A Cold Christmas

Susan Wren #5

by Charlene Weir

In Hampstead, Kansas, the joy of the holiday season is shattered with the discovery of a mutilated body, in Charlene Weir's A Cold Christmas.

Police Chief Susan Wren has her hands full. It is the coldest December the town has seen in years, a number of her officers are sick, and the body of a furnace repairman is found in Caley James' basement. His face and hands have been badly burned in an effort to keep his identity a secret. As Susan looks for answers, she learns that the victim had a dark past he was trying to hide. Were his secrets worth killing him over? And how does Caley fit in?

Genres: Mystery, Christmas, Procedural, Cozy Mystery, Holiday

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Charlene Weir was born in Nortonville, Kansas. She grew up in Hutchinson, Kansas. After graduating from nurses' training she attended the University of Oklahoma and worked as a public health nurse. She is the creator of "Susan Wren", police chief in Hampstead, Kansas.

Reviews

[Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

this had a lot of suspense elements, which kind of stresses me out. plus, all of the characters are either freezing or sick with the flu, so reading it was making me feel kind of fuzzy myself. I did enjoy the characters and the writing. all of the little pieces came together in the end. I can see myself reading more of this series.

[Olivia Madore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm really not sure how to rate this novel! It's definitely one that will stick with me. I don't think I have encountered multiple POV in a mystery novel before. Perhaps that's what threw me... Also, I wouldn't classify this as a cozy mystery, which is what I expected from the synopsis. I think I will read the next in the series out of curiosity!

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read. A nice holiday book. I read the book even though I have not read the rest of the series. I did not find it an issue. 3 stars

[Marsha Valance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Caley James has three children, no money, a derelict house, an irresponsible ex-husband, and the flu. Not only that, but it's Christmas. When the furnace dies during Hampstead, Kansas', longest cold spell ever, she thinks things can't get any worse, but then her youngest child finds the repairman's body in the basement. The case falls to Chief of Police Susan Wren, whose officers are dropping like flies with the omnipresent flu. As Susan investigates, she learns that the victim, Tim Holiday, had only been in town for three months and no one knows much about him. It is clear from the damage to the victim's face that the killer wanted him unrecognizable, but then Susan discovers that Holiday himself wanted to keep his identity a secret. Just who was Tim Holiday and why was he killed in Caley's basement?

[Suzette Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Cold Christmas

Great book for a cold night. The murder suspects was plenty but I never would've came to that conclusion. Susan was relentless in following the clues. I recommend this book!!

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent mystery. This is s new to me author. I have the set and am thoroughly enjoying it. It was written at the start of cell phones and before the internet. Procedures were different. Very exciting. Susan is a compelling character.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mystery solved with the help of elderly, busybody, gossiping neighbors.

[Sarah "Kat" · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. worth reading more from the author.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book! I'm going to read more! Great story, didn't know who was doing what til the denouement! Reminded me a bit of Jane Haddam who I adored.

[joan bartlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy

This had a lot of twists and turns. Plenty of suspects. It also ad a few loose ends and dead ends, which will go unanswered. But it kept you ready to find answers

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful book by Charlene Weir to keep you guessing right until the end who the murderer was!
I’m ready for the next one!

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story about a woman , Caley James, with three children, an irresponsible ex-husband, and the flu. She's trying to hold it together, but it seems like nothing can go right. Even the furnance goes on the blink. The repairman seems incompetent and has "psycho eyes". That repairmen also ends up dead in the basement. Chief of Police Susan Wren is trying to investigate the crime, but she has so many officers off sick that it is becoming hard to keep it together before she herself succumbs to the flu. She must work with an officer she dislikes, but ends up helping in numerous ways. As Susan investigates, she learns that the victim, Tim Holiday, had only been in town for three months and no one knows much about him. It is clear from the damage to the victim's face that the killer wanted him unrecognizeable, but then Susan discovers that Holiday himself wanted to keep his identity a secret she calls in support from a previous colleague. Just who was Tim Holiday and why was he killed in Caley's basement?

There are a lot of twists and turns in the novel. It's got likeable characters and enough foreshadowing for the reader to worry about what's around the corner on the next page.

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Cold Christmas - G
Charlene Weir - 5th in series
Caley James has three children, no money, a derelict house, an irresponsible ex-husband, and the flu. Not only that, but it's Christmas. When the furnace dies during Hampstead, Kansas', longest cold spell ever, she thinks things can't get any worse, but then her youngest child finds the repairman's body in the basement." "The case falls to Chief of Police Susan Wren, whose officers are dropping like flies with the omnipresent flu. As Susan investigates, she learns that the victim, Tim Holiday, had only been in town for three months and no one knows much about him. It is clear from the damage to the victim's face that the killer wanted him unrecognizable, but then Susan discovers that Holiday himself wanted to keep his identity a secret. Just who was Tim Holiday and why was he killed in Caley's basement?" The story rises to a dramatic climax after Caley's oldest son, Zach, stumbles across his father giving a package to another man and becomes determined to uncover the truth.

Always a good read

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like these stories. Susan is the Chief of Police in a small town in Kansas but she comes from the big city of San Francisco. She gets an offer to go back, and at first it seems like the perfect offer, that is until there is a murder, most of her staff/officers are out with the flu and the deadline for making a decision is only weeks away. Can she solve the murder and then walk away from all the friends she has made here - and can she go back to taking orders after having been police chief for three years.

I noticed the one clue that gave away the murderer but I didn't pay it much attention and so was surprised at who did the killings (yep, more than one, eventually). That to me is good writing, even when the clue is pretty obvious there are so many other things that qualify as red herrings that you don't get the answer.

I'll be moving forward in this series.

[Grey853 · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story about a woman with three children, an irresponsible ex-husband, and the flu. She's trying to hold it together, but it seems like nothing can go right. Even the furnance goes on the blink. The repairman seems incompetent and has "psycho eyes". That repairmen also ends up dead in the basement.

There are a lot of twists and turns in the novel. It's got likeable characters and enough foreshadowing for the reader to worry about what's around the corner on the next page.

The only reason I didn't give it a four star rating is that some of the point of view shifts are a bit awkward and jarring. Still, it's worth checking out.

[Glenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cozy mystery was an enjoyable read. It moved along at a good pace and the characters were interesting and believable.

Since I was involved in the story, the descriptions for the setting were a little repetitive with characters constantly observing that it was cold. Also, the last big action scene for the apprehension of the suspect seemed a little overdone, probably because it followed so closely after another action scene which was the real highlight of the book.

I will look for more books by this author.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder mystery set in Kansas-interesting characters including some cute preteens. Chief of Police Susan Wren is almost the only person in town who doesn't have the flu during this cold Christmas season. Quick read-I read it in less than three hours. This book held my attention and it was well written.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

This short book has too many characters in it - couldn't remember who they were or keep them straight in my mind. I guess I was expecting this to be an easy read, but it turned out to be a little complicated.

[Redhead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the setting and the story. Would like to read more that kept the charaters beyond the "series" charaters. Minimal sense of place, but good plot.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chief Susan Wren #5

[Jillybean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good Christmas mystery . . . a little choppy at times though.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really a great holiday mystery, and a bit more violent than your usual holiday read.

[Hildegart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I read by Charlene Weir. I really enjoyed it and have been perusing thrift stores for more of her books.

[Carl Hanger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good Christmas mystery. This is a very good cozy mystery.

[Mary Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slow start. Seems like too many characters to keep track of. Picked up at the end.

[Gloria]

Good little murder mystery for Christmas. Fit the mood of the moment.