A Stillness in Bethlehem

Gregor Demarkian #7

by Jane Haddam

It's Christmastime in Bethlehem, Vermont, but there's no deep and dreamless sleep for this little town. Instead, everyone's getting ready to stage the annual Nativity play, the town's one tourist attraction and economic mainstay. Everyone except outsider Tisha Verek, who's getting ready to meet with the ACLU to stop the religious pageant. But before Tisha even leaves her isolated rural home, someone stops her--with a .22 rifle.

Genres: Mystery, Christmas, Fiction, Holiday, Detective, Cozy Mystery, Mystery Thriller

289 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Aka Orania Papazoglou

Jane Haddam (b. 1951) is an American author of mysteries. Born Orania Papazoglou, she worked as a college professor and magazine editor before publishing her Edgar Award–nominated first novel, Sweet, Savage Death, in 1984. This mystery introduced Patience McKenna, a sleuthing scribe who would go on to appear in four more books, including Wicked, Loving Murder (1985) and Rich, Radiant Slaughter (1988).

Not a Creature Was Stirring (1990) introduced Haddam’s best-known character, former FBI agent Gregor Demarkian. The series spans more than twenty novels, many of them holiday-themed, including Murder Superior (1993), Fountain of Death (1995), and Wanting Sheila Dead (2005). Haddam’s most recent novels are Blood in the Water (2012) and Hearts of Sand (2013). Wife of William L DeAndrea.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really enjoying my slow, meandering re-visiting of Jane Haddam's early novels. I left her seventh in the Gregor Demarkian series until December, as it is Christmas themed.

Gregor and Bennis take Father Tibor to the small town of Bethlehem, in Vermont, which is famoous for a Nativity Celebration, which brings a lot of money to the local population. Although you would imagine that Father Tibor would shrug off such an event, his health has suffered recently, and so the idea is to get him back to his old self. They soon discover that the small town has suffered two, odd, shootings - put down to hunting accidents by the State Police, while local law enforcement, in the shape of Franklin Morrison, sees Gregor's arrival as his chance to solve the killings; one of which involved a woman intending to challenge the celebration that the town relies on.

Normally, Father Tibor and Bennis would be fascinated by any investigation that Gregor is involved in, but, for some reason, Tibor is convinced that Bennis has an eating disorder and is desperate to feed her, leading to the two having a battle of wills, while Gregor can become involved in local, small town events. The picture perfect town has shadowy secrets and unpleasant, intolerant attitudes, shown in stories such as that featuring a young victim of domestic abuse, which is done brilliantly. As ever, my involvement with Jane Haddam's characters was total and I look forward to reading on in the series next year.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this ebook for a while and just now got around to reading it. I wish now that I hadn't waited.

Gregor Demarkian is an Armenian-American who retired as an FBI analyst after 20 years. Famous (think along the lines of John Douglas), Gregor finds himself being roped into one murder case after another. Haddam (real name: Orania Papazoglou) does a great job of creating fun, interesting characters. Quite often I start out disliking one (like John Henry Newman Jackman in Not a Creature Was Stirring) and end up liking them. Of course, there's also Gregor's friends (and sidekicks): Bennis Hannaford, author of "Chronicles of Zed and Zedalia", an interminable series of fantasy books about knights in shining armor, damsels in distress, etc.; and Father Tibor, an Armenian Orthodox priest (my personal favorite). The interplay between the three is funny and heartwarming. You can tell they care a great deal about each other.

In "Stillness," Gregor and Bennis take Tibor to the Christmas nativity play in Bethlehem, Vermont. The play has been held for decades and is the major source of income for the town. However, that may be about to change because Tisha Verek, a true-crime author and resident of Bethlehem, has decided to get a federal injunction against the play. Considering Tisha's nasty personality, she's probably just doing it to cause trouble and hurt people, rather than for any political or religious reason. However, she doesn't get out of her driveway that morning - she's shot dead before she can even get in the car. At the same time, an elderly woman, is shot dead in her car. The official story is that the deaths are accidental, probably due to hunters. At least, that's the official story. No one really believes it. Soon there is another fatal shooting and then a near riot, as emotions get out of control.

I didn't rate this five stars because I figured out who did it and why. However, I enjoyed "Stillness" a great deal and look forward to further books in the Gregor Demarkian series.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talk about arriving tardy to the party! Random book chosen...and then discover while this one is #7 in the series, Jane Haddam has written DOZENS of mysteries. With no expectations, I was rather surprised by what I found. The primary characters--Gregor, Tibor, and Bannis--are enjoyable and I would like to share more adventures with them, but the setting for this novel, the small Vermont town of Bethlehem, provided a bevy of fascinating characters. And not just your typical small-town tropes. While almost off-putting to have so many characters pop up a snippet at a time, I soon found myself entangled in the web of them and the murder mystery X three. In fact, I described the web (to myself) as one not symmetrical at all but like ones of a spider on LSD. (You can see examples on the Internet. Fascinating.) I didn't know whodunit for a long time, then I thought I spotted a big clue, then I doubted myself (red herring!), then I thought it was someone else, but then I "got" it. I was right the first time! A lot more could have been written to flesh out the characters which would've explained more thoroughly the motive for the murders, but on the whole, not too bad. My one negative remark is that I think the one character I truly liked and would like to know more about appears to have left town at the end of this novel, which isn't even set in the usual domicile of Gregor et al. anyway. "Good luck, Candace!"

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of a series -- number 7, I think. I had read the first two and started this one, even though out of order, because it's set around Christmas time. The small town of Bethlehem, Vermont is putting on their annual Nativity story festival. For 3 weeks before Christmas there are all manner of activities including a 'living nativity' performance each evening. When the woman who wants to file suit against the town on the grounds of violation of church and state is found dead, no one really believes it's the hunting accident the state police declared it. Coincidentally, Gregor Demarkian, his long time friend Bennis and parish priest Tibor have come to Bethlehem for the festival and, of course, he is asked to investigate.

I enjoyed it . . . next thing is to go back and read the 4 I skipped over to get to it.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The writing style is smooth and makes me smile as she relates the thoughts of her characters. This book was written in the early 90’s but is quite up-to-date after all his time. I must admit I have read this before but did not recall the plot at all. The characters quickly came back to me and now I want to re read all the oldest Haddam 📖.

Jane Haddam’s mastery of the mystery genre and her character development is among the best writers I have read.

[Lizzytish · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s Christmas time and where else to go but to Bethlehem, Vermont to see a famous Nativity play which is put on each year. And why is Bennis reading diet books? Will Tibor be able to relax from his stresses? Why are people being shot down? Lots of twists.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am glad I started this series again. I'm really enjoying it an look forward to the next books.

Gregor Demarkian is a very interesting character. If you are familiar with the Monk TV series or the the Mentalist TV series - or now the new Sherlock Holmes series, Elementary, he is a precursor to these characters. Not as troubled as Monk, but he has his issues - a wife that dies a lingering death from cancer that haunts his thoughts from time to time.

In the book I found it intriguing that he felt out of his element and almost didn't think he could investigate the murders in this small town, Bethlehem, because they involved shooting and ballistics and his area of expertise was poison. However, he is supposedly the man that started the Behavioral Sciences Department at the FBI (profiling) and was very involved in apprehending serial killers while he was there. The serial killing is a feature in this book and I was completely thrown off (not that I'm good at figuring out the killer or really pride myself on that), by the actual perpetrator.

I'm looking forward to the next.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Gregor Demarkian and his companions head to Bethlehem, Vermont to see the famous town's Nativity play, they are thinking it will be a lovely holiday break for all of them. Particularly for their priest friend, Tibor, who is stressed out over helping resettle refugees in their Philadelphia neighborhood.

Demarkian is particularly recognizable, having just helped solve a murder case that happened near Thanksgiving, and getting coverage in the national news. So when two of the townspeople are murdered using the same gun, on the same day, the local police ask him for help. Though not officially on the case, he is intrigued with aspects of it, and ends up becoming familiar with many of the town's residents and their intrigues.

This was an enjoyable read, and a good mystery.

[Kyrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many possible murderers - lots to choose from. I liked the side stories, too, particularly Bennis' non-diet. Can't describe the others without giving the plot away.

12-26-15 Re read. I read the last chapter first, so I'd remember who the chief villain was. It's different reading that way - so many clues I cast aside because I knew which ones mattered. It's still a good story, but not my favorite of this series.

12/18/21 Reread again and well, it's just weird reading about a time that isn't all that long ago but seems like ages in attitude and the ability to have large groups of people together. And so many of the people just seemed mean spirited.

[Dennis Fischman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The street in Philadelphia where Gregor Demarkian lives is a village in itself, so it's not so shocking a sight to see him walking around the small town of Bethlehem, VT in his long coat and good shoes. As usual, there are many characters, some with secrets. I thought the plot was clear in this book--if I had simply asked myself why one character looked the way she did, I would have solved it myself.

My library didn't have several in the series before this, and I will have to trace them down and find out why Bennis Hannaford still has such a prominent place in Gregor's life. Opposites attract?

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #2 in my holiday reading. I this Gregor Demarkian mystery Gregor Bennis and Fr.Tibor head for Bethlehem, Vermont, to view the town's annual Christmas pageant. Upon arrival though Gregor gets called upon by the local police chief to help with two shooting "accidents" that he is sure are murder. As Gregor tries to find a connection between the two shootings a third one takes place. Tying all the loose ends together is Grgor's forte and Bethlehem, though very shaken finally finds some Christmas peace.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent story from Jane Haddam

I liked this book because it is really well written. The story pulls you into another world, and you feel like you really know the characters. The ending was a surprise to me, which I liked.

[Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many twists and turns ... it is really IS like Agatha Christie.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gosh I love these books! Between Jane Haddam and Louise Penny, I think I'm set for at least a little while....

[Melodie Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking forward to Stillness in Bethlehem during the Christmas season and knew it was a murder mystery book (picked up at a free stand), but I found it hard to keep track of all the names. The names were so unusual, and I had a hard time detecting who was male and who was female. I also don't know why the author used first and last names for each character, so many times, and also didn't love the repetitious use of sentence after sentence repeating or slightly repeating the same things. ... ? Of course, I know I was late to the game, since it was written in 1992, and that may have been the style for authors back in the 90s?? I have only written one novel so far (usually wrote non-fiction books on family living) and someone else could feel entirely differently about this mystery book.

Someone else may have an entirely different point of view!

[Jazz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Haddam’s ability to tell her mysteries from multiple points of view has been mind-boggling each time I read one. I love her method of story-telling with its humor and character insights.

The setting here takes the main characters out of Philadelphia to Bethlehem, Vermont, at Christmas for some required R&R for sensitive Father Tibor. It provides a clever setup for a murder mystery, involving a true crime writer working on a book about adolescent murderers, who also takes up the cause of legally shutting down the annual religious Nativity pageant in Bethlehem. The combination of those two possible motives sets up a lot of delicious suspects. What a talent Jane Haddam was and what a loss.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Stillness in Bethlehem (hardcover) by Jane Haddam.

This is the 7th in the Demarkian series and my 31st. That I have reached the end of all the Demarkian books and I'm going into reread mode. This book was no exception to the rule as it had me transfixed in so many ways. Loved the relationships between Demarkian and Bennis, Demarkian and Tibor, Demarkian and Franklin Morrison the Police Chief.

If you haven't started the Demarkian series by Jane Haddam please do yourself a favor and begin either at the beginning or taking it one at a time. They are stand alone novels.
Praising this series and this book all the way into my rereads.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I fibbed, I started a non-fiction book on the founding of Jamestown, VA, but got distracted with the next Demarkian mystery. A Stillness in Bethlehem is the first in the series not to include poison as the murder weapon. The characters are very interesting as are the murders.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Familiar likable characters + engaging though somewhat predictable plot = literary comfort food.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love her writing. This is my 2nd reading for the holidays. Enjoyed it

[Margaret Varho · Rating 4 out of 5]

#2

[Mary Schildman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dragged, sort-of

Initially this story was hard for me to get interested in reading. I had read a third of the book before it got interesting. Then it was a good mystery. The first third of the book took weeks to read, the remaining two-thirds was so interesting that I didn't want to stop reading until finished, many hours later. Good book

[Justina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am so bored with this book. I'm only on the first 30 pages and I am sick of it. I think the author is trying too hard to sound...I don't know...intelligent? Creative? Special? I think I'll put this on the back-burner for a while.

[Alaina Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the full review (and to learn how a tiny town in Vermont can afford a mobile crime unit), visit my website at That's What She Read dot wordpress dot com.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually 3.5. Not really too Christmas-like but interesting characters and a good story line.

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 3 out of 5]

just okay