The Unpleasantness at the Battle of Thornford

Father Christmas Mystery #4

by C.C. Benison

When a costumed, pike-spiked body turns up after a traditional historic reenactment of the 1645 Battle of Thornford, the Reverend Tom Christmas and the villagers of Thornford Regis find themselves in a battle of their own as they deal with events from the murky, more recent past.

Genres: Mystery, Christmas, Cozy Mystery, British Literature, Fiction

106 pages, Paperback

Published November 5, 2020

About the author

C.C. Benison is the pen name of Douglas Whiteway, a journalist and author who lives in Winnipeg, Canada. He has a degree in journalism from Carleton University in Ottawa and has worked for the Winnipeg Tribune and the Winnipeg Free Press.

He is most recently the author of The Unpleasantness at the Battle of Thornford, a Father Christmas novella, published in November 2020. This follows his last work of fiction, Paul is Dead: A Novel, published in 2018, which is a literary thriller set in an isolated lakeside cottage.

He is also the author of a series of murder mysteries set on the estates of Queen Elizabeth II where the crimes are solved by housemaid Jane Bee, with the Queen's help. Titles include Death at Buckingham Palace, Death at Sandringham House, and Death at Windsor Castle. He is, as well, the author of Death in Cold Type, a murder mystery set in Winnipeg.

In 2011, the first of the Father Christmas mysteries, Twelve Drummers Drumming, was published. The novels feature Tom Christmas, Anglican priest, widower and single father, solving crimes in and around the village of Thornford Regis in Devon, England. Eleven Pipers Piping followed in 2012. Ten Drummers Drumming was published in autumn 2013.

Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best First Novel (1997): Death at Buckingham Palace

Reviews

[Luanne Ollivier · Rating 5 out of 5]

C.C. Benison is the author of a delightful series - The Father Christmas mysteries. I've been waiting for more murder and mystery from the village of Thornford Regis. And it's here! The Unpleasantness at the Battle of Thornford (a novella) releases November 5/20.

The lead character is actually a widowed vicar by the name of Tom Christmas. He makes his home in the rectory with his daughter Miranda and housekeeper Madrun. I happily settled in with a pot of tea and gingersnaps, eager to visit Tom and the lovely, quirky residents of Thornford Regis.

Tom has been asked to attend and bless a historical reenactment of a 1645 battle. The original battle "...appeared to be rather less a 'battle' than a 'skirmish', or perhaps, an 'incident' or - really - little more than an 'unpleasantness' as the weary locals dragged themselves out for a final bash at one another in the protracted war that divided England in the seventeenth century." And it is here that the body is found.

Father Tom is such a great lead. He's likable, naturally curious, kind and thoughtful. His vocation lets him make discreet inquiries and piece things together himself. He just can't help himself. The residents are a mixed bunch - quirky, suspicious, friendly, nosy, secretive, helpful - there's no lack of suspects in this parish. There are many I miss from previous books and *hope* there might be more Father Christmas and et al tales. I truly miss Madrun's missives to her mother.

Thornford Regis reminds me of one of those English village displays you'd see on a mantle at Christmas - the church, the local meeting hall, the corner store, the manor house, a tea room (where you would find me) and more.

The first three books in this series are distinctly cozy - despite the bodies. This latest novella is a cozy entry as well, but with a darker 'why' at the heart of the whodunit.

I can heartily recommend this latest Father Christmas - it's an engaging, easy little read that will entertain you. And the size of the book makes is just right for Christmas stockings!

[Stephen · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are two reasons why I'm less than best pleased at having read this story. There are three full-length novels in Benison's Father Christmas series of murder mysteries involving an English village vicar named Tom Christmas. They were ingeniously named Twelve Drummers Drumming (2011), Eleven Pipers Piping (2012), and Ten Lords A-Leaping (2013). He then, apparently, went on to write other things. I was excited when I learnt that he had written another Father Christmas mystery; less excited when I discovered that it was, in his words, non-canonical, and, in my words, truncated all to hell. My second concern is more grievous (and it is also a spoiler so, if you intend to read this novella, you might well stop reading my review at this point). The story turns on issues of child molestation and the manner in which that crime damages and scars far more people than the obvious juvenile victim. There is quite sufficient horror in my daily work; I don't need an extra dose of this sort of thing during my recreational reading hours. Murder falls within my permissible boundary; child abuse falls outside of it. I will be more careful in future. I enjoy Benison's writing. I enjoy the quirky characters he has created at St. Nicholas Church in the village of Thornford Regis. I just can't abide so revolting and upsetting a topic.

[Laura B · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am disappointed to have to give this review. I've loved the other Father Christmas mysteries and of course was annoyed when the next story wasn't "Nine Ladies Dancing" but I could forgive that for a good story. This wasn't that. It had all the elements and the characters remained endearing, and while the plot was a bit predictable that's not what I take issue with. I've always found Father Christmas to be considerate in thought and use of words, so I was dismayed when he would adopt the name "Elliot" without the corresponding pronouns. Transphobia is of course a struggle in today's world and Barbara clearly highlighted that, but I had higher expectations for Tom and Benison.

[Lizzytish · Rating 2 out of 5]

What happened to Nine Ladies Dancing? Instead we have this novella as number four in the Father Christmas series. The writing was chunky and the story sparse. The subject matter was definitely not to my liking. It’s such a horrid thing (pedophilia) that I don’t even think it should have been been considered as a source for a mystery. Granted that it wasn’t specific or detailed, but still. It was beyond unpleasant.

[Cheryl Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very British mystery. Hopefully we will hear more from Father Christmas.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is always a treat to again visit with the Vicar Tom Christmas's parishioners of Thornford and I am anxiously awaiting the next installment for this series hopefully being Nine Ladies Dancing.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been waiting for the next installment of the Father Christmas series and my excitement turned to disappointment when I learned that this was a one-off and just a novella. However, though petite, the story was enough to remind me why I love the Father Christmas series so much so rather than turning me off I am still eagerly awaiting more. I feel for the author, the weight of expectations must be nearly too much to bear, but this fan hopes he is well and writing freely.

[At Bay Press · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a costumed, pike-spiked body turns up after a traditional historic reenactment of the 1645 Battle of Thornford, the Reverend Tom "Father" Christmas and the villagers of Thornford Regis find themselves in a battle of their own as they deal with events from the murky, more recent past. C.C. Benison's latest intriguing and delightful Father Christmas mystery will leave cozy mystery readers puzzling over the outcome and, like a refreshing English cream tea, wishing there were more. When a costumed, pike-spiked body turns up after a traditional historic reenactment of the 1645 Battle of Thornford, the Reverend Tom "Father" Christmas and the villagers of Thornford Regis find themselves in a battle of their own as they deal with events from the murky, more recent past. C.C. Benison's latest intriguing and delightful Father Christmas mystery will leave cozy mystery readers puzzling over the outcome and, like a refreshing English cream tea, wishing there were more.

[Laurel Bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 blue stars, but only because I love the characters...

This was very short, but for those longing for the next Father Christmas novel it will have to do. I adore these characters and the moral dilemmas that Father Christmas must wrestle with. The mystery is decent. But this should be numbered 3.5, not 4. Still waiting patiently for Nine Ladies Dancing. For the price, this should have been a full-length novel, and unfortunately there were a number of typos or perhaps scanning errors in the Kindle edition.

Description: When a costumed, pike-spiked body turns up after a traditional historic reenactment of
the 1645 Battle of Thornford, the Reverend Tom “Father” Christmas and the villagers of Thornford Regis find themselves in a battle of their own as they deal with events from the murky, more recent past.

[David Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read somewhat complex, but I give it four stars because I preferred the first two Her Majesty series books which kept my attention— but maybe it was also the timing because it is around Christmas time and even with a pandemic going on I found many distractions. Still the characters were interesting and the impaled Charles Rouse whodunnit made for a good read and shows skill in the author putting the characters together with a few twists.

[Kyrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two and a half stars, but I usually like his books, so I rounded up.

Considerably shorter than other books in the Father Christmas series and has to do with pedophilia. A lot of the book felt like an outline that would be filled in with more later.

[Dorothy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very disappointed in this novella as it is not nearly as good as the others in the series. Production was poor and an egregious mistake was made in speaking of the church choir. It was spelled "quire" which leads us to believe that the hymns were sung by a pile of paper.

[Dennis Maione · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was a great little book

[Geoffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This "non-canonical" entry in the Father Christmas series is a quick and easy read.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick little read.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read, the fourth in the Father Christmas series. I didn't like it as much as the others; maybe because of the subject matter?

[Neyly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this novella in my ongoing quest to finish series I like but haven't completed for one reason or another.

Here we have #4 in the Father Christmas mystery series. The books have something to do with Christmas, right? Wrong. Father Tom Christmas is the new vicar in the English village of Thornford Regis. He too hears "Father Christmas" jokes - and tires of them.

Vicar ... English village. Cozy mysteries, right? Umm, borders "cozy" except this particular entry in the series has to do with pedophilia, something not usually tackled in cozy mysteries - for good reason.

Should I have bothered reading The Unpleasantness at the Battle of Thornford since eight years have passed since I last spent time with Father Christmas? Most notably, author C.C. Benison wrote this novella in 2011; then the series stopped. However, I liked the books: the writing, the characters, the mysteries, and the touches of humor. I decided to say a proper goodbye to the series.

Recommend: Depends. It's disheartening that the series stopped, leaving the unsolved murder of Father Christmas' wife ... unsolved.


*I mentioned humor so, from Twelve Drummers Drumming, #1 in the series, Father Christmas talking with one of his congregants:

"You're rambling a bit, Mrs. Sprigett."

"So I am. Avoidance, I daresay."

"Well, as Jesus said, 'Spit it out.'"

"Vicar? Jesus did not say that!"

"He might have. Much went unrecorded."

"Oh, Vicar," Tilly simpered.

"Then, as the psalmist said, 'Take heart.' That would be more in keeping."

[Lina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good series