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Christine Bennett #5
The Christmas Night Murder
A Christine Bennett Mystery.
A cheerful Christmas party at St. Stephen's Convent is spoiled when the guest of honor, Father Hudson McCormick, fails to arrive. Worried Sister Joseph asks Christine Bennet, a former St. Stephen' s nun, to investigate. Now every signpost points Christine into the past -- to a troubled young woman who committed suicide and a once-prominent family that has vanished as mysteriously as Father McCormick himself . . .
A cheerful Christmas party at St. Stephen's Convent is spoiled when the guest of honor, Father Hudson McCormick, fails to arrive. Worried Sister Joseph asks Christine Bennet, a former St. Stephen' s nun, to investigate. Now every signpost points Christine into the past -- to a troubled young woman who committed suicide and a once-prominent family that has vanished as mysteriously as Father McCormick himself . . .
Audible Audio
First published October 1, 1994
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About the author
Lee Harris
103 books77 followersA pseudonym used by Syrell Leahy.
Lee Harris is the author of the mystery novels featuring ex-nun Christine Bennett, who first appeared in The Good Friday Murder, an Edgar Award nominee. She also writes the New York Mysteries, which debuted with Murder in Hell's Kitchen. In 2001, Lee Harris received the Romantic Times magazine Career Achievement Award for her distinguished contribution to crime writing.
Lee Harris is the author of the mystery novels featuring ex-nun Christine Bennett, who first appeared in The Good Friday Murder, an Edgar Award nominee. She also writes the New York Mysteries, which debuted with Murder in Hell's Kitchen. In 2001, Lee Harris received the Romantic Times magazine Career Achievement Award for her distinguished contribution to crime writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
December 16, 2023
This is Christine Bennett mystery # 5, which naturally I’ve never heard of, so why not pick up a random one for Christmas.
In all seriousness though, this actually does a great job of filling you in on needed information while not being an info dump. Nor does it feel like you’re lacking for not reading the others. I was pleasantly surprised.
This series started in the nineties, and in today’s world would probably be marketed under ‘cozy’, which just seems to mean it lacks the “on screen” violence of most modern mystery/thrillers. The deaths are for the most part less gruesome or in this case, completely unknown until the very end, as the person is missing.
It’s written well, and has a simple style that added to my enjoyability. It being included for free on audible also certainly helped, as I may not have picked it up otherwise being in the middle of a series and all, although I do like the cover a lot.
Christine “Chris” Bennett almost became a nun, now she’s an amateur sleuth instead. Her husband is an NYPD officer, and tries to help, but she does the connecting of dots all on her own. So when one of her favorite priests goes missing on Christmas, she’s pulled back into a blend of her old and new worlds.
Personally a 4/5*. Liked it, but was kind of light on the Christmas.
In all seriousness though, this actually does a great job of filling you in on needed information while not being an info dump. Nor does it feel like you’re lacking for not reading the others. I was pleasantly surprised.
This series started in the nineties, and in today’s world would probably be marketed under ‘cozy’, which just seems to mean it lacks the “on screen” violence of most modern mystery/thrillers. The deaths are for the most part less gruesome or in this case, completely unknown until the very end, as the person is missing.
It’s written well, and has a simple style that added to my enjoyability. It being included for free on audible also certainly helped, as I may not have picked it up otherwise being in the middle of a series and all, although I do like the cover a lot.
Christine “Chris” Bennett almost became a nun, now she’s an amateur sleuth instead. Her husband is an NYPD officer, and tries to help, but she does the connecting of dots all on her own. So when one of her favorite priests goes missing on Christmas, she’s pulled back into a blend of her old and new worlds.
Personally a 4/5*. Liked it, but was kind of light on the Christmas.
December 28, 2021
I love the idea of an ex-nun married to a cop and solving crimes. It has so much potential. Unfortunately, this book fell short for me. I thought it was a bit repetitive. I was also really bothered by the fact that every single character automatically discounted the allegations of abuse against the priest. The girl making them was troubled, or lying, or confused. Okay, whether or not the allegations turn out to be true (don't want to give spoilers) I think this is a terrible attitude towards victims of abuse. Shouldn't people at least investigate? Entertain the possibility? I mean, nice guys are shown to be abusers every darn day. So yeah, I found it a bit outdated and it frustrated me.
February 21, 2017
It is 1994, which is important because the lack of cell phones plays a significant role in this story. Christine Bennett, a former nun at Saint Stephen's convent, is at the convent with her policeman husband for a Christmas celebration. The nuns are expecting a visit from a former priest who had worked with the convent for several years, but he never shows up. Although the police find a few clues, in the end they are unable to find him and don't seem too inclined to try further. Christine, who has investigated murders before, starts digging into the priest's past. As clues come to light about a troubled young novice seven years previously who committed suicide, Christine thinks she has a good lead as to what might have happened--can she find out before it's too late?
I enjoyed this well enough. It was disconcerting before I realized it was set in the early 1990s, because of the complete lack of cell phones and Internet use. Because I personally have used computers and Internet since the 1980s, I thought maybe the book was set in the 1970s! In any case, I thought the setting was well described, and was glad that even though there were a lot of nuns, it wasn't an overly religious book. The main character was okay, though I agree with some other reviewers who found it a bit unbelievable that she felt so entitled to push her way into people's homes and ask questions. In other books with amateur detectives, the detectives usually come up with a cover story of some kind, or they have assistance from friends and relatives, or something. I couldn't figure out why anyone would want to talk to someone with no authority whatsoever. Oh well!
I enjoyed this well enough. It was disconcerting before I realized it was set in the early 1990s, because of the complete lack of cell phones and Internet use. Because I personally have used computers and Internet since the 1980s, I thought maybe the book was set in the 1970s! In any case, I thought the setting was well described, and was glad that even though there were a lot of nuns, it wasn't an overly religious book. The main character was okay, though I agree with some other reviewers who found it a bit unbelievable that she felt so entitled to push her way into people's homes and ask questions. In other books with amateur detectives, the detectives usually come up with a cover story of some kind, or they have assistance from friends and relatives, or something. I couldn't figure out why anyone would want to talk to someone with no authority whatsoever. Oh well!
August 1, 2008
I borrowed The Chrismas Night Murder and another book in the same series from the library and returned them both without even cracking the cover of the second novel. I found the book boring and implausible.
December 7, 2015
This book had promise. It features an ex-nun who revisits the convent she lived in until she married. A priest she studied under is coming for a Christmas visit from his new parish in Wyoming and Christine is looking forward to seeing him again. The priest disappeared on his way to the convent and Christine is brought in to search for him. Like I said, the book had promise - but then Christine becomes very annoying. She questions people (and they answer her) about things that any reasonable person would tell her to go away. She expects to be allowed into houses to search with no authority to do so. I was very disappointed in the "heroine" of this book. The mystery wasn't bad and the story was well written but please, authors, use situations that might be real.
December 25, 2018
I really liked this. I think it would be a good movie.l and nuns are awesome.
December 4, 2024
This was written in the 90’s and, as such, is very much a product of its time. Some language is used that would not be used today, however it was not used to be intentionally offensive so I was able to look past it. Not everyone will want to do that, so this is a fair warning. The story was a bit slow, but it still managed to keep me interested and guessing until almost the end. This is book 5 in the Christine Bennet Mystery series, but it is my first exposure to the series and the author. While it wasn’t the best I’ve ever read, I enjoyed this enough that I’m probably going to check out other books in the series.
This was a freebie on Audible, and I’m conflicted about the narrator. She read this more like a parent reading a bedtime story to a child and not so much like an audiobook being narrated. This wasn’t a “performance” by any means. I think the narrator’s monotone voice added to how slow the story felt at times, but her voice was also very soothing and pleasant to listen to which is why I’m so on the fence about her.
I’d consider this a cozy mystery although I don’t think the genre name existed at the time. There was an amount of suspension of disbelief required, which I find to be a common element in cozy mysteries. The MC basically bulldozed her way into people’s homes and asked questions which she had no right to ask total strangers. Most incredible of all, is that most of them answered her! Fortunately, it lacked a lot of the elements which I tend to dislike about cozy mysteries. There were no messy dramas or dramatic interpersonal relationships, no unnecessary conflicts or pointless side-plots, and no budding romance or love triangle entanglements. In all, I’d give this a 3.5 but decided to round down in this case.
This was a freebie on Audible, and I’m conflicted about the narrator. She read this more like a parent reading a bedtime story to a child and not so much like an audiobook being narrated. This wasn’t a “performance” by any means. I think the narrator’s monotone voice added to how slow the story felt at times, but her voice was also very soothing and pleasant to listen to which is why I’m so on the fence about her.
I’d consider this a cozy mystery although I don’t think the genre name existed at the time. There was an amount of suspension of disbelief required, which I find to be a common element in cozy mysteries. The MC basically bulldozed her way into people’s homes and asked questions which she had no right to ask total strangers. Most incredible of all, is that most of them answered her! Fortunately, it lacked a lot of the elements which I tend to dislike about cozy mysteries. There were no messy dramas or dramatic interpersonal relationships, no unnecessary conflicts or pointless side-plots, and no budding romance or love triangle entanglements. In all, I’d give this a 3.5 but decided to round down in this case.
December 24, 2020
An interesting convoluted tale of a missing priest, a dead nun, an ex nun and a failed noviciate, kidnapping, murder and secrets.
July 24, 2010
Pleasant, Easy Reading, Like the whole series, a "4"...
Lee Harris (a pseudonym) must like holidays, as all 14 of her Christine Bennett stories center around special days like Thanksgiving or Father's Day or Labor Day, etc. The stories follow a reasonably predictable pattern in which our early-30's leading lady, Chris, who with only a part-time teaching job to drain her resource of time, gets involved in missing persons or murder cases that either due to the passing of time or some other form of dis-interest are getting little or no police attention. Chris is a charming character who is new to much of the secular world having been a nun at St. Stephen's for fifteen years, arriving as a young, orphaned teenager. Her occasional naivete and fresh outlook on life adds different perspective to the stories, yet her own sincerity and persistence is usually what leads her to clue after clue til the mystery is solved. When things get tough, Chris is newly married to a NYC police detective, so he can conveniently get her data, trace phone calls, or call in favors to help our informal sleuth make forward progress.
The story at hand arises from a Christmas celebration at St. Stephen's that goes sour when a beloved former resident priest turns up missing at the last minute. The discovery of some of his clothes and his car soon point to foul play, but we get strung along for most of the book as the plot not only takes a few turns, but involves an older mystery (from seven years prior) that in a burst of tidiness gets cleaned up along with our priest by the final chapter. There are a few somewhat implausible parts of the book, like when Chris starts tailing suspects in her car or the inevitable few things people suddenly remember or find (after nearly a decade) and are nice enough to call Chris; but the writing style and action are generally as relaxed as are we as we read these light but entertaining stories.
The characters' lives evolve a little from book to book, so reading them in order might make sense, though it's certainly not necessary. We are also glad to report that the ex-nun angle leads to no Catholic proselytizing; indeed, Chris's best friend Melanie is Jewish, and so far, our author has even resisted what might be some interesting byplay from that scenario. So -- by the fire or at the beach, tough to go far wrong with a nice clean story with Lee Harris & Christine Bennett.
Lee Harris (a pseudonym) must like holidays, as all 14 of her Christine Bennett stories center around special days like Thanksgiving or Father's Day or Labor Day, etc. The stories follow a reasonably predictable pattern in which our early-30's leading lady, Chris, who with only a part-time teaching job to drain her resource of time, gets involved in missing persons or murder cases that either due to the passing of time or some other form of dis-interest are getting little or no police attention. Chris is a charming character who is new to much of the secular world having been a nun at St. Stephen's for fifteen years, arriving as a young, orphaned teenager. Her occasional naivete and fresh outlook on life adds different perspective to the stories, yet her own sincerity and persistence is usually what leads her to clue after clue til the mystery is solved. When things get tough, Chris is newly married to a NYC police detective, so he can conveniently get her data, trace phone calls, or call in favors to help our informal sleuth make forward progress.
The story at hand arises from a Christmas celebration at St. Stephen's that goes sour when a beloved former resident priest turns up missing at the last minute. The discovery of some of his clothes and his car soon point to foul play, but we get strung along for most of the book as the plot not only takes a few turns, but involves an older mystery (from seven years prior) that in a burst of tidiness gets cleaned up along with our priest by the final chapter. There are a few somewhat implausible parts of the book, like when Chris starts tailing suspects in her car or the inevitable few things people suddenly remember or find (after nearly a decade) and are nice enough to call Chris; but the writing style and action are generally as relaxed as are we as we read these light but entertaining stories.
The characters' lives evolve a little from book to book, so reading them in order might make sense, though it's certainly not necessary. We are also glad to report that the ex-nun angle leads to no Catholic proselytizing; indeed, Chris's best friend Melanie is Jewish, and so far, our author has even resisted what might be some interesting byplay from that scenario. So -- by the fire or at the beach, tough to go far wrong with a nice clean story with Lee Harris & Christine Bennett.
July 25, 2019
Christine (Chris) Bennet is something of an amateur detective. She lost her parents at fifteen and spent sixteen in St. Stephen’s convent before she walked away from being a nun. Afterward, she met Jack; he became her husband a year later.
It has been seven years since Father Hudson McCormick has been at the convent and its church when he transferred to Wyoming. There is a scheduled Christmas get-together, and after Jack’s family Christmas, they drive to the convent, where the nuns that she spent sixteen years reside; her chosen family. Father McCormick is invited, calls to update Sister Joseph, the Mother Superior, of his departure time, but he never arrives. Eventually, it sparks a mystery for Chris and her husband, whom is a cop.
On pg 29, they turned down a Mrs. Pfeiffer’s offer for coffee, but on pg 31, they took a walk before lunch with the lady and ended up having coffee. On pg 34, Sister Joseph offers them both a cup of coffee and they accept. MC’s husband tells the Mother Superior that cops need at least ‘two cups to kick-start their hearts each morning.’ If they’d accepted Mrs. Pfeiffer’s cup, they’d be on their third. I can only guess that she makes a horrible cuppa.
This is definitely NOT a story for those who are interested in fast paced stories or the majority of crap that gets released today. There were several times that my fiancé and I laughed our butts off. The comedic relief moments were received as intended.
This is a slow story. There are a lot of conversations in this book. Most people I know wouldn’t have the patience to read it, sadly; but I thought it was terrific.
I definitely want to read more of this series by Lee Harris. 5 stars.
It has been seven years since Father Hudson McCormick has been at the convent and its church when he transferred to Wyoming. There is a scheduled Christmas get-together, and after Jack’s family Christmas, they drive to the convent, where the nuns that she spent sixteen years reside; her chosen family. Father McCormick is invited, calls to update Sister Joseph, the Mother Superior, of his departure time, but he never arrives. Eventually, it sparks a mystery for Chris and her husband, whom is a cop.
On pg 29, they turned down a Mrs. Pfeiffer’s offer for coffee, but on pg 31, they took a walk before lunch with the lady and ended up having coffee. On pg 34, Sister Joseph offers them both a cup of coffee and they accept. MC’s husband tells the Mother Superior that cops need at least ‘two cups to kick-start their hearts each morning.’ If they’d accepted Mrs. Pfeiffer’s cup, they’d be on their third. I can only guess that she makes a horrible cuppa.
This is definitely NOT a story for those who are interested in fast paced stories or the majority of crap that gets released today. There were several times that my fiancé and I laughed our butts off. The comedic relief moments were received as intended.
This is a slow story. There are a lot of conversations in this book. Most people I know wouldn’t have the patience to read it, sadly; but I thought it was terrific.
I definitely want to read more of this series by Lee Harris. 5 stars.
December 11, 2020
Is no one else bothered by the convent and bishop’s response to a young nun accusing a priest of rape? The narrator and the convent community believe the priest was a nice friend and kind man unquestionably. And so we are to just believe that as well about the man and actually care if he’s missing?!
The police weren’t called. The girl wasn’t taken to a hospital. The bishop “believed” the priest without actually speaking directly to the girl. He quietly transferred the priest to a Wyoming reservation to work with Native Americans ...where he can possibly commit more assaults?
I know this was written in the 90s. I flinched each time the main character said her cousin was in a “retarded” home.
But with all the abuse by priests that has been exposed since the author wrote this book and - to make it worse - the complicit coverup and enabling by church hierarchy, it’s impossible to read this book without the lens that we now wear.
The police weren’t called. The girl wasn’t taken to a hospital. The bishop “believed” the priest without actually speaking directly to the girl. He quietly transferred the priest to a Wyoming reservation to work with Native Americans ...where he can possibly commit more assaults?
I know this was written in the 90s. I flinched each time the main character said her cousin was in a “retarded” home.
But with all the abuse by priests that has been exposed since the author wrote this book and - to make it worse - the complicit coverup and enabling by church hierarchy, it’s impossible to read this book without the lens that we now wear.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2020
I liked the main character Christine Bennett. The story was unique and had some nice twists to the plot to keep it interesting. The pacing was decent and the dialogue was good. The characters were realistic and interesting. I am a sucker for nuns and priests in mysteries. I'm not sure why other than they represent truth above all else. Now, I understand in the real world being someone of a religious background would never guarantee honesty but in fiction I like to think it does. I think I would have liked Christine working more in a team situation with her husband or a nun or two, but I am nit-picking. This is a first read for me in this series and I did pick one out of order but I don't think I missed out on anything by starting out of order. I like the characters and their backgrounds enough to pick up more in this series.
May 3, 2020
I really enjoyed the characters and I love the underlying themes involving religion. I thought it was a very intricate story line. It reminds me a little bit of Nancy Drew. Some parts were a little unrealistic in terms of Chris solving the mystery. Definitely interested in reading more books in the series!
January 26, 2021
For some reason ( maybe the quarantine we are in) the book seemed to drag as the clues were rehashed but then it was a mystery to be solved. Being in a nunnery was interesting and jack is a Prrfect husband ( they’re newly-weds. ) I was fooled about who dunnit but that all unraveled very quickly at the end
November 22, 2021
It’s Christmas and Christine, a former nun, is visiting the convent she lived in until she married. A priest she studied under is coming for a visit from his new parish in Wyoming and everyone is looking forward to seeing him again. The priest never arrives and Christine is brought in to search for him.
The book touches on convent life, which I found interesting. It’s an insulated community where secrets can be kept. It also deals with abuse in the Catholic Church, but the way it was approached seemed surprisingly outdated. Yes, this book takes place in the early 90s but still.
Christine is a good character. She’s persistent and honest and loyal. Her husband, Jack, a police sergeant, gives her some help, but she does most of the investigating on her own. I’m not quite sure how she manages to get all the answers and access she does, but people always seem to talk to amateur detectives.
I listened to the audio, which was maybe a mistake. The narrator is rather boring and for a slower-paced story, the combo wasn’t great.
The book touches on convent life, which I found interesting. It’s an insulated community where secrets can be kept. It also deals with abuse in the Catholic Church, but the way it was approached seemed surprisingly outdated. Yes, this book takes place in the early 90s but still.
Christine is a good character. She’s persistent and honest and loyal. Her husband, Jack, a police sergeant, gives her some help, but she does most of the investigating on her own. I’m not quite sure how she manages to get all the answers and access she does, but people always seem to talk to amateur detectives.
I listened to the audio, which was maybe a mistake. The narrator is rather boring and for a slower-paced story, the combo wasn’t great.
December 8, 2022
I downloaded the audiobook from the library's Libby app, and really enjoyed being plunged into a very different Christmas from the British ones I know.
Chris Bennet, a former nun, finds herself investigating a disappearance from her former convent, and it doesn't take very long before what starts out as a missing person enquiry escalates to murder.
I really like the way that Lee Harris handled the religious elements of the story. She manages to explain the technicalities of Catholicism without at all sounding like she is preaching (to the converted or otherwise).
Three Word Review: Former nun investigates
Chris Bennet, a former nun, finds herself investigating a disappearance from her former convent, and it doesn't take very long before what starts out as a missing person enquiry escalates to murder.
I really like the way that Lee Harris handled the religious elements of the story. She manages to explain the technicalities of Catholicism without at all sounding like she is preaching (to the converted or otherwise).
Three Word Review: Former nun investigates
December 22, 2020
Another in this series of good mysteries about an ex-nun, Christine Bennett. She is a wiz at solving crimes, often before the police. This time she and her new husband are celebrating Christmas at her old convent. At this joyful celebration they realize that the guest of honor, the former priest is terribly late. Missing? Kidnapped? Murdered? Then an older nun turns up dead. What's going on? Whose behind this? Christine does what no police department can do...she puts the pieces of the puzzle together. Slowly, deliberately, carefully. A good break from my usual serious reads.
January 9, 2021
This was a different style genre that I generally pick but was looking for something different to read for a change of pace. The story is of the believed murder of Father Hudson McCormick who never arrives at the destination where he is expected. The nuns and others have to try and figure out who and why anybody would want to murder a Father that they think everybody liked. Different from what I usually read and not so gruesome that I didn't like it.
December 29, 2020
This is a very light, quick read. Probably Catholics like me would enjoy this more as the protagonist is a former nun and there are many references to Catholic prayer and practices. It touches on some contemporary themes such as abuse in the Catholic Church, the decline in religious vocations, etc. I've got to admire, too, the persistence of Christine Bennett.
December 20, 2023
This mystery is one of a series with cloistered Catholic nuns as major characters and an ex nun as amateur sleuth (married to a policeman). The puzzle is well presented and the characters sympathetic. It concerns the disappearance (possibly murdered) of a well loved priest who is supposed to spend Christmas with the nuns. Enjoyable and positive.
November 14, 2016
This is the first book I've read by this author. It's a great mystery and because it happens in a convent was a former nun it's a good clean read too. It was suspenseful and had some surprises. I look forward to reading more by this author.
December 20, 2018
Interesting storyline. Focus was the murder and minimal subplots, which I prefer. No love triangles, which I also prefer. It’s a unique approach and has its own recipe. It differs from some of the cookie cutter suspense novels. Fresh approach.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2020
It was a great story...the only downfall to me was the narrator. Not really a story teller. More like I have to read this let me do it. The narrators of the most books are just that...someone who through reading something shows emotion with their voice. But it was a great story anyway.
December 28, 2018
This is a pretty good series, have a couple more on my to read list.
January 21, 2019
A library recommendation. I enjoyed it
July 25, 2019
Another good mystery. Well told good characters.
December 29, 2019
A decent mystery that takes place over Christmas in a convent in upstate New York. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. Has quite a few red herrings and surprise or two along the way.
January 7, 2020
Another excellent story although I wasn't crazy about nuns and priests being attacked!!!
November 8, 2020
3.5 Stars...
December 8, 2020
Kidnapping and murder what more could you ask for
A really good book. It had all the twists and turns you could ask for. You even learn about convent life.
A really good book. It had all the twists and turns you could ask for. You even learn about convent life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews