What do you think?
Rate this book
Un Noël en Sicile
Île de Stromboli. Le solitaire James Latterly arrive à son petit hôtel en espérant que le ciel bleu, la douce brise et l’esprit de Noël lui changeront les idées.
Malheureusement, la compagnie – un acteur pompeux, un colonel guindé, des époux mal assortis et un vieillard malade – se révèle d’un ennui mortel. À une charmante exception près : Candace Finbar, jeune adolescente orpheline qui prend James sous son aile et lui fait découvrir les beautés de l’île. Mais le ciel limpide de Sicile se voile bientôt de nuages menaçants : une violente querelle, un gentleman désagréable qui clame être suivi, le volcan qui commence à s’agiter…
Puis c’est le coup de tonnerre : un corps est découvert, et James comprend que le tueur doit se trouver parmi les clients de l’hôtel.
Malheureusement, la compagnie – un acteur pompeux, un colonel guindé, des époux mal assortis et un vieillard malade – se révèle d’un ennui mortel. À une charmante exception près : Candace Finbar, jeune adolescente orpheline qui prend James sous son aile et lui fait découvrir les beautés de l’île. Mais le ciel limpide de Sicile se voile bientôt de nuages menaçants : une violente querelle, un gentleman désagréable qui clame être suivi, le volcan qui commence à s’agiter…
Puis c’est le coup de tonnerre : un corps est découvert, et James comprend que le tueur doit se trouver parmi les clients de l’hôtel.
160 pages, Paperback
First published October 22, 2015
284 people are currently reading
1083 people want to read
About the author
Anne Perry
362 books3,375 followersAnne Perry, born Juliet Hulme in England, lived in Scotland most of her life after serving five years in prison for murder (in New Zealand). A beloved mystery authoress, she is best known for her Thomas Pitt and William Monk series.
Her first novel, "The Cater Street Hangman", was published in 1979. Her works extend to several categories of genre fiction, including historical mysteries. Many of them feature recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in 1990, "The Face Of A Stranger".
Her story "Heroes," from the 1999 anthology Murder And Obsession, won the 2001 Edgar Award For Best Short Story. She was included as an entry in Ben Peek's Twenty-Six Lies / One Truth, a novel exploring the nature of truth in literature.
Series contributed to:
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
. Malice Domestic
. The World's Finest Mystery And Crime Stories
. Transgressions
. The Year's Finest Crime And Mystery Stories
Her first novel, "The Cater Street Hangman", was published in 1979. Her works extend to several categories of genre fiction, including historical mysteries. Many of them feature recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in 1990, "The Face Of A Stranger".
Her story "Heroes," from the 1999 anthology Murder And Obsession, won the 2001 Edgar Award For Best Short Story. She was included as an entry in Ben Peek's Twenty-Six Lies / One Truth, a novel exploring the nature of truth in literature.
Series contributed to:
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
. Malice Domestic
. The World's Finest Mystery And Crime Stories
. Transgressions
. The Year's Finest Crime And Mystery Stories
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 393 reviews
March 7, 2016
The Christmas Escape by Anne Perry is a 2015 Random House publication.
I would like to thank the publisher and The LibraryThing early review program for the lovely hardcover copy of this book.
I always look forward to Anne Perry’s Christmas stories which has loose ties to her ‘Monk’ series. In this case Charles is on holiday on the island of Stromboli when a dormant volcano suddenly decides to awake from its long nap.
Charles is immediately befriended by a precious and delightful fourteen year old girl, named Candace.
She regales him with stories about their fellow travelers at the inn, and is especially excited about a well known novelist being in their midst.
However, the atmosphere becomes tense as a sinister occurrence leads to murder amid the evacuation of the guests, and Charles finds himself responsible for Candace. The two must attempt to escape the volcanic fury, but must also escape a murderer.
I had been hoping to add this book to my holiday reading in 2015, and thought it would make an excellent post for my blog, but sadly the book shipped out late, not arriving until nearly a month after Christmas, by which time I was pretty much burned out on holiday themed novels.
So, since I was free from a looming deadline, I decided to wait a couple of months before starting this one. This is not a long book, and I read it in a couple of hours while stuck inside on a rainy Monday afternoon.
While touted as a Christmas themed mystery, the book could be read at any time of the year, as it turns out,because the holiday atmosphere isn’t really present, and is not mentioned until the very end.
Candace is the show stealer here, and the mystery is wrapped up around her in ways I would never have guessed. I loved the dialogue and the characters, but the volcanic eruptions gave the book a more depressing aura than I expected.
In the end, however, I felt more respect for Charles and have faith he will do his best by Candace, and who knows, maybe in time, the two of them might make a great detective team.
Overall 3.5 stars
I would like to thank the publisher and The LibraryThing early review program for the lovely hardcover copy of this book.
I always look forward to Anne Perry’s Christmas stories which has loose ties to her ‘Monk’ series. In this case Charles is on holiday on the island of Stromboli when a dormant volcano suddenly decides to awake from its long nap.
Charles is immediately befriended by a precious and delightful fourteen year old girl, named Candace.
She regales him with stories about their fellow travelers at the inn, and is especially excited about a well known novelist being in their midst.
However, the atmosphere becomes tense as a sinister occurrence leads to murder amid the evacuation of the guests, and Charles finds himself responsible for Candace. The two must attempt to escape the volcanic fury, but must also escape a murderer.
I had been hoping to add this book to my holiday reading in 2015, and thought it would make an excellent post for my blog, but sadly the book shipped out late, not arriving until nearly a month after Christmas, by which time I was pretty much burned out on holiday themed novels.
So, since I was free from a looming deadline, I decided to wait a couple of months before starting this one. This is not a long book, and I read it in a couple of hours while stuck inside on a rainy Monday afternoon.
While touted as a Christmas themed mystery, the book could be read at any time of the year, as it turns out,because the holiday atmosphere isn’t really present, and is not mentioned until the very end.
Candace is the show stealer here, and the mystery is wrapped up around her in ways I would never have guessed. I loved the dialogue and the characters, but the volcanic eruptions gave the book a more depressing aura than I expected.
