Gracie has always been one of my favourite characters from the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series. She was the Pitt's housemaid from when she was 13 until she left to get married in her early 20's. She married a colleague of Pitt's, Samuel Tellman. In this her annual little Christmas treat, Anne Perry centres her novella around little Gracie. Gracie is a mother of three and living with her husband in London. Tellman, who is now an Inspector in the police force, and Gracie are happy. One day just before Christmas, a daughter of an old friend knocks on Gracie's door and asks for help. Millie has been working as a maid in the Harcourt house. Millie knows something is terribly wrong at the house and asks for Gracie's help. Gracie goes in to the household undercover so to speak to take Millie's place just a week before Christmas and discovers that all is really not well in this house. She finds the staff are really afraid of something or someone, and she determines to find out what the problem is. When she discovers what is at the root of the problem, she sets out to rectify it. Gracie has every intention of solving it and then going home to spend Christmas with her family. These little Christmas gems are an annual treat for me and I look forward to them every year. Ms. Perry always highlights some of the minor characters from her two long-running series in these little books. This one particularly appealed to me because I have always loved Gracie. ( )

I read some positive reviews of this book and because it was a Christmas theme and a mystery, I thought it might be a fun read. Turns out it was number 19 in the series! Also turns out I didn't have to read any of the earlier books before reading this one. And I probably won't go back and read them now anyway.

I have to honestly report that I was disappointed in this short novel. The mystery was simplistic, and I think any reader would have figured it out before main character Gracie puts the clues together. The other characters were stereotypical and the author had Gracie repeat at least a dozen times how she didn't have anything to lose because she didn't really need the maid's job she had undertaken in order to work in the household and discover what was going on.

If you're looking for an upstairs/downstairs mystery novel with a strong female amateur sleuth that takes place at Christmas time, try Death on a Winter's Day by Verity Bright. ( )

I have read several of Anne Perry’s Christmas books and wonder about their dark and dour mood. This one starts out with an ominous foreboding that all is not well and is not going to end well.

Normally focusing on the Pitt family, Anne Perry turns away from them in this story and concentrates on a former maid of their household, Gracie Tellman. The year is 1900 and Gracie Tellmen has made a good marriage, a comfortable home and given birth to three children. She is happy with her life and trying to teach her children what is important. As a former domestic in the Pitt household, while she was dearly beloved, she has an understanding of the tenuous position all servants can be in when confronted with their employer’s power. Perry uses the care and concern of Gracie, a former servant, to shine the light on the predicament of a household of servants being held in thrall by their upper class employers. Perry doesn’t leave it there as her light shines ever brightly on the abuse of the elderly, when alone, at the mercy of greedy would-be heirs.

So, after wondering about the tone and finishing the book, I came upon the ending dedication and it all made sense. Anne Perry has given us a thoughtful look-back at the upstairs/downstairs of Victorian England with a knockout ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for a copy. ( )

Anne Perry is the consummate storyteller. This little Christmas gem starring Gracie aptly demonstrates that talent. Gracie enters a household with a dark secret and a traumatized staff. With excellent sensitivity to those in need and careful exercise of her housekeeping skills, she provides an excellent finish for an exceptional woman. ( )

The latest Christmas novel by Anne Perry carries on the tradition she has established in producing a yearly Christmas story. In this addition to the collection, Gracie Tellman returns temporarily to household service for a wealthy family. She has been asked by a servant in the household to discover the reason for thefts occurring there. When Gracie agrees to do this a short time until Christmas, she finds a carefully guarded secret in the home, with surprising outcomes.

The characters in this novel appeared in previous Perry novels, although this book can be read as a standalone. The characters are described well, and the story moves along at a thoughtful pace, with plenty of intrigue along the way. The short chapters encourage readers to continue reading. While experienced mystery readers might guess at the underlying tensions, the ending certainly contains a twist!

Readers who enjoy a clean mystery without violence, strong language, or sexual situations will find this an engaging read. Be ready to stay up past the usual bedtime to continue reading, as I did! Keep that tissue box handy though, to erase a stray tear or two that might occur while devouring this holiday story.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. ( )