Christmas Novellas

Anne Perry's latest Christmas novella follows Charlotte Pitt's mother, Caroline, as she travels up the Yorkshire coast with her husband, Joshua Fielding, and his troupe of actors. Their destination is Whitby, the famed landing site of Count Dracula in Bram Stoker's tale; the brooding, windswept fishing village is home to theatrical "Angel" Charles Netheridge. Cleverly playing upon the idea of evil as something one has to invite in, Anne Perry delivers another thrilling, ultimately heart-warming tale just in time for Christmas. "There's loads of atmosphere, plenty of Gothic steam, and a clever trick ending." "Perry's fine ninth Victorian Christmas mystery takes Caroline Fielding, the mother-in-law of Inspector Thomas Pitt of Scotland Yard (the lead of Perry's main series), to the town of Whitby, in York, where Dracula came ashore in Stoker's recently published horror novel…Caroline proves herself an astute sleuth in this challenging whodunit." "Background on staging a play, plenty of vampire lore, and the personal story of Caroline's attempt to fit in with her much-younger husband's colleagues add to the appeal of this engaging locked-room mystery." "With careful attention to the nuances of character, Perry offers a tale worthy of mulling over by the fireplace."

Anne Perry's "vastly entertaining" (Newark (NJ) Star-Ledger) holiday novels are "as delicious as mince pie and plum pudding" (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel). A Christmas Hope is just as delectable, the gripping story of an unforgettable battle between goodness and evil in Victorian London-and a lonely woman's search for meaning in her life. Claudine Burroughs, a volunteer in Hester Monk's clinic for sick and injured prostitutes, no longer expects closeness with her coldly ambitious husband and dreads the holidays. Then, at a glittering Yuletide gala, she meets the attractive poet Dai Tregarron, and suddenly her spirits lift. But an hour later, this fascinating man is enmeshed in a nightmare-accused of killing a young streetwalker who had been smuggled into the party. Even though she suspects that an upper-class clique is quickly closing ranks to protect the real killer, Claudine and the clinic's disreputable bookkeeper, Squeaky Robinson, vow to do their utmost for Dai. It seems, however, that hypocritical London society would rather send an innocent poet to the gallows than expose the shocking truth about one of their own. Nevertheless, it's the season of miracles, and Claudine and Squeaky finally see a glimmer of hope-not only for Dai but for an innocent young woman teetering on the brink of a lifetime of unhappiness. Anne Perry's heartwarming new holiday novel is a celebration of courage, faith, and love for all seasons. "Filled with Christmas spirit and strong suspense, Perry's latest in her annual holiday series is the perfect present for the season…A Christmas Hope has a strong atmosphere, pertinent details of a Victorian Christmas, and a heartwarming conclusion." "Set in December 1868, Perry's well-crafted eleventh Christmas-themed mystery features a character from her William Monk series…A compelling story and lead make this a winner."