Publication Date: 22nd Oct 2024
Genre: Mystery, Short Story Anthology (Multi-author)
3.7 Stars
One Liner: An eclectic collection
The book begins with an introduction by the editors.
It helped adjust my expectations as I thought this would be a murder mystery.
While the stories do have ‘death’ in some form, the approach is varied and left
to the author’s perspective. The settings are also varied – historical,
contemporary, countryside, city, India, UK, Ireland, etc. Some stories are
stronger than others, which is to be expected in an anthology.
As always, I rated each story individually with
comments written after reading the piece.
How to Commit Murder in a Bookshop by C.
L. Taylor – 3.5 Stars
What happens during a Christmas party at a
bookstore? This is an interesting piece with a bit of chuckle and dry humor.
The approach to murder is definitely different from what’s expected. A decent
start to the collection.
Christmas Yet To Come by Helen Fields –
4 Stars
Set in 1898, the story deals with a pompous but
clever businessman and his Christmas dinner. It is easy enough to guess the
events but the writing keeps you hooked.
What She Left Me by Tina Baker – 4 Stars
The protag arrives at her childhood home after her
mother’s death before Christmas. There’s a lot of trauma and grief to process.
However, there also seems to be something else she needs to do. A heavy story
where death features prominently and a reveal that may or may not be resolved.
Though this is not a mystery, I rate it high for the narration.
The Red Angel by Russ Thomas – 4 Stars
Gary and his girlfriend end up driving back home in
a blizzard. Their arguments have soured things between them but the couple has
a major concern to deal with when they are stranded in the middle of nowhere.
Presented in Gary’s third-person POV, the plot builds slowly and reaches the
final high. Though it is easy to predict for the fans of this genre, the
setting is atmospheric and the narration gripping.
O Murder Night by J. T. Ellison – 3.5
Stars
The Edge House has a history, one, Yeats, the new
owner, wants to use it to raise funds for renovation. However, when tragedy
strikes, the mystery may remain unsolved forever. This is historical fiction
set in Ireland. It is atmospheric and dark.
Christmas Lights by David Bell – 3.5
Stars
This is a painful read of what a parent goes through
when their kidnapped child doesn’t return for years. While it is not a mystery,
it has death, so fits the anthology (according to the foreword).
(TW: kidnapped child)
The Midnight Mass Murderer by Alexandra
Benedict – 4 Stars
Sean takes his aunt/ mom Edie to a small town to
help solve a case. Edie is known for her puzzle-solving talent and helped many
investigations. Can she crack this one too? How will this Christmas end? A
proper murder mystery with clues, police, and some deaths. I’ll have to check
if the Edie is part of any series. Would love to read more books with her.
The Wrong Party by Claire McGowan – 4
Stars
This is a short and funny dangerous story about a
Christmas party and something that goes wrong. Not much detail or backstory but
it is not necessary. The writing has a humorous note, which lightens up the
story and turns it into a semi-farce.
Upon a Midnight Clear by Tom Mead – 3
Stars
This is a standalone mystery with the lead
detective, Joseph Spector, who has a mystery series to his name. The historical
setting, the possibility of a ghost, and the Christmas party are well done.
However, due to the word limit, I believe, the info dump at the end is too
much. I’ll check out the series, though.
Last Christmas by Fiona Cummins – 3.5
Stars
A widowed woman, her daughter, and teeny
granddaughter go to their family’s favorite hotel for Christmas to follow the
same tradition. However, this one leads to interesting developments. A nice
story with a mellowed narration; suits the main character.
The Naughty List by Sam Carrington – 4
Stars
Joseph Snow gets an email about being on the Naughty
List. Is it a prank, scam, or something sinister? This is more of a thriller
than a cozy mystery. It sustains the suspense with enough tension and delivers
a strong ending.
Indian Winter by Vaseem Khan – 4 Stars
A classic locked room mystery featuring Inspector
Persis Wadia of the Malabar House series (I need to read it). How did the
sixty-year-old Harriet die in a locked room? Who killed her, and why? The
mystery is kept simple which works for the word count. The writing style is fun
to read.
Postmarked Murder by Susi Holliday – 3.5
Stars
What happens when a Christmas card comes with
something extra? Tilly knows what it is but she has some decisions to make.
Well, I like the story and the tone, though I wanted a little more at the end.
Frostbite by Samantha Hayes – 4 Stars
Snow, isolated cabin, and a blood trial do make a
good start for this genre. Ellen might just find something after all! Well!
Another thriller-ish story with death during Christmas. The themes are
predictable but I like the ending.
A Deadly Gift by Angela Clarke – 4 Stars
A locked room mystery where Miriam has to solve the
case before she gets arrested. The progress is slow but steady with teeny bits
of chuckles thrown into the mix. And there’s a surprise too! Really enjoyed
this one.
Secret Santa by Liz Mistry – 4 Stars
What happens when Gary’s determination to not mess
up the Secret Santa gift brings more trouble? Told from Gary’s third-person
POV, we see a range of emotions and thoughts, leading to the finale. This reads
like a semi-thriller. A good one.
Marley’s Ghost by Sarah Hilary – 4 Stars
Ninna and Kim go to visit her family for Christmas.
It sure would be fun. Right? This is a twisty story but also straightforward.
It rests on Ninna’s shoulders and Kim’s eyes. I like it.
Icarus by Belinda Bauer – 2 Stars
A super short story about a statue and toxic
relationships. This was too short to feel anything for anyone. Wonder why they
put this at the end.
To summarize, Death Comes at Christmas combines cozy
mystery, suspense, thriller, and slow-burn narratives to create a collection of
stories where a death occurs during Christmas. Not all of them have a
resolution. Read no more than one or two per day to get the maximum enjoyment
out of the book.
The rating averaged 3.69, a decent number for an
anthology with as many stories. The author bios are provided at the end.
Thank you, Edelweiss+ and Titan Books, for
eARC.
