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Helen Hollick
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A Mirror Murder: A Jan Christopher Mystery (Jan Christopher Mysteries Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Helen Hollick (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 87 ratings
B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree - Award-winning Mystery Books

The first in a series of quick-read, cosy mysteries set in the 1970s

Eighteen-year-old library assistant Jan Christopher’s life is to change on a rainy Friday evening in July 1971, when her legal guardian and uncle, DCI Toby Christopher, gives her a lift home after work. Driving the car, is her uncle’s new Detective Constable, Laurie Walker – and it is love at first sight for the young couple. But romance is soon to take a back seat when a baby boy is taken from his pram, a naked man is scaring young ladies in nearby Epping Forest, and an elderly lady is found, brutally murdered... Are the events related? How will they affect the staff and public of the local library where Jan works – and will romance survive and blossom between library assistant Jan Christopher and DC Laurie Walker – or will the brutal murder intervene?

"I sank into this gentle cosy mystery story with the same enthusiasm and relish as I approach a hot bubble bath, (in fact this would be a great book to relax in the bath with!), and really enjoyed getting to know the central character..."
Debbie Young bestselling cosy mystery author

"Jan is a charming heroine. You feel you get to know her and her love of books and her interest in the people in the library where she works. She's also funny, and her Aunt Madge bursts with character - the sort of aunt I would love to have had. I remember the 70s very well and Ms Hollick certainly gives a good flavour of the period."
Denise Barnes (bestselling romance author Molly Green)

“A delightful read about an unexpected murder in North East London. Told from the viewpoint of a young library assistant, the author draws on her own experience to weave an intriguing tale”
Richard Ashen (South Chingford Community Library)

“Lots of nostalgic, well-researched, detail about life in the 1970s, which readers of a certain age will lap up; plus some wonderful, and occasionally hilarious, ‘behind the counter’ scenes of working in a public library, which any previous or present-day library assistant will recognise!”
Reader's Review

“An enjoyable novella with a twist in who done it. I spent the entire read trying to decide what was a clue and what wasn’t ... Kept me thinking the entire time. I call that a success.”
Reader's Review
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  1. Book 1 of 6
    Jan Christopher Mysteries
  2. Print length
    162 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    January 13, 2021
  6. File size
    2.5 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A delightful read about an unexpected murder in North East London. Told from the viewpoint of a young library assistant, the author draws on her own experience to weave an intriguing tale" Richard Ashen (South Chingford Community Library)


"Lots of nostalgic, well-researched, detail about life in the 1970s, which readers of a certain age will lap up; plus some wonderful, and occasionally hilarious, 'behind the counter' scenes of working in a public library, which any previous or present-day library assistant will recognise!" Reader Review


"An enjoyable novella with a twist in who done it. I spent the entire read trying to decide what was a clue and what wasn't ... Kept me thinking the entire time. I call that a success." Reader Review

About the Author

Helen Hollick and her family moved from north-east London in January 2013 after finding an eighteenth-century North Devon farm house through being a 'victim' on BBC TV's popular Escape To The Country show. The thirteen-acre property was the first one she was shown - and it was love at first sight. She loves her new rural life, and has a variety of animals on the farm, including hens, ducks, geese, dogs, cats, Exmoor ponies and her daughter's string of show jumpers. First accepted for publication by William Heinemann in 1993 - a week after her fortieth birthday - Helen then became a USA Today Bestseller with her historical novel, The Forever Queen (titled A Hollow Crown in the UK) with the sequel, Harold the King (US: I Am The Chosen King) being novels that explore the events that led to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Her Pendragon's Banner Trilogy is a fifth-century version of the Arthurian legend, and she also writes a pirate-based nautical adventure/fantasy series, The Sea Witch Voyages. Despite being impaired by the visual disorder of Glaucoma, she is now branching out into the quick read novella, 'Cosy Mystery' genre with her new venture, the Jan Christopher Mysteries, set in the 1970s, with the first in the series, A Mirror Murder incorporating her, often hilarious, memories of working for thirteen years as a library assistant. Her non-fiction books are Pirates: Truth and Tales and Life of A Smuggler. She also runs Discovering Diamonds, a review blog for historical fiction, a news and events blog for her village and the Community Shop, assists as 'secretary for the day' at her daughter's regular showjumping shows - and occasionally gets time to write...

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08RR483VR
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Taw River Press
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 13, 2021
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.5 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 162 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1838131814
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 6 ‏ : ‎ Jan Christopher Mysteries
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 87 ratings

About the author

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Helen Hollick

Helen Hollick

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Hello, welcome to my Amazon Author Page. I am Helen Hollick a USA Today bestselling author. You can find my website (which has all my other links) by searching for Helen Hollick. Thank you so much if you were kind enough to click the 'follow' button above. Your support is very much appreciated.

Please do consider leaving a review or comment for any or all of my books.

ABOUT HELEN HOLLICK

Known for her captivating storytelling and rich attention to historical detail, Helen’s historical fiction, nautical adventure series, cosy mysteries – and her short stories – skilfully invite readers to step into worlds where the boundaries between fiction and history blend together.

Her historical fiction spans a variety of periods, with a particular focus on the ‘Dark Ages’ and the Early Medieval period. Works like The Pendragon's Banner series offer vivid portrayals of both historical events and the fantastical elements that shape them. Her gift lies in her ability to bring historical figures and settings to life, while in her Sea Witch Voyages, she subtly weaves in elements of magic, myth, and hauntings, creating an immersive experience that transports readers to a time when the people of the past might very well walk among the living.

In addition to her historical fiction, Helen has written several short stories, further exploring themes of historical adventure or the supernatural with her signature style.

Whether dealing with the echoes of the past or the weight of lost souls, her stories are as compelling as they are convincing. Through her work, she invites readers into a world where the past never truly lets us go.

Helen started writing as a teenager, but after discovering a passion for history, was published in 1993 in the UK with her Arthurian Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy and two Anglo-Saxon novels about the events that led to the 1066 Battle of Hastings, one of which, The Forever Queen (USA title – A Hollow Crown in the UK) became a USA Today best-seller. Her Sea Witch Voyages are nautical-based adventures inspired by the Golden Age of Piracy. She also writes the Jan Christopher cosy mystery series set during the 1970s, and based around her, sometimes hilarious, years of working as a North London library assistant. Her 2025 release is Ghost Encounters, a book about the ghosts of North Devon.

Helen, husband Ron and daughter Kathy moved from London to Devon in January 2013 after a Lottery win on the opening night of the London Olympics, 2012. She spends her time glowering at the overgrown garden and orchard, fending off the geese, helping with the horses and wishing the friendly, resident ghosts would occasionally help with the housework...

'Lege Feliciter' (read happily)

Helen

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
87 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's story engaging, with one review noting its plot twists and turns. Moreover, the author receives positive feedback for their talent, and customers appreciate the character development, with one review highlighting the depth given to the characters. Additionally, customers describe the book as comfortable, comparing it to a favorite sweater.

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Story qualityAuthor qualityCharacter developmentComfort
5 customers mention "Story quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, with one review highlighting its charming narrative and well-developed characters, while another notes its engaging plot twists and turns.

"...latest venture (as all others) with her special aplomb and gives readers a real treat guaranteed to please cozy mystery fans everywhere – especially..." Read more

"...Ms Hollick set out to write a cosy mystery, and she has achieved just that, a not too convoluted story featuring characters it is easy to like and..." Read more

"...twists and turns, romance for the hero and heroine, and a very satisfactory conclusion. I can't wait for the second book in the series!" Read more

"...A most pleasant read and I appreciate the restrained build-up of the romance. It makes me want to know "what happens next."" Read more

3 customers mention "Author quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers praise the author's talent, with one noting they are among their favorite historical writers.

"Talented author, Helen Hollick launches a British cozy mystery series with A Mirror Murder / A Jan Christopher Mystery, and in true Hollick style,..." Read more

"...A good who done it, without leaving you unable to sleep." Read more

"A pleasantly surprising new genre from one of my favorite historical writers...." Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one review highlighting the depth Hollick gives to the characters, while another notes the touchingly innocent heroine.

"...From the strong, but touchingly innocent heroine, Jan, a young library assistant, to Jan’s aunt and uncle, her love interest, colleagues, neighbors,..." Read more

"...all, Jan may not know how to type, but she is a sensible and intelligent young woman who may yearn for love and romance but who stays true to herself..." Read more

"...Murders," not very graphic, plot twists and turns, romance for the hero and heroine, and a very satisfactory conclusion...." Read more

3 customers mention "Comfort"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book comfortable to read, comparing it to a favorite sweater.

"...Bottom Line: Get comfy, enjoy a good cuppa, and let Jan and her friends sweep you back to 1970s England! Highly recommended." Read more

"...This is a true cosy (British spelling) story, nevertheless turning suspenseful with the murder of an old lady...." Read more

"As comfy as a favourite sweater - but with an edge..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Sue-Ellen Welfonder
    5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Stars ~ Put the kettle on … enjoy a deliciously cozy read!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Talented author, Helen Hollick launches a British cozy mystery series with A Mirror Murder / A Jan Christopher Mystery, and in true Hollick style, she delights from the first line. Prolific and crossing many genres from nonfiction, pirates, kings, and more, Hollick masters this latest venture (as all others) with her special aplomb and gives readers a real treat guaranteed to please cozy mystery fans everywhere – especially those who love British-set stories.

    Anglophiles and nostalgia-lovers, especially, will be in their element in the world of Jan Christopher, the series’ heroine, as the English setting not only whisks you straight to Merry Olde, but also transports the reader back to the 1970s. The retro aspect is a lovely walk-down-memory lane for those of us who lived those years, and if you were lucky enough to visit England in the period, you’ll be doubly pleased because Hollick’s pen is magical and wonderfully recreates a slower-paced time without cell phones and Internet, instant-everything, and atmospheric rainy evening walks so real, you’ll be astonished to look up and realize you aren’t there.

    Other reviewers have noted the plot, so I’ll just praise the above-mentioned elements that I enjoyed so much. In addition, I love the depth Hollick gives to the characters, something she does in all her various genres. From the strong, but touchingly innocent heroine, Jan, a young library assistant, to Jan’s aunt and uncle, her love interest, colleagues, neighbors, and the villain, all story people are fleshed-out and real-seeming. Likewise, a strong sense of place carries throughout, enhancing the reading experience. There’s also enough quaintness and ‘quirk’ to thrill England-obsessed readers, as already stated, but repeated here because this element gives the story so much charm. And, yes, Hollick had me guessing to the end, surprising me with her villain.

    Bottom Line: Get comfy, enjoy a good cuppa, and let Jan and her friends sweep you back to 1970s England! Highly recommended.
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  • Anna B
    4.0 out of 5 stars As comfy as a favourite sweater - but with an edge
    Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    January Christopher wants to be a writer, but her teachers at school more or less laugh her out of the room when she expresses as much, saying that it is quite, quite impossible as dear January (Jan, she hisses, I call myself Jan) can’t even type. Already here, Ms Hollick presents us with quite the window into a world not much more than half a century distant, but so very different from ours—especially if you were a girl.
    Jan navigates a world with constraints, many of them imposed on her because of her gender, but she is fortunate in her aunt and uncle and, to some extent, in her job as library assistant. In her free time she writes, but her days she spends at the beck and call of the rather unlikeable head librarian. (Who, to my delight, gets his comeuppance in a rather entertaining manner)
    And then one of the more regular visitors to the library is found dead, apparently killed by the shattered mirror found beside her. Through a series of events Jan is suddenly indirectly involved in a murder investigation, together with her uncle, DCI Christopher, and his new sidekick, the rather handsome Laurie Walker.
    The hesitant relationship between Jan and Laurie is beautifully depicted, without going all sugary-sweet. After all, Jan may not know how to type, but she is a sensible and intelligent young woman who may yearn for love and romance but who stays true to herself. It is very easy to like Jan—and Laurie—and to be somewhat touched by their innocence.
    Ms Hollick set out to write a cosy mystery, and she has achieved just that, a not too convoluted story featuring characters it is easy to like and relate to. Reading A Mirror Murder is a bit like putting on a favourite jumper when it is cold outside, leaving you quite warm—and cosy—inside.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Kelly A. Stambaugh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant story to curl up with
    Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2021
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Helen has done it again! I have read every book she has written, fiction and non-fiction (as evidenced by her place of prominence on my bookshelf!) and "A Mirror Murder" hits it out of the park as her first "cozy mystery"!

    I found her characters very relatable and real, particularly her heroine Jan Christopher. I mean, who hasn't felt like the awkward ugly duckling at some point in their life? That is one of the things I love about the characters, they are very realistic (metaphorical warts and all!).

    To me, this story is very reminiscent to an episode of "Midsomer Murders," not very graphic, plot twists and turns, romance for the hero and heroine, and a very satisfactory conclusion.

    I can't wait for the second book in the series!
    One person found this helpful
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  • PamF
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    As a girl who lived through the 70's, I instantly related to Jan. Helen is so good at painting word pictures, so you are living in that moment in your mind's eye. A good who done it, without leaving you unable to sleep.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Inge H. Borg
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful Read
    Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I greatly enjoyed Helen Hollick’s medieval English historical fiction, as well as her rollicking Sea Witch series; each transports you into the times with its appropriate “lingo,” due to the author’s deep knowledge of her subjects.

    With “A Mirror Murder: A Jan Christopher Mystery (Book 1),” Hollick easily slips into her writer’s chameleon-skin. Her young 1971-era murder mystery heroine hits spot on, voice and all. Those of us who lived through the early 1970s may groan as we remember Jan’s teenage angst; wearing the wrong shoes; a ladder in the stocking; a blushing encounter with a young man.

    This is a true cosy (British spelling) story, nevertheless turning suspenseful with the murder of an old lady. The characters are a bit “quirky,” as the English would put it, which makes them the more enjoyable. The budding romance between Jan and a handsome young detective adds a soft touch. But, as this is Book 1, I fear there may come some challenges for the young couple as more murderers lurk in the bushes of their London suburb.

    Thus, I very much look forward to the next book in Hollick’s new series.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Peggy-Dorothea Smith
    5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely Enjoyable Read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 26, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I bought this book for my father to read, as he likes detective novels. He said it was an excellent read. Very well written and plotted and he enjoyed reading about areas and roads he knows well. He's looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
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  • Teresia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent first book in the series!
    Reviewed in Canada on October 28, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Love the characters!
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  • napoleonwins
    4.0 out of 5 stars Highly readable cosy mystery set in north London in the early 1070s
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 24, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    How lovely to find this quick-read cosy murder mystery series set in Chingford, the north London suburb where both my parents grew up. Jan Christopher is the amateur sleuth but policing does run in her family and she is soon investigating up and down The Mount. Really on the cusp of adulthood, she encounters several rites of passage as she tries to navigate her way through mysteries and difficulties.
    Well worth a read if you want a dash of the early Seventies as a setting.
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  • Alison Morton
    5.0 out of 5 stars A librarian heroine!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 13, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    You can tell when you’re in the hands of an accomplished writer. Ms Hollick has a considerable and very successful backlist in historical fiction. This cozy crime is a departure for her and for us, her readers. But as soon as I was into the first chapters I was so absorbed I needn’t have worried.

    As with her previous books, the attention to the background is so good and so well written that you *are* in the 1970s. The plot gentles along like a quiet ride in the forest then we are shaken out of the normal, calm everyday. I felt for Jan, the shy librarian heroine, as she came face to face with the murder victim. She could be any of us.

    But inside that pleasant and modest young woman is a solid strength. Ms Hollick shows us how Jan develops without losing her ‘niceness’, and shows us also a quiet but steady blossoming of a romance. one of the most enjoyable parts of their book is how the characters are as vivid and well-defined as the world they live in. I certainly want to read Jan’s next adventure! Highly recommended for all readers of cozy crime.
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  • Debbie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gentle period cosy mystery as comfortable as a warm bubble bath
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 13, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I sank into this gentle cosy mystery story with the same enthusiasm and relish as I approach a hot bubble bath, (in fact this would be a great book to relax in the bath with!), and really enjoyed getting to know the central character, a shy young librarian, and the young police officer who becomes her romantic interest. The nostalgic setting of the 1970s was balm, so clearly evoked, and although there is a murder at the heart of the story, it was an enjoyable comfort read.

    It looks as if this is the first in a new series, and I'm looking forward to the next one already - always glad to discover a new, gentle, intelligent mystery series, and as I've just finished James Runcie's Grantchester books, this will nicely fill the void.
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