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A Christmas Secret
Just in time for the holidays, Anne Perry gives her fans a marvelous gift: a new yuletide yarn full of light celebration and dark mischief.
Dominic Corde is thrilled to “fill the robe” as substitute vicar in the village of Cottisham, while the Reverend Wynter is away on a three-week Christmas holiday. Glad to escape his dreary London flat and a less-than-satisfying job as church curate, Dominic and his beloved wife, Clarice, set off for what they hope will be a lovely winter getaway.
Upon arrival, in the midst of a frigid, exceptionally snowy season, Dominic and Clarice are welcomed by warm, hospitable neighbors and enchanted by the cozy, inviting vicarage. Everything seems almost too perfect. Dominic’s only concern is how he will be received by the congregation, who hold the Reverend Wynter in such high regard. But as Clarice soon discovers, she and Dominic have much more dire matters to worry about. It turns out that the Reverend Wynter isn’t on holiday at all–and that something very sinister has transpired.
As a blizzard leaves Cottisham treacherously snowbound and the isolated village swirls with unsavory secrets, Dominic and Clarice suddenly find themselves in deadly danger.
Dominic Corde is thrilled to “fill the robe” as substitute vicar in the village of Cottisham, while the Reverend Wynter is away on a three-week Christmas holiday. Glad to escape his dreary London flat and a less-than-satisfying job as church curate, Dominic and his beloved wife, Clarice, set off for what they hope will be a lovely winter getaway.
Upon arrival, in the midst of a frigid, exceptionally snowy season, Dominic and Clarice are welcomed by warm, hospitable neighbors and enchanted by the cozy, inviting vicarage. Everything seems almost too perfect. Dominic’s only concern is how he will be received by the congregation, who hold the Reverend Wynter in such high regard. But as Clarice soon discovers, she and Dominic have much more dire matters to worry about. It turns out that the Reverend Wynter isn’t on holiday at all–and that something very sinister has transpired.
As a blizzard leaves Cottisham treacherously snowbound and the isolated village swirls with unsavory secrets, Dominic and Clarice suddenly find themselves in deadly danger.
198 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
106 people are currently reading
988 people want to read
About the author
Anne Perry
361 books3,375 followersAnne Perry, born Juliet Hulme in England, lived in Scotland most of her life after serving five years in prison for murder (in New Zealand). A beloved mystery authoress, she is best known for her Thomas Pitt and William Monk series.
Her first novel, "The Cater Street Hangman", was published in 1979. Her works extend to several categories of genre fiction, including historical mysteries. Many of them feature recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in 1990, "The Face Of A Stranger".
Her story "Heroes," from the 1999 anthology Murder And Obsession, won the 2001 Edgar Award For Best Short Story. She was included as an entry in Ben Peek's Twenty-Six Lies / One Truth, a novel exploring the nature of truth in literature.
Series contributed to:
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
. Malice Domestic
. The World's Finest Mystery And Crime Stories
. Transgressions
. The Year's Finest Crime And Mystery Stories
Her first novel, "The Cater Street Hangman", was published in 1979. Her works extend to several categories of genre fiction, including historical mysteries. Many of them feature recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in 1990, "The Face Of A Stranger".
Her story "Heroes," from the 1999 anthology Murder And Obsession, won the 2001 Edgar Award For Best Short Story. She was included as an entry in Ben Peek's Twenty-Six Lies / One Truth, a novel exploring the nature of truth in literature.
Series contributed to:
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
. Malice Domestic
. The World's Finest Mystery And Crime Stories
. Transgressions
. The Year's Finest Crime And Mystery Stories
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 325 reviews
December 30, 2018
Dominic Corde and his wife Clarice are related to Charlotte and Thomas Pitt through marriage. Both Dominic and Clarice came from privileged families, but when Dominic felt called to become a priest, Clarice happily gave him his full support.
The Bishop requests that Dominic attend a parish in a small town outside of London while the regular vicar is away on three week’s holidays. Dominic and Clarice jump at the chance to take on the full responsibility of a parish during this time frame rather than assist the vicar in a London parish as Dominic had been doing.
They fall in love with the village and its people, and their wish is that they can somehow stay there or be sent to a similar parish nearby. Their wish comes true, but not the way they had wanted or expected. When the previous vicar is found dead in the cellar, Clarice identifies signs that indicate the vicar did not die of heart failure, which is what the doctor insisted on.
Dominic and Clarice realize they have to proceed with any inquiries with utmost caution for two reasons: (1) if Dominic is to retain this parish, he dares not put a foot wrong, and (2) if there is a killer at large and they know too much, Dominic and Clarice will be in danger, too.
Meantime, the holiday season is upon them. Dominic needs a theme for his sermon that will move the hearts of the villagers. Clarice wants to ally herself with the village in helping to prepare for feasting and celebration.
But who can they trust?
I enjoyed the lovely message of this novel, and many of the events warmed my heart. The ending was perfect and my heart soared as Dominic gave his brief Christmas sermon of inspiration and hope.
The Bishop requests that Dominic attend a parish in a small town outside of London while the regular vicar is away on three week’s holidays. Dominic and Clarice jump at the chance to take on the full responsibility of a parish during this time frame rather than assist the vicar in a London parish as Dominic had been doing.
They fall in love with the village and its people, and their wish is that they can somehow stay there or be sent to a similar parish nearby. Their wish comes true, but not the way they had wanted or expected. When the previous vicar is found dead in the cellar, Clarice identifies signs that indicate the vicar did not die of heart failure, which is what the doctor insisted on.
Dominic and Clarice realize they have to proceed with any inquiries with utmost caution for two reasons: (1) if Dominic is to retain this parish, he dares not put a foot wrong, and (2) if there is a killer at large and they know too much, Dominic and Clarice will be in danger, too.
Meantime, the holiday season is upon them. Dominic needs a theme for his sermon that will move the hearts of the villagers. Clarice wants to ally herself with the village in helping to prepare for feasting and celebration.
But who can they trust?
I enjoyed the lovely message of this novel, and many of the events warmed my heart. The ending was perfect and my heart soared as Dominic gave his brief Christmas sermon of inspiration and hope.
December 18, 2019
Anne Perry writes about murder. The recurring themes of her books tend to involve secrets, forgiveness and second chances. This all makes sense for a woman who committed murder and who is living her second chance.
Do you remember Peter Jackson's 1994 film Heavenly Creatures? Kate Winslet played Anne Perry. Of course Perry isn't her real name and I'm sure the movie took liberties, but that's essentially the story. Perry did not murder so much as she was an accomplice. She was also very young at the time and an infatuated with a dream world created by her and a friend with whom she had an unhealthily strong bond with. Clearly neither girl was in her right mind. They did their time, went their separate ways and are trying to put together some semblance of a normal life. Perry adopted her pen name and embarked on a very successful career as a novelist.
When I discovered that the mystery/detective stories I enjoyed were written by a convicted murderer, I was shocked. Did that make me stop reading her books? No. If anything I probably started reading more of them. Morbid curiosity much?!
I like to read Christmassy stories in December. Perry's series of Christmas mysteries provide somewhat of a counter to the sappy sweet holiday fare you usually find. In A Christmas Secret (one of the more Christmas-centric of the series, tbh) a vicar's wife sets out to solve a murder. She doesn't use clues to the extent they do in detective fiction (in fact, oddly no detective shows up to investigate, now that I think about it), but rather she discovers the truth mainly through looking at motives. There's no deep, intricate investigation. Hell, there are enough pages for one! Plenty of red herrings get tossed at the reader though. Even so, the mystery isn't difficult to solve. This work is more about the message, wherein those aforementioned themes crop up. The vicar's Christmas sermon ties all of that up in the end.
Will I rush to read more of Perry's books? Weeellll, I wouldn't say rush, but I'm certainly not going to run away from them. They're entertaining and she can turn a good phrase. What more could I ask for?
Do you remember Peter Jackson's 1994 film Heavenly Creatures? Kate Winslet played Anne Perry. Of course Perry isn't her real name and I'm sure the movie took liberties, but that's essentially the story. Perry did not murder so much as she was an accomplice. She was also very young at the time and an infatuated with a dream world created by her and a friend with whom she had an unhealthily strong bond with. Clearly neither girl was in her right mind. They did their time, went their separate ways and are trying to put together some semblance of a normal life. Perry adopted her pen name and embarked on a very successful career as a novelist.
When I discovered that the mystery/detective stories I enjoyed were written by a convicted murderer, I was shocked. Did that make me stop reading her books? No. If anything I probably started reading more of them. Morbid curiosity much?!
I like to read Christmassy stories in December. Perry's series of Christmas mysteries provide somewhat of a counter to the sappy sweet holiday fare you usually find. In A Christmas Secret (one of the more Christmas-centric of the series, tbh) a vicar's wife sets out to solve a murder. She doesn't use clues to the extent they do in detective fiction (in fact, oddly no detective shows up to investigate, now that I think about it), but rather she discovers the truth mainly through looking at motives. There's no deep, intricate investigation. Hell, there are enough pages for one! Plenty of red herrings get tossed at the reader though. Even so, the mystery isn't difficult to solve. This work is more about the message, wherein those aforementioned themes crop up. The vicar's Christmas sermon ties all of that up in the end.
Will I rush to read more of Perry's books? Weeellll, I wouldn't say rush, but I'm certainly not going to run away from them. They're entertaining and she can turn a good phrase. What more could I ask for?
December 23, 2017
A very enjoyable short mystery set at Christmastime in Victorian England. It took me just over an hour to read and had several great twists to the mystery. Recommended.
August 10, 2016
yes, I know it's not as satisfying as one of Perry's full-length, non-holiday-set novels, but I loved A Christmas Secret for its sense of place and its narrator. I read it in 2 days and didn't want it to end. For me, that's the mark of a great book.
December 13, 2020
Cozy mystery that is also a bit thrilling at the end. I love Anne Perry’s books. This one was also nice and Christmasy.
November 30, 2008
This is the book selected for reading by my library mystery book group. It's probably not one I would have chosen on my own, although I am a fan of Anne Perry. I have long loved and followed the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt and the William Monk series. This is a story of another couple in the tradition of those two series. This time it is a vicar, Dominic Corde, familiar from the first Charlotte and Thomas book, "The Cater Street Hangman," and his wife, Clarice. This couple shares many of the same characteristics of those earlier couples and so they seem very familiar, although this is the first one of their tales I've read.
This is a very short novel or a very long short story. I finished it in one sitting on a Saturday afternoon. I wore a sweater the whole time I was reading, as the descriptions of the winter landscape made me cold.
Dominic is chosen by the bishop to take over for an old vicar who has gone on an end-of-the-year vacation, just at Christmas-time. It is a welcome assignment for Dominic and Clarice, but then Clarice discovers that the old vicar did not really go on vacation. There is a mystery to be solved and the couple determines to find the answer.
This is a minor entry in the Perry repetoire but it carries all the hallmarks - the attention to details, the appreciation of homely virtues and the everyday chores that were necessary to the running of a house, and the compassionate humanity of the characters. She excels at describing settings and interpersonal relationships.
This is a very short novel or a very long short story. I finished it in one sitting on a Saturday afternoon. I wore a sweater the whole time I was reading, as the descriptions of the winter landscape made me cold.
Dominic is chosen by the bishop to take over for an old vicar who has gone on an end-of-the-year vacation, just at Christmas-time. It is a welcome assignment for Dominic and Clarice, but then Clarice discovers that the old vicar did not really go on vacation. There is a mystery to be solved and the couple determines to find the answer.
This is a minor entry in the Perry repetoire but it carries all the hallmarks - the attention to details, the appreciation of homely virtues and the everyday chores that were necessary to the running of a house, and the compassionate humanity of the characters. She excels at describing settings and interpersonal relationships.
June 26, 2023
Always fun to read a holiday treat, especially by this wonderful author!
A Christmas Secret by Anne Perry brings "a yarn full of light celebration and dark mischief."
A Christmas Secret by Anne Perry brings "a yarn full of light celebration and dark mischief."
November 29, 2021
A delightful holiday escape into Victorian England. I've only read two other Anne Perry books, both Christmas novellas, but I am definitely a fan of her descriptive writing style and the heart and depth she brings to her stories. This one is a lovely tribute to the true meaning of Christmas...only with murder. :-)
From my understanding, Perry's Christmas stories feature secondary characters from her novels but I never felt lost because this isn't the first time I've met these characters. And I can definitely attest to the fact that these books can easily be read out of order. I'm listening to them in random order as my holds come in from my library.
From my understanding, Perry's Christmas stories feature secondary characters from her novels but I never felt lost because this isn't the first time I've met these characters. And I can definitely attest to the fact that these books can easily be read out of order. I'm listening to them in random order as my holds come in from my library.
December 13, 2021
Anne Perry’s Christmas mysteries are the perfect books to curl up with on a lazy Sunday afternoon when it’s dark and gloomy outside – at least that’s what I did yesterday and found it very enjoyable indeed!
A CHRISTMAS SECRET is set eleven days before Christmas, in the ice-cold winter of 1890. The story focuses on a Reverend and his wife, who move to the English countryside. The young pair seems to settle in nicely — until they make a most gruesome discovery. 😱😱😱
The plot ticked all the right boxes for me:
[✓] quaint English village
[✓] lots of snow
[✓] charming protagonists
[✓] devious secret
Check, check, check and check. 🙌 A neat novella with a hint of Christie: enjoyable, clever, atmospheric. Could have been a little more complex for my taste, but regarding the length (137 pages!), it did well. Luv <3
A CHRISTMAS SECRET is set eleven days before Christmas, in the ice-cold winter of 1890. The story focuses on a Reverend and his wife, who move to the English countryside. The young pair seems to settle in nicely — until they make a most gruesome discovery. 😱😱😱
The plot ticked all the right boxes for me:
[✓] quaint English village
[✓] lots of snow
[✓] charming protagonists
[✓] devious secret
Check, check, check and check. 🙌 A neat novella with a hint of Christie: enjoyable, clever, atmospheric. Could have been a little more complex for my taste, but regarding the length (137 pages!), it did well. Luv <3
December 7, 2021
This is another great contribution to Anne Perry's Christmas series. These books have all been absorbing mysteries, but all have at some point a wonderful reminder of the true meaning of the Christmas holiday. This one was 4.5 for me.
December 23, 2022
Anne Perry writes the perfect little Christmas stories.
December 13, 2017
This is not my typical type of book and it's clear to me why. I found the story and characters to be quite simple and uninspired. The characters were bland with no depth, and the characters just somehow "magically" figured out things that seemed so incredibly far-fetched. It was not enjoyable to me to read something so banal. The story was shallow the characters barely defined and the story unrealistic with characters coming up with answers seemingly out of thin air with nothing to back them up. No thanks.
December 29, 2008
It was quite plain the Perry was trying to put out a short Christmas mystery for her publisher. It didn't deliver like I'd hoped. The story was very rushed at the end. Although there were plenty of red herrings to distract the reader.
November 8, 2024
The Anne Perry Christmas books are novellas--short books that often spotlight secondary characters. Here that's Dominic Corde-- Charlotte Pitt's brother-in-law, and his wife Clarice.
November 22, 2021
Not my normal genre, but it was a fine read. It was fun to keep guessing and the country village setting had it's charm.
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December 28, 2017Dominic Corde is extremely happy when he’s asked to be a substitute vicar in the village of Cottisham while the Reverend Wynter is away on a Christmas holiday. Dominic and his wife, Clarice, have not been happy in his current assignment in a city under the supervision of a fault-finding and overbearing superior. Once they arrive, however, they find an uneasy feeling about the village. On top of that, it seems suspicious that no one knows where Reverand Wynter actually went for his vacation, or if in fact he ever left the village at all . . .
KD 12-17
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KD 12-17
Check out this book today!
December 17, 2023
I really enjoy reading mysteries set during the holiday season. Even though there may be a murder to solve, there is also always something festive going on, whether it's food, or good cheer. I'm not a religious person, but even so, I can definitely agree with the message in Dominic's Christmas day sermon, "That is what Christmas is: everlasting hope, a way forward to the best in ourselves and all that we can become." Words to live by, at Christmas, and all year long.
December 7, 2017
MLBC Dec selection
November 24, 2019
3.5 ⭐s This was a lot better than I expected. More like an Agatha Christie or Father Brown episode and less like a poorly done Hallmark movie in book form. Pleasantly surprised ☺️
November 18, 2020
A murder mystery wrapped up in Victorian England Christmastime. Loved it. Recommend.
December 28, 2021
I love reading Anne Perry, and this novel was no exception. I loved the characters, storyline and mystery woven into the story. Such a great cozy mystery to read at the holidays.
February 25, 2023
Une chouette enquête de Noël avec Dominic Corde et sa jeune épouse comme héros. Suspense jusqu'aux dernières pages
December 16, 2023
3.5 stars! This was my first Anne Perry book, and now I get why she’s so popular. She is really good at setting her scenes and vividly describing the surroundings. I didn’t rate this higher because I didn’t enjoy how abruptly it started and ended.
December 7, 2025
If a murder mystery can be a sweet fun read, this is it!
December 8, 2019
a quick read and really enjoyed reading it. the ending came quite quickly thoug. nice read!
November 13, 2017
Set in the late 1800's, Dominic Corde is thrilled to fill the position of substitute vicar.
That excitement changes to concern, when things don't add up, creating a mystery around the previous vicar.
I love the "feel" of these Christmas books by Anne. They're a quick read and are quite entertaining.
As a reader, it felt like a real train ride, as I hopped on board. The story stayed mysterious all the way to the incredible ending. What an ending.
That excitement changes to concern, when things don't add up, creating a mystery around the previous vicar.
I love the "feel" of these Christmas books by Anne. They're a quick read and are quite entertaining.
As a reader, it felt like a real train ride, as I hopped on board. The story stayed mysterious all the way to the incredible ending. What an ending.
December 8, 2021
Whats better than a peaceful little Christmas Murder? Why, a peaceful little Christmas murder replete with rural England vibes, amirite?
I love Anne Perry’s Christmas novellas.
I love Anne Perry’s Christmas novellas.
December 9, 2016
Although I had not realised that this was the fourth book in a series it was a fine stand alone read.
The story is set in 1890 in the village of Cottisham. The Reverend Wynter notifies the bishop that he is going on holiday for Christmas and the bishop sends Rev. Dominic Corde and his wife Clarice to stand in. Dominic and Clarice have been in a London parish where Dominic is curate to the Rev. Spindlewood. They are not very happy in the London Parish and are both delighted to arrive in the lovely village to spend the festive season at the cosy old vicarage.
Initially the villagers are a little wary of Dominic and Clarice, the Rev. Wynter has been their vicar for many years, but they start to come around and things seem to be getting off to a good start.
Clarice is very much in love with Dominic and although she is not what some would consider as good 'vicar's wife material' she is doing her best to live up to the position. She does however like to investigate things and it is not long before she starts to wonder why the Rev. Wynter, (a keen artist) has not taken his drawing equipment and even more surprising his much used personal Bible with him on his holiday.
There are some shocks ahead for the couple as the secrets of the village start to come to the surface and some very old 'sins' are brought back to haunt some of the local folk.
A very nice read and a good cosy mystery.
The story is set in 1890 in the village of Cottisham. The Reverend Wynter notifies the bishop that he is going on holiday for Christmas and the bishop sends Rev. Dominic Corde and his wife Clarice to stand in. Dominic and Clarice have been in a London parish where Dominic is curate to the Rev. Spindlewood. They are not very happy in the London Parish and are both delighted to arrive in the lovely village to spend the festive season at the cosy old vicarage.
Initially the villagers are a little wary of Dominic and Clarice, the Rev. Wynter has been their vicar for many years, but they start to come around and things seem to be getting off to a good start.
Clarice is very much in love with Dominic and although she is not what some would consider as good 'vicar's wife material' she is doing her best to live up to the position. She does however like to investigate things and it is not long before she starts to wonder why the Rev. Wynter, (a keen artist) has not taken his drawing equipment and even more surprising his much used personal Bible with him on his holiday.
There are some shocks ahead for the couple as the secrets of the village start to come to the surface and some very old 'sins' are brought back to haunt some of the local folk.
A very nice read and a good cosy mystery.
November 27, 2021
A cozy murder mystery set in a country village. What could be better for a cold, Thanksgiving weekend? Dominic Corde, a vicar, is sent to a county village with his wife, Clarice, by the bishop to cover for the long standing vicar Wynter as he goes on holiday over Christmas. It seems a little unusual that he would go away at that time of year and the residents seem surprised that he didn’t tell the Corde’s about his animals or what residents need special assistance from them during their stay. But they don’t think too much more of it until Clarice finds vicar Wynter dead in the cellar. At first they think that he fell and had a heart attack but upon closer inspection they see that he was hit on the back of the head and dragged. They decide that it is their duty to investigate. They quickly discover that John and Genevieve, who live in the village with their children, are not married and are living in sin. John’s first wife wouldn’t divorce him and now she is blackmailing them. Unfortunately for vicar Wynter, he was determined that John make an honest woman of Genevieve and he was going to help him. This, of course, would not work for his first wife as she would lose her blackmailing income. So she killed the vicar. But who is she? She is none other than the village busybody, using the alias Mrs. Paget. She dies when she falls through the ice trying to escape. My only question is who called the bishop and said that vicar Wynter was away? A quick, cozy read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2013
Un Anne Perry comme je les aime. Déjà il met en scène Dominic Corde, l'ex beau frère de Charlotte que j'ai toujours apprécié. Par ailleurs, l'intrigue est à la hauteur et l'ambiance est bien rendue et le suspens soigneusement distillé. Au contraire des autres contes que j'ai lu, il y a moins de passages philosopho-lyrique ce qui me convient bien aussi. Bon certes le personnage de Clarice fait penser à celui de Charlotte (d'ailleurs le couple en lui-même fait penser aux Pitt, version avant promotion de Thomas) mais justement, ça me fait plaisir de retrouver cette ambiance. L'histoire est bien menée et nous avons un VRAI crime et une VRAIE résolution
Les plus : une bonne histoire, bien amenée et intéressante. Des personnages aussi plaisants qu'intéressants.
Les moins : une construction à la Pitt qui pour le coup ne se démarque pas des romans habituels
En bref : un très bon conte de Noel, moins "gentillet" que ses prédécesseurs.
Ma note : 8/10
Les plus : une bonne histoire, bien amenée et intéressante. Des personnages aussi plaisants qu'intéressants.
Les moins : une construction à la Pitt qui pour le coup ne se démarque pas des romans habituels
En bref : un très bon conte de Noel, moins "gentillet" que ses prédécesseurs.
Ma note : 8/10
Displaying 1 - 30 of 325 reviews