Book Review: The Christmas Stranger by Leslie Budewitz

Last Updated: 15 December 2023 11:40 pm GMT

Every year I make it a point to read and review a book during the holiday season that’s specifically about Christmas. Usually I’ve reviewed full length novels, this year I’m reviewing a short story titled “The Christmas Stranger” by Leslie Budewitz. Thank you to the fantastic team at Beyond the Page Publishing for allowing me a copy.

The Christmas Story took me around an hour to complete, owing to the fact that I make notes as I review books. However, as a reader this should take you around 30 minutes. The story revolves around the fictitious, yet charming little village of Jewel Bay, and Erin Murphy, the owner of a local store called Murphy’s Mercantile aka The Merc.

It’s 8 days before Christmas and Erin is out at the depot to mail out parcels of merchandise that need to reach customers before Christmas. A strange man appears almost out of nowhere seeking help in making copies of a document. Erin, being the lovely lady she is, offers to help, and the man thanks her by giving her a stamp. Unknowing to Erin, this is no ordinary stamp and she find out only later from a local expert, Sam Silver, that she holds a collector’s item. Believing the strange man made a mistake by giving her the stamp, she sets out, despite her busy Christmas schedule to locate the man and return the stamp.

Yet, fate, had something else in store. Over the next few days in the run up to Christmas, the strange man appears at odd moments, performing miracles of sorts, only to disappear without a trace. To make matters worse, no one knows who he is, where he lives, does he even belong to Jewel Bay, or where he disappears after his sightings. Finally, just moments before Christmas, Erin comes face to face with death and the stranger once again. The story revolves around the Christmas spirit, of kindness and giving, and the hope of Christmas that is legendary around this time of the year.

The language is clean and simple. The Christmas Stranger is a short read that one could relish over a cup of hot chocolate, cuddled up on the sofa, or snuggled up in bed narrating it to a 6-year-old at bedtime.

The author, Leslie Budewitz, in her own words says the village of Jewel Bay resembles her home town of Big Fork, Montana. The story is somewhat inspired by a real-life incident that she went through several years ago. Leslie has won several awards including the 2013 Agatha Award for Best First Novel. This story is a special edition and part of the 10th anniversary celebration of the authors first novel “Death al Dente” in 2013.

WARNING: This review is copyright and use of this review without the express written permission of Shaune B. Ryder, whether in whole or in-part, is strictly prohibited.

To know more about my book review criteria, click here.