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A Christmas Party
A Christmas Party: A Seasonal Murder Mystery/Envious Casca | Georgette Heyer
37 posts | 32 read | 44 to read
'Tis the Season-for murder... A colorful assortment of guests at a festive holiday house party discover there is a killer in their midst when their universally reviled host is found dead-in a room locked from the inside. For Inspector Hemingway of Scotland Yard, the investigation is complicated by the fact that every guest is hiding something-throwing all their testimony into question and casting suspicion far and wide. The clever and daring crime will mystify readers, yet the answer is in plain sight all along... PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AS ENVIOUS CASCA Georgette Heyer wrote over fifty books, including Regency romances, mysteries, and historical fiction. Her barrister husband, Ronald Rougier, provided many of the plots for her detective novels, which are classic English country house mysteries reminiscent of Agatha Christie. Heyer was legendary for her research, historical accuracy, inventive plots, and sparkling characterization. "Georgette Heyer has given me such great pleasure over the years in my reading, and rereading, of her stories. #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts "Sit back, slip away to a happier time and enjoy." New York Times bestselling author Kasey Michaels "One never forgets one's first Heyer." New York Times bestselling author Mary Jo Putney "The wittiest of detective writers." -Daily Mail "Miss Heyer's characters and dialogue are an abiding delight to me." -Dorothy L. Sayers
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Mitch
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This arrived this afternoon @Chrissyreadit - cannot wait to dive in. A new to me author who I‘ve heard lots of good things about 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼. Thank you ♥️

Chrissyreadit you are welcome!!! there will be one more!!! i am VERY excited to hear your thoughts- good, bad, middle etc!!! 4d
Mitch @Chrissyreadit Mr K and I had a very adult day today - pushed jobs to one side, abandoned all lists and went for a Christmas walk and lunch - it was lovely to come home to books. Perfect day ♥️ 4d
kspenmoll I enjoyed this book & this author! 4d
Chrissyreadit @kspenmoll I‘m glad to hear that - i will add to my tbr! 3d
47 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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mabell
Envious Casca | Georgette Heyer
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Delighted to start my annual reread! Deliciously nasty, quarrelsome family party that culminates in a murder on Christmas Eve. 🎄 Golly, I love this book! 😂

kspenmoll Sounds great! 12mo
mabell @kspenmoll Oh it‘s so fun! 😄 12mo
janeycanuck Ooh, I‘ve never even heard of this but it sounds delightful! 12mo
See All 6 Comments
mabell @janeycanuck Have you read any of Heyer‘s mysteries? They are my favorite comfort reads! And I always look forward to getting this one out every December - there‘s a good dose of humbug 😄🎄❤️ 12mo
janeycanuck @mabell no, she‘s been on my list for YEARS but I‘ve never picked any up. Suggestions on where to start? 12mo
mabell @janeycanuck Oh my, so many favorites!! If you start with a regency, then Cotillion would be my first choice! For the mysteries, They Found Him Dead is a good one, and No Wind of Blame is fabulous! There‘s also this one, Footsteps in the Dark, Behold Here‘s Poison… The only ones I don‘t recommend are Penhallow (hated that one) and The Unfinished Clue isn‘t a favorite. Blunt Instrument is a little odd too, so I would say one of the other 7 😄 12mo
28 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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BookNAround
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Starting my first #cloakanddaggerchristmas read.

Ruthiella Awesome! 👍 13mo
55 likes1 comment
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Cathythoughts
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A mystery book from some lovely Litten… I‘ve been meaning to try this author for so long. Perfect 👌🏻 Who do I thank? ❤️

squirrelbrain Lovely! ❤️ 2y
Cathythoughts @squirrelbrain Yes! As soon as I finish my present book ( I‘m Sorry You Feel That Way ) I‘ll start my first first Georgette Heyer 😁 2y
LeahBergen How nice! ❤️ I hope you received a Book Depository package from me already! 2y
See All 6 Comments
Centique Yay! This one is from me Cathy! 2y
Cathythoughts @Centique Thanks Paula ! I‘m thrilled, I‘m about to start reading it just as soon as I finish this Litsy scroll. I hope you will receive mine soon. 😘 iIt will be my first Georgette Heyer. 😁 2y
Centique @Cathythoughts I‘m so glad it got there. I had noticed you comment that you were keen to read a Heyer 💕 2y
52 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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SayersLover
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Finally getting started on a holiday read! Snagged this off the shelving cart the other day. It‘s supposed to be -25 degrees by tomorrow night with -40 wind chill, so I‘m planning my warmest work outfit and thinking warm thoughts.

