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abibliofob's review
3.0
I bought this christmas story book only because of Graham Bracks Josef Slonský mystery. Sadly I did not like the other entries, but that could be my taste. Sadly the books about my favorite Prague policeman is over I have only 2 more books to read...
mike_brough's review
4.0
An entertaining collection of stories, each with a seasonal connection. It looks like the publishers have asked each of their featured authors to write a short story featuring their series characters.
The stories cover a wide range of historical periods and, if you find that you want to read more from a particular author, each story ends with a link to the series.
My favourites were Footprints in the Snow by J C Briggs (a Dickens of a Christmas tale) and a couple of season-of-goodwill heartwarmers - The Spirit of Christmas by Cora Harrison, another Dickensian Christmas crime, and Secret Santa by Kim Fleet.
I hate criticising (I don't really) but Lost and Found by Keith Moray was a Tartan nightmare, the worst of Princes Street pawkiness.
I wasn't sure about the last story either, The Christmas Ghost by Linda Stratmann. It was a ghost story vignette - but a mystery?
Overall, well worth a read and I'll be following up on some of these authors.
In the interests of full disclosure, I received a review copy from the publisher.
The stories cover a wide range of historical periods and, if you find that you want to read more from a particular author, each story ends with a link to the series.
My favourites were Footprints in the Snow by J C Briggs (a Dickens of a Christmas tale) and a couple of season-of-goodwill heartwarmers - The Spirit of Christmas by Cora Harrison, another Dickensian Christmas crime, and Secret Santa by Kim Fleet.
I hate criticising (I don't really) but Lost and Found by Keith Moray was a Tartan nightmare, the worst of Princes Street pawkiness.
I wasn't sure about the last story either, The Christmas Ghost by Linda Stratmann. It was a ghost story vignette - but a mystery?
Overall, well worth a read and I'll be following up on some of these authors.
In the interests of full disclosure, I received a review copy from the publisher.
cj_mo_2222's review
4.0
"Midwinter Mysteries" includes eleven short stories all with a Christmas theme. Some are set in the past and some in the present, but all are entertaining in their own way. When you have such a varied collection of stories like this, there will always be some you like more than others. I was already familiar with most of the authors who contributed to the collection from their full-length novels, but there were a few authors who were new to me. Collections like this are perfect for discovering new authors and I enjoy short stories set around the holidays.
Graham Brack has become one of my favorite authors. I love his Josef Slonsky novels so I'm not surprised his story "Away in a Manger" is my favorite of the book. Brack packs plenty of Slonsky's wit in this short story set at a Nativity play in Prague. I also really enjoyed Marilyn Todd's "Will Power" featuring London photographer Julia McAllister. I've read one of Todd's novels and liked reading more about Julia and her unique way of helping others. Two other stories in the collection that I really liked are from authors I hadn't read before. Kim Fleet's "Secret Santa" features PI Eden Grey and I was surprised at the author's ability to develop such a complex plot in a short story. The other story I want to mention is "The Christmas Ghost" by Linda Stratmann. This is a sweet story set in 1871 Brighton England in which Mina Scarletti helps a sad old woman who misses her son.
I highlighted a few of my favorites, but there are several other great stories in this collection. Even though Christmas mysteries are usually on the lighter side, a couple of the stories would have been better with a little more substance. Overall, I enjoyed the book very much. Fans of any of these authors will be happy to have the chance to "spend Christmas" with their favorite characters as well as meeting new characters from unfamiliar authors.
I received this book through NetGalley through the courtesy of Sapere Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
Graham Brack has become one of my favorite authors. I love his Josef Slonsky novels so I'm not surprised his story "Away in a Manger" is my favorite of the book. Brack packs plenty of Slonsky's wit in this short story set at a Nativity play in Prague. I also really enjoyed Marilyn Todd's "Will Power" featuring London photographer Julia McAllister. I've read one of Todd's novels and liked reading more about Julia and her unique way of helping others. Two other stories in the collection that I really liked are from authors I hadn't read before. Kim Fleet's "Secret Santa" features PI Eden Grey and I was surprised at the author's ability to develop such a complex plot in a short story. The other story I want to mention is "The Christmas Ghost" by Linda Stratmann. This is a sweet story set in 1871 Brighton England in which Mina Scarletti helps a sad old woman who misses her son.
I highlighted a few of my favorites, but there are several other great stories in this collection. Even though Christmas mysteries are usually on the lighter side, a couple of the stories would have been better with a little more substance. Overall, I enjoyed the book very much. Fans of any of these authors will be happy to have the chance to "spend Christmas" with their favorite characters as well as meeting new characters from unfamiliar authors.
I received this book through NetGalley through the courtesy of Sapere Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review
4.0
‘One more night, sir,’ Navrátil said.
‘Is your life expectancy that short? It’s all those cinnamon cookies you’ve been eating.’
‘One more night until Christmas,’ Navrátil explained.
‘Ten out of ten for observation. Unfortunately, peace on earth and goodwill to all men is not the motto of the Prague criminal community, …’ (‘Away in a Manger’ by Graham Brack)
Eleven delightful short stories, crime short stories with a Christmas theme. I have favourites (of course I do), I can’t go past ‘Away in a Manger’ by Graham Brack, ‘The Stolen Santa Sack’ by Seán Gibbons, or ‘Lost and Found’ by Keith Moray. Although, I’m tempted into Charles Dickens territory (‘Footprints in the Snow’ by J C Briggs).
In this short story anthology, Sapere Books have brought together eleven of their authors. Each story features a mystery in the lead-up to Christmas. From Prague to Galway via London, Wales and West Uist in Scotland, all places where Christmas is in midwinter. Here in Australia, Christmas is midsummer.
A quick and enjoyable read. Who are the authors, you ask?
Graham Brack - Away in a Manger
J C Briggs - Footprints in the Snow
Keith Moray - Lost and Found
Cora Harrison - The Spirit of Christmas
Seán Gibbons - The Stolen Santa Sack
Marilyn Todd - Will Power
Gaynor Torrance - Christmas Spirits
David Field - The Essex Nativity
Kim Fleet - Secret Santa
MJ Logue - Stir Up Sunday
Linda Stratman - The Christmas Ghost
I’ve read novels by Graham Brack, J C Briggs, Keith Moray, Cora Harrison and Marilyn Todd. I’ll now be looking to read novels by the other six authors.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
‘Is your life expectancy that short? It’s all those cinnamon cookies you’ve been eating.’
‘One more night until Christmas,’ Navrátil explained.
‘Ten out of ten for observation. Unfortunately, peace on earth and goodwill to all men is not the motto of the Prague criminal community, …’ (‘Away in a Manger’ by Graham Brack)
Eleven delightful short stories, crime short stories with a Christmas theme. I have favourites (of course I do), I can’t go past ‘Away in a Manger’ by Graham Brack, ‘The Stolen Santa Sack’ by Seán Gibbons, or ‘Lost and Found’ by Keith Moray. Although, I’m tempted into Charles Dickens territory (‘Footprints in the Snow’ by J C Briggs).
In this short story anthology, Sapere Books have brought together eleven of their authors. Each story features a mystery in the lead-up to Christmas. From Prague to Galway via London, Wales and West Uist in Scotland, all places where Christmas is in midwinter. Here in Australia, Christmas is midsummer.
A quick and enjoyable read. Who are the authors, you ask?
Graham Brack - Away in a Manger
J C Briggs - Footprints in the Snow
Keith Moray - Lost and Found
Cora Harrison - The Spirit of Christmas
Seán Gibbons - The Stolen Santa Sack
Marilyn Todd - Will Power
Gaynor Torrance - Christmas Spirits
David Field - The Essex Nativity
Kim Fleet - Secret Santa
MJ Logue - Stir Up Sunday
Linda Stratman - The Christmas Ghost
I’ve read novels by Graham Brack, J C Briggs, Keith Moray, Cora Harrison and Marilyn Todd. I’ll now be looking to read novels by the other six authors.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
zoe_macgechan's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
1.0
Occasionally it's useful to read awful stories to remind you why the good ones are so enjoyable.
charf47's review
3.0
How lovely to touch base, if briefly, with some old, familiar friends and meet some new characters who promise intrigue and entertainment in the future. The short story format enhances the fast pace of some of the stories, holding the reader’s interest. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of Christmas stories. Merry Christmas, everybody! Thank you to Sapere Books and the authors for the ARC.
vesper1931's review
4.0
Eleven stories with a connection to the Christmas period, set in the modern day back to the time of the Stuarts. Offering a vast range of time and characters in which to find some delightful well-written stories. They also introduce you to characters set in series from this publisher.
I really enjoyed all the stories, only one failed to totally engage me.
Received an ARC from the publisher.
I really enjoyed all the stories, only one failed to totally engage me.
Received an ARC from the publisher.
chriscole's review
3.0
I'll admit, Crime isn't a genre I particularly love or reach for and so Midwinter Mysteries was always going to have to be something special for me to really be swayed. Unfortunately, it was not.
This anthology of crime stories set around Christmas/Winter is so very hit and miss. Or rather, it's "ok" and miss. Some of the stories made for pretty fun reading (mostly those set in the Victorian era) but the other stories just fell really flat, both on the crime and Christmas front.
I will say that there were a couple of authors that piqued my interest and I'd be willing to look at more of their stuff but overall, I was left quite uminpressed.
Thanks to Sapere Books and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.
This anthology of crime stories set around Christmas/Winter is so very hit and miss. Or rather, it's "ok" and miss. Some of the stories made for pretty fun reading (mostly those set in the Victorian era) but the other stories just fell really flat, both on the crime and Christmas front.
I will say that there were a couple of authors that piqued my interest and I'd be willing to look at more of their stuff but overall, I was left quite uminpressed.
Thanks to Sapere Books and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.
amalia1985's review
4.0
''I think you can let the baby Jesus go'', Slonsky said. ''He's innocent, just like the real one.''
Behind the shiny ornaments, the bright lights, the laughter, the flowing wine, and the presents, dark intentions may find a fertile ground to flourish. Winter is a time for being cautious, Christmas is a time for gatherings. And gatherings sometimes bring disputes. And who knows where disputes might lead...Small wonder that a plethora of mysteries takes place during the holidays.
This collection includes 11 short stories whose setting varies from Prague to Brighton, from the 17th century to 2019. Lost relationships, strange felonies, apparitions, mistakes create an interesting array of mostly well-written stories with a distinctive Christmas aura and vivid settings.
Away In A Monger by Graham Brack: A funny story of pickpocketing set in the Old Town Square of a festive, crowded Prague.
''The clock in the hall struck three. Charles Dickens did not sleep again that night.''
Footsteps In The Snow by J.C.Brigss: Charles Dickens finds himself face-to-face with an inexplicable premonition and a strange death. The atmosphere in this tale is outstanding.
Lost and Found by Keith Moray: The story of a death in the family on Boxing Day, in the company of bagpipes. Set in West Uist, Scotland, the folklore element is very vivid and makes this story much more than a death mystery.
The Spirit of Christmas by Cora Harrison: A mystery set in Victorian London, taking place close to the amazing Hamley's toy shop. Clever boys, a dog and a constable battling with the perplexities of the metropolis in an era of changes.
The Stolen Santa Sack by Sean Gibbons: A story set in Galway, Ireland, in our time. This one was pretty horrible. Ridiculous plot, jokes of the lowest quality possible, vulgar language to the point of disgust. Pure trash.
Will Power by Marilyn Todd: A moving tale of a brave young woman who almost falls victim to a man's exploitation and an intelligent crime scene photographer.
Christmas Spirit by Gaynor Torrance: The second story/garbage that reads like an awful cop-movie. The Welsh slang and swearing didn't really help...
The Essex Nativity by David Field: Two police officers battle crime in the streets of Essex, during the 1890s.
Secret Santa by Kim Fleet: A story of Christmas hope and the past that refuses to be put to rest, set in Cheltenham.
Stir Up Sunday by M.J. Logue: The mystery of a stolen recipe book set within the political and religious turmoil of the 17th century.
The Christmas Ghost by Linda Stratmann: A touching story of a bereaved mother and a woman with a special gift, of deathly mistakes and reconciliation, set in Brighton in 1871.
Even though Mystery and Crime aren't amongst my favourite genres, Christmas calls for a cozy or two (or more...) and this collection is definitely a satisfying company.
''Charles Dickens started out at the snow which lay thick and shining under a great lamp of a moon. The moon seemed unusually large to him, yet it was peaceful, seeming to light the way to the heavens.''
Many thanks to Sapere Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/
Behind the shiny ornaments, the bright lights, the laughter, the flowing wine, and the presents, dark intentions may find a fertile ground to flourish. Winter is a time for being cautious, Christmas is a time for gatherings. And gatherings sometimes bring disputes. And who knows where disputes might lead...Small wonder that a plethora of mysteries takes place during the holidays.
This collection includes 11 short stories whose setting varies from Prague to Brighton, from the 17th century to 2019. Lost relationships, strange felonies, apparitions, mistakes create an interesting array of mostly well-written stories with a distinctive Christmas aura and vivid settings.
Away In A Monger by Graham Brack: A funny story of pickpocketing set in the Old Town Square of a festive, crowded Prague.
''The clock in the hall struck three. Charles Dickens did not sleep again that night.''
Footsteps In The Snow by J.C.Brigss: Charles Dickens finds himself face-to-face with an inexplicable premonition and a strange death. The atmosphere in this tale is outstanding.
Lost and Found by Keith Moray: The story of a death in the family on Boxing Day, in the company of bagpipes. Set in West Uist, Scotland, the folklore element is very vivid and makes this story much more than a death mystery.
The Spirit of Christmas by Cora Harrison: A mystery set in Victorian London, taking place close to the amazing Hamley's toy shop. Clever boys, a dog and a constable battling with the perplexities of the metropolis in an era of changes.
The Stolen Santa Sack by Sean Gibbons: A story set in Galway, Ireland, in our time. This one was pretty horrible. Ridiculous plot, jokes of the lowest quality possible, vulgar language to the point of disgust. Pure trash.
Will Power by Marilyn Todd: A moving tale of a brave young woman who almost falls victim to a man's exploitation and an intelligent crime scene photographer.
Christmas Spirit by Gaynor Torrance: The second story/garbage that reads like an awful cop-movie. The Welsh slang and swearing didn't really help...
The Essex Nativity by David Field: Two police officers battle crime in the streets of Essex, during the 1890s.
Secret Santa by Kim Fleet: A story of Christmas hope and the past that refuses to be put to rest, set in Cheltenham.
Stir Up Sunday by M.J. Logue: The mystery of a stolen recipe book set within the political and religious turmoil of the 17th century.
The Christmas Ghost by Linda Stratmann: A touching story of a bereaved mother and a woman with a special gift, of deathly mistakes and reconciliation, set in Brighton in 1871.
Even though Mystery and Crime aren't amongst my favourite genres, Christmas calls for a cozy or two (or more...) and this collection is definitely a satisfying company.
''Charles Dickens started out at the snow which lay thick and shining under a great lamp of a moon. The moon seemed unusually large to him, yet it was peaceful, seeming to light the way to the heavens.''
Many thanks to Sapere Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/
whateveryoneelseisreading's review
I received an ARC of this book thanks to Net Galley and publisher Sapere Books in exchange for an honest review.
I really really love the idea behind this anthology. As far as I can tell, the publishing house behind this book has gotten a bunch of mystery/crime authors to write some short stories showcasing their characters in order to promote the series they write. This is a very cool idea and I think it's a great way to potentially find a new series you might really enjoy. Sadly most of these stories ended up not being for me.
I would say loosely that almost all of these are either a) police procedurals, b) historical mysteries or a c) a combination of both. With the exception of the very first story, I probably enjoyed the historical ones slightly more since I tend to lean towards historical crime fiction (unlike thrillers where I like modern day). My main problem with these is they were all incredibly short. This made it very difficult to get into the stories and also to get a taste of what the authors' true styles were. It felt like a story was just getting going and then it would end abruptly, sometimes without a sense that there had been an actual mystery involved.
Perhaps because of these stories using pre-established characters, there was also a lack of introduction of most of the cast and/or plot elements surrounding the stories themselves. This didn't help with getting into the stories either (again, the first story actually did introduce people fairly well and was one of my favourites for this reason).
Overall, this is a decent but all too brief collection of stories. They all fall a little short in various ways but the anthology was still moderately enjoyable and I do really like the idea behind it. I just wish everything was a little bit longer.
Overall Rating: 2.5/5 stars
I really really love the idea behind this anthology. As far as I can tell, the publishing house behind this book has gotten a bunch of mystery/crime authors to write some short stories showcasing their characters in order to promote the series they write. This is a very cool idea and I think it's a great way to potentially find a new series you might really enjoy. Sadly most of these stories ended up not being for me.
I would say loosely that almost all of these are either a) police procedurals, b) historical mysteries or a c) a combination of both. With the exception of the very first story, I probably enjoyed the historical ones slightly more since I tend to lean towards historical crime fiction (unlike thrillers where I like modern day). My main problem with these is they were all incredibly short. This made it very difficult to get into the stories and also to get a taste of what the authors' true styles were. It felt like a story was just getting going and then it would end abruptly, sometimes without a sense that there had been an actual mystery involved.
Perhaps because of these stories using pre-established characters, there was also a lack of introduction of most of the cast and/or plot elements surrounding the stories themselves. This didn't help with getting into the stories either (again, the first story actually did introduce people fairly well and was one of my favourites for this reason).
Overall, this is a decent but all too brief collection of stories. They all fall a little short in various ways but the anthology was still moderately enjoyable and I do really like the idea behind it. I just wish everything was a little bit longer.
Overall Rating: 2.5/5 stars