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Death at a Christmas Party
A merry Christmas party with old friends. A dead body in the kitchen. A reluctant heroine. Sounds like a recipe for a jolly festive murder mystery!
It is 1928 and a group of old friends gather for their annual Christmas party. The food, drink and goodwill flow, and everyone has a rollicking good time.
When the call of nature forces the accident-prone Percy Pontefract up, in the middle of the night, she realizes she is in need of a little midnight snack and wanders into the kitchen. But she gets more than she bargained for when she trips over a dead body.
Ordered to remain in the house by the grumpy inspector sent to investigate the case, Percy stumbles upon facts about her friends that shake her to the core and cause her to suspect more than one of them of the dastardly deed.
Finally permitted to go home, Percy tells her trusty cook all the awful details. Rather than sympathize, the cook encourages her to do some investigating of her own. After all, who knows these people better than Percy? Reluctant at first, Percy begins poking into her friends’ lives, discovering they all harbor dark secrets. However, none seem connected to the murder…at first glance.
Will Percy put herself and her children in danger before she can solve the case that has the police stumped?
Death at a Christmas Party is Book 1 in the new Percy Pontefract Historical Cozy Mystery Series.
It is 1928 and a group of old friends gather for their annual Christmas party. The food, drink and goodwill flow, and everyone has a rollicking good time.
When the call of nature forces the accident-prone Percy Pontefract up, in the middle of the night, she realizes she is in need of a little midnight snack and wanders into the kitchen. But she gets more than she bargained for when she trips over a dead body.
Ordered to remain in the house by the grumpy inspector sent to investigate the case, Percy stumbles upon facts about her friends that shake her to the core and cause her to suspect more than one of them of the dastardly deed.
Finally permitted to go home, Percy tells her trusty cook all the awful details. Rather than sympathize, the cook encourages her to do some investigating of her own. After all, who knows these people better than Percy? Reluctant at first, Percy begins poking into her friends’ lives, discovering they all harbor dark secrets. However, none seem connected to the murder…at first glance.
Will Percy put herself and her children in danger before she can solve the case that has the police stumped?
Death at a Christmas Party is Book 1 in the new Percy Pontefract Historical Cozy Mystery Series.
151 pages, Paperback
Published December 21, 2022
340 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
About the author
Ann Sutton
29 books45 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 15, 2023
A cute mystery with fun writing!
December 24, 2024
Obviously inspired by Agatha Christie, but unfortunately, it did not hit the same as one of her stories. Im not gonna say this was predictable, but I was definitely able to figure it out faster than the MC. Also, why did the author feel the need to constantly bring up the MCs size and how “large” she was? Seemed unnecessary and didn’t really add anything to the story… the constant talk about her eating and how awkward she was and how she was such a klutz or whatever was just kind of annoying and I just wanted to get back to the mystery part of everything.
2⭐️
2⭐️
September 7, 2023
1928. After a Christmas dinner at the home of the Howard's, the cook, Mrs Barlow, is discovered dead by one of the guests, Persephone 'Percy' Pontefract. Being bored she decides to investigate. Her character was too much of a caricature to be likeable.
A lightweight cozy mystery
A lightweight cozy mystery
August 17, 2023
2.5 really. The plot was a bit superficial and it felt like I was reading a mistery book for kids, which is not bad but definetely not what I expected. Also ir felt odd to be constantly reminded that the main character was big and quirky, I did not laugh at it and it really didn’t add much to the story.
December 19, 2023
Лейди Пърси не е обичайната героиня на класическа криминална поредица. Тя е зряла дама, майка на двама свръхактивни фърфалака, част от британската образователна система с момчешки колежи, с повече от богати форми, които все се опитва да натъпче в малко постегнатата междувоенна мода на бляскавите джази времена. Съпругът ѝ не е лорд, но може би е шпионин, а може и просто да е секретар на някой умерено важен човек, или да не му се прибира много вкъщи, но благородството в кръвта ѝ идва от доста голямото ѝ, и напълно дисфункционално, класическо откачено синьокръвно семейство – клише. А труповете около нея се появяват с любезното съдействие на доста неприятните ѝ приятели – богаташчета, които въртят афери, предателства и криминални схеми по-майсторски и от кралете на подземния свят.
Пърси и нейната готвачка разплитат и най-сложните убийства, докато събарят ценни предмети, чупят мебели и въдворяват пълен хаос и объркване из полицейските и криминалните сили. Мадам Понтефракт е елегантна като спъната кобила на високи токчета, и честно казано – може би малко прилича на такава, но по симпатичен начин. Представете си Джулия Чайлд от прекрасния филм Джули и Джулия – непохватна, твърде голяма за света около нея, но очарователно внушителна и заемаща достатъчно място, за да не бъде пренебрегвана като природната сила, каквато е. Добавете към това неестествено бърза мисъл и абсолютно пренебрегване на опасностите заради невероятно любопитната ѝ натура – и ей ви на едно разкриващо престъпления всякакви торнадо от десета степен.
Това е една кратка засега, много приятна поредица, с много хумор, весели ситуации и чаровни персонажи, истинска криминална комедия с нежни черни краски. Новаторска до известна степен, но определено свежа, неочаквана и разчитаща на шантави обрати. Ан Сътън умее да пише леко, бързо и с усмивка дори за най-тежките теми. Една особена Франи Фишър, каквато не сте и знаели, че ви трябва.
Пърси и нейната готвачка разплитат и най-сложните убийства, докато събарят ценни предмети, чупят мебели и въдворяват пълен хаос и объркване из полицейските и криминалните сили. Мадам Понтефракт е елегантна като спъната кобила на високи токчета, и честно казано – може би малко прилича на такава, но по симпатичен начин. Представете си Джулия Чайлд от прекрасния филм Джули и Джулия – непохватна, твърде голяма за света около нея, но очарователно внушителна и заемаща достатъчно място, за да не бъде пренебрегвана като природната сила, каквато е. Добавете към това неестествено бърза мисъл и абсолютно пренебрегване на опасностите заради невероятно любопитната ѝ натура – и ей ви на едно разкриващо престъпления всякакви торнадо от десета степен.
Това е една кратка засега, много приятна поредица, с много хумор, весели ситуации и чаровни персонажи, истинска криминална комедия с нежни черни краски. Новаторска до известна степен, но определено свежа, неочаквана и разчитаща на шантави обрати. Ан Сътън умее да пише леко, бързо и с усмивка дори за най-тежките теми. Една особена Франи Фишър, каквато не сте и знаели, че ви трябва.
November 13, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 Stars= It was an enjoyable read
POV: Single, third person
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Part of an interconnected series: No (Same main character but different story each time)
Safe or Dark: Safe
I was in the market for a lighthearted, cozy read to break up my "heavier books," and that is what I got. This was a quick mystery read that focused on Persephone "Percy" Pontefract, who decides to become an amateur sleuth after a murder occurs at a friend's Christmas party she was attending. I did have to go back quite often to keep track of who was at the party and their relationships with one another. But that isn't a big deal.
I thought Percy was a fun character, and I really liked her. I loved the fact that she was portrayed as a realistic woman. Too tall, a little on the thicker side, clumsy, and loved snacks. But I didn't need the constant reminder of how her hands and feet were too large. Her size 12 shoe was mentioned on more than one occasion, and I think a casual mention of it once would have gotten the job done.
The story was a quirky, and while it wasn't heavy on the mystery side, the "whodunit" was there. I enjoyed how we got into the mind of Percy and really got to see how she pieced together the possibility of each character having a motive for committing the crime. The side characters are enjoyable too. Percy's two sons, William (the young, loveable one) and Bertie (the older, less affectionate one), and Mrs. Appleby, the Pontefract family cook.
If you want a book that is heavy on the murder, mystery, and gory side, this might not be for you. But if you are looking for something quick, cozy, lighthearted, and fun, I would definitely say to give this book a try. I'm excited to see where the next Percy Pontefract book takes us.
3 Stars= It was an enjoyable read
POV: Single, third person
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Part of an interconnected series: No (Same main character but different story each time)
Safe or Dark: Safe
I was in the market for a lighthearted, cozy read to break up my "heavier books," and that is what I got. This was a quick mystery read that focused on Persephone "Percy" Pontefract, who decides to become an amateur sleuth after a murder occurs at a friend's Christmas party she was attending. I did have to go back quite often to keep track of who was at the party and their relationships with one another. But that isn't a big deal.
I thought Percy was a fun character, and I really liked her. I loved the fact that she was portrayed as a realistic woman. Too tall, a little on the thicker side, clumsy, and loved snacks. But I didn't need the constant reminder of how her hands and feet were too large. Her size 12 shoe was mentioned on more than one occasion, and I think a casual mention of it once would have gotten the job done.
The story was a quirky, and while it wasn't heavy on the mystery side, the "whodunit" was there. I enjoyed how we got into the mind of Percy and really got to see how she pieced together the possibility of each character having a motive for committing the crime. The side characters are enjoyable too. Percy's two sons, William (the young, loveable one) and Bertie (the older, less affectionate one), and Mrs. Appleby, the Pontefract family cook.
If you want a book that is heavy on the murder, mystery, and gory side, this might not be for you. But if you are looking for something quick, cozy, lighthearted, and fun, I would definitely say to give this book a try. I'm excited to see where the next Percy Pontefract book takes us.
June 23, 2024
4.5 stars
Percy is an unusual character in this book. She is quite tall, tends to overeat, has large feet she trips over and is clumsy enough to embarrass herself and her son who is "of an age" to be frequently embarrassed by his mum. Her husband "travels" frequently but he doesn't tell her why or where and it does seem rather fishy. The reader has to wonder what he is really up to. Is he a spy or a philanderer? Or something else entirely? The reader doesn't get an answer to that in this story and neither does Percy. Hopefully we learn more as the series goes forward. And I hope those kids get to transfer to a school closer to home.
I did not solve the mystery before Percy did. There were a number of red herrings and I couldn't pinpoint the guilty. I assumed it wasn't pre-meditated but that was as far as I got.
It was an enjoyable little cozy mystery.
Sex: knowledge of extramarital affairs going on. Nothing graphic.
Language: no
Violence: murder but we just see the aftermath.
Percy is an unusual character in this book. She is quite tall, tends to overeat, has large feet she trips over and is clumsy enough to embarrass herself and her son who is "of an age" to be frequently embarrassed by his mum. Her husband "travels" frequently but he doesn't tell her why or where and it does seem rather fishy. The reader has to wonder what he is really up to. Is he a spy or a philanderer? Or something else entirely? The reader doesn't get an answer to that in this story and neither does Percy. Hopefully we learn more as the series goes forward. And I hope those kids get to transfer to a school closer to home.
I did not solve the mystery before Percy did. There were a number of red herrings and I couldn't pinpoint the guilty. I assumed it wasn't pre-meditated but that was as far as I got.
It was an enjoyable little cozy mystery.
Sex: knowledge of extramarital affairs going on. Nothing graphic.
Language: no
Violence: murder but we just see the aftermath.
December 11, 2024
Her Bladder Screamed and Walter Pulled Her Cracker.
🖊 This was a humorous and split-your-sides funny novel. “Percy woke up to pitch black, her bladder screaming . . .” A screaming bladder is one scary audible sound. Is it? Then there was “the plumbing made loud, guttural sounds like the bowels of a hibernating dragon.” Lots of gut movements – bladder, bowels, who knows what else. Percy was a classless woman; no manners. When “her thoughts tiptoed to the cook,” it was time to give my cat a manicure and a nose hair trim. The cover is attractive. 🗑 Other readers may find this story their cup of tea. It was not for me. Enjoy!
From My Desk in My Private Library at Crystal Lake:
જ⁀🟡 Kindle Unlimited.
▬▬▬▬
20%
✧⋆Excerpt of note:
✯ Oh, you naughty boy!
🖊 This was a humorous and split-your-sides funny novel. “Percy woke up to pitch black, her bladder screaming . . .” A screaming bladder is one scary audible sound. Is it? Then there was “the plumbing made loud, guttural sounds like the bowels of a hibernating dragon.” Lots of gut movements – bladder, bowels, who knows what else. Percy was a classless woman; no manners. When “her thoughts tiptoed to the cook,” it was time to give my cat a manicure and a nose hair trim. The cover is attractive. 🗑 Other readers may find this story their cup of tea. It was not for me. Enjoy!
