I so enjoy anything that Anne Perry writes and her Christmas novellas are always an anticipated treat!! I just re read "A Christmas Return" and its always such fun visiting Victorian England and solving a mystery.

I must admit that I accepted this book for review when it was first published in 2017 but that year I became very ill and this book slipped through the cracks. Ms. Perry writes a Christmas mystery every year, often with side characters from previous books but they are standalone mysteries.
This is an okay mystery but as a Christmas offering, well...not so much. We pretty much know who the murderer is from the beginning and proving it isn't much of a task for Mariah and Peter. Why this murder wasn't solved 20 years before is a mystery to me the reader. Christmas is just a token notion with mentions of a few garlands hung and a Christmas Eve party.

Anne Perry's books are all popular at our library, but the Christmas series flies off the shelf. I enjoyed this novel as much as I did the others andhave been recommending it often since we received our copy.

*May contain spoilers
I requested this book looking for a Christmas themed book, and I'm not sure this quite fit the bill. The story did take place during Christmas time, but it wasn't integral to the storyline. However, Perry's plot was interesting and the suspense kept me involved. I empathized with the main character, but wasn't sure how her history of domestic abuse led her to get involved in the investigation of a kidnapper/murderer/rapist. I appreciate the opportunity to review this book, and would recommend it to someone who likes suspense stories; however, it wasn't what I expected. Not the traditional "feel-good" Christmas novel, but a great story nonetheless.

Exceptional and intriguing. Holiday mystery at its best. Like the history. Liked the characters and story flow. Keeps you guessing until the last page. Can't put it down! Would recommend!

First Sentence: Christmas was just over a week away.

Mariah Ellison, grandmother to Charlotte Pitt, receives a package containing a reminder of a long-ago unsolved murder. Once friends with the victim’s wife, Mariah decides to travel to Surry to reconcile with her friend and, by teaming up with her friend’s grandson Peter, see if they can solve the 20-year-old crime.

Anne Perry has the voice of a true storyteller—“She stood up and walked to the outer door of her rooms, and all the way to the front hallway of the main house. … The walls were decorated with paintings of aristocrats from earlier centuries. In Mariah’s opinion it was a good place to put them, far better than in one of the rooms where people actually spent time, and would be obliged to look at them.” She is also good at including small observations along the way—“It made her see the poison of gossip.”

Even if one isn’t familiar with Mariah from the Pitt series of books, it is interesting to finally learn about her background and that which had originally made her so bitter and hard. And knowing it, who could blame her. But a common theme Perry uses is that of forgiveness and redemption, and that’s true here as well as we see a transformed Mariah trying to bring about those things for her friend.

Peter is a delightful character. He is perfectly portrayed with both the audacity and loyalty of one his age.

“The Christmas Return” is a treat with Mariah being a true heroine who wins the day with inner strength, and by unconventional means.

THE CHRISTMAS RETURN (His Mys-Mariah Ellison-Surrey, England-1800s) – G+
Perry, Anne – 15th Christmas Novella
Ballentine Books – Nov 2017

In her fifteenth Christmas novella, Anne Perry brings us Mariah Ellison, the grandmother of Charlotte Pitt (from the author's Victorian series about police officer Thomas Pitt and his wife, Charlotte). A few days before Christmas, Mariah gets an urgent summons from the grandson of a longtime friend, Rowena Wesley.

Alone in London, Mariah decides to travels to the small town of Haslemere, in Surrey. Twenty years ago, Rowena's husband died under mysterious circumstances at home, shortly after breaking ties with a client. Cullen Wesley, a lawyer, had been defending Owen Durward, the village doctor, in the rape and murder of a fourteen-year-old girl. The day after severing ties with Durward, Cullen was found dead in his home, his death put down to an accident. Durward, with a new lawyer, was acquitted in the girl's murder.

Now, Durward has returned to Haslemere, claiming he wants to clear his reputation. But his return may ruin Rowena's reputation and the good name of Cullen. Mariah, in her 80s and often found to be a difficult, bad-tempered person, also has a secret she has kept hidden, of a time when she didn't fight back—but should have. With new resolve—and the help of Rowena's grandson Peter—she knows she must defend her friend Rowena and uphold Cullen's reputation. Mariah and Peter go to work investigating what really happened—both in the girl's murder and Cullen's death.

As one character says, "What's Christmas about, if not hope and giving a hand when it's needed? Setting things right, before the end of the old year."

Over the years, Anne Perry's Christmas novellas have ranged from very good to mediocre. I'm glad to say this one is very good. It's comforting and easy to digest, a bit like the tea and toasted crumpets often described in the novella. Yet it carries a powerful and uplifting message, perfect for the holiday season.

It's so great to see the minor characters from the Thomas Pitt series get some of the spotlight for themselves. Mariah Ellison is not necessarily one of those characters I would have thought to shine on, but it was so interesting to see a back story for this character. Using this woman who had had an unhappy life fight to protect the memory of a man long dead truly brought the Christmas spirit to the forefront.

This is the first book I’ve read by Anne Perry, and it happens to be a part of a short story Christmas series that’s been around for quite a while as this is #15. These stories are based on characters from another of her series, so I wasn’t quite as familiar with everyone in the story. That being said, this was still a very easy read, although not really a Christmas story as the title lead me to believe. It was definitely a mystery wrapped up in Christmas decorations. Set in Victorian England, Mariah Ellison sets out to right a wrong that happened twenty years ago when a friend’s husband was found dead. No one was ever charged as it seemed to be accidental. Mariah, with the help of her friend’s grandson unravel decades old clues to wrap up this case.
I was a bit disappointed that this wasn’t a Christmas story, and was underwhelmed with the story as a whole. Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I've enjoyed several of these Christmas novellas based on the characters in Anne Perry's long-running mystery series. In this year's edition, Charlotte Pitt's grandmother, Mariah Ellison is called upon to solve a twenty-year-old murder and clear her friend's name. The mystery is intriguing and there's just enough Christmas in the story to make it a fun read during the holiday season.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for granting me access to an arc of this book for an honest review. Merry Christmas!

It's like a Christmas tradition now for me to grab the latest release in Anne Perry's Christmas Stories series. Each year for the last fifteen years, the author has gifted her fans with a Christmas themed mystery for a minor character from one of her Victorian era detective series (Thomas Pitt or William Monk series) to solve.



This year, it's Thomas Pitt's irascible grandmother in law, Mariah Ellison who gets to help bring justice for many when she travels back to an old friend's house and twenty years into the past to dig up the truth. The hunt for the truth dredges up dreadful memories from her own past that she must shake out and deal with so she can do what she does best- stubbornly bully her way to the answers.


As with most of Perry's work, the past is meticulously drawn and the social issues of the day addressed alongside the mystery. Mariah was a physically and sexually abused wife and had no recourse in her day because women were considered legal chattel to their husbands. Other women in the story are threatened with loss of reputation based on a whiff of scandal perpetrated by the villain.

The mystery is not difficult in the sense of trouble figuring out the culprit so much as gathering the evidence that will finally deal him his just desserts. Mariah was quite the crusader for justice and she does not let her own feelings or fears get in her way of confronting the rapist and killer. I did find myself a tad disappointed because the story had to be condensed, and unlike the longer series, the reader isn't given much of the killer's background or some of the explanation behind his crimes. There also could have been a bit more closure between Mariah and those she came to help as well.

But that said, this was an engaging story of murder, revenge, and justice for the Yuletide. Fans of historical mysteries should take a look at either of the author's long running series.

After receiving a strange gift for Christmas, grandmotherly Mariah Ellison sets out for Surrey to help her dead friend’s grandson figure out who killed a young girl, years ago, whose accused killer Mariah’s dead friend was representing in the court proceeding. Mariah must help her estranged friend, the dead man’s widow, clear up the death of her husband as well as figure out who killed the young girl. Thus, there is the mystery of the lawyer’s sudden death when a bookcase fell on him as well as this other death.

The book is a short one. Nevertheless, it plods along at a slow pace, with a lot of it filled with dialogue between widow and the grandson. The evidence they gather is okay but nothing earth shattering. One thing we do learn is that Mariah was a battered wife during her marriage, and assumes all men are evil, like her now deceased husband—which is a pretty big assumption that is not true, in my experience. The book is set during the holiday timeframe but has little in it that concerns the holiday. The story is an okay one but has an unsatisfying ending that left me wanting for more. In short, I have read and enjoyed many of this author’s other books, but feel this one was not up to par for her. It will not become my favorite Anne Perry novel. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

I always enjoy the Anne Perry Christmas series and this one was no exception. A mysterious package, shattered friendship, and memories of a twenty year old murder all converge on Mariah Ellison.

Anne Perry continues her Christmas mystery confections with A Christmas Return. Charlotte Pitt's grandmother Mrs. Ellison is called back to a village where a brutal rape and murder long ago created havoc. Dr. Durward, accused and declared innocent has returned to the village to clear his name. To do so he is blackening the name of the wife of the lawyer who defended him. Mrs. Ellison works through the snow and the shadows of time to find what really happened. Great shorter novel.

Christmas return is an amazing book it is hair standing, mind clattering, curiosity building, spine tingling, toe curling, eye widening, Victorian sleuthing, historical telling, mind blowing story – yeah I said it Victorian sleuthing because that is what it is all about Grandma is solving an unsolved case – then Mariah is pulled in as well when a gift is left for her – so she gets into it – solving mysteries - on doing that she meets the grandson of the subject and that is when Sparks fly . Will she figure this out? What is grandma's doing? Will she take care of everything? Or will the grandson and Mariah figure everything out ?

A Christmas Return, by Anne Perry, is set in Victorian England. Mrs. Mariah Ellison is contacted in a most unusual way by the grandson of a dear friend, now twenty years dead. Peter Wesley is requesting that she travel to the small town of Haslemere to help bring to justice the arrogant monster who killed a young girl and his grandfather two decades ago. Also, he asks her to help protect his grandmother from the malicious claims of this monster.

As Mariah is the survivor of a terribly abusive husband, she feels she understands the type of person they are up against. It is now time for her to muster her courage to strike back at such atrocities. "Aunt" Mariah and Peter band together seeking clues from old notes and a mysterious trip his grandfather took just before he died, to put together the information and witnesses to stop the monster in his tracks.

An interesting and smooth read, it gives pause to think how difficult solving any crime would have been in those times. Strong characters make this story a compelling read. I do recommend this book.

What fun it is to … read a Christmas mystery by Anne Perry. A Christmas Return reminds us that like mother is daughter or grandmother in this case as Charlotte Pitt's grandmother, Mariah Ellison becomes embroiled in solving a twenty -year old murder mystery.

This annual Christmas novella focuses on the not always if ever pleasant Mariah. Besides helping her friends’ grandson right-a-wrong, catch a killer, clear a reputation and celebrate Christmas, she is working on turning her own crusty, dare I say mean spirited, attitude around. What better time to do all this than at the season of generosity. It is always the right season of the year to solve a cold case. Also never too late to change for the better.

In Anne Perry’s accomplished writing hands, A Christmas Return becomes a Christmas treat. Fans of the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Series will want to see what dear, maybe dear is a stretch, old grandmother is up too in Surrey.

A past Christmas tragedy wakes.

Never disappointing, Perry pens a mystery novella that keeps you wondering. An unusual Christmas present, the wretched reminder of a tragic past and a cry for help, catapults Mariah Ellison, (Charlotte Pitt's grandmother), into a situation that has her drawing on all the fortitude she can muster. Mariah Ellison finds herself facing her own dark past memories as she comes to the aid of a friend.
A dark wound of twenty years ago is reopened and Mariah is called to aid a friend in need.
Twenty years ago Mariah's friend, Cullen Wesley died under strange circumstances just after he'd withdrawn as the attorney for a man accused of the rape and murder of a child.
Subsequently, his ex client Owen Durward was acquitted. is back in
Now Durward has returned to the village of 'Haslemere, bent on clearing his reputation.' He has taken aim at Cullen's wife Rowena, spreading rumours that perhaps she killed her husband.
As the poison spreads Rowena is being shunned by the villagers.
Her grandson Peter Wesley calls on Mariah to help clear Rowensa name.
Mariah is prepared for battle, but where to start? Can they find out the truth of twenty years ago?
A tightly woven mystery that raises all sorts of questions.

A NetGalley ARC
(November 2017)

This is the first story I have read by Anne Perry but it will certainly not be the last. I am guessing from the tone of the book that the protagonist, Mariah Ellison, plays a part in other books in Ms. Perry’s various series. That alone is enough to have me go seek those books out to read them. I found that the book was very easy to read as a stand-alone but would probably flow even better if a reader has more background on this character.

Mariah is an 80 something rather plain but fiercely protective individual. She has experienced much in her life and is determined to protect the memory of a deceased friend as well as the welfare of his remaining family members. When she is called on to assist those individuals at Christmas time, she doesn’t hesitate though it brings up many memories that are hard for her to recall.

While the whodunnit is not so much a question in this book, the story is more about character both in the past and in the present. I’ll be looking forward to reading more about Harriet and her various family members in the future.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

This novel by Anne Perry is the fifteenth novella in the Festive Series. The back of the book states that this novel follows a previous characters grandmother. We never actually meet the previous character, as the book revolves around the grandmother and some past incident in the grandmothers younger years. This book opens with confusion if this is the first book you have picked up, due to the non-existent, mentioned characters. Our main character, the grandmother, relays thoughts about these absent characters, who are apparently in past books, giving the reader a background basis. If you are looking for a short, quick read, this is the one for you.