Silent Night

So often authors virtually phone these "in-between" novellas in. Not so with Silent Night, which comes after the fifth full entry in the Lady Julia Grey mystery series. In this novella, amusingly counted as 5.5 in the series, Lady Julia and her new husband and old partner, Nicholas Brisbane, spend Christmas with her father, the eccentric Earl March, and some of her unconventional family. While at Bellmont Abbey, the March family's country home in Sussex, Lady Julia, acting mostly without Brisbane's help, successfully investigates the appearance of a ghost and the disappearance of pieces of jewelry.

The Audible Audio Edition is less than two hours long, but author Deanna Raybourn manages to create an appealing mystery that you'll devour show more in one sitting. Having thoroughly enjoyed The Dark Enquiry, it was nice to have a little bit of Lady Julia to tide me over until the next full novel. I can hardly wait! show less

Lady Julia and Brisbane are summoned once more to her family estate for Christmas. However, Julia's expectations of a quiet and warm familial Christmas are dashed when she discovers that half the household staff are sick with colds, her father is a terrible humour, and the house isn't even decorated for Christmas. Plus, much to everyone's dismay it appears there is once more a jewelry thief in their midst during the festive season.

Thoroughly delightful Christmas novella. The writing is just as enjoyable as one of the full novels and while the mystery is on the fluffy side, it's exactly right for a book set at Christmas. Does contain mild spoilers for the previous books in the series so should not be picked up out of order.

This novella takes place at Christmas at Bellmont Abbey. Julia has been looking forward to spending time with her new husband in the Rookery, a dower house given to her by her father, but a fallen tree means they are housed in the Abbey. With only half of his children able to attend and a romantic disappointment, the Earl is a picture of gloom. Throw in missing jewels and a return of the ghost from an earlier mystery and Julia and Brisbane have a number of things to investigate.

Silent Night: A Lady Julia Christmas Novella – Raybourne

4 stars

Easy, diverting, entertaining; this is a humorous Christmas visit for fans of Raybourne’s Lady Julia series. All of the usual characters
with their accompanying menageries are present for holiday festivities at Bellmont Abbey. There’s a ghost, a theft and plenty of affectionate, private moments for Brisbane and Lady Julia. It was just fun, 4 stars worth of easy enjoyment.

This little novella isn't really a mystery at all; there's no murder to solve. There are odd goings on and of course we have Julia and Brisbane and Julia's family. It does take place at Christmas, so there is the draw of the holiday.

Overall, it was a gentle story that let me spend time with a couple of my favorite characters. It's really only for series fans, though.

I liked this Christmas Novella in the Lady Julia Grey mystery series. Not much of a mystery in it, but I enjoyed this glimpse of the mad March's at Yuletide with many familiar faces at Bellmont Abbey. Short and sweet - quick read.

Julia and Brisbane spend another Christmas at her family's home (originally visited in Silent in the Sanctuary. Once again, ghosts are at play, only this time less murderous. The mystery is pretty thin, but Julia's family is as wonderfully eccentric as before, making for a delightful read. A fun choice for the holidays.