In the quiet English village of St Michael’s, Christmas isn’t quite as holy as it looks. The snow may be falling and the church bells ringing, but behind the wreaths and mince pies lies a season of secrets, scandals, and one very unfortunate mix-up. When a misplaced Christmas card and a wrongly wrapped gift set tongues wagging from the choir stalls to the pub snug, Canon David Thomlinson braces himself for his most chaotic festive season yet. There’s the bellringers’ party that spirals into holy pandemonium, a panto that somehow hijacks the Christmas sermon, and the Ashdown family dinner that devolves into a full-blown inheritance farce. Meanwhile, gossip travels faster than the vicar’s bicycle, and under the twinkling fairy lights, more than one villager is about to learn that appearances — especially at Christmas — can be very deceiving. At the heart of it all are the people of St Michael’s: the formidable Elizabeth Ashdown, whose Christmas smile can bless or bury; the hapless curate trying to direct the nativity with actual livestock; and the vicar’s long-suffering housekeeper, armed with sherry and a sense of humour. As snow settles over the Cotswold hills, the villagers find themselves entangled in a web of misunderstandings, mischief, and unexpected romance. Between the chaos of the carol service and the calm of midnight mass, Christmas might just deliver its own small miracles — if everyone can stop meddling long enough to notice them. Filled with warmth, wit, and a generous pour of festive spirit, A Country Parish Christmas: Mistletoe and Mayhem is a mischievous, heartwarming comedy about love, community, and the miracles of muddling through. Perfect for readers of The Thursday Murder Club , Trisha Ashley , and Marian Keyes , this is Christmas in the country — beautiful, bonkers, and irresistibly British.