A Christmas Message: A Novel

• Ballantine Books.

In the spirit of the season, New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry presents readers with the gift of another holiday mystery, taking them to the Holy Land for an intriguing and miraculous journey of discovery. The year is 1900, and Victor Narraway is giving his wife, Vespasia, an unforgettable Christmas present—a trip to Jerusalem. Vespasia is enchanted by the exotic landscape of Palestine, and charmed by a fellow traveler the Narraways meet at their hotel in Jaffa. But when the man is murdered over a torn piece of ancient parchment he was taking to Jerusalem, Victor and Vespasia risk their lives to finish his mission and deliver the puzzling document to its home. Pursued by a shadowy figure with evil intent, they embark on a dangerous yet ultimately enlightening pilgrimage to the holy city, where the mysterious message on the parchment may finally be revealed. Rich in suspense and wonder, A Christmas Message is at once a breathtaking adventure story and a poignant meditation on faith and spirituality. Praise for A Christmas Message “A strangely intriguing mystery handled neatly by the wonderfully capable Victor [Narraway] and [his new wife, Lady] Vespasia.”—Library Journal Praise for the Christmas novels of Anne Perry “Perry’s Victorian-era holiday mysteries [are] an annual treat.”—The Wall Street Journal A Christmas Escape “Rivals the classic murder mysteries of Dame Agatha Christie . . . The suspense is built up so well.”—Bookreporter A New York Christmas “A thoroughly enjoyable mystery set against the wonderful historical backdrop of 1904 New York City at Christmastime.”—Library Journal (starred review) A Christmas Hope “Very much recommended . . . a wonderful story.”—Historical Novel Review A Christmas Garland “In Anne Perry’s gifted hands, the puzzle plays out brilliantly.”—Greensboro News & Record A Christmas Homecoming “Could have been devised by Agatha Christie . . . [Perry is] a modern master.”—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette