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With his new classic Christmas tale, The Town Around The Christmas Tree: Jacob’s Message, JR Wirth continues his mastery of holiday suspense. The final book of the Twisted Family Holiday series, sadly ends the emotionally thought provoking anthology. He continues to be inspired by his family, and his faith, to come up with spiritual stories that never lack the dark edge we’ve come to know.
Reviewed by Hilary Hawkes for Readers' Favorite
The Town Around the Christmas Tree: Jacob's Message by JR Wirth is a fantasy story suited to teenagers or young adult readers. Hailey and her cousins are part of a large family getting ready to spend Christmas together at Grandpa’s house, where Hailey lives. There is a strange and ominous feeling in the air though, which reminds the cousins of the previous Christmas when they encountered a “portal” through to a land beneath the Christmas tree. Jacob is the son of Grandpa’s new girlfriend, Sophie, and is best friend with Hailey. Then, when Sophie doesn’t turn up for the celebrations, Jacob suggests the cousins go out for a walk. But he really isn’t acting normally, and before they know it they are drawn into a number of bizarre, scary and enlightening situations that in the end serve to remind them what really matters most in life – especially at Christmas time.
The Town Around the Christmas Tree: Jacob's Message is a short book with an intriguing plot and is told from Hailey’s perspective. The story unfolds at a good pace as mystery and suspense begin to emerge and heighten. The numerous characters relate to each other in a believable fashion, conveying a big family togetherness feel. There is enough recapping and explaining of the previous book’s plot for this one to be read alone, and I was soon drawn into the beginnings of the mysterious and puzzling events. I like the way Hailey’s instincts constantly tell her that something is awry, and the way this builds up the mystery. The eventual twist of an ending, which is well disguised throughout JR Wirth’s story, has a good message for all of us about remembering to pay attention to the important things in life, and to help one another.
