A collection of crime stories around a Christmas theme. The best include the tie-in with the Slonsky series by Graham Brack, the one about Charles Dickens, the story about an older lady with an interesting wartime background and the final story in the collection regarding a dead son and his mother's desperation to get in touch with him. The others were adequate for the most part, though I found some completely unbelievable such as the one about the street beggars - it didn't work on so many levels. So on balance I would give this a 3 star rating. ( )

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 love anthologies. It’s a great way to try on new authors before coughing up the big bucks for their full length novel on spec. It’s also nice to have something you can dip into when you’ve got a few spare minutes to read a short story.

This is a collection from Sapere featuring 11 authors giving their takes on mysteries set around Christmas. Some are period pieces, some are set in present day. There’s a real mix here & as with all anthologies every reader will have their personal favourites.

So I’m just going to mention the three I thought were standouts.

“Will Power” by Marilyn Todd is set in 1895 London & features Julia McAllister, a smart independent woman who makes her living as a photographer. The narrative is pacey & atmospheric & full of witty dialogue & sharp humour I really enjoyed. She’s a new author for me & after reading this shortie I picked up the first book in the series.

“Secret Santa” by Kim Fleet features Eden Grey, a private investigator in Cheltenham. Another new author, another great story & another series I’ll be checking out (I think my TBR pile just burst into tears).

And last but not least, one that reunited me with a character I’m very familiar with…the one & only Lieutenant Josef Slonský. “Away in a Manger” by Graham Brack takes us to Prague for Xmas where we follow the gang as they deal with some festive pickpockets. As usual, the dialogue kept me grinning through the whole story.

There’s something here for all mystery lovers & at only 99¢ for kindle, it’s a screamin’ deal. ( )

''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/ ( )

An engaging collection of short mystery stories with a festive theme, eleven in total. I have read some of the authors but not others. It’s a good insight into the writers’ work if you are wishing to sample their books. I think my favourite is actually the last one, The Christmas Ghost by Linda Stratman, a tale about forgiveness - perhaps we could all take a leaf out of this little mystery!

Entertaining and intriguing, the stories are all well written. If you like snuggling up to the fire on a cold winter’s evening with a cosy light-hearted mystery wrapped up in tinsel, you’ll enjoy this one. ( )