The first book in a classic Golden Age mystery series perfect for fans of Agatha Christie’s Hercule PoirotWhen Mordecai Tremaine arrives at the country retreat of one Benedict Grame on Christmas Eve, he discovers that the revelries are in full swing in the sleepy village of Sherbroome-but so too are tensions amongst the assortment of guests.When midnight strikes, the partygoers discover that … the partygoers discover that presents aren’t the only things nestled 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 suspicions flying, it’s up to Mordecai to sniff out the culprit-and prevent anyone else from getting murder for Christmas.
Murder for Christmas is a festive mystery for the holiday season: mulled wine, mince pies… and murder.
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I enjoyed it very much. It was the first one I had read by this author but will not be the last.
Nice, light read. A couple of mis-steps, but very worth your time!
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. u2002
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.
I received an ARC copy of this book through the publisher via Netgalley.
Mordecai Tremaine arrives at the country estate of Benedict Grame on Christmas Eve. Soon he discovers that the holiday celebrations are in full swing in the sleepy village of Sherbroome. Yet, as festive as it may seem there is tension between the guests and the host.
Benedict loves to set a mood of an older time for his guests, including dressing up as Father Christmas and placing gifts on the tree. At midnight, a scream rings out, and the guests discover that presents aren’t the only things nestled under the tree. The body of Father Christmas lays under the tree. With the snow falling and suspicions flying, it’s up to Mordecai to find the killer and prevent a murderer from getting away.
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Series: Mordecai Tremaine Mystery Book 1
Author: Francis Duncan
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Vintage Books
Francis Duncan was the pseudonym for William Underhill, who was born in 1918 and died in 1988. Murder for Christmas was the first book in his Mordecai Tremaine Mystery Series.
Mr. Underhill was a prolific writer of murder mysteries and was of the same caliber as Agatha Christie. Although this book is not the fast pace style of a Christie novel, it nevertheless intrigues and entertains. Underhill could weave a story that kept the reader guessing until the very end and provided a conclusion to the mystery that fulfilled all the reader’s needs. His stories were well written, detailed and allowed the reader to drift away to a different place and time. Leaving them with the feeling of having actually walked the streets and investigated an old mansion in the heart of England. His writing was never boring.
The characters in Murder for Christmas are well rounded with personalities and quirks that make the reader smile and frown. Mordecai Tremaine is a very likable character with a penchant for romance stories. Readers will love his romanticism while staying impersonal and objective. His methods are unique, and his results cannot be argued.
The remaining characters, Denys, Roger, Charlotte, and so forth, as well as the killer, are wonderfully written with hints of secrets and motives. The reader will keep changing their mind about who did it as the clues are explained and the questions answered. The final reveal may even have readers stunned by how wrong they were, or congratulating themselves for being right.
The setting is picturesque and perfect for a Christmas murder. The reader will have a sense of winter, cold and a touch of holidays the way they used to be. The small village and the residents are described in such a way that the reader is taken back in time. A time when small town life meant everyone knew everyone else’s business, and strangers were spotted a mile away but did not remain strangers for long.
Mr. Underhill’s books and Murder for Christmas are highly recommended to those who are true murder mystery fans, lovers of Agatha Christie, and those that enjoy a journey through time.