Eleven Pipers Piping: A Father Christmas Mystery

by C. C. Benison | Mystery & Thrillers | This book has not been rated.
ISBN: 0385344465 Global Overview for this book
Registered by HI77 of Fort Myers, Florida USA on 11/18/2014
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3 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by HI77 from Fort Myers, Florida USA on Tuesday, November 18, 2014
A guy with a job

that forces a smile,
even when it smells bad.

Journal Entry 2 by HI77 at Fort Myers, Florida USA on Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Released 9 yrs ago (11/18/2014 UTC) at Fort Myers, Florida USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Congratulations on winning Abi-Gibby's 2014 Christmas Sweeps! :D

This book isn't on your wishlist but it's definitely Christmas! And since I can't afford to send much via regular mail at current shipping costs... I thought I'd toss you an extra book.

And not just any book, this is in your favorite genre, it's perfect for Christmas AND it's got raving reviews, so I think you're really going to have a good time with it! ;)

Journal Entry 3 by wingPlum-crazywing at Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Thursday, December 4, 2014
Wow...two for the price of one eh? Not heard of this author/series but as you so correctly guessed it looks right up my street so I'm looking forward to it. With a bit of jiggery-pokery I think I can get it to fit my "What to read" theme for this month so it won't be long before its read ;-)

Have a very Happy Christmas & all the best for 2015 x

I'm a very happy Plum:o)

Journal Entry 4 by wingPlum-crazywing at Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, December 10, 2014
So basically the tale is as follow;

Father Tom Christmas, the recently widowed vicar adjusting to life in the English village of Thornford Regis, would do almost anything to avoid attending the annual Robert Burns Supper at the local hotel. But as chaplain to a traditional Scottish pipe band, Father Tom must deliver the grace - and contend with wailing bagpipes, whiskey-laced parishioners reciting poetry, and the culinary abomination that is haggis.

As snow falls to unprecedented depths, the revelers carry on - briefly interrupted by an enigmatic stranger seeking shelter. Then Will Moir, proprietor of the hotel and a dedicated piper, inexplicably goes missing - only to be found later in the hotel's dark tower, alone and dead from what appears to be a heart attack.

Father Tom's own heart sinks when he learns the actual cause of Will's demise. When word gets out, the flurry of innocent speculation descends into outlandish gossip. And, for all its tranquil charm, Thornford Regis has plenty to gossip about - illicit trysts, muted violence, private sorrows, and old, unresolved tragedies.

The question is: Who would benefit most from the piper's death? Suspicion swirls around many, including Will's beautiful widow, their shadowy son, Will's obnoxious brother-in-law, and even the mysterious party crasher, who knows more than she lets on about the grudges she left behind - but never forgot....


This was an enjoyable enough read, which on beginning made me think of a Louise Penny/Agatha Christie hybrid....though as it turned out the characters, while credible enough, weren't as quirky or eccentric as those of Penny's. In some ways it's quite a slow book. The murder happens fairly early on & it's not until nearly the end of the book that something else crucial happens (don't want to be too specific, wary of spoilers!). But while it could be described as slow it's not boring, well it kept me entertained to the end. I particularly liked Madrun's letters to her mother but that leads me to the first of my three criticisms. As I said, I like Madrun's letters which were printed as if handwritten complete with crossings out (some of which I found very amusing!) BUT then it's stressed she used a typewriter & "White-Out", so why make them look hand written & surely she would have "whited-out" (?) any errors! Perhaps I'm just being picky...

My main criticism is it was longer than it needed to be! In some cases there was more detail than I felt necessary for building up a picture of events, although it was well-written, it would have been even better 100 pages shorter IMHO.

Third & final moan....& this is really, REALLY picky.....what's with saying everyone hates haggis...I LOVE IT :o)

Overall, I found it an enjoyable enough read. I'd certainly read more in the series although I won't be rushing off to add them to my wishlist! It will probably rest until next July then will put in an appearance for the "Christmas in July" Challenge.

Thanks HI77......& a very Merry Christmas to you x


Journal Entry 5 by wingPlum-crazywing at RABCK, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Friday, July 3, 2015

Released 8 yrs ago (7/3/2015 UTC) at RABCK, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sending off with a wishlist book that doesn' t want to travel alone ;o)

RELEASED AS PART OF THE CHRISTMAS IN JULY CHALLENGE (#12)


Journal Entry 6 by wingdaffodil-2wing at North Walsham, Norfolk United Kingdom on Saturday, July 11, 2015
Received in the post from Plum-Crazy as a surprise RABCK and part of the Christmas in July Challenge along with two other books and some goodies. Thanks very much-looks like an interesting whodunit. Will look forward to reading it just as soon as you let me fit it into one of your monthly "what to read this month" themes. (See under Book Talk in the Forum).

Journal Entry 7 by wingdaffodil-2wing at North Walsham, Norfolk United Kingdom on Saturday, August 22, 2015
I gave this book a good try but it just didn't grab me. Therefore I will be releasing it soon. Sorry Plum!

Journal Entry 8 by wingdaffodil-2wing at The White Horse Pub in Upton, Norfolk United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Released 8 yrs ago (8/25/2015 UTC) at The White Horse Pub in Upton, Norfolk United Kingdom

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

This book was left on a windowsill behind one of the tables in the bar. We had a lovely meal and found everyone to be very friendly.

To the finder:-
Welcome to bookcrossing -you have found a travelling book. Please make a journal entry now to say where you found the book in case it has been moved. Then, when you have read it, please come back and make a further entry saying whether or not you enjoyed the book and why. It is now yours to do as you like with it, pass it to a friend or just leave it somewhere different for someone else to find and help it with its' journey. Of course if you can't bear to part with it at the moment then keep it, but please let me know that you have found it. If you join bookcrossing, which is free and spam-free, you can follow the book on its' travels as you will get an email each time it changes hands, but if you prefer to remain anonymous, that's fine too. Please also say what you intend to do with the book next. Thanks for coming onto the site to let me know you have found the book.

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