When the season brings a chill, nothing warms the heart or elevates the spirits like a new novel by Anne Perry, whom the Chicago Sun-Times calls "t...
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reviews
Aug 11, 2011
Bev
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Anne Perry has dedicated her novel, A Christmas Grace, "to all those who long for a second chance." A highly appropriate dedication for a story that centers on Emily Radley and her efforts to give a second chance to the folk who live in her Aunt's Irish town. Emily is called at Christmas time to be with her aunt who is dying. She thinks she is going to lay to rest an old family feud--a second chance for her aunt as well, but finds that Susannah Ross is looking for help with more than t
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Aug 16, 2009
Manju
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I loved the description which created a strong sense of place. I also loved the emotional questioning and growth of Emily. The mystery wasn’t compelling. and the story somehow felt unresolved on the last page. But still I liked the book - the descriptions are very vivid and it is interesting to see how the incidents and the place both compel Emily to question herself.
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Jan 27, 2012
Donna
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Emily Radley is preparing for the upcoming Christmas season. With all the parties to attend and to give, she is busy getting things done in her home for her husband and children. A letter arrives just before Christmas asking Emily to be with her dying aunt in the county of Connemara. She is surprised to see that her aunt is so very ill, having not seen her in many years. Her aunt, Susannah Ross, is happy that she has arrived and will help her discover what happened years ago that left a trag
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Dec 16, 2010
Peggy
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Emily Radley must go to the Ireland coast to care for her dying Aunt Susannah. While she is there, a ship wrecks at sea and only one survivor washes ashore. Since his memory is compromised, they take him in to help him recover. His arrival drums up memories of another shipwreck 7 years prior when a lone survivor washes ashore, is nursed back to health only to be murdered by one of the villagers. During the seven years hence, many villagers moved away and those who stayed were never the same alwa
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Jan 07, 2009
LJ
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A CHRISTMAS GRACE (Hist Mys-Emily Radley-Ireland-Victorian) – Good
Perry, Anne – 6th Christmas mystery
Ballantine Books, 2008, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780345502032
First Sentence: Emily Radley stood in the center of her magnificent drawing room and considered where she should have the Christmas tree placed so that it would show to the best advantage.
Charlotte Pitt has bronchitis, her mother is traveling so Thomas Pitt requests that Charlotte’s sister, Emily, answ More...
Perry, Anne – 6th Christmas mystery
Ballantine Books, 2008, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780345502032
First Sentence: Emily Radley stood in the center of her magnificent drawing room and considered where she should have the Christmas tree placed so that it would show to the best advantage.
Charlotte Pitt has bronchitis, her mother is traveling so Thomas Pitt requests that Charlotte’s sister, Emily, answ More...
Dec 11, 2008
Judy
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Okay, friends! What's up???? Apparently, my fingers clicked on Samatha's Surprise: An American Girl Story when I meant to review Anne Perry's A Christmas Grace. Now, I ask, do I usually spend my time reading American Girl books? Am I 12 years old? Did anyone notice and just not tell me? I am horrified. So for your punishment, you have to read my original review under the name of the book that matches it. Don't look away--read it again. Does it now make more sense? Is anyone out there
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Dec 07, 2011
Ellen
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Emily Radley (her sister Charlotte Pitt figures in other Perry novels) is called to Ireland by a dying aunt, and finds that the village itself is dying of suspicion and fear because of a murder seven years before. It’s a testament to Perry’s skill that even her short Christmas mysteries have fully developed and believable characters.
Mar 28, 2011
Joanne
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Emily Radley is called from London to be with her dying aunt who she has not seen nor spoke to in many years.
There was an unsolved murder there and it is slowly killing the town because everyone suspects each other. Emily will not only spend time with her aunt but solve this old mystery so that the town can begin healing.
There was an unsolved murder there and it is slowly killing the town because everyone suspects each other. Emily will not only spend time with her aunt but solve this old mystery so that the town can begin healing.
May 13, 2011
Lucy
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Very cute short read set in Ireland of women who cannot let the dogs lie. They had to find out the secret that ate away on the village and how they needed to prevent history repeating itself and set people free of fear. No romance if that what one is looking for in novels, however very interesting murder mystery!
Dec 13, 2009
Deanna
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I haven't read Anne Perry before. The writing is good, if not excellent. The characterizations are fair, if not well-drawn and defined, but the issues didn't resolve entirely and I was left wondering, "Well, what about ..." and "what about..?" If Ms. Perry is trying to get you to come back for more, I'll have to say I was just annoyed.
Jun 10, 2010
Wanda
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While reading about a terrible winter storm, I found it surprizing to look out the window at the warm sunshiny day. Her descriptions were very real and captured my whole attention. It was a good story but seemed to end quickly. Many of those plot ending loose ends were tied up in a hurry. Not well paced.
Oct 31, 2011
Joanie
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Emily left her husband and two children at Christmas time to help her sickly Aunt Susannah. There had been a murder and the aunt knew that her neice could solve it one way or another. The close-knit village was now one of mistrust and deceit but Emily will try to remedy it. A quick read with a little bit of Christmas "miracle".
Jul 30, 2011
Pam
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This was an interesting tale - Anne Perry writes in a way that makes you long for the surroundings. The mysteries are not as sophisticated or gruesome as novels set in current times - it reminds me more of the black & white movies I watched when I was little.
Apr 10, 2010
Donna
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Novella in Perry's Christmas series. Features Emily Radley (Charlotte Pitt's sister) solving a murder in a remote village where she has gone to be with a dying aunt. I enjoyed this a bit more than A Christmas Beginning. I liked the setting and the village characters.
Dec 24, 2010
Bonnie
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Too lazy to write a review. Haven't come across an Anne Perry Christmasy book I haven't yet thoroughly enjoyed. Always helps you introspectively examine your life, it's relationships, your motives and your goodness. I am always a better person for reading these books.
Dec 31, 2010
Melissa
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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.
Dec 05, 2008
Kathleen
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I look forward to Anne Perry's Christmas stories because she moves away from her main characters (William and Hester Monk and Thomas and Charlotte Pitt) to explore one of her supporting characters each year. This year is was Charlotte's sister, Emily Radley, and the setting was Connemara, Ireland. The mystery involved a years-old murder and the way it affected a beautiful village on the West Irish coast. Emily comes to love the place and the people and resolves to heal them by solving the mur
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Mar 23, 2010
Patricia
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Very interesting historical story about an English woman who goes to Ireland to be with a dying aunt and winds up solving a murder mystery. I liked the interaction of the characters learning about a small Irish town's attitudes.
Jun 18, 2009
Michele
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I very much enjoyed this book. It started out dealing with families and the relationships therein, but turned into somewhat of a mystery story. I did not guess the outcome, but I am not very good at it. It did keep my interest in trying to do so. It also had a deeper storyline about our relationships, hopes, dreams and commitment. Set in western Ireland, the narrator had a wonderful Irish accent that I absolutely loved. I'm sure this contributed to my enjoyment of the book, but I think it would
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Sep 17, 2011
Mary
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Another great Christmas book from Anne Perry. I am a bit behind on them and are catching up. This was quite a page turner, nice quick read, w/ one of the Characters from Thomas Pitt series.
Dec 21, 2011
Arlene
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Interesting, well written...but somehing felt missing. I get it that Christmas books are supposed to be short and sweet...but I felt a lack of genuine emotion in this, the first of Perry's I've been disappointed in.
Jul 29, 2011
i am trying but i just don't care for anne perry. i know how popular she is with many of my friends. i will try again. but i've read 3 so far, and just don't get into her
Nov 26, 2010
Linny
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Because I'm Irish, the setting was interesting and I typically love Irish books, but this one was a little dry, and really not about Christmas at all. Not a "feel good" holiday story.
Dec 28, 2009
tammi
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Enjoyed the setting descriptions but the pacing was very off with a rushed ending. Not really a mystery and not a CHristmas Story either. A VERY quick read.
Jan 27, 2012
Mary
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Emily on her own makes a pretty good story. The fact that SO many people have secrets they are willing to kill to keep I find kind of unbelievable.
Dec 14, 2011
Kathy
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Satisfying, atmospheric story with intriguing characters. Much better than the average holiday book, and leaves me wanting to read more books by Anne Perry.
Dec 12, 2011
Lisa (scarlet21)
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Dire. No real mystery, no real story, not Christmassy at all, forced. I usally can find something good to say about most books - but failing with this one!
Jan 05, 2011
JackieB
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Not as good as a Christmas journey, but still a good read. I think it relied a bit too much on coincidence to drive the plot on
Dec 29, 2009
Lisa
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A very engaging story. It isn't really about Christmas - rather, it is a good mystery featuring Charlotte Pitt's sister Emily.
Dec 09, 2011
Genevra
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This was a quick and easy read. Enjoyable enough that I will be checking out some more of Anne Perry's books.
