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Mayhawke (97 KP) rated The Christmas Miracle of Jonathon Toomey in Books

Feb 9, 2018

A good Christmas story without the mawkishness

I have nine children. I bought this book for the oldest two - over twenty years ago It is a beautiful book, wonderfully illustrated, with a great Christmas story: Jonathon Toomey - a cold and unfriendly man, since the loss of his wife and child takes in a homeless woman and her son in the middle of winter, with - for grown ups - a predictable outcome.

This story is not especially original, but it is the way in which it is told rather than the story itself that makes it stand out. I dislike sugary sentimentalism and one of the problems I have buying childrens books (particularly Xmas ones) is that the market is so over-loaded with 'sugar' that it's verging on a serious case of diabetes. This book is not sugary, nor even particularly sentimental. It tells a fine story, calmly and with dignity.

It has been a popular story with all the varied personalities in the family, which has to say something about breadth of appeal, and as it was re-issued in 2015 It seems to be weathering social change as well.

Kudos

In Pursuit of the Truth

Clive Driscoll

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Former Detective Chief Inspector Clive Driscoll is most famous for being the man who finally secured...

Powers: The Secret History of Deena Pilgrim

Brian Michael Bendis

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Homicide Detective Deena Pilgrim left behind her old life in Atlanta years ago to join her partner...

The Dead Woman of Deptford

Ann Granger

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THE DEAD WOMAN OF DEPTFORD is the sixth Inspector Ben Ross mystery set in Victorian London from...

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Better Late Than Never in Books

Jun 26, 2020

A Late Clue

Lindsay Norris has declared an overdue book amnesty day for the Briar Creek Public Library, but even she is surprised when a book that was checked out twenty years ago is returned. Further research indicates that it was checked out by Candice Whitley on the day she was murdered – a crime that remains unsolved. Why was this book returned now? Will it help solve this cold case?

I was intrigued by the premise of this book as soon as I learned what it was. I was rewarded with a well-executed mystery that provided clues and red herrings that kept me guessing until I reached the suspenseful climax. The romantic triangle that has been going on for the last few books appears to have wrapped up here, but it looks like everyone will be staying in town, which I am very happy about since I just love these characters. We got a few new regulars here, too, and I’m looking forward to getting to know them better. This book included plenty of laughs and grins, so if you are looking for a light, fun murder mystery, this is the book to check out.