Victor Narroway and Lady Vespasia are spending the holiday with acquaintances in the country. The people aren't friends but they are there with an ulterior motive. Narroway is trying to unmask a traitor and is using a guest at the house as a courier for a packet of decoy plans, to see who tries to steal it. The setting causes Narroway to be haunted by an incident in the past under similar circumstances. That one that had a tragic ending that he still blames himself for. Things go badly this time too, and he and his wife Lady Vespasia need to find the culprit before worse tragedy occurs. There is plenty of suspense, the protaganists are, as usual, wonderful to spend time with and the characters all seem real and interesting. Another winner by Perry.

Anne Perry's annual Christmas novella has arrived!!! In a Christmas Gathering Lady Vespasia and her new husband Victor Narraway spend the holidays at the home of friends. This isn't the quiet Christmas they wanted. It is full of intrigue and danger as they try to thwart the German's ability to build submarines. Even Christmas isn't time off when the British Empire is in danger.

The newlyweds are learning about each other as well as dealing with danger. This adds another dimension to the book. You get to know each of them even better as they learn more of the other. Each has strength and vulnerability that plays well with their partner.

This book, like the previous ones, was a lovely escape and a fun read. I thoroughly enjoyed the setting and spending the holidays with Lady Vespasia and Lord Narraway

This was the first in this series I've read. I've enjoyed most of Anne Perry's other books in the Pitt & Monk series. I don't know why I haven't read these. I will now go back and read the rest in this series. I've always enjoyed Lady Vespasia's character. The mystery kept me guessing, which is always a plus.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Anne Perry is a fantastic author whose writing is enjoyable and entertaining. Her books are detailed and well written. The characters are well developed and interesting. I enjoyed this book.

In her perennial Christmas novella, Anne Perry returns to the Victorian universe of Thomas and Charlotte Pitt. While Thomas and Charlotte are nowhere to be seen, Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould Narraway steps to the forefront with her husband Victoria Narraway, the former head of Special Branch. As the holidays approach, Vespasia and Victor have gone to a country estate, where Narraway is on a secret mission to intercept some blueprints, then pass them on to the next party. But something goes wrong when the courier is attacked. Complicating matters, Victor is haunted by his memories of a similar mission that led to the death of a woman for whom he had feelings.

I enjoyed this novella more than most of Perry's other Christmas books. While this short book is not as complicated as some of the full-length novels in the Pitt series, it was great fun to revisit some of my favorite characters. I always look forward to reading Perry's books, no matter what series they fall into.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

A unique gathering of individuals for Christmas, and an interesting relationship between the two main characters, this book kept me guessing until the end. I hope we see more of Lady Vespacia and Victor Narraway in the future. This book is definitely worth reading.

Exciting, engaging and a different take on the holiday spirit. Kept me on the edge of my seat. 5/5 stars.

Anne Perry’s Christmas gathering a novella in her Christmas series.So involving wonderful characters atmosphere story line hope there will be more Christmas Novellas in the future.#netgalley#randomhouse

A Christmas Gathering by Anne Perry 4 stars

This is the annual Christmas novella from Anne Perry. The previous one, A Christmas Revelation was set in the world of William Monk. A Christmas Gathering features Lady Vespasia and her husband Victor Narraway from the Thomas Pitt series

Although he is retired from the Special Branch, his old boss needed his help on a serious matter. Set in a country house party, Narraway is on a mission to catch a traitor. He is to receive altered blueprints at this house party and later act like a disgruntled individual and pass it on. However, what he doesn't know is that one person has an ulterior motive for setting this up and it's not to catch a traitor. The courier is attacked and Narraway finds himself targeted. It takes some help from Lady Vespasia to get out of this web of deceit.

I enjoyed reading this novella and the interaction between Lady Vespasia and Narraway was terrific. Each character shows some vulnerability - Narraway because he is not of the same class as Vespasia; Vespasia because of the age gap between Narraway and herself. I look forward to the next Christmas book.

Thank you Netgalley and Randon House/Ballantine for this ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of this book.

Lord Narraway and his wife Vespasia and several other couples of high society are invited for Christmas to the estate of Max and Lady Cavendish. From the outset there is an invisible tension between them and their hosts. Victor Narraway, the former head of the Special Branch is not just there for Christmas festivities, as he is also slated to complete a clandestine exchange of secret documents, that he would later need to pass on to enemy agents.

After the exchange, Iris, who is the courier, is found near death after she was attacked. Now, Victor and Vespasia must find the attacker and determine if the attacker was trying to find the documents, or if it is related to an incident in the past, where another courier was killed.

Anne Perry continues to write her series of Christmas mysteries that entertain readers.

A Christmas Gathering by Anne Perry is a fabulous Historical Fiction, Murder Mystery, Christmas novel all rolled into one. It is the latest (the 17th) installment in the Christmas Stories series.
This is a great, quick read that leaves the reader guessing until the end.

I enjoyed the relationship between Lady Vespacia and Victor Narraway. I also enjoyed the full cast of characters and the one-liners and banter. I found the ending appropriate and satisfying.

I hope this series continues.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

This has been sent to my GR account and will be posted to my Amazon and B&N accounts until publication.

5/5 stars