A Christmas Deliverance by Anne Perry – a Review

A Christmas Deliverance by Anne Perry – a Review

 

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Description:
Scuff has come a long way from his time as a penniless orphan scraping together a living on the banks of the Thames. Now he’s studying medicine at a free clinic run by Dr. Crowe, a thoughtful if stoic mentor. But lately Crowe has been distracted, having witnessed an altercation between a wealthy former patient of his named Ellie–a woman that he not only treated but developed unacknowledged feelings for–and her controlling fiancé. It seems someone is forcing Ellie to marry the man. When Crowe’s emotions come flooding back, he sets out to uncover the troubling connection between Ellie, her father, and her betrothed.

With Crowe engrossed in his investigation just weeks before the holidays, Scuff is left to run the clinic on his own, treating London’s poor and vulnerable. In the holiday spirit, he offers Mattie, a young girl in need, a warm place to stay as the winter chill sweeps through the city. Together, Scuff and Mattie must also fend off the police, who are growing suspicious of Crowe’s amateur sleuthing. Will Crowe be able to help Ellie, and will Scuff be able to ensure that he and Mattie–and all of their patients–have a safe and peaceful Christmas?

 

 

Review:

A Christmas Deliverance by Anne Perry is a stand-alone novella, that is set in her mystery series, William and Hester Monk.  The story starts off with Dr. Crowe attending the wounds of a young girl, Mattie, as he fixes her damaged finger. Crowe operates a free medical clinic, mostly for the poor in its vicinity; with people paying mostly for the service with food, as well as occasional donations that help Crowe to purchase the medicines and equipment needed.  His assistant Scuff, has been learning everything about medicine, to help Crowe, his mentor, in handling the many patients that cannot afford to pay.  Scuff is the adopted son of William and Hester Monk (the other series), and he plays a major role in this story.

One day, Crowe arrives at a scene where a young woman is trapped under a carriage with a severe injury to her leg.  He manages to get her to his clinic to treat and cleanse the injury.  The young woman is Ellie Hollister, who is the daughter of a wealthy businessman. Her father is not pleased she is in this clinic for the poor, but with advice from his doctors, he allows her to remain for a few days.  Crowe was enamored by Ellie, but understands that she is out of his class.  A year later, he sees Ellie from a distance, having an argument with another man, who ends up slapping her.  Crowe comes to her rescue, and is shocked to discover that the man is her fiancée.  Crowe decides he needs to investigate why would Ellie would want to marry a man that abuses her.

With Crowe out of the office a lot to investigate the wealthy men Dolan and Hollister, Scuff is left to run the clinic mostly on his sown.  Young Mattie brings her kitten to Scuff, who realizes that Mattie is homeless, and offers her a warm place to stay with her kitten, Rosie, as well as give both of them food.  Mattie also helps out Scuff, with cleansing tools, and together they fend off the police, who are suspicious about Crowe’s investigations

What follows is Crowe using his connections throughout the town to learn more of why Ellie is being forced to marry Paul Dolan, an evil and abusive man. He learns about a fire, a dead man and the Dolan family possibly blackmailing Ellie’s father. As we race to the finish, Crowe visits Inspector Monk, to explain his findings, with an exciting dangerous finale.  A Christmas Deliverance was a well written mystery by Anne Perry.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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A Christmas Gathering by Anne Perry – a Review

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

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