KathyWheeler Oh gosh! I wouldn‘t even want to step out of my door with those temperatures let alone go to work! 2y
25 likes1 comment
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CarolynM
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These two arrived in my letter box at the same time and I‘m pretty sure from the same person. Thank you so much, Paula 😘😘 I am slowly collecting the Georgette Heyers in hard copy and this is a lovely addition. And I‘m going to keep the other present to unwrap on Christmas Day.

Centique Yay! I‘m so surprised they arrived on the same day. The matrix is working for my benefit for once! Merry Christmas Carolyn 💕🎄🎄 2y
LeahBergen How nice! ❤️ 2y
Cathythoughts Lovely 🥰 2y
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batsy Nice! ❤️ I thought this was good fun. 2y
Wesleypaker @CarolynM How are you doing today ? 2y
CarolynM @Wesleypaker I‘m good. Watching cricket and reading tagged book. You? (edited) 2y
Wesleypaker @CarolynM I‘m Good just busy with few activities at work 2y
Wesleypaker @CarolynM Where are you from ? 2y
CarolynM @Wesleypaker I‘m in Melbourne, Australia. 2y
Wesleypaker Wow that‘s Cool .. I‘m originally from NYC but currently in Moscow Russia working as a doctor how about you? 2y
57 likes10 comments
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CaitZ
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Perfect 💙🤍 2y
Eggs This sounds good💙🖤💙 2y
29 likes2 comments
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CarolynM
Envious Casca | Georgette Heyer
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Pickpick

Not my favourite of the series, but any mystery that's solved with the help of a missing library book is ok with me.

Cathythoughts 👍🏻😁 2y
68 likes1 comment
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johncadams
Envious Casca | Georgette Heyer
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Loved this cozy, Christmas tale. There's no better time for a murder mystery!

#murdermystery #Christmas #Mysteries

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johncadams
Envious Casca | Georgette Heyer

“Stephen can't afford to quarrel with Nat.“

21 likes1 stack add
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johncadams
Envious Casca | Georgette Heyer
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review
mklong
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Pickpick

I love a good English manor home Christmas murder, and this is a great one. I did peg the murderer pretty quickly, but that didn‘t matter, I still enjoyed it all the same. I read the last half while having my car serviced today and spent my wait time laughing out loud. I was clearly having more fun than everyone else in the waiting room!

batsy I felt the same about this! Really enjoyable. 5y
mklong @batsy I loved your review! I love that the subplot about the missing book actually mattered in the end. Just like any good locked room mystery, everyone had a motive to hide the damn thing! 5y
52 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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MamaGina
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After finishing not one but two BIG books (Great Expectations and Wolf Hall-feeling very accomplished!) I‘m up for a holiday themed read...

🎄🎅🏻🎄🥂🎄🤶🏻🎄

Mdargusch I have this one stacked but I think at this point I will save it for next year. I‘ve heard it‘s very funny. 😂 5y
18 likes1 comment
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kspenmoll
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#DearDecember #goodwill

All Joseph wants when he invites his motley crew of relatives to his brother‘s home for a festive Christmas is to spread #goodwill. Instead his best laid plans are thwarted when murder occurs.

