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Anty Boisjoly Mysteries #2
The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning
Anty Boisjoly tackles the strange case of a war hero who visits his old friends on Christmas morning — after being murdered on Christmas Eve.
In The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning, Wodehousian clubman, flaneur, idler and sleuth Anty Boisjoly pits his sardonic wits against another pair of impossible murders. This time, Anty Boisjoly’s Aunty Boisjoly is the only possible suspect when a murder victim stands his old friends a farewell drink at the local, hours after being murdered.
In The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning, Wodehousian clubman, flaneur, idler and sleuth Anty Boisjoly pits his sardonic wits against another pair of impossible murders. This time, Anty Boisjoly’s Aunty Boisjoly is the only possible suspect when a murder victim stands his old friends a farewell drink at the local, hours after being murdered.
230 pages, ebook
Published April 17, 2021
505 people are currently reading
346 people want to read
About the author
P.J. Fitzsimmons
13 books280 followersI’m a freelance ghost for mainstream genres but when I’m my own man I write strictly for the laughs. I dream of an alternative reality in which PG Wodehouse wrote locked room mysteries, and in which I’m PG Wodehouse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews
July 26, 2024
This year, Anty Boisjoly is planning to spend Christmas with his aunt Azalea, who is a bit of a recluse. He hasn’t visited her in years, in fact. When Anty arrives, Azalea informs him that she’s just discovered the body of her next-door neighbor, a man she’d begun to be friendly with. The victim is a local war hero, and everyone in the village is upset by the news. Unfortunately, the footprints in the snow make it look like Azalea is the only person who could have realistically killed the man. Oh, and there’s also the fact that he was seen by many people in the pub hours after Azalea claims she found the body. Can Anty figure out what really happened and prove his aunt innocent?
The book doesn’t hesitate, jumping into the murder in the first chapter. I found the pacing to be a little uneven, especially early on. The further I got into the book, the more impossibility we saw, and the more I was engaged. By the end, everything made sense. I also found the suspects a little shallow. I loved the first in the series, so maybe my expectations were too high here. The one thing that was definitely the same as the first book was the dry wit. I laughed so much reading this book. We get some nice Christmas cheer over the course of the book as well. Overall, I enjoyed it and recommend it for anyone looking for a humorous impossible crime mystery.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
The book doesn’t hesitate, jumping into the murder in the first chapter. I found the pacing to be a little uneven, especially early on. The further I got into the book, the more impossibility we saw, and the more I was engaged. By the end, everything made sense. I also found the suspects a little shallow. I loved the first in the series, so maybe my expectations were too high here. The one thing that was definitely the same as the first book was the dry wit. I laughed so much reading this book. We get some nice Christmas cheer over the course of the book as well. Overall, I enjoyed it and recommend it for anyone looking for a humorous impossible crime mystery.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
December 13, 2024
Hee! Hee!
A wonderful mystery! This is my first book by PJ Fitzsimmons. And it definitely won’t be my last. The author obviously has a great sense of humor. Every paragraph is a visual representation of candy.
The writer is absolutely talented. He has to be, to write a book that is both captivating and compelling and also, hilarious.
British mysteries are my thing and I like when I don’t easily figure out “who done it.” I love the twists and turns of a good mystery.
And using the protagonist, Anty Boisjoly, as the charismatic, riveting and magnetic character of this story is what helps make the book enthralling.
I’m sure glad I have read this book. In fact, it was hard to put it down, so I spent most of the night reading it. And now I’m finished.
Five stars. 💫💫💫💫💫
A wonderful mystery! This is my first book by PJ Fitzsimmons. And it definitely won’t be my last. The author obviously has a great sense of humor. Every paragraph is a visual representation of candy.
The writer is absolutely talented. He has to be, to write a book that is both captivating and compelling and also, hilarious.
British mysteries are my thing and I like when I don’t easily figure out “who done it.” I love the twists and turns of a good mystery.
And using the protagonist, Anty Boisjoly, as the charismatic, riveting and magnetic character of this story is what helps make the book enthralling.
I’m sure glad I have read this book. In fact, it was hard to put it down, so I spent most of the night reading it. And now I’m finished.
Five stars. 💫💫💫💫💫
December 24, 2024
Yay! A new series for me to read. Anty Boisjoly turned out to be such a fun character and I really enjoyed the author's style. Eight books to add to my TBR as if I need any more!
The first sentence of the blurb says it all. "Anty Boisjoly tackles the strange case of a war hero who visits his old friends on Christmas morning — after being murdered on Christmas Eve." There lies the mystery and it is a tricky one, but the best part of the book is its humour and the total Englishness of all the proceedings.
I enjoyed it all and am looking forward now to reading book one The Case of the Canterfell Codicil. What an intriguing title.
The first sentence of the blurb says it all. "Anty Boisjoly tackles the strange case of a war hero who visits his old friends on Christmas morning — after being murdered on Christmas Eve." There lies the mystery and it is a tricky one, but the best part of the book is its humour and the total Englishness of all the proceedings.
I enjoyed it all and am looking forward now to reading book one The Case of the Canterfell Codicil. What an intriguing title.
December 9, 2024
Very nice "Whodunit" set in 1920s England and written in a bit of Wodehouse's style.
Overall I liked it a lot, actually very much!
_____PLOT__ 1928, England.
Anthony ( Anty) Boisjoly goes to spend the Christmas holidays with his shy aunt Azalea in the small, picturesque village of Graze Hill, Hertfordshire.
Unfortunately, Christmas day immediately begins in a negative way: Aunt Azalea visits a friend in the village, a well-known war hero, and finds him dead, stabbed, under the Christmas tree.
The village policeman immediately insinuates that the only probable culprit is Anty's aunt and the commissioner sent by Scotland Yard will do the same.
Anty has nothing left but to work hard to find the real culprit in order to exonerate her aunt.
____________________
It took me a little while to appreciate this book, but once I got over my initial difficulty to get into it ( accepting the deliberately bizarre and comical style ), then I began to grow fond of the main character and started to laugh at his way of telling the story: with irony and humor.
The entire story, the events, the mystery and its solution are in fact told in first person by the protagonist and while in the first part the MYSTERY didn't look so enthralling ( and I also felt a little annoyed by the constant humorous jokes), in the second part it became very engaging and wittily thought out by the author.
I really liked how the protagonist put together all the pieces of the puzzle (which was really complicated) and the final explanation of the murders solution, the ending indeed was beautiful and very satisfying!!
The DIALOGUES are witty and lively, with some really funny scenes, to the point that sometimes I found myself laughing out loud!
I think the main character and the book series would be a great idea for a BBC miniseries.
There aren't many CHARACTERS, but they aren't few either and in the first part I found myself a little confused and none of them stood out in a particular way among the others.
As the story gradually got to the heart of the mystery, however, everyone's bizarre personality was finally highlighted and that was the point where everything became more interesting and I hoped that none of the good guys (or supposedly good guys) would die and that none of those I liked were the culprit.
...And talking about the CULPRIT:
I was never able to guess until it was revealed by Anty!!
Therefore the ENDING WAS EVEN MORE ENJOYABLE and the writer, in addition to the mystery's solution, added a personal happy ending to each character.
_CHRISTMAS ATMOSPHERE __
There are many books of various genres with the word "Christmas" in the title (or Yuletide or Mistletoe or similar), but there are very few of these that offer a Christmas atmosphere.
This fun "whodunit" didn't fail me!
I enjoyed immersing myself in the welcoming atmosphere of the snow-covered English village, magical and cozy like the one on the postcards.
The author was very good at the descriptions and the mulled wine in the pub, the typical church of the small village, the singing of the carol dedicated to Saint Stephen (although a little bizarre and hilarious) and the preparations for the final party help the reader to breathe a festive atmosphere
This is book #2 in a series (of which I will read the following books and maybe even the first), BUT IT IS PERFECTLY READABLE AS A STANDALONE.
RECOMMENDED TO all those who love reading the classics of the Golden Age
(even if this is written by a contemporary author) and to all those who want a well-conceived puzzle made more tantalizing by the addition of irony and humor.
Thanks for reading my opinion and please forgive any errors in my text, English is not my native language.
Overall I liked it a lot, actually very much!
_____PLOT__ 1928, England.
Anthony ( Anty) Boisjoly goes to spend the Christmas holidays with his shy aunt Azalea in the small, picturesque village of Graze Hill, Hertfordshire.
Unfortunately, Christmas day immediately begins in a negative way: Aunt Azalea visits a friend in the village, a well-known war hero, and finds him dead, stabbed, under the Christmas tree.
The village policeman immediately insinuates that the only probable culprit is Anty's aunt and the commissioner sent by Scotland Yard will do the same.
Anty has nothing left but to work hard to find the real culprit in order to exonerate her aunt.
____________________
It took me a little while to appreciate this book, but once I got over my initial difficulty to get into it ( accepting the deliberately bizarre and comical style ), then I began to grow fond of the main character and started to laugh at his way of telling the story: with irony and humor.
The entire story, the events, the mystery and its solution are in fact told in first person by the protagonist and while in the first part the MYSTERY didn't look so enthralling ( and I also felt a little annoyed by the constant humorous jokes), in the second part it became very engaging and wittily thought out by the author.
I really liked how the protagonist put together all the pieces of the puzzle (which was really complicated) and the final explanation of the murders solution, the ending indeed was beautiful and very satisfying!!
The DIALOGUES are witty and lively, with some really funny scenes, to the point that sometimes I found myself laughing out loud!
I think the main character and the book series would be a great idea for a BBC miniseries.
There aren't many CHARACTERS, but they aren't few either and in the first part I found myself a little confused and none of them stood out in a particular way among the others.
As the story gradually got to the heart of the mystery, however, everyone's bizarre personality was finally highlighted and that was the point where everything became more interesting and I hoped that none of the good guys (or supposedly good guys) would die and that none of those I liked were the culprit.
...And talking about the CULPRIT:
I was never able to guess until it was revealed by Anty!!
Therefore the ENDING WAS EVEN MORE ENJOYABLE and the writer, in addition to the mystery's solution, added a personal happy ending to each character.
_CHRISTMAS ATMOSPHERE __
There are many books of various genres with the word "Christmas" in the title (or Yuletide or Mistletoe or similar), but there are very few of these that offer a Christmas atmosphere.
This fun "whodunit" didn't fail me!
I enjoyed immersing myself in the welcoming atmosphere of the snow-covered English village, magical and cozy like the one on the postcards.
The author was very good at the descriptions and the mulled wine in the pub, the typical church of the small village, the singing of the carol dedicated to Saint Stephen (although a little bizarre and hilarious) and the preparations for the final party help the reader to breathe a festive atmosphere
This is book #2 in a series (of which I will read the following books and maybe even the first), BUT IT IS PERFECTLY READABLE AS A STANDALONE.
RECOMMENDED TO all those who love reading the classics of the Golden Age
(even if this is written by a contemporary author) and to all those who want a well-conceived puzzle made more tantalizing by the addition of irony and humor.
Thanks for reading my opinion and please forgive any errors in my text, English is not my native language.
August 8, 2021
I will start off with that I enjoyed this immensely but I realize that it won't be for everyone. This is taking the man-about-town amateur detective popular in the 1920s and 30s poking fun at it but still being great at exactly that genre. There is sardonic humor and a bit of parody with intelligent banter but done well in a way that I found annoying with Philo Vance.
If you enjoy mysteries from the Golden Age, impossible murders and some intelligence and humor grab this and immediately give it a go. You might have just found your newest series after you've finished reading those Golden Age classics for the umpteenth time.
If you enjoy mysteries from the Golden Age, impossible murders and some intelligence and humor grab this and immediately give it a go. You might have just found your newest series after you've finished reading those Golden Age classics for the umpteenth time.
April 18, 2022
Anty Boisjoly has another case on his hands; his aunt is (about) to be hauled off to the clink for murder in this second in the series. Can't have that, old thing. But never fear; our erstwhile sleuth is quick on the scene, and readers get a clever trail of clues galore and delightful twists at the end that will bring Christmas cheer to all. And who can resist a book where a miniature cow is a major character?
P.J. Fitzsimmons will once again have you laughing out loud. Not a bad thing, in this day and age.
P.J. Fitzsimmons will once again have you laughing out loud. Not a bad thing, in this day and age.
January 8, 2024
Maybe 3.5 stars
This was a lot of fun. Maybe the mystery doesn’t quite measure up to the best of Agatha Christie, and maybe the flair of the writing isn’t quite as clever as PG Wodehouse (and this is an absurdly and unfairly high standard anyway), but this creative melange of the two creates an entirely new level of enjoyment.
I would venture that it’s exceedingly unlikely if not flatly impossible for a reader to solve this mystery with the clues provided, but first of all, the same could be said about most Agatha Christie novels, and secondly, who cares? The fun is in seeing how our hero Boisjoly figures it out, making hilarious and snarky quips along the way.
I have to admit that I’m still a bit perplexed about the proposed solution to the footprints issue, but no matter, I must have just missed something. I’m still looking forward to checking out the next Anty Boisjoly book, The Tale of the Tenpenny Tontine.
This was a lot of fun. Maybe the mystery doesn’t quite measure up to the best of Agatha Christie, and maybe the flair of the writing isn’t quite as clever as PG Wodehouse (and this is an absurdly and unfairly high standard anyway), but this creative melange of the two creates an entirely new level of enjoyment.
I would venture that it’s exceedingly unlikely if not flatly impossible for a reader to solve this mystery with the clues provided, but first of all, the same could be said about most Agatha Christie novels, and secondly, who cares? The fun is in seeing how our hero Boisjoly figures it out, making hilarious and snarky quips along the way.
I have to admit that I’m still a bit perplexed about the proposed solution to the footprints issue, but no matter, I must have just missed something. I’m still looking forward to checking out the next Anty Boisjoly book, The Tale of the Tenpenny Tontine.
May 5, 2022
This second book detailing Anty Boisjoly's ability at sleuthing/solving the most complicated of mysteries was a joy to read. It is medicinal for me to bring me out of the doldrums of isolation due to virus scares and horrendous weather that refuses to let go of winter. However...warm temps are promised for next week when I hope to read more Anty whatever the weather.
The setting this time takes Anty to a holiday visit with his aunt. Aunty Boisjoly is the suspect in the murder of the war hero and prominent citizen who drops in to the local treating his friends to holiday drinks after his supposed murder. The locals are memorable characters and Anty will have to convince Scotland Yard once again that he is a bit better at their jobs in solving crime.
These books are lively with wit and very entertaining.
Kindle Unlimited
The setting this time takes Anty to a holiday visit with his aunt. Aunty Boisjoly is the suspect in the murder of the war hero and prominent citizen who drops in to the local treating his friends to holiday drinks after his supposed murder. The locals are memorable characters and Anty will have to convince Scotland Yard once again that he is a bit better at their jobs in solving crime.
These books are lively with wit and very entertaining.
Kindle Unlimited
December 15, 2024
This is my first book by this author so I wasn't expecting anything in particular and I was pleasantly surprised by the constant humor. Anty has a sarcastic sense of humor I often find hilarious and I quite enjoy his valet who can't remember if there is tea in the pot he is carrying but who remembers in detail what happened 50 years ago. There is a socially impaired Aunt who hides in the curtains "looking for moths" and her butler who is most happy when he can do his job but there's no one in the house to entertain. Then there is the drunken cow who gets stuck in snow banks. But the best part of all for me is when Anty sings the "Christmas carol" in the church with his Aunt as accompaniment on piano. His observations throughout were so hilarious I laughed right out loud.
The solution to the mystery was complicated though I did figure out some of it ahead of time. Still not sure I know exactly what happened. I suppose it doesn't help that I frequently forgot I was reading a murder mystery.
I'm so happy to have discovered this author and the narrator who did a fantastic job reading this book for Audible.
The solution to the mystery was complicated though I did figure out some of it ahead of time. Still not sure I know exactly what happened. I suppose it doesn't help that I frequently forgot I was reading a murder mystery.
I'm so happy to have discovered this author and the narrator who did a fantastic job reading this book for Audible.
February 27, 2023
Solid village murder mystery, a definite improvement on the first book, The Case of the Canterfell Codicil. It felt less derivative of P.G. Wodehouse and better able to stand on its own--less "what if Bertie Wooster was actually a detective" and more "what if there was a detective who vaguely resembled Bertie Wooster."
December 2, 2024
Another locked-room style mystery in the series starring Anty Boisjoly. Once again, Anty is called upon to save an innocent person accused of murder, this time his aunty. Anty saves Aunty, just a sample of the confusion. In fact, this one was so confusing I'm still not sure exactly who even got killed, much less who all the suspects are - and they were there from the beginning of the story.
I really like the way the author nonchalantly writes phrases and paragraphs such as:
It's all lots of fun, and I think I'll enjoy rereading them in the future.
I really like the way the author nonchalantly writes phrases and paragraphs such as:
or
“Oh, all right, all things and all that, what?” said Mister Millicent with a lisp that spoke of public schools and fox hunts and a worryingly uncomplicated family tree.
I was musing on how best to rephrase ‘tasteless and baffling’ as constructive criticism...
It's all lots of fun, and I think I'll enjoy rereading them in the future.
March 20, 2023
Clever, but it didn't always gel for me. It was set in a sort of fantasy Jeeves-land that bore little relation to real life, and there were a few places where I got pulled out of the story by an anachronism.
May 28, 2021
Another exceptional book by Phillips. First of all thank you for providing me with the book for a honest review. This time Antony Boisjholy again out smarts the culprit how he does is the story.
When there is murder of a renowned war hero Mr. Aron flemming a.k.a flap flemming is found dead on the morning of the Christmas and obvious blame goes to none other than her Mr. Boisjholy's Aunt Azalea Boisjholy. And anty comes into rescue for his aunt. Ivor wittersham too makes his second outing after the canterfell codicil case with anty for his assistance. Each characters described in this book has thier own secrets which is revealed by none other than Anty. I would say a superb suspense book by Phillips which i would say a awesome Goodreads... 🙂
When there is murder of a renowned war hero Mr. Aron flemming a.k.a flap flemming is found dead on the morning of the Christmas and obvious blame goes to none other than her Mr. Boisjholy's Aunt Azalea Boisjholy. And anty comes into rescue for his aunt. Ivor wittersham too makes his second outing after the canterfell codicil case with anty for his assistance. Each characters described in this book has thier own secrets which is revealed by none other than Anty. I would say a superb suspense book by Phillips which i would say a awesome Goodreads... 🙂
June 11, 2021
This was such an odd read, but I ended up loving it. The way it was written, especially the dialogue, made it hard to read at first until I got into the swing of it. In addition to the historical time period and the fact that it takes place in England, the main character, is too clever by half in both his phrasing and the way his brain works. Anty is quite the character and I was delighted to see that this is the second book in the series, so I must read the first one now! The mystery was quite intricate and I don’t think I could have figured it out on my own, but that didn’t subtract from the enjoyment at all. I highly recommend this Christmas-sprinkled mystery. I was provided a copy of this book, but these opinions are my own.
November 21, 2024
“I think I’m twigging to the state of affairs now, Aunty, but your telling was something of a slow burn, if you don’t mind me saying so. You’ll probably want to jump straight to the punchline, in future, when recounting the discovery of a murder.”
another fun mystery set in a small town with quirky characters and Christmas.
Anty tells stories the way Rose tells them from the Golden Girls.
drunken owner, a spy, a woman in drapes, and a cow
another fun mystery set in a small town with quirky characters and Christmas.
Anty tells stories the way Rose tells them from the Golden Girls.
drunken owner, a spy, a woman in drapes, and a cow
March 25, 2024
Just couldn’t get into this one!
January 12, 2026
Really enjoyable series!
January 27, 2025
3.75/5
May 20, 2021
This is a very complex story to unravel and at times I was a bit bored trying to keep up with what was going on. The main character arrives to save his aunt who has been accused of murder...he stays with her and gets to know the other players to find out the real villain. The convoluted tale takes too long to play out. The style of writing was not to my taste really. The story itself appears on the face of it to be a simple murder with a prime suspect but it soon becomes apparent that there are lots of subplots going on and even having finished the book I can’t really say that I followed it all fully. Too complicated and probably too subtle for me. I have given this three stars but it is really worth three and a half.
May 22, 2021
Having read the first Anty Boisjoly mystery, The Case of the Canterfell Codicil, and become completely enamored with the writing style, humor, and characters, I was ecstatic to find that a second book had arrived! The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning does not disappoint – it has all the wit and humor of the first, plus a seemingly impossible murder to solve! This book entertains and keeps you guessing until the very end, and once you get to the end and the culprit is revealed you do not believe you were not able to figure it out. One word summarizes the writing and the solving of the crime – brilliant!
Anty Boisjoly has travelled to spend the Christmas holiday in Graze Hill with his Aunty Azalea Boisjoly, and, upon his arrival, his Aunt tells him “There’s a dead body under the tree,” except his Aunty does not have a Christmas tree! Anty is able to discern that his aunt’s neighbor, WWI flying ace Flaps Fleming, has been murdered and is lying under his tree, and to the local constable, his Aunt seems to be the prime suspect. Inspector Ivor Wittersham, with whom Anty “worked” in the first book, soon arrives on the scene. While Ivor is convinced Aunt Azalea is the murderer, Anty of course is not and is determined to prove his aunt’s innocence. While solving the murder we meet the colorful residents of Graze Hill, including the Graze Hill Golden cow Hildy who appears to be a midget cow and plays a unique role in the story. As the story progresses two more crimes are committed, both of which Anty is involved in solving. Also along the way we are entertained with Anty’s wit and humor, his valet Vickers’ absentmindedness, his aunt’s “moth-like” habits, and his interactions with Ivor. In the end, Anty puts everything together and neatly provides to Inspector Wittersham the identity of the culprits of all three crimes.
PJ Fitzsimmons’ writing is enjoyable for many reasons and this book, as well as the first, has much to recommend it. Fans of Wodehouse will delight in the setting, the characters, and the witty dialogue, while Christie fans will savor the complex mystery with seemingly hidden clues. The mystery is so complex that the reader is kept guessing until all is revealed at the end. It is in the revealing that the reader discovers how brilliant the book is – as Anty systemically walks through the clues that led him to the true murder, you realize that the clues were there all the time and had you been more observant, you could have solved it too! There are times you feel that Anty cannot possibly solve the murder and then, when he finally pulls together the suspects, you gain a respect for Anty’s intelligence and logic.
I highly recommend this book, as well as the first in the series, and look forward with anticipation to the next!
Anty Boisjoly has travelled to spend the Christmas holiday in Graze Hill with his Aunty Azalea Boisjoly, and, upon his arrival, his Aunt tells him “There’s a dead body under the tree,” except his Aunty does not have a Christmas tree! Anty is able to discern that his aunt’s neighbor, WWI flying ace Flaps Fleming, has been murdered and is lying under his tree, and to the local constable, his Aunt seems to be the prime suspect. Inspector Ivor Wittersham, with whom Anty “worked” in the first book, soon arrives on the scene. While Ivor is convinced Aunt Azalea is the murderer, Anty of course is not and is determined to prove his aunt’s innocence. While solving the murder we meet the colorful residents of Graze Hill, including the Graze Hill Golden cow Hildy who appears to be a midget cow and plays a unique role in the story. As the story progresses two more crimes are committed, both of which Anty is involved in solving. Also along the way we are entertained with Anty’s wit and humor, his valet Vickers’ absentmindedness, his aunt’s “moth-like” habits, and his interactions with Ivor. In the end, Anty puts everything together and neatly provides to Inspector Wittersham the identity of the culprits of all three crimes.
PJ Fitzsimmons’ writing is enjoyable for many reasons and this book, as well as the first, has much to recommend it. Fans of Wodehouse will delight in the setting, the characters, and the witty dialogue, while Christie fans will savor the complex mystery with seemingly hidden clues. The mystery is so complex that the reader is kept guessing until all is revealed at the end. It is in the revealing that the reader discovers how brilliant the book is – as Anty systemically walks through the clues that led him to the true murder, you realize that the clues were there all the time and had you been more observant, you could have solved it too! There are times you feel that Anty cannot possibly solve the murder and then, when he finally pulls together the suspects, you gain a respect for Anty’s intelligence and logic.
I highly recommend this book, as well as the first in the series, and look forward with anticipation to the next!
June 6, 2021
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed in my review are my own and not affected by the giveaway. MANY apologizes for the lateness of this review. Technical difficulties, you know, old thing.
When Anty Boisjolais arrives in the sleepy, snowy village of Graze Hill in Hertfordshire to visit his Aunty Azalea Boisjolais for Christmas, Aunty Azalea greets Anty with the shocking news of a dead body under the tree. After ascertaining Aunty's neighbor, Major "Flaps" Flemming, is indeed deceased with a knife in his back under his own Christmas tree, Anty calls in the local constable never dreaming the man would accuse Aunty Azalea. When Constable Kimble sends for Scotland Yard, Anty is delighted to see his old adversary, Ivor Wittersham, is on the case. Anty insists on helping Inspector Wittersham solve the murder and save Aunty from the noose because Anty knows his Aunty would no more leave her hiding spot behind the curtains than murder a man! As Anty investigates, he gets to know the locals at the Sulky Cow pub who insist Flaps was at the pub AFTER Aunty saw his dead body; enjoys the local homemade mulled wine, and tries to put the clues together. Can he save Aunty Azalea from the noose and figure out the mystery of the Christmas morning ghost?
SCREAMS AT GOODRAEDS FOR DELETING MY REVIEW! :Cries:
Let's try again and see what I can remember ...
This is an entertaining, light-hearted historical cozy mystery in the vein of P.G. Wodehouse. The mystery is well-crafted and carefully plotted. I missed the clues pointing to whodunit but I did figure out some of the mysteries involved. I absolutely loved the local color. The village of Graze Hill is so charmingly described I feel like I was there. I love the Sulky Cow, the regulars and of course, Hildy, the Graze Hill Golden cow! I chuckled to myself softly a few times and one scene, in the church on St. Stephen's Day, almost made me laugh out loud. I would have if my parents weren't sleeping in the next room. The ending was a little darkish for me. I didn't like the second murder at all but overall, the tone is light and fun.
I adore Wodehouse but sometimes he feels a little dated and P.J. Fitzsimmons has corrected this somewhat. While Anty is still a young man-about-town, unlike Wodehouse's young men, he's not scheming to con someone out of their money or run from his managing aunt. Anty sincerely loves his aunt and is happy to visit her over Christmas. Anty is witty and more clever than Wodehouse's Bertie Wooster although I expect they belong to the same club or some such thing. He's 100% positive she's not a killer and actually uses his brain to put the clues together. While he doesn't quite believe in ghosts, he's willing to propose the theory if it saves his Aunty. Aunty Azalea is a sweetheart. She has agoraphobia and social anxiety. Lately she's bonded with Major Fleming over their mutual distaste for socializing. I feel sorry for her that her friend was killed. My only real quibble with the story is how quickly she gets over her anxiety and by the end of the story is a completely different person. She also transfers affections easily. I'll let it go though because this is a comedy and not meant to be realistic.
Major Aaron "Flaps" Fleming, Aunty Boisjolais's neighbor, is the murder victim. He was a WWI flying ace and war hero. At first Major Fleming seemed arrogant and a careless landlord but I think the war humbled him and he was traumatized by what he experienced. He has been a recluse up until now and for some reason has decided to rejoin the world. Why now? Could someone have killed him to stop him before he left the village?
The locals are a fun and quirky lot. There's Mister Barking, the village blacksmith who seems to hate his job. He keeps coming up with get rich quick schemes instead. I don't find him a very pleasant person. He's kind of grumpy and snippy. Everett Trimble, owner of the feed store and alderman is just the opposite. He's a politician and rather bombastic. He's eager to promote the village and put it on the map but seems to have his hand out to Anty to help. They all do, which is unfair. Sally Barnstable, the landlady at the Sulky Cow, is friendly at first but then she gets kind of snippy and rude. I don't blame her entirely for being mad at Anty but it seems like once Christmas is over she's grouchy to everyone. Soaky Mike is my favorite human character. He's a drunken old sot but so funny. There's a scene in a barn that's just wild and too funny! Mister Padget, the vicar, is high church. That makes him very serious and he takes himself VERY seriously-too seriously. The guy doesn't have a sense of humor or understand he seems to be a laughingstock. At best the villagers roll their eyes at him. He, too, wants money from Anty. I know he's not a murderer, he's too moral and upright for that but the rest of them, aside from Soaky Mike, could have done it.
There are two visitors to the village who could be suspects. Cosmo Millicent is a young man about town like Anty but not so bright and clever. Cosmo is more of a Freddie Threepwood. He's come to town to write his uncle's memoirs -if he has the wherewithal to actually sit down and write which I doubt. I don't think he's smart enough to be a murder. Flight-Lieutenant Montgomery Hern-Fowler, RAF has come to town to see his old squadron mate. The timing is a little too coincidental. I think he seems suspicious and makes me think Flaps was killed because of something that happened in the war. Rumor has it Monty was a spy. Did he come to town to silence Flaps?
Other minor secondary characters important to the story include Constable Kimble, the local law authority. He's large and dim. To be fair, the clues point in one direction but in the end he seems to have missed a detail in his examination. Detective-Inspector Ivor Wittersham is exasperated by Anty but allows Anty to tag along. He sees this as an open and shut case so why not let Anty see how it's done. Ivor thinks in black and white and it's not doing his career any favors. Josilyn Boodle, Monty's solicitor, seems like an eager beaver when it comes to promoting himself and his business. He's an actor too and rather hammy. I think he's disingenuous but I'm not sure he's a murderer.
Puckeridge, Aunty's longserving and longsuffering butler. He trained as a pre-war butler to serve in a great house and has dreams of large scale lavish parties but instead has to serve a reclusive mistress who is more likely to hide in her room than entertain. He is a font of information about the local farm culture and helps Anty with knowledge that D-I Wittersham doesn't bother to find out. Anty's visit helps a bit. Vickers, Anty's valet who served his father and his father before him! He's superannuated and seems to have dementia with short term memory loss. If you need him in a hurry, he won't remember why but he's a good source of information about the past. Hildy, the Graze Hill Golden cow stands about 4 feet high but makes a big impact in the story. She's very sweet and funny. I love her best of all! MOO!
This is an enjoyable series perfect for period cozy mystery fans and Wodehouse devotees! I am eager to read the next installment!
When Anty Boisjolais arrives in the sleepy, snowy village of Graze Hill in Hertfordshire to visit his Aunty Azalea Boisjolais for Christmas, Aunty Azalea greets Anty with the shocking news of a dead body under the tree. After ascertaining Aunty's neighbor, Major "Flaps" Flemming, is indeed deceased with a knife in his back under his own Christmas tree, Anty calls in the local constable never dreaming the man would accuse Aunty Azalea. When Constable Kimble sends for Scotland Yard, Anty is delighted to see his old adversary, Ivor Wittersham, is on the case. Anty insists on helping Inspector Wittersham solve the murder and save Aunty from the noose because Anty knows his Aunty would no more leave her hiding spot behind the curtains than murder a man! As Anty investigates, he gets to know the locals at the Sulky Cow pub who insist Flaps was at the pub AFTER Aunty saw his dead body; enjoys the local homemade mulled wine, and tries to put the clues together. Can he save Aunty Azalea from the noose and figure out the mystery of the Christmas morning ghost?
SCREAMS AT GOODRAEDS FOR DELETING MY REVIEW! :Cries:
Let's try again and see what I can remember ...
This is an entertaining, light-hearted historical cozy mystery in the vein of P.G. Wodehouse. The mystery is well-crafted and carefully plotted. I missed the clues pointing to whodunit but I did figure out some of the mysteries involved. I absolutely loved the local color. The village of Graze Hill is so charmingly described I feel like I was there. I love the Sulky Cow, the regulars and of course, Hildy, the Graze Hill Golden cow! I chuckled to myself softly a few times and one scene, in the church on St. Stephen's Day, almost made me laugh out loud. I would have if my parents weren't sleeping in the next room. The ending was a little darkish for me. I didn't like the second murder at all but overall, the tone is light and fun.
I adore Wodehouse but sometimes he feels a little dated and P.J. Fitzsimmons has corrected this somewhat. While Anty is still a young man-about-town, unlike Wodehouse's young men, he's not scheming to con someone out of their money or run from his managing aunt. Anty sincerely loves his aunt and is happy to visit her over Christmas. Anty is witty and more clever than Wodehouse's Bertie Wooster although I expect they belong to the same club or some such thing. He's 100% positive she's not a killer and actually uses his brain to put the clues together. While he doesn't quite believe in ghosts, he's willing to propose the theory if it saves his Aunty. Aunty Azalea is a sweetheart. She has agoraphobia and social anxiety. Lately she's bonded with Major Fleming over their mutual distaste for socializing. I feel sorry for her that her friend was killed. My only real quibble with the story is how quickly she gets over her anxiety and by the end of the story is a completely different person. She also transfers affections easily. I'll let it go though because this is a comedy and not meant to be realistic.
Major Aaron "Flaps" Fleming, Aunty Boisjolais's neighbor, is the murder victim. He was a WWI flying ace and war hero. At first Major Fleming seemed arrogant and a careless landlord but I think the war humbled him and he was traumatized by what he experienced. He has been a recluse up until now and for some reason has decided to rejoin the world. Why now? Could someone have killed him to stop him before he left the village?
The locals are a fun and quirky lot. There's Mister Barking, the village blacksmith who seems to hate his job. He keeps coming up with get rich quick schemes instead. I don't find him a very pleasant person. He's kind of grumpy and snippy. Everett Trimble, owner of the feed store and alderman is just the opposite. He's a politician and rather bombastic. He's eager to promote the village and put it on the map but seems to have his hand out to Anty to help. They all do, which is unfair. Sally Barnstable, the landlady at the Sulky Cow, is friendly at first but then she gets kind of snippy and rude. I don't blame her entirely for being mad at Anty but it seems like once Christmas is over she's grouchy to everyone. Soaky Mike is my favorite human character. He's a drunken old sot but so funny. There's a scene in a barn that's just wild and too funny! Mister Padget, the vicar, is high church. That makes him very serious and he takes himself VERY seriously-too seriously. The guy doesn't have a sense of humor or understand he seems to be a laughingstock. At best the villagers roll their eyes at him. He, too, wants money from Anty. I know he's not a murderer, he's too moral and upright for that but the rest of them, aside from Soaky Mike, could have done it.
There are two visitors to the village who could be suspects. Cosmo Millicent is a young man about town like Anty but not so bright and clever. Cosmo is more of a Freddie Threepwood. He's come to town to write his uncle's memoirs -if he has the wherewithal to actually sit down and write which I doubt. I don't think he's smart enough to be a murder. Flight-Lieutenant Montgomery Hern-Fowler, RAF has come to town to see his old squadron mate. The timing is a little too coincidental. I think he seems suspicious and makes me think Flaps was killed because of something that happened in the war. Rumor has it Monty was a spy. Did he come to town to silence Flaps?
Other minor secondary characters important to the story include Constable Kimble, the local law authority. He's large and dim. To be fair, the clues point in one direction but in the end he seems to have missed a detail in his examination. Detective-Inspector Ivor Wittersham is exasperated by Anty but allows Anty to tag along. He sees this as an open and shut case so why not let Anty see how it's done. Ivor thinks in black and white and it's not doing his career any favors. Josilyn Boodle, Monty's solicitor, seems like an eager beaver when it comes to promoting himself and his business. He's an actor too and rather hammy. I think he's disingenuous but I'm not sure he's a murderer.
Puckeridge, Aunty's longserving and longsuffering butler. He trained as a pre-war butler to serve in a great house and has dreams of large scale lavish parties but instead has to serve a reclusive mistress who is more likely to hide in her room than entertain. He is a font of information about the local farm culture and helps Anty with knowledge that D-I Wittersham doesn't bother to find out. Anty's visit helps a bit. Vickers, Anty's valet who served his father and his father before him! He's superannuated and seems to have dementia with short term memory loss. If you need him in a hurry, he won't remember why but he's a good source of information about the past. Hildy, the Graze Hill Golden cow stands about 4 feet high but makes a big impact in the story. She's very sweet and funny. I love her best of all! MOO!
This is an enjoyable series perfect for period cozy mystery fans and Wodehouse devotees! I am eager to read the next installment!
May 26, 2021
As other reviewers have mentioned, this book is witty and well-conceived. If you are a fan of of P.G. Wodehouse, you'll be tickled by the author's ability to mimic this style. If you don't know Wodehouse, be prepared for an entertaining romp through some early 20th century upper class British banter. The protagonist Anty Boisjoly has gone to visit his Aunty in Hertfordshire, which is dairy country. Anty visiting Aunty is already mildly amusing, as the two characters refer to each other as such. You just have to imagine the back-and-forth between Anty, a bit of a gadabout who appears to have unlimited funds and no particular life's purpose. and his Aunty who is a reclusive spinster with a houseful of servants whom she is reluctant to supervise.
Not surprisingly (this is a mystery) a body turns up. It is a neighbor of Aunty's, and before the old girl is wrongly convicted by an over-eager local constable and an Inspector from Scotland Yard, it's up to Anty (who happens to be extremely observant) to try to prove her innocence. The novel moves from scene to scene much like a game of Clue. Anty (and the reader) are constantly uncovering small bits of information and keeping track of them to eliminate suspects and motives. The final answer like a mystery wrapped in a conundrum. I never saw it coming, and I was surprised enough to double back and see whether I had missed clues along the way to the murderer's true identity. I'm still not sure!
I recommend this for a fun read and I'll be sure to visit other installments in this enjoyable series.
Not surprisingly (this is a mystery) a body turns up. It is a neighbor of Aunty's, and before the old girl is wrongly convicted by an over-eager local constable and an Inspector from Scotland Yard, it's up to Anty (who happens to be extremely observant) to try to prove her innocence. The novel moves from scene to scene much like a game of Clue. Anty (and the reader) are constantly uncovering small bits of information and keeping track of them to eliminate suspects and motives. The final answer like a mystery wrapped in a conundrum. I never saw it coming, and I was surprised enough to double back and see whether I had missed clues along the way to the murderer's true identity. I'm still not sure!
I recommend this for a fun read and I'll be sure to visit other installments in this enjoyable series.
June 11, 2021
The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning is the second mystery featuring Anty Boisjoly and takes place in Hertfordshire, England. Anty is visiting his aunt who is the prime and only suspect in a murder case. Even though evidence points to her guilt, Anty believes his aunt is innocent and refuses to stand by and do nothing, so he conducts his own investigation. It is a puzzling murder case to solve, and Anty discovers there are a number of feasible suspects. However, Anty is finding it difficult to convince the detective inspector, who is the chief investigator, to consider anyone else as the killer. A second murder and a theft only add to the enigma of how to solve these serious offenses. While Anty is busy trying to solve a seemingly impossible whodunit, he not only participates in everyday activities but also finds himself mingling with a cow that is important to the storyline. Anty’s determination to prove his aunt is not the culprit puts him in harm’s way. Will Anty escape danger and keep his aunt out of jail?
PJ Fitzsimmons makes great use of figurative language, which leads to more impactful writing and an enhanced reading experience. Readers are kept guessing with well-placed red herrings, clues, and evidence until the final reveal of the villain. The story builds up in edgy anticipation of whether Anty’s aunt will be proven innocent, and the real killer unveiled. The mystery ends with a surprising twist. Fitzsimmons engages readers from the beginning and keeps them invested in all the characters and the outcome of their actions. The dialogue fits the characters’ personalities. There are some references to past events that transpired in the first book of the series. However, this gripping mystery can be read as a stand-alone. Fitzsimmons has written an attention-grabbing series, and I look forward to the next installment.
PJ Fitzsimmons makes great use of figurative language, which leads to more impactful writing and an enhanced reading experience. Readers are kept guessing with well-placed red herrings, clues, and evidence until the final reveal of the villain. The story builds up in edgy anticipation of whether Anty’s aunt will be proven innocent, and the real killer unveiled. The mystery ends with a surprising twist. Fitzsimmons engages readers from the beginning and keeps them invested in all the characters and the outcome of their actions. The dialogue fits the characters’ personalities. There are some references to past events that transpired in the first book of the series. However, this gripping mystery can be read as a stand-alone. Fitzsimmons has written an attention-grabbing series, and I look forward to the next installment.
January 8, 2022
A snarky cozy? Why, yes, please!
This is a 2nd installment of the Anty Boisjoly Mysteries, but I read it as a standalone and it was just as delightful! (The pronunciation options are described quickly!)
Anthony Boisjoly is an amateur sleuth in the British 1920's and goes to Hertfordshire to help his Aunty when she discovers a dead body on Christmas Eve. What is strange is that the deceased man is seen by many leaving the pub many hours later, placing prime suspicion on Aunty! Anty is convinced of her innocence and will stop at nothing to prove it, all while another murder occurs and other questionable goings-on.
The writing of this story was so witty and entertaining! The humor was sarcastic, sardonic, and biting, but somehow still felt light and jolly! At times I did have the thought, "why say something in 5 words when you can use 20?" The extrapolation of thoughts or ideas was used excessively, but with wit, so be prepared!
This is as close to a holiday story as I could muster, and true to name, I didn't start it until after!! I am glad I did choose this one and thank BookSirens for the opportunity to read this digital copy. All opinions are my own. Keep this one on your radar and if it sounds up your alley, there is the first in the series and I believe the 3rd is also just out!
This is a 2nd installment of the Anty Boisjoly Mysteries, but I read it as a standalone and it was just as delightful! (The pronunciation options are described quickly!)
Anthony Boisjoly is an amateur sleuth in the British 1920's and goes to Hertfordshire to help his Aunty when she discovers a dead body on Christmas Eve. What is strange is that the deceased man is seen by many leaving the pub many hours later, placing prime suspicion on Aunty! Anty is convinced of her innocence and will stop at nothing to prove it, all while another murder occurs and other questionable goings-on.
The writing of this story was so witty and entertaining! The humor was sarcastic, sardonic, and biting, but somehow still felt light and jolly! At times I did have the thought, "why say something in 5 words when you can use 20?" The extrapolation of thoughts or ideas was used excessively, but with wit, so be prepared!
This is as close to a holiday story as I could muster, and true to name, I didn't start it until after!! I am glad I did choose this one and thank BookSirens for the opportunity to read this digital copy. All opinions are my own. Keep this one on your radar and if it sounds up your alley, there is the first in the series and I believe the 3rd is also just out!
June 11, 2021
The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning by PF Fitzsimmons is a unique book in that it's use of language is above and beyond. It is sarcastic and snarky in a highly humorous way. It could not be daily fare but as a break from other, more mundane, reading it is charming and amusing. Anty Boisjoly is a clever young man, useless in many ways, but able to solve a puzzle. His nemesis is Detective-Inspector Ivor Wittersham of Scotland Yard and between the two of them they are able to solve any crime, justly and fairly. It is a good mystery and an entertaining journey
Anty arrives to visit his aunt. She is just a touch odd, but then she is a Boisjoly, isn't she? It seems she has found the dead body of her neighbor lying, stabbed, under his Christmas tree. It took a moment to get even that amount of information from her. She hasn't called the police, but left that for him to do, while she hides amongst the draperies. It's all very odd. Only two sets of footprints in the newly arrived snow: hers and his. Seems open and shut, doesn't it? But her appears to have been saying good-bye to his mates in the pub that very morning. All very strange but Anty perseveres and is able to solve the crime, Detective Inspector Wittersham rolling his eyes all the way. I recommend this book, especially as a break in one's reading life.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning by the Cozy Mystery Review Crew. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
Anty arrives to visit his aunt. She is just a touch odd, but then she is a Boisjoly, isn't she? It seems she has found the dead body of her neighbor lying, stabbed, under his Christmas tree. It took a moment to get even that amount of information from her. She hasn't called the police, but left that for him to do, while she hides amongst the draperies. It's all very odd. Only two sets of footprints in the newly arrived snow: hers and his. Seems open and shut, doesn't it? But her appears to have been saying good-bye to his mates in the pub that very morning. All very strange but Anty perseveres and is able to solve the crime, Detective Inspector Wittersham rolling his eyes all the way. I recommend this book, especially as a break in one's reading life.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning by the Cozy Mystery Review Crew. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
June 3, 2021
Okay, follow along good fellow: Anty is visiting his Aunty for the holidays when she finds their neighbor's murdered body several hours before he is seen buying rounds of drinks for the patrons of the local pub. Lucky for Aunt Azalea, Anthony Boisjoly fashions himself similar to Agatha Christie's Tommy Beresford and is out to keep her from being unjustly charged with the Major's death. I really enjoy his casual representation of a time and class that is removed from every day concerns and can move throughout the world only bothering themselves with the worries they choose to be bothered by. As such, Anty's involvement is only begrudgingly accepted. "In light of your contribution to the affair in Fray last summer, I am inclined to either grant you some limited role in this enquiry, or have you arrested and held as a public nuisance until it's complete." This slight sarcasm runs throughout the writing, keeping the tone light despite the events, and combines with beautiful descriptions "The night struck a discordant tone with full, flossy, flitting snowflakes falling in profusion, forming a close crowd that managed to be simultaneously sinister and convivial, like a society wedding." to create a feeling evocative of the well healed after The Great War. The writing style and quirky characters have made me a fan of the series!
Thanks to Cozy Mystery Review Crew for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to Cozy Mystery Review Crew for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
June 3, 2021
The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning is a unique and well crafted mystery. I enjoyed the witty dialogue and the quirky characters. Anty Boisjoly is a debonair man about town who finds himself investigating a murder to save his Aunty from the gallows. Anty knows she didn't murder Major Flaps Fleming, but the difficult Inspector believes otherwise. It's an interesting Christmas in this snowy dairy town of Graze Hill. I felt as if I was transported back in time. Life moves at a slower, more stately pace here. I found to my surprise that the townspeople are very good at keeping secrets. I'm glad that Anty is so observant and can follow the clues. However, a nicked weathervane and another murder keep our hero busy. I enjoyed this book. It's definitely a change of pace for me. I developed a fondness for Hildy the cow as did our sleuth. The ending lived up to expectations. It was complex and complicated. I never guessed who the killer was. PJ Fitzsimmons has my admiration for this splendid twisted tale.
June 13, 2021
The Case of the Ghost of Christmas is the second book in the Anty Boisjoly Mysteries series by PJ Fitzsimmons.
Anty Boisjoly is visiting his Aunty Boisjoly when she mentions that a neighbor is dead under a Christmas tree.
I’d rate it 3.5, rounded round up since I hadn’t read the first book in the series and may be why I struggled with this book. I felt like I really had to concentrate to keep track of what was going on.
If you like quirky characters, an English setting, and a complex murder mystery, check this book out.
I received a free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Anty Boisjoly is visiting his Aunty Boisjoly when she mentions that a neighbor is dead under a Christmas tree.
I’d rate it 3.5, rounded round up since I hadn’t read the first book in the series and may be why I struggled with this book. I felt like I really had to concentrate to keep track of what was going on.
If you like quirky characters, an English setting, and a complex murder mystery, check this book out.
I received a free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
May 17, 2023
2023 bk 168. Having so thoroughly enjoyed book #1, I immediately jumped into book #2. It runs a little slower than the first, but the mysteries are many, in addition to the dead man his aunt is suspected of murdering, the moustaches are engaging as ever, and I chortled my way through the pages where an enchanting tiny cow falls in love/fascination with Anty, the church weather vane is stolen, and the snow makes itself felt at every turn. I must remember to read this again in the heated days of August. Again - this mystery is best served to those who love P.G. Wodehouse in print and film and can see what is happening in their 'mind's eye'.
May 23, 2021
Is anyone who they seem to be? How many secrets can one small village have. Those are the questions that Anty finds himself answering in his latest escapade. Proving his Aunty innocent is all that matters as once again Anty uses his crazy methods to find the truth. Descriptions of a by-gone era are part of this story's charm. For an afternoon of enjoyment step back in time with Anty and the residents of Hertfordshire.
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