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A Christmas Journey
Readers of Anne Perry’s bestselling suspense novels revel in a world that is all their own, sharing the privileged existence of Britain’s wealthy and powerful elite in West End mansions and great country houses. It is also a world in which danger bides in unsuspected places and the line between good and evil can be razor thin. This new novel features Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould–one of the most memorable characters from the Thomas Pitt series–who appears here as a lively young woman, the ultimate aristocrat who can trace her blood to half the royal houses of Europe.
It’s Christmas and the Berkshire countryside lies wrapped in winter chill. But the well-born guests who have gathered at Applecross for a delicious weekend of innocent intrigue and passionate romance are warmed by roaring fires and candlelight, holly and mistletoe, good wine and gorgeously wrapped gifts. It’s scarcely the setting for misfortune, and no one–not even that clever young aristocrat and budding sleuth Vespasia Cumming-Gould–anticipates the tragedy that is to darken this light-hearted holiday house party.
It’s Christmas and the Berkshire countryside lies wrapped in winter chill. But the well-born guests who have gathered at Applecross for a delicious weekend of innocent intrigue and passionate romance are warmed by roaring fires and candlelight, holly and mistletoe, good wine and gorgeously wrapped gifts. It’s scarcely the setting for misfortune, and no one–not even that clever young aristocrat and budding sleuth Vespasia Cumming-Gould–anticipates the tragedy that is to darken this light-hearted holiday house party.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
107 people are currently reading
1833 people want to read
About the author
Anne Perry
365 books3,387 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 578 reviews
December 25, 2017
This story was the first in what was to become 15 years’ worth of Christmas Stories from the writer, Anne Perry. (So far.) As in her splendidly crafted novels, these stories take place in the British Isles during the Victorian era in the mid-1800’s. This is a time and a place that have always fascinated me, and perhaps due to Dickens, seem to be so well-suited to tales of Christmas.
In this story, Christmas happens only at the end – and it ties in nicely with the objectives and challenges assigned and taken on during this story.
Isobel, out of jealousy and foolishness makes a cruel remark to an acquaintance at a long weekend house party. There are serious repercussions and Isobel is given a chance to expiate those she has wronged, but it entails a long – and hazardous – journey into the wilds of Scotland.
Lady Vespasia does not condone what her friend did, but neither can she turn her back on her. She decides to go with her, and their pilgrimage results in great insights and personal growth for more people than expected.
This is a lovely and enjoyable holiday novella with life lessons we can all learn from.
In this story, Christmas happens only at the end – and it ties in nicely with the objectives and challenges assigned and taken on during this story.
Isobel, out of jealousy and foolishness makes a cruel remark to an acquaintance at a long weekend house party. There are serious repercussions and Isobel is given a chance to expiate those she has wronged, but it entails a long – and hazardous – journey into the wilds of Scotland.
Lady Vespasia does not condone what her friend did, but neither can she turn her back on her. She decides to go with her, and their pilgrimage results in great insights and personal growth for more people than expected.
This is a lovely and enjoyable holiday novella with life lessons we can all learn from.
December 22, 2018
I must admit that I was expecting more of a Christmas setting with this novella, but nonetheless it was still a perfect winters read.
The story opens at a party in early December.
Gwendolen Kilmuir body is found in the lake the morning after the gathering, she had committed suicide after Isobel has made a cruel remark to her the previous evening.
Vowing to make the guilty party pay Omegus Jones and Vespasia journey to Scotland with a sealed letter written before Gwendolen’s death, as they truth will be revealed.
I really liked the 1850’s wintery setting, it certainly evoked a coldness to the story. The plot was engaging enough, I could imagine this being adapted into an hour long TV Special over Christmas.
The story opens at a party in early December.
Gwendolen Kilmuir body is found in the lake the morning after the gathering, she had committed suicide after Isobel has made a cruel remark to her the previous evening.
Vowing to make the guilty party pay Omegus Jones and Vespasia journey to Scotland with a sealed letter written before Gwendolen’s death, as they truth will be revealed.
I really liked the 1850’s wintery setting, it certainly evoked a coldness to the story. The plot was engaging enough, I could imagine this being adapted into an hour long TV Special over Christmas.
December 26, 2020
Anne Perry’s Christmas novellas have a simple short plot each year.
Lady Gwendolyn makes a “heartbreaking” remark of the man that will propose to Lady Isobel at a Britain House Party. The next day, they find she has committed suicide jumping off a bridge into a December freezing river.
They find a “sealed” letter written by Lady Isobel. They say Lady Gwendolyn‘s “insult” was the cause of the suicide. They say she is Obligated to deliver the “sealed” letter to Mrs. Naylor (mother). Her friend, Lady Vespasia travels to support her from turning back before her letter delivery.
The ending is a surprise between a harsh mother-daughter relationship.
Why did Mrs. Naylor previously move far into Scotland from Britain? Why did Mrs. Naylor not attend her funeral? And now why does Mrs. Naylor travel from Scotland back into Britain with Lady Isobel?
Merry Christmas to all.
Lady Gwendolyn makes a “heartbreaking” remark of the man that will propose to Lady Isobel at a Britain House Party. The next day, they find she has committed suicide jumping off a bridge into a December freezing river.
They find a “sealed” letter written by Lady Isobel. They say Lady Gwendolyn‘s “insult” was the cause of the suicide. They say she is Obligated to deliver the “sealed” letter to Mrs. Naylor (mother). Her friend, Lady Vespasia travels to support her from turning back before her letter delivery.
The ending is a surprise between a harsh mother-daughter relationship.
Why did Mrs. Naylor previously move far into Scotland from Britain? Why did Mrs. Naylor not attend her funeral? And now why does Mrs. Naylor travel from Scotland back into Britain with Lady Isobel?
Merry Christmas to all.
December 23, 2008
I thought that the best thing about this book was that it was short. It takes place in mid-19th century high society England - a young girl, Gwendolin, mysteriously drowns during a weekend party and her death is deemed a suicide. The guests ridiculously blame a woman named Isobel for the whole tragedy because of a rude comment she made just before the girl's death - apparently in society England, rude comments are nearly equivalent to attempted murder. Isobel is then sent with a friend on a bizarre "expiation" journey to absolve her guilt so that she is not permanently socially ostracized for her infraction. From there, little happens worth noting. The author spends about 80% of the book describing the harsh conditions these pampered wealthy women have to endure as they journey through the Scottish highlands - we get it, it's cold and wet. I kept expecting something interesting to happen to redeem this book as a mystery, but the "grand revelation" that comes at the end is underwhelming, to say the least. Basically, imagine Jane Austen meets Agatha Christie without the gripping mystery, well-drawn characters, or significant social commentary. Perry is a popular author so maybe this isn't her best...
August 4, 2023
3.5 stars.
This was my first time encountering Lady Vespasia-Cumming-Gould. She is principled, perspicacious, and smart. She is also formidable, convincing Isabel Alvie to travel to Inverness to deliver a letter to a mother whose daughter, Gwendolyn Kilmuir, committed suicide after a particularly cutting and cruel remark Isobel made to Gwen about Gwen’s motives for pursuing a wealthy young man at the same dinner party.
Vespasia motivates, cajoles, and just plain pushes Isobel to find her better self, and keep going on the journey to find Gwen’s mother, despite the weather's increasing harshness and the difficult distance on bad roads.
Vespasia also discovers the reason Gwen decided to end her life, reasons found in an incident years earlier.
This is also the first of a long series of Christmas-based stories set in the world of the Pitts and Monks. Vespasia is intriguing, and I look forward to meeting her older self in the William Monk stories.
This was my first time encountering Lady Vespasia-Cumming-Gould. She is principled, perspicacious, and smart. She is also formidable, convincing Isabel Alvie to travel to Inverness to deliver a letter to a mother whose daughter, Gwendolyn Kilmuir, committed suicide after a particularly cutting and cruel remark Isobel made to Gwen about Gwen’s motives for pursuing a wealthy young man at the same dinner party.
Vespasia motivates, cajoles, and just plain pushes Isobel to find her better self, and keep going on the journey to find Gwen’s mother, despite the weather's increasing harshness and the difficult distance on bad roads.
Vespasia also discovers the reason Gwen decided to end her life, reasons found in an incident years earlier.
This is also the first of a long series of Christmas-based stories set in the world of the Pitts and Monks. Vespasia is intriguing, and I look forward to meeting her older self in the William Monk stories.
December 29, 2020
This story was begun in sadness, as a young woman is found dead, but it becomes a story of pluck and finding courage. This story of two women banding together to do the right thing, difficult or not, was a very enjoyable read.
December 15, 2018
Una muerte inesperada, una presunta culpable que busca el perdón y un viaje imposible, eso es lo que nos encontramos en esta amable historia con moraleja. Una historia de Navidad escrita por la escritora de novela negra histórica que todos conocemos, en una vertiente que aun siendo más amable, también deja traslucir la crítica a la hipocresía social y al juicio sumario colectivo.
Es una novela corta, que se lee rápido, pero que aún así trasluce una moraleja social como toda historia de Navidad que se precie.
No es una novela policial al uso, ya que el misterio no está en la muerte, que es suicidio, sino en lo que hay detrás, en las personas que rodeaban a la difunta en su vida.
Es una novela corta, que se lee rápido, pero que aún así trasluce una moraleja social como toda historia de Navidad que se precie.
No es una novela policial al uso, ya que el misterio no está en la muerte, que es suicidio, sino en lo que hay detrás, en las personas que rodeaban a la difunta en su vida.
October 9, 2009
I found this book a really interesting read.It is set as usual in the Victorian period. Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould attends a house Party with some friends, there is some gossip and some less than friendly emotions going round and when one of the guests - Isobel Alvie - makes a cruel remark to another, that will apparently lead to the suicide of the latter.
As Isobel is shunned and condemned by all except Vespasia the owner of the house as the idea of proposing an expiation journey for Isobel - to take the dead woman's last letter to her mother who leaves in the highland of Scotland - and if she is sucessful everyone will abide by a pact of silence of not speaking of it again nor condemning her socially.
I found the idea of the expiation of a crime very interesting and found myself wanting to know more about it. As Vespasia and Isobel start their journey to find Gwendolen's mother not only is the journey dangerous but is also an emotional dificult one as Isobel will have to tell her part in the tragic events. Vespasia is the character we get to know better, she is a sensible and kind woman (sometimes a bit too kind to be real) of her time who will gain a better knowledge of herself with this journey. And as the journey progresses not only is Isobel's behaviour analysed but they also start suspecting that more things may have been tormenting Guendolen.
If I have a complaint about this story is how short it was, a bigger story would have allowed for more analysis on the character's feelings and the burden of guilt that most of them seem to carry.
Grade: B+
Read
November 6, 2020Dnf 15% - I'm trying to read too many books with Christmas in the title
April 7, 2021
Pues no había leído nada de esta autora hasta ahora que me ha tocado hacerlo por un club de lectura. Tengo que decir que el libro no me ha dejado con la boca abierta pero bueno ya he conocido a Lady Vespasia que había leído por ahí algún comentario y no sabia de donde venía este personaje.
No se trata de una novela policial tal como la conocemos, hay una víctima y todo apunta a un suicidio y se da por entendido que así ha sido, pero lo importante no es realmente ahondar en este hecho como investigación.
La historia es bastante corta y consta de dos partes, en la primera se desarrolla la fiesta entre varios conocidos de la alta sociedad donde se va a desarrollar la muerte y en la segunda parte un viaje de expiación de culpa.
Más en mi blog: https://lecturasdemarichu.blogspot.co...
No se trata de una novela policial tal como la conocemos, hay una víctima y todo apunta a un suicidio y se da por entendido que así ha sido, pero lo importante no es realmente ahondar en este hecho como investigación.
La historia es bastante corta y consta de dos partes, en la primera se desarrolla la fiesta entre varios conocidos de la alta sociedad donde se va a desarrollar la muerte y en la segunda parte un viaje de expiación de culpa.
Más en mi blog: https://lecturasdemarichu.blogspot.co...
May 18, 2021
Iba para las 4 estrellas y se ha quedado en 3 por el final. Para mi gusto este libro no se podía terminar poniendo "FIN" y ya está, se me ha quedado cojo. Me ha faltado algo más de chicha, de explicación, de... algo.
Es muy agradable y sencillo de leer y, aunque la temática no es el misterio (o yo no diría que lo es) te genera cierta intriga. Si te gusta el ambiente de la antigua clase alta con sus fiestas, sus comentarios bochornosos (😂), sus absurdas normas según la posición social y demás, te gustará más.
Me enganchó y me lo leí casi del tirón pero, como dije al principio, me decepcionó el final.
------ ⚠️ SPOILERS DESDE AQUÍ ⚠️ -------
Al principio, pensé que quizá la señora Nayl tuviera un lío con Kilmuir, de ahí el paseo de los dos en el carruaje y el distanciamiento posterior con Gwendolen. ¿Discutieron por eso? ¿Lo mató o simplemente no lo socorrió?
Luego, cuando leí lo de los rumores, pensé que quizá quería proteger a su hija porque sería mejor que fuera viuda que divorciada. Como Vespasia también lo llega a pensar y lo nombra varias veces, pensé que no sería eso ya que nos lo estaban poniendo demasiado fácil a los lectores, muy "delante de las narices". Pero fue eso (con un pequeño cambio que me sorprendió pero tampoco fue una cosa loca).
Cuando llegó el final todo pasó muy rápido. Prácticamente me sentí como si hubiera leído "llegaron a la casa de Omegus y fin". Me habría gustado que la señora Nayl contara algo, fuese la verdad o no (que ya sabíamos cuál era porque se nos insinuó), o que los demás indagaran más sobre lo que dijo ella... No sé.
Es muy agradable y sencillo de leer y, aunque la temática no es el misterio (o yo no diría que lo es) te genera cierta intriga. Si te gusta el ambiente de la antigua clase alta con sus fiestas, sus comentarios bochornosos (😂), sus absurdas normas según la posición social y demás, te gustará más.
Me enganchó y me lo leí casi del tirón pero, como dije al principio, me decepcionó el final.
------ ⚠️ SPOILERS DESDE AQUÍ ⚠️ -------
Al principio, pensé que quizá la señora Nayl tuviera un lío con Kilmuir, de ahí el paseo de los dos en el carruaje y el distanciamiento posterior con Gwendolen. ¿Discutieron por eso? ¿Lo mató o simplemente no lo socorrió?
Luego, cuando leí lo de los rumores, pensé que quizá quería proteger a su hija porque sería mejor que fuera viuda que divorciada. Como Vespasia también lo llega a pensar y lo nombra varias veces, pensé que no sería eso ya que nos lo estaban poniendo demasiado fácil a los lectores, muy "delante de las narices". Pero fue eso (con un pequeño cambio que me sorprendió pero tampoco fue una cosa loca).
Cuando llegó el final todo pasó muy rápido. Prácticamente me sentí como si hubiera leído "llegaron a la casa de Omegus y fin". Me habría gustado que la señora Nayl contara algo, fuese la verdad o no (que ya sabíamos cuál era porque se nos insinuó), o que los demás indagaran más sobre lo que dijo ella... No sé.
December 23, 2017
3 stars.
We have a much younger Lady Vespasia (from the Thomas Pitt series) at a pre-Christmas house party where another female guest was found drowned in the lake. Everyone believe she committed suicide because of some cruel remarks by another female guest. The host then suggests a journey of expiation for that female guest to deliver the news of death to the mother, who lives in north Scotland. Vespasia decides to go as support and we eventually learned the reasons why the woman committed suicide.
This is a much younger Vespasia, already married with children but living very much apart from her husband and considered to be the most beautiful woman in England. We get to know more of her inner thoughts and can see how she will become that indomitable grande dame of London society we see in the Thomas Pitt books.
A thought-provoking novella on how some unthoughtful words can have disastrous consequences and whether we should always look for ways to forgive and forget...
We have a much younger Lady Vespasia (from the Thomas Pitt series) at a pre-Christmas house party where another female guest was found drowned in the lake. Everyone believe she committed suicide because of some cruel remarks by another female guest. The host then suggests a journey of expiation for that female guest to deliver the news of death to the mother, who lives in north Scotland. Vespasia decides to go as support and we eventually learned the reasons why the woman committed suicide.
This is a much younger Vespasia, already married with children but living very much apart from her husband and considered to be the most beautiful woman in England. We get to know more of her inner thoughts and can see how she will become that indomitable grande dame of London society we see in the Thomas Pitt books.
A thought-provoking novella on how some unthoughtful words can have disastrous consequences and whether we should always look for ways to forgive and forget...
December 8, 2018
There is really not much about Christmas in this tale, and not much of a mystery, either. Readers of Anne Perry’s Victorian era books will recognize a character or two in this one. And while the writing is typical Perry, this short novel has little beyond that to commend it. A widow in the upper ranks of society commits suicide after an unkind remark by another party goer. It is decided by others attending the festivities that a letter left to her mother by the dead woman must be delivered to the mother by the lady who caused the suicide. This act expiation would free her of guilt; otherwise she would become a social outcast. But there is more to the woman’s death, and this is the mystery. Not much of a plot and not really a Christmas story.
August 16, 2017
No es una novela típica de misterio policial, porque lo que ocurre es un suicidio y quien investiga las causas del mismo no es la policía, por lo que se hace una novela interesante más que nada por el misterio que encierran los personajes que se encuentran involucrados en la historia: Vespasia, Gwendolen e Isobel... MI RESEÑA COMPLETA AQUÍ:
http://perezosa69.blogspot.cl/2017/03...
http://perezosa69.blogspot.cl/2017/03...
January 13, 2019
An unconventional mystery, but a satisfying one, as a young Lady Vespasia from the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series accompanies another young woman on a difficult trip. An exploration of guilt and redemption, as well as the troubling consequences of the social and economic limitations on women in the Victorian era.
December 4, 2019
Not really a mystery....and not very Christmasy..
December 24, 2018
3.5 stars
December 14, 2021
Oh the problems of the Victorian rich. But really this was a nice little Christmas story. I would read another from the series.... maybe next Christmas.
December 27, 2015
This was a very quick read - more a novella really - I started and finished it on Boxing Day - and read other books as well! It was…interesting, but not gripping. Not sure whether it makes me want to read more Anne Perry or not… I think I would read one more - if it is like this one, I may not read any more, but I have hopes a full-length novel would be more developed.
November 24, 2018
This was my first Anne Perry novel and I thought her writing ability was exceptional. I was a little frustrated with her characters who thought that keeping their word of honor was an unbreakable law yet who were quite cavalier about breaking their marriage vows.
The mystery was pretty interesting but got lost in a gobbledygook of odd ideas about sin and redemption.
The mystery was pretty interesting but got lost in a gobbledygook of odd ideas about sin and redemption.
December 1, 2019
Lol unnecessarily bizarre and only slightly christmassy. Like only a teensy bit.
July 8, 2025
For some reason I thought this was an historical Christmas setting romance, which was ridiculous as the author, Anne Perry, was a renowned writer of historical mysteries, mostly murder mysteries at that! I'm thinking the cover suggests romance not mystery
- what do you think?
It's December 1852 and some of the nobility has gathered at a country house to celebrate the holidays, including a couple of young widows both hoping to secure a new marriage and vying for the same man. also present is Lady Vespasia, whose husband is abroad on business at the moment so she's alone. There is expectation of a marriage proposal being made during the holiday to one of the young widows adding a touch of happy excitement to the proceedings. However, that first night, the selected young widow commits suicide by throwing herself into the lake in the gardens from a bridge, seemingly from a cruel remark made over the post-dinner tea tray by Isobel, the widow losing out on the opportunity. To avert scandal and social repurcussions against Isobel, she is given the opportunity to perform an expiation - a medieval concept of a journey of some difficulty that upon returning will serve to provide redemption to Isobel, and all present swear an oath never to discuss what they perceive led to the suicide should Isobel complete this expiation. What happens after is a journey that turns out to be one of expiation for Lady Vespasia who volunteers to accompany Isobel as well, and also the resolution of a mystery no one at the house party new existed.
This is a very serious theme exploring not just the concept of redemption vs. punishment or imprisonment, but also women's lack of agency, even if blessed with beauty, wealth, stability. The journey here ends up being long, hard, even dangerous, as the two women travel to Scotland to Inverness in early winter, then across to the Scottish West Coast and the remote highlands there to complete Isobel's expiation before returning to England and the house party. I found the concept here of expiation to be interesting, particularly in light of the author's own history, making me wonder if there is a personal side being revealed. I also was caught up vividly by the settings in Scotland, a journey that mostly echoed my own Scottish travel experiences in early June 1976 as I and a travel companion hitchhiked the same route. The descriptions reminded me so of the austere beauty of that landscape.
- what do you think? It's December 1852 and some of the nobility has gathered at a country house to celebrate the holidays, including a couple of young widows both hoping to secure a new marriage and vying for the same man. also present is Lady Vespasia, whose husband is abroad on business at the moment so she's alone. There is expectation of a marriage proposal being made during the holiday to one of the young widows adding a touch of happy excitement to the proceedings. However, that first night, the selected young widow commits suicide by throwing herself into the lake in the gardens from a bridge, seemingly from a cruel remark made over the post-dinner tea tray by Isobel, the widow losing out on the opportunity. To avert scandal and social repurcussions against Isobel, she is given the opportunity to perform an expiation - a medieval concept of a journey of some difficulty that upon returning will serve to provide redemption to Isobel, and all present swear an oath never to discuss what they perceive led to the suicide should Isobel complete this expiation. What happens after is a journey that turns out to be one of expiation for Lady Vespasia who volunteers to accompany Isobel as well, and also the resolution of a mystery no one at the house party new existed.
This is a very serious theme exploring not just the concept of redemption vs. punishment or imprisonment, but also women's lack of agency, even if blessed with beauty, wealth, stability. The journey here ends up being long, hard, even dangerous, as the two women travel to Scotland to Inverness in early winter, then across to the Scottish West Coast and the remote highlands there to complete Isobel's expiation before returning to England and the house party. I found the concept here of expiation to be interesting, particularly in light of the author's own history, making me wonder if there is a personal side being revealed. I also was caught up vividly by the settings in Scotland, a journey that mostly echoed my own Scottish travel experiences in early June 1976 as I and a travel companion hitchhiked the same route. The descriptions reminded me so of the austere beauty of that landscape.
November 23, 2019
I am so glad I found this book on Chirp audiobooks! After reading it, I went to my library and borrowed all of the other Anne Perry's Christmas stories that they had and also bought the most recent one on Kindle.
I used to be a huge fan of Anne Perry's Victorian mysteries. Then, about five years ago, I grew tired of them and took a break. But this one showcases every thing I always liked about her novels: she describes the scenes of upper class Victorian society so well, so like the old PBS Masterpiece Theatre series, I could almost see the characters in the dining and drawing rooms, visualize them in their clothes, hear them with their cutting remarks.
In this story, one of her characters from the Thomas & Charlotte Pitt series, Lady Vespasia Cumming Gould, is featured as a youngish married woman in London society, circa about 1851. She witnesses a verbal exchange between two women at a country house party that leads to one's suicide. The rest of the group at the party determine that the woman who "caused" the suicide must be ostracized, a dire occurrence for an upper class single (actually a widow) woman. The gentleman hosting the house party proposes an alternative, a journey of expiation whereby the woman will take the dead woman's sealed letter, addressed to her mother, to her mother's home in the Scottish Highlands and explain why she was chosen as the emissary. In effect, confessing her part in her daughter's suicide.
Lady Vespasia decides to accompany the woman, Isabel, on the journey. That wasn't an easy offer. It's December, it's the Highlands and the journey will require, at the beginning, trains and horse drawn carriages/traps and, later, journeying on to even wilder areas of Scotland by boat and by pony. In fact, the pair end up almost traversing the whole part of northern Scotland with many place names that I recognized from my own travels. Perry actually lives in that area, near the Black Isle, north of Inverness, so she knows whereof she writes. Her descriptions of it are alternately bone chilling (in a very physical sense) and awe inspiring. I wanted to be there even with the bitter cold.
As another reader points out, there is a slight "cheat" in the story because, although there is a mystery, we aren't fully certain at the end that the mystery was solved. I understand the other reader's frustration but I was willing still to give the book 4 stars as I found it an engrossing story, I cared about the characters and what happened to them, I felt that Perry was truthful about the Victorian code of behavior for the upper classes, consequences for flouting the code. I enjoyed reading about the journey to and through the Highlands although at points it seemed just too much but, then, that is what that kind of journey, a journey of expiation made not because one wanted to but because if one didn't, one would be lost, is. Thinking about expiation, forgiveness and salvation are very appropriate themes at the Christmas season and I thought Perry handled them well.
Will be reading the next one in the series very soon.
