First Sentence:
It was not the Christmas Vespasia had planned.
Vespasia and Narraway had hoped for a quiet
Christmas at home. Instead, they are
obligated to attend the country estate gathering of Max and Lady Amelia
Cavendish. More than a holiday
celebration for Narraway, former head of Special Branch, he is there to uncover
a traitor.
Perry does an excellent job of introducing one to
the characters, as well as providing background on Vespasia's history and
relationship with Narraway.
Perry's observations often cause one to
pause—"But this visit was duty, and he learned long ago that no happiness
was untarnished for long if you had shirked duty in order to take
it." A nicely done recounting of
Narraway's history reveals the significance of this visit. Most authors would be inclined to depict
Narraway as a classic strong male. Perry
skillfully avoids that trope and gives us a man with faults and insecurities,
and we like him all the more for it.
The relationship between the two principal
characters is an interesting one and Perry captures the nuances of it perfectly. The sharpness repartee between Vespasia and
Amelia is perfect and reflects Perry's skill with dialogue. She also captures the audacity of status; how
those who are "higher" believe it gives them privileges simply
because of their rank.
One can't help but love Vespasia as she begins to
conduct her own investigation and demands that Victor let her help, and for
snapping at him when he dismisses her idea—"But with a woman, it is not
the words, it is the message that matters." For those readers who have followed Perry's series for years, this Vespasia seems much sharper in tone. It is rather gratifying.
"A Christmas Gathering" is a good
addition to the series of novellas. It's
always nice to see her normally secondary characters move into the limelight. The story has a subtle building of tension
and while the suspense is well done, it is truly the characters who bring make
this book work.
A CHRISTMAS GATHERING – Good
Hist Novella-Vespasia/Narraway-England-early 1900s
Perry, Anne – 17th in series
Posts
Perry does do an effective job of developing characters, I think. And she sets the scene well, both historically and culturally. I'm glad you liked this one.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Margot.
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