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Murder for Christmas
Thick Hardcover with Dustjacket. 465 pages. Anthology of 26 Yuletide Mystery Short Stories including Christie, Sayers, Stout, Simenon, etc. Edited by Thomas Godfrey with Jacket Art and Interior Illustrations by Gahan Wilson.
466 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
January 6, 2015
It's a rare book that takes me 387 days to complete. I got it after Christmas last year, read the first story (an old favorite) and then put it aside in favor or other books until I broke out the yuletide books this year.
And I don't have the book with me, nor can I find the contents online, so this is somewhat worthless as a meaningful consideration.
So, with that carton of salt: some of the stories hold up very well, some do not hold up at all*, although the writers are an impeccable group. There is a strong emphasis on British Country House murders, which I find charming. Some of the Gahan Wilson cartoons make no sense because they are so poorly reproduced, others are clear and morbidly funny.
It's an uneven collection, but for whatever reason I like my holiday full of blood and mayhem (Die Hard is so a Christmas film, and one of the best!)
*I'm looking at you, Nero Wolfe. Gah!
Personal copy.
And I don't have the book with me, nor can I find the contents online, so this is somewhat worthless as a meaningful consideration.
So, with that carton of salt: some of the stories hold up very well, some do not hold up at all*, although the writers are an impeccable group. There is a strong emphasis on British Country House murders, which I find charming. Some of the Gahan Wilson cartoons make no sense because they are so poorly reproduced, others are clear and morbidly funny.
It's an uneven collection, but for whatever reason I like my holiday full of blood and mayhem (Die Hard is so a Christmas film, and one of the best!)
*I'm looking at you, Nero Wolfe. Gah!
Personal copy.
January 1, 2019
As with all short story collections, Murder for Christmas (1982; edited by Thomas Godfrey) is a mixed bag--with treasures that you'll thank Santa for as well as items that you'll wish you could take back to the store for cash value. It was lovely to reread familiar favorites starring Lord Peter Wimsey, Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Nero Wolfe, and Inspector Roderick Alleyn. And there were several new (to me) stories that were very intriguing--including the opening story, "Back for Christmas" by John Collieer in which a murderer may not want to come back for Christmas, but may have no choice in the matter. Others on Santa's nice list are "Silent Night" by Baynard Kendrick, "A Christmas Tragedy" by Baroness Orczy, and "Blind Man's Hood" by Carter Dickson (though more a Christmas ghost story). Most of the rest were pleasant enough, though not outstanding. But I really could have done without "Markheim" by Robert Louis Stevenson, "Mother's Milk" by James Mines, and the last story in the collection--"Ring Out, Wild Bells" by D. B. Wyndham Lewis (a "Boxing Day Bonus" as Godfrey refers to it).
The illustrations by Gahan Wilson were delightful as were the anecdotes, introductions, and intermissions provided by Godfrey. This was, overall, a nice way to round off the holidays and finish out the year's reading.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
The illustrations by Gahan Wilson were delightful as were the anecdotes, introductions, and intermissions provided by Godfrey. This was, overall, a nice way to round off the holidays and finish out the year's reading.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
December 27, 2023
This collection was much better than volume 2. Among others, there are short stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Georges Simenon, Charles Dickens, Ellery Queen, Thomas Hardy, A.A. Milne and G.K. Chesterton. I loved the first story by John Collier, "Back for Christmas," a wonderfully crafted story in only 5-1/2 pages. Several cartoons by one of the kings of the macabre, Gahan Wilson, are scattered throughout.
January 2, 2021
It’s taken me quite a while to get through this monster of a collection, partly because it’s a big volume and partly because it’s rather too rich to read all in one go. Some stories work better than others, but I admire how it goes from the classics - Blue Carbuncle, a Nero Wolfe novelette - to some comic moments via a couple of unexpected classic writers as well. I suspect it will now serve in the way it was designed to serve, as a book to dip into to read certain classics during the festive period (much like my wife’s horror collection which I believe is a companion volume to this), as I think smatterings throughout Christmas as a buffet will work better than as a substantial and rather over laden meal in one go
January 5, 2017
Really enjoyed this one!
January 22, 2017
Wish I had the forgettable noir-ish cover that displays on goodreads instead of this garish one:
I think it took me 2x as long to read because I kept hiding the book places where I wouldn't have to see it.
I think it took me 2x as long to read because I kept hiding the book places where I wouldn't have to see it.
December 25, 2017
I have a version of this book which must combine volumes one and two, has cartoons, introductions, little asides etc...
A solid collection of Christmas stories, though some also could be considered ghost stories of sorts merged with the mystery genre. And it has a definite feeling of bringing the holiday into each mystery. While not a comprehensive book, that would be too long, it is a great way to read (short stories) while also trying to get in all the other activities that the season brings.
A solid collection of Christmas stories, though some also could be considered ghost stories of sorts merged with the mystery genre. And it has a definite feeling of bringing the holiday into each mystery. While not a comprehensive book, that would be too long, it is a great way to read (short stories) while also trying to get in all the other activities that the season brings.
August 21, 2021
I found this book a couple of years ago at a Goodwill Industry store. The word "Christmas" caught my eye because I do a lot of research on the pagan aspects of Christmas. All of the short stories in the book were fun mysteries to read and I even picked up some good historical information on various Christmas customs. If you are headstrong that everything about Christmas should be good, then you will have to set that thought aside in order to enjoy the book. On the other hand, if you love mysteries and can just sit back and read something just for fun, then this book is certainly recommended.
December 26, 2015
Pretty good selection of stories. Some I really liked (Christie, Doyle, Dickens Collier, Mines), some were OK (Queen, Hardy, Ellin, Milne, Chesterton) and some I either didn't care for, couldn't get through or was just not interested in (Orczy, Keating, Allingham) but out of all of the authors, I found a new author to pursue (Simenon), which is a good thing.
December 23, 2018
Some stories were better than others, as is to be expected in an anthology.
Skipped the last story as the opening paragraph made racist observations.
Skipped the last story as the opening paragraph made racist observations.
December 30, 2020
An anthology of (mostly) Christmas-themed short stories by classic crime writers (Godfrey sneaks a Woody Allen story in because it mentions a horse named Santa Claus). Contains a few good stories I hadn't read before, but the Gahan Wilson cartoons are the highlight.
December 21, 2017
This was a disgraceful Audible-sold version of this book of Xmas murder short stories, sold as unabridged, with the same cover, but containing only 8 of the 26 stories in the printed version. I was duped!
Good stories - Stanley Ellin, Ngaio Marsh, Margaret Allingham, Conan Doyle, etc. BUT not enough!
Still - listened, and had refund!
Good stories - Stanley Ellin, Ngaio Marsh, Margaret Allingham, Conan Doyle, etc. BUT not enough!
Still - listened, and had refund!
December 29, 2019
Some good mysteries by Ngaio Marsh, Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, and others.
December 12, 2023
Listened to this while wrapping presents, enjoyed and helped time to pass quickly!
January 3, 2019
I originally found this volume as a hardback book decades ago at a book sale table. It was first published in 1982. I just loved this book and raved about it to others and I guess I loaned it out to someone who returneth not again. Don't you just hate it when borrowers do that? So one Christmas I could stand it no longer and after a considerable amount of searching found it again in a hardback volume. Some books just have to be a hardback book. Lo and behold, my daughter, knowing how much I missed that book, searched and found a hardback book and gave it to me as a Christmas present. So now I have two and I keep one by my bed and the other by my reading chair during the Christmas Season.
Nothing adds to the season like a book that is set in that season. So much so at Christmas. So much better when it is a murder mystery. This book not only has classic murder mysteries by the best mystery writers that ever lived but has poems and trivia tucked in-between the stories and cartoons and drawings by the witty Graham Wilson. The stories ... the trivia ... the cartoons ... the illustrations ... that's a Home Run for Christmas!
Nothing adds to the season like a book that is set in that season. So much so at Christmas. So much better when it is a murder mystery. This book not only has classic murder mysteries by the best mystery writers that ever lived but has poems and trivia tucked in-between the stories and cartoons and drawings by the witty Graham Wilson. The stories ... the trivia ... the cartoons ... the illustrations ... that's a Home Run for Christmas!
December 23, 2016
"Here is a perfect Christmas gift for the person who has everything -- and plans to leave it to you. Murder for Christmas contains twenty-six tales of seasonal malice to keep you in the Christmas spirit all year round.
"It has been said that Christmas brings out the best in everyone, and this has been especially true of mystery writers who seem to have been inspired to their best work by the holiday season.
"So come to a unique yuletide celebration and rub elbows with such greats as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Dame Agatha Christie, Rex Stout, and Ellery Queen, while Georges Simenon and Dame Ngaio Marsh drop a few hot coals into your stocking. Master of Suspense John Collier and Stanley Ellin will be on hand with a few terrifying tales to send shivers up your spine. Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens, and Baroness Orczy also will be present with some surprise contributions. There will be a few laughs, too, with Damon Runyon, Wyndham Lewis and Woody Allen, as well as visits with old and new masters of the genre such as Margery Allingham, Dorothy L. Sayers, G.K. Chesterton, Edward D. Hoch, and H.R.F. Keating. John Dickson Carr will favor us with a locked room story, while O. Henry contributes some Christmas criminality from the Old West. We'll even go
Christmas with Robert Louis Stevenson.
"Best of all will be the presence of the great detectives of literature -- Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Nero Wolfe, Lord Peter Wimsey, Albert Campion, Jules Maigret, Father Brown, Roderick Alleyn, and Bombay's Ganesh Ghote -- all tacking the kinds of cases that made them famous.
"Murder for Christmas contains something for every taste -- lying, cheating, shoplifting, stealing, spying, kidnapping, and murder -- in short, everything to make the holidays bright."
~~both flaps
And lovely drawings by Gahan Wilson.
A mixed bag, of course. I loved some of the stories, didn't care much for others -- and even skipped some when I knew I don't like the setting or the detective. But there definitely is something for everyone, so if you're a mystery fan and not all that enthusiastic about Christmas ... this is the book for you!
"It has been said that Christmas brings out the best in everyone, and this has been especially true of mystery writers who seem to have been inspired to their best work by the holiday season.
"So come to a unique yuletide celebration and rub elbows with such greats as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Dame Agatha Christie, Rex Stout, and Ellery Queen, while Georges Simenon and Dame Ngaio Marsh drop a few hot coals into your stocking. Master of Suspense John Collier and Stanley Ellin will be on hand with a few terrifying tales to send shivers up your spine. Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens, and Baroness Orczy also will be present with some surprise contributions. There will be a few laughs, too, with Damon Runyon, Wyndham Lewis and Woody Allen, as well as visits with old and new masters of the genre such as Margery Allingham, Dorothy L. Sayers, G.K. Chesterton, Edward D. Hoch, and H.R.F. Keating. John Dickson Carr will favor us with a locked room story, while O. Henry contributes some Christmas criminality from the Old West. We'll even go
Christmas with Robert Louis Stevenson.
"Best of all will be the presence of the great detectives of literature -- Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Nero Wolfe, Lord Peter Wimsey, Albert Campion, Jules Maigret, Father Brown, Roderick Alleyn, and Bombay's Ganesh Ghote -- all tacking the kinds of cases that made them famous.
"Murder for Christmas contains something for every taste -- lying, cheating, shoplifting, stealing, spying, kidnapping, and murder -- in short, everything to make the holidays bright."
~~both flaps
And lovely drawings by Gahan Wilson.
A mixed bag, of course. I loved some of the stories, didn't care much for others -- and even skipped some when I knew I don't like the setting or the detective. But there definitely is something for everyone, so if you're a mystery fan and not all that enthusiastic about Christmas ... this is the book for you!
December 23, 2010
I started this collection of short stories last Christmas but put it away when I didn't finish it by the end of the holidays. I had a few great stories, some fun reads, but most of the stories were by authors who are no longer popular and I can see why. I was also about to get a taste for some mystery series and decided that I'm not interested. Nero Wolfe is a narcissistic detective who really doesn't care that much for the truth. I thought Ellery Queen was a bore, and I used to love the TV show. And I found out the G. K. Chesterton was a member of the Fabian society, but I thought I'd give his Father Brown a shot. Nope, didn't get 3 pages in before the socialist bull crap ruin the story for me.
On the other hand Doyle, Christie, Orcsy and Dickens never fail to please.
On the other hand Doyle, Christie, Orcsy and Dickens never fail to please.
February 5, 2009
Three stars is based on averaging. Some of the stories (Agatha Christie, Stanley Ellin, Baroness Orczy, Ngaio Marsh, Dorothy L. Sayers, Margery Allingham) were wonderful; some are a bit too self conciously clever (Woody Allen, DB Wyndham Lewis), and others just not my style (Ellery Queen, Damon Runyon). There are some wonderful Graham Wilson drawings, too. This is a fun, light holiday read for mystery lovers, but if you have a very narrow taste in mysteries, this might be a little catholic for you.
August 3, 2009
For lovers of mysteries and short stories alike, this wonderful collection of Christmas-themed mysteries is a marvelous read. The mysteries range from tales of theft and murder to ghostly encounters and bungled attempts at malevolence. The stories authored by Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, G.K. Chesterford, Charles Dickens, Georges Simenon and Carter Dickinson were my favorites. Also, the darkly humorous illustrations by Gahan Wilson definitely enhanced my reading experience and elicited many a wry chuckle.
December 22, 2018
I listened to this on audiobook during Xmas prep -it’s perfect for that! It is misnamed though, since several of the stories are not actually murders, but other kinds of ‘crime’. I particularly liked the Dorothy L Sayers and Ngaio Marsh stories. The Conan Doyle was familiar but fun too. Some of the others were a little bit too predictablefor me, but interesting to hear while doing other things. I’m probably 3 and a half stars overall.
December 31, 2023
This is a complete mixed bag. I didn’t finish all of the stories in 2021, but chipped away at them. I plan to do this every year at Christmas. I loved the Agatha Christie (of course) but I thought the Woody Allen was stupid, not humorous. Maybe that’s tinted by my thinking Woody Allen is a perv, I don’t know.
December 25, 2015
A decent collection of Christmas themed murder mysteries. As is usually the case, some short stories are better than the others. I thoroughly enjoyed especially the pieces by Ngaio Marsh, Dorothy L. Sayers and John Collier.
December 29, 2020
Mixed bag, and the typos and the page misprinting in one story was annoying.
June 27, 2016
This is an anthology of short stories. In between the short stories, there are cartoon pictures of a murderous, horrific, or macabre nature. There are also lists of books, movies, and tiny articles regarding Christmas, murder, or both.
Home for Christmas
Mr. Big
The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle
This is a Sherlock Holmes story.
The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding
This is a Hercule Poirot story.
