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Christmas is Murder: A Rex Graves Mystery (Rex Graves Mysteries) | 
 enlarge | Author: C.s. Challinor
Publisher: MIDNIGHT INK
Category: Book
List Price: $13.95
Buy New: $8.82
You Save: $5.13 (37%)
New (18) Used (4) from $8.82
Rating:  8 reviews
Media: Paperback
Pages: 216
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5.5 x 0.6
ISBN: 0738713597
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780738713595
Publication Date: September 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Not even a blizzard can keep Rex Graves away from Swanmere Manor, a historic hotel in East Sussex. But instead of Christmas cheer, the red-haired Scottish barrister finds a dead guest. Was it a stroke that killed old Mr. Lawry? Or an almond tart laced with poison? When more guests die, all hopes for a jolly holiday are dashed. Worst of all, the remote mansion is buried under beastly snow. No one can leave. Confined with a killer, no one can enjoy their tea without suspicion and scrutiny. Rex takes it upon himself to solve the mystery, but the most intriguing evidence - a burnt biography of President George W. Bush - offers few clues. Could the killer be the sherry-swilling handyman? The gay antiques dealer with a biting wit? The quarrelling newlyweds? Surely, it's not Helen D'arcy, the lovely lass Rex seems to be falling for.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 Tremendously Good Read November 15, 2008
Violet (Columbus, Ohio)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
What a nice surprise! The novel got off to a fast start and held me in its thrall until the last page. The plot holds together well through seemingly unrelated murders, and the characters are interesting and not what you would expect. The setting - a Victorian country manor-turned-hotel in a captive snowstorm - while being suspenseful, was cozy, with nice little touches. There was a budding romance that did not intrude on the mystery, but rather added to it, and even a dog, which played a small role. The lawyer sleuth is a charming Scotsman who likes his porridge and fine port. I am looking forward to his next adventure and to seeing if any other of the characters from Christmas Murder reappear. I thoroughly recommend this book for any time of the year!
STARRED REVIEW FROM BOOKLIST October 22, 2008
avid reader (fl United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This novel is a contemporary English manor house mystery centering on a "closed group" of suspects, per the classic style of mystery writing of the 1920s and 30s. The puzzle is solved by a vacationing Scots barrister who uses observation, gossip, and a keen insight into human nature to solve the multiple murders. A budding romance between the sleuth and one of the suspects is thrown into the mix, as are references to the Iraq War. The cast includes a gay couple in the antiques business, a nosy divorcee, a New York literary agent, a pair of newlyweds, an eccentric aristocrat, etc. Despite the murder and mayhem, the underlying theme, in the Christmas tradition, is goodwill to all men. "Christmas is Murder" received a starred review from Booklist (the American Library Association) and has been praised by many mystery reviewers. If you like cozy mysteries, it probably won't disappoint. If you prefer hard-boiled P.I. novels, this may not be your cup of tea...
CHRISTMAS IS MURDER October 22, 2008
Librarian (Ottawa, Canada)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I found the book a delicious read that would bed perfect for some stolen moments around Christmas time especially. A touch of sophistication with the manor setting, the building unease with the locked room and the Christie-esque Graves looking into it all. History, atmosphere, somewhere exotic to be transformed to, the delight of peering into other people's lives...what is not to like? I hope that there will be more to follow.
 Disappointing - October 21, 2008
L. Haynes (The Hot Desert)
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
I wanted to like this first mystery, but it seemed very stilted and derivative. The characters were the same cutouts from other books. I felt the author did not "get" how a male character might feel about a woman and the romance was feeble and reminiscent of the "Cat Who ..." mysteries.
Some more flushing out of the cast would have helped this book. The author also decided to give away the ending of a Christie classic; I assume she thought this was so well-known that it would do no harm, but this is a mystery writer no-no. Shame on her editor for not catching that and not requiring a rewrite!
Cool Mystery September 15, 2008
FGCU Student (Florida)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This was like Agatha Christies "And Then There Were None" but more readable. I liked the sleuth Rex Graves. He does not try to be enigmatic like many mystery sleuths. I will read the next book when it comes out.
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