I have not read many Christmas books over the years, but I have started watching "Father Brown" mysteries on NetFlix and I was curious. After having written my masters paper on Jewish mysteries and their authors, I thought maybe the same idea works with other religions.
In a Jewish mystery there is some religious connection. The author either uses cultural references that his readers can relate to and enjoy reading about, or here are food or behavior references that the reader remembers from the past and is nostalgic about. It is similar for these Christian based mysteries. These are books that are trying to push a religious agenda. they are not religious stories that have a moral or message. They are fun light mystery stories that use religion to add to the reasoning for solving the crime and bringing the criminal to justice.
Ann Perry writes a Christmas themed mystery every year. This year in A Christmas Return she writes a mystery that could stand alone without the Christmas references but she has added them to bring in the religious reasoning to focus on both the murderer's conscience and the also the consciences of some of the witnesses who need to testify.
A quick short novella really, that is an interesting mystery with a twist at the end you may not see coming. Good for a cold winter day especially if you are busy shopping and getting ready for the holidays.
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