A Christmas Secret [Paperback]

I've become quite fond of Anne Perry's Christmas novellas in spite of the fact that they're not always as compelling or as thought provoking as her Pitt or her Monk series. True, they are extremely well written (or at least I find them to be so), and possess many of the quality traits that you'd find in her other novels -- good period detail, thoughtful storylines and good character developments. And indeed I thought that her previous Christmas novella, "A Christmas Guest" was really quite stella and the best of the lot so far. So that while I still think that "A Christmas Guest" is the best Christmas novella Anne Perry has written to date, I did think that "A Christmas Secret" was a very engaging and satisfying read. It may not be the most suspenseful or most intriguing read of the month, but I enjoyed it nevertheless and can definitely recommend as a good read.

"A Christmas Secret" features Daniel Corde, Charlotte Pitt's brother-in-law, who has turned his back on his life of wealth and privilege, and who has taken orders, and his new wife, Clarice, as chief protagonists. Anne Perry fans may remember Daniel as the self-indulgent husband of Charlotte's eldest sister, who was brutally murdered in the first Thomas and Charlotte Pitt mystery, "The Cater Street Hangman." In "A Christmas Secret" Daniel is given the opportunity to escape the petty and critical gaze of his superior and to stand in for the vicar of the village of Cottisham, the Reverend Wynter, over the Christmas season. Knowing that his has enormous shoes to fill (Wynter is much beloved and revered by his parishioners), Daniel is, nevertheless, determined to do his best and to make as good an impression as possible. But when Daniel's clever wife, Clarice, makes a shocking discovery in the cellar, she and Daniel are confronted with the choice between doing the right and moral thing, and doing the prudent and safe thing. Suddenly the village of Cottisham is not as idyllic or as safe as it seems. However, Daniel and Clarice are determined to do the right thing, no matter the cost to themselves...

The mystery is not a very complex one; however, quite truthfully speaking, I don't really read Anne Perry's Christmas novellas for their depth and complexity of plot. I read them because they are so very engaging; because she uses minor characters from her series and gives new depths and dimensions to these characters, making them more accessible and understandable; and because of her good understanding of human foibles, frailties and nobility. "A Christmas Secret" may not exceed "A Christmas Guest" in excellence, but it was a wonderfully satisfying read nevertheless.

Anne Perry writes a Christmas story each year - this offering features a young couple, Rev. Dominic and Clarice Corde who arrive at a village for Dominic to substitute for a cleric who has left abruptly. They are a loving couple want to do their best for each other, and do the best they can for their parish. When the 'vacationing' reverend is found dead in the cellar of the house, Clarice and Dominic set themselves to find out who murdered the rev.. It is a good whodunit, with the shades of the Victorian Era life. These Perry books feature members from the Monk and Pitt series - such as Lady Vespasia, Charlotte Pitt's mother, Henry Rathbone - now the Cordes (Daniel was Charlotte's brother-in-law whose wife (Charlotte's sister) was murdered in the first of the Pitt series, Cater Street Hangman. Pitt solved this murder.)
I read this book in one sitting. I am a fan of Perry's. and think this book will be enjoyed by all -

I had not read any of Anne Perry's Christmas novels before this one, but I'm glad I chose this one to begin the series. True this novel is not long or complicated, but it is still very well written and has the usual Perry deft touch of period details, Victorian atmosphere, and character development. "A Christmas Secret" features Dominic Corde and his new wife, Clarice, as chief protagonists. Faithful Perry readers may remember Dominic from the first Perry novel, "The Crater Street Hangman." Dominic, Charlotte Pitt's former brother in law, has turned his back on wealth and priviledge and is now a Church of England Vicar. In "A Christmas Secret" Dominic is asked to substitute for the Vicar of Cottisham. The Reverend Wynter, much loved by his parishoners in the small village, has gone on vacation during the Christmas season. Dominic is determined to do his best for the parish and is struggling with his confidence in this new situation. While he is out getting visiting and getting to know his new parishoners, Clarice makes a shocking and horrifying discovery in the cellar.

Suddenly, Clarice and Dominic find that the village of Cottisham is not the nice quiet little village they thought it was. Dominic and Clarice, although horrified by the discovery, are determined to get to the bottom of the mystery and to uncover any dark secrets that led to the crime. The mystery is not difficult to solve, but Perry uses past characters from her books to give new depth and dimension to them. It's like meeting old friends again after a long absence. "A Christmas Secret" was a lovely Christmas gift to read for the holidays. A really nice touch in the novel comes at the end of the book, when Dominic Corde's gives his holiday sermon. He says, "The greatest Christmas gift is Hope, {which is} a way back from every mistake we have made, no matter how small or how large, how ugly or how incredibly stupid, or how shameful."