I used to be a huge fan of Anne Perry's Victorian mysteries. Then, about five years ago, I grew tired of them and took a break. But this one showcases every thing I always liked about her novels: she describes the scenes of upper class Victorian society so well, so like the old PBS Masterpiece Theatre series, I could almost see the characters in the dining and drawing rooms, visualize them in their clothes, hear them with their cutting remarks.
In this story, one of her characters from the Thomas & Charlotte Pitt series, Lady Vespasia Cumming Gould, is featured as a youngish married woman in London society, circa about 1851. She witnesses a verbal exchange between two women at a country house party that leads to one's suicide. The rest of the group at the party determine that the woman who "caused" the suicide must be ostracized, a dire occurrence for an upper class single (actually a widow) woman. The gentleman hosting the house party proposes an alternative, a journey of expiation whereby the woman will take the dead woman's sealed letter, addressed to her mother, to her mother's home in the Scottish Highlands and explain why she was chosen as the emissary. In effect, confessing her part in her daughter's suicide.
Lady Vespasia decides to accompany the woman, Isabel, on the journey. That wasn't an easy offer. It's December, it's the Highlands and the journey will require, at the beginning, trains and horse drawn carriages/traps and, later, journeying on to even wilder areas of Scotland by boat and by pony. In fact, the pair end up almost traversing the whole part of northern Scotland with many place names that I recognized from my own travels. Perry actually lives in that area, near the Black Isle, north of Inverness, so she knows whereof she writes. Her descriptions of it are alternately bone chilling (in a very physical sense) and awe inspiring. I wanted to be there even with the bitter cold.
As another reader points out, there is a slight "cheat" in the story because, although there is a mystery, we aren't fully certain at the end that the mystery was solved. I understand the other reader's frustration but I was willing still to give the book 4 stars as I found it an engrossing story, I cared about the characters and what happened to them, I felt that Perry was truthful about the Victorian code of behavior for the upper classes, consequences for flouting the code. I enjoyed reading about the journey to and through the Highlands although at points it seemed just too much but, then, that is what that kind of journey, a journey of expiation made not because one wanted to but because if one didn't, one would be lost, is. Thinking about expiation, forgiveness and salvation are very appropriate themes at the Christmas season and I thought Perry handled them well.
Will be reading the next one in the series very soon.
December 28, 2019
My first Anne Perry novel, and I'm impressed!
It's like an Agatha Christie plot, with an entire house-full for a cast of characters. An unexpected death occurs, and fingers soon begin to point among those in their midst. Once a particular person is charged, an option of mercy is granted. But the task appointed, it is not for the faint of heart...
A journey of expiation is presented. In hopes to silence any gossip, the hazardous mission deep into the Scottish Highlands is accepted by the guilty person...
What an intriguing, unique plot! (Seriously, it's better than how I've described it, although I've tried.) Everything was ever-so-Victorian. I loved every moment. I think I'm hooked. Every Christmas season, I'll be reading another of these.
Minimum suggested age to read: 15 and up.
(It is a fairly clean read. A hint of adult topics. Plus, the main plot focuses on a murder/suicide.)
It's like an Agatha Christie plot, with an entire house-full for a cast of characters. An unexpected death occurs, and fingers soon begin to point among those in their midst. Once a particular person is charged, an option of mercy is granted. But the task appointed, it is not for the faint of heart...
A journey of expiation is presented. In hopes to silence any gossip, the hazardous mission deep into the Scottish Highlands is accepted by the guilty person...
What an intriguing, unique plot! (Seriously, it's better than how I've described it, although I've tried.) Everything was ever-so-Victorian. I loved every moment. I think I'm hooked. Every Christmas season, I'll be reading another of these.
Minimum suggested age to read: 15 and up.
(It is a fairly clean read. A hint of adult topics. Plus, the main plot focuses on a murder/suicide.)
November 27, 2018
Don't let the title fool you, this book isn't really about Christmas! It is, however, a pleasant story to spend an evening with if you're a fan of historical mysteries. I read this in a single sitting and have already requested the next two from my local library. It would be hard to describe the plot without giving away the main events of the whole story, but here's the gist: when a group of friends gathers at a country house for a weekend party, one of the guests ends up dead. Our protagonist embarks on a journey for the sake of honor and friendship. It happens to take place around Christmas, but there's very little reference to the actual holiday. Would recommend if you're looking for a quick read with a winter setting.
December 13, 2024
This was included with audible until the end of the year, so I grabbed it for a Christmas season read.
This is a Christmas mystery novella. I have read one story by this author, but both were due to their relation to Christmas honestly. A group of friends are meeting for a long weekend during December. After dinner one night, a very rude comment is made to one of the women about how she’s only interested in the master of the house for his status. Without further thought, everyone goes to bed. However, the following morning, the offended woman is found dead, thrown from the bridge to the icy water below. The hitch here though, is that the bridge was designed so that no one could simply fall. Was she pushed or did she jump?
It is proposed that the guilty party should possibly be forced into a crusade or exile instead of involving the police. If they achieve the job they accepted, all would be forgiven. It would be as if they had survived their term of exile. Naturally, Lady Vispasia, who has absolutely nothing to lose, agrees to accompany them on this journey as a friend. The journey itself is rather harrowing, as they’re going further north during the month of December, but I found the whole exile thing to be pretty odd.
After their journey, the novella wraps up into probably one of the most confusing and infuriating endings ever. They have retrieved the mother of the deceased. The letter they brought her from her daughter detailed more of the situation than they realized, perhaps even pointing the finger at someone other than the accused. Then it just ends with—and I can’t stress this enough as the real ending—“Hell, it’s Christmas! The season of forgiving. Let’s party.”
This is a Christmas mystery novella. I have read one story by this author, but both were due to their relation to Christmas honestly. A group of friends are meeting for a long weekend during December. After dinner one night, a very rude comment is made to one of the women about how she’s only interested in the master of the house for his status. Without further thought, everyone goes to bed. However, the following morning, the offended woman is found dead, thrown from the bridge to the icy water below. The hitch here though, is that the bridge was designed so that no one could simply fall. Was she pushed or did she jump?
It is proposed that the guilty party should possibly be forced into a crusade or exile instead of involving the police. If they achieve the job they accepted, all would be forgiven. It would be as if they had survived their term of exile. Naturally, Lady Vispasia, who has absolutely nothing to lose, agrees to accompany them on this journey as a friend. The journey itself is rather harrowing, as they’re going further north during the month of December, but I found the whole exile thing to be pretty odd.
After their journey, the novella wraps up into probably one of the most confusing and infuriating endings ever. They have retrieved the mother of the deceased. The letter they brought her from her daughter detailed more of the situation than they realized, perhaps even pointing the finger at someone other than the accused. Then it just ends with—and I can’t stress this enough as the real ending—“Hell, it’s Christmas! The season of forgiving. Let’s party.”
December 15, 2022
I sure enjoy Anne Perry’s Christmas stories.
She puts a different spin on her books that make them interesting.
She puts a different spin on her books that make them interesting.
December 13, 2020
Hacía muchísimo que no leía un libro de Anne Perry, me ha sorprendido toda la crítica social inherente en él y que la idea es original; no obstante, no me ha enganchado, ni llamado la atención.
December 23, 2019
This is the second book by Anne Perry that I've read. The plot of this one was more harder to guess (as the first one I read it was obvious from the beginning who the killer was) so I enjoyed it a bit more. It's not really a who-done-it though. It's more that you have to guess why a woman had killed herself.
I really did not like Isobel very much. It seemed she never learned from her mistake. She's very bitter and has a sharp tongue. She likes to make rude remarks and then expects everyone to forgive her. I had hoped she would change throughout the story but it seems she really hadn't.
The book was very different than what I had expected but it was also in a good way I suppose. Most of it was a long journey during the winter. I really don't know if people would keep the wager they had agreed to??
The book in my opinion is not very Christmas like at all.. except you are supposed to forgive people at Christmas. But it did not have a Christmas athmosphere unless you count traveling through deep snow?
I really did not like Isobel very much. It seemed she never learned from her mistake. She's very bitter and has a sharp tongue. She likes to make rude remarks and then expects everyone to forgive her. I had hoped she would change throughout the story but it seems she really hadn't.
The book was very different than what I had expected but it was also in a good way I suppose. Most of it was a long journey during the winter. I really don't know if people would keep the wager they had agreed to??
The book in my opinion is not very Christmas like at all.. except you are supposed to forgive people at Christmas. But it did not have a Christmas athmosphere unless you count traveling through deep snow?
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