Mystery in White

A group of train passengers find themselves stranded in a snowstorm on Christmas Eve 1937. After abandoning their stuck train to seek shelter, they stumble upon an isolated country house that appears recently vacated, with signs of interrupted holiday preparations. The diverse group of strangers must work together to survive the blizzard while trying to understand the mysterious circumstances of the house and its absent inhabitants. Their situation becomes more complex as they discover clues about events that occurred earlier that day. The story combines elements of classic mystery and supernatural suspense against the backdrop of a traditional English Christmas setting. Through interconnected plotlines, the characters' own secrets and hidden motives emerge alongside the central puzzle of the abandoned house. This British Library Crime Classic explores themes of justice, redemption and the thin boundaries between coincidence and fate. The isolation created by the snowstorm serves as both a physical reality and a metaphor for the characters' psychological states.

Readers find this 1937 mystery novel a cozy, atmospheric Christmas whodunit. The snowed-in train and isolated country house settings create tension, though some note the plot moves slowly in the middle sections. Readers appreciated: - Rich descriptions of the snowstorm and winter atmosphere - Complex web of character relationships - Mix of supernatural elements with traditional mystery - Period details and dialogue Common criticisms: - Characters lack depth - Story pacing drags between key events - Resolution feels rushed and unclear - Some plot threads left unresolved Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon UK: 3.9/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon US: 3.7/5 (300+ ratings) One reader noted: "Perfect Christmas murder mystery, though the ending disappoints." Another commented: "Beautiful winter atmosphere but the supernatural elements felt out of place." Several reviews mentioned confusion about certain character motivations and plot points near the conclusion.

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Murder for Christmas by Francis Duncan Amateur detective Mordecai Tremaine investigates a death at a country house party where Father Christmas appears to be the killer.

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📚 *Mystery in White* was originally published in 1937 but experienced a surprising resurgence in 2014, becoming a Christmas bestseller for the British Library after being out of print for decades. 🚂 The novel's plot centers around a group of strangers stranded in a snowstorm on Christmas Eve, drawing inspiration from the classic "locked room mystery" genre popular in Britain's Golden Age of Detective Fiction. ✒️ Author J.J. Farjeon was highly praised by Dorothy L. Sayers, creator of Lord Peter Wimsey, who called him "unsurpassed for creepy skill in mysterious adventures." 🎭 Farjeon came from a distinguished artistic family - his sister Eleanor was a renowned children's author and poet, while his father Benjamin was a popular novelist and journalist. 🏰 The book's setting, a seemingly abandoned country house where the stranded passengers take refuge, was inspired by the author's fascination with English manor houses and their potential for harboring dark secrets.