Customer Reviews

A Christmas Beginning (Thorndike Basic)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

While fans of Anne Perry's Christmas novellas and her William Monk books will enjoy "A Christmas Beginning," honesty compels me to note that mystery lovers looking for a nice, absorbing Christmas read may want to either borrow this novella from the library or else give it a miss. This is not because "A Christmas Beginning" is badly written -- to the contrary -- but this little book is really for the fans, and fans of Perry's Monk books in particular.

Superintendent Runcorn of Scotland Yard has decided to spend Christmas in Wales, on the Isle of Angelsey to be precise. Having just closed a particularly difficult and nasty, and weary of the city, Runcorn has decided to spend Christmas as far away from the city as possible. And really, the beautiful but bleak snow laden island seems to satisfy all his requirements. It is literally the last place Runcorn would expect a violent murder involving one of the gentry to take place. And yet, that is exactly the situation he finds himself in the middle of when he discovers the body of the vicar's beautiful sister in the churchyard. The chief constable would like nothing better than to blame some passing stranger of the crime. But Runcorn knows that only an intimate friend of the murdered girl could have committed the crime. And when Mrs. Melisande Ewart, the young woman, who had, in a previous case (and I'm ashamed to admit I cannot remember which installment this was) captured Runcorn's heart, presses him to help discover the identity of the murderer, Runcorn realises that he has no choice but to comply...

What I liked about "A Christmas Beginning" was that you really got to see another side of the rough, prickly and defensive Runcorn. (Fans of the Monk books will remember him as a character who was, at first, quite antagonistic towards Monk, but in the more recent offering has ended up becoming a friend). In this short story, we see Runcorn coming to grips with his insecurities and acting on his convictions. It marks a new beginning for this character -- hence the apt title -- and works as a promise of things to come. Mystery-wise, though, "A Christmas Beginning" is a tad disappointing, and the ending, in spite of the romantic note, had a rushed feel to it. Which is why, I'd recommend it more for fans of the series, interested in seeing the development of a minor but key character.

Superintendent Runcorn of Scotland Yard has several weeks of leave accrued. During the December holidays he decides to spend them on the island of Angelsey off the north coast of Wales.

Shortly after arriving, Runcorn runs into John Barclay and past memories come bursting forward. Runcorn has never been able to forget Barclay's widowed sister, Melisande Ewart. So Runcorn is happy when he spies Melisande at Sunday service. He also meets the local vicar, Arthur Costain. Life is beginning to look rosy once more.

Things take a turn for the worst when Runcorn comes upon the body of the reverend's younger sister. The local constable, Warner, has never dealt with such on the secluded island and asks for Runcorn's help. Runcorn is happy to be of service. But Sir Alan Farady, the chief constable of the county, arrives and is not so keen on the idea, especially since rumor has it that Faraday is soon to become officially engaged to Melisande.

**** A charming tale set during the holiday season for all mystery fans. Though romance may bloom for the superintendent, the focus is mainly on the death of Olivia. Anyone seeking a story with hot romance in the foreground need to look elsewhere. Author Anne Perry runs a clean story for the more serious minded.

It is not wonder to me that this author has become well known for her Christmas tales. They are truly worth reading more than once. ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Each year Anne Perry gives us a small offering centering around Christmastime, and features members of her Thomas Pitt series and Monk series.
This year, she features Runcorn, the policeman who used to clash with Monk - We always seen the rough side of Runcorn. He and Monk would clash terribly, but get the job done...They had investigated a murder in London and one brave woman stepped up and helped them - it was some time ago, but Runcorn still remembers her beauty, bearing, and sweetness. He didn't dare think she saw him as more than a policeman.
Runcorn leaves London to celebrate Christmas in Wales - He goes to the local Church and meets the Vicar and his wife, and the vicar's sister. Olivia is a free spirit - for Victorian standards - Runcorn sees the beautiful lady that helped the detectives in London - Melisande Ewart -
and he realizes he loves her - but he isn't in the gentry.
Olivia is found murdered and Runcorn joins in the investigation. During that time, Melisande meets Runcorn every opportunity she can to encourage him to continue his work.
He unravels the mystery of who on a small island in Wales murdered a young lady. He also unravels the mystery of his heart.
It is a good read that turns an unlikeable Runcorn into a three-dimensional man who feels and strives to be the finest he can be -

First Sentence: So this was the Isle of Anglesey.

Superintendent John Runcorn has come to Anglesey in Wales to spend Christmas alone. He didn't expect to become involved in the murder investigation of the local vicar's sister. Nor, did he expect to run into Melisande Ewart, a woman Runcorn knew from a murder he'd investigated in London and never forgotten.

Ms. Perry's Christmas gift to her fans is these annual short novels that are absolute gems. Each takes a secondary character from her regular series, in this case the Monk series, and places them center stage. Each story also has a central theme, overriding the mystery, but they are never preachy or moralizing. This year's theme, for me, was renewal and love; beginnings.. For the first time, Runcorn really looked at himself and who he was, realizing he could change. It's fascinating to see a character whom we'd come to know as unpleasant, reveal his insecurities, both to us and finally, to himself. The ending is absolutely delightful. At the core of the book is still an interesting mystery with a twist at the end, which did feel a bit rushed; hence the rating of VG rather than Excellent.

This is the first of Anne Perry's Christmas tales that I have read, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I haven't read a lot of her series novels, and so was unfamiliar with the main character, Runcorn--but that didn't matter.

This is the perfect book to read by the fire with a cup of tea, an entertaining miniature mystery blended with a tale of love and longing, in a beautiful winter setting. Best of all, it ended in a most satisfying way.

Anne Perry has produced a short mystery at Christmas for several years. Each features a lesser known character from one of her Monk or Pitt books. The stories are light reads and always provide interesting descriptions of Christmases from another era. If you like Perry's other books, you will like these short novels. There is nothing complicated in them and there is always a satisfying end.

Perry's Christmas tales are always a high point - not so much for the mysteries themselves, which are quite good - but for the way she redeems some of the more questionable characters from her Pitt and Monk series. Here, superintendent Runcorn from the Monk series gets his chance. Originally, Runcorn was, as the antagonist to Monk, totally unlikeable. As that series has progressed, however, we have developed a grudging acceptance of him, as he has done the same for Monk. With this book, however, Runcorn becomes a friend. He finally puts aside his petty jealousy and restrictive character and becomes a character who could now easily share top billing with Monk. And, as I noted above, at the same time he gets to solve a well-crafted mystery as well. A great Christmas read.

OK. I'm not a Monk fan. Not that I dislike the character but I've never read any Monk and simply don't have an opinion there. So take that as a caveat. But, I have read Perry before and liked her. Having said that, I thought this was dreadful. I only stayed with it to see who the murderer was. What I got along the way was very little mystery and a whole lot of self-introspection by the main character who wasn't very sympathetic at all. The ending was so abrupt it made me wonder if pages had fallen out of my copy. But, no, all the pages were there, numbered sequentially in all of their plodding fashion. Plus, frankly, I was kind of looking for a Christmas read and, besides the fact that it was set in late December, there was no sense of Christmas at all. I found that disheartening for a historical novel. If you are a fan, I'd recommend the library first. If you aren't a fan already, well ...

I have read Anne Perry's mysteries for years and bought this one based on a favorable squib in the NY Times Book Review. I was very disappointed. The plot is exceedingly creaky, and the book shows signs of being cobbled together in haste, presumably to meet Christmas demand. It also needs a good copy editor. This was a great pity, as humanizing the Runcorn character was such a promising idea!!

Runcorn is a recurring character in the William Monk series, and who'd have thought that he was this human? In the Monk series he's portrayed as a plodding, though competent investigator, and he has made his way steadily up the ladder in the police force. He is depicted as Monk's alter-ego (what life in the police force would have been like for Monk if things hadn't happened the way they did). This is a wonderful little book! I am a long-term fan of Ms. Perry's little Christmas stories, and I enjoyed this one immensely. We have Runcorn on holiday at Christmas-time on the isle of Anglesey (an island off the eastern coast of Wales). While he is there a young woman is murdered and Runcorn finds himself being asked to help solve the case. It's a nice tight little mystery, and there is a surprising twist at the end that will change Runcorn's life. I can't wait to see him again in the next William Monk book. This would be a nice little gift for someone who enjoys reading, and they may find their interest piqued to pursue the other wonderful books in the Monk series.