AlaMich I‘m reading this right now. Except my edition, for some reason, is called 5y
Ncostell This sounds right up my alley, I‘ll have to check it out! 5y
Eggs Humor + Mystery = great reading! 5y
40 likes4 stack adds3 comments
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batsy
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Pickpick

This was the perfect read as I recovered from a cold in bed. Deliciously bitchy, gossipy crime fiction: Christmas, unbearable relatives, murder. What's not to like? Plus a subplot involving a missing book that I found really amusing. Maud was a scream & she had the best lines. Heyer's as cynical as I am, it appears, so I was happy to learn that the person I suspected from the beginning was the right one, but it didn't lessen my enjoyment at all.

erzascarletbookgasm I love ‘deliciously bitchy‘! So glad you‘ve recovered from the cold..happy holidays! 5y
batsy @erzascarletbookgasm Thank you, friend 😘 Happy holidays to you too! 5y
batsy @kspenmoll Hope you're enjoying the read 🙂 5y
See All 34 Comments
TheAromaofBooks Despite loving Heyer's Regency romances, I've never gotten around to trying her mysteries. Maybe I should start here! 5y
Cathythoughts This sounds great !! Mind yourself, hope you‘re better ! Stacked 5y
Nute I hope that you are feeling better! Cynicism as a way to figure out who-dun-it...I love it!🤗 5y
Tamra Sounds fun! Perfect antidote to an annoying cold. I haven‘t been able to get into any of the Xmas reads I had planned on. 5y
Tamra Actually I just noticed I bailed on this one last year. 😅 5y
LeahBergen Yes, I enjoyed this one, too (although I much prefer her Regency novels)! 5y
Jee_HookedOnBookz Feel better soon! ❤️ 5y
batsy @TheAromaofBooks I'm not a Heyer expert, but I've read a couple of her mysteries and they're fun :) 5y
batsy @Nute 😁 5y
batsy @Tamra Oops 😆 But yeah, this has been an extremely bad reading month for me too! The mysteries are about all I've been able to manage. 5y
batsy @LeahBergen I definitely need to read more of her Regency romances 😍 5y
Suet624 Forget about the book! Are those your sheets and pillow case? They‘re fantastic! 5y
BiblioLitten Georgette Heyer used to be my go-to novels when I needed something romantic but not overtly so. Perfect holiday read too! 🤩 5y
kspenmoll Love your descriptive review ! Am about 3/4 way through-characters, & Heyer‘s genius at developing their district personalities thru dialogue is such fun & at times has me laughing out loud. “ comedy of manners” so apt! 5y
batsy @Suet624 Haha, yes! I love stars 💫 5y
batsy @BiblioLitten I read one or two when I was a teen and didn't quite get it for some reason. But recently I read Venetia and adored it. I want to slowly savour her books... They do seem like perfect indulgent reads! 5y
batsy @kspenmoll Thank you! And yes, you nailed it. She really depicts the essense of each character with their dialogue. 5y
rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen @batsy One of my resolutions is more Heyer Regencies in 2020. 😊 5y
LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads It‘s one of mine, as well! 👍🏻 5y
rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen Maybe we can do a buddy read. 😊 5y
mabell I‘m rereading this for the millionth time right now! I love it! 5y
LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads Definitely! 😘 5y
batsy @mabell It's great fun 😁 5y
batsy @rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen I'd love to as well, but I don't have all of her books. If I have the book or have access to the ebook I'd love to join in ☺️ 5y
rubyslippersreads @batsy @leahbergen Let‘s be sure to pick one we all three have access to. 😊 5y
LeahBergen @batsy @rubyslippersreads Yes, let‘s pick one that all three of us have! 👏🏻👏🏻 Maybe give us a short list of choices, @batsy ? 😄 5y
batsy @LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads It's a pretty short list! 😆 Cotillion, Sprig Muslin, & Frederica are what I have (so far...) 5y
LeahBergen @batsy well, I‘ve read Cotillion and Frederica but not Sprig Muslin. 😀 5y
rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen @batsy I‘ve only read Cotillion (which I loved), but it sounds like Sprig Muslin would be new to all three of us. 5y
batsy @rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen Sprig Muslin it is! (to begin with 😉) 5y
85 likes9 stack adds34 comments
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kspenmoll
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#LaughOutLoud! #HolidayCheer
Very short excerpt from ch.4- a hilarious account of aspiring playwright Roydon reading aloud his first play(set in a brothel)to an motley, unlikely, puritanical cast of characters thrown together for Christmas at their wealthy uncle‘s house. I could not stop laughing out loud which felt wonderful! Maybe the hour, 2 a.m., contributed to my giddiness?!

batsy I'm chuckling as I read, too! Heyer has a way with depicting deliciously unlikeable characters. My favourite right now is Maud 😆 5y
Mdargusch I have this up next! I picked it because it‘s supposed to be funny so I‘m glad it made you laugh! 5y
46 likes2 comments
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kspenmoll
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#weeklyforcast
Making good progress with Say Nothing- its so engrossing I have read 44% so far. #nonfiction. 25 pages my goal.
Started A Christmas Party #holidaycheer- hope to read at least 30 pages.
Might start either of the other 2, but this week is busy at work, holiday party, day trip to NYC- don‘t know if I will get Much reading done. 📚🎄🎅🏻

PatriciaU I discovered LJ Ross this year. So good! 5y
Cinfhen Do u have an audiobook for your day trip into NY?? I love NYC this time of year / all the store windows 😍 5y
kspenmoll @Cinfhen I have both an audiobook & print book- I am lucky I can read in motion! 5y
48 likes3 comments
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kspenmoll
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#holidaycheer #fullberry #firstsentence #GeorgetteHeyer

“It was a source of great satisfaction to Joseph Herriard that the holly trees were in full berry.” Great opening sentence to this holiday novel.

Texreader Agreed! 5y
batsy I started it yesterday and thought it was a great line! 5y
36 likes2 comments
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Christinak
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In the end, only Mathilda responded to his appeal for assistance. She asserted her undying love for tinsel decorations, and professed her eagerness to hang innumerable coloured balls and #icicles on to the tree. ‘Though I think, Joe,‘ she said, when the company had dispersed, ‘that no one else feels any sympathy with your desire for a Merry Christmas.‘ #QuotsyDec19 #icicle

30 likes2 stack adds
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kspenmoll
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LeahBergen I read this under the title of Envious Casca. 👍🏻 5y
batsy I hope to read it this month! 5y
OriginalCyn620 👍🏻📚🎄 5y
kspenmoll @batsy I bought this last year so determined to read it this Christmas. We can compare reactions! 5y
60 likes4 comments
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nerdcornerbooks
Envious Casca | Georgette Heyer
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Mehso-so

I'm so used to Georgette Heyer writing Regency romance that I was not expecting a detective story between these pages (library copy, no cover clues.) It wasn't the best - I had the crime solved halfway through, and the POV switched maddeningly with no character getting much substantial development. But I did actually want to follow some of the characters after the book ended. (Having read other reviews, should I have read this as satire?)

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Booksnchill
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Pickpick

Since the twelve days of Christmas will soon be over I wanted to get this book finished under the wire. I think this is my first Georgette Heyer but I will read more. A classic manor house, snow, locked room mystery- to a point. This is also full of farce and such smart renderings of the “types” you normally find in these book- quite funny in many parts and, most important to me, I didn‘t see the solution until the end! Really enjoyed this!

80 likes3 stack adds
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Booksnchill
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1.It was a source of great satisfaction to Joseph Herriard that the holly trees were in full berry.
2. 396
3. Perversity
4. Matilda Clare
5.blue
6.mystery
7.person, awfully
8.blue
9. GH
10.none
11.1941
12.Dorothy L. Sayers

Kaye Thanks for playing ! You guys found one of my old posts ! 😀 (edited) 6y
Booksnchill @kaye ha- I didn‘t know where it started but it was fun! 6y
Kaye Glad you had a good time. I liked doing this one 😁 6y
53 likes3 comments
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Christinak
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In the end, only Mathilda responded to his appeal for assistance. She asserted her undying love for tinsel decorations, and professed her eagerness to hang innumerable coloured balls and icicles on to the tree. ‘Though I think, Joe,‘ she said, when the company had dispersed, ‘that no one else feels any sympathy with your desire for a #Merry Christmas.‘ #QuotsyDec18

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Centique
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Pickpick

This one falls squarely in the #blameitonbatsy pile. 😂 I saw this in your feed @batsy and needed to read it. My first Georgette Heyer! It suited my mood perfectly because I had been feeling tetchy about Christmas plans and here was an unlikeable high society family snapping and grumping at each other until somebody ends up murdered. Made me feel quite chipper it did. 😉 3.5 stars but I‘d give it an extra one for cheering me up 👌

rockpools I didn‘t know she‘d written murder mysteries! 6y
Centique @RachelO apparently she wrote quite a number but not as popular as her romances. 😊 6y
batsy Hahaha! I'm so glad you gave it a try and enjoyed it. Now I just need someone to make me read it! 😆 6y
See All 7 Comments
mabell I'm re-reading it now! I LOVE this book! So smart and snarky, everyone so selfish, and the whodunnit tricky - it's great! Hemingway makes it for me too. He is in a number of her mysteries. 6y
Tamra Funny, I looked for this on Libby and there was a wait for it, but I clicked on Envious Casca just to investigate Heyer and it‘s the same novel, published with different name and cover. No wait for this one! 😁 6y
Centique @mabell it WAS a tricky whodunnit and I really liked Hemingway! 😊 6y
Centique @Tamra well done! 6y
71 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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batsy
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Nothing says #December like a Christmas murder mystery with a #WinterWonderland setting 🌨️☃️🗡️🔫💀 Here's hoping I read one of these this month 😆

@TrishB @Cinfhen

TrishB According to the books there‘s a lot of murder at Christmas!! 6y
erzascarletbookgasm I just love those British Library Crime Classics editions 💜 6y
Cinfhen Ha!!! It‘s funny to see a sword pointed at such a happy snowman 😃 6y
See All 20 Comments
Tamra I enjoyed Mystery in White. ☃️ 6y
Moray_Reads I'm stocking up Christmas books too. Love seasonal reading 🎄🎅📚 6y
batsy @TrishB Indeed 😆 6y
batsy @erzascarletbookgasm Right? Just looking at them makes me happy ❤️ 6y
batsy @Cinfhen Ha, oops! Note to self: Don't 🥃 and do emojis 😂 6y
batsy @Tamra Glad to hear that! I've had it longer than the other two so maybe I should really read it this year! 6y
batsy @Moray_Reads It's fun and I always look forward to Christmassy cosy reads, even though I don't celebrate Christmas and there's no snow here 😁 6y
Moray_Reads There's rarely snow here but I do love Christmas and I love Christmas cosies 6y
Cathythoughts So true ... a cosy murder mystery ( 🤔) 😂 6y
batsy @Cathythoughts The best (😳) kind of murder mysteries... Oh dear 😂 6y
Cathythoughts I love it 😂😂😂 6y
Sarah83 I loved the two on the left and on the right. Really great ones. 🤩😍 6y
Centique Ohhhh I want to read a Christmas mystery now. 😍I just raced through a mystery yesterday and it didn‘t scratch the itch I had - I think it‘s that winter cosy kind of itch too! 6y
LeahBergen I‘ll watch to see if you start The Santa Klaus Murder (it will shame me into reading it, too 😆). 6y
Caroline2 Oh these look fab!!! 😯 6y
BiblioLitten Georgette Heyer is an ideal cosy winter read.😊 6y
Faibka Now this is what I‘m talking about 👏 this is my kind of Christmas reads, hmm... is that disturbingly weird? 🤔 Lol, great choices! 6y
95 likes3 stack adds20 comments
review
mabell
Envious Casca | Georgette Heyer
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Pickpick

Love this book. ❤️ I reread it before Christmas, and I wasn't ready to stop reading it, so I read it again. The holidays are for indulging, right? A truly dysfunctional Christmas gathering, filled with selfish unlikeable characters, then a locked room murder.

LeahBergen I enjoyed it, too! 👍🏻 7y
batsy Ooh, that sounds good! 7y
mabell @LeahBergen GH was so talented! ❤️ @batsy It's so good! Difficult to explain the appeal ... uh you won't really root for any of the characters, but you'll like it, I promise! 😅 (edited) 7y
33 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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CAnne
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Thanks for tagging me @Bookzombie
1. Holiday spirits
2. Scarf
3. TBR
4. Popcorn
5. @TheKidUpstairs @Andrea4 @TheNextBook

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Gillyreads
Envious Casca | Georgette Heyer
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I got quite a few books this month, but most of them are from Hachette because I finished up my internship and they kindly gave me a bag of books 😍📚😍

MariettaSG Lucky you! 8y
18 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
raelaschoenherr
Envious Casca | Georgette Heyer
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Pickpick

Even knowing how funny she is, every time I read one of Heyer's books, I'm reminded again how freakin' hilarious her humor is. So dry and witty and British. And her character sketches can be as biting as Austen's. This one is a Christmas house party with a guest list of people who mostly can't stand each other in entertaining and highly humorous ways. There's a murder, of course, and an inspector who isn't fooled by the list of likely suspects.

raelaschoenherr Thanks for the rec, @Jessicah :) 8y
MarriedtoMrT I really need to read a Heyer. I don't know why I haven't yet. #2017goals 8y
raelaschoenherr @MarriedtoMrT You totally do!!! I've loved her Regencies since I was in my teens. I've only read a few of her mysteries. I wouldn't recommend her straight histories to start with. Let me know if you want a rec :) 8y
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MarriedtoMrT @raelaschoenherr Yes please on the recommendations! I'm most interested in her Regencies. Which ones are your favorites? 8y
howjessicareads ❤❤❤ So glad you liked it!! 8y
raelaschoenherr @MarriedtoMrT I think Frederica and The Grand Sophy are both pretty widely-loved and newbie friendly :) Lady of Quality and Black Sheep would be representative entrees too. I also love Sylvester and Cotillion! I will warn you that most of her books take a minute to get into at first, so stick with it! 8y
43 likes3 stack adds7 comments
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raelaschoenherr
Envious Casca | Georgette Heyer
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I already like Mathilda. Clever and subtly sassy, she reminds me of so many of Heyer's wry Regency heroines. This was recommended as a fun #Christmasread, since I love Heyer. British Christmas house party mystery.

raelaschoenherr @Jessicah Excited to get further into this one! 8y
annahenke Oh, this so up my alley! Must download tomorrow! 8y
32 likes1 stack add2 comments
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raelaschoenherr
Envious Casca | Georgette Heyer
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Two #Christmassyreads I was hoping to get to this year! I've never read either, has anyone else? #seasonsreadings2016

rubyslippersreads I've read and enjoyed both. 😀🎄 8y
raelaschoenherr @rubyslippersreads Oh yay!! Glad to hear it :) I know the L'Engle is short. 8y
rubyslippersreads @raelaschoenherr It's short, and a little sappy, but I like a bit of that at Christmastime. 😉 8y
raelaschoenherr @rubyslippersreads Haha! Yes, definitely welcome at Christmas:) 8y
32 likes4 comments
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rubyslippersreads
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My sentiments exactly! 😀🎄

mabell I've been considering whether to reread this now - seasonally appropriate - of course. I think I last read it this summer ... too soon? Possibly. But so perfect! Uncle Joe = Clark Griswold 8y
rubyslippersreads @mabell 😂😂😂 8y
69 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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LittleBowBook
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Ready for my work #christmasparty with my "book" bag!

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Book_Gnome
Envious Casca | Georgette Heyer
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Opening line:
"It was a source of great satisfaction to Joseph Herriard that the holly trees were in full berry." #Dumbledwarf #bookgnome #openingline #georgetteheyer #enviouscasca

MrBook Dumbledwarf!!! 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 8y
17 likes2 stack adds1 comment