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pewterwolf's review
2.0
Review Taken From The Pewter Wolf
Jemima Pitt arrives in New York. The year is 1904. She's there to chaperone her friend, Delphinia, across the ocean to marry one of New York's richest men. But when Jemima discovers a secret that could ruin the wedding, she tries to protect her friend.
And it backfires. Soon, Jemima has to prove her innocence in an unfamiliar city...
I requested this from BookBridgr on impulse. Plus, was going through a phase where I wanted to read Christmas reads and was requesting them (this was my third, if I remember correctly) and I thought this would be a light, cozy read.
Which it was. It's a novella that I can imagine fans reading on Christmas Day after Christmas lunch and the Queen's Speech to past the time before the Christmas edition of Strictly Come Dancing or Downton Abbey started.
However, while I liked it, I sense this novella wasn't for me. I love a good cozy murder mystery (remember, I own two DVDs of Murder, She Wrote - DON'T JUDGE ME!), but it was a tad too cozy for my tastes. I feel that this story was aimed for an older target audience rather than someone in their late twenties.
But, it was a different read for me, and I always like to try something new. And while it has started to get me in the mood for Christmas (I hate Halloween so am ignoring that holiday!) and I wanted something fast to read before I dare tackle a beast of a book (which I sense I have reviewed already... hopefully...), this story just wasn't my cup of mulled wine.
Jemima Pitt arrives in New York. The year is 1904. She's there to chaperone her friend, Delphinia, across the ocean to marry one of New York's richest men. But when Jemima discovers a secret that could ruin the wedding, she tries to protect her friend.
And it backfires. Soon, Jemima has to prove her innocence in an unfamiliar city...
I requested this from BookBridgr on impulse. Plus, was going through a phase where I wanted to read Christmas reads and was requesting them (this was my third, if I remember correctly) and I thought this would be a light, cozy read.
Which it was. It's a novella that I can imagine fans reading on Christmas Day after Christmas lunch and the Queen's Speech to past the time before the Christmas edition of Strictly Come Dancing or Downton Abbey started.
However, while I liked it, I sense this novella wasn't for me. I love a good cozy murder mystery (remember, I own two DVDs of Murder, She Wrote - DON'T JUDGE ME!), but it was a tad too cozy for my tastes. I feel that this story was aimed for an older target audience rather than someone in their late twenties.
But, it was a different read for me, and I always like to try something new. And while it has started to get me in the mood for Christmas (I hate Halloween so am ignoring that holiday!) and I wanted something fast to read before I dare tackle a beast of a book (which I sense I have reviewed already... hopefully...), this story just wasn't my cup of mulled wine.
zlibrarian's review
4.0
Set in early 20th-century New York City, she gives us an appealing, smart, engaging heroine, a believable tale of betrayal and greed, and an unexpectedly charming romantic hero. Although the identity of the murderer is rather obvious, the motives and context are what keep the story going, along with its lovely romantic elements. This novella will appeal to both longtime fans of Perry’s detective Pitt, but as a librarian I’d recommend this book to readers interested in historical fiction and intelligent women characters. Believable family drama and interesting observations on the class system and connections between British and American wealth and the ways wealthy families and industrialists maintained social and economic power. Excellent pacing and details that provide a strong sense of atmosphere. One caveat, given with the understanding that I was reading an ARC: it would have been historically accurate to for the characters use the term ‘Negro’ instead of ‘black’, and even the middle and upper classes (yes, they did exist, as many primary sources attest) of African American NYC society of the period did not interact so easily in neighborhoods and other public spaces as suggested in the middle and later chapters of the book. NY was not the South, but certain social and commercial interactions would not have been so readily accepted as depicted in the story -- a flaw that could have been solved with more focused research. The Colored Orphan Asylum riots, during which Black adults and children were murdered, would have been part of NYC’s active political and cultural memory during the period in which the book is set. Aside from that, A New York Christmas is a good read and definitely one to recommend. I’d be very interested in another Perry novel featuring the main characters. An observant, empathetic detective’s daughter and a big-city policeman? I’d gladly follow them through another story!
nursenell's review
3.0
This is a very short book, easily read in one night. I'm not sure how believable the story was but it was good escapist reading.
felinity's review
4.0
An Anne Perry Christmas novella that captures the diversity of the New World while revealing the truth about friendships, misplaced trust and misguided loyalty. If you've read any of her novellas before this will not disappoint, and is a delightful diversion into Pitt's daughter, Jemima, and his effect on her life.
Jemima is acutely aware of society's rules, perhaps especially so she can choose not to follow them, and part of her task as Phinnie's companion is to keep her friend within those rules, but what if those rules might be putting Jemima herself in a stranglehold? How can she protect herself, let alone her status? And what's more important, being ladylike or being honest?
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Jemima is acutely aware of society's rules, perhaps especially so she can choose not to follow them, and part of her task as Phinnie's companion is to keep her friend within those rules, but what if those rules might be putting Jemima herself in a stranglehold? How can she protect herself, let alone her status? And what's more important, being ladylike or being honest?
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
margali87's review
3.0
A charming little crime novel with romance on the side :). I removed two stars because I thought that Jemima, the main character, was a bit too naïve. Also, I guessed who the killer was at the very beginning of the story.
maxandrambo's review
4.0
I love all of Anne Perry's Christmas novels. Reading them has become part of my Christmas tradition. I just wish this one had been longer and the mystery not so quickly solved...I just wanted to keep reading!
leighannsherwin's review
4.0
Anne Perry's Christmas stories have been hit and miss for me. This one I can say is a hit, it had it's flaws but I still enjoyed reading it. Jemima Pitt, daughter of Thomas and Charlotte takes centre stage all grown up. For me this is a big jump as I am currently reading the Pitt series and Jemima is just a very young girl right now for me. But back to the story. Jemima travels to New York to act as a chaperon or companion to Delphinia (known as Phinnie) Cardew, who is about to marry Brent Allbright. Both families are wealthy and powerful and it will be the wedding of the century. Shortly after arriving, Jemima is enlisted by Harley Allbright, older brother of the groom to be to help find Phinnie's long lost mother. Phinnie was abandoned by her mother, Maria Cardew, when she was a baby and her future in laws fear a scandal should Maria turn up at the wedding. During their explorations of the city, Jemima is unfortunate enough to discover the body of Maria Cardew who has been murdered. Making matters worse, Jemima is accused of committing the murder herself and thrown in jail. As the story unfolds, we see Jemima decide that she will have to take matters into her own hands. Coming along to help her is young policemen Patrick Flannery, who also is determined to prove her innocence. While overall the book is very engaging and a sweet touching story, more a romance novel than a murder mystery, it was not perfect. For a novel with Christmas in the title there wasn't much about Christmas, or a feel for the spirit of the season, but I have actually found that to be true in most of Perry's Christmas novellas. The mystery was pretty obvious, though there was a sort of twist at the end. Overall though I did enjoy it and the ending left me wondering if perhaps Perry might be starting a new series soon.
dmtcer's review
3.0
Set in New York City just after the turn of the 20th century, Anne Perry’s Christmas novel A New York Christmas is a saga of sinister betrayal, mystery, hope, and the promise of love.
Jemima Pitt crosses the Atlantic as a companion of young Delphinia (Phinnie) Cardew who is destined to marry the powerfully wealthy son of a New York City high-society family. Jemima experiences discomfort and foreshadowing during the crossing, and the mystery deepens as she and Phinnie embark and join the aristocratic Albright household. Jemima soon finds herself embroiled and accused in a mysterious death. A young police officer believes that Jemima is innocent, and together they delve deeper into the mystery and uncover the truth. It’s a tale of sadness and loss, jealousy and anger, and yet, love and self-discovery take center stage.
http://www.amazon.com/New-York-Christmas-Novel-ebook/product-reviews/B00KAFVNRO/ref=cm_cr_dp_synop?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending#R37YJT8L2G4J8X
Jemima Pitt crosses the Atlantic as a companion of young Delphinia (Phinnie) Cardew who is destined to marry the powerfully wealthy son of a New York City high-society family. Jemima experiences discomfort and foreshadowing during the crossing, and the mystery deepens as she and Phinnie embark and join the aristocratic Albright household. Jemima soon finds herself embroiled and accused in a mysterious death. A young police officer believes that Jemima is innocent, and together they delve deeper into the mystery and uncover the truth. It’s a tale of sadness and loss, jealousy and anger, and yet, love and self-discovery take center stage.
http://www.amazon.com/New-York-Christmas-Novel-ebook/product-reviews/B00KAFVNRO/ref=cm_cr_dp_synop?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending#R37YJT8L2G4J8X