In the end, however, I felt more respect for Charles and have faith he will do his best by Candace, and who knows, maybe in time, the two of them might make a great detective team.
Overall 3.5 stars
December 25, 2017
I've said it before, but it bears repeating. I love how the author has made a holiday tradition of writing these Christmas-themed suspenses each year for a side character from one of her historical detective series. This time, the hero is Charles Latterly, brother to Hester Monk part of the William Monk series.
The holiday Christmas stories series have a series order, but the real connection isn't within this series. The connection is to the other series by the author. This book's character is connected to the William Monk series and can be read somewhere after the first few books. It functions well as a standalone, too.
Charles' wife has just died and he is feeling adrift. He's middle-aged and is taking stock of his life and isn't pleased with what he perceives as a life devoid of success. So instead of spending a dreary Christmas at home, he takes a holiday trip to the Mediterranean isle of Stromboli. He is staying at a guest house up near the peak of the volcano so he can walk about to see the sites and explore the volcanic region.
On arrival, he is delighted with his host, a happy Italian man who loves to cook and make his guests feel welcome, and by a young, orphaned, Candace Finlay who takes to him as much as he takes to her.
But once he is settled in, Charles experiences the undercurrents caused by the other guests at the house. It all swirls around an antagonistic man who pokes at everyone and breaks up the peace.
Then things take a dire turn when the volcano decides to wake up and a murderer works as lava, rock, and ash rain down. Charles must worry about the safety of the group while knowing that one of them committed murder.
This one is a novella-length story so naturally it's development is succinct. I loved the build up and the climax, but the denouement felt somewhat abrupt. As to the build up, the author does a good job of developing each character, establishing the setting and atmosphere, and leaving the reader with a ticklish mystery in which several characters could be the culprit.
Beyond these things, I enjoyed the companionship of Charles and the young Candace as he connects with her and wonders what would have been if he had children, particularly a girl as bright and unique as Candace.
This is not a bright holiday tale. It is deep, but there is sadness mixed in with the hope. The tone is bittersweet and a tad melancholy. I must have been in just the right mood because I was satisfied with the emotions the story drew out.
My only real niggle is that the revelation and subsequent ending felt rushed and abrupt. Yes, it leaves thing clear about who and much of the why, but skipped over the how and a more in depth why. I do hope there will be more Charles and Candace in the regular series.
So, again, I enjoyed the story of one of the side characters set at Christmas time with his own mystery to solve. The setting was fantastic and I felt like I took a little journey to southern Italy as a result. Fans of Victorian era historical mysteries should give this story and the larger William Monk series a try.
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
The holiday Christmas stories series have a series order, but the real connection isn't within this series. The connection is to the other series by the author. This book's character is connected to the William Monk series and can be read somewhere after the first few books. It functions well as a standalone, too.
Charles' wife has just died and he is feeling adrift. He's middle-aged and is taking stock of his life and isn't pleased with what he perceives as a life devoid of success. So instead of spending a dreary Christmas at home, he takes a holiday trip to the Mediterranean isle of Stromboli. He is staying at a guest house up near the peak of the volcano so he can walk about to see the sites and explore the volcanic region.
On arrival, he is delighted with his host, a happy Italian man who loves to cook and make his guests feel welcome, and by a young, orphaned, Candace Finlay who takes to him as much as he takes to her.
But once he is settled in, Charles experiences the undercurrents caused by the other guests at the house. It all swirls around an antagonistic man who pokes at everyone and breaks up the peace.
Then things take a dire turn when the volcano decides to wake up and a murderer works as lava, rock, and ash rain down. Charles must worry about the safety of the group while knowing that one of them committed murder.
This one is a novella-length story so naturally it's development is succinct. I loved the build up and the climax, but the denouement felt somewhat abrupt. As to the build up, the author does a good job of developing each character, establishing the setting and atmosphere, and leaving the reader with a ticklish mystery in which several characters could be the culprit.
Beyond these things, I enjoyed the companionship of Charles and the young Candace as he connects with her and wonders what would have been if he had children, particularly a girl as bright and unique as Candace.
This is not a bright holiday tale. It is deep, but there is sadness mixed in with the hope. The tone is bittersweet and a tad melancholy. I must have been in just the right mood because I was satisfied with the emotions the story drew out.
My only real niggle is that the revelation and subsequent ending felt rushed and abrupt. Yes, it leaves thing clear about who and much of the why, but skipped over the how and a more in depth why. I do hope there will be more Charles and Candace in the regular series.
So, again, I enjoyed the story of one of the side characters set at Christmas time with his own mystery to solve. The setting was fantastic and I felt like I took a little journey to southern Italy as a result. Fans of Victorian era historical mysteries should give this story and the larger William Monk series a try.
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
December 20, 2022
"A Christmas Escape" is Ms. Perry's 13th yuletide novel. The setting is sometime after the Crimean War; Ms. Perry does not state about the specific year, however. But the reader will know that it is the latter half of the Victorian Era.
Widowed Charles Latterly arrives at this hotel in the Mediterranean island of Stromboli. Charles is described as a lonely man and childless. We are given to understand that his marriage was not a particularly happy one. There are other guests staying at this hotel, as well: Roger Finbar and his great niece Candace, age 14; There is the "stuffy colonel" Bretherton; A Mr. Quinn, a supposed writer of a popular best selling novel; Mr. and Mrs. Walker-Bailey; and the owner of the hotel and cook, Stefano.
While the guests appear to ready themselves for the Christmas Season, the infamous Stromboli starts to erupt. Panic ensues. During the confusion and chaos of the eruption, a murder occurs.
Everyone suspects the other of this crime. The story was masterfully written, as always, by Ms. Perry. She never fails to captivate her readers and leads them to wonder who was the murderer.
Widowed Charles Latterly arrives at this hotel in the Mediterranean island of Stromboli. Charles is described as a lonely man and childless. We are given to understand that his marriage was not a particularly happy one. There are other guests staying at this hotel, as well: Roger Finbar and his great niece Candace, age 14; There is the "stuffy colonel" Bretherton; A Mr. Quinn, a supposed writer of a popular best selling novel; Mr. and Mrs. Walker-Bailey; and the owner of the hotel and cook, Stefano.
