Midwinter Mysteries: A Christmas Crime Anthology

Josef Slonský Investigations #3.5

by Keith Moray, David Field, Marilyn Todd

Eleven authors. Eleven stories. One festive collection! Perfect for fans of crime fiction, short stories, thrillers – and Christmas! Deck the halls with tales of murder! To get you in the mood for Christmas, Sapere Books has brought eleven of their authors together in this thrilling, festive short story anthology. From dead bodies in Victorian London, to fraudulent identities in modern-day Cheltenham and a dead Santa in Galway, each story in this collection follows a mystery in the lead-up to Christmas. Follow Charles Dickens as he turns private investigator; a feisty couple challenging the status quo in 17th century England; a young woman unmasking fraudulent psychics in Victorian Brighton; an enigmatic policeman manning the streets of Prague; a strong-willed female detective taking down criminals in Wales; and a law-enforcement team investigating a death on a small Scottish island. The authors in this collection Graham Brack, author of THE JOSEF SLONSKÝ INVESTIGATIONS J. C. Briggs, author of THE CHARLES DICKENS INVESTIGATIONS Keith Moray, author of THE INSPECTOR TORQUIL MCKINNON INVESTIGATIONS Cora Harrison, author of THE VICTORIAN LONDON MURDER MYSTERIES Seán Gibbons, author of THE BEN MILLER THRILLERS Marilyn Todd, author of THE JULIA MCALLISTER MYSTERIES Gaynor Torrance, author of the DI JEMIMA HUXLEY INVESTIGATIONS David Field, author of THE ESTHER AND JACK ENRIGHT MYSTERIES Kim Fleet, author of THE EDEN GREY MYSTERIES M. J. Logue, author of THE THOMAZINE AND THANKFUL RUSSELL THRILLERS Linda Stratmann, author of THE MINA SCARLETTI MYSTERIES

Genres: Christmas, Mystery, Short Stories, Crime, Anthologies

157 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 30, 2019

About the author

Pen name of Keith Moray Souter, also writes as Keith Souter and Clay More.

Reviews

[Sandysbookaday (on indefinite hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

EXCERPT: Galway, Ireland, 2019

It could be said that everything that happens is good news for somebody. How driving along a motorway, at two o'clock in the morning shortly before Christmas, with a dead Santa Claus in the back of his cab could ever be good news for Ben Miller was anybody's guess. (The Stolen Santa Sack by Sean Gibbons)

ABOUT THIS BOOK: Eleven authors. Eleven stories. One festive collection! Perfect for fans of crime fiction, short stories, thrillers — and Christmas!

Deck the halls with tales of murder!

To get you in the mood for Christmas, Sapere Books has brought eleven of their authors together in this thrilling, festive short story anthology.

From dead bodies in Victorian London, to fraudulent identities in modern-day Cheltenham and a dead Santa in Galway, each story in this collection follows a mystery in the lead-up to Christmas.

Follow Charles Dickens as he turns private investigator.; a feisty couple challenging the status quo in 17th century England; a young woman unmasking fraudulent psychics in Victorian Brighton; an enigmatic policeman manning the streets of Prague; a strong-willed female detective taking down criminals in Wales; and a law-enforcement team investigating a death on a small Scottish island.

MY THOUGHTS: A quick and quirky read. This enjoyable collection of murders based around Christmas time contains a ghost who appears in a wedding photo, a dead Santa, a Russian policeman with a sense of humour, and even Charles Dickens makes an appearance! The times span from Victorian to current day, and the locations include London, Wales and Ireland.

While some of the stories rely heavily on Christmas and all the traditions and customs that come along with it, in others the fact that it is Christmas is just a misfortune of timing.

Most of the authors are unfamiliar to me, but I have read one or two previously.

Definitely recommended if you want a little mayhem in the guise of theft and murder in your Christmas stocking. My personal favourite was Footprints in the Snow by JC Briggs.

#MidwinterMysteries #NetGalley

😍😍😍😍

THE AUTHORS: Graham Brack - Away in a Manger
J C Briggs - Footprints in the Snow
Keith Moray - Lost and Found
Cora Harrison - The Spirit of Christmas
Sean Gibbons - The Stolen Santa Sack
Marilyn Todd - Will Power
Gaynor Torrance - Christmas Spirits
David Field - The Essex Nativity
Kim Fleet - Secret Santa
MJ Logue - Stir Up Sunday
Linda Stratman - The Christmas Ghost

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Sapere Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Midwinter Mysteries for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sapere Books provide a festive crime and mystery short story collection from authors they publish or will publish soon. What it serves as so effectively is an opportunity to experience authors you may never have come across before and find that their writing and storytelling appeals so much that their full length novels beckon, I certainly found this to be the case. This is perfect reading fare for this time of the year in the run up to Christmas, with a wide range of stories set in the present and the past, including the 17th Century with Charles II's reign and the Victorian period. The authors represented in this selection of 11 stories are Graham Brack, JC Briggs, Keith Moray, Cora Harrison, Sean Gibbons, Marilyn Todd, Gaynor Torrance, David Field, Kim Fleet, MJ Logue and Linda Stratmann.

