Lord James Harrington and the Christmas Mystery

Lord James Harrington #5

by Lynn Florkiewicz

This is the fifth Lord James Harrington cosy mystery and the first to be published as a paperback. However, don't panic, they are stand-alone stories. I intend to publish the first four via Create Space once I have re-edited them. The Lord James Harrington books are fun, corny, cosy mysteries. If you like Paul Temple, Peter Wimsey, traditional British cosy crime, then you may enjoy this series. If you're looking for a Booker Prize winner, this is not the book for you! Meet Lord James Harrington and his delightful wife, Beth; residents of the tiny village of Cavendish, deep in the heart of West Sussex in England. They adore hosting seasonal events, running their country hotel, keeping the local folklore alive and listening to the latest murder mystery on the wireless. But mysteries don't always remain on the airwaves.... It’s Christmas and James and Beth are preparing for Harrington’s festive dinner and dance. This year, famous diva Olivia Dupree is singing; a wedding is taking place and they’re hosting a reunion of Pals - ex-army comrades from the Great War. When Olivia falls ill and claims she’s been poisoned, James puts his sleuthing hat on. But things take a sinister turn when a further attack takes place. Has James’ recent investigating made him a target? Are the guests who they say they are? What secret is Major Carlton hiding? Who is writing evil poison-pen letters? What relevance does the discarded diary have? And what links the two victims? James fears the criminal is unhinged and has a race against time to stop multiple murders taking place. Will he succeed or will Christmas in snowy Cavendish be overshadowed by these disturbing events? Join James, and the Cavendish regulars, as he battles to solve the crime and bring a ruthless killer to justice.

Genres: Mystery, Christmas, British Literature, Fiction

258 pages, Paperback

Published October 29, 2015

Reviews

[Irene Sauman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another interesting and enjoyable read in the series, but with a darker underlying theme. It touches on the aftermath of war. A man is troubled by what he experiences at the hands of an inept officer, supported unwisely by a superior. The man's family - son, daughter in law and grand daughter all suffer the consequences of his behaviour leading to suicide and murder.
The murderer is caught, but what of that inept officer and his supporter? They live on, remorseful yes, and one could say punished because of the death of a family member, but again, that punishment is spread over at least one innocent person again. This appears to be as much justice as the author could deal out under the circumstances. War is hell and there is no real justice. This is a cozy with depth and no cut and dried answers.

[Karen Plummer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the best of the Lord Harrington series so far. I enjoyed the story, the mystery was intriguing, and the vicar did not get conked on the head!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Series keeps getting better

I love the historical information included in these books. The mysteries seem to be getting more complex. And who can say no to such a wonderful cast of characters.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Juliet. She says what I was thinking....

[Sarah "Kat" · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing didn't captivate me.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good who done it. I especially liked that it was said during the Christmas season and a big old country house.

[Ashley F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun mystery

If you enjoy Lord Harrington’s adventures in the English village, this story does not disappoint. The Gingerbread recipe looks delicious.

[Vanessa-Ann Dowsett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books and the narrator is superb. Highly recommended

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a big fan of "cozy mysteries". They annoy me! But I really enjoyed this book. A perfect read for sitting on the couch with a cup of tea or hot chocolate.
Gonna try and catch up on the first four books. I'm quite interested in these characters.

[Mary Munroe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story

This was a nice cozy. The plot was fairly complex, and the characters appropriate. I would have liked to see more character development and less description of their clothes .

[Kim Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another outing catching up with old friends and familiar places. Christmas and mystery, what more could any cosy mystery reader want? Perfect for curling up on the sofa with your favourite tipple and nibbles. More please...

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! It's fun to read and an easy read. Such a different time period, fun to read about all the customs.

Hope there are more in this series coming!

[Marty Mcintyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the characters in this series. It's an easy read a a glimpse of what life was like in Britain in the 1950s.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5