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welkinvault's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Very cosy mystery.
judyward's review
3.0
A mystery book in my stocking. Oh my! Someone knows me very well and I suspect that it wasn't Santa. Who wouldn't want to be the substitute vicar for three weeks in the village of Cottisham over Christmas? Eager to leave both London and his unsatisfying job as a curate for at least the holidays, Father Dominic and his wife, Clarice, are initially charmed by the snowy village that looks like a Victorian picture post card, by the friendly and welcoming residents of the village, and by the charming vicarage. But is nothing sacred? Clarice discovers the body of Reverend Wynter, the elderly vicar who was supposed to be "on vacation", hidden in the cellar and then, of course, a blizzard isolates the village. Let the yuletide festivities begin. In honor of the book and the season, I read this novella while sitting in the lobby of the resort in Florida where I went to unwind from Christmas and welcome in the New Year. But, of course, my chair was directly in front of the massive Christmas tree which I thought was a nice way to spend an afternoon.
kdferrin's review
2.0
Nothing says Merry Christmas like murder, theft, lies, adultery and blackmail! I really liked Anne Perry's [b:William Monk Novels|583883|The Face of a Stranger (William Monk Novels)|Anne Perry|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71TR64DHGXL._SL75_.gif|6440293] but this was really, really weak. It felt like she was just going through the motions to fulfil her obligations to her publisher to produce a Christmas novel.
tschmitty's review
3.0
Not my normal genre, but it was a fine read. It was fun to keep guessing and the country village setting had it's charm.
melissasbookshelf's review
4.0
One of Anne Perry's more interesting and intriguing characters is Dominic Corde who was married to Charlotte's sister before she died. Charlotte herself had a crush on Dominic and he was something of a playboy until he drastically changed his life and became a vicar.
In this case, Dominic and his new wife have been asked to fill in for a vicar who is on holiday at Christmas time. They grow to love the town in the short time they are there, but everything changes when the vicar who is supposed to be on holiday is found dead in his basement. Dominic and Clarice work to figure out who among their new parishioners could have murdered their beloved vicar.
Enjoyed reading about Dominic again and loved listening to the audiobook version of this story.
In this case, Dominic and his new wife have been asked to fill in for a vicar who is on holiday at Christmas time. They grow to love the town in the short time they are there, but everything changes when the vicar who is supposed to be on holiday is found dead in his basement. Dominic and Clarice work to figure out who among their new parishioners could have murdered their beloved vicar.
Enjoyed reading about Dominic again and loved listening to the audiobook version of this story.
plantbirdwoman's review against another edition
3.0
This is the book selected for reading by my library mystery book group. It's probably not one I would have chosen on my own, although I am a fan of Anne Perry. I have long loved and followed the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt and the William Monk series. This is a story of another couple in the tradition of those two series. This time it is a vicar, Dominic Corde, familiar from the first Charlotte and Thomas book, "The Cater Street Hangman," and his wife, Clarice. This couple shares many of the same characteristics of those earlier couples and so they seem very familiar, although this is the first one of their tales I've read.
This is a very short novel or a very long short story. I finished it in one sitting on a Saturday afternoon. I wore a sweater the whole time I was reading, as the descriptions of the winter landscape made me cold.
Dominic is chosen by the bishop to take over for an old vicar who has gone on an end-of-the-year vacation, just at Christmas-time. It is a welcome assignment for Dominic and Clarice, but then Clarice discovers that the old vicar did not really go on vacation. There is a mystery to be solved and the couple determines to find the answer.
This is a minor entry in the Perry repetoire but it carries all the hallmarks - the attention to details, the appreciation of homely virtues and the everyday chores that were necessary to the running of a house, and the compassionate humanity of the characters. She excels at describing settings and interpersonal relationships.
This is a very short novel or a very long short story. I finished it in one sitting on a Saturday afternoon. I wore a sweater the whole time I was reading, as the descriptions of the winter landscape made me cold.
Dominic is chosen by the bishop to take over for an old vicar who has gone on an end-of-the-year vacation, just at Christmas-time. It is a welcome assignment for Dominic and Clarice, but then Clarice discovers that the old vicar did not really go on vacation. There is a mystery to be solved and the couple determines to find the answer.
This is a minor entry in the Perry repetoire but it carries all the hallmarks - the attention to details, the appreciation of homely virtues and the everyday chores that were necessary to the running of a house, and the compassionate humanity of the characters. She excels at describing settings and interpersonal relationships.
samirakatherine's review against another edition
2.0
This was very disappointing compared to Anne Perry's other novels, lacking both depth and nuance.
tien's review against another edition
3.0
Very easy cozy mystery read. A simple, feel good type of read (in tune with its Christmas atmosphere).
If you do pick up this book, do not expect a full blown mystery novel. As stated above, just relax and don't think too hard.
If you do pick up this book, do not expect a full blown mystery novel. As stated above, just relax and don't think too hard.