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Aug 25, 2007

LJ rated it:

A CHRISTMAS GUEST (Amateur Sleuth-England-1800s) - Ex
Perry, Anne – 3rd Christmas Story
Ballantine Books, 2005 – Hardcover
Grandmama Mariah Ellison has been sent to spend Christmas with her daughter Caroline and actor son-in-law Joshua Fielding. Not only are they at Romney Marshes, a provincial town by the sea, but Joshua's cousin, Maude Barrington arrives. Maude is much traveled, lived in foreign lands and has an enthusiasm for life that displeases Mariah even more than usual. More...

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Jan 06, 2011

Vivienne rated it:

I had imagined Anne Perry to be from the Catherine Cookson brigade, who I avoid like jellied eels. Alas I admit to be so wrong. Anne Perry writes a brilliant Victorian crime novella in the style of Agatha Christie. I really enjoyed reading this book and watching as the main character followed the clues to work out who committed the crime.

Mariah Ellison has been forced to spend Christmas with ex daughter in law and new husband, whilst her granddaughter goes to France for Christmas. More...

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Nov 30, 2011

Susan rated it:

A Christmas Guest is the third book in Anne Perry's Christmas mystery series. Unlike the previous two stories in the series, which were set in mid-19th century, this story is set in Victorian England in the same timeframe as the Thomas Pitt mystery series. A key theme in this story is snobbery and society's class distinctions.

Mariah Ellison, "Grandmama" to sisters Charlotte Pitt and Emily Radley, normally resides in London with granddaughter Emily. Emily had "married w More...

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Dec 13, 2011

Bev rated it:

This is the third in Perry's Christmas mystery series. These books tend to focus on the supporting cast members from her series books. A Christmas Guest follows Grandmama Mariah Ellison as she is shipped off to spend the Christmas holidays with her daughter-in-law Caroline and Caroline's new husband Joshua. The vinegary Grandmama Ellison is none too happy about these arrangements. There she is expecting the usual fine holiday gatherings hosted by her well-to-do granddaughter Emily with lots of L More...

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Feb 12, 2012

The Bee rated it:

A strong minded and very Victorian elderly lady gets send off to spend her Christmas with her daughter-in-law who has married an actor. Her granddaughter she is living with will spend Christmas in France an outrage in itself and on top of all an aunt of her daughter-in-laws new husband will spend it with them. She is far travelled and has a love for life and all its experiences that melts the ladies heart. Unfortunately she passes away over night which seems very odd to the lady. So she goes and More...

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Jan 24, 2012

Donna rated it:

In A Christmas Guest, Mariah Ellison, also known as Grandmama, finds no reason to celebrate the Christmas season. Her daughter and son-in-law have informed her they are off to Paris for the holiday, but Grandmama is going to be shipped off to spend the holiday with her daughter's, Charlotte, parents. Caroline and Joshua Fielding accept her into their home but their lifestyle is nothing as to which she is accustomed. To make matters more difficult Joshua's cousin, Maude Barrington, is also shi More...

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Oct 18, 2009

Debbie rated it:

The holiday season has begun, so I need to start reading Christmas books. I just discovered that I have missed many of the holiday books by Anne Perry-so my goal is the complete the series. This book cneters on Mariah Ellison, the grandmother of Charlotte Pitt(one of Perry's mystery series). I found this delightful, set in the 1890's England countryside, and about an older woman still useful. Perry thrives on her older women as vital citizens, which I like. The mystery is solved, but the po More...

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Dec 08, 2008

Carol rated it:

pitiful waste of time, fortunately, only a few small pages: why did I bother? Selected by the Mystery book club @ the Paseo Verde Library. I hope this is NOT indicative of their tastes, but rather an aberration because of their attempt to be relevant to the season. Thanksfully, I got this at the library so didn't waste any $$$. Please note the author's research (if she did any) was poor. On page 9 she said the carriage ride covered 145 miles in a day. That is most unlikely given the fac More...

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Dec 15, 2009

Ana T. rated it:

I do hope Anne Perry continues to write theses because they really are a treat during the holiday season. The only drawback is that most of the main characters in these stories are secondary characters from her two series - the Inspector Monk and the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt. So it happens that from time to time I find out something that is going to happen in books of those series that I haven't read yet. For instance in this story the main character is Charlotte Pitt's grandmother and I ended More...

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Dec 08, 2008

Judy rated it:

Another of the annual Anne Perry Christmas story. I read two of them this weekend and I think that my sugar level is now sufficently high that I can save the rest for another year. A nice story, no need to engage brain, the book flows along with minimal attention needed from the reader. But, hey, it's the holidays and we all need a Christmas story to launch the season.

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Feb 05, 2010

Patricia rated it:

I liked this story. It's a murder mystery with a Christmas setting. I found myself rooting for the main character to solve the crime. I even liked the rather strange resolution as to what to do about criminal charges for the culprit. I also like the fact that the main character learned something about herself as well as learning about the victim and her family.

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Nov 17, 2009

Delene rated it:

Grandmama Ellison is sent to spend Christmas with Joshua (new husband ) to Caroline in the Marshes. She is not happy about it. But a letter is sent to Joshua informing him that Maude his Aunt with spend Christmas with them too. But Maude ends up dieing and Grandmama Ellison is the person to solve the crime and in the end, Maude gives Grandmama a very good Christmas gift.

I gave it a 3 because it was a good escape Christmas story.

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Dec 20, 2011

Joyce rated it:

Loved reading these books; each used entirely different characters (the main one was a character in her other mystery books). Quick reads and Christmas Season appropriate! Clever mystery and motivation to do be the right kind of person! I also noticed that there are about five more Christmas mysteries in this series. (YAY! I will have to go find them!)

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Aug 24, 2009

Phair rated it:

Was not keen to read a holiday toss-off that was the selection for my f2f group but this was a surprisingly engaging read! Enjoyed the character of Grandmama, a grumpy old bat [kindred spirit!:] who discovers via the mystery here what family means and the true spirit of the season. This was actually fun and sweet.

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Aug 21, 2009

Noelle rated it:

Not a bad book but kind of cliché. Grumpy old lady (Grandmama) meets a well-traveled woman (Maude) who she takes a hidden interest in over the Christmas Holiday. Unfortunately Maude is poisoned and nobody seems to care. Except for Grandmama, that is. Grandmama unveils Maude's family's deep dark secrets and solves the crime.

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Jul 27, 2011

Glenda rated it:

Grandmama is a very disagreeable person ... she doesn't wish to shar Christmas in the company of Maude Barrington, a world traveler of distinctly strange ways whose own family wants no part of her. But when foul play comes, Grandmama has a change of heart ... and plays detective. This is a charming Victorian mystery.

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Dec 24, 2010

Karla rated it:

It is not that this is a "great" book, but it is a Christmas book so I gave it 4 stars. Christmas novels are something I look forward to every year...for fans of Anne Perry, this one does not disappoint, though it is not as mysterious as some of her other books with Charlotte and Pitt are.

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Mar 21, 2011

Jackie rated it:

I really enjoyed reading this book over the holidays. It reminded me of that old television show, Murder She Wrote and/or Agatha Christie. It is a fun read! Mrs. John recommended Anne Perry's books to me so you know it has got to be good!

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Dec 31, 2010

Melissa rated it:

I always like to read books set at Christmastime during December and found six this year-- all short(100-200 pages) mysteries set in Victorian Britain, by Anne Perry. Fun, easy reads for whiling away the cold hours 'til Christmas.

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Dec 28, 2010

Sandra rated it:

It is nice to read a mystery that ends by not only solving the mystery, but having the people involved develop character. Solving the murder was not the main purpose of the novel, but learning something from the victim along the way.

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Sep 22, 2010

Lauriel rated it:

Another book that was part of a reader's digest mystery collection. It was a decent read and actually had some good character development. Nothing amazing, but an ok read if you don't want to to get too sucked into a book.

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Mar 19, 2009

Missmath144 rated it:

I read it three years ago and wrote that I loved it. Then I read a couple more Perry novels and decided that was all I could take. Schlocky Victorian stuff, but apparantly I did like this one.

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Dec 14, 2008

Linda rated it:

Read the Reader's Digest condensed version today. It was short and went fast. It was interesting to see how one person reaches self-discovery through the life experiences of another.

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Feb 01, 2011

Janice rated it:

Anne Perry certainly has a way with description, both setting and characters. Lovely descrptions of the Romney Marshes. A good mystery with Grandmama Ellison -not your typical detective.

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Nov 27, 2011

Diana rated it:

Audiobook. A short book unraveling a mystery in Victorian England. It has a good underlying Christmas message about how choosing to change our attitude can change our lives.

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Dec 21, 2010

Ngdecker rated it:

This is the 3rd of the Christmas books written by Anne Perry and read by me. They have gotten increasingly better (thank goodness) and I really enjoyed this one!

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Aug 14, 2011

Cindy rated it:

I read this in August and I could feel the cold winds and see the white snow. anne Perry can write. I liked to see Grandma in this caring light as well.

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May 01, 2010

Denise rated it:

I have begun a new tradition for myself to read Christmas fiction at Christmas time. This book was a bit slow at first but it redeemed itself later on.

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Dec 26, 2010

Sharneel rated it:

Did this as a book on CD. It was a good listen for the Christmas season. The main character experiences an epiphany and gains some significant personal insight into her own foibles.

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Dec 15, 2011

Rebecca rated it:

I read this book for my book group. The book group leader always picks a Christmas themed "light" read. I enjoyed the story but this book reminded me of mystery "fluff."

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