What do you think?
Rate this book
Christine Bennett #14
The Happy Birthday Murder
IT’S PARTY TIME FOR A KILLER
Suburban sleuth Christine Bennett is moved and intrigued by two poignant mementos treasured by her late Aunt May. The first is a sad little note mourning the death of a young man lost in a Connecticut wood; the other, an obituary honoring a wealthy local manufacturer who committed suicide just after his splendid fiftieth birthday celebration.
Why did her aunt never mention these virtually simultaneous tragedies? Chris’s investigative instincts are irresistibly whetted–especially by the bizarre discovery that the victims, though strangers, were found wearing each other’s sneakers. And as she slices through the layers of the past, she uncovers the horrible truth that murder was just the icing on the cake. . . .
Suburban sleuth Christine Bennett is moved and intrigued by two poignant mementos treasured by her late Aunt May. The first is a sad little note mourning the death of a young man lost in a Connecticut wood; the other, an obituary honoring a wealthy local manufacturer who committed suicide just after his splendid fiftieth birthday celebration.
Why did her aunt never mention these virtually simultaneous tragedies? Chris’s investigative instincts are irresistibly whetted–especially by the bizarre discovery that the victims, though strangers, were found wearing each other’s sneakers. And as she slices through the layers of the past, she uncovers the horrible truth that murder was just the icing on the cake. . . .
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 29, 2002
11 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
About the author
Lee Harris
103 books77 followersA 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 24, 2025
Wow, this is one of the most unusual, fascinating stories I've read. Her style is maturing and getting better. But the things I still love the most is how it is all the characters, which have been there for Christine from the beginning through now still adding meat to the bones, and light to the tunnel. This book was just how the hand of fate starts to disclose truth when someone is willing to pick up the strands and put it together. I really love this series, and this book continues to cement my longing for the next.
July 16, 2011
I always enjoy these. Light reading and yet I rarely figure out the answer before Christine.
January 26, 2021
Yet another in this series of a nun-turned investigator married to a cop. This time she found the initial clues hidden in her own basement in old boxes of her aunt's that got flooded. Oy. The twists and turns between the Town of Oakwood where they live and Connecticut. Two deaths. Do their paths cross? You'll have to read it to figure it out. At the very end of this book, the author, through the voice of Chris, asks some really important life questions. What is the nature of forgiveness? How much does someone need to pay for a crime? She doesn't attempt to answer them. Leaving them hanging. That's OK. I am still enjoying the series, reading each one as a break from some of my other work and tied to what ever holiday comes up in the calendar. This one I read for my own birthday. Although the story begins with a birthday party (actually there is more than one in the book), that is not the focus. Fun read--despite the deaths.
September 6, 2025
Where to begin, first of all, I thought the story was very silly. Second, everybody in the book seemed, not too bright. Thirdly, the epilogue didn’t explain anything about the shoes. I was very disappointed. Also, I guess these things only happen in small towns, but if somebody knocked on my door who wasn’t law-enforcement, and wanted to ask me questions about murders that happened 12 years ago, I would think they were crazy. Lee Harris’s Jane Bauer series is much better.
September 3, 2023
Holiday Read August 2023
I know it's September but I got the book late ;-)
No holidays in Aug. but I can celebrate my birthday, which should be a national holiday anyway.
My favorite of the series so far.
Well written, good dialog, interesting characters [a couple we learn a bit more about].
Not the happiest ending but I would say satisfying.
I know it's September but I got the book late ;-)
No holidays in Aug. but I can celebrate my birthday, which should be a national holiday anyway.
My favorite of the series so far.
Well written, good dialog, interesting characters [a couple we learn a bit more about].
Not the happiest ending but I would say satisfying.
October 28, 2025
The story moves methodically through Christine's investigation of the seemingly unrelated murders of Larry Fillmore and Darby Linton 12 years after they occurred. Justice is the endgame, but Christine acts with compassion and with strength of character even when it would be easier to let the confrontation go or leave it to others.
July 1, 2019
This mystery is about how our past catches up with us.
February 10, 2020
Another good Christine Bennett murder mystery with a totally unique plot!
April 4, 2020
It's always fun to read a Lee Harris mystery! I'm on to the next one!!!
May 3, 2025
The ending was a surprise.
July 22, 2010
Another pleasant Bennett outing, but weak entry in series...
Having read all 14 of the murder tales about ex-nun Chris Bennett, we are starting to see the series flag a little in zest and credibility. Chris has always specialized in solving (as an amateur) cold crimes that the police were unable to conclude, mostly through long sets of questions with innumerable witnesses and family members of the victims. Plots with just enough suspense and complications, with little or no violence, have given us plenty of pleasant hours reading about this endearing sleuth and (now) her husband Jack and son Eddie.
The premise to get this book cooking was a bit far-fetched to begin with. Sifting through some old papers of her aunt's (whose house Chris inherited), Bennett discovers funeral notices and personal notes about a young adult who died essentially from being lost in the woods (in Connecticut) and another about a man who died (ruled a suicide) on his 50th birthday (hence the title) in the New York area. The two deaths occurred within days of each other some twelve years ago. With no more provocation than that, Chris starts bugging the families concerned for more details about their deaths -- and gee, guess what?? It turns out there is a connection between the two that of course was never discovered by the two police forces conducting the official investigations of the cases. We found that all a bit too much to swallow, and the numerous trips to the scenes and hours of questioning random household members and neighbors near the woods, etc., got to be pretty slow going for much of the book. Only at the end, where some brand new revelations helped turn all the clues into a solution, involving a character never introduced until near the final chapter, did things clear up.
We have noticed that since Eddie has come along, much of the books include filler describing the everyday tedium of meals and naps and trips to the babysitter. Indeed, much of this book looked like filler as Chris rambled on from one whimsical idea to another in a frustrating attempt to find clues. Perhaps it was we readers who were equally frustrated by a leading lady we like who has seemed to become, well, progressively boring as her life increasingly begins to resemble ours. We note that Lee Harris has started a new series ("Murder in Hell's Kitchen") and wonder if our author may have come to the same conclusion as us -- it may be time to move on.
Having read all 14 of the murder tales about ex-nun Chris Bennett, we are starting to see the series flag a little in zest and credibility. Chris has always specialized in solving (as an amateur) cold crimes that the police were unable to conclude, mostly through long sets of questions with innumerable witnesses and family members of the victims. Plots with just enough suspense and complications, with little or no violence, have given us plenty of pleasant hours reading about this endearing sleuth and (now) her husband Jack and son Eddie.
The premise to get this book cooking was a bit far-fetched to begin with. Sifting through some old papers of her aunt's (whose house Chris inherited), Bennett discovers funeral notices and personal notes about a young adult who died essentially from being lost in the woods (in Connecticut) and another about a man who died (ruled a suicide) on his 50th birthday (hence the title) in the New York area. The two deaths occurred within days of each other some twelve years ago. With no more provocation than that, Chris starts bugging the families concerned for more details about their deaths -- and gee, guess what?? It turns out there is a connection between the two that of course was never discovered by the two police forces conducting the official investigations of the cases. We found that all a bit too much to swallow, and the numerous trips to the scenes and hours of questioning random household members and neighbors near the woods, etc., got to be pretty slow going for much of the book. Only at the end, where some brand new revelations helped turn all the clues into a solution, involving a character never introduced until near the final chapter, did things clear up.
We have noticed that since Eddie has come along, much of the books include filler describing the everyday tedium of meals and naps and trips to the babysitter. Indeed, much of this book looked like filler as Chris rambled on from one whimsical idea to another in a frustrating attempt to find clues. Perhaps it was we readers who were equally frustrated by a leading lady we like who has seemed to become, well, progressively boring as her life increasingly begins to resemble ours. We note that Lee Harris has started a new series ("Murder in Hell's Kitchen") and wonder if our author may have come to the same conclusion as us -- it may be time to move on.
December 30, 2014
#14 in the Christine Bennett series. Although I'm not a big fan of cozy mysteries, I thoroughly enjoy this series about an ex-nun in her thirties, married and with a four year old son. Chris lives in the house she inherited from her aunt about the time she left the convent. Weeding old papers from some cardboard boxes in the basement she come across messages from two people afflicted by tragedies about 12 years earlier and thanking her aunt for her sympathies. She decides to track down these people, one in her NY town on the North Shore of Long Island Sound and the other in CT. She finds a connection between the two deaths that had not previously been made because of their geographical separation. As is the case in cozies, when the answers come they come fast and furious. Chris winds up finding out more than she expected and in fact more than she wanted.
Christine Bennett series - Sleuth Christine Bennett is moved by two mementos treasured by her late Aunt May: a note mourning the death of a young man lost in a Connecticut wood and an obituary of a wealthy local manufacturer who killed himself after his 50th birthday celebration. In both cases, murder was just the icing on the cake.
Christine Bennett series - Sleuth Christine Bennett is moved by two mementos treasured by her late Aunt May: a note mourning the death of a young man lost in a Connecticut wood and an obituary of a wealthy local manufacturer who killed himself after his 50th birthday celebration. In both cases, murder was just the icing on the cake.
August 17, 2012
This story just did not pull any emotion from me. There were many scenarios that should & could have brought tears, anger, etc. but the feeling was just not IN this book for me. The narration was just flat & so non-emoitional for the most part. The few scenes in the story that emotion was indicated, just missed it's mark. It didn't go to the heart. Just to the mind. The mystery itself was fairly good but the facts and "what if's" were so so long & drawn out throughout the book that it became monotonous. Rehashing the same facts over and over again just lost it for me.There were several times in the story that Chris (lead lady) & her ex-policeman husband was involved in decisions (legal) that I don't believe ANY officer or ex-officer of the law would have gone along with. Leaving a decision up to Chris that in reality would have been ridiculous. I hate to speak negative of any book but this one fell cold and basically flat for me. I gave 2 stars because the twist involving one of the characters in the story was an unexpected interesting
and believable addition to wrapping up and explaning events that occured in the story. I just wish the emotion had been there for me.
and believable addition to wrapping up and explaning events that occured in the story. I just wish the emotion had been there for me.
June 27, 2010
Was very interesting book. Started off somewhat slow, and toward the end made me so excited i finished the book when I should have been sleeping. This one in the Christine Bennett series really shows even more how naive she really is as a character. But overall it was a great book.
September 7, 2013
Sad to find a dead person on your birthday but fun to solve
December 23, 2016
Another entry into this almost-cozy series. In my opinion, not one of her best, but still a quick read and enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews