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Product Description
Product Description
December 1890: Eleven days before Christmas, Clarice and her husband, Reverend Dominic Corde, arrive in the idyllic village of Cottisham to watch over the Reverend Wynter’s flock, whilst he takes a richly deserved holiday.
With its village green and thatched cottages, Cottisham is a far cry from the bleak London parish they’ve left behind. But Clarice can’t shake the feeling that the welcoming smiles of the locals are hiding dark secrets.
When a shocking discovery confirms her suspicions, Clarice can’t resist investigating. Could it be that the Reverend is not all that he seems? Are there black sheep in the fold? One thing is certain: Clarice is determined to uncover the truth. Even if it means putting her own life in danger.
About the Author
New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry lives in Portmahomack, Scotland, and her well-loved series featuring Thomas and Charlotte Pitt has recently been adapted for television. The Cater Street Hangman was watched by millions of viewers when it was broadcast by ITV. Also available from Headline are the critically acclaimed William and Hester Monk mysteries.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
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 CHRSITMAS 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; but then, 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 CHRSITMAS GUEST in excellence, but it was a wonderfully satisfying read nevertheless.
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; but then, 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 CHRSITMAS GUEST in excellence, but it was a wonderfully satisfying read nevertheless.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
A delightful, gentle read to prepare you for Christmas. A crime novel in a traditional setting which apart from being a very good read evokes the spirit of Christmas as it used to be before global warming - snow, ice on ponds and big, cosy fires. Then there is the intrigue and secrets which can only belong to close knit village life. Anne Perry has put me in Christmas mood yet again and enthralled me with the reminder of Dominic Corde whom I last met in the Inspector Pitt novels. What more could a reader want? I have come to depend on her Christmas novellas - they are as much a part of my preparation as ordering the turkey.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Clarice and her husband the Reverend Dominic Corde are delighted with their Christmas gift - standing in for the Reverend Wynter when he takes a three-week holiday; for his parish is in a lovely village in Hertfordshire and that means that Clarice and Dominic can escape from industrial London and the Reverend Spindlewood to whom Dominic is a curate.
They are made very welcome by Mrs Wellbeloved, and by Sir Peter Connaught from the manor house, but Clarice begins to sense something amiss. Why has Mr Boscombe the vicar's right hand until six months ago , given up all his church duties? Although very helpful, he exhibits relief that the Cordes have not met and therefore been briefed by the Reverend Wynter. When Clarice makes a shocking discovery she determines to find out what is hiding behind the smiles that greet her in this idyllic village.
This is the fourth in the Victorian Christmas novellas, and I admit how much I now look forward to them. Whilst always being a good story they also always carry a Christmas message. Definitely a feel-good book to enhance your Christmas.
----
Lizzie Hayes
They are made very welcome by Mrs Wellbeloved, and by Sir Peter Connaught from the manor house, but Clarice begins to sense something amiss. Why has Mr Boscombe the vicar's right hand until six months ago , given up all his church duties? Although very helpful, he exhibits relief that the Cordes have not met and therefore been briefed by the Reverend Wynter. When Clarice makes a shocking discovery she determines to find out what is hiding behind the smiles that greet her in this idyllic village.
This is the fourth in the Victorian Christmas novellas, and I admit how much I now look forward to them. Whilst always being a good story they also always carry a Christmas message. Definitely a feel-good book to enhance your Christmas.
----
Lizzie Hayes
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Nice Little Read
Overall a nice read. I felt that it was a little rushed towards the end it needed a chapter just to round off.
Published 11 months ago by cookiesandcreamcandles
AN IDEAL LITTLE GIFT BOOK!
This little book is a very enjoyable read, and makes an ideal gift for Christmas, for male or female. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Mrs. V. Jeffery
Christmas Secret
Another excellent Anne Perry novel. Dominic Corde, the relief vicar at Cottisham, finds himself involved with the murder of the normal vicar. The Rev. Read more
Published on 25 May 2010 by Ms. Lorraine S. Webb
Lovely
This is such a warming novel. The characters really shine amid the setting of a charming English village. A lovely mystery / love story. Read more
Published on 22 Nov 2006 by Bea Zolis
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