Rhys Bowen (Time of Fog and Fire) has written a delightfully seasonal 17th entry in her charming Molly Murphy series. Molly Murphy Sullivan, still mourning a miscarriage a few months before, has returned to New York City just in time for Christmas. But then her mother-in-law, who is a guest at a fabulous house in the Hudson Valley, procures invitations for Molly, her police captain husband, Daniel, and their ward and son to join the party, too.
The Van Aikens, who own the estate, are an odd couple. Cedric seems friendly enough but is extremely controlling, and Winnie suffers from strange fits of depression. The source of Winnie's depression is that a decade earlier, the Van Aiken's toddler, Charlotte, wandered into the snow the week before Christmas, never to be seen again. When Molly discovers this, she becomes determined to find out what happened to the little girl. Daniel reluctantly helps Molly question servants and neighbors, but thinks it's a lost cause.
Then, shockingly, a teenager appears at the front door claiming to be the long-lost Charlotte. Winnie rejoices, but Molly remains firm in figuring out where the girl has been for the last 10 years.
With lots of appealing details about turn-of-the-century holiday traditions and interesting glimpses into the Sullivan and Van Aiken families, Rhys Bowen has aptly brought the characters and the season to life. The Ghost of Christmas Past is perfect for fans of Jacqueline Winspear, T.E. Kinsey or Charles Todd--anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a festive flair. --Jessica Howard, bookseller at Bookmans