Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Christmas Legacy by Anne Perry Series: Christmas Stories #19
Published by Ballantine on November 9, 2021
Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Pages: 208
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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After leaving her position with Charlotte and Thomas Pitt to get married, Gracie thought her days as a maid were behind her. But when her good friend’s daughter, Millie, turns up on her doorstep just before the holidays, frantic because things are going missing from the kitchen in the household she serves, Gracie knows she has to find out what is happening. Millie, whose mother died years before, can’t risk being accused of theft and getting thrown out on the street, with no character references for a new position.
So Gracie takes on Millie’s job herself, claiming Millie is sick and needs a few days to recuperate. At first, it seems that all is normal in the household, even if the couple’s elderly granny keeps entirely to her bedroom upstairs. But Gracie begins to realize that Granny is suffering from neglect—and rather than helping her, the husband and wife have decided she isn’t dying fast enough.
I’ve always enjoyed the books by this author and for the HoHoHo Read-athon, I have been devouring the Christmas series. I listened to first few through Audible plus, and found more at the library. I’m not quite finished but the books are unrelated to each other and mostly not connected to the various series. A Christmas Legacy is related to the Charlotte & Thomas Pitt series, as the main character is Gracie who was a maid for their household for many years, but now has a husband and children. So I suppose there are some general spoilers for that series.
All of the Christmas stories are a bit shorter, about a half book size but longer than what I consider a novella (under 100 pages). Regardless, the development of the world and characters is exquisite. I felt the characters as real people and their emotions connected to me. I could smell and taste the food, feel the fabrics cottons, wools and silk fabrics of items, and the chill of the winter air.
Millie comes to Gracie because she fears being thrown out of the home where she is in service because things aren’t right. Gracie, having been with the Pitts, knows how to research a mystery. So she goes to Millie’s place while Millie stays with her family. Really I wish Millie could have been clearer about what was happening. But a servant can be dismissed easily for a wide variety of things, whether true or not, so she needed to be discreet.
Gracie, on the other hand, is not really a servant, can’t be dismissed, and even if she were, she can just go home to her husband and family. So with great difficulty, she finds out what is wrong and tries to improve things. It’s an ugly situation but Gracie is able to provide some comfort all around.
A Christmas Legacy was a fast, easy read because it was so well written and interesting. I recommend it and all the Christmas stories I have read.
About Anne Perry
Anne Perry (born Juliet Hulme) is a British historical novelist.
Juliet took the name “Anne Perry,” the latter being her stepfather’s surname. Her first novel, The Cater Street Hangman, was published under this name in 1979. Her works generally fall into one of several categories of genre fiction, including historical murder mysteries and detective fiction. Many of them feature a number of recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt, who appeared in her first novel, and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in her 1990 novel The Face of a Stranger. As of 2003 she had published 47 novels, and several collections of short stories. Her story “Heroes,” which first appeared the 1999 anthology Murder and Obsession, edited by Otto Penzler, won the 2001 Edgar Award for Best Short Story.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- C21-Fall
This sounds really good. I was just writing on Sophia’s review that I wish I had more free time to read/listen to all of these great Christmas stories. Maybe next year, November/December will be dedicated to holiday-centric books!
I’m enjoying them. I can only do it every other year or so, it seems too early until after Thanksgiving. But now it is after so here’s this one. These Anne Perry Christmas stories are short, only 2-4 hours so I can finish 1-2 per day. You’d like them as they are more cozy style. The audio is good too.
That sounds pretty good.
I’m really enjoying them, short and well-written.
Nice to hear you’re still enjoying the series 19 books in. I know Sophia loves this author, too. Someday I’ll get to her books.
Well I haven’t read all of the Christmas stories yet but they are ok to jump around, out of order. I am not sure where I stopped in the Pitt series, somewhere when I got overloaded at work. I’ve thought about doing a Read-along although it is out of the UF sort of genre I have chosen mostly.
I never would have imagined Christmas stories by Perry! Wonderful review, Anne💜
They are fun little cozy mysteries set at Christmas.
I adore this series and especially when it is a story for a character I loved and want to follow up with from the main series like Gracie and Tellman.
Yes I really enjoyed it.
This book and series sounds so good. Sad that they are leaving Grandma in neglect, but it sounds like Gracie will sort that out!
yes I enjoyed it a lot.
I love Anne Perry’s writing and am a fan of her Christmas series. They always have such a cozy feel to them. Glad you’re enjoying them too. 🙂
Thank you, I totally agree. They are also just the right length for a one day listen, about half a book size.
Nice to hear the development and characters were exquisite.
I really like these, they are short, they are mysteries, the setting is England and they relate to the holidays.