A Christmas Secret

By: Anne Perry

Narrated by: Terrence Hardiman

Length: 4 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's Summary

Dominic and Clarice Corde, who met and fell in love in Brunswick Gardens, journey to a quaint hamlet to replace the local vicar who is away on holiday. The holiday takes a nasty turn when the vicar is discovered not to be away at all, but brutally murdered and stashed in the cellar.

So instead of fulfilling the vicar's duties, the Cordes are charged with solving his murder. All the while, the picturesque village is becoming increasingly and dangerously snowbound, its residents trapped as a killer remains at large.

©2006 Anne Perry (P)2008 BBC Audiobooks America

I Love the Anne Perry Books.....

Too short but very enjoyable. I think I have read all of Anne Perry's Christmas books. I always enjoy the narrator, Terrence Hardiman. He gives the book depth and makes you want to keep listening without stopping which is what I always do. I so enjoy listening to what happens in the little quaint villages. Anne Perry's holiday books allow you to escape for a short time and just get lost in the story. Looking forward to the next book.

Nice, clean cozy mystery

Very well written and clean . I was surprised by who the killer was.Highly recommend novel!

She's not as good at shorter stories

It's not bad, but it pales in comparison to the Victorian mysteries. Probably because she is used to taking her time to develop complex, fascinating characters, this shorter form just doesn't cut it.

Christmas Intrigue

These novellas by Anne Perry have tenuous links to her other series. This book is linked to her Thomas Pitt series. I have yet to read those books, but having listened to this, am determined to begin.
What I like most about these books is the complexity of the characters. They all come with faults and imperfections. They have challenges to overcome. As a murder is solved, those involved do a bit of growing and stretching. Predominantly,, the message n these books is one of hope and a trust that God can forgive us. Certainly not your average but of Christmas fluff and all the more enjoyable because they are so thought provoking.

Secrets, Murder and Mercy at Christmas

This is perhaps the best so far of Anne Perry's Christmas books, with just the right mixture of suspense, atmosphere and the true meaning of Christmas. When the local vicar goes on holiday, the parish calls Dominic Corde to fill in while he is away, so he and his wife, Clarice arrive just in time for Christmas. Yet Clarice begins to find things in the parsonage that she believes the vicar would have surely taken with him on holiday, his personal Bible, then his winter coat and boots. And as she is left alone one day and the fire burns low, she has to enter the cellar to fetch more coal, with the vicar's cat following behind. Horrified she discovers the body of the vicar . . . lying dead. When she sends for the doctor, he hastily declares his death an accident. But the more that Clarice thinks upon the circumstances, the more she is certain he was murdered. The mystery is very good, and both Dominic and Clarice work together to gently discover why and who may have wanted the vicar dead. I love the writing in this short novel, which describes each person in the parish so well, their strengths and weaknesses, and most of all their love for their vicar, now dead. The grace and mercy with which the new vicar (and his wife), substituting for the holidays, shows towards each person and their circumstances are admirable. I had no idea who the murderer was. I would love to hear more stories about the people in this little town. Perfect Christmas time tale of love and forgiveness.

Fun!!!

Entertaining cozy Christmas mystery with the vicar Dominic and Clarice. I think they would be a fun series. Love Anne Perry's books.

Good mystery, good message. Narrator A-

I enjoyed this one a lot. Whether I believe in the Christian god or not, the message was good. And the mystery and conclusion were satisfying.

I liked the narrator very much.