Murder Under the Mistletoe by Richard Coles: audiobook vs book, which should you choose?
On Christmas Day at Champton Rectory, two guests meet under the mistletoe, and one of them does not survive the day. The author, Richard Coles, reads the audiobook.
Short answer: for the Murder Under the Mistletoe audiobook vs book choice, we say either works (50% confidence, close call). Richard Coles reads his own novella in 2 hours 27 minutes, and the hardback is 160 pages. We found no critic review of his reading, and whether the story stays with one point of view is not confirmed. Nothing confirmed points either way, so neither format is favoured.
Either works
No criterion could be confirmed on either side, so neither format is favoured.
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Confidence 50%, which puts it in the close call band. Bands run from close call at 50 to 64, through leaning at 65 to 79 and clear at 80 to 94, up to clear cut at 95 and above.
The audiobook at a glance
| Recording | UK edition, our verdict (Hachette) |
|---|---|
| Narrator | Richard Coles, the author |
| Length | 2 hours 27 minutes (2h 27m), per Audible UK |
| At 1.5x | about 1h 38m |
| At 2x | about 1h 14m |
| Abridged or unabridged | Unabridged |
| Audio publisher and year | Weidenfeld & Nicolson (Hachette), released 24 October 2024 |
| Print length | 160 pages (Weidenfeld & Nicolson hardback, 24 October 2024, £12.99) |
Audible US lists the same narrator and length.
Lengths checked 23 October 2026. Speed times are calculated.
Murder Under the Mistletoe
Richard Coles
- Genre
- Crime; a cosy Christmas novella
- Published
- 24 October 2024 (Weidenfeld & Nicolson)
- Length
- 160 pages
- On audio
- 2 hrs 27 mins, read by the author
- Series
- A Canon Clement Christmas novella; the series begins with Murder Before Evensong
On this page
Why we reached this verdict
Every book on this site is checked against the same thirteen questions. They are based on research into what most people find easier to follow in each format, not on whether the book is any good.
No listening or reading criterion could be confirmed from a named source, so neither format is favoured. Confidence is 50%.
The recording in detail
- Scored
- Richard Coles, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2024, 2h 27m, unabridged
- Critic review
- None found
- Alternatives
- None found
- What you miss
- Nothing confirmed
What this book actually is
Murder Under the Mistletoe is a Christmas novella in Richard Coles’s Canon Clement mysteries, the series that began with Murder Before Evensong. Weidenfeld & Nicolson published it on 24 October 2024 as a 160-page hardback.
On Christmas Day at Champton Rectory, two guests meet under the mistletoe, and one of them dies. Who did it is not covered here.
The case for reading it
There is little structural reason to prefer print. The hardback is 160 pages, and no maps, documents or unusual layout were reported. Readers who prefer to set their own pace may still choose print.
The case for listening to it
Richard Coles reads it himself. He is a broadcaster as well as a priest, and he reads the earlier Canon Clement books too, so fans of the series get a consistent voice. A single case on a single day is easy to follow on audio.
At 2 hours 27 minutes, it is about 1 hour 38 minutes at 1.5x.
The audiobook in detail
Weidenfeld & Nicolson (Hachette) publishes the unabridged recording, read by the author, at 2 hours 27 minutes on Audible UK, released on 24 October 2024. Audible US lists the same narrator and length.
Speed times: about 1h 38m at 1.5x and 1h 14m at 2x (calculated).
Who should ignore this verdict
Lean towards listening if you want the author’s own voice. Richard Coles also reads the earlier Canon Clement books, so fans of the series get a consistent voice, and the recording is 2 hours 27 minutes, about 1 hour 38 minutes at 1.5x.
Lean towards print if you prefer to set your own pace, or would rather read a 160-page book in one sitting.
Anyone looking for Mistletoe Murders, the Audible Original series, should know it is a different story from this novella.
Audiobook
- Read by Richard Coles, the author
- 2h 27m, or about 1h 38m at 1.5x
- Coles reads the earlier books too
Read differently from most people? The app, coming soon, will let you switch off any of the thirteen checks. Get notified →
Related verdicts
The Mistletoe Murder
Four Christmas crime stories, read by two praised narrators.
A Carol and a KillingRichard ColesSame authorA Carol and a Killing
Coles’s newer Christmas novella, a carol concert murder.
Letters from Father Christmas
A Christmas book of letters and drawings.
Start hereHow we decide
The thirteen questions behind every verdict on this site.
❄ See every Christmas book, read or listen →
Questions people ask
Who narrates the Murder Under the Mistletoe audiobook?
Richard Coles, the author.
How long is the Murder Under the Mistletoe audiobook?
2 hours 27 minutes; at 1.5x about 1 hour 38 minutes and at 2x about 1 hour 14 minutes (calculated).
Is Murder Under the Mistletoe part of a series?
Yes. It is a Christmas novella in Richard Coles’s Canon Clement mysteries, which begin with Murder Before Evensong.
Should I read or listen to Murder Under the Mistletoe?
Either works, on our checks (50% confidence, close call). Nothing confirmed points to either format, and the book is short either way: 160 pages or 2 hours 27 minutes.
How long is the book?
160 pages in the Weidenfeld & Nicolson hardback, published on 24 October 2024.
Do you agree with this verdict?
We said either format works. One tap, no sign-up.
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How this verdict was reached
Every book on this site is checked against the same thirteen questions, set in advance and applied identically to every title. They are based on research into what readers and listeners generally find easier to follow in each format, not on personal preference, and they are published in full so you can check the reasoning yourself. Verdicts are never paid for, sponsored or influenced by affiliate partners.
- The criteria: read the thirteen questions in full.
- What we checked for this book: Audible Canada’s series page, the Calibre library catalogue, Borzoi Bookshop and Hachette India for print.
- Verdict last reviewed: 23 October 2026. Editions and narrators change, so verdicts are rechecked annually.
- Prefer different criteria? The app, coming soon, will let you change which of the thirteen questions matter to you.
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