A Christmas Gathering by Anne Perry – a Review

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Description:
As beautiful as it may be, their friends’ country home is not where Lady Vespasia wishes to spend Christmas with her new husband, Victor Narraway. She’d rather pass a relaxing holiday at home with him–especially because Victor, former head of the London Special Branch, seems to be hiding some undercover dealings with the other guests who have gathered in the spacious home.

As tensions grow among the couples, the young and beautiful Iris Watson-Watt becomes the center of several men’s focus. Unbeknownst to Vespasia, Iris carries a message for Victor that may help unmask a British traitor. As Victor plots his moves, he is reminded of a similar case from twenty years before, when a young Frenchwoman also carried a clandestine message–one that resulted in her murder, still unsolved to this day. Victor has always been tormented by his failure to protect her–and now, with all eyes on Iris, Victor must act fast before history repeats itself.

With the joy of Christmas at risk of being forgotten and Vespasia feeling alone on this holiday meant to be shared with loved ones, Victor must ultimately learn to forgive himself.

Review:

A Christmas Gathering by Anne Perry is a mystery that takes place in the English country side. I have not read Perry’s other mystery series, but this reads very well as a standalone. The story revolves around an older married couple, Lady Vespasia and her husband, Lord Victor Narraway, who have been married for three years.   It is Christmas time, and Vespasia would love to stay home together and enjoy the holiday.  Victor is a retired head of London’s Special Branch, and when he accepts an invitation to spend Christmas at a long-time friend’s country estate, Vespasia suspects he has to do an undercover assignment.

Besides the host (Max and Lady Amelia Cavendish), there are three other couples in attendance.  As everyone gathers for the nightly meal, tensions arise, as the hostess shows her dislike for Vespasia by her sarcastic comments. 

Vespasia is experienced and savvy in her older age, and reads people very well.  She discovers that Victor has to meet someone to pass over documents that might reveal a traitor.  What she also learns is that Victor had a similar case 20 years ago, when the woman he was supposed to protect was killed; which Victor has never forgotten what he terms was a failure. Victor will meet the woman, take the documents and when he returns to the estate, someone is shooting at him.  Victor does arrive safely, but finds out later that evening, the woman who gave him the documents was attacked, with her life hanging by a thread.   déjà vu?

What follows is an interesting mystery that will bring Vespasia to become more active to find the truth, and discover who indeed is the traitor and in doing so save Victor’s life.   Victor does put his life in danger when he knows the culprit wants more than those papers, as a long standing hatred will reveal why Victor is the real target. 

I really enjoyed this story, and I thought Vespasia was an excellent heroine, who despite her older age (60’s) was a fabulous character and great detective. I have not read the previous Victorian mysteries by Perry, and had no problem reading this book.   A Christmas Gathering is set in Victorian England, and was very well written by Anne Perry.  If you enjoy historical London backgrounds and an excellent mystery, I suggest you read A Christmas Gathering.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher