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A Christmas Guest
Mariah Ellison, vinegar-tongued Grandmama from the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series, believes Christmas is no reason to celebrate. When the Pitts plan a Christmas vacation to Paris sans hers truly, she cantankerously retreats to the chilly, windswept, provincial Romney Marshes of her daughter's parents, Caroline and Joshua Fielding.
Joshua's cousin Maude Barrington is well-traveled and friendly, but her strangeness and impropriety send Grandmama over the edge. When Maude fails to wake, Grandmama senses foul play. She uncovers truths about Maude and herself.
Joshua's cousin Maude Barrington is well-traveled and friendly, but her strangeness and impropriety send Grandmama over the edge. When Maude fails to wake, Grandmama senses foul play. She uncovers truths about Maude and herself.
193 pages, Hardcover
First published August 29, 2004
88 people are currently reading
1006 people want to read
About the author
Anne Perry
361 books3,375 followersAnne Perry, born Juliet Hulme in England, lived in Scotland most of her life after serving five years in prison for murder (in New Zealand). A beloved mystery authoress, she is best known for her Thomas Pitt and William Monk series.
Her first novel, "The Cater Street Hangman", was published in 1979. Her works extend to several categories of genre fiction, including historical mysteries. Many of them feature recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in 1990, "The Face Of A Stranger".
Her story "Heroes," from the 1999 anthology Murder And Obsession, won the 2001 Edgar Award For Best Short Story. She was included as an entry in Ben Peek's Twenty-Six Lies / One Truth, a novel exploring the nature of truth in literature.
Series contributed to:
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
. Malice Domestic
. The World's Finest Mystery And Crime Stories
. Transgressions
. The Year's Finest Crime And Mystery Stories
Her first novel, "The Cater Street Hangman", was published in 1979. Her works extend to several categories of genre fiction, including historical mysteries. Many of them feature recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in 1990, "The Face Of A Stranger".
Her story "Heroes," from the 1999 anthology Murder And Obsession, won the 2001 Edgar Award For Best Short Story. She was included as an entry in Ben Peek's Twenty-Six Lies / One Truth, a novel exploring the nature of truth in literature.
Series contributed to:
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
. Malice Domestic
. The World's Finest Mystery And Crime Stories
. Transgressions
. The Year's Finest Crime And Mystery Stories
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 372 reviews
December 30, 2018
Mariah Ellison is Grandmama to both Charlotte Pitt and her sister Emma. It’s Christmas and Emma and her husband have gone to France for Christmas. There is no question of spending the holiday with Charlotte and her lowlypoliceman husband. The only other choice is to travel to the sea – to St. Mary in the Marsh, where her daughter-in-law Caroline and her new husband are spending the holiday.
Grandmama is not a favourite of her family and she is rather proud of it. She is cantankerous, irascible; quick to take offense, correct, and deride her family members. She also feels put out because she is being tossed from one household to another like a hot, rotten potato.
No sooner does she arrive at her holiday destination and Maude Barrington shows up. She is a distant cousin of Caroline’s husband and has lived in Africa, Egypt, Persia, and other exotic locales for the last forty years. Her stories during mealtimes are gobbled up as quickly by Caroline and Joshua as their meals. And still they ask for more. Reluctantly, Grandmama also becomes fascinated the Maude’s tales although she will never let on to anyone. Grandmama and Maude also go for walks and she learns that Maude’s joy in nature and everything around her includes not only the glamour of foreign parts, but also here at home.
Grandmama staggered backward and sat down very hard on the bedroom chair, suddenly finding it difficult to breathe. This was terrible. Quite unfair. First of all Maude had arrived, uninvited, and disrupted everything. Now she had died and made it even worse. They would have to spend Christmas in mourning!
Grandmama picks up something in Maude’s bedroom that makes her suspicious. She figures that if her grandson-in-law Thomas Pitt can investigate crimes, so can she. On the pretext of visiting Maude’s family to deliver the sad news personally, she ends up in Maude’s childhood home with the other members of Maude’s family who are gathered for Christmas.
Many things don’t add up and Grandmama is determined to find out why. During the course of her enquiries, Grandmama begins to play a role that feels liberating: she is charming, subtle, careful of her words (even when holding them back nearly chokes her); she is courteous and has smiles and thank-you’s to the staff. (Unheard of!)
I enjoyed this story of personal epiphanies and solving a crime whose roots seethed blackly under the surface of a family for 40 years. As always, Anne Perry’s novels set in the Victorian era of England, are not just mysteries but also psychological studies. I enjoyed this Christmas novella and hope to read one more of her Christmas stories within the next few days.
Grandmama is not a favourite of her family and she is rather proud of it. She is cantankerous, irascible; quick to take offense, correct, and deride her family members. She also feels put out because she is being tossed from one household to another like a hot, rotten potato.
No sooner does she arrive at her holiday destination and Maude Barrington shows up. She is a distant cousin of Caroline’s husband and has lived in Africa, Egypt, Persia, and other exotic locales for the last forty years. Her stories during mealtimes are gobbled up as quickly by Caroline and Joshua as their meals. And still they ask for more. Reluctantly, Grandmama also becomes fascinated the Maude’s tales although she will never let on to anyone. Grandmama and Maude also go for walks and she learns that Maude’s joy in nature and everything around her includes not only the glamour of foreign parts, but also here at home.
Grandmama staggered backward and sat down very hard on the bedroom chair, suddenly finding it difficult to breathe. This was terrible. Quite unfair. First of all Maude had arrived, uninvited, and disrupted everything. Now she had died and made it even worse. They would have to spend Christmas in mourning!
Grandmama picks up something in Maude’s bedroom that makes her suspicious. She figures that if her grandson-in-law Thomas Pitt can investigate crimes, so can she. On the pretext of visiting Maude’s family to deliver the sad news personally, she ends up in Maude’s childhood home with the other members of Maude’s family who are gathered for Christmas.
Many things don’t add up and Grandmama is determined to find out why. During the course of her enquiries, Grandmama begins to play a role that feels liberating: she is charming, subtle, careful of her words (even when holding them back nearly chokes her); she is courteous and has smiles and thank-you’s to the staff. (Unheard of!)
I enjoyed this story of personal epiphanies and solving a crime whose roots seethed blackly under the surface of a family for 40 years. As always, Anne Perry’s novels set in the Victorian era of England, are not just mysteries but also psychological studies. I enjoyed this Christmas novella and hope to read one more of her Christmas stories within the next few days.
January 11, 2023
I went into reading this with a bias against the main character, Mariah Ellison (aka Grandmama) whom I met in the first Charlotte & Thomas Pitt book and thoroughly disliked. But by the end of the book, I was cheering her on. The events evolve very improbably, but the redemptive story is what makes this a standout book for me. Grandmama's introspection and overcoming of pride, even sharing nuggets of wisdom, gives her a unique take on being a detective and solving a murder.
November 23, 2021
Cantankerous old Grandmama sets out to discover if a suspicious death is actually murder or mishap in this Victorian cozy. Not a terrible little mystery, though not diabolically difficult to solve. If you like cynical, grumpy old ladies, this might be an agreeable holiday read for you.
January 27, 2019
Suffering from exhaustion, you decide to take a day off to do absolutely nothing. So what do you do? You pick up a short Christmas mystery for a light read and hope it turns out to be decent. This one cured me!
Old Mariah Ellison is a bit of a bitch. When her granddaughter with whom she lives decides she is going to France for Christmas, Mariah protests in vain. She is packed off to her ex-daughter-in-law's house. Bad tempered and ungracious to the extreme, Mariah is no one's idea of a welcome guest. However, it's Christmas, so Caroline and Joshua kindly agree to take her in.
What nobody reckons is that there is going to be another guest. Maude Barrington is another woman abandoned by her family at Christmas. But with a disposition that is quite the opposite of Mariah's, Maude quickly makes herself welcome at Caroline's house. Obviously, Mariah disapproves of her. But when Maude dies, it is Mariah who deduces murder and sets out to get justice, in the process letting go of her own prejudices.
A Christmas Guest is a short story and the character development of Mariah Ellison in so few pages is quite an achievement. It appears organic and didn't seem overly sentimental either. The mystery itself takes a bit of a backstage and this does not really contain a lot of suspense and thrill, but it's much better than most Christmas mysteries I have read.
The Barrington family is interesting and has long-festering wounds that Mariah decides to open up in her quest for justice. It was easy to spot the killer, but that really wasn't the point of this book. It's more about people making peace with each other and with themselves - except the killer, of course!
Overall, a fun read and I definitely wouldn't scoff at reading more from this series. I just have to be in the mood, though!
Old Mariah Ellison is a bit of a bitch. When her granddaughter with whom she lives decides she is going to France for Christmas, Mariah protests in vain. She is packed off to her ex-daughter-in-law's house. Bad tempered and ungracious to the extreme, Mariah is no one's idea of a welcome guest. However, it's Christmas, so Caroline and Joshua kindly agree to take her in.
What nobody reckons is that there is going to be another guest. Maude Barrington is another woman abandoned by her family at Christmas. But with a disposition that is quite the opposite of Mariah's, Maude quickly makes herself welcome at Caroline's house. Obviously, Mariah disapproves of her. But when Maude dies, it is Mariah who deduces murder and sets out to get justice, in the process letting go of her own prejudices.
A Christmas Guest is a short story and the character development of Mariah Ellison in so few pages is quite an achievement. It appears organic and didn't seem overly sentimental either. The mystery itself takes a bit of a backstage and this does not really contain a lot of suspense and thrill, but it's much better than most Christmas mysteries I have read.
The Barrington family is interesting and has long-festering wounds that Mariah decides to open up in her quest for justice. It was easy to spot the killer, but that really wasn't the point of this book. It's more about people making peace with each other and with themselves - except the killer, of course!
Overall, a fun read and I definitely wouldn't scoff at reading more from this series. I just have to be in the mood, though!
December 19, 2021
Oh, I don't want to be a spoiler, but a Christmas miracle occurs, and one of my favorite Anne Perry villains is kissed by an angel and gets a personality reboot. Rats! Who am I going to despise now?
Other than that, this is a charming story, with snow, decorations, Victorian delights, and, of course, a murder mystery to solve.
I enjoyed the audio book version so much I am going to go back and listen to some of the ones I had previously read.
Other than that, this is a charming story, with snow, decorations, Victorian delights, and, of course, a murder mystery to solve.
I enjoyed the audio book version so much I am going to go back and listen to some of the ones I had previously read.
December 20, 2025
This novella sets the stage with classic Victorian coziness: a country house at Christmas, an unexpected guest, and an undercurrent of tension beneath polite society. It promises a seasonal mystery wrapped in tradition, manners, and quiet unease.
The plot unfolds gently, focusing more on atmosphere and moral reflection than on fast-paced intrigue. As secrets begin to surface, the mystery leans heavily on dialogue, observation, and social nuance. The suspense is subtle rather than gripping, and much of the tension comes from unspoken resentments and carefully chosen words.
While the setting is charming and the period details are well done, the mystery itself feels slight. The revelations arrive quickly, and the resolution doesn’t carry much weight. Characters serve their purpose, but few stand out or leave a lasting impression, making it harder to fully invest in the outcome.
Overall, "A Christmas Guest" is a quiet, traditional holiday mystery that’s pleasant enough but doesn’t offer much depth or surprise. It works as a brief, cozy seasonal read, though it lacks the tension and complexity that make mysteries truly memorable.
The plot unfolds gently, focusing more on atmosphere and moral reflection than on fast-paced intrigue. As secrets begin to surface, the mystery leans heavily on dialogue, observation, and social nuance. The suspense is subtle rather than gripping, and much of the tension comes from unspoken resentments and carefully chosen words.
While the setting is charming and the period details are well done, the mystery itself feels slight. The revelations arrive quickly, and the resolution doesn’t carry much weight. Characters serve their purpose, but few stand out or leave a lasting impression, making it harder to fully invest in the outcome.
Overall, "A Christmas Guest" is a quiet, traditional holiday mystery that’s pleasant enough but doesn’t offer much depth or surprise. It works as a brief, cozy seasonal read, though it lacks the tension and complexity that make mysteries truly memorable.
August 25, 2007
A CHRISTMAS GUEST (Amateur Sleuth-England-1800s) - Ex
Perry, Anne – 3rd Christmas Story
Ballantine Books, 2005 – Hardcover
Grandmama Mariah Ellison has been sent to spend Christmas with her daughter Caroline and actor son-in-law Joshua Fielding. Not only are they at Romney Marshes, a provincial town by the sea, but Joshua's cousin, Maude Barrington arrives. Maude is much traveled, lived in foreign lands and has an enthusiasm for life that displeases Mariah even more than usual. But when Maude is found to have died during the night, Mariah feels something is not right, and decides to find out the answers. But as she learns about Maude and her family, she realizes some truths about herself as well.
*** Ms. Perry is a superb writer. Her descriptions of characters, time and place put you in the story. You feel Mariah's sense of abandonment and displacement, then determination, then realization. While there is a murder involved, it really is the story of Mariah and her self-discovery. I've loved Ms. Perry's previous two Christmas books, but feel this is her best so far.
Perry, Anne – 3rd Christmas Story
Ballantine Books, 2005 – Hardcover
Grandmama Mariah Ellison has been sent to spend Christmas with her daughter Caroline and actor son-in-law Joshua Fielding. Not only are they at Romney Marshes, a provincial town by the sea, but Joshua's cousin, Maude Barrington arrives. Maude is much traveled, lived in foreign lands and has an enthusiasm for life that displeases Mariah even more than usual. But when Maude is found to have died during the night, Mariah feels something is not right, and decides to find out the answers. But as she learns about Maude and her family, she realizes some truths about herself as well.
*** Ms. Perry is a superb writer. Her descriptions of characters, time and place put you in the story. You feel Mariah's sense of abandonment and displacement, then determination, then realization. While there is a murder involved, it really is the story of Mariah and her self-discovery. I've loved Ms. Perry's previous two Christmas books, but feel this is her best so far.
December 30, 2020
After my previous experience with this series, I was weary but this novella turned out to be a good surprise, more along the lines of what I remembered from having read several Charlotte and Thomas Pitt novels years before.
The main character here is Mariah, Charlotte's grandmother. At first sight, she's completely unlikeable, someone you would hate to have to spend Christmas (or any other time) with. She's a bit like the Grinch, or a sort of Scrooge : always criticizing, always turning up her nose at what people say or do, judging everything along the Victorian prejudices. One of her grand daughters married a policeman, another married a Jewish actor (younger than her !), she remembers with shame her own marriage, she's bitter, hurt and would die rather than show it.
This is a murder story, of course, but with psychological analysis and, as a Christmas story, there is a redemption theme. Who would have thought Mariah would investigate on the murder of someone she reproved of ? Who would have thought she'd be able to spot a murder in the first place ? And taking upon herself to investigate, who would have thought she'd jump at the chance to show another side of her personality to people who didn't know her ?
I have a fondness for people that I would love to push down the staircase in real life but make for great interests in written stories. And I love it even better when they are not one sided, but have inner vulnerabilities to explain how they became what they are.
Grandmama inviting herself into a family at Christmas, interrogating suspects without seeming to do so and refraining from snapping at them for the sake of the investigation was a perfect escapism read for the season, with a depth that I always appreciated in Anne Perry's books.
The main character here is Mariah, Charlotte's grandmother. At first sight, she's completely unlikeable, someone you would hate to have to spend Christmas (or any other time) with. She's a bit like the Grinch, or a sort of Scrooge : always criticizing, always turning up her nose at what people say or do, judging everything along the Victorian prejudices. One of her grand daughters married a policeman, another married a Jewish actor (younger than her !), she remembers with shame her own marriage, she's bitter, hurt and would die rather than show it.
This is a murder story, of course, but with psychological analysis and, as a Christmas story, there is a redemption theme. Who would have thought Mariah would investigate on the murder of someone she reproved of ? Who would have thought she'd be able to spot a murder in the first place ? And taking upon herself to investigate, who would have thought she'd jump at the chance to show another side of her personality to people who didn't know her ?
I have a fondness for people that I would love to push down the staircase in real life but make for great interests in written stories. And I love it even better when they are not one sided, but have inner vulnerabilities to explain how they became what they are.
Grandmama inviting herself into a family at Christmas, interrogating suspects without seeming to do so and refraining from snapping at them for the sake of the investigation was a perfect escapism read for the season, with a depth that I always appreciated in Anne Perry's books.
December 4, 2023
I loved this short Christmas mystery
November 24, 2018
In this Anne Perry Christmas novel, Mariah Ellison is sent to spend the holidays with her former daughter-in-law when the granddaughter she lives with travels to France for Christmas. Grandmama is not happy and a difficult person to get along with. After settling into the house in the Romney Marshes, she becomes even more upset at the arrival of an unexpected guest. When this guest is found dead in her bed one morning, Mariah suspects her death is not a natural one. She is determined to investigate this suspected murder, and therein embarks on a life-changing experience. An enjoyable story that brings hope and new meaning to the Christmas season for Mariah.
November 25, 2014
A nice Christmas cozy mystery. The main character Mariah starts of as very unlikable but changes throughout the book into someone you admire. Very short, so the story is not in depth but nice if you want to take a break from some more heavy reading.
December 25, 2016
This was my first Anne Perry novel and I enjoyed it very much. A murder and family secret are unveiled in the setting of the British marshes during Christmas. An interesting page turner with a message of Christmas hope and redemption.
December 26, 2022
I have never read this author before as far as I can remember. I also am not very partial to period pieces because the Victorian mores bore me a great deal of the time. I did however enjoy this because I liked the characters and enjoyed the injection of a mystery along with the self-reflection and discovery that the character made about herself and why she was motivated to do the things she had in her life.
Mariah Ellison, better known as Grandmama in the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series makes an appearance in this bracing story of delight and death. Mariah does not see Christmas as a time to celebrate. Her daughter and son-in-law ship her off to spend the holiday with Charlotte Pitts's parents while they spend the Christmas holiday in Paris. She is miserable because time with the Fieldings is nothing like the cultured life she is accustomed to. When a cousin of Joshua's, Maude Barrington arrives it irks her even more. But when Maude is found dead and is declared natural causes Mariah does not believe so and decides to investigate. This leads her to contact Maude's family which in turn leads to things being revealed that polite society does not countenance.
Really enjoyed listening to this.
Mariah Ellison, better known as Grandmama in the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series makes an appearance in this bracing story of delight and death. Mariah does not see Christmas as a time to celebrate. Her daughter and son-in-law ship her off to spend the holiday with Charlotte Pitts's parents while they spend the Christmas holiday in Paris. She is miserable because time with the Fieldings is nothing like the cultured life she is accustomed to. When a cousin of Joshua's, Maude Barrington arrives it irks her even more. But when Maude is found dead and is declared natural causes Mariah does not believe so and decides to investigate. This leads her to contact Maude's family which in turn leads to things being revealed that polite society does not countenance.
Really enjoyed listening to this.
December 5, 2023
I had not realized that the main character in this novella was a younger Mariah Ellison than I had just encountered in "The Christmas Vanishing". This version of the character is younger, still bitter and angry from her years of abuse by her husband, and her anger at how she lied for years about their marriage.
She must spend Christmas with her daughter-in-law Caroline and Joshua Fielding, Caroline's new, actor husband, as Emily is heading to Paris. Mariah is angry, but there's nothing to do but head out to Romney Marshes, which is windy, cold and grey.
Then, to top things off, Joshua's cousin Maude Barrington comes to stay, as her own immediate relatives have no room at their estate for her. Maude is recently returned from years travelling to Egypt and other interesting places. Mariah resents Maude's presence, but does find Maude's stories fascinating and her love of the countryside moving, despite herself. When Maude seemingly dies of a heart attack, Mariah feels suspicious, and takes it upon herself to inform the Barringtons to do a little detection.
She finds a superficially happy family, but quickly notices undercurrents, and the more she digs, the more secrets she uncovers, leading to a reveal of the murderer, and a somewhat different, calmer, less bitter Mariah by the end.
The murderer wasn't hard to figure out, but I totally enjoyed spending time with Mariah, who goes from infuriated and frustrated, to generous to those left harmed by the revelation of the murderer, and a woman who seems finally on a different emotional path in her life.
She must spend Christmas with her daughter-in-law Caroline and Joshua Fielding, Caroline's new, actor husband, as Emily is heading to Paris. Mariah is angry, but there's nothing to do but head out to Romney Marshes, which is windy, cold and grey.
Then, to top things off, Joshua's cousin Maude Barrington comes to stay, as her own immediate relatives have no room at their estate for her. Maude is recently returned from years travelling to Egypt and other interesting places. Mariah resents Maude's presence, but does find Maude's stories fascinating and her love of the countryside moving, despite herself. When Maude seemingly dies of a heart attack, Mariah feels suspicious, and takes it upon herself to inform the Barringtons to do a little detection.
She finds a superficially happy family, but quickly notices undercurrents, and the more she digs, the more secrets she uncovers, leading to a reveal of the murderer, and a somewhat different, calmer, less bitter Mariah by the end.
The murderer wasn't hard to figure out, but I totally enjoyed spending time with Mariah, who goes from infuriated and frustrated, to generous to those left harmed by the revelation of the murderer, and a woman who seems finally on a different emotional path in her life.
November 12, 2023
Rating 3.5
My first read of an Anne Perry novel, and it was an enjoyable cozy mystery novella. Set at Christmas time in England, Grandmama Ellison is sent to stay with another family member while her daughter and son head off to Paris for Christmas. When an older cousin is sent to stay with her daughter as well, Grandmama decides this is going to be the worst Christmas ever! But when cousin is found dead in bed, and Grandmama believes it is foul play, Grandmama decides to play detective and not only solves the mystery but also discovers the joys of Christmas.
A short enjoyable read set in Victorian England.
My first read of an Anne Perry novel, and it was an enjoyable cozy mystery novella. Set at Christmas time in England, Grandmama Ellison is sent to stay with another family member while her daughter and son head off to Paris for Christmas. When an older cousin is sent to stay with her daughter as well, Grandmama decides this is going to be the worst Christmas ever! But when cousin is found dead in bed, and Grandmama believes it is foul play, Grandmama decides to play detective and not only solves the mystery but also discovers the joys of Christmas.
A short enjoyable read set in Victorian England.
April 11, 2024
This Christmas novella by a favorite author was a fun read. Cantankerous Grandmama Ellison is shuffled off to her daughter‘s home for Christmas and, true to character, complains about everything. However, she meets the eccentric Maude, who also been shuffled off to the same house for the holiday. Change is in the wintry air!
Historical Victorian era mystery. Clean read. Enjoyed it!
Historical Victorian era mystery. Clean read. Enjoyed it!
December 4, 2019
A fun short read
December 30, 2013
Vinegar-tongued Grandmama Ellison, is foisted off to a distant relative's house in the chilly, windswept Romney Marshes when her daughter plans a holiday in Paris with her husband, but without her. It is hopelessly unsophisticated and Grandmama is determined to be miserable and make everyone around her miserable. The Fieldings accept much more graciously than she does them. Then a cousin, Maude Barrington, arrives Grandmama views her as very strange...but begins to like her. Then the next morning she is found lifeless in her bed.
And thus a Christmas tale of murder unfolds that challenges Grandmama to hone her investigative skills. In the course of her snooping, she uncovers some suppressed truths about Maude's family and the circumstances under which she left 40 years or so ago. In the course of this rather charming Victorian story we also see Grandmama changing as she discovers something about herself. 4 of 5.
And thus a Christmas tale of murder unfolds that challenges Grandmama to hone her investigative skills. In the course of her snooping, she uncovers some suppressed truths about Maude's family and the circumstances under which she left 40 years or so ago. In the course of this rather charming Victorian story we also see Grandmama changing as she discovers something about herself. 4 of 5.
December 23, 2021
4.5 Stars! Wow.
When I picked this up at a library sale, I was just grabbing it randomly. I'd heard and seen Anne Perry's name my entire bookish life but had never read anything from her. A festive book is always good to have on hand, after all!
Instead of a simple holiday tale, I found a deeply moving story that somehow managed to thoroughly develop an entire cast of characters with flaws and strengths. The setting was lushly Victorian countryside without an excess of detail and Mariah was both delightful and mature, maturing over the course of the tale, also.
I leave this read with a pointed desire to read the other 18 (?!?!!) novels in the Christmas series she has penned!
When I picked this up at a library sale, I was just grabbing it randomly. I'd heard and seen Anne Perry's name my entire bookish life but had never read anything from her. A festive book is always good to have on hand, after all!
Instead of a simple holiday tale, I found a deeply moving story that somehow managed to thoroughly develop an entire cast of characters with flaws and strengths. The setting was lushly Victorian countryside without an excess of detail and Mariah was both delightful and mature, maturing over the course of the tale, also.
I leave this read with a pointed desire to read the other 18 (?!?!!) novels in the Christmas series she has penned!
December 3, 2017
I love these short novels, all set around Christmas Day in mid-19th century England. This one features Mariah Ellison, grandmother of Charlotte Pitt, and is a heartwarming story of her transition from "old grouch" to one who appreciates life and family. These are so well-written and a delight to read.
December 9, 2018
This was a delightful read. I enjoyed the writing and the story very much. 12/9/2018
July 5, 2018
Although the culprit was very predictable, the story of how and why the murder was committed was enjoyable in this short novel which is Perry's 3rd Christmas Stories book.
I felt like I needed a flow chart to show how Mariah Ellison (Grandmama) was connected with the other characters in the book. Grandmama was staying with her granddaughter Emily and her husband Jack who are going to Paris for Christmas and Grandmama is not invited. Instead, Grandmama is going to stay with her daughter-in-law Caroline and her husband Joshua, who isn't Grandmama's son, Edward who has died.
Once Grandmama arrives at Caroline's she finds out that there is another guest, Maude, who is a cousin of Joshua's. Grandmama is a cantankerous old lady who complains about everything including Maude showing up. Then Maude dies in the night.
Grandmama now becomes a detective. She is off to investigate Maude, her family and why Maude wasn't staying there instead of the Fielding's when she died.
Lots of stuff in a short little book. Try your best to keep all the players straight in this one and you will enjoy it.
I felt like I needed a flow chart to show how Mariah Ellison (Grandmama) was connected with the other characters in the book. Grandmama was staying with her granddaughter Emily and her husband Jack who are going to Paris for Christmas and Grandmama is not invited. Instead, Grandmama is going to stay with her daughter-in-law Caroline and her husband Joshua, who isn't Grandmama's son, Edward who has died.
Once Grandmama arrives at Caroline's she finds out that there is another guest, Maude, who is a cousin of Joshua's. Grandmama is a cantankerous old lady who complains about everything including Maude showing up. Then Maude dies in the night.
Grandmama now becomes a detective. She is off to investigate Maude, her family and why Maude wasn't staying there instead of the Fielding's when she died.
Lots of stuff in a short little book. Try your best to keep all the players straight in this one and you will enjoy it.
December 2, 2021
It is a seasonal delight for me to dip into Anne Perry's Christmas stories each Yuletide season! Each of these holiday stories I read from her always grants me a memorable, iconic plot to remember for years to come.
In 'The Christmas Guest', Grandmama Mariah Ellison sets out to play detective when murder strikes close to home. A woman she had barely met is now dead. As Grandmama travels to inform the woman's family and to give her condolences, she gets the feeling that it was someone from that family who committed the murder. And she will not leave their house until she sniffs them out!
Grandmama may have been an uppity lady in her heyday, but this Christmas is teaching her some lessons in kind-heartedness, and allowing her to open up in new ways she hadn't expected. Plus, she's thrilled to no end by the fact that she's solving a grand mystery. I enjoyed it immensely! I was basically just grasping onto every word to find out what would happen next.
Minimum suggested age to read: 15 and up.
In 'The Christmas Guest', Grandmama Mariah Ellison sets out to play detective when murder strikes close to home. A woman she had barely met is now dead. As Grandmama travels to inform the woman's family and to give her condolences, she gets the feeling that it was someone from that family who committed the murder. And she will not leave their house until she sniffs them out!
Grandmama may have been an uppity lady in her heyday, but this Christmas is teaching her some lessons in kind-heartedness, and allowing her to open up in new ways she hadn't expected. Plus, she's thrilled to no end by the fact that she's solving a grand mystery. I enjoyed it immensely! I was basically just grasping onto every word to find out what would happen next.
Minimum suggested age to read: 15 and up.
November 30, 2022
This was another freebie from Audible that I grabbed. I definitely did not notice what genre it came up under though and thought it was going to be a Christmasy story.
The story follows a grandmother that is being sent away for Christmas, so the daughter (I think) and husband can go have fun elsewhere. It starts out with her being a real hag, so I had assumed the storyline would be ‘A Christmas Story’-esque, but nope! (But also still, kinda, yeah…) A night into her stay at the location she was sent to, there’s a murder! This is actually a Christmas murder mystery.
There are several vague and kind of loose references to someone else doing investigations, so I figured this was part of some kind of series. Otherwise it reads as it’s own thing though. It’s rather short and doesn’t have much in the way of clues or investigation, but it is enjoyable.
The major off thing to me, although it doesn’t really matter, is the choice of a British man to do the audio narration seeing that the main character is an elderly woman.
Personally a 3/5* for me. It’s fine. Not bad. Free is free.
The story follows a grandmother that is being sent away for Christmas, so the daughter (I think) and husband can go have fun elsewhere. It starts out with her being a real hag, so I had assumed the storyline would be ‘A Christmas Story’-esque, but nope! (But also still, kinda, yeah…) A night into her stay at the location she was sent to, there’s a murder! This is actually a Christmas murder mystery.
There are several vague and kind of loose references to someone else doing investigations, so I figured this was part of some kind of series. Otherwise it reads as it’s own thing though. It’s rather short and doesn’t have much in the way of clues or investigation, but it is enjoyable.
The major off thing to me, although it doesn’t really matter, is the choice of a British man to do the audio narration seeing that the main character is an elderly woman.
Personally a 3/5* for me. It’s fine. Not bad. Free is free.
December 12, 2018
Earlier this year, our mystery book club read The Cater Street Hangman and the character that I found least likable was Grandmama. When I found out that Grandmama was going to be the central character in this book and the one doing the detecting, I wasn't expecting to like the book.
As it turned out, I quite enjoyed A Christmas Guest, not so much as a mystery, but for the story of the transformation of Grandmama from a bitter, self-absorbed person to something completely opposite.
With Charlotte and Thomas Pitt off on a Christmas holiday, Grandmama finds herself having to stay with Charlotte's parents. She is not happy about that and decides to be miserable. When a fellow houseguest, Maude Barrington, is found lifeless, Grandmama suspects foul play and decides to relieve some of her misery by playing amateur detective.
As she sets off to investigate, Grandmama at first feigns a warmness for the victim, but is surprised to find that she really did care and admire Maude and wants to find the murder. The reader learns some of Grandmama's backstory, which explains why she behaved as she did.
It is a pleasant mystery for the Christmas season.
As it turned out, I quite enjoyed A Christmas Guest, not so much as a mystery, but for the story of the transformation of Grandmama from a bitter, self-absorbed person to something completely opposite.
With Charlotte and Thomas Pitt off on a Christmas holiday, Grandmama finds herself having to stay with Charlotte's parents. She is not happy about that and decides to be miserable. When a fellow houseguest, Maude Barrington, is found lifeless, Grandmama suspects foul play and decides to relieve some of her misery by playing amateur detective.
As she sets off to investigate, Grandmama at first feigns a warmness for the victim, but is surprised to find that she really did care and admire Maude and wants to find the murder. The reader learns some of Grandmama's backstory, which explains why she behaved as she did.
It is a pleasant mystery for the Christmas season.
December 5, 2020
When Mariah Ellison, aka Grandmama, must spend the Christmas holiday away from her daughter’s home, she is miserable. Consequently, everyone around Grandmama is miserable. So she takes her misery to the out-of-the way, cold marshy area where she is to spend Christmas. Then another woman comes to join the household. She is a cheerful, life-loving person, and Mariah can’t stand to be around her. Nevertheless when this second visitor is murdered, Mariah sets her mind to solve the crime. So as she sleuths, she begins to change her outlook on life. This book is about transformation.
December 10, 2020
This was my third, and favorite, in Anne Perry's Christmas series. All of these books are fast and easy reads, with Ms. Perry's excellent writing skills. In this one, Mariah Ellison, from the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series, takes on the investigation into what she believes to be the murder of Maude Barrington, a woman who has just returned to England after 40 years of living in Africa and the Middle East. In the process of investigating, Ms. Ellison begins to recognize the impact Ms. Barrington has had on her, and begins to notice some shifts in her own rigid personality.
November 4, 2017
Grandmama, while visiting relatives, determines to have a dreadful time. It doesn't work out like that when another guest is found dead.
Grandmama sets out to find the killer.
Cantankerous at first, determined in the end. Grandmama an honorable character, the reason I love Anne Perry books.
The scenes were clear, the view extraordinary. It felt like being near the sea, close to the English Channel.
Great read, encouraging me to read the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series.
Grandmama sets out to find the killer.
Cantankerous at first, determined in the end. Grandmama an honorable character, the reason I love Anne Perry books.
The scenes were clear, the view extraordinary. It felt like being near the sea, close to the English Channel.
Great read, encouraging me to read the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series.
December 20, 2019
I always enjoy Anne Perry's writing, especially the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series. This book is her third in the Christmas series and the main character is Charlotte Pitt's Grandmama, Mariah Ellison. Of course there is a murder / unexpected death however the main focus is on the change in character that evolves for Grandmama during this particular Christmas season.
December 4, 2020
Predictable, emotionally a bit heavy-handed, the historical setting is superficial but this is a mostly harmless book. I liked Mariah better before she became "nice" the waspishness could have been retained. From the way they went on about Maude I thought she was a lesbian or something but sadly she was only crossed in love.
Some internalised misogyny but easy enough to read around.
Some internalised misogyny but easy enough to read around.
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