While the guests appear to ready themselves for the Christmas Season, the infamous Stromboli starts to erupt. Panic ensues. During the confusion and chaos of the eruption, a murder occurs.
Everyone suspects the other of this crime. The story was masterfully written, as always, by Ms. Perry. She never fails to captivate her readers and leads them to wonder who was the murderer.
November 21, 2015
The librarian saw me browsing the new book area and excitedly shared that the new Anne Perry Christmas book had just arrived. I guess she saw me browsing through another holiday release by a different author and figured I was interested in Christmas reads. Knowing that I have read and enjoyed a few of Anne Perry's past works, and yes, interested in a good Christmas book, I decided to give this read a try.
I found it to be a very disappointing read.
Set on the Mediterranean island of Stromboli, the setting didn't necessarily say Christmas in my mind but ok, let's see where the author goes with this.
We meet Charles, the protagonist. A recent widow who seems rather withdrawn and lonely. He is on holiday here in this island, I am guessing as a way to start some new holiday tradition?
Other guests are soon introduced. they all seemed a bit cliche: The unhappily married couple, the colonel, the washed up author, and a sweet old man and his great niece. The owner of the inn is also introduced. You pick up on tension right away but it really isn't explained how all these people know each other: Did they just meet or did they choose to vacation together. Neither makes sense to the new reader. The favorite island activity seems to be hiking to the crater of the old volcano. A quiet volcano that never causes serious damage, oh wait, until now...
Sounds promising in general but the story is developed in a choppy fashion that I found it hard to get into the rhythm of her story telling.
For starters, none of the characters are really developed. Maybe that is how it has to be in a novella, you just dive right in and aren't given the back story. I later realized that Charles is a minor character in the author's other books. Ok, so that might explain the limited development and explanation of the back story.
But what about the rest of the characters?
And supposedly it is a mystery but the only mystery to me was why wait until the last 1/3 to even introduce the mystery and even still not fully explore the solving of the mystery and fully explore motives of each character. Again, maybe this is how you do things in a novella but I found it all rather unfulfilling
The ending seemed quick and abrupt...leaving me to wonder what happens next to the characters.
The only reader I think I would recommend this book to would be a die hard Anne Perry fan. It probably makes more sense if you know and love her other characters.
I found it to be a very disappointing read.
Set on the Mediterranean island of Stromboli, the setting didn't necessarily say Christmas in my mind but ok, let's see where the author goes with this.
We meet Charles, the protagonist. A recent widow who seems rather withdrawn and lonely. He is on holiday here in this island, I am guessing as a way to start some new holiday tradition?
Other guests are soon introduced. they all seemed a bit cliche: The unhappily married couple, the colonel, the washed up author, and a sweet old man and his great niece. The owner of the inn is also introduced. You pick up on tension right away but it really isn't explained how all these people know each other: Did they just meet or did they choose to vacation together. Neither makes sense to the new reader. The favorite island activity seems to be hiking to the crater of the old volcano. A quiet volcano that never causes serious damage, oh wait, until now...
Sounds promising in general but the story is developed in a choppy fashion that I found it hard to get into the rhythm of her story telling.
For starters, none of the characters are really developed. Maybe that is how it has to be in a novella, you just dive right in and aren't given the back story. I later realized that Charles is a minor character in the author's other books. Ok, so that might explain the limited development and explanation of the back story.
But what about the rest of the characters?
And supposedly it is a mystery but the only mystery to me was why wait until the last 1/3 to even introduce the mystery and even still not fully explore the solving of the mystery and fully explore motives of each character. Again, maybe this is how you do things in a novella but I found it all rather unfulfilling
The ending seemed quick and abrupt...leaving me to wonder what happens next to the characters.
The only reader I think I would recommend this book to would be a die hard Anne Perry fan. It probably makes more sense if you know and love her other characters.
November 12, 2015
Christmas with a difference!
It took me a while to realize that this story is about Hester Monk's brother, Charles Latterly. Charles has decided to escape the harshness of a Victorian London Christmas and has journeyed to a small island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, off the north coast of Sicily, containing one of three active volcanoes in Italy. His hostelry is perched against the upper reaches of the volcano.
Here Charles hopes to attain a measure of inner healing, a different perspective. What he finds is a strange mixture of guests and a volcano that appears anything but benign.
The dark grumbling of that entity are viewed differently by the guests. Some are drawn to it, others repelled.
Languid days, the mystery of the volcano, the sense of something almost mystical beyond the grasp of mere mortals colours the background and enhances the electricity amongst the various guests, all calmed by the host, Stefano whose culinary abilities seem to act at times as a soothing tonic not only for the guests but for the volcano itself.
The English guests are a very different group--some grating, others ineffectual and yet others discerning. Charles is much taken, as am I, by the delightfully precocious teen, Candace Finbar. A young girl who sees to the heart of things way beyond the normal scope of understanding with a maturity that belies her years. Her's and Charles' unlikely, charming friendship becomes a central focus.
All is not as it should be in this small guesting community and when the volcano spews forth it's anger and a member of the household dies, fleeing the danger portended by the volcano is spiked with the added realization that there is a killer amongst the company.
A very unusual story that speaks on a multitude of levels, a Christmas offering with a difference.
A NetGalley ARC
It took me a while to realize that this story is about Hester Monk's brother, Charles Latterly. Charles has decided to escape the harshness of a Victorian London Christmas and has journeyed to a small island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, off the north coast of Sicily, containing one of three active volcanoes in Italy. His hostelry is perched against the upper reaches of the volcano.
Here Charles hopes to attain a measure of inner healing, a different perspective. What he finds is a strange mixture of guests and a volcano that appears anything but benign.
The dark grumbling of that entity are viewed differently by the guests. Some are drawn to it, others repelled.
Languid days, the mystery of the volcano, the sense of something almost mystical beyond the grasp of mere mortals colours the background and enhances the electricity amongst the various guests, all calmed by the host, Stefano whose culinary abilities seem to act at times as a soothing tonic not only for the guests but for the volcano itself.