In Prague, Lieutenant Josef Slonsky sets out to police the Chrismas Market and the performance of the Nativity play, only to find crime does not stop for the festive season. Charles Dickens is stuck at Fareaway Abbey as a snow blizzard rages outside, succumbing to his hosts and other guests desire for him to tell a ghost story, but constantly aware of a guest who is desperate to leave. In West Uist in Scotland, the morning after a ceilidh, Skipper McTavish is found dead, a police station is broken into and a snuffbox is missing. In London in 1858, a poor blind boy, Sammy, is brutally and forcibly displaced from his begging spot singing carols outside Hamleys, and a gold bullion heist takes place. In Galway, Ireland, a taxi driver finds himself with a dead Santa in his cab and his sack missing, and just cannot stop himself from investigating. A female photographer in the Victorian era finds photographs of the Kent wedding taken from her studio. In Cardiff, two police officers stop off at a toy store to buy Christmas presents, only to find more than they bargained for. In Essex in 1895, echoes of the birth of Christ resonate when a homeless couple, the woman expecting a baby, seek refuge. In Cheltenham, PI Eden Gray looks for a stalker of an elderly woman. In London 1665, justice and dignity is preserved despite the orders of Charles II's spymaster. In Brighton in 1871, the spirit of Christmas and forgiveness finally find a woman haunted by a ghost.

I think most readers will find stories that capture their imagination here. My favourites were Christmas in Prague with Lieutenant Slonsky, DI Jemma Huxley and her visit to a toystore at Christmas in Cardiff, Charles Dickens and the desperate to leave guest and the secret Santa role played by an elderly woman in Cheltenham. If you fancy festive Christmas crime and mystery, then this short story collection is an ideal read and gift! Many thanks to Sapere Books for an ARC.

[PattyMacDotComma · Rating 4 out of 5]

4★
“ ‘One more night, sir,’ Navrátil said.

‘Is your life expectancy that short? It’s all those cinnamon cookies you’ve been eating.’

‘One more night until Christmas,’ Navrátil explained.

‘Ten out of ten for observation. Unfortunately, peace on earth and goodwill to all men is not the motto of the Prague criminal community, so we can’t relax our vigilance just because two thousand years ago an unmarried mother popped her baby in a shed in the Middle East.’

‘Stable, sir.’

‘I’m glad you are, lad, but that doesn’t change anything.’

‘The baby, sir — born in a stable.’”

Classic Graham Brack! His “Away in a Manger” is the first story, and one of the best. A group of actors are performing a Christmas play in a crowded square, so while people are watching and shivering and drinking spiced wine, they are easy pickings for thieves. Never fear! Our intrepid trio are alert!

The year and location changes for the various stories, but the season is the same, making this an interesting anthology. Some are current day, some are 1800s, harking back to the times of Dickens, while M.J. Logue's takes place in 1665, in the court of Charles II of England. Plenty of variety.

Here's an opening that will keep you reading: “The Stolen Santa Sack’ by Sean Gibbons.

“Galway, Ireland, 2019
It could be said that everything that happens is good news for somebody. How driving along a motorway, at two o’clock in the morning shortly before Christmas, with a dead Santa Claus in the back of his cab could ever be good news for Ben Miller was anybody’s guess.”

I did particularly enjoy one about an old spook, long “retired”, but who never lost the habits of a lifetime. “Secret Santa” by Kim Fleet. A nice little gem of a story.

This is the kind of book I would buy and keep handy for guests and place on the nightstand in a guest bedroom, if you have such a spot. The stories are short and self-contained, but if you want more of the same, each is followed by links to the author and their other work.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for the preview copy. Great idea!

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, the writers in this collection, and Sapere Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

With the holiday season just around the corner, I was happy to receive this collection of mysteries. Filled with short stories by a number of authors—most of whom I have never read—this was sure to be a wonderful early gift that any lover of mysteries could enjoy. I’ll jot down a brief summary of each piece and provide an overarching sentiment about the collection thereafter, for those who are interested.

Away in a Manger, by Graham Brack
Graham Brack takes readers to Prague, where Lieutenant Josef Slonský is working on Christmas Eve. Wanting to help some of the other members of his team see crime in action, Slonský convinces them to head down to the town square. While he partakes in a cup of hot wine, the others watch a short nativity play. A thief makes a grab for a woman’s wallet and the chase is on. This will be one Christmas that Slonský will not soon forget.

Footprints in the Snow, by J.C. Briggs
In this J.C. Briggs piece, Charles Dickens is stuck in a winter storm with a household and chooses to tell an impromptu story to pass the time. When his tale of a ghost appears to cause one guest to react, Dickens is surprised, but does not make much of it. However, the following morning, the same guest seems to have put himself in quite the predicament, with only a trail of footprints in the snow to explain his actions.

