A Christmas Beginning

Sometimes it's difficult to get away from work. Superintendent Runcorn is spending Christmas away from London on the island of Anglesey. While walking in the churchyard, he discovers the murdered body of a young woman. Although Runcorn has no jurisdiction in Anglesey, the local constable recognizes that he needs Runcorn's help to solve the murder since he has more experience with violent crime. He asks for Runcorn's assistance but keeps him at a distance, making sure that Runcorn is aware of his lower social status compared to his own and to the suspects in the case. Runcorn is already acquainted with one of the suspects. He had been involved with one of Runcorn's cases in London, and Runcorn is in love with his widowed sister. It's for show more Melisande's sake that Runcorn puts up with the scorn of the local investigators.

I found the side story of Runcorn's love for Melisande more interesting than the murder plot. Perhaps Anne Perry did, too. The investigation isn't as well developed as it could have been, and the resolution is awkward. I liked seeing a different side of Runcorn, who has enough self-honesty to recognize that the local constable is treating him in much the same way as Runcorn has treated his colleague, William Monk. It will be interesting to see if this new awareness will affect their relationship in future books in Perry's Monk series. show less

Decent little mystery. Christmas incidental to the proceedings.

I didn't feel that this Runcorn was familiar from the Monk books -- as if his character had to shift a bit in order to make him an acceptable Perry protagonist. One of the character actions seemed predictable and preposterous (both!) Other than that, a good little plot, with fewer twists and turns than usual because of the length.

Superintendent Runcorn is taking a holiday at an island off the north coast of Wales. It's a very quiet place, especially to one used to the bustle and noise of London, but the open air and beauties of nature grow on him while he walks around. He sees a very unpleasant acquaintance from Dark Assassin, John Barclay. Runcorn has never forgotten Barclay's beautiful, widowed sister, Melisande.

Runcorn attends the same church as Barclay because he hopes to see Melisande there. At the same service, Runcorn sees the soon-to-be murder victim in passing. He'll be the one to find her brutally stabbed body in the cemetery. The person investigating the case is handsome, well off, going to marry Melisande, and clueless. Runcorn will need all the show more tact he doesn't possess to help the poor guy find out the truth.

The scenes between Runcorn and Melisande were the best part of the book. If, when reading A Sunless Sea, you found Runcorn a better person than he's been before, this book will explain why. show less

Okay, I love Anne Perry, but this is the first of the Christmas series I've read. And there is something a bit odd, I finally thought, about a book about murder placed in a cozy Christmas setting. Well, possibly not cozy; the wind was bleak and the society perhaps bleaker. It read as one of those...books that go on after the main book is done, but in the reader or author's mind. And I don't believe I read the main book referenced, in which Runyon first meets Melisande.
What I love about Perry is how sensate she is, how you can hear the birds call and taste the hearty breakfast, how the cold cuts to your bone, how you smell that metallic scent of blood there in the churchyard. I'll read anything by this author, but if you are new to her show more you should start with one of the main titles. show less

The class consciousness that overlays this story is very distasteful. It is intrusive. It is repetitive. And it takes away from the story which is quite well done. As usual, Perry does an excellent job of scene setting. Her "warm rooms" are very inviting and the biting winds suggest a sweater to the reader.

I've been reading this series out of order as I find the books. I don't see that it makes a difference in the telling of the stories. This one took a while to bring all of the characters into view and with substance. I felt for a while it dragged and then half way through the book the story got a shot of espresso and information was flying at the reader. Non fact, I had to re-read portions to get people and situations in order. It really does get good but I think I'll re-read it just to glean information or hints I missed in the beginning.

One of the better short mysteries by Perry. I enjoyed the story of Runcorn's visit to a small island north of Wales during his holiday vacation. But when a young woman is murdered, Runcorn is asked to help the local police. Runcorn also runs into a woman he loves from afar, but who is now engaged to a local on the island. His heart is aching. But as he and she discuss the case, they find they are drawn to each other and know that there is a real person behind the murder. Will they discover the culprit before it is too late? And can they find peace in their relationship?