Dancing Dan's Christmas
Cambric Tea
Death on Christmas Eve
A Christmas Tragedy
Lady Molly is the detective here. Mary, no indication given if she is a maid or something else, is the narrator of this story.
Major Ceely is murdered in Christmas morning. His daughter's boyfriend is blamed since the Major disapproved of the match. Lady Molly, using wits and intuition, finds the murderer.
Who done it?
Silent Night
Captain Maclain, a blind man, is the detective.
A six year old boy is kidnapped. His parents receive Audograms to deliver proof of life as well as ransom demands.
There is a murmuring drone on parts of the 'grams as well as on the first ransom demands,which also had a snippet of Bing Crosby's Silent Night. Captain Macclain, having honed his senses other than sight, figures out where the boy is being held.
Where?
The Stolen Christmas Box
Dr. Sam: Johnson, Detector is the detective in this story.
He is visiting a family during Christmas. The descriptions of the people and actions are very SAT-prep worthy. The father bought the daughter a very expensive jewel. During the festivities, the jewel goes missing. Dr. Sam: Johnson figures out where the jewel is.
Where?
A Chaparral Christmas Gift
Death on the Air
A very cantankerous and mean man is found with his fingers burnt, holding onto a radio.
Through process of elimination, the detective days it was the secretary. Then a confession/suicide note comes.
Who done it?
Inspector Ghote and the Miracle Baby
An inspector in Bombay, Inspector Ghote is assigned the unenviable task of finding out who the father is from a girl claiming Virgin Birth.
He gets particulars from the Head Constable and interviews boys in the neighborhood that may be usual suspects. It's not until he sees the baby that he realizes what has happened.
Maigret's Christmas
Inspector Maigret is approached by some neighbors when a little girl says that Santa Claus visited her room.
Maigret figures out who the man might be and arrests the woman who is the aunt of the little girl.
To Be Taken with a Grain of Salt by Charles Dickens
The Adventure of the Dauphin's Doll
Ellery Queen and his father, Inspector Queen are called upon when an Attorney is trying to resolve a deceased's estate. The only thing the deceased had of value is a doll collection - and even then, the only doll worth anything has a gem in it. It's the gem that has worth.
Part of the will stipulates that the doll collection be put on display in the middle of a busy shopping center on Christmas Eve. The threat of theft from a person notorious for them places stress upon the Queens and a number of policemen are placed around the exhibit. The day goes by with only a couple possibilities for it to be stolen - but at the end of the day, the jewel is discovered to be a fake. How?
How?
Markheim by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Necklace of Pearls
Sir Peter Wimsey is at a Christmas house party. The daughter receives a pearl for her birthday every year and this year she received her 21st pearl.
During a round of games, the pearls went missing. Sir Peter was asked to try to find them before the police were called. He found a straight pin and from that deduced where the pearls had been hidden. He eventually realized who the would-be thief was.
Who was it?
Blind Man's Hood
A married couple arrives at a friend's house, no one is in but one lone girl. She tells the couple the story of Mrs. Waycross - how she was found dead on Christmas morning, the house locked from within and no one able to get in. How a few Christmases later, Mr. Wilkes was in a game of Blind Man's Buff and died when being chased.
It is quite effective as a ghost story.
Christmas is for Cops
Captain Leopold, in the normal course of overseeing the Violent Crimes Division, finds a crooked cop: Tommy Gibson.
Gibson indicates that he is not the only one and offers to provide evidence of the other cop's involvement. This is accepted as long as it is provided within 24 hrs.
The Christmas party is being set up and held the next day. Gibson is sent to help with the set-up. Leopold gives a speech and then Gibson is found dead.
Captain Leopold realizes who committed the murder, but there is still the matter of the evidence that Gibson had told the Captain was near the Christmas tree.
Who done it?
The Thieves Who Couldn't Help Sneezing
The Case is Altered
Christmas Party
Wolfe and Archie are talking. Archie springs his engagement on Wolfe and heads to a Christmas Party. At the Christmas Party, the Executive is poisoned! The bartender is dressed as Santa Claus and leaves during the excitement. The police are called and prioritize finding Santa first. Wolfe confesses to Archie that he was the Santa Claus bartender.
He wants to avoid confessing that he was Santa to the police. This is made harder when one of the attendees meets with Archie and Wolfe to let them know that she knows that Wolfe was the Santa as well as that the deceased was going to be with her. She throws suspicion on Archie's "fiancée".
Archie is called to talk with the police and Wolfe plans to catch the actual murderer.
He succeeds and the murderer is turned over to the police.
Who done it?
The Flying Stars
This is a Father Brown mystery.
And I want to read more of Father Brown. His laying out of how the crime was committed and urging the thief to turn and change his ways was quite eloquent.
Mother's Milk
Ring Out, Wild Bells
Home for Christmas
Mr. Big
The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle
This is a Sherlock Holmes story.
The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding
This is a Hercule Poirot story.
Dancing Dan's Christmas
Cambric Tea
Death on Christmas Eve
A Christmas Tragedy
Lady Molly is the detective here. Mary, no indication given if she is a maid or something else, is the narrator of this story.
Major Ceely is murdered in Christmas morning. His daughter's boyfriend is blamed since the Major disapproved of the match. Lady Molly, using wits and intuition, finds the murderer.
Who done it?
Silent Night
Captain Maclain, a blind man, is the detective.
A six year old boy is kidnapped. His parents receive Audograms to deliver proof of life as well as ransom demands.
There is a murmuring drone on parts of the 'grams as well as on the first ransom demands,which also had a snippet of Bing Crosby's Silent Night. Captain Macclain, having honed his senses other than sight, figures out where the boy is being held.
Where?
The Stolen Christmas Box
Dr. Sam: Johnson, Detector is the detective in this story.
He is visiting a family during Christmas. The descriptions of the people and actions are very SAT-prep worthy. The father bought the daughter a very expensive jewel. During the festivities, the jewel goes missing. Dr. Sam: Johnson figures out where the jewel is.
Where?
A Chaparral Christmas Gift
Death on the Air
A very cantankerous and mean man is found with his fingers burnt, holding onto a radio.
Through process of elimination, the detective days it was the secretary. Then a confession/suicide note comes.
Who done it?
Inspector Ghote and the Miracle Baby
An inspector in Bombay, Inspector Ghote is assigned the unenviable task of finding out who the father is from a girl claiming Virgin Birth.
He gets particulars from the Head Constable and interviews boys in the neighborhood that may be usual suspects. It's not until he sees the baby that he realizes what has happened.
Maigret's Christmas
Inspector Maigret is approached by some neighbors when a little girl says that Santa Claus visited her room.
Maigret figures out who the man might be and arrests the woman who is the aunt of the little girl.
To Be Taken with a Grain of Salt by Charles Dickens
The Adventure of the Dauphin's Doll
Ellery Queen and his father, Inspector Queen are called upon when an Attorney is trying to resolve a deceased's estate. The only thing the deceased had of value is a doll collection - and even then, the only doll worth anything has a gem in it. It's the gem that has worth.
Part of the will stipulates that the doll collection be put on display in the middle of a busy shopping center on Christmas Eve. The threat of theft from a person notorious for them places stress upon the Queens and a number of policemen are placed around the exhibit. The day goes by with only a couple possibilities for it to be stolen - but at the end of the day, the jewel is discovered to be a fake. How?
How?
Markheim by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Necklace of Pearls
Sir Peter Wimsey is at a Christmas house party. The daughter receives a pearl for her birthday every year and this year she received her 21st pearl.
During a round of games, the pearls went missing. Sir Peter was asked to try to find them before the police were called. He found a straight pin and from that deduced where the pearls had been hidden. He eventually realized who the would-be thief was.
Who was it?
Blind Man's Hood
A married couple arrives at a friend's house, no one is in but one lone girl. She tells the couple the story of Mrs. Waycross - how she was found dead on Christmas morning, the house locked from within and no one able to get in. How a few Christmases later, Mr. Wilkes was in a game of Blind Man's Buff and died when being chased.
It is quite effective as a ghost story.
Christmas is for Cops
Captain Leopold, in the normal course of overseeing the Violent Crimes Division, finds a crooked cop: Tommy Gibson.
Gibson indicates that he is not the only one and offers to provide evidence of the other cop's involvement. This is accepted as long as it is provided within 24 hrs.
The Christmas party is being set up and held the next day. Gibson is sent to help with the set-up. Leopold gives a speech and then Gibson is found dead.
Captain Leopold realizes who committed the murder, but there is still the matter of the evidence that Gibson had told the Captain was near the Christmas tree.
Who done it?
The Thieves Who Couldn't Help Sneezing
The Case is Altered
Christmas Party
Wolfe and Archie are talking. Archie springs his engagement on Wolfe and heads to a Christmas Party. At the Christmas Party, the Executive is poisoned! The bartender is dressed as Santa Claus and leaves during the excitement. The police are called and prioritize finding Santa first. Wolfe confesses to Archie that he was the Santa Claus bartender.
He wants to avoid confessing that he was Santa to the police. This is made harder when one of the attendees meets with Archie and Wolfe to let them know that she knows that Wolfe was the Santa as well as that the deceased was going to be with her. She throws suspicion on Archie's "fiancée".
Archie is called to talk with the police and Wolfe plans to catch the actual murderer.
He succeeds and the murderer is turned over to the police.
Who done it?
The Flying Stars
This is a Father Brown mystery.
And I want to read more of Father Brown. His laying out of how the crime was committed and urging the thief to turn and change his ways was quite eloquent.
Mother's Milk
Ring Out, Wild Bells
December 31, 2018
First off, this is an old collection. It was originally published in 1982 . This edition came out in 2007. The most recent story (I think) was published in 1960. Most of the stories came out in the first half of the 20th century (1900 -1950). There are even stories by Robert Louis Stevenson, Charles Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. So when you see that the book contains both old and new masters of murder and mayhem, keep in mind when the book came out.
This is a collection of 26 short stories all about Christmas season murder and mayhem with one Boxing Day story to wrap everything in a neat package. The authors are a nice collection of some of the better mystery writers through the ages. It is interesting that quite a few of the 'older' writers are said to be neglected at the time of publishing and they deserve to be remembered. I do find this to be true but the sad fact is a lot of the 'current' authors have also slipped into this category. Mysteries, especially short stories, tend to fade relatively quickly once a writer isn't putting out new material on a regular basis. When was the last time you saw Ellery Queen, Rex Stout, Ngaio Marsh, or Dorothy Sayers at your bookstore? Hopefully, ebooks will help to make some of these older writers be rediscovered.
Some people might complain that these stories are dated because they use phones with cords, don't use computers, and prices are amazingly low. But is amuses me that no one seems to complain when they read Sherlock Holmes. The stories seem to have fallen into the too old to read but not not old enough to be read as historical.
As a bonus, there is a page or two between each story with a Gahan Wilson cartoon and maybe a short amusing tale. Each story also has its own mini-introduction which is nice.
One author that would probably not be considered if this collection was being put together now is Woody Allen. Mr. Allen has fallen victim to that modern trap of his bad personal life outweighs his work that was considered good before that bad personal life was discovered.
So if you are willing to try something a little older, give this collection a shot and you might find a new (to you) gem .
This is a collection of 26 short stories all about Christmas season murder and mayhem with one Boxing Day story to wrap everything in a neat package. The authors are a nice collection of some of the better mystery writers through the ages. It is interesting that quite a few of the 'older' writers are said to be neglected at the time of publishing and they deserve to be remembered. I do find this to be true but the sad fact is a lot of the 'current' authors have also slipped into this category. Mysteries, especially short stories, tend to fade relatively quickly once a writer isn't putting out new material on a regular basis. When was the last time you saw Ellery Queen, Rex Stout, Ngaio Marsh, or Dorothy Sayers at your bookstore? Hopefully, ebooks will help to make some of these older writers be rediscovered.
Some people might complain that these stories are dated because they use phones with cords, don't use computers, and prices are amazingly low. But is amuses me that no one seems to complain when they read Sherlock Holmes. The stories seem to have fallen into the too old to read but not not old enough to be read as historical.
As a bonus, there is a page or two between each story with a Gahan Wilson cartoon and maybe a short amusing tale. Each story also has its own mini-introduction which is nice.
One author that would probably not be considered if this collection was being put together now is Woody Allen. Mr. Allen has fallen victim to that modern trap of his bad personal life outweighs his work that was considered good before that bad personal life was discovered.
So if you are willing to try something a little older, give this collection a shot and you might find a new (to you) gem .
December 20, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of Christmas mysteries from the great mystery writers, having read it across two Christmases. (It was too thick for me to finish all in one Christmas.) Normally, I don't reread mysteries once I know whodunit, but I could reread this one with pleasure, and pick authors whose works I'd want to pursue further. Reading these are like eating potato chips - addicting to want "just one more."
I loved Agatha Christie's "The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding." I loved Poirot's character in that.
I had read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Blue Carbuncle" a couple of times before, once on my own and once with the kids. I've also seen Jeremy Brett's production of it.
I had also already read G. K. Chesterson's Father Brown in "The Flying Stars." I remember that one surprising me before.
The rest of these were new to me.
John Collier's "Back for Christmas" was too awful for me, along the lines of some of Poe's writings. Woody Allen's "Mr. Big" was silly, too silly for serious argument.
Damon Runyon's "Dancing Dan's Christmas" was funny.
I read A. A. Milne's "Guide to Gift Giving" to our household, who found it funny, William's changing of the name tags.
I enjoyed Margorie Bowen's "Cambric Tea" and Baroness Orczy's "A Christmas Tragedy," but not so much Stanley Elli's "Death on Christmas Eve" about those who could not heal and grow from past experiences.
I figured out Baynard Kendrick's "Silent Night," about the location of a kidnapping, but I'm not sure it "counts" for me because the detective figured it out in about the same instant SPOILER ... with the words "power" and "power plant." My dad used to live near that sound, long before he ever met my mom.
There were very few that I figured out in this set, but I did figure out the importance of the peg leg in "The Stolen Christmas Box."
"Inspector Ghote and the Miracle Baby" was sad. It left us hanging as to what Inspector Ghote did with his knowledge, whether the crime was reported or not. I hope, for the sake of other possible victims, that he did.
Charles Dickens' "To Be Taken with a Grain of Salt" was very eerie, more like Poe than I usually think of Dickens, although he did open with his characteristic deftness and humor in character description. It far surpassed the spookiness of "A Christmas Carol." In "To Be Taken," the ghost of the murder victim began to haunt a juror, somewhat like Poe's "Tell-Tell Heart," although in that instance, the murderer was the one fighting insanity.
I've read other Ellery Queen mysteries, and enjoyed "The Adventure of the Dauphin's Doll." I'm not sure whether I figured out that one or not. I'd considered the possibility, but hadn't settled on it. Usually the resolution to Ellery Queen's mysteries are much more far-fetched than that was, which is why I didn't decide definitely on it.
Robert Louis Stevenson's "Markheim" was compared to "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde," but it didn't seem similar to me at all, maybe because I haven't read "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" in full. I have, however, visited a museum of Stevenson in Scotland. I think I like his children's poetry best, although he has had some good adventure stories.
Dorothy Sayers is a novelist I'd like to read more. I hadn't figured out where "The Necklace of Pearls" had gone. I'd read another of her books after a teen of mine who chose it for a school assignment, and that made me want to read more someday. I've also seen an essay she'd written on education, which was an interesting contradiction to the preface that the editor gave her story.
Carter Dickson's "Blind Man's Hood" was horrific in its cruelty. Another one with a ghost.
Edward Hoch's "Christmas is for Cops" was an interesting read, about a murder committed in a Christmas gathering of cops. I have to say that the red herring derailed me on that one. I would consider reading more of his as well.
Thomas Hardy's "The Thieves Who Couldn't Stop Sneezing" was funny, and according to the intro, much more light-hearted that Hardy usually wrote. I haven't read much of his before, but I enjoyed this one.
I had not realized that Margery Allingham "challenged the throne" of Agatha Christie, and would be interested in reading more of her works as well.
Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe story "Christmas Party" was good, too. I've not read his works, but have heard good things about them, and would consider them as well. In this one, Nero Wolfe was dressed up as a bartending Santa for a party in which there was a murder, and he didn't want to be caught up in the investigation.
James Mines' "Mother's Milk" was awful, and D. B. Wyndham Lewis' "Ring Out, Wild Bells" was just confusing, and awful in its own way. I never did see much of a motive, or anything else, there, and my husband had to explain to me whodunit, because I didn't get it even after reading it.
Another reviewer complained, and rightfully so, about the racist statement made in Rex Stout's work. But I thought the point wasn't that the statement should be emulated, but that one of the characters, Cherry, was unfairly judged, and she was trying to find a way around that prejudice. It did not portray the prejudice as good or right, but I took it as just acknowledging that it was an issue in the situation. Besides which, Cherry managed to outwit Nero Wolfe, at least momentarily, into doing what she wished to rectify the situation.
Favorite quotes:
"Old people are very slow to change their minds and your grandfather is very obstinate." - Agatha Christie in "The Adventures of the Christmas Pudding" I liked that quote as a reminder to go slowly in winning people, particularly older people.
"You work very hard to make this a happy house at Christmas time. I honour you." - Poirot to Mrs. Lacey in Agatha Christie's "The Adventures of the Christmas Pudding" I liked that quote because it was an acknowledgement that it IS hard work to do the Christmas holiday well.
In a listing of further Christmas mysteries, I'd consider reading "Hercule Poirot's Christmas" by Agatha Christie, and David Meredith's "The Christmas Card Murders"
I loved Agatha Christie's "The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding." I loved Poirot's character in that.
I had read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Blue Carbuncle" a couple of times before, once on my own and once with the kids. I've also seen Jeremy Brett's production of it.
I had also already read G. K. Chesterson's Father Brown in "The Flying Stars." I remember that one surprising me before.
The rest of these were new to me.
John Collier's "Back for Christmas" was too awful for me, along the lines of some of Poe's writings. Woody Allen's "Mr. Big" was silly, too silly for serious argument.
Damon Runyon's "Dancing Dan's Christmas" was funny.
I read A. A. Milne's "Guide to Gift Giving" to our household, who found it funny, William's changing of the name tags.
I enjoyed Margorie Bowen's "Cambric Tea" and Baroness Orczy's "A Christmas Tragedy," but not so much Stanley Elli's "Death on Christmas Eve" about those who could not heal and grow from past experiences.
I figured out Baynard Kendrick's "Silent Night," about the location of a kidnapping, but I'm not sure it "counts" for me because the detective figured it out in about the same instant SPOILER ... with the words "power" and "power plant." My dad used to live near that sound, long before he ever met my mom.
There were very few that I figured out in this set, but I did figure out the importance of the peg leg in "The Stolen Christmas Box."
"Inspector Ghote and the Miracle Baby" was sad. It left us hanging as to what Inspector Ghote did with his knowledge, whether the crime was reported or not. I hope, for the sake of other possible victims, that he did.
Charles Dickens' "To Be Taken with a Grain of Salt" was very eerie, more like Poe than I usually think of Dickens, although he did open with his characteristic deftness and humor in character description. It far surpassed the spookiness of "A Christmas Carol." In "To Be Taken," the ghost of the murder victim began to haunt a juror, somewhat like Poe's "Tell-Tell Heart," although in that instance, the murderer was the one fighting insanity.
I've read other Ellery Queen mysteries, and enjoyed "The Adventure of the Dauphin's Doll." I'm not sure whether I figured out that one or not. I'd considered the possibility, but hadn't settled on it. Usually the resolution to Ellery Queen's mysteries are much more far-fetched than that was, which is why I didn't decide definitely on it.
Robert Louis Stevenson's "Markheim" was compared to "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde," but it didn't seem similar to me at all, maybe because I haven't read "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" in full. I have, however, visited a museum of Stevenson in Scotland. I think I like his children's poetry best, although he has had some good adventure stories.
Dorothy Sayers is a novelist I'd like to read more. I hadn't figured out where "The Necklace of Pearls" had gone. I'd read another of her books after a teen of mine who chose it for a school assignment, and that made me want to read more someday. I've also seen an essay she'd written on education, which was an interesting contradiction to the preface that the editor gave her story.
Carter Dickson's "Blind Man's Hood" was horrific in its cruelty. Another one with a ghost.
Edward Hoch's "Christmas is for Cops" was an interesting read, about a murder committed in a Christmas gathering of cops. I have to say that the red herring derailed me on that one. I would consider reading more of his as well.
Thomas Hardy's "The Thieves Who Couldn't Stop Sneezing" was funny, and according to the intro, much more light-hearted that Hardy usually wrote. I haven't read much of his before, but I enjoyed this one.
I had not realized that Margery Allingham "challenged the throne" of Agatha Christie, and would be interested in reading more of her works as well.
Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe story "Christmas Party" was good, too. I've not read his works, but have heard good things about them, and would consider them as well. In this one, Nero Wolfe was dressed up as a bartending Santa for a party in which there was a murder, and he didn't want to be caught up in the investigation.
James Mines' "Mother's Milk" was awful, and D. B. Wyndham Lewis' "Ring Out, Wild Bells" was just confusing, and awful in its own way. I never did see much of a motive, or anything else, there, and my husband had to explain to me whodunit, because I didn't get it even after reading it.
Another reviewer complained, and rightfully so, about the racist statement made in Rex Stout's work. But I thought the point wasn't that the statement should be emulated, but that one of the characters, Cherry, was unfairly judged, and she was trying to find a way around that prejudice. It did not portray the prejudice as good or right, but I took it as just acknowledging that it was an issue in the situation. Besides which, Cherry managed to outwit Nero Wolfe, at least momentarily, into doing what she wished to rectify the situation.
Favorite quotes:
"Old people are very slow to change their minds and your grandfather is very obstinate." - Agatha Christie in "The Adventures of the Christmas Pudding" I liked that quote as a reminder to go slowly in winning people, particularly older people.
"You work very hard to make this a happy house at Christmas time. I honour you." - Poirot to Mrs. Lacey in Agatha Christie's "The Adventures of the Christmas Pudding" I liked that quote because it was an acknowledgement that it IS hard work to do the Christmas holiday well.
In a listing of further Christmas mysteries, I'd consider reading "Hercule Poirot's Christmas" by Agatha Christie, and David Meredith's "The Christmas Card Murders"
November 18, 2023
What better way to kick off the holiday season than with a little crime on Christmas? This collection sifts the best of the best to present ingenious mysteries guaranteed to be a gift for mystery readers. My personal favorites:
-John Collier, "Back for Christmas"--when enough becomes enough in an apparently happy marriage.
-Marjorie Bowen, "Cambric Tea"--a murder suspect to defy the odds.
-Ellery Queen, "The Adventure of the Dauphin's Doll"--I thought I was really clever seeing through a red herring. I was wrong.
-James Mines, "Mother's Milk"--a darkly humorous ironic ending that thwarts the potentially perfect murder.
Of course, installments by Christie, Doyle, Sayers, and Chesterton all shine like the Bethlehem star. Not a dud in the bunch.
-John Collier, "Back for Christmas"--when enough becomes enough in an apparently happy marriage.
-Marjorie Bowen, "Cambric Tea"--a murder suspect to defy the odds.
-Ellery Queen, "The Adventure of the Dauphin's Doll"--I thought I was really clever seeing through a red herring. I was wrong.
-James Mines, "Mother's Milk"--a darkly humorous ironic ending that thwarts the potentially perfect murder.
Of course, installments by Christie, Doyle, Sayers, and Chesterton all shine like the Bethlehem star. Not a dud in the bunch.
December 28, 2018
I've had this book for a few years but this is the first time I've made it through all 26 stories. I can only rate it a 3/5 because some of the stories were really good, but some were a waste of time. I suppose that means that everyone will find at least one that they can really enjoy! There were a few authors, like Christie and Doyle, that I already enjoyed and there were many that I had never read (or heard of) before. But there are one or two that I'll be looking for more from them based on these short stories.
December 26, 2019
I finally read this whole book!! I have probably owned it for 25 years. My mom got this for me when I was about 10 or so and it was too much for me. The stories were written around the 30’s or earlier and a lot of English authors. Some of them were still hard for me to focus on but there were also some really good stories. It was a fun way to celebrate the Christmas holiday. I read it like an advent calendar.
October 12, 2023
Fourteen short stories of murder and mayhem by well known mystery writers. The editor, Thomas Godfrey, also does a brief introduction before each short story. Good variety, entertaining stories, and a fine selection. Those who enjoy delving into mysteries containing Sherlock Holmes, Albert Campion, Poirot, Maigret, and other famous detectives in different settings will relish the Christmas themes.
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