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Tony Hill & Carol Jordan #5.5
Christmas is Murder: A chilling short story collection
The Queen of Crime Val McDermid is a master of the dark and sinister story, and these powers are demonstrated in full force in Christmas is Murder, a festive collection of chilling tales.From an irresponsible baron whose body is discovered beneath a silver birch tree, to an author who is haunted by the spiteful presence of a jealous writing partner, the characters McDermid conjures are enigmatic and dangerous, never above suspicion.Follow Tony Hill and Carol Jordan as they track a deadly killer who is preparing to strike on Christmas Day, and lose yourself in a festive exclusive - a recently unearthed case for a classic detective duo, set as the lights are going out across Europe.These evocative, atmospheric tales will shock and delight. This is the perfect book to curl up with as the frosty winter draws in and each night gets darker than the last, written by one of our greatest living crime writers.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2020
448 people are currently reading
1143 people want to read
About the author
Val McDermid
342 books5,313 followersVal McDermid is a No. 1 bestseller whose novels have been translated into more than thirty languages, and have sold over eleven million copies.
She has won many awards internationally, including the CWA Gold Dagger for best crime novel of the year and the LA Times Book of the Year Award. She was inducted into the ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards Hall of Fame in 2009 and was the recipient of the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for 2010. In 2011 she received the Lambda Literary Foundation Pioneer Award.
She writes full time and divides her time between Cheshire and Edinburgh.
She has won many awards internationally, including the CWA Gold Dagger for best crime novel of the year and the LA Times Book of the Year Award. She was inducted into the ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards Hall of Fame in 2009 and was the recipient of the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for 2010. In 2011 she received the Lambda Literary Foundation Pioneer Award.
She writes full time and divides her time between Cheshire and Edinburgh.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 335 reviews
December 24, 2022
It’s no secret that I love Val McD’s books and have read them for years. In my opinion she’s the undisputed Scottish Queen of Crime and there are a number of excellent Scottish writers who could also wear that crown!! This is a terrific collection and highly entertaining. My favourite is Holmes for Christmas which is genius. Sherlocks good intentions sets off a catastrophic chain reaction in motion. So clever.
Happy Christmas one and all. 🎄🎅
Happy Christmas one and all. 🎄🎅
December 23, 2024
Have never read McDermid, and I’d say this one wasn’t a great choice. Small stories, some I liked more than others and all quite varied.
I liked the one about a group of women banding together to save their jobs, they were a clever bunch.
I was looking for a Christmasy story, this one wasn’t what I was after.
Unusual, but I’m sure fans would appreciate more than I. I’ll give a standalone story a whirl next time.
I listened to this via the Libby app and my public library.
I liked the one about a group of women banding together to save their jobs, they were a clever bunch.
I was looking for a Christmasy story, this one wasn’t what I was after.
Unusual, but I’m sure fans would appreciate more than I. I’ll give a standalone story a whirl next time.
I listened to this via the Libby app and my public library.
December 27, 2022
A fine collection of short stories to end the year with. These were all not related to Christmas. There were a wide range of themes - detective, revenge, supernatural, historical fiction and a bit of humor (the girl who killed Santa). As the title promised, most of the stories were chilling. There is even a story on how George Orwell's 1984 almost didn't get published and one classic Sherlock Holmes story based on a historically significant event. Though each story was good, my favorite was 'The Ghost Writer'.
I have read 2 novels in the Hill and Jordan series and was not very impressed by the characters or the plot, and never thought of reading another book by this author. This short story collection has changed my opinion about Val McDermid's writing. I should probably look for her books without Hill and Jordan.
I have read 2 novels in the Hill and Jordan series and was not very impressed by the characters or the plot, and never thought of reading another book by this author. This short story collection has changed my opinion about Val McDermid's writing. I should probably look for her books without Hill and Jordan.
December 27, 2024
2.5*
My first Val McDermid book and I believe I have chosen the wrong one. I was looking for something different to what is offered here. The stories are a little flat and what I would say is tame compared to what I'm reading about this author's full length books.
With it being Christmas and the idea is maybe not wanting the stories to be too grim, these have hopeful elements within.
Maybe I'm missing the point as others have really enjoyed this. I look forward to reading a full novel by this author.
My first Val McDermid book and I believe I have chosen the wrong one. I was looking for something different to what is offered here. The stories are a little flat and what I would say is tame compared to what I'm reading about this author's full length books.
With it being Christmas and the idea is maybe not wanting the stories to be too grim, these have hopeful elements within.
Maybe I'm missing the point as others have really enjoyed this. I look forward to reading a full novel by this author.
December 26, 2020
They really will publish anything these days.
December 11, 2021
Tāds pašķidrs krājums, pāris okayish stāsti, lielākā daļa bōring, vienīgi pēdējais ļoti labs. Un lielākai daļai vispār nekāda sakara ar ziemu vai Ziemassvētkiem, tā ka nezinu, vai ir smuki - tā maldināt potenciālo lasītāju ar nosaukumu. Trīs zvaigznes, jo esmu dāsna, bet pārsvarā vairāk tā uz divām. Priekš stāstiem pārāk pliekani.
December 11, 2020
A three-star rating but that’s an average score. Some stories were worth more, some a smidgen less.
It can’t be easy developing a mystery in such a small space as a short story, getting the reader to the big reveal, keeping it a surprise but it still all making sense. And some stories were more successful at it than others. Some deserved to be longer.
Christmas isn’t the only theme running through the book like tinsel on a tree. Revenge and retribution are a strong thread. And an enjoyable one.
The content is educational and Google-worthy, sometimes sad sometimes fun. Worth a dip into for some festive frolics.
It can’t be easy developing a mystery in such a small space as a short story, getting the reader to the big reveal, keeping it a surprise but it still all making sense. And some stories were more successful at it than others. Some deserved to be longer.
Christmas isn’t the only theme running through the book like tinsel on a tree. Revenge and retribution are a strong thread. And an enjoyable one.
The content is educational and Google-worthy, sometimes sad sometimes fun. Worth a dip into for some festive frolics.
January 2, 2022
2 ⭐ = Below Average.
I'm usually quite a fan of Val Mcdermid but this wasn't quite up to scratch, for me. Maybe because short stories are not really my thing?
There's no doubt though, that her unique writing talent still shines through.
Half of the stories I enjoyed,hence a below average rating.
I'm usually quite a fan of Val Mcdermid but this wasn't quite up to scratch, for me. Maybe because short stories are not really my thing?
There's no doubt though, that her unique writing talent still shines through.
Half of the stories I enjoyed,hence a below average rating.
January 3, 2022
Val McDermid is one of the best writers of Scottish noir, although her most well known series featuring Tony Hill is set in the north of England. The first story in the collection features Hill, but for me, Hill doesn't have the chance to really "do his thing" in this format. The stories I enjoyed most were the stories of revenge. While catching perpetrators of crimes is satisfying, I particularly like stories of revenge. Several of her stories feature lesbian couples, and/or lesbian protagonists.
Like most short story collections, some are better than others. One of my favorite revenge stories was the final one - Four Calling Birds. In a mining community where the miners have lost their jobs, four women find a way to support their families. Traditionally, the Bingo Hall caller was a man. When he leaves, these women push for the four of them to share the job. As time goes by, changes are proposed. That is when resistance and revenge comes in.
I enjoy Christmas and winter mysteries. I am particularly fond of many of the classic British Christmas mysteries. McDermid is another option for readers who want to expand their repertoire of Christmas mysteries.
Like most short story collections, some are better than others. One of my favorite revenge stories was the final one - Four Calling Birds. In a mining community where the miners have lost their jobs, four women find a way to support their families. Traditionally, the Bingo Hall caller was a man. When he leaves, these women push for the four of them to share the job. As time goes by, changes are proposed. That is when resistance and revenge comes in.
I enjoy Christmas and winter mysteries. I am particularly fond of many of the classic British Christmas mysteries. McDermid is another option for readers who want to expand their repertoire of Christmas mysteries.
January 13, 2023
This was the sort of excellent quality of book full of stories that you always get from Val McDermid.
I thoroughly enjoyed all of the stories which were a variety of murders and mysteries with a Christmassy theme. My least favourite I think was the Sherlock Holmes story just because I am not a fan of the stories in general. But some of the stories were funny revenge crimes some were murders that have gone unsolved for many years, and there is even a ghostly one.
I don't like to review each individual story in a short story collection because it is hard not to give away the plots.
Another great read from Val McDermid.
I thoroughly enjoyed all of the stories which were a variety of murders and mysteries with a Christmassy theme. My least favourite I think was the Sherlock Holmes story just because I am not a fan of the stories in general. But some of the stories were funny revenge crimes some were murders that have gone unsolved for many years, and there is even a ghostly one.
I don't like to review each individual story in a short story collection because it is hard not to give away the plots.
Another great read from Val McDermid.
August 24, 2024
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As a whole collection of short stories, I quite enjoyed Christmas is Murder. As I do with every book that contains multiple stories, I rate them all individually and my final rating is the average rating of them all.
The collection wasn’t very Christmassy and festive as a whole, but it was very atmospheric, cold, spooky, and with a few stories indeed set during the holidays. This is the type of book you would read next to your fireplace, or Christmas tree, wrapped in a warm blanket with a cup of hot chocolate. It has a lot of twists and will keep you entertained until the very last story.
Huge thanks to the team at LoveReading, for sending me a copy of the collection.
Below is a breakdown of my thoughts and ratings for all the stories, and to end on a beautiful note, special credit to Angela Harding, who illustrated the cover. Her artistic style in “October, October” was so beautiful that as soon as I laid eyes on this cover, I could immediately guess who the creator was.
Happy Holidays - ★★★★
A great introduction to Tony Hill and Carol Jordan, although in retrospective, this is the only short story featuring them. I liked the plot and the immediate mystery. The only reason it’s not a 5 star is because I felt the ending was slightly rushed. However, despite that, I loved the mystery, the part where they profiled the killer and the Christmas spirit.
A Wife in a Million - ★★★★★
What an incredible short story that managed to touch on unemployment and what it can make a person do out of frustration. Very fast pace, with an unexpected twist at the very end.
A Traditional Christmas - ★★★★★
Amberley House is a place full of traditions. And when someone wants to change the status-quo, not everyone in the family will allow it. But where tradition comes into place, not all disputes are resolved in a traditional way. The story was spooky, with a twist at the end, and I really enjoyed it.
The Long Black Veil - ★★★★
“Everybody here in Mariott knows where and when Kenny Sheldon died, and most of them think they know why.”
I loved the small town vibe in this story, the atmosphere was intriguing and exciting. It was beautifully crafted into two different timelines, and with a short story, that can be quite hard to achieve, but Val McDermid did it beautifully!
The Girl who Killed Santa Claus - ★★★★
I found this story quite funny and wholesome. The girl knows Santa doesn’t exist, and when a burglar turns up to her house on Christmas Eve, everything escalates. One thing I didn’t expect from this collection of short stories was to make me laugh out loud, but I am so glad it did!
Holmes for Christmas - ★★★★
I was pleasantly surprised to see Holmes and Watson in action, especially with a nod to my lovely Balkans. It was a story inspired by the First World War assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrillo Princip. It was an interesting read and slightly longer than the rest of the stories.
Ancient and Modern - ★★★★★
Wow, this story was something else! The raw emotion and the vivid descriptions blew me away. The emotional love story between Ellie and Alan. And when Alan is killed in a traffic collision, the unfair justice system strikes and brings Ellie so much pain and not nearly enough justice. Then the ultimate plot twist happens and I am so impressed by how the author manages to piece everything together so neatly. This is my favourite short story in the collection so far, without a shadow of a doubt.
The Devil’s Share - ★★★★★
Waterfalls, a barrel of whiskey and a secret lying dormant for 50 years is a hell of a good plot for a story. I enjoyed this one so much, the present and the past meeting in a very powerful way, with great characters. I quite liked the fact that George Orwell was indirectly involved in the story as well, and our character inadvertently helped him finish “1984”. A lovely story with a slightly sad ending that touched my heart.
Ghost Writer - ★★★★★
Intriguing story with a paranormal element. Gavin wants to be a writer, but for the love of God, cannot think of a plot line. One day, he goes to a writing course and meets Natasha. She can’t write, but she has the best story ideas and they start working as a tandem. I won’t say what happens next to keep the suspense up and avoid any spoilers, but I liked the plot twist and the ending as well. Very spooky and completely unexpected. Also, the author has a weird fascination with people dying on bicycles, it seems. :)
White Nights, Black Magic - ★★★★
Very cold story, like the Russian winter nights, but full of emotion. I was invested in the long distance love story of the two doctors, and how revenge is a syringe best served cold.
Heartburn - ★★★
Short and sweet, and a very evil story. It took me a moment at the end and then I gasped. What a reveal, and how cleverly executed (pun intended). I enjoyed this one, but it was slightly too short, and a bit underwhelming, except for the very end.
Four Calling Birds - ★★★★
Lovely story about the harsh reality miners were facing during the reign of the Iron Lady. A story about four ladies working as Bingo callers and the change of management that creates all sorts of chaos. Despite this chaos, I saw a son, whose love for his parents and justice is so strong, he is willing to do everything to make things right again.
As a whole collection of short stories, I quite enjoyed Christmas is Murder. As I do with every book that contains multiple stories, I rate them all individually and my final rating is the average rating of them all.
The collection wasn’t very Christmassy and festive as a whole, but it was very atmospheric, cold, spooky, and with a few stories indeed set during the holidays. This is the type of book you would read next to your fireplace, or Christmas tree, wrapped in a warm blanket with a cup of hot chocolate. It has a lot of twists and will keep you entertained until the very last story.
Huge thanks to the team at LoveReading, for sending me a copy of the collection.
Below is a breakdown of my thoughts and ratings for all the stories, and to end on a beautiful note, special credit to Angela Harding, who illustrated the cover. Her artistic style in “October, October” was so beautiful that as soon as I laid eyes on this cover, I could immediately guess who the creator was.
Happy Holidays - ★★★★
A great introduction to Tony Hill and Carol Jordan, although in retrospective, this is the only short story featuring them. I liked the plot and the immediate mystery. The only reason it’s not a 5 star is because I felt the ending was slightly rushed. However, despite that, I loved the mystery, the part where they profiled the killer and the Christmas spirit.
A Wife in a Million - ★★★★★
What an incredible short story that managed to touch on unemployment and what it can make a person do out of frustration. Very fast pace, with an unexpected twist at the very end.
A Traditional Christmas - ★★★★★
Amberley House is a place full of traditions. And when someone wants to change the status-quo, not everyone in the family will allow it. But where tradition comes into place, not all disputes are resolved in a traditional way. The story was spooky, with a twist at the end, and I really enjoyed it.
The Long Black Veil - ★★★★
“Everybody here in Mariott knows where and when Kenny Sheldon died, and most of them think they know why.”
I loved the small town vibe in this story, the atmosphere was intriguing and exciting. It was beautifully crafted into two different timelines, and with a short story, that can be quite hard to achieve, but Val McDermid did it beautifully!
The Girl who Killed Santa Claus - ★★★★
I found this story quite funny and wholesome. The girl knows Santa doesn’t exist, and when a burglar turns up to her house on Christmas Eve, everything escalates. One thing I didn’t expect from this collection of short stories was to make me laugh out loud, but I am so glad it did!
Holmes for Christmas - ★★★★
I was pleasantly surprised to see Holmes and Watson in action, especially with a nod to my lovely Balkans. It was a story inspired by the First World War assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrillo Princip. It was an interesting read and slightly longer than the rest of the stories.
Ancient and Modern - ★★★★★
Wow, this story was something else! The raw emotion and the vivid descriptions blew me away. The emotional love story between Ellie and Alan. And when Alan is killed in a traffic collision, the unfair justice system strikes and brings Ellie so much pain and not nearly enough justice. Then the ultimate plot twist happens and I am so impressed by how the author manages to piece everything together so neatly. This is my favourite short story in the collection so far, without a shadow of a doubt.
The Devil’s Share - ★★★★★
Waterfalls, a barrel of whiskey and a secret lying dormant for 50 years is a hell of a good plot for a story. I enjoyed this one so much, the present and the past meeting in a very powerful way, with great characters. I quite liked the fact that George Orwell was indirectly involved in the story as well, and our character inadvertently helped him finish “1984”. A lovely story with a slightly sad ending that touched my heart.
Ghost Writer - ★★★★★
Intriguing story with a paranormal element. Gavin wants to be a writer, but for the love of God, cannot think of a plot line. One day, he goes to a writing course and meets Natasha. She can’t write, but she has the best story ideas and they start working as a tandem. I won’t say what happens next to keep the suspense up and avoid any spoilers, but I liked the plot twist and the ending as well. Very spooky and completely unexpected. Also, the author has a weird fascination with people dying on bicycles, it seems. :)
White Nights, Black Magic - ★★★★
Very cold story, like the Russian winter nights, but full of emotion. I was invested in the long distance love story of the two doctors, and how revenge is a syringe best served cold.
Heartburn - ★★★
Short and sweet, and a very evil story. It took me a moment at the end and then I gasped. What a reveal, and how cleverly executed (pun intended). I enjoyed this one, but it was slightly too short, and a bit underwhelming, except for the very end.
Four Calling Birds - ★★★★
Lovely story about the harsh reality miners were facing during the reign of the Iron Lady. A story about four ladies working as Bingo callers and the change of management that creates all sorts of chaos. Despite this chaos, I saw a son, whose love for his parents and justice is so strong, he is willing to do everything to make things right again.
December 22, 2020
I expected more from Val McDermid: this is a disappointing collection, somewhat misleadingly marketed as Christmassy. There are a couple that work but most are very predictable.
August 12, 2025
A collection of dark tales, some of them are deliciously twisty.
1. Happy Holidays – A Dr Tony Hill and DCI Carol Jordan story. It’s Bonfire Night (November 5th) and someone has burned a real person rather than a Guy Fawkes effigy on their bonfire. Carol tends to think in straight lines, which is “how most criminals thought,” whereas Tony “has honed his own corkscrew mind till he could see nothing but hidden agendas stretching backward like the images in an infinity mirror.” Together they work out the solution to a complex case.
2. A Wife in a Million – An interesting tale of revenge due to loss of status and lifestyle.
3. A Traditional Christmas – The opening sentence, “Last night, I dreamed I went to Amberley,” is reminiscent of the gothic novel, ‘Rebecca’ by Daphne du Maurier, however, this is a very different tale of a fight over a family estate which was more akin to an Agatha Christie murder mystery.
4. The Long Black Veil – A twisted tale of rape and murder.
5. The Girl Who Killed Santa Claus – A case of mistaken identity.
6. Holmes for Christmas – A Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson tale that changes the course of world history.
7. Ancient and Modern – A couple go on a cycling holiday in the Scottish Highlands and make an interesting discovery. When tragedy strikes ancient justice provides a twist in the tale. Quote: “There was a glorious sunset at his back, smudged bars of scarlet and gold and bruised plum, the colours reflected in the ruffled surface of the gunmetal sea.”
8. The Devil’s Share – Two friends fall out over politics and one of them will commit murder.
9. Ghost Writer – A ghost story with a twist.
10. White Nights, Black Magic – The settings for this dark tale are St. Petersburg, Russia and London, England.
11. Heartburn – A story of revenge on Bonfire Night.
12. Four Calling Birds – This story transports us back to a time when Margaret Thatcher was prime minister of England and the miners were out on strike. In order to do some good one couple come up with an elaborate plan of blackmail.
1. Happy Holidays – A Dr Tony Hill and DCI Carol Jordan story. It’s Bonfire Night (November 5th) and someone has burned a real person rather than a Guy Fawkes effigy on their bonfire. Carol tends to think in straight lines, which is “how most criminals thought,” whereas Tony “has honed his own corkscrew mind till he could see nothing but hidden agendas stretching backward like the images in an infinity mirror.” Together they work out the solution to a complex case.
2. A Wife in a Million – An interesting tale of revenge due to loss of status and lifestyle.
3. A Traditional Christmas – The opening sentence, “Last night, I dreamed I went to Amberley,” is reminiscent of the gothic novel, ‘Rebecca’ by Daphne du Maurier, however, this is a very different tale of a fight over a family estate which was more akin to an Agatha Christie murder mystery.
4. The Long Black Veil – A twisted tale of rape and murder.
5. The Girl Who Killed Santa Claus – A case of mistaken identity.
6. Holmes for Christmas – A Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson tale that changes the course of world history.
7. Ancient and Modern – A couple go on a cycling holiday in the Scottish Highlands and make an interesting discovery. When tragedy strikes ancient justice provides a twist in the tale. Quote: “There was a glorious sunset at his back, smudged bars of scarlet and gold and bruised plum, the colours reflected in the ruffled surface of the gunmetal sea.”
8. The Devil’s Share – Two friends fall out over politics and one of them will commit murder.
9. Ghost Writer – A ghost story with a twist.
10. White Nights, Black Magic – The settings for this dark tale are St. Petersburg, Russia and London, England.
11. Heartburn – A story of revenge on Bonfire Night.
12. Four Calling Birds – This story transports us back to a time when Margaret Thatcher was prime minister of England and the miners were out on strike. In order to do some good one couple come up with an elaborate plan of blackmail.
December 5, 2022
Collection of murder stories, some Christmassy, others not so much. All good stories with some nice twists.
March 15, 2022
I usually love Val McDermid's full length novels but this short story collection didn't quite hit the sweet spot for me. Twelve short stories, all with either a Christmas or wintry setting - there were some that were great and I thoroughly enjoyed, others that were a bit meh and one or two that I either skipped or skim read because they weren't my thing. If you're a die hard fan of short stories then this might well be your book. Having said this, it certainly wouldn't put me off reading anything else by this author, as she is so good.
December 13, 2020
This collection was absolutely excellent! It was my first time reading any Val McDermid and am now looking forward to reading many more of her books. I highly recommend this book!
December 14, 2022
Maybe it's me, but I find these short stories not very satisfying.
December 8, 2022
A good way to start December: with a little Christmas and a lot of murder...
October 9, 2021
This was ok. I feel that Val McDermid is a person teeming with ideas for stories and doesn't always know what to do with them and so someone suggested bunging them into a compilation, irrespective of quality.
The blurb says "chilling" - there was only one with anything living up to that epithet for me. They are mostly a formula of: ease in to story from an oblique angle, deliver the basic plot, build a little tension and then wind it up very swiftly and move on.
At least four of these could have had sufficient development to make full-length stories but VM probably knows this and had other, better concepts for novels. This was a book club choice and I am reasonably content to have cantered through it but I would have preferred something darker and to have been surprised here and there.
The blurb says "chilling" - there was only one with anything living up to that epithet for me. They are mostly a formula of: ease in to story from an oblique angle, deliver the basic plot, build a little tension and then wind it up very swiftly and move on.
At least four of these could have had sufficient development to make full-length stories but VM probably knows this and had other, better concepts for novels. This was a book club choice and I am reasonably content to have cantered through it but I would have preferred something darker and to have been surprised here and there.
December 20, 2022
Review to follow xxx
December 24, 2023
A Santa’s sack full of mostly seasonal short stories.
Some quite spectacular examples of this neglected art form; 5 twinkling stars for these others more predictable and prosaic but not a dud among them.
A great collection to read and as these are by a favourite author a sense of sharing more intimate moments.
Sufficient to ensure anyone new to this author would seek out her novels and enjoy her creative writing. Her characters are remembered long after the stories fade or am I just plagiarising Ghost Writer.
Loved the fun in many of the pieces; typified in Four Calling Birds and the sadness and revenge in the Russian thriller, White Nights, Black Magic.
A great read running up to Christmas but suitable and eclectic enough to read at any time of the year.
Some quite spectacular examples of this neglected art form; 5 twinkling stars for these others more predictable and prosaic but not a dud among them.
A great collection to read and as these are by a favourite author a sense of sharing more intimate moments.
Sufficient to ensure anyone new to this author would seek out her novels and enjoy her creative writing. Her characters are remembered long after the stories fade or am I just plagiarising Ghost Writer.
Loved the fun in many of the pieces; typified in Four Calling Birds and the sadness and revenge in the Russian thriller, White Nights, Black Magic.
A great read running up to Christmas but suitable and eclectic enough to read at any time of the year.
December 23, 2025
A solid 3.5
December 31, 2023
Given that McDermid's key strength is plot, it's perhaps not surprising that this short story collection is not her finest work. Is it a little bit terrible? Yes. Am I also rather enjoying it? Also yes.
November 22, 2024
Не знам какво съм очаквала от книгата. Мислех, че разказите ще са крими вариант на вълшебна Коледа, пълна с чудеса. Оказаха се мрачни, пълни с отмъщение и далече от нормалните за този жанр. Изпълнени са с лесбийски истории и любовно влечение между жени, женско отмъщение и престъпни умове, които замислят злодеяния. Чак се стреснах, че авторката умее да измисля такива престъпления, това си е направо дарба. Това не значи, че разказите ми допаднаха.
Разказът "Весели празници" ми беше най-интересен, понеже си имаше разследване и залавяне на престъпника, а "Момичето, което уби Дядо Коледа" дори може да се нарече леко забавен. Това са и разказите, заради които давам една звезда отгоре. Всичко останало беше изпълнено с тъмнина, зла умисъл, престъпления, от които даже се погнусих. В тях знаем кои са извършителите и проследяваме как точно извършват убийствата и наказват виновниците. Това са обикновени хора, които преживяват катарзис и жадуват отмъщения, включително и един призрак.
Определено не препоръчвам сборника, още повече да се чете за празниците. За мен си беше доста извратен.
Разказът "Весели празници" ми беше най-интересен, понеже си имаше разследване и залавяне на престъпника, а "Момичето, което уби Дядо Коледа" дори може да се нарече леко забавен. Това са и разказите, заради които давам една звезда отгоре. Всичко останало беше изпълнено с тъмнина, зла умисъл, престъпления, от които даже се погнусих. В тях знаем кои са извършителите и проследяваме как точно извършват убийствата и наказват виновниците. Това са обикновени хора, които преживяват катарзис и жадуват отмъщения, включително и един призрак.
Определено не препоръчвам сборника, още повече да се чете за празниците. За мен си беше доста извратен.
December 29, 2022
I don't really read crime and this was my first McDermid. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.
A fairly generous 3 stars, I did like that there was one story with more of a supernatural twist.
The collection is bookended with the weakest stories.
The first story 'Happy Holidays' is the most irritating, two murders one on Halloween and one on Bonfire Night leads the detective to posit the theory that this is an attack on British holidays and the murderer is someone 'racially oppressed, maybe' - this is not the theory that pans out, but so irritated by this tenuous connection (and a huge assumption about what it means to be British).
The last story 'Four Calling Birds' is the reason I don't like this genre at all - casual description of sexual assault, complicated by the perpetrator being the 'hero'. Really poor.
The stories in the middle were ok.
A fairly generous 3 stars, I did like that there was one story with more of a supernatural twist.
The collection is bookended with the weakest stories.
The first story 'Happy Holidays' is the most irritating, two murders one on Halloween and one on Bonfire Night leads the detective to posit the theory that this is an attack on British holidays and the murderer is someone 'racially oppressed, maybe' - this is not the theory that pans out, but so irritated by this tenuous connection (and a huge assumption about what it means to be British).
The last story 'Four Calling Birds' is the reason I don't like this genre at all - casual description of sexual assault, complicated by the perpetrator being the 'hero'. Really poor.
The stories in the middle were ok.
December 5, 2023
It should be illegal for publishers to market something as a Christmas book when it's not a Christmas book.
There are only a handful of stories that take place on Christmas. The other stories are not festive at all, one of them even took place on the summer solstice.
Maybe I would've enjoyed this collection despite it being off topic had the short stories been better. But I have to admit that I skim read quite a lot of them. Would not recommend.
There are only a handful of stories that take place on Christmas. The other stories are not festive at all, one of them even took place on the summer solstice.
Maybe I would've enjoyed this collection despite it being off topic had the short stories been better. But I have to admit that I skim read quite a lot of them. Would not recommend.
November 24, 2020
I read these short stories in separate sittings over the course of about a week and really enjoyed them. Witty, concise and always surprising there’s a varied cast of characters some of whom you would expect (Carol & Tony) and others you wouldn’t (Holmes & Watson).
December 4, 2021
This was so disappointing, the cover and title showed a completely different book to what I actually read. There were no chilling stories here; the only good thing about this was it was easy to read and finished really quickly.
If this was not a book club book I would not have finished
If this was not a book club book I would not have finished
December 19, 2024
3½✨
It feelt like all the books I picked this last part of the year turned out to be short story collections. I can really do with a good enticing novel about now.
Never the less, this one again had some stories I loved, some I liked and others that just wasn't for me.
Happy Holidays - 4 ✨
A quick action packed serial killer mystery.
A Wife in a Million - 4✨
From the view of Detective Sergeant Maggie Staniforth and her lover Sarah, we get to see the total devastation of what can happen when you lose your job.
A Traditional Christmas - 3✨
What's more important? The happiness of those around you, or where you live?
The Long Black Veil - 3✨
Will you kill for your closest friend or family? Will you take the blame for someone else's
The Girl who killed Satan Claus - 5✨
A sweet little story of a very brave girl
Holmes for Christmas - 3✨
I have yet to read Sherlock Holmes, it's been on my TBR forever. So I'm not in a position to know how closely this resembles the true Holmes. But I did find the story entertaining.
Ancient and Modern - 5✨
Such a sad, brutal story.
Is this a tale of justice or murder?
The Devil's share - 3✨
I always wonder what provokes authors to write these short stories. This one takes protecting your employer to a whole new level.
Ghost Writer - 4✨
Enjoyed this little tale about story creation and telling...
White Nights, Black Magic - 2✨
Didn't like this one, too much love to little murder
Heartburn - 3✨
Short and sweet little story about building bonfires
Four Calling Birds - 2✨
Sweet revenge, or maybe not so sweet.
It feelt like all the books I picked this last part of the year turned out to be short story collections. I can really do with a good enticing novel about now.
Never the less, this one again had some stories I loved, some I liked and others that just wasn't for me.
Happy Holidays - 4 ✨
A quick action packed serial killer mystery.
A Wife in a Million - 4✨
From the view of Detective Sergeant Maggie Staniforth and her lover Sarah, we get to see the total devastation of what can happen when you lose your job.
A Traditional Christmas - 3✨
What's more important? The happiness of those around you, or where you live?
The Long Black Veil - 3✨
Will you kill for your closest friend or family? Will you take the blame for someone else's
The Girl who killed Satan Claus - 5✨
A sweet little story of a very brave girl
Holmes for Christmas - 3✨
I have yet to read Sherlock Holmes, it's been on my TBR forever. So I'm not in a position to know how closely this resembles the true Holmes. But I did find the story entertaining.
Ancient and Modern - 5✨
Such a sad, brutal story.
Is this a tale of justice or murder?
The Devil's share - 3✨
I always wonder what provokes authors to write these short stories. This one takes protecting your employer to a whole new level.
Ghost Writer - 4✨
Enjoyed this little tale about story creation and telling...
White Nights, Black Magic - 2✨
Didn't like this one, too much love to little murder
Heartburn - 3✨
Short and sweet little story about building bonfires
Four Calling Birds - 2✨
Sweet revenge, or maybe not so sweet.
January 5, 2023
As a huge fan of Val McDermid - Scotland’s Queen of Crime - I was looking forward to diving into “Christmas is Murder - a chilling short story collection“
I was very pleased to see that fan favourite, clinical psychologist Tony Hill and DCI Carol Jordan, opened the collection with an intriguing story of revenge, requiring Tony’s traditional empathetic investigating. What followed was another eleven absorbing stories, perfect for any age reader and any time of the year, as not all are Christmas related. As with all short story collections, there is usually a mix of good and just ok stories. As it happens I enjoyed all included here, although I was slightly lost with the ‘Holmes for Christmas’ but only due to my lack of knowledge on the historical Scottish Unionist and Nationalist factions.
McDermid has ensured there’s a eclectic variety of relationships, crimes, twists and turns to suit everyone and as a collection of quick reads “Christmas is Murder” is definitely one of the best.
#ChristmasIsMurder - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to LoveReading for my copy of the book in return for an honest review.
I was very pleased to see that fan favourite, clinical psychologist Tony Hill and DCI Carol Jordan, opened the collection with an intriguing story of revenge, requiring Tony’s traditional empathetic investigating. What followed was another eleven absorbing stories, perfect for any age reader and any time of the year, as not all are Christmas related. As with all short story collections, there is usually a mix of good and just ok stories. As it happens I enjoyed all included here, although I was slightly lost with the ‘Holmes for Christmas’ but only due to my lack of knowledge on the historical Scottish Unionist and Nationalist factions.
McDermid has ensured there’s a eclectic variety of relationships, crimes, twists and turns to suit everyone and as a collection of quick reads “Christmas is Murder” is definitely one of the best.
#ChristmasIsMurder - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to LoveReading for my copy of the book in return for an honest review.
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