A mystery, but not one of the gruesome murder kind. Set in a village in North Carolina where a church choir is practicing a cantata for a Christmas service and shot through with gentle humor. Heartwarming, with appealing characters. ( )

I received this book as a Christmas present because anyone who know me knows I'm a big Mark Schweizer laugh. There are few writers than can have me laughing hysterically while riding on a bus, but Schweizer is one of them.

This however, was not the typical Mark Schweizer book. There was no murder, and no potboiler being written by Hayden. There was a lovely story, with some gentle humour thrown in. As well, there is not as much necessity to know about liturgy and church polity in this book than in his usual fare. I can recommend the book, simply because it's another story about Hayden, but I think it belongs more with those who are on the sentimental side. ( )

A change from the usual goings on in St. Germaine, with a never before played cantata found in the St. Barnabas church archives which produces goodwill and good humour every time it is rehearsed and eventually played. ( )

I think this is the best book in this series. A long lost Cantata, a mysterious composer and a town feeling grumpy going into the Christmas holidays.

Normally I pretty much skim the portions of the book that are Hayden writing his crime fiction ala Dashiel Hammett because it is so far outside the actual story. This time those sections are actually memories of the female who composed the mysterious Cantata.

Hayden has to try to get the choir to learn the Cantata, find out about the composer and try and raise the spirits grumpy townspeople.

Touching, wonderful ending. If you've never read any of these stories, this one is excellent and would not make anyone feel they needed to read all the books in order. Highly recommended. ( )

This St. Germaine novella features everyone’s favorite mystery writer wannabee, Hayden Konig. But this time he isn’t penning those literary snippets. This novella is geared for the holidays where the residents of St. Germaine, NC, are grumpy and ornery. Interspersed through the story is a back story of 1937 when a young woman meets the love of her life before he is shipped off to war. Meanwhile, a cantata is found in the basement of the courthouse. At first it appears too difficult for the choir to handle. But once the notes fall into place, a strange feeling of Holiday cheer blankets the town. All the usual characters are on hand for this “feel good” ditty which can be read any time of the year. ( )