A Christmas Guest

Mariah Ellison, grandmother to Charlotte Ellison Pitt of the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series, is the focus of this Christmas offering. In Half Moon Street we readers learned what made Mrs. Ellison such a nasty person. Having the secret she'd kept so long come out hasn't turned her all sweetness and light. I can imagine the delight with which Emily let her Grandmama know that she was being foisted on her daughter-in-law and Caroline's second husband for Christmas. Why wasn't the old shrew foisted on her other surviving granddaughter and family? As if Mrs. Ellison would lower herself to stay in the home of a *sneer* policeman. (Lucky Pitts!)

Farewell, London, hello Romney Marsh. Caroline and Josiah are gracious hosts and Mrs. Ellison an show more ungrateful guest. She's particularly outraged when Joshua's family sends Aunt Maude to stay with them. Maude has spent 40 years in countries such as Egypt and Persia. She's a fascinating person -- I loved her descriptions of the places she'd been -- but Mrs. Ellison refuses to admit it. Then picture-of-health Maude dies in the night.

Mrs. Ellison suspects murder. She contrives to get herself appointed to bring the sad news to the rest of the family in person. While she tries to ferret out the truth, Mrs. Ellison acts like a nice, decent human being for a change. After all, these persons don't what she's been like for decades. Mariah finds she enjoys being nice. She also learns a bit of respect for her grandson-in-law, Thomas. His work is more difficult than she'd thought.

The truth sets several of the characters free. I rather wish we could have seen what Emily and family thought of the new and improved Grandmama when they met again. show less

Cantankerous and vinegar-tongued Grandmama arrives on a holiday visit to the home of Charlotte's parents, where a fellow guest--an outcast from her own family--is subsequently murdered. Like the heroes before her in Anne Perry's Christmas novels, Grandmama is called upon to play the role of amateur detective.

Grandmama is a bitter old woman who criticizes everything. As she starts to investigate and learn about the other woman, she does comparisons between the two of them. It makes her rethink some of her attitudes and she’s a better person at the end. This was a quick and decent story with a bit of Christmas sprinkled throughout.

The Christmas Guest - Anne Perry
audio performance by Terrance Hardiman
3 stars

This Christmas novella is a spin-off of Perry’s Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series. It features Charlotte’s cantankerous Grandmama, Mariah Ellison. Another Christmas blizzard, and a fortuitous murder turns the bitter Mariah into an amature detective while providing her with a Scrooge-like opportunity for character reformation. Three hours of lightweight entertainment; which was perfect for my round trip holiday drive.

Toward the end of 2009, my sister again introduced me to another challenge (The Christmas Challenge) so I found several books that were related to the holiday that I had not initially intended to read. This one I truly enjoyed because I read Anne Perry's books and recognized the characters.

This tale is about Grandmama Ellison from the Thomas & Charlotte Pitt series. Those who have read the series, know this character as a mean-spirited, grumpy old lady who is shuffled from family member to family member. For this Christmas she is sent to spend the holiday with her daughter-in-law (who has remarried a man younger than herself and actor, horrors!) Then when the new "son-in-law" receives a message from his aunt that another aunt is being show more sent to his house, also for the holiday, Mrs. Ellison is extremely put out because she will not be receiving the attention she feels she deserves. The story evolves in an unusual manner but is reminiscent of a Christmas Carol for the spirit of redemption. It is amusing to watch the character change. show less

Uplifting!

Thank you Anne Perry for this uplifting installment of the Christmas Mystery Series. The series features minor characters from red main series who uncover murders at Christmas time. This one featured "Grandmama" Ellison, a mean spirited Scrooge like character. It was both an insightful and inspirational read!

Think - Jessica Fletcher goes to Victorian England. A light little mystery, maybe even a cozy, but not too chicky for my taste. I will definitely read more of Anne Perry's works.

My favorite of this author's work. Main character grows while solving murder. Well narrated and recommended.