Lost and Found, by Keith Moray
In the small community of West Uist, Torquil McKinnon is hosting a small gathering, which includes a rag-tag group set to act as a band for the upcoming Hogmanay Dip and Nip. The following day, McKinnon learns that one of the group was found at his dining table, dead from an apparent attack of angina. Furthermore, the snuffbox in which he kept his pills was nowhere to be found. When someone commits a petty crime at the local police precinct, everyone begins to wonder if there is something to tie the death and crime together. Torquil and his fellow coppers will have to do some sleuthing before the Hogmanay Dip and Nip takes over their thoughts.

The Spirit of Christmas, by Cora Harrison
While doing some begging on the street, a young, blind boy hears his dog and minder being dragged away. Worried, Sammy tries to follow without seeing a thing and is barely saved from being killed. When his older brother, Alfie, arrives to collect him, there is much wrong with the situation. Not only is Sammy bruised, but someone has stolen a large amount of gold bullion. While Alfie processes this, he discovers a body. Alfie takes a moment to scan the scene and feels he may have an idea of what’s taken place.

The Stolen Santa Sack, by Seán Gibbons
Ben Miller enjoys driving his cab around Galway, even if he sometimes gets some odd requests. When a member of the police asks him to transport a man dressed as Santa to a hotel, he is happy to oblige. However, somewhere along the way, this Father Christmas ends up with a dagger in his chest and his sack is missing. Miller tried to stay out of it all, but cannot help sleuthing, as it seems all the coppers want is the contents of the sack. Lost in all of this is the question about what to do with the dead man in the red suit!

Will Power, by Marilyn Todd
Julia McAllister is great at her work, even if Victorian England is not ready to welcome a woman into the profession of photographer. Still, she runs her business as best she can, handling a handful of customers with a variety of requests. Julia dabbles into photography of both the living and dead, which only adds new and exciting wrinkles to her work, as well as a peppering of danger on the odd occasion. This holiday season is one of those times.

Christmas Spirits, by Gaynor Torrance
DI Jemima Huxley and her partner are on the lookout for a recently spotted murder suspect. While scanning the city, they come upon one of Cardiff’s most talked about toy stores, just in time for Huxley to ponder holiday gifts. When they find themselves being ignored by the staff, DI Huxley and her partner end up in the middle of a battle for that ‘must-have’ toy, though it is far from the scenario they might have expected. Forced to fend for themselves, DI Huxley must go above and beyond, while trying not to extinguish her holiday spark!

The Essex Nativity, by David Field
Jack Enright is in the holiday spirit, but has yet to be able to convince his mother to let him host the festivities. As Jack and Esther have come to realise, when Constance says something, you nod and go about your day. During a meal with his uncle, Percy, both coppers are called to the scene of a rural farm, where they discover a couple trying to stay warm and in the midst of delivering a baby. Percy takes up the leadership role and discovers that one of his active cases might have a new lead, forcing him to rush and make a call to Scotland Yard, while also seeking a doctor for the young couple. What follows is a feast and a touching revelation about the strength of the Christmas spirit.

Secret Santa, by Kim Fleet
Eden Grey is a hard-working private investigator with many resources at her disposal. When Eden receives an anonymous note at her office, she cannot help but begin a little surveillance effort, watching a man appear to stalk a much older woman. After confronting this mystery man, Eden learns his story, which only opens new avenues of investigation. Now, Eden must decide what to do and how to go about substantiating the claim made to her.

Stir Up Sunday, by M.J. Logue
Thankful Russell runs a popular printing shop in the 17th century. When he and his wife, Thomazine, are visited by a member of King Charles II’s Court, they agree to print a document said to be some of His Majesty’s recipes. However, it would seem someone wants the manuscript for themselves, breaking into the shop and trying to steal it. Thomazine, the brains of the family, posits that this could be more than a collection of hearty meal ideas, tied to the recent Cromwell uprising. What follows is a race to discover the truth so that Thomazine and Thankful can enjoy their Christmas together.

The Christmas Ghost, by Linda Strathman
Mina Scarletti has a way of communicating with those who have passed on and is summoned to the home of a grieving mother. Mina soon learns that the woman’s son died in a freak accident one past Christmas Eve and she hopes to be able to see her beloved boy. While Mina breaks the news that she cannot sense the boy in the house, she reveals an interesting piece of advice that might help salve the woman’s ongoing pain.

Having made my way through the collection, I must say that I am thoroughly impressed with what I read. These authors do know how to put together a wonderful set of stories, impressing the reader with a vast array of settings, characters, and approaches. While I know that I have read two of the full-length series hinted at above, there are now a number of others I am interested in finding and hopefully adding to my ongoing long list of series I follow. The publisher did well in gathering these authors together with the general Christmas theme running through their writings. I hope others are dazzled as much as I have been with this collection.

Kudos, writers of this collection, for a great set of short pieces. There’s nothing like a little mystery to heighten the excitement of the holiday season.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I love anthologies. It’s a great way to try on new authors before coughing up the big bucks for their full length novel on spec. It’s also nice to have something you can dip into when you’ve got a few spare minutes to read a short story.

This is a collection from Sapere featuring 11 authors giving their takes on mysteries set around Christmas. Some are period pieces, some are set in present day. There’s a real mix here & as with all anthologies every reader will have their personal favourites.

So I’m just going to mention the three I thought were standouts.

“Will Power” by Marilyn Todd is set in 1895 London & features Julia McAllister, a smart independent woman who makes her living as a photographer. The narrative is pacey & atmospheric & full of witty dialogue & sharp humour I really enjoyed. She’s a new author for me & after reading this shortie I picked up the first book in the series.

“Secret Santa” by Kim Fleet features Eden Grey, a private investigator in Cheltenham. Another new author, another great story & another series I’ll be checking out (I think my TBR pile just burst into tears).

And last but not least, one that reunited me with a character I’m very familiar with…the one & only Lieutenant Josef Slonský. “Away in a Manger” by Graham Brack takes us to Prague for Xmas where we follow the gang as they deal with some festive pickpockets. As usual, the dialogue kept me grinning through the whole story.

There’s something here for all mystery lovers & at only 99¢ for kindle, it’s a screamin’ deal.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midwinter Mysteries: A Christmas Crime Anthology presents eleven short stories from Sapere Books authors, with Christmas Themes. For writers more accustomed to longer form, a short story can be a challenge, but most of these authors manage it very well.

Away in a Manger by Graham Brack: it’s Christmas Eve and Lieutenant Josef Slonský’s plan to take his junior colleagues out for a drink is somewhat thwarted when Captain Lukas sends them out on patrol, but what better way to blend in than with a hot wine cup in hand? While Officers Jan Navrátil and Kristýna Peiperová check out the Nativity Play, Slonský chats with his friend Valentin. Nearby, an English tourist is berating Officer Krob about her stolen handbag, and it turns out to be not an isolated incident. But Slonský’s careful observations and quick action by the Officers soon have the thieves in custody. 5/5

Footprints in the Snow by J C Briggs: Snowbound at Fareaway Abbey, at his host’s request Charles Dickens shares with the gathered company a haunting Christmas story before solving a locked-room murder mystery. 5/5

Lost and Found by Keith Moray: accordion player Murdo (Skipper) McTavish dies after their Boxing Day Ceilidh. It looks like natural causes, but there is the matter of the twice-stolen snuffbox. 5/5

The Spirit of Christmas by Cora Harrison: when blind Sammy is pushed from his usual singing spot in front of William Hamley’s toyshop by a big brute carrying a raucous tune, his brother Alfie fears for the effect on their earning potential. Their dog Mutsy is missing, and Little Olly has defected to the new singer. But the next morning it’s apparent that it’s something else entirely. Alfie helps Inspector Denham solve a very puzzling case. 5/5

The Stolen Santa sack by Sean Gibbons: Cab driver Ben Miller’s fare is Santa, courtesy of Inspector Martin Folan. Some clever dialogue in this tale of a dead Santa, a missing Santa sack, crooked cops, gangsters and a gambling scan. Initially amusing, ultimately confusing. 3/5

Will Power by Marilyn Todd: Photographer Julia McAlister returns from a job to find her studio forcibly entered and her latest bundle of prints stolen. She reassures the new bride of Barton Kent, Annabelle Parsons that the negatives are safe. But Annabelle’s reaction to one of them causes the whole tragic tale of a lost love to emerge, and Julia’s suspicions are aroused. 5/5

Christmas Spirits by Gaynor Torrance: After hours wasted at a false alarm, DI Jemima Huxley is headed back to the station when she spots the new Marchmont Toy Emporium megastore. She gets Sergeant Dan Broadhead to pull over, figuring a quick half hour will solve the problem of many still-unbought Christmas gifts. Inside, she tries to get assistance from a very unhelpful elf and soon realises something fishy is going on. 5/5

The Essex Nativity by David Field: just before Christmas, DS Jack Enright and his visiting uncle Percy (of Scotland Yard) are called to an outbuilding at Colonel Channing’s farm. The intruders bring to mind a certain couple in another stable long ago. Having ensured the welfare of the couple, Jack and Percy head to the antique store for Esther’s gift, but Percy is distracted… 5/5

Secret Santa by Kim Fleet: recovering from the ‘flu that laid her low over Christmas, PI Eden Grey finds an unsigned note under her door: “Who is following me?” it’s enough to raise her from her languor to discover who is being followed, who is doing the following, and why. An intriguing tale. 5/5

Stir up Sunday by M J Logue: Thankful Russell is ordered by the King’s spymaster to retrieve a stolen manuscript, penned by the King himself, in time for printing by Christmas Eve. It’s a distasteful document, purportedly a recipe book, but filled with Royally unkind wit. Thankful’s wife, Thomazine is outraged and upset over the whole prospect, but a very satisfactory solution is devised. 5/5

The Christmas Ghost by Linda Stratmann: Psychic Mina Scarletti is summoned by Mrs Calverdon to hear what her son, Roland, dead almost five years, is trying to tell her. She sees him, sitting in his favourite chair, but cannot hear him. Mina gives her some helpful advice. 5/5

Perfect little bites of the series these authors are known for, a marvellous little taste to stimulate further consumption.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Sapere Books

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot on offer here with this anthology. The selection of stories are from a broad range of authors and this should appeal to those who enjoy reading mysteries and crime stories. Add in the fact that these are all set at Christmas-time, and you have a Yule-tide treat!

