You guys, it’s Christmas Eve! How did that happen so fast? Anyway in case you’re so on top of your Christmas tasks that you have reading time at the moment and need some suggestions, I’m back with some Not New Christmas books that you could read while you wait for the big day (or at any point while you’re feeling Christmassy really.
A Jingle Bell Mingle by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone*
This is the third book in the Christmas Notch series and sees a one-night stand turn into a trapped together in the snow but also trying to help each other out of their creative blocks situation with Sunny who is a writer with a background in the adult film industry and Isaac, a former boyband member who has been a recluse since the death of his wife. I have a slightly mixed relationship with this series – basically I always like the premise but whether I like the execution is a bit hit or miss. And with this, I really, really wanted Isaac to just get some counselling and talk to a professional about his grief and loss. But if he had done that there would be no tension/conflict in this because so much of the issue in the relationship are to do with his bereavement. But there is some fun banter in this and you can see why they work together as a couple even through Isaac’s issues. So for me it was fun, but patchy.
The Christmas Book Hunt by Jenny Colgan
This is a very bookish novella where Mirren is hunting for a book that her Great Aunt remembers from her childhood, but that doesn’t seem to exist online. Her aunt is seriously ill and so Mirren sets off on a trek around Britains bookish and rare book hotspots to try and track it down. Along the way she keeps running into Theo, who is also search for the same book as her, although she doesn’t know that. This has a romantic subplot, but is more about Mirren’s hunt for the book than that. It’s a quick, sweet read and it’s in Kindle Unlimited at the moment or 99p for non members which makes it the cheapest on this list!
Murder Under the Mistletoe by Richard Coles
This novella is a festive visit to the world of Cannon Clement – it’s Christmas Day and Daniel and his mum are at the Big House for Christmas with a lot of the other villagers when someone drops dead so of course he has to try and solve it. It’s a nice novella to add to the series – and unlike some mystery series novellas it does actually feature a death (rather than someone or something going missing) although it’s definitely a slighter plot that the novels (as you would expect), but if you like the novels, this makes a nice addition to the series. When I read it in January I thought that it didn’t make any difference to your understanding of Champton, but I’ve read the next book since then which references it so it should also be noted that this is definitely a book 3.5 and fits into the series chronology between Murder at the Monastery and Death on Location, so bear that in mind if you haven’t read the rest of the series. I picked this up in the sale in hardback after last Christmas, but it’s out in paperback now.
The Christmas Egg by Mary Kelly
Every year the BLCC have a christmas release or two and this is one from 2019 but actually written in the 1950s. This is set from the 22nd to the 24th of December as Inspector Nightingale and Sergeant Beddowes investigate the death of an old woman in Islington. She’s a Russian princess who fled to Britain at the time of the Revolution and has been living in hiding since, afraid that she will be discovered by her enemies. She had a nephew living with her who appears to have fled, but then turns up again. This is definitely a bit of a different mystery to many in the collection. For all that our vicitim is an emigré princess, it’s got a grittier feel to it and a dark and dismal urban setting. It all turns a bit adventure thriller towards the end as well, with a helicopter involved which definitely makes it feel a bit more modern too.
That’s your lot for now, but in case you still want more, The Anti-Social season was a BotW last year as was Christmas is All Around and both of them are 99p at the moment too, which makes them a bargain!
Happy Reading!
Verity Reads Books (lots of them) 