The Mystery of the Christmas Bauble

Jack and Frances Mysteries #6

by Carmen Radtke

What did the clairvoyant foresee?

A cryptic message from the past sends Fiona on a quest through London. Not she believes anything written by a clairvoyant 90 years ago could have anything to do with the present, or should be taken seriously at all. But she finds out soon that some mysteries ripple through time, and that she might have inherited more than just Christmas baubles with a prophecy from her sleuthing ancestors, Jack and Frances.

Genres: Christmas, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Mystery, Holiday, Novella

47 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 5, 2022

Reviews

[JoAn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always look forward to visiting with Frances, Jack and Uncle Sal. This time Ms. Radtke provides us a story that contains a short mystery from the past with Jack, Frances and Uncle Sal as well as introducing us to their future generations in the present day. A sweet story that includes a little romance as well as a cozy mystery.

[A.J. Griffiths-Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a short but lovely festive read that really got me into the Christmas spirit. Great characters, unexpected twists & the author’s wonderful delivery had me hooked from the first page.

[Anne Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful short read. Flash backs to 1931 from the present day. Fiona is helping her injured Gran with her Christmas decorations & in the attic she finds a small box. This contains a beautiful bauble which falls apart & a message is found. Seeking for gifts one evening, she spots it’s duplicate in a store with a not for sale notice. Next day she goes in & tells the owner & his grandson about her Gran’s one. Fiona arranges for them to come and see. When they open their box to show the bauble, it too breaks. A delightful ending is in store.

[Janna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous! Well satisfying! Really grabs at your heart! A mystery through the decades comes to the rightful descendents as the bauble is joined with them.

Thanks to the author for providing this book for my honest review!

[Bonsai · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice short story, my first exposure to the series. I think I am going to pick up a full length story after reading this.

[Clara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review bei dp Publishers.

A Christmas bauble is found and a secret message within, to find the matching bauble. But why and what could it mean?

Not a lot, to be honest. This was a bit boring. There was no conflict, no development no anything. We have a few throwbacks, otherwise the other bauble is found basically immediately. The story had its moments, but was so stuffed with unnecessary information and dialogue instead of at least some conflict or something resembling actual mystery to solve. I was hoping for a short Christmas mystery to get in the seasonal mood, but this was not it.

[John Beaderstadt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Charmng Fable

This novella is a stand alone story in the author's Jack and Frances novels. When her granddaughter finds a special Christmas ornament in the attic, her grandmother tells a story of a case from her parents' past. After exonerating a tarot reader suspected of theft, the Christmas bauble is given to the family by the clairvoyant, who predicted that there's good fortune for the person who reunites the baubles with its pair. This is a sweet fast read full of Christmas spirit and family legends.

[Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mystery of the Christmas Bauble is a short and sweet holiday cozy mystery.
While decorating for Christmas at her grandmother's, Fiona finds a mysterious Christmas bauble which has been passed down through generations. Her grandmother's retelling transports us back 90 years to a mystery with a well-known clairvoyant.

Super cute and very well developed for a novelette. This is the first book I've read in this series and I'd be interested in reading more, the adventures of Jack and Frances sound like wonderful historical cozy mysteries.

[April Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific short story that transcends generations and brings family together! Love Madame Gloria, the medium that starts everything rolling. What marvelous fully developed characters in two timelines the author has brought to this work. Highly Recommended

[Suzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute holiday mystery

This short story is a cute holiday mystery with a slight magical air. When a cherished handmade ornament is damaged a clue becomes available. Fast and fun for a magical Christmas read.

[Deborah Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this short story about an ornament that belongs to her Grandmother and a secret note found inside of it. So fun I enjoyed this short story and would recommend it.

[Doris Brase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decoration andcDiscovery.

What an unusual Christmas story. It's short, sweet and a tiny bit mysterious. The characters are very believable. Happy reading.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely delightful short story with some of my favorite characters, Jack, Frances, and Uncle Sal. They have a Christmas adventure in the past that is linked to a Christmas adventure for others in the future. Always a joy to read about these characters and this story is definitely a magical feel good one. Can't wait for more of Jack and Frances.

[Ryan Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is set in two different eras, 1931 and 2021. The 1931 part of the story involves a Christmas caper seuthing couple Jack and Frances. Parallel in 2021, a young woman named Fiona and her Gran, end up in their own little adventure. It was fun to find out Fiona is a descendant of Jack and Frances.

[David Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free advance review copy of this book and am voluntarily providing my honest review. What a charming little story. I really enjoyed it and recommend it.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short Clairvoyant Mystery
This is a short story that talks about the present and the past.
A cryptic message from the past sends Fiona on a quest through London. Not she believes anything written by a clairvoyant 90 years ago could have anything to do with the present, or should be taken seriously at all. But she finds out soon that some mysteries ripple through time, and that she might have inherited more than just Christmas baubles with a prophecy from her sleuthing ancestors, Jack and Frances.
I borrowed this book from KindleUnlimted. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this vignette of a story. All the pieces fit snugly and the story is complete in all it's glory. A mystery, two different times, and a budding romance all done in less than 50 pages. Marvelous! The plot is straightforward and the premise is fulfilling a prophecy made over 90 years earlier. I most definitely recommend this story.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay but I won’t be looking to read any more in the series. I found it confusing to figure out when it was the past and when it was the present. The characters were fine, it just wasn’t my type of story.

[John S. Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet Christmas story

It's a sweet, magical story of hope. History and the future gifts. Loved this story. Carmen Radtke weaved a beautiful story.

[Samantha Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short cute read

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most enjoyable Christmas story. Light, airy and eminently readable short story of a Christmas past and a Christmas present.

[Jane Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

short but sweet

A very short novella tying together Jack and Frances and the present. The author calls it a time slip. Quick read.

[Homerun2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars