In an out-of-the-way bookshop Joakim comes across a magical Advent calendar, which enables him to follow Elisabeth’s journey to Bethlehem. Her odyssey, which takes her through Europe and Asia Minor, is also a journey through history. Who has made this strange calendar? Can it be the mysterious flower seller in the marketplace? Do the brief notes on the scraps of paper inside the calendar refer to the Elisabeth who disappeared from the town many years ago? Perhaps, but there is another Elisabeth too, the one in the picture taken in front of St Peter’s in Rome. Can it be the same Elisabeth as the girl who got lost in the throng when she and her mother were out doing their Christmas shopping? On his journey, which takes him all the way back to the stable in Bethlehem, Joakim is introduced to European culture and history. Ecclesiastical history is interwoven with myths and legends, making the book a fascinating read.

Praise for The Christmas Mystery:

“A skilful and lasting achievement, with all the elements of a perfect Christmas tale” The Times

“Anyone who enjoyed Jostein Gaarder’s philosophical bestseller Sophie’s World….will relish The Christmas Mystery” Sunday Times

“Compelling reading” Daily Telegraph

“Give your family a wonderful experience. Read one chapter aloud every night in December” Femina

“A gentle wise gem of a book” The Independent

“The Christmas Mystery is lifted into the realms of the classic by the richness and poetry of Gaarder’s language, making it much more than just another book about Christmas” Amazon.co.uk