Scan barcode
readingbooksinbed's review against another edition
3.0
Cute and short. A great read for the busy season when you just want to enjoy a book.
meagansbookclub's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
A refreshing change from the typical Christmas romance story. This was my first ever of Anne Perry and I dove in without knowing much about her at all. This is from her Christmas book series and A Christmas Gathering is book 17. It felt like an Agatha Christie vibe where it was a murder mystery with clever writing and interesting characters. While it had vibes of AC, it wasn’t developed as deeply and I felt like there were some plot holes and missing character descriptions that would have helped build a better support for the story. However, I didn’t guess the ending and was definitely surprised when the murderer was revealed.
A refreshing change from the typical Christmas romance story. This was my first ever of Anne Perry and I dove in without knowing much about her at all. This is from her Christmas book series and A Christmas Gathering is book 17. It felt like an Agatha Christie vibe where it was a murder mystery with clever writing and interesting characters. While it had vibes of AC, it wasn’t developed as deeply and I felt like there were some plot holes and missing character descriptions that would have helped build a better support for the story. However, I didn’t guess the ending and was definitely surprised when the murderer was revealed.
leighannsherwin's review against another edition
4.0
As Christmas rolls around there will be another Anne Perry novella. Set in a country house the book is part Agatha Christie cozy, part spy thriller. Former head of Special Branch Victor Narraway and his lovely socialite wife Vespasia arrive at Cavendish Hall. Neither is really happy to be there, Vespasia was hoping for a quiet Christmas just the two of them following their misadventures in Jerusalem (I know it took place during another book but it was a few years back). Victor however has a mission to carry out one last hurrah in his career and gets the invite through his wife's connections. His mission is to get doctored blueprints to British submarines in the hopes of unmasking a traitor to the country. He is to make contact with a young woman named Iris. But for Victor the mission brings back painful memories of a failed mission several years earlier that resulted in the death of a young woman. He is desperate to redeem himself and avoid a similar mistake. But on the night he and Iris do their exchange in the orangery, it begins to fall apart. On the way back to the house someone shoots at Victor and the next morning young Iris is found on the floor unconscious in the orangery. The old memories of his previous mission come rushing back. Vespasia feels left out at first and eventually Victor lets her in on both this mission and the failed one years ago. Together they begin to work together to unmask the culprit. Does it have anything to do with the previous events? Or was it a love triangle gone wrong, someone that Victor might've wronged in his long career? This was a decent read. It took me a bit longer than usual because I was too tired to stay up and read late in the night but it had nothing to do with the quality of the book. This one had a bit more Christmassy feel to it than others in the series have and was a good way to try and get into the spirit of the season.
emakay's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
melissadeemcdaniel's review
4.0
Anne Perry’s 17th Christmas novel has Lady Vespasia and her new husband Victor Narraway attending a Christmas house party. Victor is on a missions, and is his typically angsty way, he is haunted by an incident in his past that seems to have some bearing on his present circumstances. Lady Vespasia is uncharacteristically unsure of her bearings in their still new marriage. Lovers of Anne Perry’s novels will be delighted!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
bitesbooksbrews's review
4.0
It has become an annual tradition to read Anne Perry at Christmas! I have to admit, the first 15% I was struggling to get into it, because there were so many characters and a lot of inner monologue. But once I got my bearings, I devoured this in a night. I thought the main characters were sweet, but not cloying. I thought they had a unique relationship, and I liked how they related to one another in mutual love and respect.
More...