Silent Night - Tamara von Werthern - ★★★★

AUTHOR: Tamara von Werthern

SERIES: Accidental Detective Mystery, #2

GENRE: Cosy Mystery

PUBLICATION DATE: November 1, 2024

RATING: 4 stars.

In a Nutshell: A cosy crime mystery novella with a quirky senior citizen in the lead. The characters are as interesting as the mystery this time, though they are also more flawed. Some thought-provoking themes included. Second in a series, but works well as a standalone.

Plot Preview:

About two years after the incidents of Book One, Philipp’s life has changed somewhat, though he is still juggling a variety of businesses as well as his family commitments.

When a lorry crashes outside his house in the dead of night, yet another mystery tumbles unexpectedly into his life. What initially seemed to be a routine accident turns out to be a cover-up for something else. Instead of his usual nemesis, Philipp has Sergeant Nadja Bernstein for company, investigating a situation that turns darker with every revelation. At the same time, Philipp is also navigating his tumultuous personal affairs.

The story comes to us in the third-person perspectives of Philipp and Nadja.

This is the second book in the Accidental Detective Mystery series, translated and adapted by author Tamara von Werthern from her German novel ‘Ach Du Liebe Zeit! Ein Hofheimer Lokalkrimi in der Philipp-Reihe’. The book works well as a standalone, but to know the eccentric Philipp better, it would be preferable to begin with Book One, ‘Only the Lonely’. I liked both the books, though each offered distinct reading experiences. The first is more comic than mystery while this one gets more serious and darker.

Please note that this review contains minor spoilers from Book One.

Bookish Yays:

😍 An intriguing prologue. To get the full value of this prologue, don’t forget to return to it after the completion of the book.

😍 The setting of Hofheim. Offers all the perks of a small town with closeness and gossip and intimacy and strife in equal measure.

😍 While the first book was mostly from Philipp’s perspective, Sergeant Nadja Bernstein gets an equal share of the narrative this time around. This makes a big difference as we get to see the internal thoughts of an ambitious woman police officer and the gender discrimination she faces.

😍 For a while, I thought the plot would play into common fears about a certain religious identity. Thankfully, it spins the right way, handling religious discrimination and appearance-based judgement excellently.

😍 As Nadja was introduced, I worried that there would be a new romantic track in the book, considering that Annelie is no longer in the picture. I am never fond of romance arcs being put in books where they aren’t needed; the first book had this issue. But this sequel stays focussed on the core plot and there’s no romance.

😍 There are two cute kids in the story, adding a joyful tone to otherwise grim circumstances as well as revealing Philipp's usually hidden vulnerable side.

😍 Can’t forget to mention Maschka! 😍 Philipp’s dog is as active and as adorable in this book as she was in ‘Only the Lonely.’

😍 The title indicates that the story is set around Christmas time. The holiday is used well in the plot without its dominating the narrative.

😍 As the author herself has translated the book from German to English, she has kept a firm control over the linguistic choices. The book retains a few German words, and wherever an explanation is needed, it is provided without being overt. I loved the translation!

😍 The crime and mystery are much stronger in this one compared to the first book. At the same time, there are no gruesome scenes, making this safe from needless triggers.

😍 The epilogue. A great ending without going over the top and without forcing in happy connections and pairings for all. Loved it!

Bookish Mixed Bags:

😐 I had not been too happy about the age-gap romantic track between Philipp and Annelie in the first book. This time, I am not too happy that they have already broken up. However, the change in their relationship is written well, depicting the rough terrain of a new separation with its nostalgic bonds as well as bitter discord realistically.

😐 While Philipp was eccentric even in the first book, this time, he proves that his heart dominates his head. He often acts without thinking and takes many questionable decisions. He is still easy to root for, but if you want a ‘reliable detective’ kind of lead, Philipp isn't your man. I think I loved Philipp more in the first book, even though he wasn’t an relatable character there.

😐 This isn’t really a negative, but the first one had so many humorous scenes that I think I assumed this book also to be more comic. However, the fun quotient was much lower, though it wasn’t non-existent. This is more of an expectation problem than a book problem.

Bookish Nays:

😢 While the antagonist’s identity isn’t that guessable, it is also a bit farfetched. I did like the reveal but I was also left with some questions. I guess a novella can answer only SO much.

All in all, I enjoyed my experience with this sequel, even though it was so different from the first book. ‘Only the Lonely’ rocked because of Phillip; ‘Silent Night’ rocked because of the more complex Nadja, the greater crime element, and the handling of certain themes.

Definitely recommended. This indie novella is an entertainer, no doubt. As with all contemporary crime stories, keep your brains aside and just enjoy the book with a tub of popcorn.

My thanks to author Tamara von Werthern for providing me with a complimentary copy of “Silent Night”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

The digital version of this book is currently available free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.