Last year, just as I was wrapping up the final Advent of Mystery post, a recommendation from crossexaminingcrime landed in my inbox. Not only that – a comedic Christmas mystery with a strong rating from a blogger who cares just as much (if not more) about the puzzles! Despite having just binged several Christmas crime novels, I knew I had to give The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning a try…

…and I promptly found a new modern mystery series to binge-read. I spent much of that winter break flying through P. J. Fitzsimmons silly mystery series, and am now a keen follower of Anty’s escapades. I’m so excited to get to introduce Anty, his valet Vickers, and his whacky adventures to all of you.

That being said, a fun storyl does not necessarily equate to a great Christmas mystery. So how does The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning stack up?

Fast, frenetic puzzles…

The Anty Boijoly series are typically fast, frenetic, and fun. Anty is a Society Man (perhaps in the early 1900s?), who seems to constantly find his family and friends accused of murder. He then applies his circuitous logic to solving the murder (and clearing his family’s name), engaging in various turn-of-the-century British shenanigans along the way. Think Peter Wimsey, if he were a bit snarkier and less contemplative, and had a pet detective to boot.

The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning is the second book in the series, and is no exception to this pattern. Anty goes to visit his aunt in the tiny town of Graze Hill, where he’s greeted with the neighbor’s corpse. As she’s in the frame, Anty must piece together a seemingly impossible murder. And it’s a complex one, with several plot threads that need to come together for the solution (as well as a couple of leaps in logic).

As mysteries go, The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning is a reasonable one. The clues tie into a neat solution, although putting them together requires several mental contortions in quick succession. I’m not sure that the events themselves are the most believable – but that’s not exactly the point for this kind of comedic mystery. Instead, it’s a puzzle masquerading as a series of jokes, and a lighthearted read for the holidays.

…in a more traditional holiday setting

The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning takes place in a small English village at holiday season. Fitzsimmons’ depictions of Christmas celebrations at the time comport with those in true Golden Age mysteries – snow, early sunsets and late nights at the pub, family and neighborly time. But Anty himself is quite snarky and silly, skating over the surface of the holiday season.

I’m somewhat torn on how to think about the holiday vibes on this one. As mentioned, the story itself comports well with Golden Age depictions of Christmas. Not only that, it carries themes of family and loyalty that are often missing from the original Golden Age Christmas mysteries, that feel more holiday-like in spirit. Yet Anty himself engages little with the holiday season, acting just as he does in every other circumstance. I think I have to accept that this may feel holiday-like for someone who’s grown up in a different tradition – but it’s not the cozy vibe I most associate with Christmas.

Ask Jeeves, but make it murder

Did I enjoy every page of this fast, silly murder mystery? Yes. Will I read it again this season? Probably. Would I call it a Christmas Mystery? Meh. If you’re looking for something lighthearted and set around the holiday timeframe (with a sneakily fun puzzle), this could be a good match for you.

Tomorrow we’ll dive into one of two short story collections. Until then – stay cozy, and stay curious!