There are couple of authors that I have already discovered and this is what made this collection so appealing. Whilst I only rated this an average of three stars, I think it is because I find it tricky to engage with short stories. You may ask why I entertained reading this book however, I enjoy the idea of discovering new authors. This book is perfect for just that: there are eleven different writers and their styles are all completely different. What I wanted from this was eleven stories that were a bit longer and developed.

This is a perfect reflection of Sapere’s catalogue. At the end of each episode there are details on the authors social media pages and an indication whether the characters in the short story are part of a bigger series. This is a great way to explore new writers because this advertising allows readers to find out more – this should appeal to those of you are who looking for new authors and want a little snapshot of their writing. Consider it like a sample of their works!

Each of the stories are considerably short. The book itself is around 130 pages, to give you an idea of length. Therefore, you can quite easily dip in and out of this anthology to give you a taster of different stories. Indeed, there is no need to read the stories in chronological order either, so the reader is in total control. The stories range from Dickensian to Victorian and then present day. There is a lot of theft, plenty of suspicious murders, but certainly no loose ends! Each story ends rather tidily – both a positive and a criticism about the lack of depths.

Whilst this book did not completely appeal to me, I can see why this collection would be popular. I wanted stories that had more detail to them; each episode concluded far too quickly and I didn’t feel I had a chance to engage with the plot. If you are after a set of new authors to try, then I can’t recommend this enough. There is such variety that I can’t believe readers would not find at least one new author to try.

With thanks to Sapere books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of 11 stories, written by 11 authors, all dealing with crime on or around Christmas. They are all short stories, all enjoyable with great characters.

From dead bodies in Victorian London, to fraudulent identities in modern-day Cheltenham and a dead Santa in Galway, each story in this collection follows a mystery in the lead-up to Christmas.

I enjoyed them all, so it's really difficult to pick a favorite or two. It's like asking which of your children is your favorite. Truly something for everyone.

The authors in this collection are:

Graham Brack, author of THE JOSEF SLONSKÝ INVESTIGATIONS

J C Briggs, author of THE CHARLES DICKENS INVESTIGATIONS

Keith Moray, author of THE INSPECTOR TORQUIL MCKINNON INVESTIGATIONS

Cora Harrison, author of THE VICTORIAN LONDON MURDER MYSTERIES

Seán Gibbons, author of THE BEN MILLER THRILLERS

Marilyn Todd, author of THE JULIA MCALLISTER MYSTERIES

Gaynor Torrance, author of the DI JEMIMA HUXLEY INVESTIGATIONS

David Field, author of THE ESTHER AND JACK ENRIGHT MYSTERIES

Kim Fleet, author of THE EDEN GREY MYSTERIES

M J Logue, author of THE THOMAZINE AND THANKFUL RUSSELL THRILLERS

Linda Stratmann, author of THE MINA SCARLETTI MYSTERIES

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Holidays to Everyone!

Many thanks to all the authors / Sapere Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Christmas Crime Anthology. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good assortment of authors/stories I enjoyed individually over time - a good chance to try out authors I was not familiar with.
Also good price for the kindle format!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little Christmas sampler from Sapere Books, showcasing 11 of their crime/mystery authors. I bought it for the story by Graham Brack (Lt Josef Slonsky #3.5), but discovered a few new authors to try as well. Whether it's the late 19th century, 1700s, or contemporary, most of the tales take place in the lead-up to Christmas, with one exception by Kim Fleet which is set in that dead period between Boxing Day and New Year. I enjoyed all the stories to a greater or lesser degree, but for one that I couldn't get into and did not finish.

From this smorgasbord of crime and mystery, the one I'm most keen on to go back for seconds (apart from Brack) is the Julia McAlister series by Marilyn Todd, about the first female crime scene photographer.

This anthology is well worth a read if you need help getting into the festive spirit!

[Jennifer (JC-S) · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘One more night, sir,’ Navrátil said.
‘Is your life expectancy that short? It’s all those cinnamon cookies you’ve been eating.’
‘One more night until Christmas,’ Navrátil explained.
‘Ten out of ten for observation. Unfortunately, peace on earth and goodwill to all men is not the motto of the Prague criminal community, …’ (‘Away in a Manger’ by Graham Brack)

Eleven delightful short stories, crime short stories with a Christmas theme. I have favourites (of course I do), I can’t go past ‘Away in a Manger’ by Graham Brack, ‘The Stolen Santa Sack’ by Seán Gibbons, or ‘Lost and Found’ by Keith Moray. Although, I’m tempted into Charles Dickens territory (‘Footprints in the Snow’ by J C Briggs).

