A New York Christmas

Everyone has their own holiday traditions unique to them whether it’s a specific decoration or meal or just something to evoke past memories. For me, it’s seeking out new interesting Christmas stories and, for this, I always look to Anne Perry. Every year she puts out a new Christmas novella starring one of the characters from her historical mystery novels. This year, it is Jemima Pitt, daughter of Thomas Pitt.

The year is 1904 and Jemima has agreed to accompany a wealthy heiress to New York where she will marry the young scion of a wealthy American family. But things go terribly awry and Jemima finds herself arrested for murder. Fortunately she gets bailed out but remains under suspicion. Her father may be too far away to help but show more all those years of watching him solve cases have made her a pretty good sleuth in her own right. With the aid of a young NY police officer, she sets out to investigate the crime herself.

A New York Christmas is more about love and friendship, romance and betrayal than it is a mystery, the solution of which is fairly evident early on. However, the thing I like about Perry is her compassion and caring for her characters and the fact that she is as meticulous as possible in maintaining the etiquette of the era while creating an interesting and atmospheric tale. There may be romance but it is always staid; there is no bodice ripping or even kissing in public. Police procedures stay true to the level of the time, no modern techniques in an early 20th century setting. Where she does deviate from the norms of the period is in her female protagonists who are always strong, independent women who, even when they marry which was one of the few options open to women at the time, they marry for love and outside their class and Jemima is clearly developing into her own woman whether she marries or not.

As in her other Christmas novellas, the story takes place during the Christmas season but is less about Christmas and more about the true meaning of the season. Here, it is about hope and friendship and new beginnings. At this busy time of year, it is a fine tale to curl up with during one of those infrequent quiet times to just relax and try to remember why we celebrate the holiday. show less

Christmas in New York in 1904. In the last Charlotte and Thomas Pitt novel which I read earlier this year, young Jemima was 16 years old. For those not in the know, Jemima is Charlotte and Thomas's daughter. In this book we jump ahead seven years and we sail across the ocean with Jemima. She is accompanying her young friend on an Atlantic crossing in order to be there to support her at her wedding in New York. I was excited to read this book because I love Charlotte and Thomas Pitt so much, and I thought it would be wonderful to read about their grown daughter. Not to mention that New York and Christmas seem to go together. New York has always had such a holiday cachet about it. The book was OK, but it was a disappointment to me. Ms. show more Perry's little Christmas novellas are always short, but Ms. Perry usually manages to get a whole story in the few pages of these books. There are never usually any glaring loopholes and startling coincidences. I didn't feel the same about this one. The book seemed rushed and in fact, unbelievable in spots, which is totally unlike Anne Perry's writing. I found as I was reading that there were a number of times where the reader is expected to take a leap of faith in order to get to the next point in the story. So disappointed as I look forward every year to these little Christmas cozies. show less

At the turn of the last century, Jeminia Pitt escorts Delphinia Cardew across the Atlantic so that Delphinia can marry into NYC’s elite. Instead, she gets mixed up in a dark secret involving Delphans estranged mother and travels the streets of New York during this winter season.

A quick Christmas mystery story, which was entertaining but I felt as though it was rushed to make it for holiday publication date. And although I have read it way past Christmas I still found it pleasant enough nevertheless.

I was very surprised to discover that this was the 12th Christmas novel by Anne Perry as she is a new author to me discovered when I first read the blurb in the “Early Reviewer” November 2014 listing from LibraryThing. I was very happy that I was selected to receive an Early Reviewers copy of this title from the monthly batch of offerings. I love Christmas so I can enjoy a novel with a Christmas theme at any time during the year but it always adds to the festivities to discover and read a “new title” by a “new author” (to me) during the actual holiday season. I could have devoured this treat in one sitting but some morsels should be savored and so I read it in two sittings.

The story occurs in the year 1904 as two (2) young show more women cross the Atlantic on an ocean liner for the adventures of their lives. There is Jemima Pitt, age 23, escort to young Delphinia (known as Phinnie) Cardew, age 19, who is to become the bride of aristocratic Brent Albright in a grand, high-society wedding of the year which will further bind and commit two wealthy families to one another, each of the fathers considered titans in the international world of finance.

