Murder for Christmas
Discover the perfect classic mystery for Christmas
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4.3 • 3 Ratings
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
Mulled wine, mince pies...and murder.
Mordecai Tremaine, former tobacconist and perennial lover of romance novels, has been invited to spend Christmas in the sleepy village of Sherbroome at the country retreat of one Benedict Grame.
Arriving on Christmas Eve, he finds that the revelries are in full flow - but so too are tensions amongst the assortment of guests.
Midnight strikes and the party-goers discover that it's not just presents nestling under the tree...there's a dead body too. A dead body that bears a striking resemblance to Father Christmas.
With the snow falling and the suspicions flying, it's up to Mordecai to sniff out the culprit - and prevent someone else from getting murder for Christmas.
'The book nods towards Agatha Christie but retains a crackling atmosphere of dread and horror that will chill the heart however warm your fireside' Metro
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
First published in the U.K. in 1949, this captivating reissue from the pseudonymous Duncan (1918 1988) takes amateur sleuth and former tobacconist Mordecai Tremaine from London to the West Country, for a Christmas party hosted by retired businessman Benedict Grame at his new home, Sherbroome House. Nicholas Blaise, Grame's confidential secretary, expressed unease in the invitation, so Tremaine looks carefully at the guests, who include Grame's edgy sister, Charlotte; Grame's shady old friend, Jeremy Rainer; and Rainer's lively ward, Denys Arden. Denys's devoted suitor, Roger Wynton, whom Rainer dislikes, and a surly stranger hovering outside the house also capture Tremaine's interest. Grame's holiday tradition dressing up as Father Christmas and leaving a present for each guest takes a morbid turn when someone in a Santa outfit is found dead next to the Christmas tree, and the gifts, along with a valuable necklace, go missing. Unexpected and accomplished twists to the cozy mystery formula add to the old-fashioned pleasures of this novel.
Customer Reviews
Really enjoyed
4.5 star review of Murder for Christmas (Mordecai Tremaine) by Francis Duncan
Two of my favourite types of reads together Christmas and a murder mystery.
This was a great quirky read which I thoroughly enjoyed; reminding me a little of the works of Agatha Christie.
When amateur detective Mordecai Tremaine arrives in Sherbroome to attend a party hosted by Benedict Grame, he has no idea what is about to happen.
Throw in snow falling, mulled wine, tipsy guests, presents under a tree and the scene is set although all is not as it seems as there is an air of tension between the guests.
When a body who looks like Santa Claus is found under the tree Mordecai feels he must investigate before another murder occurs.
The guests are an eclectic group and the
police detective, Superintendent Cannock, reminds me of Christie's Inspector Japp.
Murder for Christmas kept me guessing till the end and was extremely well written. I enjoyed the storyline and really liked the characters, particularly Mordecai Tremaine.