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laila4343's review against another edition
3.0
As most short story collections are, I felt this was uneven. Four stories, especially Ethel Lina White's "Waxworks," were terrific. For those alone, this would be worth seeking out if you're a Golden Age mystery fan and want some reading specifically for the Christmas season. I'm glad I finally managed to read one of these British Library Crime Classics! I will certainly try another one.
georgey1809's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
3.75
Although it's set around Christmas these short stories could be read all year around. They're short and fun and keep the mind ticking over.
kingarooski's review against another edition
4.0
A fabulous collection of murder mysteries set on or around Christmas, many by known authors and some by those who've fallen into obscurity over time.
paperbacksandpines's review against another edition
3.0
First of all, I have to admit that I'm not the biggest fan of short story collections, especially those written by multiple authors, as they tend to be a mixed bag, IMO. So take my reviews with a grain of salt.
The stories below were also a mixed bag, with me forgetting some of them a day after reading them while others have managed to still stick out a couple weeks on from finishing the book.
"The Blue Carbuncle" by Arthur Conan Doyle. It's hard to go wrong with any Sherlock Holmes story and Edwards's inclusion of it in this story collection sets the book off on the right foot. ****
"Parlor Tricks" by Ralph Plummer - If you appreciate magic tricks, you may like this one more than I did. **
"A Happy Solution" by Raymund Allen - I discovered that the only thing worse than chess is reading about it. **
"The Flying Stars" by G. K. Chesterton - I thought this story was rather ho hum. The only thing that bumped it up to 3 stars was Father Brown's wise words at the end. ***
"Stuffing" by Edgar Wallace - ***
"The Unknown Murderer" by H. C. Bailey - ****
"The Absconding Treasurer" by J. Jefferson Farjeon - ****
"The Necklace of Pearls" by Dorothy L. Sayers - I'd never read a Lord Peter Wimsey story before but I was impressed with both the detective and the story. ****
"The Case is Altered" by Margery Allingham - ****
"Waxworks" by Ethel Lina White - I was impressed by the strength of this female character, written in an era where female protagonists were often portrayed as weak and in need of rescue by a man. Sonia was vulnerable yet strong. The mystery was definitely terrifying. ****
"Cambric Tea" by Marjorie Bowen - I really liked the mystery and suspense of who the poisoner was in this story. *****
"The Chinese Apple" by Joseph Shearing - This was a creepy mystery. I couldn't wait to find out what happened in the end. *****
"A Problem in White" by Nicholas Blake (Cecil Day-Lewis) - I liked the mystery of this story but I did not like how the story ended without me understanding it. The reader is given all of the clues to the assailant(s) throughout the story and the reader has to go back and look for them. Not my favorite way a story ends. ****
The stories below were also a mixed bag, with me forgetting some of them a day after reading them while others have managed to still stick out a couple weeks on from finishing the book.
"The Blue Carbuncle" by Arthur Conan Doyle. It's hard to go wrong with any Sherlock Holmes story and Edwards's inclusion of it in this story collection sets the book off on the right foot. ****
"Parlor Tricks" by Ralph Plummer - If you appreciate magic tricks, you may like this one more than I did. **
"A Happy Solution" by Raymund Allen - I discovered that the only thing worse than chess is reading about it. **
"The Flying Stars" by G. K. Chesterton - I thought this story was rather ho hum. The only thing that bumped it up to 3 stars was Father Brown's wise words at the end. ***
"Stuffing" by Edgar Wallace - ***
"The Unknown Murderer" by H. C. Bailey - ****
"The Absconding Treasurer" by J. Jefferson Farjeon - ****
"The Necklace of Pearls" by Dorothy L. Sayers - I'd never read a Lord Peter Wimsey story before but I was impressed with both the detective and the story. ****
"The Case is Altered" by Margery Allingham - ****
"Waxworks" by Ethel Lina White - I was impressed by the strength of this female character, written in an era where female protagonists were often portrayed as weak and in need of rescue by a man. Sonia was vulnerable yet strong. The mystery was definitely terrifying. ****
"Cambric Tea" by Marjorie Bowen - I really liked the mystery and suspense of who the poisoner was in this story. *****
"The Chinese Apple" by Joseph Shearing - This was a creepy mystery. I couldn't wait to find out what happened in the end. *****
"A Problem in White" by Nicholas Blake (Cecil Day-Lewis) - I liked the mystery of this story but I did not like how the story ended without me understanding it. The reader is given all of the clues to the assailant(s) throughout the story and the reader has to go back and look for them. Not my favorite way a story ends. ****
l1nds's review against another edition
3.0
To use a Christmas analogy, this book is like a half eaten tub of Quality Street - there's a few green triangles and a couple of purple ones, but what you've mostly got is the toffee pennies and strawberry cremes that nobody really likes, even when they've had a few too many port and lemons! Ethel Lena White's story was the standout for me, and of course Dorothy L Sayers and Margery Allingham were good, along with a few others but there was a lot of filler. Always the risk with a book of short stories though.
spacebornfew's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
lareinadehades's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0