What do you think?
Rate this book
A Christmas Legacy
Thomas and Charlotte Pitt's former maid takes a new job as Christmas approaches--but not everyone in the household may survive the holidays in this tension-filled novel from bestselling author Anne Perry.
"Perry's Victorian-era holiday mysteries [are] an annual treat."--The Wall Street Journal
After leaving her position with Charlotte and Thomas Pitt to get married, Gracie thought her days as a maid were behind her. But when her good friend's daughter, Millie, turns up on her doorstep just before the holidays, frantic because things are going missing from the kitchen in the household she serves, Gracie knows she has to find out what is happening. Millie, whose mother died years before, can't risk being accused of theft and getting thrown out on the street, with no character references for a new position.
So Gracie takes on Millie's job herself, claiming Millie is sick and needs a few days to recuperate. At first, it seems that all is normal in the household, even if the couple's elderly granny keeps entirely to her bedroom upstairs. But Gracie begins to realize that Granny is suffering from neglect--and rather than helping her, the husband and wife have decided she isn't dying fast enough.
"Perry's Victorian-era holiday mysteries [are] an annual treat."--The Wall Street Journal
After leaving her position with Charlotte and Thomas Pitt to get married, Gracie thought her days as a maid were behind her. But when her good friend's daughter, Millie, turns up on her doorstep just before the holidays, frantic because things are going missing from the kitchen in the household she serves, Gracie knows she has to find out what is happening. Millie, whose mother died years before, can't risk being accused of theft and getting thrown out on the street, with no character references for a new position.
So Gracie takes on Millie's job herself, claiming Millie is sick and needs a few days to recuperate. At first, it seems that all is normal in the household, even if the couple's elderly granny keeps entirely to her bedroom upstairs. But Gracie begins to realize that Granny is suffering from neglect--and rather than helping her, the husband and wife have decided she isn't dying fast enough.
188 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2021
145 people are currently reading
4149 people want to read
About the author
Anne Perry
362 books3,375 followersAnne Perry, born Juliet Hulme in England, lived in Scotland most of her life after serving five years in prison for murder (in New Zealand). A beloved mystery authoress, she is best known for her Thomas Pitt and William Monk series.
Her first novel, "The Cater Street Hangman", was published in 1979. Her works extend to several categories of genre fiction, including historical mysteries. Many of them feature recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in 1990, "The Face Of A Stranger".
Her story "Heroes," from the 1999 anthology Murder And Obsession, won the 2001 Edgar Award For Best Short Story. She was included as an entry in Ben Peek's Twenty-Six Lies / One Truth, a novel exploring the nature of truth in literature.
Series contributed to:
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
. Malice Domestic
. The World's Finest Mystery And Crime Stories
. Transgressions
. The Year's Finest Crime And Mystery Stories
Her first novel, "The Cater Street Hangman", was published in 1979. Her works extend to several categories of genre fiction, including historical mysteries. Many of them feature recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in 1990, "The Face Of A Stranger".
Her story "Heroes," from the 1999 anthology Murder And Obsession, won the 2001 Edgar Award For Best Short Story. She was included as an entry in Ben Peek's Twenty-Six Lies / One Truth, a novel exploring the nature of truth in literature.
Series contributed to:
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
. Malice Domestic
. The World's Finest Mystery And Crime Stories
. Transgressions
. The Year's Finest Crime And Mystery Stories
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 370 reviews
September 14, 2022
My thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Publishing, as well as to NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of A Christmas Legacy!
This is the first book I've read by Anne Perry and I absolutely loved it! It tells the story of Thomas and Charlotte Pitt's former maid, Gracie, as she does her level best to solve the mystery of why things are going missing from the kitchen in the household where her friend's daughter, Millie, is employed. How better to do that than to take on Millie’s job, herself, claiming Millie is sick and needs a few days to recuperate.
I fell in love with nearly every character in A Christmas Legacy but especially with Gracie and her "very almost six" year old daughter, Charlie!
Quite the satisfying ending, too!!
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to choose the next Anne Perry book I want to read.😉
This is the first book I've read by Anne Perry and I absolutely loved it! It tells the story of Thomas and Charlotte Pitt's former maid, Gracie, as she does her level best to solve the mystery of why things are going missing from the kitchen in the household where her friend's daughter, Millie, is employed. How better to do that than to take on Millie’s job, herself, claiming Millie is sick and needs a few days to recuperate.
I fell in love with nearly every character in A Christmas Legacy but especially with Gracie and her "very almost six" year old daughter, Charlie!
Quite the satisfying ending, too!!
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to choose the next Anne Perry book I want to read.😉
December 5, 2021
Gracie, the former maid to Thomas and Charlotte Pitt, has been requested to help in a household where things are going missing. She trades places with the young maid who requested her help and soon finds that things are not as they seem. The owners, Mr. and Mrs. Harcourt, harbor a secret and also hold all the cards when it comes to ruining the life of those in service.
I quite enjoyed this installment, and reading the Christmas Stories by Anne Perry, is a Christmas tradition of mine. The characters are always well developed, and we get a wonderful view of Victorian life upstairs and downstairs.
Needless to say, the ending is quite satisfying. The true meaning of the season always comes through in these stories.
I quite enjoyed this installment, and reading the Christmas Stories by Anne Perry, is a Christmas tradition of mine. The characters are always well developed, and we get a wonderful view of Victorian life upstairs and downstairs.
Needless to say, the ending is quite satisfying. The true meaning of the season always comes through in these stories.
November 29, 2023
Another pleasant Anne Perry Christmas story.
December 18, 2021
This is a Victorian-era holiday mystery.This is my first read by this author and I know this book is part of a series but I had no problem jumping right in and enjoying the story to the fullest.
A easy reading mystery is what it is but not a murder mystery. You can feel the heartfelt empathy of the characters as you read, except for the ones who should be feeling it the most.
It's a pulling together, almost like a teamwork these characters have to protect each other and do what they feel is right. I really must explore these characters more and hopefully find out more of a back story on them. I enjoyed this very much. Recommended!
Pub Date 09 Nov 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
A easy reading mystery is what it is but not a murder mystery. You can feel the heartfelt empathy of the characters as you read, except for the ones who should be feeling it the most.
It's a pulling together, almost like a teamwork these characters have to protect each other and do what they feel is right. I really must explore these characters more and hopefully find out more of a back story on them. I enjoyed this very much. Recommended!
Pub Date 09 Nov 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
December 2, 2021
*3.5 stars rounded up.
First, I'd like to say what a pleasure it is to read Anne Perry's Christmas novellas each year. It's one of my traditions which began when I purchased them annually for my mother. And what a lovely cover this one has! Somehow that adds to the joy.
Set in 1900, this year's story sees Gracie Tellman, Thomas and Charlotte Pitt's former maid, returning to service at the request of her friend, young Millie, who fears she and other servants will be turned out of the Harcourts' home just in time for Christmas. Something is going on in that tension-filled house and Gracie is determined to set it right.
What a lovely Christmas movie this would make, perfect for PBS.
First, I'd like to say what a pleasure it is to read Anne Perry's Christmas novellas each year. It's one of my traditions which began when I purchased them annually for my mother. And what a lovely cover this one has! Somehow that adds to the joy.
Set in 1900, this year's story sees Gracie Tellman, Thomas and Charlotte Pitt's former maid, returning to service at the request of her friend, young Millie, who fears she and other servants will be turned out of the Harcourts' home just in time for Christmas. Something is going on in that tension-filled house and Gracie is determined to set it right.
What a lovely Christmas movie this would make, perfect for PBS.
November 1, 2021
Gracie Tellman, former maid to Charlotte and Thomas Pitt, is enjoying her home and family in Victorian-era London and looking forward to Christmas with her daughter, Charlie, when a knock sounds at the door. Millie, a young maid in the Harcourt household, has come with disturbing news. High-quality food is disappearing, and it won’t be long before the mistress of the house finds out. The servants are scared that somebody will be accused of theft, and nobody knows the culprit. Gracie decides to take Millie’s place for nine days leading up to Christmas in order to solve this mystery. Gracie soon learns that all is not as it seems, and reveals that sometimes evil can parade about in fancy clothes.
This satisfying Christmas novella combines mystery, suspicion, upheaval, acts of kindness, and a Christmas miracle together to create a captivating story. The perils of servant life in a Victorian household are well described, and the young age of some of the servants at the time is shocking. The rich also had the ability in those days to completely ruin the lives of their servants by sending them to the street, homeless, with no reference. The fact that some homeowners held this power over the heads of those in their employ in order to terrorize them is disturbing. But despite the tumult, a sense of truth, loyalty, and fairness is also woven into the story, and it ends with a miracle so wonderful that it could only happen at Christmas. Anne Perry has once again created a Christmas tale that will captivate the reader and transport them straight to Victorian London during the holidays.
I received a free copy of this book from Ballantine Books via Historical Novels Review Magazine. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
This satisfying Christmas novella combines mystery, suspicion, upheaval, acts of kindness, and a Christmas miracle together to create a captivating story. The perils of servant life in a Victorian household are well described, and the young age of some of the servants at the time is shocking. The rich also had the ability in those days to completely ruin the lives of their servants by sending them to the street, homeless, with no reference. The fact that some homeowners held this power over the heads of those in their employ in order to terrorize them is disturbing. But despite the tumult, a sense of truth, loyalty, and fairness is also woven into the story, and it ends with a miracle so wonderful that it could only happen at Christmas. Anne Perry has once again created a Christmas tale that will captivate the reader and transport them straight to Victorian London during the holidays.
I received a free copy of this book from Ballantine Books via Historical Novels Review Magazine. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
November 21, 2021
Something evil is happening at the Harcourt house, so when one of their servants seeks refuge with Gracie Tellman and asks for her help, her sense of honor takes over. Gracie, a former ladies maid, is now married to a policeman and keeps her own house and takes care of her family. This puts her in a unique position to know how to blend into the Harcourt household while having a special affinity for law and order.
With the help of the other household servants, Gracie uncovers the tragedy that hides in the Harcourt home and does what she can to right a grievous wrong.
A Christmas Legacy is a light and engaging read with an uplifting Christmas message. I really enjoyed it. I'm a sucker for a good Christmas book and this is the best one I've read so far this year. Highly recommend for Christmas nuts like me.
With the help of the other household servants, Gracie uncovers the tragedy that hides in the Harcourt home and does what she can to right a grievous wrong.
A Christmas Legacy is a light and engaging read with an uplifting Christmas message. I really enjoyed it. I'm a sucker for a good Christmas book and this is the best one I've read so far this year. Highly recommend for Christmas nuts like me.
October 27, 2021
It’s that time of year again - time for a new Anne Perry Christmas mystery. Perry’s Christmas novels feature secondary characters from her novels. I’ve read some with characters from the WIlliam Monk series, but the main character of this book is Gracie Tillman from the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series. Gracie used to be a main for the Pitts but is now married with three young children. She temporarily goes back into service at Harcourt House when the daughter of a deceased friend comes to her with concerns over strange events going on where she works.
Much of this story is downbeat which is unexpected for a Christmas novella. Without spoiling anything, the Harcourts are not people I would want to deal with! The book puts a spotlight on how people in service were treated during this time (England, 1900) and how saying or doing the wrong thing would result in being thrown out onto the streets without a character reference which was disastrous, especially for young women. Gracie does a great job of doing what she can to figure out what is going on in the household and coming up with a way to try to help since she has a home to go back to and isn’t at the mercy of Gilbert and Julia Harcourt. Thankfully, the overall sadness of the story shifts and the ending is hopeful and satisfying. This isn’t my favorite of Perry’s holiday novellas, but I always appreciate how well-written Perry’s books are, and I enjoyed the chance to get to know Gracie better.
I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Ballantine Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
November 1, 2021
Strange happenings!
What a different and lovely addition to Perry’s looked for Christmas treats. A simple tale that drew indignation, sympathy and peace.
Gracie Tellman, formerly in service to the Pitts and married to Samuel Tellman, a policeman, now an Inspector with Bow Street, takes on an investigative role in a society household. A frightened young girl, a housemaid at Harcourt House asks for Gracie’s help. Millie Foster, now grown was a child Gracie knew from one of Samuel’s past cases. Millie is worried. Something is amiss in the household where she’s employed. Food keeps going missing, chicken and cakes. Millie’s worried she and the other staff will be blamed. Gracie knows that staff can be dismissed for less. No wonder everyone’s apprehensive. Gracie promises her family that she’ll tackle the problem and be home by Christmas Eve. Samuels not that keen. As the truth gradually unfolds we have an insiders view about the relationships between staff and employers. Nefarious doings seem to be at hand. Beautifully unfolded like a precious silk scarf. A Christmas ending of sadness and joy.
A Random House - Ballantine ARC via NetGalley
What a different and lovely addition to Perry’s looked for Christmas treats. A simple tale that drew indignation, sympathy and peace.
Gracie Tellman, formerly in service to the Pitts and married to Samuel Tellman, a policeman, now an Inspector with Bow Street, takes on an investigative role in a society household. A frightened young girl, a housemaid at Harcourt House asks for Gracie’s help. Millie Foster, now grown was a child Gracie knew from one of Samuel’s past cases. Millie is worried. Something is amiss in the household where she’s employed. Food keeps going missing, chicken and cakes. Millie’s worried she and the other staff will be blamed. Gracie knows that staff can be dismissed for less. No wonder everyone’s apprehensive. Gracie promises her family that she’ll tackle the problem and be home by Christmas Eve. Samuels not that keen. As the truth gradually unfolds we have an insiders view about the relationships between staff and employers. Nefarious doings seem to be at hand. Beautifully unfolded like a precious silk scarf. A Christmas ending of sadness and joy.
A Random House - Ballantine ARC via NetGalley
November 24, 2021
This is my first Anne Perry book (I know...I can hear the collective gasp!!!) and while I think A Christmas Legacy might be part of a series -- or at least feature secondary characters from a series?...I had no problem diving right in and enjoying every second. It's a light mystery, but more a study in character and love and duty with a resounding cheer out loud conclusion. Has me scrambling to try and figure out what book Gracie is featured in first so I can get her full story. Lovely narration by Jenny Sterlin kept me riveted.
November 20, 2021
As a reviewer of all 19 Christmas-inspired mysteries by Anne Perry, I can honestly say that it would not be the holiday season without these superb tales.
This year’s entry, A CHRISTMAS LEGACY, stars Gracie Tellman, Thomas and Charlotte Pitt’s former maid. She is now married to a police inspector who works under Thomas and has a handful of wonderful children to raise. The novel is dedicated to “all who are willing to fight for others,” a sentiment that matches up perfectly with its subject as our protagonist takes it upon herself to help out a friend in need, even if it means being pulled away from her own family for a few days just prior to Christmas Day.
While Gracie is at home preparing for the big holiday, she receives an unexpected visitor. Millie, the daughter of a long-gone friend, has been working as a house maid for the Harcourt family and has come to Gracie hysterical because a number of items have gone missing from there. She fears that the blame will fall on her, and she will be tossed out into the snow.
Gracie will not stand for that and takes it upon herself to have her husband deliver her to Harcourt House, where she introduces herself as Millie’s replacement for a few days as Millie has taken ill. It should take only a few days for her to figure out who could be behind the petty thievery. She meets with Denning, the butler; Mrs. Jenkins, the head maid; Walters, the gentlemen’s attendant to Mr. Harcourt; Mrs. Bland, the cook; Allsop, the lady’s dresser; and a few young helpers who could not be older than 13.
The sentiment within the house is fairly dour, possibly due to the lack of children who could give it some life. Gracie notices that the staff occasionally seems anxious and decides to confront Bessie, one of the young maids. In a flustered manner, Bessie states, “She never gets nothing nice, less’en one of us takes it to her.” This then requires the natural follow-up from Gracie: “Who is ‘her’?” Frightened at revealing as much as she has, Bessie clams up for fear of getting in trouble.
Gracie keeps her eyes and ears open, and learns that there may be an elderly lady in the highest reaches of the house to whom the staff is secretly attending. When Gracie finds her attic room, she is immediately stunned by its filthy condition and is awash with pity as she finds the occupant sitting on an unkempt bed. She takes it upon herself to change the linens and works with the younger staff members to bathe the poor woman, who is unable to leave her room due to her frail condition.
I won’t reveal any further details other than to say that A CHRISTMAS LEGACY has one of the most touching conclusions I have ever read in an Anne Perry novel. I can only hope that it warms your heart as much as it did mine and helps remind you what the Christmas season is really all about. Cheers!
Reviewed by Ray Palen
This year’s entry, A CHRISTMAS LEGACY, stars Gracie Tellman, Thomas and Charlotte Pitt’s former maid. She is now married to a police inspector who works under Thomas and has a handful of wonderful children to raise. The novel is dedicated to “all who are willing to fight for others,” a sentiment that matches up perfectly with its subject as our protagonist takes it upon herself to help out a friend in need, even if it means being pulled away from her own family for a few days just prior to Christmas Day.
While Gracie is at home preparing for the big holiday, she receives an unexpected visitor. Millie, the daughter of a long-gone friend, has been working as a house maid for the Harcourt family and has come to Gracie hysterical because a number of items have gone missing from there. She fears that the blame will fall on her, and she will be tossed out into the snow.
Gracie will not stand for that and takes it upon herself to have her husband deliver her to Harcourt House, where she introduces herself as Millie’s replacement for a few days as Millie has taken ill. It should take only a few days for her to figure out who could be behind the petty thievery. She meets with Denning, the butler; Mrs. Jenkins, the head maid; Walters, the gentlemen’s attendant to Mr. Harcourt; Mrs. Bland, the cook; Allsop, the lady’s dresser; and a few young helpers who could not be older than 13.
The sentiment within the house is fairly dour, possibly due to the lack of children who could give it some life. Gracie notices that the staff occasionally seems anxious and decides to confront Bessie, one of the young maids. In a flustered manner, Bessie states, “She never gets nothing nice, less’en one of us takes it to her.” This then requires the natural follow-up from Gracie: “Who is ‘her’?” Frightened at revealing as much as she has, Bessie clams up for fear of getting in trouble.
Gracie keeps her eyes and ears open, and learns that there may be an elderly lady in the highest reaches of the house to whom the staff is secretly attending. When Gracie finds her attic room, she is immediately stunned by its filthy condition and is awash with pity as she finds the occupant sitting on an unkempt bed. She takes it upon herself to change the linens and works with the younger staff members to bathe the poor woman, who is unable to leave her room due to her frail condition.
I won’t reveal any further details other than to say that A CHRISTMAS LEGACY has one of the most touching conclusions I have ever read in an Anne Perry novel. I can only hope that it warms your heart as much as it did mine and helps remind you what the Christmas season is really all about. Cheers!
Reviewed by Ray Palen
April 21, 2022
Gracie, former maid to Charlotte and Thomas Pitt, is asked by another young maid for help. The young maid works for another family, and can only say that something is not right.
Gracie is in a unique position when she works for the other family: she is married and has her own home, and can poke her nose into things without fear of being fired and left to fend for herself on the street.
Gracie soon uncovers an unconscionable crime in progress, and does her best to render what aid she can to Granny, while also reassuring the other servants.
This is a Christmas story, so there is a relatively happy resolution by the end, with the wrongdoers getting thwacked iby Granny n a way that actually hurts them, and the other servants can look forward to a hopefully better life.
Gracie is in a unique position when she works for the other family: she is married and has her own home, and can poke her nose into things without fear of being fired and left to fend for herself on the street.
Gracie soon uncovers an unconscionable crime in progress, and does her best to render what aid she can to Granny, while also reassuring the other servants.
This is a Christmas story, so there is a relatively happy resolution by the end, with the wrongdoers getting thwacked iby Granny n a way that actually hurts them, and the other servants can look forward to a hopefully better life.
June 8, 2022
Much better than I expected and definitely worth a read if you are looking for a short, enjoyable mystery.
February 20, 2024
I loved this book so much! A Christmas Legacy is part of Anne Perry's Christmas novella series, but it works beautifully for any time of the year. The main seasonal connection is that Gracie wants to have the mystery solved and be home with her family by Christmas.
Although Anne Perry writes murder mysteries, this isn't really a whodunit - other than that two quite unlikeable characters would like to hasten someone's death. It's a contrast of hearts, reflected in actions. Greed, selfishness, and scheming contrasted with kindness, caring, empathy, and a willingness to risk it all in a time when servants could be cast out without references, literally leaving them at the mercy of the streets.
Perry knows how to write a story that flows at a steady pace and captures the reader's emotions from the start. The characters are well developed and we can see into their hearts. Gracie was a character in the Thomas & Charlotte Pitt series, but this story stands alone. And the ending is wonderful, guaranteed to leave you smiling.
** Mainstream fiction, clean
Although Anne Perry writes murder mysteries, this isn't really a whodunit - other than that two quite unlikeable characters would like to hasten someone's death. It's a contrast of hearts, reflected in actions. Greed, selfishness, and scheming contrasted with kindness, caring, empathy, and a willingness to risk it all in a time when servants could be cast out without references, literally leaving them at the mercy of the streets.
Perry knows how to write a story that flows at a steady pace and captures the reader's emotions from the start. The characters are well developed and we can see into their hearts. Gracie was a character in the Thomas & Charlotte Pitt series, but this story stands alone. And the ending is wonderful, guaranteed to leave you smiling.
** Mainstream fiction, clean
October 26, 2021
A Christmas Legacy is the 19th Christmas story book by the incomparable Anne Perry. I absolutely love her Daniel Pitt and Elena Standish series, and I find myself looking forward to her Christmas stories now. Last year's A Christmas Resolution was delightful, but this one really drew me in. I now have the rest of the Christmas books on my TBR or listen-to piles.
Gracie Tellman was formerly a maid for Thomas and Charlotte Pitt, but now she is married with three young children and enjoys being a housewife and mother. She never thought she'd be a maid again, but then Millie Foster, the daughter of Gracie's deceased best friend, shows up at her home shortly before Christmas. The household where she works seems to have food going missing from the kitchen. Millie is terrified that she or the other servants will be accused of theft and fired without character references. She knows from her mother that Gracie has helped solve crimes with her former employers, so she begs for help. Gracie goes to Mr. and Mrs. Harcourt's home where Millie works, telling them she will be filling in for Millie who is sick and has a cold. Things at first appear normal, though all the servants seem on edge. Then Millie discovers that Mr. Harcourt's elderly mother is basically confined to an upstairs bedroom. She seems to be suffering from neglect... But is her son and his wife helping her move on to the afterlife a bit faster?
This was an absolutely perfect Christmas story! Gracie was a wonderful heroine. She was a loving spouse and mother, and she was also very caring about others. She seemed to have picked up some investigative skills from the Pitts. She also appeared to have some spunk! When the Harcourts threatened to sack her, what did she care? She wasn't getting paid, plus already had a home to go to! The care Gracie showed to the elderly mother was just beautiful and touching. The old woman needed care desperately, and Gracie did all she could while allowing the woman to keep her dignity. The servants in the house were an interesting bunch, sometimes snippy and friendly at other times. It was obvious they were all worried about losing their jobs. I was especially fond of little Bessie and Archie, who would fare the worst if fired. The neglect that the Harcourts showed mother was disgraceful and heartbreaking. The abusive treatment of the elderly is about as despicable as one can get! Fear not, though....not all is gloom and doom. The mystery was wonderful and the characters great. However, this story had one of the best feel-good endings of all time! I just adored the entire thing. So many Anne Perry books to catch up on, and so little time!
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed were entirely my own.
Gracie Tellman was formerly a maid for Thomas and Charlotte Pitt, but now she is married with three young children and enjoys being a housewife and mother. She never thought she'd be a maid again, but then Millie Foster, the daughter of Gracie's deceased best friend, shows up at her home shortly before Christmas. The household where she works seems to have food going missing from the kitchen. Millie is terrified that she or the other servants will be accused of theft and fired without character references. She knows from her mother that Gracie has helped solve crimes with her former employers, so she begs for help. Gracie goes to Mr. and Mrs. Harcourt's home where Millie works, telling them she will be filling in for Millie who is sick and has a cold. Things at first appear normal, though all the servants seem on edge. Then Millie discovers that Mr. Harcourt's elderly mother is basically confined to an upstairs bedroom. She seems to be suffering from neglect... But is her son and his wife helping her move on to the afterlife a bit faster?
This was an absolutely perfect Christmas story! Gracie was a wonderful heroine. She was a loving spouse and mother, and she was also very caring about others. She seemed to have picked up some investigative skills from the Pitts. She also appeared to have some spunk! When the Harcourts threatened to sack her, what did she care? She wasn't getting paid, plus already had a home to go to! The care Gracie showed to the elderly mother was just beautiful and touching. The old woman needed care desperately, and Gracie did all she could while allowing the woman to keep her dignity. The servants in the house were an interesting bunch, sometimes snippy and friendly at other times. It was obvious they were all worried about losing their jobs. I was especially fond of little Bessie and Archie, who would fare the worst if fired. The neglect that the Harcourts showed mother was disgraceful and heartbreaking. The abusive treatment of the elderly is about as despicable as one can get! Fear not, though....not all is gloom and doom. The mystery was wonderful and the characters great. However, this story had one of the best feel-good endings of all time! I just adored the entire thing. So many Anne Perry books to catch up on, and so little time!
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed were entirely my own.
October 6, 2021
I have reviewed this novel for New York Journal of Books where it will be posted on their site the evening prior to the release date.
"A Christmas Legacy" by Anne Perry
Ballantine Books
November 9, 2021
10-059315939X
Historical Holiday Fiction
Gracie Tellman, happily married and the mother of three young children, is shocked when Millie Foster, the daughter of her deceased best friend, shows up at her house. It is closing in on the Christmas holidays, and Millie is gravely distressed. She states that in the household where she is employed things are turning up missing, and Millie is afraid of being accused of theft, though she has never stolen anything.
Her bosses, Mr. and Mrs. Harcourt, are treacherous employers who treat their help like lowly slaves. Millie realizes they could quickly throw her and the other nine employees—a couple who are mere children—out in the cold with no references or place to go. At this time of the year, and with the current economic conditions in Victorian England, it would be almost impossible to attain another position.
The only one who can help Millie is Gracie, for Gracie once had been a former maid herself. Though Gracie's employers were kind and generous, she knew the job. The holidays are quickly approaching, and Gracie is needed at home, yet she decides to take Millie's place, and she tells the Harcourts Millie is ill, and she is there to cover for her until she regains her strength.
Gracie no sooner enters the property and can sense the tension, even between the other servants. Everything is strait-laced and prim and proper, for they all address each other in a formal manner. There appears to be no camaraderie or friendliness among the help, though Gracie realizes they are frightened for their positions. They are bound together as if family, for they have no one else.
Although things seem to be running appropriately, the owners are churlish and aloof. When Gracie learns the master's mother is secreted to a bedroom hidden in the attic, Gracie takes pity on the older woman. Shocked to see she is frail and looks half-starved, Gracie determines she will care for her.
One day Gracie is in Mrs. Harcourt's closet hanging up her gown when she overhears the Harcourts arguing in the adjoining bedroom. They are discussing their now dire financial straits and considering which of their staff they should terminate. It also seems they are anxious for Mr. Harcourt's mother to die, which they believe would get them access to her assets and get them out of their current situation. Gracie is astounded by what she hears but remains silent, fearful of being spotted and accused of eavesdropping.
In the short time Gracie has been working in the household, she feels contempt for the Harcourts and empathy for the servants she has come to know. But what can she do?
Gracie decides to befriend Mr. Harcourt's mother by bringing her treats until one day she notices the woman lying in bed in filthy sheets and a soiled gown. Shame and embarrassment have her seething for the way this grand lady is being treated. She changes the bedding and bathes the woman giving her a clean nightgown to wear and a way to regain some sense of dignity. While attending to her, Gracie talks about her children, getting a weak smile out of the woman, making her feel better. However, she is still distraught by the neglect this woman is facing.
The distinct differences between the classes of that time period are shocking and downright sad. The contempt of the homeowners toward not only their staff but their own flesh can make one's blood curl. What is also heartbreaking is how everyone refers to the family's matriarch as the "old lady" and not Mrs. Harcourt or "mother." How insensitive some people can be, especially when it comes to money and status. This novel contains facts of a long-ago era in Victorian England. Still, there also is the mystery surrounding the seclusion of a frail and helpless family member while conveying heartbreak, fear, and the yearning for a better life of the household help. Will good win out over the evil taking place in this domicile, or will it continue to prevail?
"A Christmas Legacy" by Anne Perry
Ballantine Books
November 9, 2021
10-059315939X
Historical Holiday Fiction
Gracie Tellman, happily married and the mother of three young children, is shocked when Millie Foster, the daughter of her deceased best friend, shows up at her house. It is closing in on the Christmas holidays, and Millie is gravely distressed. She states that in the household where she is employed things are turning up missing, and Millie is afraid of being accused of theft, though she has never stolen anything.
Her bosses, Mr. and Mrs. Harcourt, are treacherous employers who treat their help like lowly slaves. Millie realizes they could quickly throw her and the other nine employees—a couple who are mere children—out in the cold with no references or place to go. At this time of the year, and with the current economic conditions in Victorian England, it would be almost impossible to attain another position.
The only one who can help Millie is Gracie, for Gracie once had been a former maid herself. Though Gracie's employers were kind and generous, she knew the job. The holidays are quickly approaching, and Gracie is needed at home, yet she decides to take Millie's place, and she tells the Harcourts Millie is ill, and she is there to cover for her until she regains her strength.
Gracie no sooner enters the property and can sense the tension, even between the other servants. Everything is strait-laced and prim and proper, for they all address each other in a formal manner. There appears to be no camaraderie or friendliness among the help, though Gracie realizes they are frightened for their positions. They are bound together as if family, for they have no one else.
Although things seem to be running appropriately, the owners are churlish and aloof. When Gracie learns the master's mother is secreted to a bedroom hidden in the attic, Gracie takes pity on the older woman. Shocked to see she is frail and looks half-starved, Gracie determines she will care for her.
One day Gracie is in Mrs. Harcourt's closet hanging up her gown when she overhears the Harcourts arguing in the adjoining bedroom. They are discussing their now dire financial straits and considering which of their staff they should terminate. It also seems they are anxious for Mr. Harcourt's mother to die, which they believe would get them access to her assets and get them out of their current situation. Gracie is astounded by what she hears but remains silent, fearful of being spotted and accused of eavesdropping.
In the short time Gracie has been working in the household, she feels contempt for the Harcourts and empathy for the servants she has come to know. But what can she do?
Gracie decides to befriend Mr. Harcourt's mother by bringing her treats until one day she notices the woman lying in bed in filthy sheets and a soiled gown. Shame and embarrassment have her seething for the way this grand lady is being treated. She changes the bedding and bathes the woman giving her a clean nightgown to wear and a way to regain some sense of dignity. While attending to her, Gracie talks about her children, getting a weak smile out of the woman, making her feel better. However, she is still distraught by the neglect this woman is facing.
The distinct differences between the classes of that time period are shocking and downright sad. The contempt of the homeowners toward not only their staff but their own flesh can make one's blood curl. What is also heartbreaking is how everyone refers to the family's matriarch as the "old lady" and not Mrs. Harcourt or "mother." How insensitive some people can be, especially when it comes to money and status. This novel contains facts of a long-ago era in Victorian England. Still, there also is the mystery surrounding the seclusion of a frail and helpless family member while conveying heartbreak, fear, and the yearning for a better life of the household help. Will good win out over the evil taking place in this domicile, or will it continue to prevail?
October 28, 2021
I’ve never read a book by this author; I didn’t know what to expect. I enjoyed how she whisks readers back to the Victorian era as families prepare themselves for the yuletide season, and how main character Gracie puts herself in the middle of an intriguing situation in hopes of finding out who’s doing what. Millie, a friend of Gracie, begs her for help. Millie is scared. She fears being accused of stealing. Things are disappearing. No one knows (or they are not saying) who they suspect. Because Millie and her mother had been accused in the past (and was cleared of all charges) She is afraid that fingers will point to her first.
I enjoyed learning about how houses were run back then, combined with an interesting mystery. The main character seeks out anything that looks suspicious and/or out of the ordinary. Gracie is character that expresses love and compassion to everyone she works with. Showing them that she works hard and will not let the fear of losing her job get in the way of helping someone in need. She hopes to get to the bottom of things by Christmas and hopefully have everyone keep their jobs.
This was an interesting story that made me want to read more novels by this author.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org
I enjoyed learning about how houses were run back then, combined with an interesting mystery. The main character seeks out anything that looks suspicious and/or out of the ordinary. Gracie is character that expresses love and compassion to everyone she works with. Showing them that she works hard and will not let the fear of losing her job get in the way of helping someone in need. She hopes to get to the bottom of things by Christmas and hopefully have everyone keep their jobs.
This was an interesting story that made me want to read more novels by this author.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org
November 22, 2021
This is absolutely my favorite Christmas book that Anne Perry has written. Far and away the best. I loved that it was set in a mansion with upstairs, downstairs characters. I loved the hidden person. I loved the suspense. I loved the ending. If you have never read one of her Christmas books start right here.
August 30, 2023
What a beautiful Christmas story.
The narrator does a lovely job in making this story very special.
The narrator does a lovely job in making this story very special.
October 31, 2021
This was my first novel by author Anne Perry and it was an enjoyable read. The main protagonist Gracie, is the former maid of Thomas and Charlotte Pitt, characters in previous stories by Ms. Perry. There were mentions of Gracie's time with the Pitts, but I wasn't confused having not read any of those stories (and I look forward to reading them in the future). This novel is set after Gracie leaves the service of the Pitts and is now a wife and mother. When a friend of Gracie's comes to ask her help solving a mystery at the home of her employer, Gracie takes the young woman's place for a few days to do some investigating under the ruse of the young woman being ill and not wanting to lose her position. At the household, Gracie finds a loving group of servants who are loyal to their difficult employers, Mr. and Mrs. Harcourt, but also seem to be living in fear of losing their positions. Gracie soon discovers what is really happening in the house and does her best to right the situation. I will say that I pretty much knew how the story was going to go because the largest spoiler was in the publisher's synopsis so that was a bit disappointing. It would have made a greater impact has that little detail been left to the discovery of the reader. The setting was in Victorian London, but the entire novel takes place in the Harcourt Home and even though it was Christmas time this book has very little Christmas joy in it. The ending was satisfying if not predictable. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Publishing, and Anne Perry for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
December 14, 2021
Anne Perry's short Christmas stories have always been hit or miss. Some are good, some pretty awful and a few are excellent and the majority of them have nothing to do with Christmas except they keep mentioning it's coming up soon, though some are better are creating a festive atmosphere by having snow, cold and describing lights and decorations. This book falls in the excellent story but not very Christmassy. I mean there was a Christmas Eve/Day deadline butyou could've easily swapped it our for a birthday or anniversary. Anyway the story is about former maid to the Pitt family Gracie. Now married and with a family of her own, she and her daughter Charlie are busy getting ready for Christmas in the kitchen when the daughter of an old friend arrives. Millie is working in service with the Harcourt family. She speaks of something odd happening in the house. Food goes missing from the kitchen, everything is tense and she asks Gracie to help. So with Millie staying to help her family Gracie heads to Harcourt House. There is something going on at the house. One of the young servants is accused of stealing when caught on the main staircase with some dessert covered with cream which is stupid. If a servant were stealing food why take the main staircase where you're more likely to get caught? Rich people are ignorant and stupid at least in this book. Anyway Gracie soon learns there's an older Mrs. Harcourt and her son and daughter in law are annoyed by the fact that she just won't die and leave them her money of which they are running short. It's a truly awful case of elder abuse I'm not sure if they prosecuted you for that back then but they should. With the secret out Gracie sets out to make the poor lady comfortable and clean (did I mention horrific elder abuse?) With her Christmas deadline coming up, Gracie having promised Charlie she would be home by then she feels torn between having to keep a promise to her child or staying and helping the Harcourt staff that she has suddenly become attached to and helping poor old Mrs. Harcourt trapped in her upstairs bedroom like Flowers in the Attic for tge elderly. At least those kids had an attic to run around in, she's stuck in bed in her own filth cause the servants are too afraid of being fired. Needless to say things do work out in the end, justice is served though I think the Harcourts got off fairly easily but that's just me. This was one of the better Christmas books. Once I picked it up I did find it hard to put back down again and as it is quite a short book the time and pages flew by. I kind if hope we see more from Gracie and especially little Charlie who seems to be a lot like her namesake Charlotte Pitt.
November 8, 2021
In A Christmas Legacy we meet Gracie, married with three small children and her husband Samuel who is a police inspector at Bow Street Station. One day Gracie gets a knock on her door from a young girl, Millie, looking for help. Gracie used to work in service for the Pitt family when she was younger and she knew Millie’s mother Jenny. Millie, needing help and not knowing what to do, takes the risk of leaving work and seeking help from Gracie. Millie hopes Gracie is someone she can trust with her predicament. Food where Millie works at the Harcourt household is going missing and she and the rest of the staff are worried. There is a constant air of fear and concern that someone will be blamed and thrown out into the streets without reference. It’s right before Christmas and Gracie knows she is the only one who can help Millie figure this out. Gracie decides to take Millie’s place at the Harcourt’s for a few days to see if she can unravel the mystery, and ease Millie’s fears of being cast out into the cold.
I loved Gracie’s character. She is endearing, sweet, kind, and cares so much about people that you just root for her to succeed. I was mentally cheering her on to figure this mystery out. Why is food missing, who is taking it, where is it going, and why is everyone so secretive and scared? At about a third of the way through the book I had a hunch the direction it was going, and although it’s predictable it’s a joy to read. You want to see how the characters will navigate the dilemma and overcome. I especially loved reading about Gracie and her interaction with every member of the Harcourt household. She just warms your heart. She encourages and helps change the course and trajectory of everyone she encounters for the better. She definitely inserted hope into that house. The ending is so lovely and everything is beautifully resolved. The perfect read to give you all the beautiful feelings of the holidays...hope, faith, and love. It’s a very cozy read, and I completely recommend this charming story.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I loved Gracie’s character. She is endearing, sweet, kind, and cares so much about people that you just root for her to succeed. I was mentally cheering her on to figure this mystery out. Why is food missing, who is taking it, where is it going, and why is everyone so secretive and scared? At about a third of the way through the book I had a hunch the direction it was going, and although it’s predictable it’s a joy to read. You want to see how the characters will navigate the dilemma and overcome. I especially loved reading about Gracie and her interaction with every member of the Harcourt household. She just warms your heart. She encourages and helps change the course and trajectory of everyone she encounters for the better. She definitely inserted hope into that house. The ending is so lovely and everything is beautifully resolved. The perfect read to give you all the beautiful feelings of the holidays...hope, faith, and love. It’s a very cozy read, and I completely recommend this charming story.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 15, 2021
The newest Victorian Christmas novella from Anne Perry is another lovely Holiday gem this year! I really love reading these during the Holiday Season. There is something so appealing to me about the Victorian Age and the Christmas Season together. It’s Dickensian and I’m drawn to it as I’m drawn to my yearly dose of The Christmas Carol.
In A Christmas Legacy, Anne Perry chose to reintroduce one of my favorite characters from the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt Series, Gracie Tellman. Gracie is married to Pitt’s old partner , Samuel Tellman and has a family of her own now. It’s two weeks before Christmas and there is a knock on her door requesting her help to solve a puzzle. As in all of Perry’s books, Gracie can’t say no, not because of any personal gratification but because it’s the morally correct thing to do and it teaches her children the right lesson about helping others.
I particularly liked this novella for its story. Gracie fills in for a young woman in service who can’t quite figure out what is happening in the posh household where she works. Food is going missing and no one is able to figure out how or where it has gone. Someone is going to be blamed and the servants are scared of being tossed out on the street for something they didn’t do. Gracie infiltrates the household and tries to help by detecting what is going on. What she finds is very different than what anyone could have imagined and it takes all of Gracie’s kindness, strength and bravery to stand up for the rest of the servants, the persons affected and herself to get to the bottom of this mystery against some pretty evil and powerful people.
In the end, the meaning of Christmas is celebrated by all and the mystery is solved with a positive conclusion. And that is why I read these wonderful stories! They are truly uplifting and they do describe the meaning of the Holiday in a way that is so different from the commercialized theme it has become! These never fail to disappoint! A true five stars yet again!
In A Christmas Legacy, Anne Perry chose to reintroduce one of my favorite characters from the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt Series, Gracie Tellman. Gracie is married to Pitt’s old partner , Samuel Tellman and has a family of her own now. It’s two weeks before Christmas and there is a knock on her door requesting her help to solve a puzzle. As in all of Perry’s books, Gracie can’t say no, not because of any personal gratification but because it’s the morally correct thing to do and it teaches her children the right lesson about helping others.
I particularly liked this novella for its story. Gracie fills in for a young woman in service who can’t quite figure out what is happening in the posh household where she works. Food is going missing and no one is able to figure out how or where it has gone. Someone is going to be blamed and the servants are scared of being tossed out on the street for something they didn’t do. Gracie infiltrates the household and tries to help by detecting what is going on. What she finds is very different than what anyone could have imagined and it takes all of Gracie’s kindness, strength and bravery to stand up for the rest of the servants, the persons affected and herself to get to the bottom of this mystery against some pretty evil and powerful people.
In the end, the meaning of Christmas is celebrated by all and the mystery is solved with a positive conclusion. And that is why I read these wonderful stories! They are truly uplifting and they do describe the meaning of the Holiday in a way that is so different from the commercialized theme it has become! These never fail to disappoint! A true five stars yet again!
November 10, 2021
4 stars
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
This is a heartwarming Christmas Historical Fiction story set in Victorian England. Gracie, Thomas and Charlotte Pitt's former maid, left service years ago to get married and care for her family. When her good friend's daughter Millie shows up on her doorstep frightened and asking for help, she can't refuse. Something is wrong in the household Millie now serves and when things go missing from the kitchen, she can't risk being accused of theft and thrown into the streets without a reference.
Gracie decides to tell the household that Millie is sick and that she is taking her place for a few days before Christmas, which will allow her to snoop around to find out what's going on. When Gracie gets to the household, she finds a nice group of servants who clearly care for Millie, but something is definitely wrong and no one is talking. Gracie eventually finds the man of the house's mother in an upstairs bedroom clearly being neglected, but other than showing her some kindness, Gracie is at a loss as to what else she can do for her.
This is a warm and fuzzy Christmas story that is a quick and easy read. I really like Gracie. She's smart, capable and compassionate. The author does a good job of sketching out the personality of the other servants, although most are a pretty stereotypical. The masters of the house are also your typical awful rich people, but these little nit picky things don't diminish my enjoyment of the book. I really like this author's writing and was pleased to read this heartwarming Christmas story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Ballantine Books. All opinions are my own.
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
This is a heartwarming Christmas Historical Fiction story set in Victorian England. Gracie, Thomas and Charlotte Pitt's former maid, left service years ago to get married and care for her family. When her good friend's daughter Millie shows up on her doorstep frightened and asking for help, she can't refuse. Something is wrong in the household Millie now serves and when things go missing from the kitchen, she can't risk being accused of theft and thrown into the streets without a reference.
Gracie decides to tell the household that Millie is sick and that she is taking her place for a few days before Christmas, which will allow her to snoop around to find out what's going on. When Gracie gets to the household, she finds a nice group of servants who clearly care for Millie, but something is definitely wrong and no one is talking. Gracie eventually finds the man of the house's mother in an upstairs bedroom clearly being neglected, but other than showing her some kindness, Gracie is at a loss as to what else she can do for her.
This is a warm and fuzzy Christmas story that is a quick and easy read. I really like Gracie. She's smart, capable and compassionate. The author does a good job of sketching out the personality of the other servants, although most are a pretty stereotypical. The masters of the house are also your typical awful rich people, but these little nit picky things don't diminish my enjoyment of the book. I really like this author's writing and was pleased to read this heartwarming Christmas story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Ballantine Books. All opinions are my own.
November 24, 2024
4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was a short, quick read for me. It was character driven with interesting characters. Very stiff, proper people of propriety in London.
Gracie, our main person steps in as a maid for a friend at the Harcourt home when her friend, Millie is frantic upon the disappearance of things at the household she serves. Millie is afraid of being accused of theft. If accusations were laid upon her she would be put out on the streets with no where to go.
Gracie was a former maid at a high profile house in her past before marrying, so she slips into this role easily enough. She is determined to find out what is going on in this house that has approximately 7 maids and servants. Certainly a mystery as to who is stealing food and other odd items. Heads will roll when this theft is uncovered.
It is soon discovered that there is “Granny” living isolated in a bedroom upstairs, sick and neglected. What is wrong with these people? The husband and wife are letting this poor woman die a slow death, but why? Who does that? Gracie sets in motion help for this poor lonely woman, along with support from the staff. It was touching but heartbreaking to see the interaction of granny with those who really loved her. A twist at the end and very satisfying.
Gracie, our main person steps in as a maid for a friend at the Harcourt home when her friend, Millie is frantic upon the disappearance of things at the household she serves. Millie is afraid of being accused of theft. If accusations were laid upon her she would be put out on the streets with no where to go.
Gracie was a former maid at a high profile house in her past before marrying, so she slips into this role easily enough. She is determined to find out what is going on in this house that has approximately 7 maids and servants. Certainly a mystery as to who is stealing food and other odd items. Heads will roll when this theft is uncovered.
It is soon discovered that there is “Granny” living isolated in a bedroom upstairs, sick and neglected. What is wrong with these people? The husband and wife are letting this poor woman die a slow death, but why? Who does that? Gracie sets in motion help for this poor lonely woman, along with support from the staff. It was touching but heartbreaking to see the interaction of granny with those who really loved her. A twist at the end and very satisfying.
February 17, 2022
Anne Perry does a Christmas novella each year, usually featuring Thomas and Charlotte Pitt. This time, the tale features their former maid, Gracie Tellman.
Millie Foster, whom Gracie aided in a previous story, comes to the Tellman's house for help. Millie is in service at the Harcourts, and food is going missing. Millie's not at fault, but she is afraid Mrs. Harcourt will blame her and throw her out ... and so she's hoping Gracie can help. Through a clever stratagem, Gracie takes Millie's place at the Harcourts on a temporary basis, promising to be home before Christmas.
Gracie does indeed figure out what's going on, and why ... and the ending is an absolutely splendid case of just desserts. I enjoyed it tremendously.
Millie Foster, whom Gracie aided in a previous story, comes to the Tellman's house for help. Millie is in service at the Harcourts, and food is going missing. Millie's not at fault, but she is afraid Mrs. Harcourt will blame her and throw her out ... and so she's hoping Gracie can help. Through a clever stratagem, Gracie takes Millie's place at the Harcourts on a temporary basis, promising to be home before Christmas.
Gracie does indeed figure out what's going on, and why ... and the ending is an absolutely splendid case of just desserts. I enjoyed it tremendously.
December 6, 2022
Great story and characters. Would give five stars if it was just fleshed out a little more. Would have liked a few more details and character interactions because the characters were all very interesting. E.g., the main character, Gracie, seems to have bonded strongly with one of the young girls and yet Gracie leaves suddenly without any more interactions. In fact she leaves without any interactions with these people she has come to love. And we don’t get to see any dialogue between Gracie and the distressed girl that came for her help in the first place. It was like the author was in a hurry to wrap up. Still recommend. A very quick enjoyable read.
January 22, 2022
For a lasting dose of kindness and altruistic giving, and courage, this is the story! Listened to the audio. As is expected with Anne Perry's Christmas novels, this is short, but fulfilling. Gracie will be familiar to readers of Perry's Thomas Pitt mysteries. She is ever bold and perspicacious. I rarely write a synopsis of the book as they are always offered on the cover...This one is especially concise. Treat yourself with goodness -- a waning virtue in our crazy world. "A Christmas Legacy" will provide.
February 17, 2022
These small Christmas books from Ms. Perry are jewels. I've read every one of them and each one deserves far more than 5 stars. I hope she continues this tradition for a long time. This one is about Gracie, the little maid that worked for Thomas and Charlotte Pitt when they first started their married life together. If you've read of those books, you surely love Gracie and will be delighted by the continuation of her story. That said, I highly recommend every one of Anne Perry's books and am very glad I discovered them.
January 2, 2022
Milk toast and fluff.
Never engaged with the characters and a rather ridiculous plot. Gracie’s inner dialogue was repetitive to the point that I wondered if Perry gets paid by the word. Luckily, it’s really a novella, so was over quickly.
Never engaged with the characters and a rather ridiculous plot. Gracie’s inner dialogue was repetitive to the point that I wondered if Perry gets paid by the word. Luckily, it’s really a novella, so was over quickly.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 370 reviews