Exquisite book cover art is not a must but without a doubt it can add an extra element of delight to the novel and certainly did for this title. The book design by Karin Batten gave a beautiful pictorial and romantic essence of being welcomed to New York in the midst of winter which led to a beautiful dedication by the author Anne Perry “to all the adventurers of the heart”.

Another charm and highlight of this novel is the multitude of components that are layered into the story without any of the layers being compromised or appearing just for the sake of entry. There is mystery and intrigue, history and romance that is layered with an unsuspected death, an unlikely suspect, the return of a prodigal mother for a daughter’s wedding and is suspect to cause even more chaos and embarrassment to all then when she left so many years ago, and illustrates an example of what lengths a well-meaning relative may go to protect the family fortune. Add to the mixture a daughter learning her inner strength and courage based on her father’s career example in law enforcement, a young police officer's trust in his own judgment, and another daughter learning that her mother’s secret for leaving her father so many years ago was for a more meaningful reason than the daughter could have ever imagined. Picture the setting of a Victorian era New York just a few days before Christmas and the adventures of the heart begin…

The special luxury for the reader is to understand as one finishes the last chapter that this was all accomplished in settings described so vividly that one’s imagination was rich with images to feel present in the rooms with the Albright family, or talking privately with family member Celia, or “walking the neighborhoods” of New York with Jemima and Patrick. I can’t give this novel higher praise than to share that I can’t wait to read another Christmas novel by Anne Perry. show less

In the beginning the book had all the ingredients...interesting characters, mysterious mystery, period details. But it did not hold together, at all. A novella, particularly a mystery novella requires consistent pacing and a satisfying ending. All of a sudden, about 3/4 of the way through the book fell apart. The plot twists made little sense and honestly, the only reason I continued was to be able to rate it here on LibraryThing.

...treachery and hope!

Anne Perry's superb writing skill continues to delight me. What goes on beneath the surface of her stories is always a pleasure to ponder. In A New York Christmas sacrifice and love shine through. Questions follow questions, seemingly dark and despairing, and yet a light shines through and truth is revealed.
It's 1904 and Thomas and Charlotte Pitts daughter 23 year old daughter Jemima journeys across the Atlantic as a companion to a wealthy young woman Delphinia Cardew,who is to marry into a wealthy New York family--the Albrights. This was to be Jemima's 'first real adventure of her life.'
There are strange undercurrents amongst the Albrights. Jemima is unsure about Phinnie's brother-in-law to be, Harley. Phinnie show more moves between spoilt heiress aware of her alleviated societal place and insecure young woman.
A mystery surrounding Phinnie's mother Maria comes to a head and Jemima finds herself in jail charged with murder. The Albrights draw ranks and Jemima, although still residing in their house, is left to fend for herself. Will she ever see London and her loved ones again?
In her search for the truth and in order to clear her name Jemima finds herself travelling the length and breadth of New York, supported by the young police officer her arrested her, the upright and delectable Patrick Flannery.
For Jemima, a Christmas time miracle is going to be needed.
Spurred on by the thought that she needs to clear her name or suffer incarceration, Jemima applies the logical thought and investigative skills that she has imbibed from the hearth.
Intrigue and surprise are part and parcel of the final outcome. show less

I have a weakness for a Christmas story, and Perry does a wonderful job with the Christmas genre. Perry continues with characters from the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series, which I have just started to read. I much prefer the Monk series, but life must have a few bumps. Jemima Pitt, the daughter of Charlotte and Thomas Pitt, accompanies an acquaintance to New York in 1904. Imagine the wonder of sights and smells to experience in New York, but Jemima falls face first into a murder. The book is only a seasonal novella with little time to fully develop characters, but Jemima's personality shines through the dim winter. Jemima seems a younger version of her mother, which limits the story. In the end, the story is unusual and delightful.