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The Christmas Ghost
The past plays on . . . and its melody is deadly.
When eerie piano music echoes through the halls of Charleston Manor, personal assistant Anna Stone is drawn into a mystery that haunts the village.
As strange occurrences unsettle the peaceful estate, whispers of a restless spirit—and long-buried family secrets—surface.
With Dame Lilian determined to protect a grieving mother and tensions rising in the village of Rosewater, Anna must confront the ghostly presence that threatens the peace.
But some mysteries refuse to stay buried, and the piano’s haunting melody may hold the key.
When eerie piano music echoes through the halls of Charleston Manor, personal assistant Anna Stone is drawn into a mystery that haunts the village.
As strange occurrences unsettle the peaceful estate, whispers of a restless spirit—and long-buried family secrets—surface.
With Dame Lilian determined to protect a grieving mother and tensions rising in the village of Rosewater, Anna must confront the ghostly presence that threatens the peace.
But some mysteries refuse to stay buried, and the piano’s haunting melody may hold the key.
- GenresHoliday
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2024
8 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 5, 2026
The Christmas Ghost feels like walking into a house that absolutely has opinions about you, and none of them are friendly. The whole thing starts with that eerie piano music drifting through Charleston Manor like a ghost trying to set the vibe, and honestly? It works. It’s creepy in that soft, classy way — like the ghost is wearing pearls and judging your life choices.
Anna shows up expecting to do her job and instead gets adopted by a haunting with boundary issues. She’s got that “I’m just trying to function, please stop throwing supernatural nonsense at me” energy, and I love her for it. Every time she hears that piano, you can practically see her soul leave her body for a second before she sighs and goes, “Fine. Guess we’re doing this.”
Dame Lilian is out here gatekeeping grief like it’s a family heirloom, and the whole village of Rosewater is acting like they’re in a competition for “Most Suspiciously Tight‑Lipped Community.” Every conversation feels like someone is two seconds away from spilling tea they’ve been holding for decades, but they keep swallowing it back down because “the ghost might hear.”
The haunting itself isn’t loud or dramatic — it’s that slow, creeping kind of spooky that gets under your skin. The piano melody feels like a memory trying to claw its way back into the world, and the secrets tied to it? Messy. Emotional. Exactly the kind of small‑town scandal ghosts thrive on.
It’s not a terrifying story — more of a cozy shiver, the kind you get when you’re wrapped in a blanket and something taps the window even though there’s no wind. Some twists you can see coming, but the atmosphere is so steady and the emotional payoff so gentle that you don’t mind being ahead of the plot.
A solid, warm‑chill 4‑star read that lingers like a cold breath on your neck and makes you side‑eye every piano you pass for the rest of the night.
Anna shows up expecting to do her job and instead gets adopted by a haunting with boundary issues. She’s got that “I’m just trying to function, please stop throwing supernatural nonsense at me” energy, and I love her for it. Every time she hears that piano, you can practically see her soul leave her body for a second before she sighs and goes, “Fine. Guess we’re doing this.”
Dame Lilian is out here gatekeeping grief like it’s a family heirloom, and the whole village of Rosewater is acting like they’re in a competition for “Most Suspiciously Tight‑Lipped Community.” Every conversation feels like someone is two seconds away from spilling tea they’ve been holding for decades, but they keep swallowing it back down because “the ghost might hear.”
The haunting itself isn’t loud or dramatic — it’s that slow, creeping kind of spooky that gets under your skin. The piano melody feels like a memory trying to claw its way back into the world, and the secrets tied to it? Messy. Emotional. Exactly the kind of small‑town scandal ghosts thrive on.
It’s not a terrifying story — more of a cozy shiver, the kind you get when you’re wrapped in a blanket and something taps the window even though there’s no wind. Some twists you can see coming, but the atmosphere is so steady and the emotional payoff so gentle that you don’t mind being ahead of the plot.
A solid, warm‑chill 4‑star read that lingers like a cold breath on your neck and makes you side‑eye every piano you pass for the rest of the night.
November 16, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Christmas Ghost by Katherine Black is a cosy but busy Christmas mystery. This is a book that will leave you with great satisfaction and a smile on your lips!
The village of Rosewater is a special kind of village. They have a strong community spirit and wide hearts. There is so much trust and belief in humanity!
There are a lot of mysteries, historical and present. There are many questions without answers, for example, who is playing that piano when no one is around?
At Charleston Manor, everyone is busy preparing for the big Christmas dinner. Some strange things happened so Lilly and Anna are on a mission to solve the mysteries and ensure, everyone gets to Christmas dinner on time!
I think the most amazing in this book is the true community spirit and human factor!
The Christmas Ghost by Katherine Black is a cosy but busy Christmas mystery. This is a book that will leave you with great satisfaction and a smile on your lips!
The village of Rosewater is a special kind of village. They have a strong community spirit and wide hearts. There is so much trust and belief in humanity!
There are a lot of mysteries, historical and present. There are many questions without answers, for example, who is playing that piano when no one is around?
At Charleston Manor, everyone is busy preparing for the big Christmas dinner. Some strange things happened so Lilly and Anna are on a mission to solve the mysteries and ensure, everyone gets to Christmas dinner on time!
I think the most amazing in this book is the true community spirit and human factor!
January 5, 2025
A wonderful Christmas read and I think this might be my favorite series from Katherine Black, so I hope there will be more!
January 2, 2025
The Christmas Ghost
by Katherine Black.
I absolutely loved this Cosy Mystery by Katherine.
I have not read many cosies, and I found this one to be an absorbing and intriguing story full of mysterious goings on.
A very well written book with incredible settings and amazing characters that I could visualise in great detail.
It had enough events going on to keep my interest piqued and I thoroughly enjoyed the drama and the fun.
It had the disappearance of people, a bit romance, some tears, ghostly happenings and some fun and humour.
This book was truly an enjoyable clean and cosy read that stirs emotion. I imagine it will have some readers tearing up.
I didn't want to put this book down, a very memorable read and 5 star rating from me.
Recommend this one highly.
by Katherine Black.
I absolutely loved this Cosy Mystery by Katherine.
I have not read many cosies, and I found this one to be an absorbing and intriguing story full of mysterious goings on.
A very well written book with incredible settings and amazing characters that I could visualise in great detail.
It had enough events going on to keep my interest piqued and I thoroughly enjoyed the drama and the fun.
It had the disappearance of people, a bit romance, some tears, ghostly happenings and some fun and humour.
This book was truly an enjoyable clean and cosy read that stirs emotion. I imagine it will have some readers tearing up.
I didn't want to put this book down, a very memorable read and 5 star rating from me.
Recommend this one highly.
December 24, 2024
A fantastic page-turner of a mystery novel with a fabulous Christmas background. This is an absolutely brilliant read that I highly recommend.
As Anna Stone begins to tackle the never ending Christmas to-do list, Dame Lilian gives her an additional task that simply won't wait. Unfortunately, it's a task that delivers an unsettling mystery. Meanwhile the Manor itself is holding its own secrets, with a ghostly piano player causing all manner of problems.
The intricacies of the plot were incredibly well handled and the mystery kept me on my toes the whole way through. I was in awe of how everything was brought together, wrapped up like a Christmas gift itself, with a delightful and hopeful conclusion.
The setting for this book was fantastic. The descriptions of the Manor decorated for Christmas painted such a vivid picture that it stood as a character itself, and not as just the location.
The characters were incredibly likeable. I love Anna's pragmatism and shrewd thinking, as well as her empathy. Dame Lilian reminds me so much of my late grandmother, making this a joy to read.
I was delighted that this book avoided the typical saccharine style of other Christmas novels and instead delivered an insight into everything that Christmas, and life, is truly about. From the highs to the lows this book made me laugh out loud in moments, and I certainly shed some tears in sadness too. I thought the ending was perfect and it certainly left me feeling the Christmas spirit.
As Anna Stone begins to tackle the never ending Christmas to-do list, Dame Lilian gives her an additional task that simply won't wait. Unfortunately, it's a task that delivers an unsettling mystery. Meanwhile the Manor itself is holding its own secrets, with a ghostly piano player causing all manner of problems.
The intricacies of the plot were incredibly well handled and the mystery kept me on my toes the whole way through. I was in awe of how everything was brought together, wrapped up like a Christmas gift itself, with a delightful and hopeful conclusion.
The setting for this book was fantastic. The descriptions of the Manor decorated for Christmas painted such a vivid picture that it stood as a character itself, and not as just the location.
The characters were incredibly likeable. I love Anna's pragmatism and shrewd thinking, as well as her empathy. Dame Lilian reminds me so much of my late grandmother, making this a joy to read.
I was delighted that this book avoided the typical saccharine style of other Christmas novels and instead delivered an insight into everything that Christmas, and life, is truly about. From the highs to the lows this book made me laugh out loud in moments, and I certainly shed some tears in sadness too. I thought the ending was perfect and it certainly left me feeling the Christmas spirit.
November 1, 2024
Christmas is drawing near, and at Charleston Manor, everyone is busy preparing for the celebrations and the big Christmas dinner they do for the homeless on Christmas Day. However, Lilian and her young housekeeper Natalie, are frightened in the night by ghostly piano playing. The manor has a ghostly pianist determined to play night after night, but it seems cannot be seen or caught.
To add to that oddity, Lilian still wants to discover what happened to her sister so many years ago and decides to have the lake dragged to find out if Elizabeth really ended up there.. The divers found a body – but not of the missing sister. It was a more recent body, and it sets Lilian and Anna off on another mystery.
There are so many elements to this story, but it’s easy to follow. I really enjoyed it. Having already read the first book, I knew the main characters and was able to just go with it. Loved the pictures conjured up – a true snowy Christmas, with the manor draped in many sparkly lights – the stuff of films and fairy tales. The things that are happening are far from fairy tale, but, as we know, fairy tales have their dark sides, but they work out right in the end. (At least, the Disney versions do!) This is no exception. Everything works out right in the end, and is very satisfactory, thank you.
To add to that oddity, Lilian still wants to discover what happened to her sister so many years ago and decides to have the lake dragged to find out if Elizabeth really ended up there.. The divers found a body – but not of the missing sister. It was a more recent body, and it sets Lilian and Anna off on another mystery.
There are so many elements to this story, but it’s easy to follow. I really enjoyed it. Having already read the first book, I knew the main characters and was able to just go with it. Loved the pictures conjured up – a true snowy Christmas, with the manor draped in many sparkly lights – the stuff of films and fairy tales. The things that are happening are far from fairy tale, but, as we know, fairy tales have their dark sides, but they work out right in the end. (At least, the Disney versions do!) This is no exception. Everything works out right in the end, and is very satisfactory, thank you.
September 8, 2025
The Christmas Ghost is the second Anna Stone story, another feel good cozy mystery which was brilliant from start to finish.
The wonderful setting of Charleston Manor is preparing for the Christmas festivities but the mystery of her missing cousin Elizabeth from years ago is still plaguing Dame Lilian. Divers are sent into the lake hoping to end the mystery once and for all, but it only raises new mysteries to be solved. Throw in some romance, missing people and a ghostly piano player and you have a great, funny, emotional, heartwarming journey with everything weaving together in a really satisfying conclusion that will leave you with a smile on your face.
Set at Christmas this is the perfect winter read or anytime read as I’ve read it in September, I couldn’t wait until Christmas. I read the first Anna Stone book a few days ago and jumped straight into The Christmas Ghost when I finished because I needed more. Black just has a knack for creating really believable and relatable characters that draw you into their worlds and you never want to leave. I can really see this becoming one of my favourite series. Please write the next one soon!!
The wonderful setting of Charleston Manor is preparing for the Christmas festivities but the mystery of her missing cousin Elizabeth from years ago is still plaguing Dame Lilian. Divers are sent into the lake hoping to end the mystery once and for all, but it only raises new mysteries to be solved. Throw in some romance, missing people and a ghostly piano player and you have a great, funny, emotional, heartwarming journey with everything weaving together in a really satisfying conclusion that will leave you with a smile on your face.
Set at Christmas this is the perfect winter read or anytime read as I’ve read it in September, I couldn’t wait until Christmas. I read the first Anna Stone book a few days ago and jumped straight into The Christmas Ghost when I finished because I needed more. Black just has a knack for creating really believable and relatable characters that draw you into their worlds and you never want to leave. I can really see this becoming one of my favourite series. Please write the next one soon!!
November 4, 2024
If you like feel-good, cosy mysteries, this is the book for you. Dame Lillian (Lily) lives in the massive Charleston Manor. It’s close to Christmas, and the people working there are gearing up for their Christmas festivities, which include feeding fifty homeless people Christmas dinner on Christmas Day. But when Lily and her housekeeper, Nat, are woken by the haunting sound of a piano being played in the dead of night, they wonder if they have a ghost. Anna, Lily’s stalwart PA has her hands full with preparing for all the events, but things take a strange turn, leading our characters to face stuff that is hard to bear. Will it end in heartbreak and disaster? Or will there be smiles and Christmas cheer? I won’t give the story away but be prepared to get your hankies out. Highly recommended.
November 4, 2024
A Wonderful Christmas Mystery - As Christmas approaches, Anna Stone has not just one mystery to solve but a few. There’s the ghostly being who loves to play the piano but disappears when anyone tries to go near, a missing cousin, the tragic discovery of a dead body in the lake, missing husbands and runaway teenagers. Could all these mysteries be linked? Anna Stone has to work that little puzzle out. All while working for the intimidating Dame Lillian and dating the handsome Pike. There is some genuine humour in this cozy mystery that also deals with some rather hard hitting subjects such as mental health and bereavement too. This is book 2 in the Anna Stone series but can be read as a stand-alone which I have just done as I haven’t read book 1 yet but I will remedy that soon.
February 3, 2025
The second book in the Anna Stone mystery takes on a more adult theme and becomes a heart-wrenching story. Lots happen, mysterious music in the dead of night, missing children and much more to not give away the plot. Dame Lilian appears as her indomitable self, and on top of it all, the romance continues. All-in-all a delightful read set just as Christmas approaches, making for festive entertainment. Very enjoyable.
November 1, 2024
The Christmas Ghost - Haunting, mysterious, I love the way you have woven the story, the depth of the characters, the intricately developed plot - it's a great Christmas story - so many amazing elements in one place.
December 28, 2024
It was a cute story overall but I felt like this book was all over the place. Random "mysteries" to solve that came out of nowhere. I didn't really feel like it had a real purpose or story, just a bunch of odd events thrown together around Christmas time.
November 11, 2025
Fantastic Christmas mystery! Piano music plays in the middle of the night, and Anna Stone gets involved in another mystery at Charleston Manor. Loved all the twists and turns in this one. This is a wonderful series.
November 13, 2024
book
Nice book, good story but I am a little confused by the puppy’s sex change at the end, started a girl and ended a boy?
Nice book, good story but I am a little confused by the puppy’s sex change at the end, started a girl and ended a boy?
December 30, 2024
First book I read of Catherine Black. Absolutely loved it. Made you think while you read it. Loved the ending and I'm now looking to read other books by her.
March 15, 2026
Oh this was such a beautiful Christmassy read with many layers of mystery woven throughout. Every time we think we will unravel one mystery, we are met with another until finally the pieces fall into place into both the most heart wrenching and wonderful way. Emotions run high and parts of the book is so tragic, but it ends with a perfect high note that really hits you in the Christmas feels.
One not to miss. My only wish is that I read this at Christmas and not three months after!
One not to miss. My only wish is that I read this at Christmas and not three months after!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews