I am not reading as much as I hoped. Cooking, baking, decorating, shopping, Christmas films...
The Christmas Guest is a novella by Peter Swanson. It is largely the written diary of American college student Ashley Smith. She's invited to an English manor home for Christmas by her sometimes friend Emma Chapman.
The manor is called Starvewood Hall. Not so charming, right? Emma's brother Adam, though! He is a dream. Ashley develops what she describes as a crush on him immediately.
While the manor family isn't cozy, the house and all of the Christmas trimming are wonderful.
There's a tiny crack in the charm. Adam is a suspect in the late summer murder of a local girl. Couldn't be him!
There's a scary Santa who strolls out of the woods and draws his finger across his throat at Ashley, walking alone in the evening. There's an attack on Emma from a similar figure.
Through it all, Ashley only sees dreamy dream Adam.
The Big Book of Christmas Stories: The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie (A Novella)
I'm reading the stories in this book of 60 (!) tales on the side. I think each week as I write up my other Christmas books, I'll include the stories read from this book.
Poirot, who hates cold English Manors, especially in the winter, is talked into investigating a jewel theft that might have ties to a Christmas gathering at King's Lacey. The company gathered is interesting. The food is a revelation. Particularly the Pudding! It's full of things! A silver Bachelor's Button, a pig, a thimble, 2 rings,a ten shilling piece, and a red cut stone. I would really not like to bite into something hard and unexpected, no matter how tasty the pudding.
The thieves are in place among the guests. Poirot is tested by the children of the manor as they present him with a dead body. He has one of his best holidays ever.
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