So we’re about to head off on our seasonal travels. My brother is cooking the big Christmas dinner this year, while the rest of us chill out on the sofa. What a hero.
I’m packing a couple of novels to read over the Christmas break. The first is Jan Costin Wagner’s Light in a Dark House, the fourth in the German/Finnish Kimmo Joentaa series, and a submission for the 2014 Petrona Award (a list of all the eligible novels can be seen over at Euro Crime). The other is Argentinian writer Patricio Pron’s literary memoir, My Father’s Ghost is Climbing in the Rain, in which the author/detective investigates his family’s past. I’ve been saving both of these up, and look forward to reading them with a late-night glass of wine. How about you? What literary treats do you have lined up?
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Here are Gonzo, Rizzo the Rat, Kermit the Frog, Pepe the King Prawn, Miss Piggy and Fozzy Bear singing ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year’. Enjoy! Viel Spaß!
Mrs. Peabody Investigates 
Have a wonderful holiday, Mrs. P!! All the best to you and your family. And thanks for that video – I love it!
A *very* happy holiday to you and yours too, Margot. Ah yes, what’s Christmas without the Muppets? Just wouldn’t be the same!
Have a lovely one, hope you don’t have a heap of marking to do!
Gledilig Jul!
Happily not too bad, and it can wait until the New Year. Hooray for a proper break!
Have a lovely Christmas x
Have a great time. I have to say you made 2 good choices, although I don’t know anything about the 2nd book, it sounds very intriguing, I’ll definitely be looking that one up. the Wagner one, I feel
his best yet. A haunting & beautiful read. I don’t think there’s anyone in crime fiction like him. It’s not just his main character, but the others he surrounds him with, they all seem to be so engaging & they hold your attention. Can’t wait for his next. Found it very hard to decide on this & ‘strange shores’ as best crime novel for this year, but In the end went for ‘Strange Shore’ by a very short head.. Followed by the 2 Persson novels. I think they are the equals of anyone in fiction. Enjoy…
Thanks, Brian – I’m pleased to hear that you thought the Wagner was his best yet. Now I really can’t wait to get stuck in. I’m in total agreement with you about Strange Shores and the Persson novels. Top-notch stuff. Season’s greetings and happy reading!
Merry Christmas! Having just read and written about a biography of Jim Henson your post with the video of the Muppets was timely for me.
Merry Christmas, Bill. What a coincidence. I’m a huge admirer of Henson and adore the Muppets. Was the book you were reading and writing about a new one?
Have a lovely Christmas Mrs P! All the best for 2014.
A very Merry Christmas too, Rhian, and may 2014 be a fine one for you x
Mrs Peabody! Happy Christmas! I love your posts – thank you. You asked sometime back if anyone had found any Italian crime – have you come across Conor Fitzgerald with the Alec Blume stories? fx
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Thanks, Felix, and Merry Christmas! I’ve heard of the Fitzgerald/Blume series, but haven’t read any as yet. Thanks for the tip – will check them out.
Happy Christmas Mrs P! Thank for all your blog posts and superb book recommendations in 2013, please keep em coming in 2014! Enjoy your Christmas break xx
Thanks, Blighty, and a very Merry Christmas to you and yours too. Thanks for all your fab comments over the year 🙂
Buon natale!
Thanks, Cavershamragu. Have a good one!
Merry Christmas and a happy New one to you to Mrs P, and thanks for all of 2013’s posts. Love The Muppets video, always good for a laugh. Hope this atrocious weather doesn’t stop everyone from enjoying themselves. The tree in our front garden is shaking so badly it’s looking like the Womping Willow from Harry Potter! Hoo roo…
Thanks, Kathy. Hope you have a wonderful one too, and a great 2014. Weather has been entertaining thus far, especially the drive on Monday. Arrived safe if bedraggled x
And the same to you, Mrs P. Your choice of novels looks interesting. Hope you’ll be blogging about them. I’ve got Nele Nauhaus’s Snow White Must Die, Camilleri’s The Dance of the Seagull, and Asa Larsson’s The Blood Spilt and am looking forward to snuggling up with them.
That’s an interesting and varied selection – enjoy your reading, Chrissie, and Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Mrs P 🙂
Thanks! Hope you have a lovely one too. Merry Christmas x
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I will be reading Mr. Ives ‘ Christmas by Oscar Hijuelos next… starting today. And then The Holiday Murders by Robert Gott. Best Christmas reading month every for me.
A special Xmas/holidays reading theme, I see! Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year, TracyK.