At Christmas-time, the members of the Melbury family gather at their ancestral home, Flaxmere, in the county of Haulmshire. Please try again. Various members of the family have their private suspicions about the identity of the murderer, and the Chief Constable of Haulmshire, who begins his investigations by saying that he knows the family too well and that is his difficulty, wishes before long that he understood them better. Cart All. The first chapters, which cover the days leading up to the murder, are reports written by various members of the family. About 18 people are gathered at a country house (family, guests, staff) for Christmas, and naturally there is a murder and everyone seems to have a motive for the killing. A fun book club mystery for the holidays! But this is a golden-age mystery, a country house whodunnit, with lost of suspects and lots of clues and surprises, filled with the fun trimmings of Christmas: warm fires, a decorated Christmas tree, a Santa Claus, and packages arriving. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder"Despite its title, this British Library Crime Classics reissue of a 1936 novel isn't just an entertaining Christmas read. Using this information, you can quickly identify the few, actual suspects. I have since read the other two murders that Miss Hay wrote and wish there were more. Looking out of their bedroom window, they saw three little girls walking along the road in their nightgowns. The main detective (the more intelligent of the two brought into the case) also writes his own account which provides a balance to the others. On top of that, whereas I expect classic whodunits to often "cheat" the reader - by making the solution completely unguessable because in the real world only an idiot could have suspected either the method or the guilty suspect - this one is actually realistic! Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder"Despite its title, this British Library Crime Classics reissue of a 1936 novel isn't just an entertaining Christmas read. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 16, 2016. It’s Christmastime. We see that stubbornness runs in the Melbury blood, for Aunt Mildred, who helped steer most of the Melbury children towards "suitable" marriages, now sees the consequences of her work but refuses to admit that perhaps she was wrong....There's a clue thrown out very early in the book which signals the solution, and while The Santa Klaus Murder has nothing new to offer to the genre, it is an enjoyable, seasonal read....The book comes complete with a plan of the ground floor of Flaxmere House and a cast of characters....Review copy. The Santa Klaus Murder (British Library Crime Classics) - Kindle edition by Hay, Mavis Doriel. Please try again. -Booklist. I was surprised and so disappointed to see a big spoiler on the back cover of this book. By Daniel Egitto. But overall it was an enjoyable diversion and a fun read at Christmas time. There is also a list of characters at the beginning, which can be referred to as names turn up so you don't have to feel "But who is that, I've forgotten". It also includes a diagram of the floor plan of the ground floor (I love maps and floor plans) with lots of rooms, doors, and windows, and during the hour surrounding the murder everyone is moving from various rooms at various times, back and forth from the library to the study to the great hall to the drawing room to the passage to the kitchen to the dining room. Listen to The Santa Klaus Murder by Mavis Doriel Hay,Gordon Griffin,Anne Dover with a free trial.\nListen to unlimited* audiobooks on the web, iPad, iPhone and Android. Originally published in 1936, this delightful entry in the British Library Crime Classics series from Hay (1894-1979) contains all the elements of a golden age English whodunit. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for The Santa Klaus Murder (British Library - British Library Crime Classics) at Amazon.com. Publication date 2013 Topics Murder, Country homes, Santa Claus, Santa Claus -- Fiction, Murder -- Fiction, Country homes -- Fiction, Secrets -- Fiction, Christmas stories, City and town life -- Fiction, Family life -- Fiction This terrible novel followed the usual Agatha Christie tropes for the most part, involving a large country house, a wealthy family, a murdered patriarch and a Saint Nick holding the smoking gun with an assortment of other suspects. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2014. It’s Christmastime. There is also a list of characters at the beginning, which can be referred to as names turn up so you don't have to feel "But who is that, I've forgotten". The Melbury family has gathered in the country home where Sir Osmond Melbury has retired. Unable to add item to List. )I'm not crazy about murder mysteries but do enjoy the odd British country house weekend novel and this was a fine example, but with the twist of a dead body in the study with a gun! The Santa Klaus Murder: A Christmas Murder Mystery (British Library Crime Classics). The characters were clear and sympathetic. Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2019. In the midst of mistrust, suspicion and hatred, it emerges that there was not one Santa Klaus, but two. This 1930s novel is a proper Golden Age murder mystery, the kind where you need a floor plan, a timetable, and a couple of family trees to follow it all completely....It's a country house Christmas with a rich old gentleman and a bunch of heirs and prospective heirs whose relationships are more complex than they seem at first....The plot is complex, but the writer plays fair -- an alert reader might be able to guess the killer! The killer's unmasking was a tragedy for one of the more attractive characters in the story and this added a bittersweet taste to the ending. In the midst of mistrust, suspicion and hatred, it emerges that there was not one Santa Klaus, but two. Maybe a notch below the Agatha Christie/Dorothy Sayers class but a worthy story. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. The Santa Klaus Murder is an enjoyable tale set in an English country house over the course of Christmas. A nice touch by the author. How lovely to read a book without masses of bad language, not to mention apparently increasing levels of poor grammar in some modern writers, and without a nauseating level of gratuitous gore and violence (which appears to be the modern misunderstanding of "readers being excited by action"). For people who like Christmas mysteries, this was a great find. This is not a top-notch book by any means but was an enjoyable entry in the country-house murder genre. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 28, 2018. VERDICT Hay's 1936 country-house mystery joins a series of classic titles rediscovered by the British Library. Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2014. Account & Lists Account Returns & Orders. Something went wrong. Interesting mystery story with a lot of red herrings and motives. It won't be easy for the chief constable to determine the culprit. Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder"Despite its title, this British Library Crime Classics reissue of a 1936 novel isn't just an entertaining Christmas read. The Santa Klaus murder by Hay, Mavis Doriel, 1894-1979, author. Hay (Murder Underground) sets Halstock a merry puzzle, with family members changing their stories at every turn for their own reasons. Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder"Despite its title, this British Library Crime Classics reissue of a 1936 novel isn't just an entertaining Christmas read. I have since read the other two murders that Miss Hay wrote and wish there were more. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. Authorit… The Santa Klaus Murder by Mavis Hay is a delightfully old fashioned murder mystery in the style of Agatha Christie. Town Of Santa Claus Rocked By Shotgun Murders Just Before Christmas. The family is gathered to celebrate Christmas when the patriarch of the family is found murdered. Great mystery. It's probably an enjoyable mystery but my heart wasn't in it after reading this. The main detective (the more intelligent of the two brought into the case) also writes his own account which provides a balance to the others. Once the murder occurred, the story was written primarily from the viewpoint of the detective. Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder"Despite its title, this British Library Crime Classics reissue of a 1936 novel isn't just an entertaining Christmas read. It's probably an enjoyable mystery but my heart wasn't in it after reading this. The Melbury family Christmas gatherings at country residence Flaxmere are dreaded by all except for the patriarch, Sir Osmond Melbury. Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder"Despite its title, this British Library Crime Classics reissue of a 1936 novel isn't just an entertaining Christmas read. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to study characters rather than blood and gore. Preview. A lot of Christmas mysteries are not very good--they're too cutesy for me. I can't imagine how someone didn't catch this before publication. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. On top of that, whereas I expect classic whodunits to often "cheat" the reader - by making the solution completely unguessable because in the real world only an idiot could have suspected either the method or the guilty suspect - this one is actually realistic! I can't imagine how someone didn't catch this before publication. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free. So far so good. Aunt Mildred declared that no good could come of the Melbury family Christmas gatherings at their country residence, Flaxmere. Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder"Despite its title, this British Library Crime Classics reissue of a 1936 novel isn't just an entertaining Christmas read. It is great fun to try to follow the characters' movements, and when they're seen or not seen, as part of trying to figure out who actually could have done the murder. A nice touch by the author. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading The Santa Klaus Murder (British … After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. The author uses the clever device of various characters writing their own account of events--but she doesn't use it enough. If you're looking for a fun Christmas mystery in the golden-age style, you should read this one. I thought it might be fun to read over the christmas weekend - a classic genre; a weekend family gathering in a country house in the 1930's -15 or so possible killers. The only thing that is murdered here is the art of good storytelling, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 25, 2019. For people who like Christmas mysteries, this was a great find. Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2015. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Maybe a notch below the Agatha Christie/Dorothy Sayers class but a worthy story. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Nine people were killed, either by gunshot wounds or in an arson fire inside a house at 1129 East Knollcrest Drive, where a Christmas Eve party was being held. It is a great read for the Christmas season, not only because it takes place over the holiday, but also because even avid readers are busier at Christmas time and this novel goes fast. I could see the whole picture in front of me, especially with the line-drawing at the front to show me the lay-out of the house. A fun Christmas book club mystery read! While Hay is not as well known as Agatha Christie or Dorothy L. Sayers, her golden age mystery holds up well and will appeal to mystery lovers of this era. If you're looking for a fun Christmas mystery in the golden-age style, you should read this one. About 18 people are gathered at a country house (family, guests, staff) for Christmas, and naturally there is a murder and everyone seems to have a motive for the killing. Not willing to risk their inheritance, members dutifully obey the holiday summons, but this Christmas arrives with a terrible surprise when Santa Klaus finds Sir Osmond shot in his study. Consequently, there are lots of suspects. Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder"Despite its title, this British Library Crime Classics reissue of a 1936 novel isn't just an entertaining Christmas read. When Sir Oswald Melbury is murdered on Christmas day all the Christmas visitors are under suspicion and each of them has his or her own motive for wanting the man dead. Great mystery. Each described what happened on a certain day and why certain people would or would not have a motive to kill. So when Sir Osmond Melbury, the family patriarch, is discovered on Christmas Day - by a guest dressed as Santa Klaus - with a bullet in his head, the festivities are plunged into chaos. The Santa Klaus murder [HAY, Mavis Doriel] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. I enjoyed this format as it allowed us to get into the thoughts of several characters and better understand the family dynamics....There were clues, and many of them were in those reports about the days leading up to the murder. Hay did an excellent job creating her characters, and they seem very real, bringing new meaning to the much used phrase "you can't pick your relatives. Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder"Despite its title, this British Library Crime Classics reissue of a 1936 novel isn't just an entertaining Christmas read. It turned out I almost gave up after 100 pages and then decided to go ahead for the hell of it, and finally finished the book after 4 months. Although the introduction stated that you could easily work out who the murderer was, I don't tend to read in that way but prefer to let the story unfold before me. The various movements and thoughts of the suspects are well portrayed by the device of having several of them each write their own accounts. Homicide for the Holidays Returns on Saturday, December 7th. The Santa Klaus Murder is a mystery novel set in England in 1935. The killer's unmasking was a tragedy for one of the more attractive characters in the story and this added a bittersweet taste to the ending. Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder, "Despite its title, this British Library Crime Classics reissue of a 1936 novel isn't just an entertaining Christmas read. 2.5*. Hello Select your address All Hello, Sign in. (Personally I suspected the actual culprit from the beginning because of the way he was introduced. I'm glad I discovered these reprints last year and have been enjoying the Christmas-time setting. Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2020. So far so good. I won't give anything away, but the explanation and the motive and the culprit are perfectly reasonable within the situation, even though I personally could not have seen them coming. A shadow was cast over the tiny Georgia town of Santa Claus when Jerry Heidler shot an 8-year-old and the child's parents to death. Author Mavis Doriel Hay does a nice job weaving in the family skeletons and dissensions by having Colonel Halstock interview each of the family and the lead servants. The Melbury family has gathered in the country home where Sir Osmond Melbury has retired. She shows us the motive each of the family may have had without simply telling us, and she also lays several false trails and red herrings. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. If you want a 1930s country-house whodunit, you really couldn't do better than this. The first chapters, which cover the days leading up to the murder, are reports written by various members of the family. Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder"Despite its title, this British Library Crime Classics reissue of a 1936 novel isn't just an entertaining Christmas read. This is a great book to read over the holidays. I'll add my approval here of this mystery tale. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 12, 2015. Written in 1936 and long out of print, it is being released as part of the British Library's Crime Classics series. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free. To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. A fun Christmas book club mystery read! Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2015. This book clearly evokes a time gone never to return. Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder"Despite its title, this British Library Crime Classics reissue of a 1936 novel isn't just an entertaining Christmas read. Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2015. Philip Cheriton's chatty account gives a nice history of the family and various relationships, and this is in wonderful contrast to Aunt Mildred's fussy, critical narrative. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. The other did a very good job. Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder"Despite its title, this British Library Crime Classics reissue of a 1936 novel isn't just an entertaining Christmas read. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. Isis Large Print; Large type / Large print edition (May 1, 2018).
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