Midwinter Mysteries by eleven authors is a selection of short stories, each involving a mystery of some kind.

Some were good, some weren't as good, but it was an interesting collection to find new mystery authors and series.

Midwinter Mysteries was published on 31st October 2019 and is available from Amazon and Waterstones.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Sapere Books.

I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
The book features a collection of short holiday stories set around Christmas season. New authors to me, each tale was enjoyable and offered a link to the site where the reader could view and purchase the series if wanted. Excellent reading for those busy holiday days when you have but a short time to curl up with a book.

*Many thanks to Sapere Books and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
An interesting anthology of stories with Christams in the background. The best bit for me was getting acquainted with some Authors I never read before. At the same time, reading cosy mysteries by Authors I know was a pleasure, however, I admit I prefer reading their works in the series they create.

I'll admit, Crime isn't a genre I particularly love or reach for and so Midwinter Mysteries was always going to have to be something special for me to really be swayed. Unfortunately, it was not.

This anthology of crime stories set around Christmas/Winter is so very hit and miss. Or rather, it's "ok" and miss. Some of the stories made for pretty fun reading (mostly those set in the Victorian era) but the other stories just fell really flat, both on the crime and Christmas front.

I will say that there were a couple of authors that piqued my interest and I'd be willing to look at more of their stuff but overall, I was left quite uminpressed.

Thanks to Sapere books and Netgalley for an Advance Copy of this book I’m exchange for an honest review. Actually, I read this collection in September so it was a bit early for Christmas spirit but I still enjoyed it. I had not read many books by the contributing authors except for Linda Stratman and Gaynor Torrance. It was handy that I had read those series because I had a bit of a back story to the characters but it did not stop me enjoying the other stories. In particular I enjoyed Footprints in the Snow by J C Briggs which is features Charles Dickens.
A lovely read for the festive season that might help you pick out some new mystery reads for the New Year.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Sapere Books and the various authors for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Midwinter Mysteries in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
I thought this book provided some really enjoyable short stories while there were some that weren't. Overall though, a good read.

This is an anthology of Christmas themed short stories. I am not a fan of cosy crime and this collection was very hit and miss. The publisher was intending to introduce readers to their portfolio of authors and their crime series but I was discouraged. The first short story was the best, capturing the charm and atmosphere of a Prague Christmas market.

I have enjoyed this compilation of christmassy short stories very much. Original, fresh and funny stories to enjoy during the holidays and all year round. Totally recommended!

I love themed anthologies. Giving some of my favorite authors a theme gives them the chance to flex their writing skills. It also introduces me to many new authors that I may not have read but can add to my favorites list now. The stories are short but the emotions you'll feel are not small. Sometimes you'd like to know where the idea for some of the stories came from and others you are just glad that these are fiction. Loved them all!

For an anthology it was a good variety of short stories. It stayed with the Christmas theme, which was enjoyable. It did feel however that some of the stories were condensed from longer ones and at times I did feel a bit cheated. But overall a fast and enjoyable read.

For me, this collection did exactly what it set out to do: Introduce me to new to me mystery writers and then go on and pick up some of their books, I now have a few more female mystery writers on my TBR and could not be happier about it.

4★
“ ‘One more night, sir,’ Navrátil said.

‘Is your life expectancy that short? It’s all those cinnamon cookies you’ve been eating.’

‘One more night until Christmas,’ Navrátil explained.

‘Ten out of ten for observation. Unfortunately, peace on earth and goodwill to all men is not the motto of the Prague criminal community, so we can’t relax our vigilance just because two thousand years ago an unmarried mother popped her baby in a shed in the Middle East.’

‘Stable, sir.’

‘I’m glad you are, lad, but that doesn’t change anything.’

‘The baby, sir — born in a stable.’”

Classic Graham Brack! His “Away in a Manger” is the first story, and one of the best. A group of actors are performing a Christmas play in a crowded square, so while people are watching and shivering and drinking spiced wine, they are easy pickings for thieves. Never fear! Our intrepid trio are alert!

The year and location changes for the various stories, but the season is the same, making this an interesting anthology. Some are current day, some are 1800s, harking back to the times of Dickens, while M.J. Logue's takes place in 1665, in the court of Charles II of England. Plenty of variety.

Here's an opening that will keep you reading: “The Stolen Santa Sack’ by Sean Gibbons.

“Galway, Ireland, 2019
It could be said that everything that happens is good news for somebody. How driving along a motorway, at two o’clock in the morning shortly before Christmas, with a dead Santa Claus in the back of his cab could ever be good news for Ben Miller was anybody’s guess.”

I did particularly enjoy one about an old spook, long “retired”, but who never lost the habits of a lifetime. “Secret Santa” by Kim Fleet. A nice little gem of a story.

This is the kind of book I would buy and keep handy for guests and place on the nightstand in a guest bedroom, if you have such a spot. The stories are short and self-contained, but if you want more of the same, each is followed by links to the author and their other work.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for the preview copy. Great idea!

This was meant to help get into the Christmas spirit, but left a lot to be desired. Sure, the constant downpour outside didn’t improve the matters much, but even in a lovely snowstorm, this still would have been a lackluster read. Essentially this anthology is a promo, a chance for the authors at Sapere Press to pimp out their series via a Christmas theme short story featuring their characters. But be it historical or present day mysteries, quirky detectives or professional police procedurals, they were all just entirely too cozy for my liking. Quaint and cozy just aren’t the adjective I’m interested in when selecting mysteries, it isn’t even a word that ought to be associated with crime novels. And yet, for those who want their thrills neat, mild and easily digestible, there’s that and there’s this anthology. I was barely entertained, but at least it was a very quick read. Thanks Netgalley.

I received an ARC of this book thanks to Net Galley and publisher Sapere Books in exchange for an honest review.

I really really love the idea behind this anthology. As far as I can tell, the publishing house behind this book has gotten a bunch of mystery/crime authors to write some short stories showcasing their characters in order to promote the series they write. This is a very cool idea and I think it's a great way to potentially find a new series you might really enjoy. Sadly most of these stories ended up not being for me.

I would say loosely that almost all of these are either a) police procedurals, b) historical mysteries or a c) a combination of both. With the exception of the very first story, I probably enjoyed the historical ones slightly more since I tend to lean towards historical crime fiction (unlike thrillers where I like modern day). My main problem with these is they were all incredibly short. This made it very difficult to get into the stories and also to get a taste of what the authors' true styles were. It felt like a story was just getting going and then it would end abruptly, sometimes without a sense that there had been an actual mystery involved.

Perhaps because of these stories using pre-established characters, there was also a lack of introduction of most of the cast and/or plot elements surrounding the stories themselves. This didn't help with getting into the stories either (again, the first story actually did introduce people fairly well and was one of my favourites for this reason).

Overall, this is a decent but all too brief collection of stories. They all fall a little short in various ways but the anthology was still moderately enjoyable and I do really like the idea behind it. I just wish everything was a little bit longer.

Overall Rating: 2.5/5

Midwinter Mysteries is an anthology of short crime fiction stories by various authors.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Sapere Books, and of course the authors, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

  
My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

A brief description of each short story, and my thoughts.

Away in a Manger by Graham Brack - Prague, 2006. An outdoor market hosts a Nativity Play, and is ripe for thieves. (Josef Slonsky Investigations Series).  Humor abounds.  It was okay.

Footprints In the Snow by J.C. Briggs - England, 1850. Dickens and others are snowed in, so he tells them a ghost story.  The next morning one of them is dead in a locked room.  (Charles Dickens and Superintendent Jones Series).  Good.

Lost and Found by Keith Moray - Scotland, 2012.  The police wonder if a party discussion about snuff boxes and cauls and other folklore lead to a man's death.   (Inspector Torquil McKinnon Investigations Series).  Well-written and really interesting.

The Spirit of Christmas - by Cora Harrison - England, 1858.  A young boy finds a strange man in place of his blind brother who should be singing on the corner for some needed cash. (Victorian London Murder Mysteries Series).  Loved this one!

The Stolen Santa Sack - by Sean Gibbons - Ireland, 2019.  Corrupt policemen lose a sack of goodies, and Santa ends up dead in the back of a cab.  (Ben Miller Thriller Series).  This one was just fun!

Will Power by Marilyn Todd - England, 1895. A photographer captures more than just a "ghost" on film.  (Julia McAllister Victorian Mysteries).  Loved it!

Christmas Spirits by Gaynor Torrance - Wales, 2019.  A side trip to the toy store by two police officers provides them with more than gifts.  (DI Jemima Huxley Investigations Series).  Really good!

The Essex Nativity by David Field - England, 1895.  A birth in a barn, and an antique shop that is selling stolen property.  (Esther and Jack Knight Mystery Series).  Good.

Secret Santa by Kim Fleet - England, 2015.  An elderly woman hires a PI to find out who is following her.  (Eden Grey Mystery Series).  The Best of the Bunch!

Stir Up Sunday by M.J. Logue - England, 1665.  The royal recipe book is missing, and must be found. (Thomazine and Thankful Russell Thriller Series).  Not my cup of tea.

The Christmas Ghost by Linda Stratmann - England, 1871.  The loss of a loved one can leave a lasting memory.  (Mina Scarletti Mystery series).  Loved it!


My Opinions:

I must say I was pleasantly surprised by this collection of  Christmas-related short crime stories.  Different authors, different countries, different time frames....but a common theme, and really good writing.  These authors have all written full-length novels involving the main characters in these short stories, and I believe most of these series would be good.

Although I am not usually a fan of books in different centuries, I was pleasantly surprised.  I enjoyed more than I disliked...and with an anthology that is a really good rating!

If like me you enjoy and appreciate the art of a short story, then this anthology of short mysteries with a link to Christmas will make enjoyable bedtime reading. The settings are mostly current or Victorian era and they provide the atmosphere that needs to be quickly established in short stories. From a dead Santa in the back of a taxi, a modern take on the manager story, or orphaned children begging in the streets, you are swiftly transported in time. A number of the stories have interesting plot twists and some of the endings might surprise you. There are definitely no Hallmark endings here, just quick fun reads.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

This is a collection of 11 stories, written by 11 authors, all dealing with crime on or around Christmas. They are all short stories, all enjoyable with great characters.

From dead bodies in Victorian London, to fraudulent identities in modern-day Cheltenham and a dead Santa in Galway, each story in this collection follows a mystery in the lead-up to Christmas.

I enjoyed them all, so it's really difficult to pick a favorite or two. It's like asking which of your children is your favorite. Truly something for everyone.

The authors in this collection are:

Graham Brack, author of THE JOSEF SLONSKÝ INVESTIGATIONS

J C Briggs, author of THE CHARLES DICKENS INVESTIGATIONS

Keith Moray, author of THE INSPECTOR TORQUIL MCKINNON INVESTIGATIONS

Cora Harrison, author of THE VICTORIAN LONDON MURDER MYSTERIES

Seán Gibbons, author of THE BEN MILLER THRILLERS

Marilyn Todd, author of THE JULIA MCALLISTER MYSTERIES

Gaynor Torrance, author of the DI JEMIMA HUXLEY INVESTIGATIONS

David Field, author of THE ESTHER AND JACK ENRIGHT MYSTERIES

Kim Fleet, author of THE EDEN GREY MYSTERIES

M J Logue, author of THE THOMAZINE AND THANKFUL RUSSELL THRILLERS

Linda Stratmann, author of THE MINA SCARLETTI MYSTERIES

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Holidays to Everyone!

Many thanks to all the authors / Sapere Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Christmas Crime Anthology. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

As with all collections of short stories, some you love and others not so much. These 11 stories were all linked by the season of Christmas, some had Christmas in the background, others were influenced by Christmas. I confess to not having heard of many of the authors, but this was a good way to sample their work - a few Authors have been added to my follow up list.

My favourite story was Secret Santa by Kim Fleet: A PI is recovering from an illness and feeling quite flat. A note pushed under her door asking a question “who is following me?’ triggers her to investigate who it is that thinks they are being followed, who is the follower and what it is all about? My least favourite was Footprints in the Snow by J C Briggs, which I had gaps in the story and felt chucks had been missed out.

The authors, and their stories, are:
Graham Brack - Away in a Manger
J C Briggs - Footprints in the Snow
Keith Moray - Lost and Found
Cora Harrison - The Spirit of Christmas
Sean Gibbons - The Stolen Santa Sack
Marilyn Todd - Will Power
Gaynor Torrance - Christmas Spirits
David Field - The Essex Nativity
Kim Fleet - Secret Santa
MJ Logue - Stir Up Sunday
Linda Stratman - The Christmas Ghost

Recommended for those who want to read Christmas themed books, but doesn’t like the saccharin sweetness many Christmas themed books are.

Winter's Evening Reading....
A festive collection of eleven tales from eleven authors - a mixed bag but all mysteries/crime and all with some form of holiday connection - spanning a broad historical period. The reader is likely to find something that they will enjoy even if all offerings do not appeal. I found it very enjoyable and an ideal read to curl up with on a Winter's evening next to the fire.

‘One more night, sir,’ Navrátil said.

‘Is your life expectancy that short? It’s all those cinnamon cookies you’ve been eating.’

‘One more night until Christmas,’ Navrátil explained.

‘Ten out of ten for observation. Unfortunately, peace on earth and goodwill to all men is not the motto of the Prague criminal community, …’ (‘Away in a Manger’ by Graham Brack)

Eleven delightful short stories, crime short stories with a Christmas theme. I have favourites (of course I do), I can’t go past ‘Away in a Manger’ by Graham Brack, ‘The Stolen Santa Sack’ by Seán Gibbons, or ‘Lost and Found’ by Keith Moray. Although, I’m tempted into Charles Dickens territory (‘Footprints in the Snow’ by J C Briggs).

In this short story anthology, Sapere Books have brought together eleven of their authors. Each story features a mystery in the lead-up to Christmas. From Prague to Galway via London, Wales and West Uist in Scotland, all places where Christmas is in midwinter. Here in Australia, Christmas is midsummer.

A quick and enjoyable read. Who are the authors, you ask?

Graham Brack - Away in a Manger
J C Briggs - Footprints in the Snow
Keith Moray - Lost and Found
Cora Harrison - The Spirit of Christmas
Seán Gibbons - The Stolen Santa Sack
Marilyn Todd - Will Power
Gaynor Torrance - Christmas Spirits
David Field - The Essex Nativity
Kim Fleet - Secret Santa
MJ Logue - Stir Up Sunday
Linda Stratman - The Christmas Ghost

I’ve read novels by Graham Brack, J C Briggs, Keith Moray, Cora Harrison and Marilyn Todd. I’ll now be looking to read novels by the other six authors.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith