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The Last Day of Christmas cover art

The Last Day of Christmas

By: Chris Brookmyre
Narrated by: Angus King, Kate Brracken
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Summary

Civil servant Kendra has spent her whole life struggling against the Etonian powers-that-be. So when she realises her boss is up to no good, she turns whistle-blower, calling a journalist who is looking for a way to fight back himself.

Jack Parlabane is a hack who will go to desperate lengths for a good story. Reduced to peddling PR puff pieces, he is delighted when Kendra's information threatens to blow up a national corruption case. But Parlabane soon realises this story might prove dangerous to both of them.

©2015 Chris Brookmyre (P)2015 W F Howes Ltd

What listeners say about The Last Day of Christmas

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Usual high standard from Brookmyre

Good but more of a novella than a book. It's a good and well paced story. You meet Buzzkill. But I feel a touch sold short!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Sad and funny by turn.

If you want a typical funny thriller then this isn’t it. This is the yarn you hear in a pub from a mate who looks uncharacteristically ground down. It’s a tale of someone who, in a bad moment , clutches at a last hoorah and the consequences. In a strange way it’s credible. There isn’t a denouement as we might expect just the knowledge that your couch won’t be vacant for a few weeks. Loved it’s honesty and humour.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

"Same time, same place."

Jack Parlabane needs a good story to regain his prestige and self respect: now in London after breaking up with his wife, working as an hack on a paper where news was not top priority to his deputy editor, he was having a bad day. Then, on the station platform, he comes too the aid of a young woman who just might be able to supply what he was looking for...

A Jack Par!shame short story that paved the way for the next book as Jack prepares to return to Scotland. A good, intrigue filled all-too-short story, well written with solidly developed characters and a touch of cynical humour. Two narrators: Angus King and Kate Brracken, both excellent, as each reads the chapter pertaining to the point of view of.the two main characters. Get a copy of the next book (Dead Girl Walking) to follow on: the ending definitely leaves the reader wanting more

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic

A truly enjoyable short tale of our favourite journalist. Don’t let the length fool you, it’s as great story. The narration is fantastic, and the characters are as well-rounded as ever.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Alright

Felt a bit unnecessary. It could have been a prologue on the next book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Always excellent!

This held my attention from the first till the last letter. Plot is interesting, great sense of humour, excellent narrator to get that across. Chris Brookmyre rocks!

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Have you got two hours of to waste....

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

If you have a very short attention span as well as a liking for weak stories, then this is the book for you! I have read about 8 of Chris Brookmyre and really enjoyed them. I read Black Widow and enjoyed all aspects, the story, narrative and strange but true very little, if any swearing. This book isn't long enough for Jack Parlabane to work up to swearing! The story line is so poor, no wonder he only wrote over an hour and a half of it before giving up. I will be returning it.

What could Chris Brookmyre have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I honestly don't think there is anything that could be done to salvage this book

Have you listened to any of Angus King and Kate Brracken ’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I really enjoy Angus King narration of C.B books and although I have only read two books with Kate Brracken I think they really complimented each other

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Last Day of Christmas?

Impossible to cut a scene, the book wouldn't exist at all if you did!

Any additional comments?

Don't waste a credit on it, if you really want it, wait until it goes on sale for a couple of pounds

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Only the start of a story

This appears to be the start of a story. A bit of a con making you think you've bought a whole story.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book, awful performance

Couldn’t listen to this, accents and slow delivery painful to listen to! Have read the book since and can highly recommend but Chris, they do your book a dis-service with this.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Sorry to say but I wouldn't recommend

I usually love Chris Brookmyers book but not this short story contrived to end a character

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