The English guests are a very different group--some grating, others ineffectual and yet others discerning. Charles is much taken, as am I, by the delightfully precocious teen, Candace Finbar. A young girl who sees to the heart of things way beyond the normal scope of understanding with a maturity that belies her years. Her's and Charles' unlikely, charming friendship becomes a central focus.
All is not as it should be in this small guesting community and when the volcano spews forth it's anger and a member of the household dies, fleeing the danger portended by the volcano is spiked with the added realization that there is a killer amongst the company.
A very unusual story that speaks on a multitude of levels, a Christmas offering with a difference.
A NetGalley ARC
September 6, 2015
I received this from Net Galley to review.
Anne Perry writes a short novella about Christmas every year. I really enjoyed last year's A New York Christmas so I was looking forward to this one. I was disappointed. The only thing Christmasy about this is the last day of the book it becomes Christmas Day. That's it.
The novel is set in Stromboli in Italy that has an active volcano. Strangers and people with slight connections meets up at a lonely hostel in the hills of the Island. The one thing that always amazes me is how the British always seem to know each other when they are in out-of-the-way places in Europe. It's the mark of a British cozy mystery.
The plot is very thin and you can see the ending of the first chapter. There were no real surprises. It felt like an Agatha Christie draft of a book even though she never wrote about volcanoes, to my knowledge.
This book was a disappointment to me.
Anne Perry writes a short novella about Christmas every year. I really enjoyed last year's A New York Christmas so I was looking forward to this one. I was disappointed. The only thing Christmasy about this is the last day of the book it becomes Christmas Day. That's it.
The novel is set in Stromboli in Italy that has an active volcano. Strangers and people with slight connections meets up at a lonely hostel in the hills of the Island. The one thing that always amazes me is how the British always seem to know each other when they are in out-of-the-way places in Europe. It's the mark of a British cozy mystery.
The plot is very thin and you can see the ending of the first chapter. There were no real surprises. It felt like an Agatha Christie draft of a book even though she never wrote about volcanoes, to my knowledge.
This book was a disappointment to me.
December 29, 2019
This story could have easily been 4 Stars, but even for Anne Perry the ending was way too abrupt and lacking in resolution and future for the characters.
June 16, 2020
The title is misleading. The only connection to Christmas is that the story ends at midnight on Christmas Eve. Don’t expect a feel-good, hot-mulled-cider-and-gently-falling-snow Christmas story. You won’t get it from this novella. In fact, if you’re like me, you won’t get much from this story. Picture some English holiday vacationers at a small guest-house on an Italian volcanic island. Some of them just happen to have known each other already. Some are nasty; some are nice. But no one gets a Christmas present - not even a lump of coal in their stocking! What do they get for Christmas? Murder and mayhem - that’s what. This novella might be right up your alley but I found myself not only on the wrong street but in the wrong neighbourhood!
December 15, 2025
The atmosphere is not very Christmassy, with the volcano, but it is certainly entertaining!
December 20, 2019
As a recent widower, Charles Latterly decides to take a vacation to Italy where he plans to spend 3 relaxing weeks walking and thinking. This is not exactly what happens. He is staying in a hotel at the volcanic island of Stromboli, where a group of other British people is also gathered. The innkeeper, Stefano, assures them all that the volcano will not erupt. He says it merely rumbles and sputters a bit from time to time. He is totally proved wrong.
Charles becomes friendly with the lively 14 year old girl, Candace Finbar. She stays at the hotel with her slightly old and ailing uncle, Roger Finbar. They just seem to “be there” without any explanation or view into their thoughts before taking the trip. Why Stromboli? Why this particular inn? This is also lacking for all the different guests, save for Charles himself. What seems strange is that Roger persuades Charles, a perfect stranger he has just met, to take care of Candace if something should happen to him. It’s like he expects to be dying soon and seems quite desperate to find someone to care for her. As he seems such a nice and caring man, it seems strange that he would put his nice in a vulnerable circumstance? The story doesn’t seem consider that she might not be safe.
Wealthy Isla Bailey is there with her husband Walker-Bailey. Theirs is a difficult marriage. He is unkind, insensitive and cruel to her. She is frustrated and angry about his heavy handedness, but finds some support in Colonel Bretherton, who admires her. That just makes Walker-Bailey even more angry and cruel. He is generally negative to the other guests who dislike him and spends his time walking in the area on his own.
Percival Quinn is a writer with some success. He has written a bestseller but suffers writer’s block as he is trying to write book number two. Walker-Bailey seems to be intensely jealous of him and Quinn doesn’t like Walker-Bailey much either.
Main character, Charles Latterly, takes on a bit of an observer role in this story. After the volcano has erupted and a body is found, he takes charge of leading the group to safety a few hours walk down to the coast.
The famous, rumbling volcano seems to be a character in itself contributing to the sense of danger. It represents the backdrop which drives the plot, and maybe it also adds a distraction to avoid finding out what really happens. They are too focused on staying safe to consider what happened to the victim. The story seems to be focusing on the main characters. The supporting characters of the group seem less developed.
I felt there was little explanation as to what had happened to the victim, just some brief facts.
The person suspected of the murder was sprung out on me towards the end of the story. I had not noticed a buildup of clues along the way, so it surprised me. I suspected some fishiness about the murderer, but had not foreseen exactly how it all panned out. I had not picked up on this person having a motive. It was explained briefly towards the end but the whole thing felt a bit unfulfilled.
There were very little of the Christmas theme in this story, only a few lines at the end. I have read quite a few of Anne Perry’s Christmas novels before, and she usually manages to create Victorian Christmas cheer mixed up with the crime element. Not so much this time. I realize it would be difficult to add a Christmas vibe to this plot, but I can’t help feeling a bit disappointed.
Overall the story felt a tad rushed, but I realize there are only 150 pages to do elaborations. I’m sure there would have been strict priorities as to what to emphasize and what to leave out. Fans of Anne Perry’s work would find this an ok read.
My rating 3 stars /5
(all opinions are my own)
Charles becomes friendly with the lively 14 year old girl, Candace Finbar. She stays at the hotel with her slightly old and ailing uncle, Roger Finbar. They just seem to “be there” without any explanation or view into their thoughts before taking the trip. Why Stromboli? Why this particular inn? This is also lacking for all the different guests, save for Charles himself. What seems strange is that Roger persuades Charles, a perfect stranger he has just met, to take care of Candace if something should happen to him. It’s like he expects to be dying soon and seems quite desperate to find someone to care for her. As he seems such a nice and caring man, it seems strange that he would put his nice in a vulnerable circumstance? The story doesn’t seem consider that she might not be safe.
Wealthy Isla Bailey is there with her husband Walker-Bailey. Theirs is a difficult marriage. He is unkind, insensitive and cruel to her. She is frustrated and angry about his heavy handedness, but finds some support in Colonel Bretherton, who admires her. That just makes Walker-Bailey even more angry and cruel. He is generally negative to the other guests who dislike him and spends his time walking in the area on his own.
Percival Quinn is a writer with some success. He has written a bestseller but suffers writer’s block as he is trying to write book number two. Walker-Bailey seems to be intensely jealous of him and Quinn doesn’t like Walker-Bailey much either.
Main character, Charles Latterly, takes on a bit of an observer role in this story. After the volcano has erupted and a body is found, he takes charge of leading the group to safety a few hours walk down to the coast.
The famous, rumbling volcano seems to be a character in itself contributing to the sense of danger. It represents the backdrop which drives the plot, and maybe it also adds a distraction to avoid finding out what really happens. They are too focused on staying safe to consider what happened to the victim. The story seems to be focusing on the main characters. The supporting characters of the group seem less developed.
I felt there was little explanation as to what had happened to the victim, just some brief facts.
The person suspected of the murder was sprung out on me towards the end of the story. I had not noticed a buildup of clues along the way, so it surprised me. I suspected some fishiness about the murderer, but had not foreseen exactly how it all panned out. I had not picked up on this person having a motive. It was explained briefly towards the end but the whole thing felt a bit unfulfilled.
There were very little of the Christmas theme in this story, only a few lines at the end. I have read quite a few of Anne Perry’s Christmas novels before, and she usually manages to create Victorian Christmas cheer mixed up with the crime element. Not so much this time. I realize it would be difficult to add a Christmas vibe to this plot, but I can’t help feeling a bit disappointed.
Overall the story felt a tad rushed, but I realize there are only 150 pages to do elaborations. I’m sure there would have been strict priorities as to what to emphasize and what to leave out. Fans of Anne Perry’s work would find this an ok read.
My rating 3 stars /5
(all opinions are my own)
October 21, 2015
Charles Latterly, Hester's brother, has been a shadow character in the series so far - appearing occasionally, but not one you feel you know (an acquaintance of the reader, if you will) - so being the central character is something new, and very welcome.
He's passing the Christmas holiday in Stromboli, a small island off the Sicilian coast. At first his manner is reserved, his regret evident, but as the atmosphere and his host work their magic he welcomes the change, becoming almost playful as he learns to respect the surroundings. But this is not your typical feel-good Christmas novella: just knowing the author leads you to expect something sinister, a mysterious death. Two questions remain: who will survive, and where is the bigger danger: a murderer, or the volcano?
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
He's passing the Christmas holiday in Stromboli, a small island off the Sicilian coast. At first his manner is reserved, his regret evident, but as the atmosphere and his host work their magic he welcomes the change, becoming almost playful as he learns to respect the surroundings. But this is not your typical feel-good Christmas novella: just knowing the author leads you to expect something sinister, a mysterious death. Two questions remain: who will survive, and where is the bigger danger: a murderer, or the volcano?
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 13, 2015
Charles Latterly goes to the Mediterranean island of Stromboli for Christmas. He's recently lost his wife and he seems pretty detached from his feelings and life in general. He's hoping the change in setting will allow him to find meaning to his otherwise empty existence.
He meets a group of English tourists. It's obvious from the start who's going to be murdered. Then the active volcano erupts and Charles does his bit to protect as many people as he can. He also finds out who the murderer is.
Personally, I'm not sure why this is called a holiday novel. There's not one bit of it that reads like a holiday story other than saying it's set at Christmastime.
I found it predictable and disappointing.
He meets a group of English tourists. It's obvious from the start who's going to be murdered. Then the active volcano erupts and Charles does his bit to protect as many people as he can. He also finds out who the murderer is.
Personally, I'm not sure why this is called a holiday novel. There's not one bit of it that reads like a holiday story other than saying it's set at Christmastime.
I found it predictable and disappointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2015
This is the latest in the author's Christmas series. It is the first one I have read, to find that Charles Latterly, a recent widower is spending it in on Stromboli. So not your traditional Christmas fayre!
At first reticent, Charles comes out of his shell and begins to embrace the island with its volcano. There is a wide array of marvellous characters, a death and rumblings from the volcano to liven up the proceedings considerably and the build up of suspense.
This is a quick and entertaining read that is well plotted. It can be read any time of the year and I recommend it to others. I received a ebook copy from the publisher via netgalley for an honest review.
At first reticent, Charles comes out of his shell and begins to embrace the island with its volcano. There is a wide array of marvellous characters, a death and rumblings from the volcano to liven up the proceedings considerably and the build up of suspense.
This is a quick and entertaining read that is well plotted. It can be read any time of the year and I recommend it to others. I received a ebook copy from the publisher via netgalley for an honest review.
January 17, 2023
This audiobook novella clocks in at 3+ hours and the narrator sounds like the stereotype of snooty old English man. I'm not sure what a raging volcano and a suspicious death have to do with Christmas other than the fact that the MC leaves to go on holiday and the book ends on Christmas Eve.
February 16, 2016
These annual Christmas novellas are meant to be fluff pieces, but this one is fluffier than most. Charles Latterly travels to the Mediterranean island of Stromboli to spend a quiet Christmas holiday at an inn at the base of a volcano. The guests at the inn are a grab bag of characters usually found at country houses in a cozy mystery story. None of them too interesting except for a precocious 14-year-old traveling with her uncle.Tempers among the others seethe & meanwhile the volcano rumbles & spits hot rocks (get it?).