In this short story anthology, Sapere Books have brought together eleven of their authors. Each story features a mystery in the lead-up to Christmas. From Prague to Galway via London, Wales and West Uist in Scotland, all places where Christmas is in midwinter. Here in Australia, Christmas is midsummer.

A quick and enjoyable read. Who are the authors, you ask?

Graham Brack - Away in a Manger
J C Briggs - Footprints in the Snow
Keith Moray - Lost and Found
Cora Harrison - The Spirit of Christmas
Seán Gibbons - The Stolen Santa Sack
Marilyn Todd - Will Power
Gaynor Torrance - Christmas Spirits
David Field - The Essex Nativity
Kim Fleet - Secret Santa
MJ Logue - Stir Up Sunday
Linda Stratman - The Christmas Ghost

I’ve read novels by Graham Brack, J C Briggs, Keith Moray, Cora Harrison and Marilyn Todd. I’ll now be looking to read novels by the other six authors.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Midwinter Mysteries is an anthology of short crime fiction stories by various authors.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Sapere Books, and of course the authors, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

  
My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

A brief description of each short story, and my thoughts.

Away in a Manger by Graham Brack - Prague, 2006. An outdoor market hosts a Nativity Play, and is ripe for thieves. (Josef Slonsky Investigations Series).  Humor abounds.  It was okay.

Footprints In the Snow by J.C. Briggs - England, 1850. Dickens and others are snowed in, so he tells them a ghost story.  The next morning one of them is dead in a locked room.  (Charles Dickens and Superintendent Jones Series).  Good.

Lost and Found by Keith Moray - Scotland, 2012.  The police wonder if a party discussion about snuff boxes and cauls and other folklore lead to a man's death.   (Inspector Torquil McKinnon Investigations Series).  Well-written and really interesting.

The Spirit of Christmas - by Cora Harrison - England, 1858.  A young boy finds a strange man in place of his blind brother who should be singing on the corner for some needed cash. (Victorian London Murder Mysteries Series).  Loved this one!

The Stolen Santa Sack - by Sean Gibbons - Ireland, 2019.  Corrupt policemen lose a sack of goodies, and Santa ends up dead in the back of a cab.  (Ben Miller Thriller Series).  This one was just fun!

Will Power by Marilyn Todd - England, 1895. A photographer captures more than just a "ghost" on film.  (Julia McAllister Victorian Mysteries).  Loved it!

Christmas Spirits by Gaynor Torrance - Wales, 2019.  A side trip to the toy store by two police officers provides them with more than gifts.  (DI Jemima Huxley Investigations Series).  Really good!

The Essex Nativity by David Field - England, 1895.  A birth in a barn, and an antique shop that is selling stolen property.  (Esther and Jack Knight Mystery Series).  Good.

Secret Santa by Kim Fleet - England, 2015.  An elderly woman hires a PI to find out who is following her.  (Eden Grey Mystery Series).  The Best of the Bunch!

Stir Up Sunday by M.J. Logue - England, 1665.  The royal recipe book is missing, and must be found. (Thomazine and Thankful Russell Thriller Series).  Not my cup of tea.

The Christmas Ghost by Linda Stratmann - England, 1871.  The loss of a loved one can leave a lasting memory.  (Mina Scarletti Mystery series).  Loved it!


My Opinions:

I must say I was pleasantly surprised by this collection of  Christmas-related short crime stories.  Different authors, different countries, different time frames....but a common theme, and really good writing.  These authors have all written full-length novels involving the main characters in these short stories, and I believe most of these series would be good.

Although I am not usually a fan of books in different centuries, I was pleasantly surprised.  I enjoyed more than I disliked...and with an anthology that is a really good rating!


For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Abibliofob · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this christmas story book only because of Graham Bracks Josef Slonský mystery. Sadly I did not like the other entries, but that could be my taste. Sadly the books about my favorite Prague policeman is over I have only 2 more books to read...

[Bandit · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was meant to help get into the Christmas spirit, but left a lot to be desired. Sure, the constant downpour outside didn’t improve the matters much, but even in a lovely snowstorm, this still would have been a lackluster read. Essentially this anthology is a promo, a chance for the authors at Sapere Press to pimp out their series via a Christmas theme short story featuring their characters. But be it historical or present day mysteries, quirky detectives or professional police procedurals, they were all just entirely too cozy for my liking. Quaint and cozy just aren’t the adjective I’m interested in when selecting mysteries, it isn’t even a word that ought to be associated with crime novels. And yet, for those who want their thrills neat, mild and easily digestible, there’s that and there’s this anthology. I was barely entertained, but at least it was a very quick read. Thanks Netgalley.

[Pam Baddeley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of crime stories around a Christmas theme. The best include the tie-in with the Slonsky series by Graham Brack, the one about Charles Dickens, the story about an older lady with an interesting wartime background and the final story in the collection regarding a dead son and his mother's desperation to get in touch with him. The others were adequate for the most part, though I found some completely unbelievable such as the one about the street beggars - it didn't work on so many levels. So on balance I would give this a 3 star rating.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Midwinter Mysteries" includes eleven short stories all with a Christmas theme. Some are set in the past and some in the present, but all are entertaining in their own way. When you have such a varied collection of stories like this, there will always be some you like more than others. I was already familiar with most of the authors who contributed to the collection from their full-length novels, but there were a few authors who were new to me. Collections like this are perfect for discovering new authors and I enjoy short stories set around the holidays.

Graham Brack has become one of my favorite authors. I love his Josef Slonsky novels so I'm not surprised his story "Away in a Manger" is my favorite of the book. Brack packs plenty of Slonsky's wit in this short story set at a Nativity play in Prague. I also really enjoyed Marilyn Todd's "Will Power" featuring London photographer Julia McAllister. I've read one of Todd's novels and liked reading more about Julia and her unique way of helping others. Two other stories in the collection that I really liked are from authors I hadn't read before. Kim Fleet's "Secret Santa" features PI Eden Grey and I was surprised at the author's ability to develop such a complex plot in a short story. The other story I want to mention is "The Christmas Ghost" by Linda Stratmann. This is a sweet story set in 1871 Brighton England in which Mina Scarletti helps a sad old woman who misses her son.

I highlighted a few of my favorites, but there are several other great stories in this collection. Even though Christmas mysteries are usually on the lighter side, a couple of the stories would have been better with a little more substance. Overall, I enjoyed the book very much. Fans of any of these authors will be happy to have the chance to "spend Christmas" with their favorite characters as well as meeting new characters from unfamiliar authors.

I received this book through NetGalley through the courtesy of Sapere Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleven stories with a connection to the Christmas period, set in the modern day back to the time of the Stuarts. Offering a vast range of time and characters in which to find some delightful well-written stories. They also introduce you to characters set in series from this publisher.
I really enjoyed all the stories, only one failed to totally engage me.
Received an ARC from the publisher.

[Jae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well-chosen collection of short stories set in winter and the holiday season. Perfect for this time of year.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining collection of stories, each with a seasonal connection. It looks like the publishers have asked each of their featured authors to write a short story featuring their series characters.

The stories cover a wide range of historical periods and, if you find that you want to read more from a particular author, each story ends with a link to the series.

My favourites were Footprints in the Snow by J C Briggs (a Dickens of a Christmas tale) and a couple of season-of-goodwill heartwarmers - The Spirit of Christmas by Cora Harrison, another Dickensian Christmas crime, and Secret Santa by Kim Fleet.

I hate criticising (I don't really) but Lost and Found by Keith Moray was a Tartan nightmare, the worst of Princes Street pawkiness.

I wasn't sure about the last story either, The Christmas Ghost by Linda Stratmann. It was a ghost story vignette - but a mystery?

Overall, well worth a read and I'll be following up on some of these authors.

In the interests of full disclosure, I received a review copy from the publisher.

[Jane Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit I hesitated about whether to read this book as I’m not a fan of short stories in general. However for the most part I thoroughly enjoyed it and am very glad I decided to go ahead with it. The book is a collection of eleven short stories by popular crime writers, all set around Christmas time in carious periods from the 17th century to the present day.

One of the reasons I often find short stories unsatisfactory is that they often seem incomplete, lacking the plot detail and back story of a full length book, but most of the stories in this book were skilfully written to give a sense of completeness. The only one I felt didn’t achieve this was the second story, Footprints in the Snow by J C Briggs, which was also my least favourite and left me with the impression that chunks of it had been omitted.

The other stories, however, more than made up for it and it surprised me just how much plot and intrigue some of the writers managed to cram into such a short space. The one that really stood out for me was Secret Santa by Kim Fleet, and a close second was the final story, The Christmas Ghost by Linda Stratmann, a story featuring Mina Scarletti who I have encountered and enjoyed in full length stories in the past.

In recent years it has become something of a tradition to read “Christmas reads” over the festive season, usually predictable “heartwarming” books in the chick-lit/rom-com genres with names like “Snowfall at Mistletoe Manor” so it came as a huge and very pleasant surprise to me to read stories that were filled with mystery, intrigue, crime and even murder and yet still feel that the festive season was at the core of each story. And yes, some of the stories did turn out to be “heartwarming” thanks to clever plotting and writing.

Many thnks to Sapere books for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

[Ruth Matheson · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the 17th century through to the 21st, this anthology has a good mix of Christmas short stories to suit everyone, including a YA one. Having read most of the authors before, I found it a good introduction to those whom I haven't read as yet. The stories are also from all around Europe and capture what the season is all about. No real favourites however I did enjoy the last one most of all.

Thanks to Sapere Books for the ARC to review.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked most of the authors featured in this short story collection and was more than happy to read this book.
The story are set at Christmas time and, even if I'm not a big fan of short stories, they were entertaining and made you crave for more.
A good read, recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[Alex Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Sapere books for my review copy of the midwinter mysteries,

A short story collection of crime tales and capers introducing new authors and characters, all set in the winter time and with Xmas twists,

With stories set from Victorian times to the present, there is a crime short here any crime fan to enjoy, for me in particular the stories by Graham Brack, Sean Gibbons with his dead Santa in a taxi was my favourites and Gaynor Torrance.

A great mix of stories from authors I’ve never read but now likely to look into their more established series and debuts to come,

A festive treat

4 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[Ann-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really well put together collection of stories, covering a range of time periods and authors/characters. All are set in winter and have Christmas as a theme, there’s plenty of humour, tugs on the heartstrings and (spoiler alert) happy endings. I’ve read full length novels featuring some of the characters so it was good to revisit these as well as discover new authors and characters to look out for in the future. All in all a very entertaining read.

Thanks to Sapere Books for a review copy.

[Bob Hurley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this collection of short stories. I had read books by two of the authors and knew some of the characters in their short stories. Great however to get an insight into authors I have not read, always think short stories “wet your appetite” and drive you to look for other novels by the authors. Sapere Books have once again done a great job of giving the reader a taste of some of their Crime writing author’s.

[Leyla Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An anthology of short stories with a midwinter theme written in a modern style, which I usually steer clear of. This one had very well written stories, not all that I would put into the old fashion category of mysteries. But nevertheless, they held my interest and I found them rather good even though the ending od each story left me hanging which seems the way with many modern writings.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of short stories. I was expecting a bit more Christmasy stories. I enjoyed some of the stories more than others. It’s a great way to read some new authors too.

[Sally906 · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with all collections of short stories, some you love and others not so much. These 11 stories were all linked by the season of Christmas, some had Christmas in the background, others were influenced by Christmas. I confess to not having heard of many of the authors, but this was a good way to sample their work - a few Authors have been added to my follow up list.

My favourite story was Secret Santa by Kim Fleet: A PI is recovering from an illness and feeling quite flat. A note pushed under her door asking a question “who is following me?’ triggers her to investigate who it is that thinks they are being followed, who is the follower and what it is all about? My least favourite was Footprints in the Snow by J C Briggs, which I had gaps in the story and felt chucks had been missed out.

The authors, and their stories, are:
Graham Brack - Away in a Manger
J C Briggs - Footprints in the Snow
Keith Moray - Lost and Found
Cora Harrison - The Spirit of Christmas
Sean Gibbons - The Stolen Santa Sack
Marilyn Todd - Will Power
Gaynor Torrance - Christmas Spirits
David Field - The Essex Nativity
Kim Fleet - Secret Santa
MJ Logue - Stir Up Sunday
Linda Stratman - The Christmas Ghost

Recommended for those who want to read Christmas themed books, but doesn’t like the saccharin sweetness many Christmas themed books are.

Thanks to Netgalley and the authors for my copy to read.

[Laura]

I received an ARC of this book thanks to Net Galley and publisher Sapere Books in exchange for an honest review.

I really really love the idea behind this anthology. As far as I can tell, the publishing house behind this book has gotten a bunch of mystery/crime authors to write some short stories showcasing their characters in order to promote the series they write. This is a very cool idea and I think it's a great way to potentially find a new series you might really enjoy. Sadly most of these stories ended up not being for me.

I would say loosely that almost all of these are either a) police procedurals, b) historical mysteries or a c) a combination of both. With the exception of the very first story, I probably enjoyed the historical ones slightly more since I tend to lean towards historical crime fiction (unlike thrillers where I like modern day). My main problem with these is they were all incredibly short. This made it very difficult to get into the stories and also to get a taste of what the authors' true styles were. It felt like a story was just getting going and then it would end abruptly, sometimes without a sense that there had been an actual mystery involved.

Perhaps because of these stories using pre-established characters, there was also a lack of introduction of most of the cast and/or plot elements surrounding the stories themselves. This didn't help with getting into the stories either (again, the first story actually did introduce people fairly well and was one of my favourites for this reason).

Overall, this is a decent but all too brief collection of stories. They all fall a little short in various ways but the anthology was still moderately enjoyable and I do really like the idea behind it. I just wish everything was a little bit longer.

Overall Rating: 2.5/5 stars

[Shannon O'Donovan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book -- a nice light read over the holidays that both relaxed and engaged. I like that the anthology had an almost equal balance of women and men and that the stories were all by authors I had not come across before. Each of the eleven stories is prefaced by the location and date that it takes place which I find helpful as there is quite a lot of variety -- locations range from London to Prague and dates from the 17th century to modern day. Author details and the name of the series was another nice touch at the end of each story and I made a note of several series I will definitely be following up on -- the Eden Grey mystery series by Kim Fleet and the DI Jemima Huxley series by Gaynor Torrance were two that stood out for me although I would say the standards of writing is good in all the stories.

My only criticism is I would have liked to see more characters and detectives that weren't mainly white, young/middle aged, middle class, cisgendered and physically fit. So many interesting people of all colours, shapes, sizes, backgrounds and abilities and we need detective fiction authors to stretch themselves a bit and write them! And publishing houses to publish them!