helenephoebe's review against another edition
4.0
Review - I actually really enjoyed this book. I thought that it was well-written, though it did take me a while to get into it. I began to enjoy it much more once the murder had happened and was being investigated, rather than the opening chapters detailing what happened in the days leading up to it. I really enjoyed the very different characters and how they acted as foils against one another; it was quite clever and I look forward to reading more of the British Library crime classics.
Genre? - Crime / Mystery / Historical
Characters? - Jennifer Melbury / Mildred Melbury / Osmond Melbury / Witcombe / Colonel Halstock / Philip Cheriton / Hilda Wynford / Kenneth Stour / Grace Portisham / George Melbury / Patricia Melbury / David Evershott / Edith Evershot
Setting? - Flaxmere (England)
Series? - N/A
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 17/20
For full review see my blog https://bookbloggerish.wordpress.com/2018/12/15/book-review-the-santa-klaus-murder-by-mavis-doriel-hay/
Genre? - Crime / Mystery / Historical
Characters? - Jennifer Melbury / Mildred Melbury / Osmond Melbury / Witcombe / Colonel Halstock / Philip Cheriton / Hilda Wynford / Kenneth Stour / Grace Portisham / George Melbury / Patricia Melbury / David Evershott / Edith Evershot
Setting? - Flaxmere (England)
Series? - N/A
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 17/20
For full review see my blog https://bookbloggerish.wordpress.com/2018/12/15/book-review-the-santa-klaus-murder-by-mavis-doriel-hay/
renaevsbooks's review
3.0
Solid 3.5! I enjoyed this book a lot. It was the classic Christmas murder story that feel so cozy during the holidays. My biggest complaint is that this story felt so slow and that’s probably my own fault for reading modern mysteries all month. You really have to train your brain for older books to thoroughly enjoy them and it was my fault for just throwing it in there randomly.
greete's review against another edition
3.0
Ma tahtsin selle poolelioleva raamatu läbi saada, et uuel aastal puhtalt lehelt alustada.
Täiesti võimatu oli ära arvata, kes mõrvar on.
Väga raske oli tegelasi meelde jätta, ma kogu aeg vaatasin raamatu alguses olevat tegelaste nimekirja, et aru saada, kes on kellega abielus ja kes on autojuhid ja kes külalised. Aga muidu mulle väga tegelased meeldisid, nad olid huvitavad.
Vahepeal oli raamat igav, aga muidu mulle meeldis.
Täiesti võimatu oli ära arvata, kes mõrvar on.
Väga raske oli tegelasi meelde jätta, ma kogu aeg vaatasin raamatu alguses olevat tegelaste nimekirja, et aru saada, kes on kellega abielus ja kes on autojuhid ja kes külalised. Aga muidu mulle väga tegelased meeldisid, nad olid huvitavad.
Vahepeal oli raamat igav, aga muidu mulle meeldis.
dunfermlinereads's review against another edition
4.0
The Santa Klaus Murder was very similar in setup to Agatha Christies Hercule Poirot’s Christmas. A grown up, well off family who come together at Christmas time where there is talk of money and inheritance followed by murder then investigation. Although it was very similar to Agatha Christies it fell a little short of the mark and doesn’t stand up in comparison in my opinion.
That being said, it is still a very nice read with moments of interest and you do find yourself double checking details and trying to work out who did it. What else can you ask for in a crime novel?
Although I’ve only scored this as 4 stars I would still make this a traditional Christmas read along side other Christmas crime stories and would certainly recommend that other crime enthusiasts give this book a try.
That being said, it is still a very nice read with moments of interest and you do find yourself double checking details and trying to work out who did it. What else can you ask for in a crime novel?
Although I’ve only scored this as 4 stars I would still make this a traditional Christmas read along side other Christmas crime stories and would certainly recommend that other crime enthusiasts give this book a try.
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
Another of the Golden Age yet forgotten mysteries being returned to the public by Poisoned Press. The writing is very much of its time, and the locked-room device works well here. Having multiple narrators was, at first, a bit annoying but then made sense; as far as the whodunnit part goes, it's clear from the start that the lost Santa Klaus suit will come into play, but it isn't absolutely clear until the end who or why. Which, for those who know me, is a good thing.
ARC provided by publisher.
ARC provided by publisher.
jemimaslife's review against another edition
I will come back to this at Christmas time but for now...
DNF at 10%.
DNF at 10%.
me2brett's review
4.0
A very delightful mystery. Although predominantly told from the perspective of the investigating officer, certain chapters are recounted by other characters in the story; a format which I doubted at the beginning but makes sense as you move through the book and ends up being rather helpful.
I was thoroughly confounded but pleased by the conclusion,
I was thoroughly confounded but pleased by the conclusion,
Spoiler
which while no evident also wasn't one of those ones which comes out of nowherecaseykoester39's review
3.0
Originally published in 1936, The Santa Klaus Murder has a true feel of the time. It's the English country house at Christmas-time and wouldn't you know, someone who everyone has a reason to dislike ends up dead.
The story is told in the small written personal accounts of several characters, which allows different details to be shared without feeling clumsy.
It's fun and unchallenging - a perfect holiday read.
The story is told in the small written personal accounts of several characters, which allows different details to be shared without feeling clumsy.
It's fun and unchallenging - a perfect holiday read.
jbleyle63's review
3.0
Nothing I enjoy to read more during the Holiday season than reading a Christmas themed country house murder mystery. Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press' British Library Crime Classics imprint specializing in reissues from the first half of the 2oth century for supplying another read. This one was enjoyable if not particularly an all-time classic.
bgg616's review
3.0
A decent 3 1/2 star mystery. This cozy Christmas mystery is set in the 1930's in the countryside outside Bristol. The Melbury family led by Sir Osmond gathers together, and there are plenty of additional guests. Of course, there's a murder in the library - actually the study - and it's the family patriarch who is dead. Almost everyone is a suspect, and various possibilities are considered. The Christmas holiday makes investigating a bit more complicated as some people are away for the holiday.
Fortunately, the authors provides a list of characters in the front of the book.At the conclusion, all of the clues that led the police to identify the suspect, are provided at the end. This is a technique I haven't seen done quite so extensively at the end of a crime novel but it worked. This is a part of the new British Library Crime Classics series, and well worth reading by fans of the genre.
Fortunately, the authors provides a list of characters in the front of the book.At the conclusion, all of the clues that led the police to identify the suspect, are provided at the end. This is a technique I haven't seen done quite so extensively at the end of a crime novel but it worked. This is a part of the new British Library Crime Classics series, and well worth reading by fans of the genre.