As the volcano erupts a body is found. Will Charles discover the murderer? Will they all escape the volcano? Isn't there something seriously creepy about the author insinuating romantic notions of a grown man to a young teenage girl? Anne Perry needs to get her writing act together.
As the volcano erupts a body is found. Will Charles discover the murderer? Will they all escape the volcano? Isn't there something seriously creepy about the author insinuating romantic notions of a grown man to a young teenage girl? Anne Perry needs to get her writing act together.
December 23, 2016
I enjoyed the Ann Perry novel I just finished enough that I decided to read another one. They are very short after all and both of these had Christmas themes.
This one tells of recent widower Charles Latterly who decides to spend Christmas on Stromboli, an island off the coast of Sicily. He meets a very precocious teenager, but the other guests are unfriendly at best. As one would expect from Perry, they are all eventually suspected of murder.
These characters are interesting enough, and the plot is well crafted enough, that I kept reading. But I will say that, as with the other Perry novel I read this year, this could have used a bit of editing. I wish there was a bit more history to it as well. Don't get me wrong: this is a fun little Christmas read that is worth the short period of time it will take to read it.
This one tells of recent widower Charles Latterly who decides to spend Christmas on Stromboli, an island off the coast of Sicily. He meets a very precocious teenager, but the other guests are unfriendly at best. As one would expect from Perry, they are all eventually suspected of murder.
These characters are interesting enough, and the plot is well crafted enough, that I kept reading. But I will say that, as with the other Perry novel I read this year, this could have used a bit of editing. I wish there was a bit more history to it as well. Don't get me wrong: this is a fun little Christmas read that is worth the short period of time it will take to read it.
March 14, 2016
Anyone looking for a historical Christmas mystery has come to the wrong place. Anne Perry has created a short, small predictable mystery but thrown in the whole Christmas thing as an afterthought. Nothing about this story screams Christmas except perhaps the last line. Charles has gone to a small island for the holidays to bask in the sun on the side of the volcano. Things take a dark turn when one of the men staying at the "hotel" (more like B & B) says that someone tried to kill him. As if things couldn't get anymore dangerous the volcano starts to grumble. Are they all in danger? Will the volcano blow? A quick read narrated beautifully by Steven Crossly.
I received this audiobook for free from Library Thing in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.
I received this audiobook for free from Library Thing in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.
September 23, 2018
I enjoyed this, quick read- one sitting.
December 3, 2018
3.5 stars. I enjoyed this Christmas novella with Charles Latterly from Anne Perry's Monk series. It wound up being an exciting story as they tried to flee from an active volcano on an island. A quick read.
December 23, 2021
What an interesting short story. It reminded me of a 60’s B movie.
December 1, 2017
Intrigue trop simple et surtout AUCUNE ambiance de Noël ! Déçue.
November 10, 2015
This novella, set on Stromboli, the volcano/island off the coast of Sicily, is the 13th Christmas novella by this well-known writer of historical crime fiction. She uses minor characters from her Thomas Monk Victorian Mystery Series as the protagonists of her Christmas novellas.
The protagonist of A Christmas Escape she uses the forty-something brother, Charles, of the female partner, Harriet, of her Monk series. The story is told from his perspective in 3rd person limited narrative style. He is a widower who feels like a failure in life, so he seeks to spend Christmas away from friends and family, on the remote island.
"...the huge looming mountain, the arch of the sky, which was already darkening in the east. The fire of sunset in the west was painting the sea with color. A faint wind stirred, carrying the scent of grasses."
During the time of the British empire, no place was ever remote enough to escape British tourists, and so it is on Stromboli. Charles is booked at an inn that is chock full of Brits. They make up the cast of potential victims and perpetrators of crimes, along with the local owner of the country inn, a la Agatha Christie.
The historical novella offers some mystery, some hope to characters who'd lost hope, and a battle of good verses evil that ends on Christmas Day, with an erupting Stromboli in the background, and threateningly in the foreground, too. It also offers lots of deaths, too many deaths for my taste in a Christmas book, but that may bother other readers less, especially if they are regular readers of the author's Christmas novellas.
Although the story is set in late 1800s, oddly we are never told this in the book or in the book's description. There is no dateline at the beginning of the story. Only one of the two covers used for the book shows minuscule, easy to miss figures in historical dress. Stromboli is still remote, making it timeless, so the mention of a boat to get there, and the rural character of the place does not indicate the era. Tourists still leave London for the continent in trains, so that is no clue, either.
It is only one quarter of a way into the story, when the author mentions the misogynistic marriage laws of Britain that put a wife's property under her husband's control, that we get a hint at the era that is the setting for the story. I would have appreciated knowing a little more about Charles, since I'm not a reader of the author's historical crime series, and this is my first meeting with the character.
I enjoyed the Daphne du Maurier feeling that came through at times when the put upon women were described. The mountain setting was also a reminder of du Maurier, who often used that setting in her very entertaining short stories and novellas. What this book was missing, that du Maurier never omitted, was the sexual subtext. There is no sex or sexual subtext at all in this book, which hurt the believability of it for me. It is unnaturally chaste.
When an aging man is drawn to a nubile young woman, and the young woman's aging protector hands her over into the care of the other man, a perfect stranger, there should be some consideration or suggestion of sexuality, or at least the potential for sexual abuse of the vulnerable young woman. British gentlemen of that era were infamous for their sexual abuse of vulnerable young women. That part of the story felt odd to me, to say the least.
The writing is fluid and confident. The story is interesting. Fans of these Christmas novellas will not be disappointed, I suspect. It is a clean adventure novella set in the late 1800s on Stromboli, one of Italy's volcanic islands.
Please visit my full and illustrated review at Italophile Book Reviews. I received a review-copy of this book. This is my honest review.
http://italophilebookreviews.blogspot...
The protagonist of A Christmas Escape she uses the forty-something brother, Charles, of the female partner, Harriet, of her Monk series. The story is told from his perspective in 3rd person limited narrative style. He is a widower who feels like a failure in life, so he seeks to spend Christmas away from friends and family, on the remote island.
"...the huge looming mountain, the arch of the sky, which was already darkening in the east. The fire of sunset in the west was painting the sea with color. A faint wind stirred, carrying the scent of grasses."
During the time of the British empire, no place was ever remote enough to escape British tourists, and so it is on Stromboli. Charles is booked at an inn that is chock full of Brits. They make up the cast of potential victims and perpetrators of crimes, along with the local owner of the country inn, a la Agatha Christie.
The historical novella offers some mystery, some hope to characters who'd lost hope, and a battle of good verses evil that ends on Christmas Day, with an erupting Stromboli in the background, and threateningly in the foreground, too. It also offers lots of deaths, too many deaths for my taste in a Christmas book, but that may bother other readers less, especially if they are regular readers of the author's Christmas novellas.
Although the story is set in late 1800s, oddly we are never told this in the book or in the book's description. There is no dateline at the beginning of the story. Only one of the two covers used for the book shows minuscule, easy to miss figures in historical dress. Stromboli is still remote, making it timeless, so the mention of a boat to get there, and the rural character of the place does not indicate the era. Tourists still leave London for the continent in trains, so that is no clue, either.
It is only one quarter of a way into the story, when the author mentions the misogynistic marriage laws of Britain that put a wife's property under her husband's control, that we get a hint at the era that is the setting for the story. I would have appreciated knowing a little more about Charles, since I'm not a reader of the author's historical crime series, and this is my first meeting with the character.
I enjoyed the Daphne du Maurier feeling that came through at times when the put upon women were described. The mountain setting was also a reminder of du Maurier, who often used that setting in her very entertaining short stories and novellas. What this book was missing, that du Maurier never omitted, was the sexual subtext. There is no sex or sexual subtext at all in this book, which hurt the believability of it for me. It is unnaturally chaste.
When an aging man is drawn to a nubile young woman, and the young woman's aging protector hands her over into the care of the other man, a perfect stranger, there should be some consideration or suggestion of sexuality, or at least the potential for sexual abuse of the vulnerable young woman. British gentlemen of that era were infamous for their sexual abuse of vulnerable young women. That part of the story felt odd to me, to say the least.
The writing is fluid and confident. The story is interesting. Fans of these Christmas novellas will not be disappointed, I suspect. It is a clean adventure novella set in the late 1800s on Stromboli, one of Italy's volcanic islands.
Please visit my full and illustrated review at Italophile Book Reviews. I received a review-copy of this book. This is my honest review.
http://italophilebookreviews.blogspot...
November 17, 2015
First Sentence: Charles Latterly stared across the untroubled sea at the shore they were fast approaching.
Hester Monk’s brother, widower Charles Latterly wishes to escape from the holidays in England and travels to a small hotel on the Italian island of Stromboli. However, with the exception of the innkeeper, an elderly man and his niece, neither his co-visitors, nor the island’s volcano, prove to be very restful. When the volcano starts to make its presence felt and one of the guests is found murdered, Charles realizes they must escape the hotel, and the killer among them.
Perry creates such wonderful descriptions--”The mountain rose sharply, as symmetrical and uncomplicated as a child’s drawing.”--that places come to life under her deft hand. One can’t but smile at her analogy of the volcano…”…it’s mostly like a lot of old people: It complains and uses some harsh language, but it doesn’t really do anything.” Or, at least until it does.
Charles is a strong protagonist yet interesting in that he rather fades into the background, letting others, particularly Candice, the delightful 14-year-old, her uncle, and Stefano the innkeeper, take center stage. It’s a cleverly done balance and one that works extremely well. At the same time, Perry effectively introduces us to all of the characters through a conversation which also provides a sense of their personalities and relationships.
One doesn’t always think of Perry and food, but being set in Italy, how could food not be included—“fresh crusty bread, slightly salty butter, and think dollops of homemade apricot jam.” And that is just the start.
An author who causes one to stop and consider, is always worth reading. Charles description of a perfect speech might also be applied to a well-written book. Yet it is her analogy of Stefano and the volcano that one may find stays with them—“Stefano was frightened of the mountain. It was not love he felt for it but respect, awe, and that included a knowledge of its power….It gave life, but it also dealt death.”
“A Christmas Escape,” set on a volcanic island, provides suspense and sense of grave danger which escalates at a breath-taking rate as the story progresses. Yet it is the vividness of Charles and Candice that leaves one hoping they will reappear in the future.
A CHRISTMAS ESCAPE (Hist Mys-Charles Latterly-Italy-Vict) – 13th Christmas Novella – VG+
Perry, Anne –Standalone
Ballantine Books - November 2015
Hester Monk’s brother, widower Charles Latterly wishes to escape from the holidays in England and travels to a small hotel on the Italian island of Stromboli. However, with the exception of the innkeeper, an elderly man and his niece, neither his co-visitors, nor the island’s volcano, prove to be very restful. When the volcano starts to make its presence felt and one of the guests is found murdered, Charles realizes they must escape the hotel, and the killer among them.
Perry creates such wonderful descriptions--”The mountain rose sharply, as symmetrical and uncomplicated as a child’s drawing.”--that places come to life under her deft hand. One can’t but smile at her analogy of the volcano…”…it’s mostly like a lot of old people: It complains and uses some harsh language, but it doesn’t really do anything.” Or, at least until it does.
Charles is a strong protagonist yet interesting in that he rather fades into the background, letting others, particularly Candice, the delightful 14-year-old, her uncle, and Stefano the innkeeper, take center stage. It’s a cleverly done balance and one that works extremely well. At the same time, Perry effectively introduces us to all of the characters through a conversation which also provides a sense of their personalities and relationships.
One doesn’t always think of Perry and food, but being set in Italy, how could food not be included—“fresh crusty bread, slightly salty butter, and think dollops of homemade apricot jam.” And that is just the start.
An author who causes one to stop and consider, is always worth reading. Charles description of a perfect speech might also be applied to a well-written book. Yet it is her analogy of Stefano and the volcano that one may find stays with them—“Stefano was frightened of the mountain. It was not love he felt for it but respect, awe, and that included a knowledge of its power….It gave life, but it also dealt death.”
“A Christmas Escape,” set on a volcanic island, provides suspense and sense of grave danger which escalates at a breath-taking rate as the story progresses. Yet it is the vividness of Charles and Candice that leaves one hoping they will reappear in the future.
A CHRISTMAS ESCAPE (Hist Mys-Charles Latterly-Italy-Vict) – 13th Christmas Novella – VG+
Perry, Anne –Standalone
Ballantine Books - November 2015
December 5, 2015
A delightful escape from the English snowy holiday, off to Stromboli for Christmas -- and a hotbed of intrigue among the British visitors to a volcanic mountainside inn. Hester Monk's brother, Charles Latterly, finds himself with a refreshingly intelligent young teenager, as well as with a charming innkeeper who is a master cook. The story has a reliable set of an assortment of British standbys ... and something nasty hidden among them. The characterizations, the motivations, the intrigue among the cast are far more interesting than the plot, which nevertheless holds it all together--and blows it all up in the end. Great fast read, entertaining and revealing of human nature ... and reading this in early December 2015 with Nicaragua’s Momotombo volcano erupting for the first time in 110 years, spewing ash and lava thousands of feet into the air. It's been dormant since 1905.
Mt Etna erupted on Thursday filling the sky with a monstrous saucer of smoke and bolts of lightning. It totally blocked out the sky. So this book is just on target for what's happening in the atmosphere--and more interesting for its graphic description of what being on an erupting volcano is like.
Mt Etna erupted on Thursday filling the sky with a monstrous saucer of smoke and bolts of lightning. It totally blocked out the sky. So this book is just on target for what's happening in the atmosphere--and more interesting for its graphic description of what being on an erupting volcano is like.
November 22, 2015
I look forward to Anne Perry's little Christmas novelettes every year. They always include a minor character from one of her two long-running series. In this case we have Charles Latterly, Hester Monk's brother. The setting is different for a Christmas story. Charles has traveled to the Mediterranean island of Stromboli to spend Christmas. He has just recently lost his wife and he wants to get away to regroup and do some hiking. Stromboli island has a very active volcano, but the hiking is spectacular. He is staying at a small hotel on the island that is located in the lee of the volcano. The food is fantastic, but the other guests are varied, and some are not very likable. A lot happens in this little book. The Stromboli volcano is showing signs of becoming very active. There is a lot of antagonism between some of the guests that spills over onto the other guests like Charles. Anne Perry's storytelling is excellent, whether it's in one of her novels, or in a small novelette like this. Her descriptions and her characterizations makes her stories and her characters come alive. There wasn't much about Christmas in this book, but it was enjoyable all the same.
November 20, 2015
Charles Latterly, a widower, decides to spend a few weeks staying in a house under the shadow of the volcano Stromboli while he does some serious thinking about what he wants to do with his life. It is the year 1866. Charles hopes for lots of long walks, good food and time to think and relax.
The volcano has other ideas. His fellow guests are an interesting mixture of pleasant and thoroughly nasty and one of their number is found murdered just as the party has to make its escape from the erupting volcano. Can Charles lead all of them - including the murderer, to safety?
I have read a few other books by Anne Perry and enjoyed them and found this an interesting and exciting read with its race for safety. I liked Charles as a character and the young girl, Candace, with whom he makes friends. I thought the characters were well drawn and the story was tense and well plotted. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review purposes.
The volcano has other ideas. His fellow guests are an interesting mixture of pleasant and thoroughly nasty and one of their number is found murdered just as the party has to make its escape from the erupting volcano. Can Charles lead all of them - including the murderer, to safety?
I have read a few other books by Anne Perry and enjoyed them and found this an interesting and exciting read with its race for safety. I liked Charles as a character and the young girl, Candace, with whom he makes friends. I thought the characters were well drawn and the story was tense and well plotted. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review purposes.
November 26, 2015
Review: A CHRISTMAS ESCAPE by Anne Perry
I have loved the novels of Anne Perry for many years, her Christmas novellas stand in a separate wonderful category all their old, touching the ice cold heart of even the most weary Scrooge. In A CHRISTMAS ESCAPE, a middle-aged Englishman, emotionally wrung out and world weary, spends Christmastide on a volcanic island near Sicily. Human nature what it is, there'll be trouble, joy, danger, and friendships. A CHRISTMAS ESCAPE ably demonstrates that "no man is an island."
I have loved the novels of Anne Perry for many years, her Christmas novellas stand in a separate wonderful category all their old, touching the ice cold heart of even the most weary Scrooge. In A CHRISTMAS ESCAPE, a middle-aged Englishman, emotionally wrung out and world weary, spends Christmastide on a volcanic island near Sicily. Human nature what it is, there'll be trouble, joy, danger, and friendships. A CHRISTMAS ESCAPE ably demonstrates that "no man is an island."
March 3, 2016
I have always enjoyed Anne Perry's Christmas books, but this is not a good effort on the author's part. Our hero is on an Italian island with a volcano that's been very irritable lately. Then we have the unhappy marriage, the orphaned teenager, a famous author, a case of plagiarism, a stolen diary, a sick old man, a murderer, and of course, the erupting volcano. By book's end, four people (including two good guys) are dead, but it's a happy Christmas. In fact, the book has nothing to do with Christmas or happiness. Definitely nowhere near Perry's best work.
November 24, 2015
This was a delightful story about Charles Latterly, of the Monk series, who goes on vacation to Italy to get a grasp on his uninspired life. Here he meets a teen girl and her uncle who have a surprising effect on him as he dodges a volcano, rescues a group of people, unmasks a murderer, and finds meaning for his life. Sweet, uplifting story that only vaguely has to do with Christmas in that it's set at the time. But a good story.
December 14, 2019
Despite the title and cover art, this book has very little to do with Christmas. It is however a very good story of a man seeking to discover meaning in his life and finding something in himself that he was not aware of as he confronts danger and commits to saving others at the risk of his own life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 393 reviews