A Christmas Beginning (Christmas Novella 5): A touching, festive novella of love and murder

Description

Runcorn, Monk s ex-boss and a bachelor, travels to Anglesey hoping to stave off the loneliness of the Christmas season and the memories of Melisande, the woman he fell desperately in love with. His efforts are in vain as he immediately meets Melisande s brother, John Barclay, and learns of Melisand's presence in Anglesey. Although a widow, Runcorn believes that Melisande is too far above him in society for him to win her heart and then fate intervenes. The vicar of Anglesey s sister is discovered murdered and Barclay is implicated in the crime. Melisande, mindful of Runcorn s experience, asks him to help clear her brother s name, even though the official head of the investigation is Chief Constable Faraday, her soon-to-be fiance. As Runcorn investigates, he learns that life for an upper class woman is hard especially when you are considered unmarriageable. Could this be a reason for murder? And will Runcorn be able to solve the case, and in doing so perhaps win Melisande s heart?

Anne Perry is a New York Times bestselling author noted for her memorable characters, historical accuracy and exploration of social and ethical issues. Her two series, one featuring Inspector Thomas Pitt and one featuring Inspector William Monk, have been published in multiple languages. Anne Perry was selected by the Times as one of the twentieth century's '100 Masters of Crime' and now lives in Scotland

Praise for Anne Perry's other Christmas novellas: 'This brief work has an almost Jamesian subtlety, and with its powerful message of responsibility and redemption - "We need both to forgive and to be forgiven" - it conveys a moral force in keeping with the season * Wall Street Journal * The tale is redolent with Victorian atmosphere, from the hypocritical snobbishness to the rigid social conventions of the time * Tangled Web * If you don't have a lump in your throat by the time you finish the final few pages, you shouldn't have had all that sherry * Yorkshire Evening Post *