This is one of Anne Perry's series of Christmas Novellas and was published in 2006. I think she produces one each year. Usually these little books feature someone previously mentioned in her two long series of Victorian crime but I didn't recognize the main characters in this book.
Glad to escape his dreary London flat and a
less-than-satisfying job as church curate, Dominic and his beloved
wife, Clarice, set off for Cottisham where he is to be substitute vicar while the Reverend Wynter is away on a
three-week Christmas holiday.
But as Clarice soon discovers, she and Dominic have much more dire
matters to worry about than what he is to preach on Christmas morning. It turns out that the Reverend Wynter isn't on
holiday at all - and that something very sinister has transpired.
As
a blizzard leaves Cottisham treacherously snowbound and the isolated
village swirls with unsavory secrets, Dominic and Clarice suddenly find
themselves in deadly danger.
A quick read. There are 18 of these Christmas Novellas and I've read 11 of them so several more to look out for.
Over the last two days I've done 3 house viewings. Number 1 was an old house in the village where son lives. The loud noise of the A14 which is about a mile away was a bit too much for me and the small twisting stairs would be hard as I got older.
Numbers 2 and 3 were closer to where I am now
Back Tomorrow
Sue
Book sounds good and hope you find the last ones.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly would not be good to listen to the A.14 all the time you need peace and quiet now. Something will turn up soon.
Hazel c uk 🌈🌈🌈🏡🏡
I lived right beside the A14 back in the 1960's when it was called the A45 very little traffic and nothing at night but now it's non-stop nigh and day since Felixstowe docks got bigger and bigger
DeleteThat sounds like an interesting book, every now and then I read something like that and really enjoy it, perhaps more so because it is only occasionally :-)
ReplyDeleteTake care to keep your sensible head on when viewing, don't rush into anything. The right thing WILL come along eventually and as you said you
could always rent for a few months.
I didn't realise she'd written so many little Christmas Novellas, need a list in my purse of the ones I've read so I can look for the rest
DeleteOld houses always have something going wrong. Avoid if possible.
ReplyDeleteIt even had a cellar! Nice sized garden but the traffic noise was LOUD
DeleteI read her third Christmas novella, A Christmas Guest, for a Zoom book club. I enjoyed it more than I had expected and plan to hunt up a few more.
ReplyDeleteLove the gingerbread house used as your banner photo. Upon looking more closely, I believe it is a ceramic holiday house, probably a detail from your mantel shelf. In any case, I think it is charming.
Good luck with your move. Whenever my husband and I are taking a long drive (not much this year, of course) we marvel at homes and communities built all but on top of busy multi-lane roadways. Not for us, we hope.
Yes you're right it is A Lilliput Lane ceramic called Frosty Morning and on the mantel-piece. It was my Mums and I rescued it from their house after Dad died
DeleteI just finished reading the novel those characters are in it was from one of her very first novels The Crater Street Hangman. He is Charlotte Pitt's former brother in law.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of her Christmas novellas, and you have now caught my interest.
God bless.
Oh so that's why I didn't remember them as its many many years since I read the Cater Street Hangman.
DeleteThank you for the info.
In at least 2 of the properties we viewed, stairs were the REAL issue. In both cases they were so narrow and low of ceiling that it would have been virtually impossible to get any furniture upstairs unless in small pieces!
ReplyDeleteRoad noise would have been an absolute no-no for us too.
It's strange because at son's house which is only round a corner and up the road they hardly hear the A14 at all
DeleteThe A14 is a very underestimated road. The amount of traffic it carries is up there with the M25. I've worked at Felixstowe and Harwich Docks. Fingers crossed for the right property real soon.
ReplyDeleteTrouble with living in Mid Suffolk -difficult to avoid it either way
DeleteSometimes Novellas are just right to read when you are busy and want a quick read. Good luck with your house hunting! It is worth it to be a little picky when you look around because you want to be able to settle in and enjoy your new home!
ReplyDeleteI like moving so it's OK!
DeleteWe found that viewing different sorts of properties helped to clarify what details were important in the final purchase.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely not an old house with a teeny stair case - did that in 1975!
DeleteKeep calm and carry on reading Sue! x
ReplyDeleteI will
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