CHRISTMAS CLASSICS

A MAIGRET CHRISTMAS

by Georges Simenon (Penguin £9.99) Despite Madame Maigret’s best efforts to persuade her husband to take a break, Christmas is business as usual for the Chief inspector.

in a nearby apartment block, a little girl tells of an unexpected visit by Father Christmas, who leaves her with a precious doll and a bizarre memory of his searching for something under the floorboards.

Holding to this slender thread, Maigret unravels a web of marital deceit and deception that has the ever-amicable Madame Maigret welcoming a young child into their household.

there are two more hearttugging stories in this collection. though neither has Maigret as the central character, his understanding of human frailties and sympathy for the underdog shine through on every page.

MURDER ON CHRISTMAS EVE

Edited by Cecily Gayford (Profile £7.99) iF sHort-story writing is one of the trickiest art forms, compiling a short-story anthology runs a close second.

the challenge is finding authors of comparable talent who sit easily alongside each other without overlapping in style or content.

But with Cecily Gayford in charge, we are on safe ground.

each of her top-notch writers, ranging from ian rankin in a playful mood to the darkly reflective Val McDermid, brings a distinctive and imaginative edge to Christmas crime.

one of the lesser-known contributors, Marjorie Bowen, whose work has dropped out of fashion, proves herself to be well up to standard.

the opening story, in which ellis peters introduces us to a feline detective, sets the idiosyncratic tone for a satisfying respite from the forthcoming festivities.

DATE WITH MALICE

by Julia Chapman (Pan £7.99) WHile the residents of a retirement home feel under threat from a mysterious caller, out on the yorkshire Dales a prize ram has gone missing, presumed stolen. it is not much to show for an aspiring private detective, but samson o’Brien, a former policeman with a controversial past, is ready to take whatever is offered.

sharing an office with a dating agency run by the ever-helpful, but over-enthusiastic, Delilah, the scene is set for a cleverly plotted Christmas adventure among sturdy farming folk who don’t take kindly to strangers until they prove their worth.

this second in the Dales Detective series has Chapman well into her stride. With her eye for detail, we feel the chill of a yorkshire deep mid-winter, while taking comfort from the warmth of a close-knit community.