From My Desk in My Private Library at Crystal Lake:
જ⁀🟡 Kindle Unlimited.
▬▬▬▬
20%
✧⋆Excerpt of note:
✯ Oh, you naughty boy!
🔺 “Percy!” yelled tipsy Tom. “Where’s your hat?” She waved her lonely cracker. “Walter! Pull her cracker!” he demanded.
March 3, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. A lovely simple read that has interesting characters and a main character that is so lovely and engaging to follow on her narrative. A breath of fresh air from the intolerable plot lines of other best selling books might I add.
One thing irked me and that was the need to mention the main characters flaws all the time, like okay we get it she is clumsy but show stick to showing that rather than constantly telling us. I suppose it makes sense in a historical setting where mannirisms had to be more refined otherwise it wasnt really necessary.
I would love to read more by this author as she seems to have great range and especially more of Percy.
One thing irked me and that was the need to mention the main characters flaws all the time, like okay we get it she is clumsy but show stick to showing that rather than constantly telling us. I suppose it makes sense in a historical setting where mannirisms had to be more refined otherwise it wasnt really necessary.
I would love to read more by this author as she seems to have great range and especially more of Percy.
June 26, 2023
Took a while to get into
Not bad for a first book and the last quarter was excellent. I had a lot of trouble remembering who the party guests were and their relationship. Fortunately with Kindle I could quickly find all the references to a name and repeated that as I read until I could see the full picture. I'm looking forward to future adventures of Percy and her family and hope her husband starts paying more attention to her and her boys don't have to go back to boarding school for a few years.
Not bad for a first book and the last quarter was excellent. I had a lot of trouble remembering who the party guests were and their relationship. Fortunately with Kindle I could quickly find all the references to a name and repeated that as I read until I could see the full picture. I'm looking forward to future adventures of Percy and her family and hope her husband starts paying more attention to her and her boys don't have to go back to boarding school for a few years.
January 16, 2025
Excellent starter
Excellent arter to a new series. I throughly enjoyed the read. Percy is a lovely character I really enjoyed her. It's nice to have the star of the story be more human than a lot of herions. She tall and large with unmanagable hair. Her husband is absent for all but the end of the story and you begin to wonder what he's up to. Poor Percy had to spend her holiday without her husband and she ends up having to check out all her friends to see if one of them is a murder.
Excellent arter to a new series. I throughly enjoyed the read. Percy is a lovely character I really enjoyed her. It's nice to have the star of the story be more human than a lot of herions. She tall and large with unmanagable hair. Her husband is absent for all but the end of the story and you begin to wonder what he's up to. Poor Percy had to spend her holiday without her husband and she ends up having to check out all her friends to see if one of them is a murder.
December 28, 2024
Another Cozy Mystery in the 1920s
Captivating tale of mystery in England during the 1920s in the style of Agatha Christie or even Sherlock Holmes. This story takes place throughput the Christmas season funny but thrilling as well. Follows all the mystery writers history of solving a crime. The characters are interesting and intriguing. England is the backdrop of this tale. Quick read that I finished easily in about a day.
Captivating tale of mystery in England during the 1920s in the style of Agatha Christie or even Sherlock Holmes. This story takes place throughput the Christmas season funny but thrilling as well. Follows all the mystery writers history of solving a crime. The characters are interesting and intriguing. England is the backdrop of this tale. Quick read that I finished easily in about a day.
February 20, 2023
Being a big fan of the Dodo character when I seen this pop up on my Amazon unlimited I thought from the preview it sounded interesting, and so glad I did, it was a great booked, loved Percy and her awkwardness and love for her boys, and her adventures side. I really found once I started reading I couldn’t put it down.
Looking forward to the next book on Percy and her adventures.
Looking forward to the next book on Percy and her adventures.
February 29, 2024
This was a fun story, but I feel like there was something missing. I like a bit more intrigue and this seemed to be lacking a bit of that for me. I wish there was a bit more to the clues and the information Percy got in her investigation that gave us more insight on her working theory. It was enjoyable though.
December 11, 2024
I picked this book up at a library sale to add to my Christmas/winter TBR pile. It was okay.. a cozy mystery set in the 1920s with a quirky and accident prone main character, trying to solve a murder mystery amongst her group of friends. It was lackluster in both plot and character development, but still a cute quick read.
December 18, 2024
You never know what you might find in a friend's kitchen.
Percy Pontefract attends a Christmas party with friends. They all made merry, got sloshed, and spent the night with their hosts. Percy goes to the kitchen for a night time snack and trips over the maid's dead body. The murderer has to be one of her friends. An amateur detective is born. Follow Percy as she solves the case.
Percy Pontefract attends a Christmas party with friends. They all made merry, got sloshed, and spent the night with their hosts. Percy goes to the kitchen for a night time snack and trips over the maid's dead body. The murderer has to be one of her friends. An amateur detective is born. Follow Percy as she solves the case.
December 29, 2024
An entertaining first-in-series with a delightful protagonist.
Percy (short for Persephone) is tall - 6’ in fact - which is VERY tall for a woman, especially in 1928. With her size 12 feet, she’s also awkward and clumsy.
So when a murder occurs at a Christmas party she’s attending and she decides to poke around, nobody takes her very seriously. Until she figures out whodunnit, and why.
Percy (short for Persephone) is tall - 6’ in fact - which is VERY tall for a woman, especially in 1928. With her size 12 feet, she’s also awkward and clumsy.
So when a murder occurs at a Christmas party she’s attending and she decides to poke around, nobody takes her very seriously. Until she figures out whodunnit, and why.
December 28, 2022
Death at the Christmas Party
A good story by a good author. I enjoyed reading both of latest publications. Real human emotions and behaviors are portrayed. Real life is not a fairy tale. Those romantic happily ever afters do not exist.
A good story by a good author. I enjoyed reading both of latest publications. Real human emotions and behaviors are portrayed. Real life is not a fairy tale. Those romantic happily ever afters do not exist.
December 29, 2022
Loved Percy!
This book gives Ann Suttons readers a different approach than her Dodo mysteries main character and I love her.If you enjoy entertaining characters, intriguing storyline along with humor then this is a book for you. I am looking forward to the next installment!
This book gives Ann Suttons readers a different approach than her Dodo mysteries main character and I love her.If you enjoy entertaining characters, intriguing storyline along with humor then this is a book for you. I am looking forward to the next installment!
November 26, 2023
2.5. The reluctant amateur detective was fun but I couldn’t get over how many times the MC was described as large and clumsy. I got it. The mystery was fun and I like how she went about gathering information. I may give the next one in the series a try.
April 12, 2024
Cute story. Ending wasn't a huge mystery but the characters were very likable and I enjoyed reading it. One thing I didn't appreciate was how often the main character was made to seem gross/disgusting/foul because she was a larger woman. Sometimes the verbiage was just plain cruel towards her.
April 24, 2024
Not sure... it's odd
Persephone is described in the most unflattering terms... a more unlikely bunch of people to gather and gorge themselves on drink and food before murdering the cook never did meet
Persephone is described in the most unflattering terms... a more unlikely bunch of people to gather and gorge themselves on drink and food before murdering the cook never did meet
December 19, 2024
Cute first in a series. I had trouble becoming attached to the main character who doesn't seem to like herself very much, but also didn't seem to want to change. The murderer was not easily identified, which is always a plus.
April 30, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. In the first few pages I felt sorry for Percy, then as the story developed I admired her. The story was entertaining and kept me guessing about what happened to the cook and if Percy’s husband would ever make it home.
March 12, 2023
Percy Pontefract is a wonderful mystery.
I so enjoyed this book. Had not read Ann Suttons books before, I will definitely read more of them. Can't wait for book 2 in this series.
I so enjoyed this book. Had not read Ann Suttons books before, I will definitely read more of them. Can't wait for book 2 in this series.
Read
June 25, 2023Cute, quick read.
August 16, 2023
I don't see how this qualifies as a mystery.
November 24, 2023
Moves nicely
Moves along nicely but language is extremely simple . Reads like fiction for children. Not continuing with series.
See for yourself though.
Moves along nicely but language is extremely simple . Reads like fiction for children. Not continuing with series.
See for yourself though.
December 20, 2024
Extremely slow paced, and the author spends way too much time trying to build suspense
January 3, 2025
Cute easy mystery for those that love the 1920s.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews