday, at least rivaling Christmas because of the food and also because there isn't the pressure and expense of present buying. You're just gathering together with family -and with any luck you're still on speaking terms with them- and everyone brings a dish for a communal feast -unless your MIL is Filipino, in which case she will not appreciate your efforts- and we're all there just to give thanks...I guess. Plus football all day. Hmm. I don't feel like that was entirely convincing.

Since I like to do themed reads now and then, I've searched for books about Thanksgiving, and ya know, there just aren't a lot of them. Oh there's Christmas books up the wazoo, but Thanksgiving can go take a flying leap at itself apparently. It's very disheartening. Anyway, I found an audiobook of Lee Harris' The Thanksgiving Day Murder and was excited to have something to read for the holiday!

It wasn't very Thanksgivingy. A woman goes missing during the Macy's parade in NYC, but that's where the Turkey Day connection ends. Nothing else about the book touches upon the holiday besides the parade. I mean, I knew it was a murder mystery, so I didn't expect cover to cover holiday topic details, but this was a bit of a letdown.

The story itself is okay. A former nun-turned-PI takes a case from a husband in search of his lost wife. She's an amateur sleuth with a cop for a husband, so she's got help with her investigation, the details of which are fairly satisfactory. The mystery has some nice twists. But overall, this isn't the kind of book -the first of Harris' that I've ever read- to inspire me to read more from the author. Having said that, I've read reviews of this book by others and it would seem this is not one of Harris' best, so perhaps I'll give another a try, because this wasn't bad by any means.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series by Lee Harris. Christine Bennett was a nun for 15 years until she left to teach at a nearby university. She recently married a policeman. She seems to have a sense of solving mysteries and problems for people. The latest is the uncle of a friend whose wife disappeared a year ago at a Thanksgiving Day Parade. Even though the police and private detective looked they could not come up with any clues as to her disappearance so he ask Chris to look into it and at the same time Chris is looking for a woman that her father met at the Thanksgiving Parade when he would take her as a child. These are a quick read because once I start reading I can't put them down until I am finished. Great series.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very clever.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a miserable rainy day there is nothing like a cozy mystery to read to make things warmer. I chose this particular mystery for its title since its related to the month of November. This was a nicely written mystery albeit a bit dated - it’s the early 1990s and international calls aren’t free, pay phones are the norm, and the internet isn’t used to investigate). The New York City setting is nicely described. Sandy Gordon’s wife, Natalie Miller, disappeared on Thanksgiving Day a year ago. He’s had another private detective look into her disappearance with nothing coming up. Sandy turns to ex-nun, Christine Bennet, recommended by his cousin and friend to Christine, Mel. Chris is not a true private eye but since this is the 6th book in the series (and my first foray into it), she’s obviously had other successes. With so little to go one, Chris explores the little information she has and is able to put together information that gives some momentum. Natalie has hidden her past well but with the help of her husband, Jack who is a NY policeman, she sleuths out Natalie’s real identity and killer - whom I never suspected (no spoilers here; you have to read the book). Along the way, Chris also finds a list relative as the Thanksgiving Day disappearance triggers memories of her father and her meeting a woman at the parade. The book really kept my interest.

[Joel Fotinos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every one of the Christine Bennett mysteries by Lee Harris is worth reading, and this is one of the best of them. One thing I love about this series is that the sleuth Chris solves murders, often cold cases, by pulling threads. She begins by pulling the loose threads, and eventually the whole situation begins to unravel. In this case, a husband asks Chris to find his wife, who had been missing for several years. She begins by interviewing anyone she can find that knew his wife, and quickly discovers that there are a lot of unanswered questions. Eventually she solves the puzzle -- as well as a personal puzzle from her past as well -- and it's an interesting journey. The Chris Bennett mysteries aren't like James Patterson, peril-on-every-page mysteries. They have a slower pace, building to the revelation. Along the way, book by book, you begin to care for Chris, her husband, family and friends -- and that is where the real gold of this series is found. I always suggest reading the series in order, as it makes each book even richer. That said, each book is self-contained, and you can read just one, or all of them in any order. If you like Sue Grafton and Susan Wittig Albert, you'll most likely enjoy Lee Harris.

[Dann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sixth book in the Christine Bennett Mystery series, The Thanksgiving Day Murder is a rather pedestrian murder mystery novel. Part-time investigator Christine Bennett takes up the case of Natalie Gordon, who went missing 2 years ago at the New York Thanksgiving Day Parade, when her husband comes to her in desperation, and the investigation soon starts to stir up her own Thanksgiving memories and leads her to search for a mysterious woman from her past in addition to Natalie. This dual investigation gets kind of confusing at times as to which investigation Christine is pursuing at several points in the story, and which clues and witnesses led her there. Additionally, author Lee Harris does a couple of awkward information dumps to catch-up new readers as to who Christine Bennett is and her history. Also, the title sucks a lot of the mystery out of the missing person investigation; as Natalie’s death seems to be a foregone conclusion. Still, there’s a bit of intrigue and suspense along the way as things are uncovered and new information is brought to light. The Thanksgiving Day Murder is a fairly route crime thriller, but it has its moments.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good straight-forward cozy. It's clearly written in the 90s (it was published in 1995), based on some of the references (phone books, pay phones needing quarters, needing only a drivers' ID to travel, little to no mention of cell phones and internet, etc.), but the main character was decent (Christine is an ex-nun married to a cop) and the story was intriguing (the wife of her friend's uncle goes missing during a Thanksgiving Day parade) without being graphically gory or sexual. There's no foul language, either. I would definitely recommend this one... and am looking forward to reading another in this series.

[Jazz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first mystery in this series, so thought I'd try this one given the holiday theme. I gave up on page 106 when I Realized I really didn't care about the solution because, other than the main character, I didn't care about the other characters. The writing was competent, but there was no urgency to the solution, no ticking bomb, no one in jeopardy. It just plodded along. I'll try another, but, like the book, I won't be in a hurry.

[Engie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced adventure

I enjoyed this story. I specifically enjoy when a book gives sufficient details to get the reader on board with the flow of events but doesn't over explain them. The lack of clutter in each crucial scene of this book is what made it enjoyable to me. I definitely didn't know who the killer was, wasn't even on my radar. I enjoyed this book very much and will continue the series.

On to the next book 📖 ☺️

[T-Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up. This book has been on my shelf for 7 or 8 years, part of a buy 2, get 2 free sale at a local used book store. It seemed like the perfect time to finally read it.

I had forgotten how much I enjoy this series. Just a great story. The perfect formula to keep the story going, likeable characters, no rants or drama, and kept me interested throughout.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book all the way through but I had to reread the ending because it wasn't clear to me what had happened at the end. I would give this author another try but if the next book is not clear than I won't read any more. PS Hard to write the review without spoiling the book for others

[Margaret Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good Christine Bennett Mystery! She is an ex-nun that keeps on doing detective work as an avocation. This time, there is no body, just a mystery of how this woman disappeared at the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Had me fooled, again, to the end. You have to read it. Perfect for November.

[Paula Schumm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook from the library. Chris Bennett is a former nun who is now married to a police officer, and she has a knack for solving crimes. This murder mystery is twisty-turny and engaging. Recommended.

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an excellent series. This was sort of a two for one. Thanksgiving Day Parade... led her to part of her own past, and separately brought a mystery to it's disturbing conclusion. Now I cannot wait to read the next one.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christine Bennett Mysteries book 5 by Lee Harris

This story was sad but when a murder is committed, you have to pay the price to society and God. The main character has depth and reflects all her beliefs . Lee Harris writes amazing stories.

[Kyle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened to this on tape. Meh. I thought it would take place around Thanksgiving, but instead the murder just happened at the Thanksgiving Day Parade and Christine was investigating it several years later. Turns out the person she was looking for had been murdered, but she had also murdered the person Christine thought she was and assumed her identity. So there were two murders. Not impressed. I do love the characters though. C-

[AnnieM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barely worth the time. I needed something.

[Julie Syracuse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first Christine Bennett novel I have read. Definitely well constructed mystery. Will continue on with this series.

[Penelope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice uncomplicated telling of an ex nun solving a mystery. Contains humane relationships and a kind sleuth. My kind of book.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was nice to learn a little bit more about Chris's family.

[Lawanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook performed by Susan O’Malley

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the book because of the fact that the nun got married i started this series at bk 6 but i will be reading the others in this series.

[Deedee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars...

[Jennay · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice little twist, but far too long and drawn out.

[Danni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun

[Nan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good cozy mystery

[Sharon Bezrutczyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

The killer was not who I thought it was . Great read love the series…

[Lyn Soulia-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the path Christine continued to find the truth. She is determinined and unstoppable. Really enjoyed the book.

[Stacey Culver · Rating 2 out of 5]

It probably could have been 100 pages shorter

[Lorraine Culver · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring...