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laurabeth9 's review for:
A Christmas Journey
by Anne Perry
This was my absolute first Anne Perry novel so I felt a little bit out of touch. There were characters that had obviously been introduced in previous novels of whom I had no knowledge. The first part of this Christmas novella takes place at Applecross, country mansion as "friends" gather together. This was the most confusing section because of the wide array of unfamiliar characters whose dialogue and storyline are thrown in quickly. We are introduced to Lady Vespasia the lead character, ultimate aristocrat and likely heroine. After going to bed, they all wake up to find a guest has thrown herself over to her untimely death. Soon one woman, Gwendolen is partly blamed and ostracized and the only way she will be able to redeem herself in the eyes of the dinner party and society is to deliver the departed's letter to her mother.
Vespacia decides to take on this treacherous journey with Gwendolen into Scotland finding out more about herself, the victim as well as her friendship. It is in insight into the noble English lifestyle as well as this long ago time. I do wish it had more of a Christmas setting as there was ample availability, and as I listened to it as an audiobook, wished Perry had chosen a female narrator as the majority of the characters and storylines centered primarily on women. I believe this was my first historical holiday mystery and did enjoy that change, anticipating more of Perry's Christmas stories in my future. I do believe I would have rated it to 4 if the characters and storyline had been more explained in the beginning (as the series is set up as a Christmas series and not specified as a continuation of her regular ones).
Vespacia decides to take on this treacherous journey with Gwendolen into Scotland finding out more about herself, the victim as well as her friendship. It is in insight into the noble English lifestyle as well as this long ago time. I do wish it had more of a Christmas setting as there was ample availability, and as I listened to it as an audiobook, wished Perry had chosen a female narrator as the majority of the characters and storylines centered primarily on women. I believe this was my first historical holiday mystery and did enjoy that change, anticipating more of Perry's Christmas stories in my future. I do believe I would have rated it to 4 if the characters and storyline had been more explained in the beginning (as the series is set up as a Christmas series and not specified as a continuation of her regular ones).