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White Elephant
A crackling Christmas mystery that combines murder and blackmail at a holiday office party, in a mashup reminiscent of Big Little Lies and Clue .
There are only a few rules in a White Elephant gift 1) Everyone brings a wrapped, unmarked gift. 2) Numbers are drawn to decide who picks first. 3) Gifts don’t need to be pricey—and often they’re downright tacky.
But things are a little different in Aspen, Colorado, at the office holiday party for the real estate firm owned by Henry Calhoun and his wife Claudine. Each Christmas sparks a contest among the already competitive staff to see who can buy the most coveted the one that will get stolen the most times, the one that will prove just how many more commissions they earned that year than their colleagues. Designer sunglasses, deluxe spa treatments, front row concert tickets—nothing is off the table. And the staff is even more competitive this year as Zara, the hottest young pop star out of Hollywood, is in town and Claudine is determined to sell her the getaway home of her dreams.
Everyone is puzzled when a strange gift shows up in the an antique cowboy statue. At least the sales agents are guessing it’s an antique—otherwise it’d be a terrible present. It’s certainly not very pretty or expensive-looking. In fact, the gift makes sense only to Henry and Claudine. The statue is the weapon Henry used to commit a murder years ago, a murder that helped start his company and a murder that Claudine helped cover up. She swore that no one would ever be able to find the statue or trace it to their crime. So which of their employees did? And why did they place it in the White Elephant? What could possibly be their endgame?
Over the course of the evening, Henry and Claudine race to figure out who could have planted the weapon, and just what the night means for the secrets they’ve been harboring. Further adding to the drama is a snowstorm that closes nearby roads—preventing anyone from leaving, as well as keeping law enforcement from the scene. And by the end of this crazy night, the police will most definitely be required…
There are only a few rules in a White Elephant gift 1) Everyone brings a wrapped, unmarked gift. 2) Numbers are drawn to decide who picks first. 3) Gifts don’t need to be pricey—and often they’re downright tacky.
But things are a little different in Aspen, Colorado, at the office holiday party for the real estate firm owned by Henry Calhoun and his wife Claudine. Each Christmas sparks a contest among the already competitive staff to see who can buy the most coveted the one that will get stolen the most times, the one that will prove just how many more commissions they earned that year than their colleagues. Designer sunglasses, deluxe spa treatments, front row concert tickets—nothing is off the table. And the staff is even more competitive this year as Zara, the hottest young pop star out of Hollywood, is in town and Claudine is determined to sell her the getaway home of her dreams.
Everyone is puzzled when a strange gift shows up in the an antique cowboy statue. At least the sales agents are guessing it’s an antique—otherwise it’d be a terrible present. It’s certainly not very pretty or expensive-looking. In fact, the gift makes sense only to Henry and Claudine. The statue is the weapon Henry used to commit a murder years ago, a murder that helped start his company and a murder that Claudine helped cover up. She swore that no one would ever be able to find the statue or trace it to their crime. So which of their employees did? And why did they place it in the White Elephant? What could possibly be their endgame?
Over the course of the evening, Henry and Claudine race to figure out who could have planted the weapon, and just what the night means for the secrets they’ve been harboring. Further adding to the drama is a snowstorm that closes nearby roads—preventing anyone from leaving, as well as keeping law enforcement from the scene. And by the end of this crazy night, the police will most definitely be required…
240 pages, Paperback
First published October 29, 2019
121 people are currently reading
1371 people want to read
About the author
Trish Harnetiaux
10 books31 followersTrish Harnetiaux is a Brooklyn-based writer. Her play Tin Cat Shoes premiered in 2018 kicking off Clubbed Thumb’s Summerworks (Playwrights Horizons Superlab). Currently she is developing Bender and Brian, an epic tale of subversive Breakfast Club fan fiction (Exponential Festival, Prelude Festival, forthcoming JACK) and We Are Not Well (Clifford Odets Commission).
Harnetiaux was an Executive Producer on the off-beat comedy series Driver Ed that premiered at 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. She has been a resident at MacDowell, Yaddo, The Millay Colony, and SPACE at Ryder Farm. She was a member of the Ars Nova Play Group and the Soho Rep Writer/Director Lab. Affiliate member of New Georges. MFA in playwriting from Brooklyn College. Her novel, White Elephant, is forthcoming this fall (Simon & Schuster). UK edition The Secret Santa (Penguin Random House).
A Washington State native, she's partial to hard rain and volcanic ash.
Harnetiaux was an Executive Producer on the off-beat comedy series Driver Ed that premiered at 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. She has been a resident at MacDowell, Yaddo, The Millay Colony, and SPACE at Ryder Farm. She was a member of the Ars Nova Play Group and the Soho Rep Writer/Director Lab. Affiliate member of New Georges. MFA in playwriting from Brooklyn College. Her novel, White Elephant, is forthcoming this fall (Simon & Schuster). UK edition The Secret Santa (Penguin Random House).
A Washington State native, she's partial to hard rain and volcanic ash.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 279 reviews
December 25, 2020
fulfilling book riot's 2020 read harder challenge task #3: Read a mystery where the victim(s) is not a woman
i knew i was in trouble with this one from the very first page:
it goes on from there to enumerate her reasons for inviting each of these people and how they will contribute to her 'sell a house to a pop star at a holiday party' scheme, but surely there's a more credible transition to that bit o'exposition than to have a character for whom physical appearance is clearly a priority risk her new manicure to consult a written list of six names? because she can't just remember those names on her own?
sure, it's a tiny moment that most readers probably sailed through without distress, but it's a clumsy move so easily avoided, and it just set the tone for me, clouding my opinion from the get-go.
the premise sounded great: a festive white elephant exchange goes awry when one of the unwrapped items turns out to be a statue that hosts claudine and her husband henry recognize as the murder weapon responsible for all of their professional successes, and which they assumed had been safely tucked away in a police evidence locker all these years. someone knows their murdery secret! but who? someone is messing with their heads! but why? it is all very distressing!
for the characters, maybe. for the reader, it's kind of a drag. the statue isn't even revealed until page 136, with fewer than 100 pages to go, so there's not much in the way of tension-building on the journey to whodunnit-town.
worse than that, this synopsis of this book promised me Clue, and it did not give me even a tiny bit of Clue, other than there being a house full of people and some inclement weather. there's no humor, there's no cast of colorful characters with seeeecrets, there's not even a murder at this damn party! there's some murder in the past, and claudine and her husband for sure have some secrets, but the rest of the characters are just...there, not even developed enough to be viable suspects.
the synopsis is also misleading with its claim that Further adding to the drama is a snowstorm that closes nearby roads—preventing anyone from leaving, as well as keeping law enforcement from the scene. i mean, sure, there's a mighty snowstorm, but there's never a scene where guests try to leave and are prevented from leaving because of the snowstorm, and there's no mention of the police until page 224 of 229.
even then, it's more about getting the paramedics there than the cops, and the difficulty of getting to the house is delivered in a single, grammatically awkward sentence: Once they were called, it took them a while to get there, the roads were terrible.
hardly synopsis-worthy.
it's a fast read, but there's not much to it. there's some shitty behavior by people in their personal and professional lives, a lot of blurry background characters eating hors d'oeuvres, one reveal that was predictable and one that unsatisfyingly toes the line of the genre's rules of fair play, plus a cringey late-stage attempt at moralizing w/r/t polite society's fascination with true crime stories.
i give it a three because twos are what i give books that i resent for wasting my time, and this one was such a quickie that it didn't put me out much, but it's a weak-tea three at best.
come to my blog!!
i knew i was in trouble with this one from the very first page:
Claudine couldn't see them outside the salon's picture window, her head stuck under a hooded dryer. With a freshly French-manicured hand, she reached into her cream-colored Chanel flap bag and pulled out the guest list: not counting herself, Henry, and their six employees. There hadn't been much time to put the list together. Zara had let her know she was coming just a few days before. Considering the short notice and how packed Aspen social calendars were during the holiday season, these were good, solid choices:
Captain and Mrs. Tiggleman
Kevin and Jerry
The Alpine Brothers
it goes on from there to enumerate her reasons for inviting each of these people and how they will contribute to her 'sell a house to a pop star at a holiday party' scheme, but surely there's a more credible transition to that bit o'exposition than to have a character for whom physical appearance is clearly a priority risk her new manicure to consult a written list of six names? because she can't just remember those names on her own?
sure, it's a tiny moment that most readers probably sailed through without distress, but it's a clumsy move so easily avoided, and it just set the tone for me, clouding my opinion from the get-go.
the premise sounded great: a festive white elephant exchange goes awry when one of the unwrapped items turns out to be a statue that hosts claudine and her husband henry recognize as the murder weapon responsible for all of their professional successes, and which they assumed had been safely tucked away in a police evidence locker all these years. someone knows their murdery secret! but who? someone is messing with their heads! but why? it is all very distressing!
for the characters, maybe. for the reader, it's kind of a drag. the statue isn't even revealed until page 136, with fewer than 100 pages to go, so there's not much in the way of tension-building on the journey to whodunnit-town.
worse than that, this synopsis of this book promised me Clue, and it did not give me even a tiny bit of Clue, other than there being a house full of people and some inclement weather. there's no humor, there's no cast of colorful characters with seeeecrets, there's not even a murder at this damn party! there's some murder in the past, and claudine and her husband for sure have some secrets, but the rest of the characters are just...there, not even developed enough to be viable suspects.
the synopsis is also misleading with its claim that Further adding to the drama is a snowstorm that closes nearby roads—preventing anyone from leaving, as well as keeping law enforcement from the scene. i mean, sure, there's a mighty snowstorm, but there's never a scene where guests try to leave and are prevented from leaving because of the snowstorm, and there's no mention of the police until page 224 of 229.
even then, it's more about getting the paramedics there than the cops, and the difficulty of getting to the house is delivered in a single, grammatically awkward sentence: Once they were called, it took them a while to get there, the roads were terrible.
hardly synopsis-worthy.
it's a fast read, but there's not much to it. there's some shitty behavior by people in their personal and professional lives, a lot of blurry background characters eating hors d'oeuvres, one reveal that was predictable and one that unsatisfyingly toes the line of the genre's rules of fair play, plus a cringey late-stage attempt at moralizing w/r/t polite society's fascination with true crime stories.
i give it a three because twos are what i give books that i resent for wasting my time, and this one was such a quickie that it didn't put me out much, but it's a weak-tea three at best.
come to my blog!!
November 3, 2021
Very short read, with awful people doing awful things.
If you're looking for something of a murder mystery, but actually more of a revenge story, and you don't want a large amount of depth, then this is exactly the book for you.
The big reveal is centered around a white elephant party, but it's not really the biggest feature--mostly it's a story telling you about some bad things some people did in the past and someone coming to take revenge for those bad things.
The best part of this book was the highlighting of a real life true crime involving Claudine Longet, Andy Williams' wife, who killed her skier boyfriend in 1976. Other than that, it's nothing I'll remember after a while but it was a nice diversion between deeper reads.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
If you're looking for something of a murder mystery, but actually more of a revenge story, and you don't want a large amount of depth, then this is exactly the book for you.
The big reveal is centered around a white elephant party, but it's not really the biggest feature--mostly it's a story telling you about some bad things some people did in the past and someone coming to take revenge for those bad things.
The best part of this book was the highlighting of a real life true crime involving Claudine Longet, Andy Williams' wife, who killed her skier boyfriend in 1976. Other than that, it's nothing I'll remember after a while but it was a nice diversion between deeper reads.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
September 26, 2019
An unusual mystery with vile characters that you love to hate! If you attend a White Elephant gift exchange, your expectations will never be the same.
This isn’t a deep and thought-provoking book. But if you want to satisfy a guilty pleasure by reading about vicious and vile characters—try this one! Although somewhat predictable, it hooked me from the start. I had to know what these wealthy, back-stabbing characters were going to do next!
The Christmas party and White Elephant game sounded like an exciting and original component for a mystery. I host a get together every year and the gift exchange is the best part. I’m going to have high expectations for the gift I receive this year...wow!!! These people know how to shop, but their party is too well-ordered and dramatic for me, lol.
I was drawn to the setting of Aspen. I live in Colorado, so that always peaks my interest in a book. The author brings the cold, snowy winter scenery of Colorado to life! I’m nowhere close to giving up summer, but it made me want to curl up by a cozy fire while reading the story.
Zara is my favorite character. She is currently the hottest pop-star in Hollywood. A bit eccentric, but surprisingly smart and talented. A refreshing change from what I initially expected from the young singer. She is drawn to Aspen, because she’s obsessed with the events surrounding Claudine Longet, Spider Sabich and Andy Williams.
The book references the real-life murder. And contains interesting facts and details about those involved. It’s gratifying to read a fiction novel about Colorado that uses actual events, landmarks and facts. It invites you to research the actual incident...which I love. That alone added a star to my rating! It might not be as interesting to someone without a connection to Colorado, but I truly enjoyed it.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Trish Harnetiaux and Simon & Schuster for this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
My Rating: 4 ⭐️’s
Published: October 29th 2019 by Simon Schuster
Pages: 240
Recommend: Yes
This isn’t a deep and thought-provoking book. But if you want to satisfy a guilty pleasure by reading about vicious and vile characters—try this one! Although somewhat predictable, it hooked me from the start. I had to know what these wealthy, back-stabbing characters were going to do next!
The Christmas party and White Elephant game sounded like an exciting and original component for a mystery. I host a get together every year and the gift exchange is the best part. I’m going to have high expectations for the gift I receive this year...wow!!! These people know how to shop, but their party is too well-ordered and dramatic for me, lol.
”Say now, young friend, it’s holiday time!
With snow and gifts and cheese and wine.
The night you wait for with all your heart
When at last the White Elephant game will start.
What awaits you wrapped tightly in ribbons and bows?
Mystery, excitement, and likely some woes.
The game is designed to expose your true nature
It is not for those afraid of a little danger.
Go forth, be bold, take the gift that speaks to you
Even steal from your neighbor if you want to.
Be nasty, not nice, take what you like best
Now is the time to put your treachery to the test.”
I was drawn to the setting of Aspen. I live in Colorado, so that always peaks my interest in a book. The author brings the cold, snowy winter scenery of Colorado to life! I’m nowhere close to giving up summer, but it made me want to curl up by a cozy fire while reading the story.
Zara is my favorite character. She is currently the hottest pop-star in Hollywood. A bit eccentric, but surprisingly smart and talented. A refreshing change from what I initially expected from the young singer. She is drawn to Aspen, because she’s obsessed with the events surrounding Claudine Longet, Spider Sabich and Andy Williams.
The book references the real-life murder. And contains interesting facts and details about those involved. It’s gratifying to read a fiction novel about Colorado that uses actual events, landmarks and facts. It invites you to research the actual incident...which I love. That alone added a star to my rating! It might not be as interesting to someone without a connection to Colorado, but I truly enjoyed it.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Trish Harnetiaux and Simon & Schuster for this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
My Rating: 4 ⭐️’s
Published: October 29th 2019 by Simon Schuster
Pages: 240
Recommend: Yes
December 10, 2021
My thoughts leading up to selecting this book:
- I want a nice, entertaining Christmas seasonal read 🎄
- But not the feel good stuff. That's what I have Elf and National Lampoons DVDs for...
- I need a little stab stab stab with my ho ho ho seasonal reads
- Is there such a thing as a Christmas thriller?
- Oh look, a Christmas bow with blood. This could be fun!
- I love White Elephant gift exchanges!
- What a perfect setup for a Christmas thriller
Well not so fast, my friends. It delivers on the white elephant gift exchange and it definitely had me guessing until the end, but it wasn't all jingle bells and boughs of holly. I won't give anything away but a majority of White Elephant is backstory leading up to the party. The current timeline lacked atmosphere. This is a Christmas-themed book hoping to grab readers looking for a seasonal thriller, and it doesn't really deliver.
I did find the mystery portion of this and the actual gift exchange to be intriguing. But it felt very much like a B-movie script or a Lifetime-type story. There really wasn't a character to root for. The dialog and events in the last 50 pages turned cheesy and on-the-nose.
There were also two Claudine's which was confusing.
Overall, it's a very short and quick read. Not a bad way to indulge the seasonal thriller cravings you might be having. Just turn the brain off and don't expect too much.
PS - if any of my GRs friends have Christmas thriller recommendations, please send them!
- I want a nice, entertaining Christmas seasonal read 🎄
- But not the feel good stuff. That's what I have Elf and National Lampoons DVDs for...
- I need a little stab stab stab with my ho ho ho seasonal reads
- Is there such a thing as a Christmas thriller?
- Oh look, a Christmas bow with blood. This could be fun!
- I love White Elephant gift exchanges!
- What a perfect setup for a Christmas thriller
Well not so fast, my friends. It delivers on the white elephant gift exchange and it definitely had me guessing until the end, but it wasn't all jingle bells and boughs of holly. I won't give anything away but a majority of White Elephant is backstory leading up to the party. The current timeline lacked atmosphere. This is a Christmas-themed book hoping to grab readers looking for a seasonal thriller, and it doesn't really deliver.
I did find the mystery portion of this and the actual gift exchange to be intriguing. But it felt very much like a B-movie script or a Lifetime-type story. There really wasn't a character to root for. The dialog and events in the last 50 pages turned cheesy and on-the-nose.
There were also two Claudine's which was confusing.
Overall, it's a very short and quick read. Not a bad way to indulge the seasonal thriller cravings you might be having. Just turn the brain off and don't expect too much.
PS - if any of my GRs friends have Christmas thriller recommendations, please send them!
October 30, 2019
The book equivalent of an overly dramatic Lifetime movie.
But it sure is fun.
White Elephant is an incredibly short, kitschy, over-the-top story about aspirational greed, and it truly is a hoot...full of characters you love to hate. The premise is intriguing, but there isn't much mystery here. And the conclusion, while satisfying, wraps a little too quickly for my liking.
Overall, an entertaining holiday read.
**Thanks to the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my candid review.
But it sure is fun.
White Elephant is an incredibly short, kitschy, over-the-top story about aspirational greed, and it truly is a hoot...full of characters you love to hate. The premise is intriguing, but there isn't much mystery here. And the conclusion, while satisfying, wraps a little too quickly for my liking.
Overall, an entertaining holiday read.
**Thanks to the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my candid review.
December 12, 2019
This was a super fun book! The Christmas element in it was the “White Elephant”gift exchange at the annual office party. Otherwise it was a whodunnit mystery. Perfect light entertainment for this time of the year.
By the way the blurb says it’s like Big Little Lies and Gone Girl. Don’t go in expecting that or you will be disappointed.
If you’ve ever participated in a white elephant gift exchange, you will get a kick out of this book.
By the way the blurb says it’s like Big Little Lies and Gone Girl. Don’t go in expecting that or you will be disappointed.
If you’ve ever participated in a white elephant gift exchange, you will get a kick out of this book.
December 19, 2019
Fully 4.5 stars. Ok, here's a real outlier for me. I almost gave this modern mystery/ thriller/ who the heck is pulling off this party crux book- and from a totally unknown author yet- 5 stars. It could easily be that. It's excellent. And the author is just plain wise. What attracted me was the big red bow on the cover- it fit well for Christmas parties' preps week.
It's not only a Christmas placed "white elephant" crazy gift party depicted between 16 people at all. It's also HUGE in psychological study. Control. Long term marriage balance. AND the high powered and "will get this deal done" woman of dictator level executive and financial success quotient. Plus it's emotional in a back story that's fairly heavy without at all becoming maudlin. RARE! And it is NOT overlong which is becoming a real endemic negative in this genre presently.
Ok, all you Agatha Christie fans- READ THIS ONE. And it wouldn't have to be Christmas time either. And also don't read the cover or any remarks of synopsis. Take it straight up. The first 1/2 to 2/3 of this little book is an intriguing hook. Henry is carved sublime (the husband and the architect). Claudine is too. And you just KNOW she is going to "win". Marriage, marriage, love and carriage!
Rarely, rarely (only one other time I can remember out of 1000's and 1000's of books) is there a high elites of brand name dropping, celeb or pop star associated, or multi-millionaire soiree that I have been enthralled with or become meshed of interest within. (The only other one was Bel Canto.) Because this is as parred as that one was in core emotion- AND a better who dun it too. In the depth of long term relationship/ affinity connections to the what/why or danger and guilty entwined/ embedded within strong aesthetics desire to create. In that it was a 6 stars. In other words, having the core individual life be twisted by a relationship because it is needed for a "process" completion of high, high talents arts/skill/creation borne practiced skills.
Yes, there is also a crazy twenty something popular pop star diva. And also the gem of the whole is the town of Aspen Colorado. And let me tell you, it's VERY close to the one I had some experience within about 20 years ago. Aspen views!!
This had at least 3 prime "facts" in the air before the last 1/3 rd of the book and the party scene itself. Not exact information voids maybe. Yet for me it did. What time / era is this within? We know what 20 years ago "was" in the same places. Also the Claudine Longet connection?? (I looked her up and she's 78 years old now.) What do she and OUR Claudine (prime character) have in common? They conflate their very identities a few times. Purposely? And what are those short page length asides in the italics all about that are placed every 20 pages or so? Aspen, it's expanse, base description, feel and operational scope in any real estate explosion or bust period is 5 stars. Today and tonight's blizzard makes it 6. You need to do better than Buttermilk skills if you are out tonight.
There are 16 or 17 (count those presents) full blown characters in these succinct and embedded to each other pages. It could have happened on a train? Or under a "evil sun" on a tour. I guessed which person was the red herring but didn't see the "core" present or its bringer of retribution out of this sturdy pack at all. Employees or guests? Didn't miss where the connection to the past was, although I never got "the whom" of it.
The fine points at the very ending for the house itself and the Zara post-history; they lost the 1/2 star for me. That's it. The rest is perfect. FABULOUS prose to modern world "in" status connotations too beyond just the brands and fads. Wear your Manolas or Jimmy Choo heels, but be careful on the water sprayed deck because the hot tub can't eat the snow flakes fast enough.
Strongly recommend. And we are doing our traditional exact same game with 15 people this Saturday night after our seafood feast. No servant help though. I wouldn't dismiss a bartender like that either if I had one.
It's not only a Christmas placed "white elephant" crazy gift party depicted between 16 people at all. It's also HUGE in psychological study. Control. Long term marriage balance. AND the high powered and "will get this deal done" woman of dictator level executive and financial success quotient. Plus it's emotional in a back story that's fairly heavy without at all becoming maudlin. RARE! And it is NOT overlong which is becoming a real endemic negative in this genre presently.
Ok, all you Agatha Christie fans- READ THIS ONE. And it wouldn't have to be Christmas time either. And also don't read the cover or any remarks of synopsis. Take it straight up. The first 1/2 to 2/3 of this little book is an intriguing hook. Henry is carved sublime (the husband and the architect). Claudine is too. And you just KNOW she is going to "win". Marriage, marriage, love and carriage!
Rarely, rarely (only one other time I can remember out of 1000's and 1000's of books) is there a high elites of brand name dropping, celeb or pop star associated, or multi-millionaire soiree that I have been enthralled with or become meshed of interest within. (The only other one was Bel Canto.) Because this is as parred as that one was in core emotion- AND a better who dun it too. In the depth of long term relationship/ affinity connections to the what/why or danger and guilty entwined/ embedded within strong aesthetics desire to create. In that it was a 6 stars. In other words, having the core individual life be twisted by a relationship because it is needed for a "process" completion of high, high talents arts/skill/creation borne practiced skills.
Yes, there is also a crazy twenty something popular pop star diva. And also the gem of the whole is the town of Aspen Colorado. And let me tell you, it's VERY close to the one I had some experience within about 20 years ago. Aspen views!!
This had at least 3 prime "facts" in the air before the last 1/3 rd of the book and the party scene itself. Not exact information voids maybe. Yet for me it did. What time / era is this within? We know what 20 years ago "was" in the same places. Also the Claudine Longet connection?? (I looked her up and she's 78 years old now.) What do she and OUR Claudine (prime character) have in common? They conflate their very identities a few times. Purposely? And what are those short page length asides in the italics all about that are placed every 20 pages or so? Aspen, it's expanse, base description, feel and operational scope in any real estate explosion or bust period is 5 stars. Today and tonight's blizzard makes it 6. You need to do better than Buttermilk skills if you are out tonight.
There are 16 or 17 (count those presents) full blown characters in these succinct and embedded to each other pages. It could have happened on a train? Or under a "evil sun" on a tour. I guessed which person was the red herring but didn't see the "core" present or its bringer of retribution out of this sturdy pack at all. Employees or guests? Didn't miss where the connection to the past was, although I never got "the whom" of it.
The fine points at the very ending for the house itself and the Zara post-history; they lost the 1/2 star for me. That's it. The rest is perfect. FABULOUS prose to modern world "in" status connotations too beyond just the brands and fads. Wear your Manolas or Jimmy Choo heels, but be careful on the water sprayed deck because the hot tub can't eat the snow flakes fast enough.
Strongly recommend. And we are doing our traditional exact same game with 15 people this Saturday night after our seafood feast. No servant help though. I wouldn't dismiss a bartender like that either if I had one.
December 22, 2023
Gratefully this was a short book.
Because it just had...
Vicious, vile characters – needing to be the center of attention, and thus for me, unlikeable.
So...
It made it difficult every time they were the narrator to focus on what they had to say.
And...
This could also be described as an overly dramatic Lifetime movie. And if you enjoy one of those, this book may be a little “kitschy” in that way.
Still...
It is also a murder mystery, and that was where my intrigue was – I needed to know who, and why and how and you know all those important things a mystery will give you.
And...
Yes, gratefully it was a short book. I know I already said that, but, in this way, the answers came quickly.
Some reviewers actually liked this book – had fun with the catchy white elephant gift and how it played into the storyline. I leave that to you.
Because it just had...
Vicious, vile characters – needing to be the center of attention, and thus for me, unlikeable.
So...
It made it difficult every time they were the narrator to focus on what they had to say.
And...
This could also be described as an overly dramatic Lifetime movie. And if you enjoy one of those, this book may be a little “kitschy” in that way.
Still...
It is also a murder mystery, and that was where my intrigue was – I needed to know who, and why and how and you know all those important things a mystery will give you.
And...
Yes, gratefully it was a short book. I know I already said that, but, in this way, the answers came quickly.
Some reviewers actually liked this book – had fun with the catchy white elephant gift and how it played into the storyline. I leave that to you.
October 16, 2019
Four and a half stars, rounded up to five.
A combination of psychological suspense and murder mystery, WHITE ELEPHANT by Trish Harnetiaux is a fast moving novel that keeps you wanting to read at least one more chapter every time you start to put it down. The story is told rotating among the points of view of three principals; Claudine, Zara, and Henry. A fourth point of view punctuates some of the story, although the reader doesn’t know until the end of the book who this person is. Each chapter is clearly labeled so it is easy to follow whose point of view is being read at any particular moment.
From the beginning of the book, the reader is told there has been a murder. The details of the murder and how the individuals in the book relate to it is slowly revealed as the story progresses through their narratives. It is a unique approach that lends itself well to the short chapters which tend to help the reader move more rapidly through the book.
Claudine is a driven real estate salesperson who, years ago formed a company with her architect husband Henry in Aspen, Colorado. For years they were phenomenally successful, selling properties to the A-list Hollywood elite who “discovered” Aspen. Henry designed gorgeous, unique homes and Claudine sold them to those who could afford the sky-high price tags. Now, after years of success, they are having difficulty selling properties as Henry’s physical and emotional health has declined. Claudine is desperate to find one big sale that will put their company back on top and allow her to continue living a lavish lifestyle. Henry is driven by his love for Claudine which compels him to do whatever she asks. Zara is the latest client for Claudine, a fabulously wealthy rock star to whom Claudine wants to sell the first home Henry designed.
The plan hatched by Claudine requires her to throw an elaborate holiday party at the mansion that is for sale, never mind that the company can no longer afford these parties. There are clearly events that took place at the mansion which Henry wants to forget, and he has to be coerced into attending the party. If he had his way, they would close the business and move away from Aspen all together. Recognizing that Claudine needs this sale, he agrees to her plan, thinking that this one last successful transaction will give them enough to start a new life.
Zara has recently broken up with her boyfriend who is fascinated by true crime stories, particularly those that have gone unsolved. Through this fascination, Zara has learned of the scandal revolving around Claudine Longet and Spider Sabich. Being captivated by the Claudine Longet story and thinking a remote location to have for writing her songs would be idea, Zara contacts Claudine and comes to Aspen to view the property for sale.
Over the years, Claudine has been famous for a gift exchange she has had annually at her Christmas party which has been called a “white elephant” exchange. It started out with people bringing a gag gift of some sort, but has morphed into a competition as the participants try to “one up” each other’s gifts. This year, someone has slipped in a gift that has hidden significance and the opening of it leads to long ago truths finally surfacing and an unexpected party finale.
A good book that pulls you through from the beginning to the end, the only flaw for me was I had a little difficulty intially getting into it. Once I was comfortable with the method of telling the story and as the different threads began to intertwine my interest grew until it got to the point I didn’t want to put the book down. If you are planning on reading the book, I would advise not reading the publisher’s blurb about it. I believe the story works best if you have no expectations or information about the principal characters. My thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with an Advance Digital Read copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
A combination of psychological suspense and murder mystery, WHITE ELEPHANT by Trish Harnetiaux is a fast moving novel that keeps you wanting to read at least one more chapter every time you start to put it down. The story is told rotating among the points of view of three principals; Claudine, Zara, and Henry. A fourth point of view punctuates some of the story, although the reader doesn’t know until the end of the book who this person is. Each chapter is clearly labeled so it is easy to follow whose point of view is being read at any particular moment.
From the beginning of the book, the reader is told there has been a murder. The details of the murder and how the individuals in the book relate to it is slowly revealed as the story progresses through their narratives. It is a unique approach that lends itself well to the short chapters which tend to help the reader move more rapidly through the book.
Claudine is a driven real estate salesperson who, years ago formed a company with her architect husband Henry in Aspen, Colorado. For years they were phenomenally successful, selling properties to the A-list Hollywood elite who “discovered” Aspen. Henry designed gorgeous, unique homes and Claudine sold them to those who could afford the sky-high price tags. Now, after years of success, they are having difficulty selling properties as Henry’s physical and emotional health has declined. Claudine is desperate to find one big sale that will put their company back on top and allow her to continue living a lavish lifestyle. Henry is driven by his love for Claudine which compels him to do whatever she asks. Zara is the latest client for Claudine, a fabulously wealthy rock star to whom Claudine wants to sell the first home Henry designed.
The plan hatched by Claudine requires her to throw an elaborate holiday party at the mansion that is for sale, never mind that the company can no longer afford these parties. There are clearly events that took place at the mansion which Henry wants to forget, and he has to be coerced into attending the party. If he had his way, they would close the business and move away from Aspen all together. Recognizing that Claudine needs this sale, he agrees to her plan, thinking that this one last successful transaction will give them enough to start a new life.
Zara has recently broken up with her boyfriend who is fascinated by true crime stories, particularly those that have gone unsolved. Through this fascination, Zara has learned of the scandal revolving around Claudine Longet and Spider Sabich. Being captivated by the Claudine Longet story and thinking a remote location to have for writing her songs would be idea, Zara contacts Claudine and comes to Aspen to view the property for sale.
Over the years, Claudine has been famous for a gift exchange she has had annually at her Christmas party which has been called a “white elephant” exchange. It started out with people bringing a gag gift of some sort, but has morphed into a competition as the participants try to “one up” each other’s gifts. This year, someone has slipped in a gift that has hidden significance and the opening of it leads to long ago truths finally surfacing and an unexpected party finale.
A good book that pulls you through from the beginning to the end, the only flaw for me was I had a little difficulty intially getting into it. Once I was comfortable with the method of telling the story and as the different threads began to intertwine my interest grew until it got to the point I didn’t want to put the book down. If you are planning on reading the book, I would advise not reading the publisher’s blurb about it. I believe the story works best if you have no expectations or information about the principal characters. My thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with an Advance Digital Read copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
December 27, 2019
"It's strange how certain people who are clearly no good for you can have such a powerful hold."
I meant to post this one before Christmas, but oh well. White Elephant was a good Christmas thriller, and I had so much fun reading it. I was hooked from the beginning, and entertained the entire time. It had some good funny moments, and while it was a little predictable, I really enjoyed the drama of this story. Pick this one up for next Christmas!
I meant to post this one before Christmas, but oh well. White Elephant was a good Christmas thriller, and I had so much fun reading it. I was hooked from the beginning, and entertained the entire time. It had some good funny moments, and while it was a little predictable, I really enjoyed the drama of this story. Pick this one up for next Christmas!
December 13, 2019
2 Stars
December 25, 2019
A prestigious real estate firm in Aspen, Colorado, throws a white elephant gift exchange with a few colleagues; friends (more like frienemies?); and pop star whom they wish to sell the lavish home the exchange is taking place in to. But Claudine and Henry Calhoun of Calhoun + Calhoun have a secret: they murdered the property owner and his hired help years ago to acquire this house. Things take a turn when the murder weapon shows up as one of the white elephant gifts. Who brought the gift, and just how much do they know? 16 people are in the house at the time of the exchange, but do 16 people make it out alive?
Well, when I summarize it that way, this book sounds pretty interesting, right? Admittedly, the idea of it is what really sold me. However, I think the execution (no pun intended) could have used some work.
I will admit that some parts were suspenseful, but I did guess a few of the main plot twists which took away the other part of the excitement. It just seemed like the plot points in this book were wrapped up all too perfectly with a little red bow, just like the one on the cover. It’s like, conveniently Henry ; ; and Jules conveniently as a distraction for the reader!? I’m sorry but… no. Not once did I even ; his involvement in the book was practically useless.
Overall, this is probably between a 2 and a 3 star. I didn't hate it; the writing wasn’t bad and I did finish it pretty quickly. I just didn’t like that so many things were conveniently placed in the story; it took away so much suspense, and is this not supposed to be a mystery/ thriller? Could have fooled me!
Well, when I summarize it that way, this book sounds pretty interesting, right? Admittedly, the idea of it is what really sold me. However, I think the execution (no pun intended) could have used some work.
I will admit that some parts were suspenseful, but I did guess a few of the main plot twists which took away the other part of the excitement. It just seemed like the plot points in this book were wrapped up all too perfectly with a little red bow, just like the one on the cover. It’s like, conveniently Henry ; ; and Jules conveniently as a distraction for the reader!? I’m sorry but… no. Not once did I even ; his involvement in the book was practically useless.
Overall, this is probably between a 2 and a 3 star. I didn't hate it; the writing wasn’t bad and I did finish it pretty quickly. I just didn’t like that so many things were conveniently placed in the story; it took away so much suspense, and is this not supposed to be a mystery/ thriller? Could have fooled me!
December 5, 2024
This book was so much fun! Romantic Christmas novels seem to be a dime a dozen, but unfortunately I am not a big fan of the genre. One of my Bookstagram friends @booksbikesbooze posted about this Christmas-themed mystery last month (otherwise I probably wouldn't have heard of it- it's not getting the hype it deserves on the 'gram!), so I decided to give it a shot. After reading The Giver of Stars, which I loved but is slower-paced with all the historical details, this was the perfect book to read right after. I loved the snowy setting of Aspen at Christmastime, and the alternating perspectives of Claudine, Henry, Zara, and an unknown-until-the-end fourth person. I also loved that there was a true crime story incorporated into this book: the killing of Olympic skier Spider Sabiach by his wife, singer/actress Claudine Longet. I am fascinated by true crime and was surprised that I had never heard of this case (but of course now I want to watch a documentary about it!). This book is only 229 pages and the chapters are only a few pages each, so it so perfect if you are looking for a fast-paced, festive whodunnit.
October 17, 2019
There was a lot in this book's set up that I really liked-- the office party element at Christmas with secrets being revealed, a "Clue" like isolated closed circle mystery, strangers coming together for a whodunnit, etc. I think 3 main things kept this book from fully working: 1) the authorial voice was just a little off IMO, 2) the constant flashbacks really undercut the overall atmosphere and tone, and 3) it took far too long to get to the main events of the current day plot. Still, if you're looking for a holiday murder mystery with old school whodunnit vibes, this will be a light, fun read
December 10, 2019
I was extremely excited to read this book as Christmas thrillers are few and far between. The synopsis of the book promises a party with a sinister white elephant gift that sets off a dramatic chain of events. Unfortunately, the party and white elephant exchange don't occur until the second half of the book. The first half was a lot of setup and character development, which I found a bit boring. The party scene felt like it was rushed and that the synopsis had been a bit misleading.
I would definitely recommend going into this book blind as the synopsis gives almost all of the plot away and, as stated above, a lot of it doesn't occur until the second half of the book.
Overall, I found the story interesting once the action began but I was somewhat disappointed by the execution of the story.
I received an e-arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I would definitely recommend going into this book blind as the synopsis gives almost all of the plot away and, as stated above, a lot of it doesn't occur until the second half of the book.
Overall, I found the story interesting once the action began but I was somewhat disappointed by the execution of the story.
I received an e-arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 15, 2024
Received this book as a white elephant! Enjoyed the read.
December 28, 2025
This was a lot of fun and kept me guessing. Loved it!
January 17, 2020
I'm a sucker for white elephant exchanges. I haven't participated in a single one that hasn't proven to produce laughter and a little drama. This one was no exception, even if I wasn't part of it. I do have to say that the first third of the book was a bit slow and Claudine is a despicable character. However, it picked up and made for a god mystery. I could really see this becoming a movie.
January 24, 2020
Nice quick read/audiobook! I’m dream casting the movie/mini series at the moment! I have a love hate relationship with the White Elephant game but I definitely enjoyed the drama of this one!
August 11, 2022
This book was pretty boring. The summary makes it seem like a murder mystery where people are getting killed off one by one, which is why I wanted to read it in the first place. There is no thrill in this book until the last two chapters, which was a huge letdown. I kept telling myself that it was going to get better, but now I know that was just wishful thinking. It NEVER GOT BETTER!! The ending was hugely disappointing but the characters were what earned this book three stars. They were all well-rounded and fun to read about, which was one of the few reasons I didn’t put this book down. I also liked that the author write about actual places in Aspen, like the Gucci store (I searched it up!). I love it when the author includes real-life things in their writing! Anyways that’s it for this review!
November 17, 2019
eh. the premise was fun but overall it was just ok. the Big Twist was so predictable i thought it was just going to be a red herring but nope. it was legit. honestly, it kind of reminded me of some of rl stine's fear street books. i absolutely love those books but i always know what i'm getting into w those (+ the nostalgia factor) so it's a little bit different. i really wasn't looking for that vibe when i picked this up. the best part for me was the wintry/Christmas setting, and i had hoped we'd get a little bit more of the snowed-in part.
** i received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. **
** i received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. **
December 3, 2019
What’s better than reading a book that takes place at a Christmas party in front of your very own Christmas tree? How about if that book contains a devious murder plot too? Reading a holiday book during the holidays certainly ratchets up the tension and the dark pleasure of a good winter read, which is why I devoured this book in two days. White Elephant by Trish Harnetiaux is a deliciously guilty read. It takes place over one day (with a few flashbacks for context) in Aspen, the winter playground for the rich and famous. Henry and Claudine own a real-estate/architecture business together, and Claudine is desperate to maintain her beautiful and comfortable lifestyle. Each year she organizes a famous ‘white elephant’ gift exchange that her employees are expected to participate in, but this year they are holding it in a huge mansion that their firm has up for sale, and a prospective buyer, a mega-famous pop star is joining in the party to get a better look at her future home. This stunning building has a dark past that Claudine and Henry would rather not highlight, but now that the winter storm has snowed everyone in, there’s no escaping…
I’ve participated in white elephant (sometimes known as ‘Yankee’) gift exchanges for as long as I can remember, and I’m sure you have too. It’s when everyone brings a wrapped gift to the party, and you drawn numbers to see who goes first to pick a present. You can then steal from previous pickers, etc. The majority of the exchanges I’ve gone to include a really low price limit, so many of the gifts end up being jokes. Claudine’s gift exchange is the exact opposite; the packages must be beautifully wrapped with an equally stunning item inside, worth hundreds if not thousands of dollars. And that’s what makes being on the sidelines as a reader so fun; you feel sorry for the characters who cower to Claudine’s power, yet it’s tirelessly amusing to witness it. There’s tension filling the hundreds of rooms of this house for so many reasons; pressure to sell to the celebrity visitor, pressure to keep past secrets hidden, pressure to measure up to Claudine’s enormously high expectations as a boss, even the hired bartenders can’t seem to escape her wrath as they’ve been expressly forbidden to pour Henry an alcoholic drink for the entire night. Yet everything is wrapped up in a perfect package, beautifully decorated for the Christmas season, despite the turmoil that swirls around this very important night.
Was I able to guess what the big secret was by the end of the night? Yes, but I wasn’t right about most other things, because the amount of red herrings this book has is incredible, and I really appreciated it. I love how I was constantly redirecting my focus within the plot, sure I had figured things out but quickly corrected once the guilt was cast elsewhere. I had a vague idea of what the ending was going to look like, but there were lots of little surprises along the way. This book has been compared to the movie Clue (because they’re both about people trapped in a mansion) and Big Little Lies (because everyone is attractive and wealthy with secrets) but these comparisons don’t do the book justice. White Elephant is a perfect combination of fun and creepy, which is why I genuinely enjoyed reading it. The importance of this cannot go unstated; sometimes we need to read books just for the fun of it. Plus, this novel is relatable; don’t we all feel like stabbing someone else during the holidays at one point or another?
At just under 230 pages, this book was a quick and surprisingly funny read! I won’t forget the character of Claudine for awhile. Although she’s not a good person, she’s by far the most memorable. A perfect quote to sum her up, and the book:
“Sorry we were almost late, Claudine,” Jerry said, handing her a garish poinsettia. “The car got stuck in our driveway.” “This is beautiful,” she said, handing the plant off to a nearby Jules and whispering “Get rid of it.”
To read the rest of my reviews please visit my blog:
https://ivereadthis.com/
Or follow me on twitter:
https://twitter.com/ivereadthisblog
I’ve participated in white elephant (sometimes known as ‘Yankee’) gift exchanges for as long as I can remember, and I’m sure you have too. It’s when everyone brings a wrapped gift to the party, and you drawn numbers to see who goes first to pick a present. You can then steal from previous pickers, etc. The majority of the exchanges I’ve gone to include a really low price limit, so many of the gifts end up being jokes. Claudine’s gift exchange is the exact opposite; the packages must be beautifully wrapped with an equally stunning item inside, worth hundreds if not thousands of dollars. And that’s what makes being on the sidelines as a reader so fun; you feel sorry for the characters who cower to Claudine’s power, yet it’s tirelessly amusing to witness it. There’s tension filling the hundreds of rooms of this house for so many reasons; pressure to sell to the celebrity visitor, pressure to keep past secrets hidden, pressure to measure up to Claudine’s enormously high expectations as a boss, even the hired bartenders can’t seem to escape her wrath as they’ve been expressly forbidden to pour Henry an alcoholic drink for the entire night. Yet everything is wrapped up in a perfect package, beautifully decorated for the Christmas season, despite the turmoil that swirls around this very important night.
Was I able to guess what the big secret was by the end of the night? Yes, but I wasn’t right about most other things, because the amount of red herrings this book has is incredible, and I really appreciated it. I love how I was constantly redirecting my focus within the plot, sure I had figured things out but quickly corrected once the guilt was cast elsewhere. I had a vague idea of what the ending was going to look like, but there were lots of little surprises along the way. This book has been compared to the movie Clue (because they’re both about people trapped in a mansion) and Big Little Lies (because everyone is attractive and wealthy with secrets) but these comparisons don’t do the book justice. White Elephant is a perfect combination of fun and creepy, which is why I genuinely enjoyed reading it. The importance of this cannot go unstated; sometimes we need to read books just for the fun of it. Plus, this novel is relatable; don’t we all feel like stabbing someone else during the holidays at one point or another?
At just under 230 pages, this book was a quick and surprisingly funny read! I won’t forget the character of Claudine for awhile. Although she’s not a good person, she’s by far the most memorable. A perfect quote to sum her up, and the book:
“Sorry we were almost late, Claudine,” Jerry said, handing her a garish poinsettia. “The car got stuck in our driveway.” “This is beautiful,” she said, handing the plant off to a nearby Jules and whispering “Get rid of it.”
To read the rest of my reviews please visit my blog:
https://ivereadthis.com/
Or follow me on twitter:
https://twitter.com/ivereadthisblog
November 11, 2019
3.5 stars!
The cover drew me into this one! This was a super short (228 pages), quick, fun mystery!
I loved the snowy, Aspen setting, surrounding this holiday White Elephant gift exchange. Every year my cousins and I do a White Elephant gift exchange, so I knew the premise surrounding this would be fun and would also involve a special, unique gift, that everyone would be questioning who brought it. This White Elephant holiday party involved a real estate sale and a murder! Intriguing? Yes!
There aren't too many holiday thriller/mysteries, so I enjoyed this for a different change of pace.
The cover drew me into this one! This was a super short (228 pages), quick, fun mystery!
I loved the snowy, Aspen setting, surrounding this holiday White Elephant gift exchange. Every year my cousins and I do a White Elephant gift exchange, so I knew the premise surrounding this would be fun and would also involve a special, unique gift, that everyone would be questioning who brought it. This White Elephant holiday party involved a real estate sale and a murder! Intriguing? Yes!
There aren't too many holiday thriller/mysteries, so I enjoyed this for a different change of pace.
December 9, 2021
A quite enjoyable, unpredictable, quick (<6 hr audio book), Christmas murder mystery set in Aspen, Colorado!
December 12, 2022
So if you travel to Aspen and meet a woman name Claudine - run the other way! Fast! The author created a thoroughly despicable character!! The story moved pretty quickly and some points I figured out, other not. I must say I was truly surprised by the Claudine Longet connection. I had thought about that in a long time!!! Interesting!
January 12, 2020
3.5 starts. This book wasn’t half bad! The characters were believable, if shallow, and it was a good whodunit. Took me a few hours on audio (1.75 speed) while cleaning up the house - it was a good companion.
December 2, 2019
This one didn't surprise me at all, but it did deliver a murderous game of white elephant, which is what I came for, so I'll take it.
November 28, 2023
Henry and Claudine are a perfect team selling land and building houses. Years ago Henry committed an awful murder with a statue. When Claudine has the annual staff Christmas party with a white elephant gift the statue turns up. Who could’ve brought it and will another murder follow. I really didn’t like it that well Claudine was too mean with no redeeming features and Henry was just so wishy-washy, it was hard to believe.
September 17, 2019
Loved this book! Smart, funny, and fast-paced. Characters were delightfully evil, but still human and well-rounded. Zara was my favorite character by far and I love it that a young pop-star gets to have a brain and heart (refreshing!). I loved the way the book moved and how it kept you guessing up until the very end. I devoured it in two days!
December 9, 2020
This was a fun (and fast!) read, in the vein of an Agatha Christie, without someone acting as the sleuth. The story changes viewpoints throughout, which enhanced mystery, and the ending was satisfying. I recommend this title if your holiday movie watching is a little less Hallmark and a little more Die Hard.
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