The Folio Book of Christmas Crime Stories

by Michael Foreman (Illustrator), Margery Allingham, Agatha Christie

Includes stories by Agatha Christie, Colin Dexter, Liza Cody, E.W. Hornung, Edward D. Hoch, Ellis Peters, Stanley Ellin, Tim Heald, Ngaio Marsh, Peter Lovesey, Sara Paretsky, Margery Allingham, P.D. James, Arthur Conan Doyle & Margaret Yorke.

Genres: Christmas, Crime, Short Stories, Fiction, Mystery, Holiday

282 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Michael has worked on magazines, book jackets, animated films, TV adverts, and even for the police, sketching criminals described by witnesses. As well as illustrating many of his own books, Michael has illustrated over a hundred books for authors such as Shakespeare, J. M. Barrie, the Brothers Grimm, Charles Dickens and Oscar Wilde. Michael has travelled widely - to Africa, Japan, the Arctic Circle, China and Malaysia, the Himalayas, Siberia and New Zealand - to research his books. "I do a lot of research when I'm travelling - I find it thrilling to discover the particular 'art' of different landscapes and work them into a book. But I find I have to travel by myself, otherwise I'm constantly getting involved in other people's impressions of a place... I try to be invisible when I'm travelling, so I tend to listen in on conversations rather than participate in them - I just want to look and draw."

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lively selection of Whodunits and other stories involving a crime element occurring on or near Christmas time; by the famous* and unknown. Some were humorous, others more thought-provoking, mostly upbeat, although there was a touch of melancholy here and there. When I first contemplated the title, I wondered how Christmas crime tales would sit at this time of the year. They did not dampen my seasonal joy, but I cannot speak for everyone’s tastes. Perhaps it will depend on your current mood? Or maybe it is best to look on them like a box of mixed chocolates, so popular as Christmas gifts. We all seem to have our favorites and only a very few can claim to like (or dislike) all the numerous varieties, but there will be those one or two unfortunate souls who just cannot partake of chocolate. Oh I hope that is not you...!

Come to think of it, a very nice book to read with a cup of hot chocolate!

*Agatha Christie, P. D. James, Arthur Conan Doyle, Ngaio Marsh and Ellis Peters +




December 8, 2018: Had this on my BACKBURNER shelf for the last seven years. Time to take it down, dust it off and begin again. Fortunately, the 'crimes' are small 'c' and the Christmas is Big "C"!


December 2011: Ran out of Christmas before I ran out of stories.

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I applaud Folio Society for this collection of short stories as well as two others* they offered as a similar annual Christmas treat.

While the short story is not my usual literary medium of choice, every once in awhile I find them a refreshing break from longer works. In the case of this collection, I am reminded of a holiday assortment of Russell Stover candies: some preferred, some surprises and yet all rich, chocolate-y and delightful.

More when I finish/get further along...


* One is The Folio Book of Christmas Ghost Stories which I am also currently reading—alternating between the two. The other is simply called The Folio Christmas Book. I started it a number of years back and am saving it for last in this trio—to be read closest to Christmas.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable collection of Christmas crime stories (mostly murders).

Some of the best were 'The Adventure of the Christmas pudding' by Agatha Christie, 'Death on Air' by Ngaio Marsh, 'Operation Christmas' by Tim Heald and 'Three-dot Po' by Sara Paretsky.

But my two favourites were 'The Mistletoe Murder' by P D James and 'The Proof of the Pudding' by Peter Lovesey.

Overall, a delightful collection of stories spanning the late nineteen and twentieth centuries.

3.5 stars (as always, you can't love all of them!)

[Gabi Coatsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice collection of Christmas crime stories, that includes Agatha Christie, Sara Paretsky and Conan Doyle. Perfect when you want to take a break from the festivities and read something short but seasonal.

[H. J. Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great seasonal read full of cosy mysteries and beautiful illustrations.

My order of preference:

4 stars - atmospheric with genuine mysteries
The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding
The Price of Light
The Mistletoe Murder
Death on the Air

3.5 stars - great characters with interesting twists
The Proof of the Pudding
Christmas is for Cops
Three Dot Po

3 stars - enjoyable but the ending maybe didn't pack a punch
Means to Murder
The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle
Death at Christmas Eve
The Raffles Relics

2.5 stars - fun to read but not memorable
The Snapdragon and the CID
A Card or a Kitten
Morse's Greatest Mystery

2 stars - wasn't doing anything interesting and felt predictable
Operation Christmas

[Gareth Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

An odd mix of vaguely Christmas-themed short stories. Some are traditional and extremely well crafted. Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, PD James. But others are less effective. The folio edition is in a slipcase and has nice illustrations throughout. If you can get a cheap, sceond-hand copy then go for it. Otherwise, there are probsbly better collections out there.

[PAUL DEWSON · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice seasonal collection .

[Matthew Buswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, entertaining and lighthearted. The kind of thing you pick up for an half hour or two every other day and put down. Best if read next to a fireplace and with something warm to drink.

[John Burgess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very satisfying, ideal Christmas reading.

[Paul Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent collection of crime stories that kept me enthralled over the festive period. I had obviously been saving to read this one at the appropriate time of year, and, like a good ghost story, the right time and place only adds to the book's entertainment value. Some heavy hitters obviously stand out - Holmes in the somewhat light but classic sherlock "goose" chase, Ellis Peters with some Christmas medieval fare and a rather excellent and perhaps personal PD James murder. Some other gems in here - look out for an interesting Tim Heald hospital trip and a very short but sweet Morse story. Overall a very satisfying Christmas read!

[Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of short crime stories all based around the theme of Xmas. A good selection of some of the "greats" are included - Sherlock Holmes, Poirot, Campion, Raffles, Warshawski and Cadfael, so something for everyone. A lovely book to sit by the fire on a cold December night and read.

[Sskous · Rating 3 out of 5]

read these short stories over the Christmas holidays and enjoyed them all. As a mystery fan I'd read several of them previously, but didn't mind reading them again. Fun.

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a month of bedtime stories. It's a mixed bag. A couple of the stories would rate a 5, and there are a couple of 2's. If I could I'd give the book a 3.5.

[Avril · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, mostly lighthearted, seasonal read. Thank you for lending it to me, Brendan.