A Christmas Beginning Audiobook By Anne Perry cover art

A Christmas Beginning

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

A Christmas Beginning

By: Anne Perry
Narrated by: Terrence Hardiman
Try for $0.00

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.16

Buy for $17.16

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel
Superintendent Runcorn (Anne Perry fans will remember him as William Monk's ex-boss) is feeling rather lonely during his holiday on the remote, snowy island of Anglesey, off the northern coast of Wales. However, he is suddenly called into action when the sister of the local vicar is discovered murdered and draped over a gravestone in her brother's churchyard. Investigating this tragic crime with the assistance of the beautiful Melisande gives him just the opportunity he needs to spend time with an upper-class woman who normally wouldn't give him the time of day.

Interweaving the original Christmas story with her own holiday tale, Perry also explores the meaning of Joseph's secondary role, compared with that of Mary and Jesus. The novel ultimately shows that the seemingly less important people in our lives are sometimes more crucial than we realize.

©2007 Anne Perry (P)2007 BBC Audiobooks America Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Christmas Winter

Critic reviews

"One of the best books to brighten the joyous season." (USA Today)
"Runcorn's modest, unflashy ways carry this moody, understated mystery." (Publishers Weekly)

People who viewed this also viewed...

A Christmas Journey Audiobook By Anne Perry cover art
A Christmas Journey By: Anne Perry
A Christmas Deliverance Audiobook By Anne Perry cover art
A Christmas Deliverance By: Anne Perry
Engaging Mystery • Strong Characters • Vivid Descriptions • Unexpected Twists • Historical Authenticity • Perfect Pacing
Highly rated for:
All stars
Most relevant  
I am a longtime Anne Perry fan and thoroughly enjoyed this story even though the usual cast is not around. The interior life of a middle-aged man who knows his shortcomings--who is in love with his soulmate btw--is sensitively and realistically drawn.

A good story well-read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I’m noticing all Anne Perry Christmas stories feature a strong character in another series of hers. I loved the parallel plots in A Christmas Beginning featuring Superintendent Runcorn from the William Monk series. He is solving a crime on the Island of Anglesey while pining for a woman who is a resident there and sister to a man who could have committed he murder. Where will I find a follow-up story for Runcorn or is this a final ending for him in Anne’s writing? I obviously love the book and give it five stars or I wouldn’t be wanting more!

Is there going to be more from Runcorn?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I enjoyed listening to this novel. At no time was it boring. The pace was good and the narrator was excellent. The storyline had me from the very beginning and it was very hard to stop listening until I reached the end.

Captivating

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Her books are always well written - always a good read or listen. She has never disappointed me. Thanks!!

Anne Perry!! Her reviews need no titillating title!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Would you consider the audio edition of A Christmas Beginning to be better than the print version?

As a person with disabilities that often leave one unable to hold a book or focus on the printed page, the audio edition is almost always my favorite.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Inspector Runcorn - I enjoy the several series of books written by Anne Perry, and it is a treat to have what some consider to be a minor/lesser character have an experience shared with the reader away from the main characters. It has been interesting to see the changes in Inspector Runcorn in the "William Monk" series, and in this book there's a delightful new side to his character.

Have you listened to any of Terrence Hardiman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I like Terrence Hardiman's work, and know if I find a book read by him I will most likely enjoy the book (at least, I know I will enjoy the narration).

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The ending. Just wished to hear Inspector Runcorn's 1st name.

My Favorite of Anne Perry's Christmas Novellas

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
from Anne Perry. Runcorn is on a remote island and discovers the body of a woman while on a walk. And the excitement begins! Happy reading!

Great mystery

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I have been listening my way through these Anne Perry Christmas Books and this one us by far is the best one yet. The conclusion was quite satisfying.

Oh Good One!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This was an interesting story that had me going back and forth with who I thought could be the killer. The reveal was a bit anticlimactic. Love the narration.

Link to Monk mysteries

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Ms. Perry and Mr. Hardiman make a truly wonderful team in this subtly written, wonderfully performed, and deeply gratifying story! I’ve rarely had such a jolt of gratification in the resolution of a story, within its very last few moments - and can’t wait to hear other collaborations by this pair. Thank you, too, for including this lovely story with my membership, Audible!

Deeply gratifying!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
But I did. Loved the old-fashioned manners and the thought processes that reflected the values of another time. The intensity of the characters feelings were portrayed so vividly. Beautifully written and the narrator’s voice and pacing was perfect.

Didn’t think I’d like it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews