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book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
After spending a day at a mystery writer's "conference" I appreciate Lee Harris even more. I'm curious to know who s/he really is ... Lee Harris is a pseudonym.
bookhussy's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
connorjdaley's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is Christine Bennett mystery # 5, which naturally I’ve never heard of, so why not pick up a random one for Christmas.
In all seriousness though, this actually does a great job of filling you in on needed information while not being an info dump. Nor does it feel like you’re lacking for not reading the others. I was pleasantly surprised.
This series started in the nineties, and in today’s world would probably be marketed under ‘cozy’, which just seems to mean it lacks the “on screen” violence of most modern mystery/thrillers. The deaths are for the most part less gruesome or in this case, completely unknown until the very end, as the person is missing.
It’s written well, and has a simple style that added to my enjoyability. It being included for free on audible also certainly helped, as I may not have picked it up otherwise being in the middle of a series and all, although I do like the cover a lot.
Christine “Chris” Bennett almost became a nun, now she’s an amateur sleuth instead. Her husband is an NYPD officer, and tries to help, but she does the connecting of dots all on her own. So when one of her favorite priests goes missing on Christmas, she’s pulled back into a blend of her old and new worlds.
Personally a 4/5*. Liked it, but was kind of light on the Christmas.
henrismum's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Audiobook (All of my entries on The Story Graph are audiobooks.)
#5 in series (I started reading this series in January 2023 and I have been committed to this series since July 2023.)
Will I read other installments?Probably Not Maybe Definitely
I'm committed to the series and thanks to an Audible sale, I purchased most of the installments. The Christmas Night Murder is one of two in the series which Libby has.
Comparison to others in series:Not as good About the same Better
A good and solid story set during Christmas week. The Christmas Night Murder is labeled as book 5 but it seem out of order compared to what happened in book four. There were spoilers. I'll have to see if things connect in book six or seven.
The narrator was Susan O'Malley. I love Ms. O'Malley from other readings, but she was a different narrator for this series, good though.
Source: Phoenix Library
#5 in series (I started reading this series in January 2023 and I have been committed to this series since July 2023.)
Will I read other installments?
I'm committed to the series and thanks to an Audible sale, I purchased most of the installments. The Christmas Night Murder is one of two in the series which Libby has.
Comparison to others in series:
A good and solid story set during Christmas week. The Christmas Night Murder is labeled as book 5 but it seem out of order compared to what happened in book four. There were spoilers. I'll have to see if things connect in book six or seven.
The narrator was Susan O'Malley. I love Ms. O'Malley from other readings, but she was a different narrator for this series, good though.
Source: Phoenix Library
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Incest
housedesignerking's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Christine (Chris) Bennet is something of an amateur detective. She lost her parents at fifteen and spent sixteen in St. Stephen’s convent before she walked away from being a nun. Afterward, she met Jack; he became her husband a year later.
It has been seven years since Father Hudson McCormick has been at the convent and its church when he transferred to Wyoming. There is a scheduled Christmas get-together, and after Jack’s family Christmas, they drive to the convent, where the nuns that she spent sixteen years reside; her chosen family. Father McCormick is invited, calls to update Sister Joseph, the Mother Superior, of his departure time, but he never arrives. Eventually, it sparks a mystery for Chris and her husband, whom is a cop.
On pg 29, they turned down a Mrs. Pfeiffer’s offer for coffee, but on pg 31, they took a walk before lunch with the lady and ended up having coffee. On pg 34, Sister Joseph offers them both a cup of coffee and they accept. MC’s husband tells the Mother Superior that cops need at least ‘two cups to kick-start their hearts each morning.’ If they’d accepted Mrs. Pfeiffer’s cup, they’d be on their third. I can only guess that she makes a horrible cuppa.
This is definitely NOT a story for those who are interested in fast paced stories or the majority of crap that gets released today. There were several times that my fiancé and I laughed our butts off. The comedic relief moments were received as intended.
This is a slow story. There are a lot of conversations in this book. Most people I know wouldn’t have the patience to read it, sadly; but I thought it was terrific.
I definitely want to read more of this series by Lee Harris. 5 stars.
It has been seven years since Father Hudson McCormick has been at the convent and its church when he transferred to Wyoming. There is a scheduled Christmas get-together, and after Jack’s family Christmas, they drive to the convent, where the nuns that she spent sixteen years reside; her chosen family. Father McCormick is invited, calls to update Sister Joseph, the Mother Superior, of his departure time, but he never arrives. Eventually, it sparks a mystery for Chris and her husband, whom is a cop.
On pg 29, they turned down a Mrs. Pfeiffer’s offer for coffee, but on pg 31, they took a walk before lunch with the lady and ended up having coffee. On pg 34, Sister Joseph offers them both a cup of coffee and they accept. MC’s husband tells the Mother Superior that cops need at least ‘two cups to kick-start their hearts each morning.’ If they’d accepted Mrs. Pfeiffer’s cup, they’d be on their third. I can only guess that she makes a horrible cuppa.
This is definitely NOT a story for those who are interested in fast paced stories or the majority of crap that gets released today. There were several times that my fiancé and I laughed our butts off. The comedic relief moments were received as intended.
This is a slow story. There are a lot of conversations in this book. Most people I know wouldn’t have the patience to read it, sadly; but I thought it was terrific.
I definitely want to read more of this series by Lee Harris. 5 stars.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
aspygirlsmom_1995's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
amylee218's review against another edition
2.0
I love the idea of an ex-nun married to a cop and solving crimes. It has so much potential. Unfortunately, this book fell short for me. I thought it was a bit repetitive. I was also really bothered by the fact that every single character automatically discounted the allegations of abuse against the priest. The girl making them was troubled, or lying, or confused. Okay, whether or not the allegations turn out to be true (don't want to give spoilers) I think this is a terrible attitude towards victims of abuse. Shouldn't people at least investigate? Entertain the possibility? I mean, nice guys are shown to be abusers every darn day. So yeah, I found it a bit outdated and it frustrated me.
carolsnotebook's review against another edition
3.0
It’s Christmas and Christine, a former nun, is visiting the convent she lived in until she married. A priest she studied under is coming for a visit from his new parish in Wyoming and everyone is looking forward to seeing him again. The priest never arrives and Christine is brought in to search for him.
The book touches on convent life, which I found interesting. It’s an insulated community where secrets can be kept. It also deals with abuse in the Catholic Church, but the way it was approached seemed surprisingly outdated. Yes, this book takes place in the early 90s but still.
Christine is a good character. She’s persistent and honest and loyal. Her husband, Jack, a police sergeant, gives her some help, but she does most of the investigating on her own. I’m not quite sure how she manages to get all the answers and access she does, but people always seem to talk to amateur detectives.
I listened to the audio, which was maybe a mistake. The narrator is rather boring and for a slower-paced story, the combo wasn’t great.
The book touches on convent life, which I found interesting. It’s an insulated community where secrets can be kept. It also deals with abuse in the Catholic Church, but the way it was approached seemed surprisingly outdated. Yes, this book takes place in the early 90s but still.
Christine is a good character. She’s persistent and honest and loyal. Her husband, Jack, a police sergeant, gives her some help, but she does most of the investigating on her own. I’m not quite sure how she manages to get all the answers and access she does, but people always seem to talk to amateur detectives.
I listened to the audio, which was maybe a mistake. The narrator is rather boring and for a slower-paced story, the combo wasn’t great.
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