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Her Royal Spyness #6
The Twelve Clues of Christmas
She may be thirty-fifth in line for the throne, but Lady Georgiana Rannoch cannot wait to ring in the New Year—before a Christmas killer wrings another neck…
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—well, actually, my true love, Darcy O’Mara, is spending a feliz navidad tramping around South America. Meanwhile Mummy is holed up in a tiny village called Tiddleton-under-Lovey with that droll Noel Coward! And I’m snowed in at Castle Rannoch with my bumbling brother, Binky, and sourpuss sister-in-law, Fig.
So it’s a miracle when I contrive to land a position as hostess to a posh holiday party in Tiddleton. The village is like something out of A Christmas Carol! But no sooner have I arrived than a neighborhood nuisance, a fellow named Freddie, falls out of a tree dead. On my second day, another so-called accident results in a death – and there’s yet another on my third. Perhaps a recent prison break could have something to do with it…that, or a long-standing witch’s curse. But after Darcy shows up beneath the mistletoe, anything could be possible in this wicked wonderland.
Includes an English Christmas companion, full of holiday recipes, games, and more!
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—well, actually, my true love, Darcy O’Mara, is spending a feliz navidad tramping around South America. Meanwhile Mummy is holed up in a tiny village called Tiddleton-under-Lovey with that droll Noel Coward! And I’m snowed in at Castle Rannoch with my bumbling brother, Binky, and sourpuss sister-in-law, Fig.
So it’s a miracle when I contrive to land a position as hostess to a posh holiday party in Tiddleton. The village is like something out of A Christmas Carol! But no sooner have I arrived than a neighborhood nuisance, a fellow named Freddie, falls out of a tree dead. On my second day, another so-called accident results in a death – and there’s yet another on my third. Perhaps a recent prison break could have something to do with it…that, or a long-standing witch’s curse. But after Darcy shows up beneath the mistletoe, anything could be possible in this wicked wonderland.
Includes an English Christmas companion, full of holiday recipes, games, and more!
311 pages, Hardcover
First published November 6, 2012
About the author
Rhys Bowen
114 books8,888 followersI'm a New York Times bestselling mystery author, winner of both Agatha and Anthony awards for my Molly Murphy mysteries, set in 1902 New York City.
I have recently published four internationally bestselling WWII novels, one of them a #1 Kindle bestseller, and the Tuscan Child selling almost a million copies to date. In Farleigh Field won three major awards and was nominated for an Edgar. My other stand-alone novels are The Victory Garden, about land girls in WWI and Above the Bay of Angels, featuring a young woman who becomes chef for Queen Victoria.
April 2021 will mark the publication of THE VENICE SKETCHBOOK--another sweeping historical novel of love, loss and intrigue.
My books are currently translated into 29 languages and I have fans worldwide.
I also write the Agatha-winning Royal Spyness series, about the British royal family in the 1930s. It's lighter, sexier, funnier, wicked satire. It was voted by readers as best mystery series one year.
I am also known for my Constable Evans books, set in North Wales, and for my award-winning short stories.
I was born and raised in England but currently divide my time between California and Arizona where I go to escape from the harsh California winters
When I am not writing I love to travel, sing, hike, play my Celtic harp.
Series:
* Constable Evan Mystery
* Molly Murphy Mysteries
* Her Royal Spyness Mysteries
Awards:
Agatha Award
◊ Best Novel (2001): Murphy's Law
Reviewer's Choice Award
◊ Historical Mystery (2001): Murphy's Law
I have recently published four internationally bestselling WWII novels, one of them a #1 Kindle bestseller, and the Tuscan Child selling almost a million copies to date. In Farleigh Field won three major awards and was nominated for an Edgar. My other stand-alone novels are The Victory Garden, about land girls in WWI and Above the Bay of Angels, featuring a young woman who becomes chef for Queen Victoria.
April 2021 will mark the publication of THE VENICE SKETCHBOOK--another sweeping historical novel of love, loss and intrigue.
My books are currently translated into 29 languages and I have fans worldwide.
I also write the Agatha-winning Royal Spyness series, about the British royal family in the 1930s. It's lighter, sexier, funnier, wicked satire. It was voted by readers as best mystery series one year.
I am also known for my Constable Evans books, set in North Wales, and for my award-winning short stories.
I was born and raised in England but currently divide my time between California and Arizona where I go to escape from the harsh California winters
When I am not writing I love to travel, sing, hike, play my Celtic harp.
Series:
* Constable Evan Mystery
* Molly Murphy Mysteries
* Her Royal Spyness Mysteries
Awards:
Agatha Award
◊ Best Novel (2001): Murphy's Law
Reviewer's Choice Award
◊ Historical Mystery (2001): Murphy's Law
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,488 reviews
December 12, 2022
I thought this was going to be one of those really light Christmas specials that authors pop into their series from time to time, but it turned out to be one of the best books in the series so far.
Poor Georgie, facing a cold miserable Christmas with Binky and Fig in the family castle, answers an advert for someone to help host a Christmas holiday for paying guests. It turns out to be a wonderful idea because not only is she warm and well fed, but Darcy pops up as one of the family's relations. Of course it cannot all be perfect and soon the local residents start dying - one per day, all by different means and apparently totally unrelated.
Georgie and Darcy get involved in solving the mystery and the solution, when it comes, is brilliant. Even more brilliant is the progress made in the pair's relationship which has not always been easy. At least now there is hope for better days to come.
An excellent book from a really entertaining series.
Poor Georgie, facing a cold miserable Christmas with Binky and Fig in the family castle, answers an advert for someone to help host a Christmas holiday for paying guests. It turns out to be a wonderful idea because not only is she warm and well fed, but Darcy pops up as one of the family's relations. Of course it cannot all be perfect and soon the local residents start dying - one per day, all by different means and apparently totally unrelated.
Georgie and Darcy get involved in solving the mystery and the solution, when it comes, is brilliant. Even more brilliant is the progress made in the pair's relationship which has not always been easy. At least now there is hope for better days to come.
An excellent book from a really entertaining series.
June 24, 2013
Oh my, what can I say about The Twelve Clues of Christmas without sounding like a complete and utter fangirl? Rhys Bowen has really outdid herself this time – this is the perfect Christmas book for mystery aficionados and longtime fans of the Royal Spyness series will have a great deal to be happy about with the developments in this latest installment. In two words: More Darcy!
After the fun, fashion and flirting of Naughty in Nice and Georgie's numerous adventures abroad, we return to England for a good old classic English village murder mystery when Georgie answers an ad in a newspaper to play social hostess at the Christmas party of Lady Hawse-Gorzley in the village of Tiddleton-under-Lovey. A house party composed of a spoilt American family, a countess, two very different couples, a nouveau riche family looking to move into upper-class society and a lecherous middle-aged bachelor, all stuck in a quaint village with its fair share of wild women, stern clergymen and queer old ladies – what could go wrong? It's back to the basics, and sometimes the basics are the best. The change-up from the assignments for the Queen or poverty-induced overseas travel of previous books is a delight, introducing a story that is almost Agatha Christie or Ngaio Marsh-esque in its setup, but effortlessly combined with the light-hearted fun and social antics that are the hallmark of the Royal Spyness books.
The murder mystery was truly front-and-center in The Twelve Clues of Christmas, and I loved this redirection in focus. Despite having enjoyed the social considerations of the previous few books, I must admit I felt that the mystery was increasingly taking the backseat to the fun and games and the mystery fan in me winced a little. Well, there is certainly no cause for complaint here! This was everything I wanted in a cozy mystery – full of suspense, suspicious goings-on and unexpected developments. The high body count certainly helped; a body per Christmas day undoubtedly ramps up the tension and keeps the mystery firmly in focus. The only issue I had was with the pacing of these murders versus the number of clues being revealed, whether to the characters or to the audience. It was quite a time before there was even enough circumstantial "evidence" for Georgie's suspicions of foul-play to be confirmed, and this had two adverse effects. On the upside, the cause for the murders is really quite clever and guessing the identity of the murderer kept me occupied until the end.
Fittingly, Georgie's nearest and dearest are around to take part in the festivities – her Granddad, flighty mother and her loving Darcy – and we meet a number of new characters in the house party that will hopefully provide Georgie with friendly and stalwart supporters in the future. Lord knows she'll need some, considering her destitute state and Fig's increasing hostility. And Darcy fans, rejoice! He was almost a non-entity in Naughty in Nice, but it was quite the opposite here. The wait was worth it, because Darcy really stepped up to the plate in this book; I had previously doubted the depth of his affection for Georgie and his ability to maintain his loyalty and interest, but now I doubt no longer. I have never been so happy to be proven wrong! By golly is Rhys Bowen proving that she's too good a writer to draw things out, preferring to introduce positive developments rather than allow things to stagnate.
Really, The Twelve Clues of Christmas is such a little bundle of perfection that I feel like rolling back under my electric blanket with a hot cup of cocoa and rereading this all over again. It is now firmly cemented as my favourite of the series thus far. I know this sounds like a cliché, but I cannot wait to see what Book 7 will bring. Perhaps, fingers crossed, a meeting with Daddy O'Mara?
After the fun, fashion and flirting of Naughty in Nice and Georgie's numerous adventures abroad, we return to England for a good old classic English village murder mystery when Georgie answers an ad in a newspaper to play social hostess at the Christmas party of Lady Hawse-Gorzley in the village of Tiddleton-under-Lovey. A house party composed of a spoilt American family, a countess, two very different couples, a nouveau riche family looking to move into upper-class society and a lecherous middle-aged bachelor, all stuck in a quaint village with its fair share of wild women, stern clergymen and queer old ladies – what could go wrong? It's back to the basics, and sometimes the basics are the best. The change-up from the assignments for the Queen or poverty-induced overseas travel of previous books is a delight, introducing a story that is almost Agatha Christie or Ngaio Marsh-esque in its setup, but effortlessly combined with the light-hearted fun and social antics that are the hallmark of the Royal Spyness books.
The murder mystery was truly front-and-center in The Twelve Clues of Christmas, and I loved this redirection in focus. Despite having enjoyed the social considerations of the previous few books, I must admit I felt that the mystery was increasingly taking the backseat to the fun and games and the mystery fan in me winced a little. Well, there is certainly no cause for complaint here! This was everything I wanted in a cozy mystery – full of suspense, suspicious goings-on and unexpected developments. The high body count certainly helped; a body per Christmas day undoubtedly ramps up the tension and keeps the mystery firmly in focus. The only issue I had was with the pacing of these murders versus the number of clues being revealed, whether to the characters or to the audience. It was quite a time before there was even enough circumstantial "evidence" for Georgie's suspicions of foul-play to be confirmed, and this had two adverse effects. On the upside, the cause for the murders is really quite clever and guessing the identity of the murderer kept me occupied until the end.
Fittingly, Georgie's nearest and dearest are around to take part in the festivities – her Granddad, flighty mother and her loving Darcy – and we meet a number of new characters in the house party that will hopefully provide Georgie with friendly and stalwart supporters in the future. Lord knows she'll need some, considering her destitute state and Fig's increasing hostility. And Darcy fans, rejoice! He was almost a non-entity in Naughty in Nice, but it was quite the opposite here. The wait was worth it, because Darcy really stepped up to the plate in this book; I had previously doubted the depth of his affection for Georgie and his ability to maintain his loyalty and interest, but now I doubt no longer. I have never been so happy to be proven wrong! By golly is Rhys Bowen proving that she's too good a writer to draw things out, preferring to introduce positive developments rather than allow things to stagnate.
Really, The Twelve Clues of Christmas is such a little bundle of perfection that I feel like rolling back under my electric blanket with a hot cup of cocoa and rereading this all over again. It is now firmly cemented as my favourite of the series thus far. I know this sounds like a cliché, but I cannot wait to see what Book 7 will bring. Perhaps, fingers crossed, a meeting with Daddy O'Mara?
December 9, 2015
Despite the high body count in this cosy mystery, it is a perfect Christmas read. Set in the 1930s, penniless Lady Georgiana Rannoch finds herself holed up in her brother's castle in Scotland facing a bleak Christmas with her penny pinching sister in law and her boring family. Finding herself a job helping to hostess a large house party in Devon, she happily escapes to the quaint village of Tiddleton-under-Lovey. All is going well with the guests enjoying traditional Christmas fare and activities except that villagers keep dying in a series of unrelated accidents. Ever the amateur sleuth, Georgie tries to puzzle out the connection between the deaths as the local police seem to be getting nowhere.
This was a lot of fun. Mixed in with the mystery are some strange local village Christmas customs, odd people like simple Willum and Wild Sal, carolling, parlor games, some romance and all manner of food and drink to help you get in the mood for the season (recipes are included in an appendix). Although it is the sixth book in the series, it is self contained and lends itself to reading on it's own.
This was a lot of fun. Mixed in with the mystery are some strange local village Christmas customs, odd people like simple Willum and Wild Sal, carolling, parlor games, some romance and all manner of food and drink to help you get in the mood for the season (recipes are included in an appendix). Although it is the sixth book in the series, it is self contained and lends itself to reading on it's own.
December 11, 2019
This was the perfect book for the Christmas season, I enjoyed every second of this audio book and will definitely read/listen to some of the other books in the ‘Her Royal Spyness’ series. It was not the murder mystery part that I enjoyed most but the setting in an English country house in the 1930s with all those Christmas traditions and so many details about life, class and royalty was very delightful. Not to forget to mention that there was a good part of humour in there as well. I absolutely loved it!
December 30, 2020
A Clever Christmas Tale
I really enjoyed this book. It was so cleverly written and entertaining. The overall plot was nothing short of genius.
The characters were all tightly placed with individual qualities. I found myself relating to most, even those dripping with English satire.
The book was a bit slow starter but once the engines start it roared to the finish.
It was a wonderful experience and I want to read more of Ms. Bowen's works.
I highly recommend
I really enjoyed this book. It was so cleverly written and entertaining. The overall plot was nothing short of genius.
The characters were all tightly placed with individual qualities. I found myself relating to most, even those dripping with English satire.
The book was a bit slow starter but once the engines start it roared to the finish.
It was a wonderful experience and I want to read more of Ms. Bowen's works.
I highly recommend
February 14, 2019
This was my first Rhys Bowen mystery. I LOVED IT! It's a historical set in the 1930's,one of my favorite eras. Remember THE THIN MAN movies? The heroine is 33rd in line to the throne but is impovrished after the 1929 crash. Great period piece and a "novel" mystery idea. If you love wit and historical detail and a good mystery, try it!
December 22, 2022
A delightful Christmas mystery! Very intriguing for my first Her Royal Spyness read. I love the interactions between Georgie and Darcy, enough to read more of this series. The setting in Devon and cast of village characters were interesting and led down many rabbit holes. The inclusion of Old English Christmas traditions and dishes was just plain fun and so unusual to have the descriptions and recipes at the end of the book.
December 8, 2023
I love Christmas-centered mysteries and romances! They are always fun and atmospheric and that's probably why this one is my favorite of the series. And an added bonus is that the mystery was entertaining and kept getting better as it went along. There was a small amount of scenes with annoying family members but a good amount of scenes with interesting characters that we'll never see again. The romance was as sweet as ever and we had made great progress in it.
February 16, 2024
An excellent old fashioned English country mystery. Georgie is spending Christmas at a country manor in a tiny village called Tiddleton-under-Lovey, enjoying a traditional English Christmas. Unfortunately, the holiday is marred by the accidental death of a neighbor. As the holiday continues, terrible accidents befall villagers, one every day, making Georgie think there's more to it. This is a very good Christmas mystery that could have been the plot of an Agatha Christie.
May 8, 2019
The sixth book in this delightful series sees Lady Georgiana, or Georgie for short, answer an advertisement to be a social hostess at a large house party in the country over the holidays. Desperate to escape a dull Christmas in Scotland with her stuffy sister-in-law, Georgie jumps at the chance for a friendlier atmosphere and before she knows it, she's taking the train to the quaint country village of Tiddleton-under-lovey to put her hostess skills to use. Admittedly, I lost track of who was who among the rather large guest list for the house party - and this installment in the series has the highest body count to date - but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. Though once again in a new locale, Georgie is not without personal support as the author manages to include both Georgie's mother and grandfather in this misadventure. Best of all, the author makes up for the lack of Darcy in the last book by giving us a heaping dose of him in this one. It's still a very PG rated romance but it's sweet and showing signs of steady progress. A fun read overall!
December 18, 2021
Not bad, not bad at all! A perfect read when you need something light, plus the Christmas mood was all over the book! It was a little primitive in terms of the plot, but the turning points and the mystery part were quite well developed.
I will definitely read the other books in the series when I need a light reading, finally found my "in-between-serious-books" book series.
I will definitely read the other books in the series when I need a light reading, finally found my "in-between-serious-books" book series.
November 19, 2012
Pure escapist fun of the best kind, this book does a beautiful job of channeling vintage Agatha Christie. The "Her Royal Spyness" series is my favorite of Bowen's, because of the way she captures the feel of Christie, only with tongue held firmly in cheek. The mystery is always a good one, but there's plenty of room for humor, too.
This one is obviously set at Christmastime, & captures that perennial favorite of Golden Era mystery settings, the country house party with a house full of potentially suspicious guests. Bowen really outdoes herself describing the traditions of British Christmases past - I think just reading the book caused me to gain weight, what with all the mince pies, sausage rolls, & various roasts.
Lady Georgiana Rannoch is still trying to keep body & soul together while hiding the fact of her impecuniousness from the world. In an effort to avoid having to spend Christmas at Rannoch Castle with her sister-in-law's family making her much less than welcome, she answers an advertisement from a lady in Devon looking for a "lady of impeccable background" to help with social activities at a large Christmas house party. Initially doing it to make some money & be sure to get some good meals around the holiday, Georgie starts to enjoy herself - until the mysterious accidents start to happen. Soon, she's sure that these can't all be simply tragic coincidences, & that something way more sinister is going on. Luckily, she has both her amour, Darcy, & her beloved retired-policeman grandfather in the area to help her try to figure out just what is going on in this sleepy little village. I'll read these entertaining books as long as Bowen keeps writing them.
This one is obviously set at Christmastime, & captures that perennial favorite of Golden Era mystery settings, the country house party with a house full of potentially suspicious guests. Bowen really outdoes herself describing the traditions of British Christmases past - I think just reading the book caused me to gain weight, what with all the mince pies, sausage rolls, & various roasts.
Lady Georgiana Rannoch is still trying to keep body & soul together while hiding the fact of her impecuniousness from the world. In an effort to avoid having to spend Christmas at Rannoch Castle with her sister-in-law's family making her much less than welcome, she answers an advertisement from a lady in Devon looking for a "lady of impeccable background" to help with social activities at a large Christmas house party. Initially doing it to make some money & be sure to get some good meals around the holiday, Georgie starts to enjoy herself - until the mysterious accidents start to happen. Soon, she's sure that these can't all be simply tragic coincidences, & that something way more sinister is going on. Luckily, she has both her amour, Darcy, & her beloved retired-policeman grandfather in the area to help her try to figure out just what is going on in this sleepy little village. I'll read these entertaining books as long as Bowen keeps writing them.
December 8, 2015
A delightful find! Her Royal Spyness mysteries have been recommended to me but this was the first that I have read, part of my 2015 holiday reading marathon. Seemingly unrelated murders are occurring daily in a small English town, Tiddleton-under-Lovey, where a diverse lot of people have gathered for the Christmas holidays. Penniless Lady Victoria Georgiana "Georgie" Charlotte Eugenie (Her Royal Spyness) is coincidentally on the scene, having been hired as a social director by the local landed gentry for their Christmas festivities. As the murders pile up, she works hard to put the clues together to prove to the local constabulary that these seeming accidental deaths are actually a series of related murders. When she isn't focused on the murders, she is busy in her role as social director and is swooning and swept up in her romance with Darcy O'Mara, also penniless and unfortunately a Catholic. Ah, horrors, her one true love is of a religion forbidden to a lady in direct lineage to the throne. Will she solve the murders? Will she marry Darcy? Tune in to The Twelve Clues of Christmas to find out.
As the author says of this mystery series: "It's lighter, sexier, funnier, wicked satire." Agreed! I will seek out more from Her Royal Spyness.
As the author says of this mystery series: "It's lighter, sexier, funnier, wicked satire." Agreed! I will seek out more from Her Royal Spyness.
September 11, 2021
Dies ist das Finale der ersten Staffel von 'Im Auftrag ihrer Majestät' und dafür wird es nicht nur weihnachtlich, sondern auch blutig. Hier in diesem Teil sterben mehr als eine, zwei oder drei Personen. Hier wird richtig gemordet, dabei gibt es aber nicht allzu detaillierte Beschreibungen.
Es spielt zu Weihnachten und es ist ganz besonders neblig. Es kommt gut die winterliche Atmosphäre rüber, der Zauber von Weihnachten eher weniger, aber vielleicht wirkt es anders, wenn man es vor Weihnachten oder zwischen den Tagen liest.
Der Krimi war für mich eine Zeit so undurchsichtig, dass ich etwa gegen Mitte ein wenig die Freude an dem Buch verlor, doch dann fügt sich alles zusammen und es wurde für mich wieder interessant.
Die Liebesgeschichte von Darcy und Georgiana geht weiter und ist hier endlich wieder präsenter als im 5. Band der Reihe. Ich hatte meine Freude an den beiden Liebenden und sie haben mir immer mal wieder ein Lächeln aufs Gesicht gezaubert.
Außerdem gibt es hier ein Wiedersehen mit liebgewonnen Charakteren wie Georgianas Mutter & Großvater und natürlich der unmöglichen Queenie.
(Dieses Buch war ein Rezensionsexemplar)
Es spielt zu Weihnachten und es ist ganz besonders neblig. Es kommt gut die winterliche Atmosphäre rüber, der Zauber von Weihnachten eher weniger, aber vielleicht wirkt es anders, wenn man es vor Weihnachten oder zwischen den Tagen liest.
Der Krimi war für mich eine Zeit so undurchsichtig, dass ich etwa gegen Mitte ein wenig die Freude an dem Buch verlor, doch dann fügt sich alles zusammen und es wurde für mich wieder interessant.
Die Liebesgeschichte von Darcy und Georgiana geht weiter und ist hier endlich wieder präsenter als im 5. Band der Reihe. Ich hatte meine Freude an den beiden Liebenden und sie haben mir immer mal wieder ein Lächeln aufs Gesicht gezaubert.
Außerdem gibt es hier ein Wiedersehen mit liebgewonnen Charakteren wie Georgianas Mutter & Großvater und natürlich der unmöglichen Queenie.
(Dieses Buch war ein Rezensionsexemplar)
December 12, 2018
Delightful and an entertaining mystery. Georgie (aka Lady Georgiana Rannach, 34th in line to the throne) definitely lands on her feet this time in her endeavor to stay someplace lovelier and warmer than her brothers lonely London townhouse over the Christmas holidays. Lots of action and a respectable Agatha Christie type of mystery. Charming descriptions of the Cotswold village and a bit of hilarity about honoring traditional English traditions for American houseguests. The ever tantalizing Darcy makes more than a cameo appearance. I just may make rereading this book each year one of my Christmas traditions.
Okay - so I didn’t quite make it an annual tradition, but am loving the Christmas in the Cotswolds with Georgie and the best parts of her family! It just such a delicious escape reading in spite of a spate of murders. I’m finding it even more fun re-reading the mystery than I did the first time.
Okay - so I didn’t quite make it an annual tradition, but am loving the Christmas in the Cotswolds with Georgie and the best parts of her family! It just such a delicious escape reading in spite of a spate of murders. I’m finding it even more fun re-reading the mystery than I did the first time.
December 8, 2023
Amazing ! 5 FULL STARS absolutely well deserved !
One of the best Christmas mysteries I've ever read (and I've read many), which has remained firm for years in my TOP 3 of "whodunits" set at Christmas (and in the TOP 5 of all genres Christmas books).
____ THE PLOT ______ 1933. Lady Georgiana, affectionately called Georgie, is stuck in the castle of her brother and his unbearable wife, in Scotland, when she finally receives an invitation for a job as a hostess, at an elegant party that will run for the full 12 days of Christmas in Tiddleton.
The village is truly enchanting and the snow makes it seem like something straight out of a Dickens story... however, strange accidents and unexpected deaths will soon occur.
While Georgie's lover, the charming Darcy, was supposed to be in South America, our heroine will find him among the guests and together with him she will live a thrilling adventure to unmask the culprit and prevent further deaths.
Not far away, in a cottage in the same village, Georgie's frivolous but in her own way affectionate mother is spending her holidays.
___ SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT ___
---> It is common in recent years for mystery crime authors, especially those who write series that feature the same protagonist in each book, to write a novel or often just a short story, set in the Christmas season.
___ :-( Unfortunately for most of the books I have read, Christmas is only mentioned in words here and there in the book or worse only in the title. :-( ______
An example ? We have it from the queen of mystery with "Poirot's Christmas", anyone who has read it can confirm that there is no Christmas atmosphere, on the contrary the "The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding " is extremely Christmassy and there is a pleasant festive air.
__YEAHHH ! :-D ----> This is why I loved reading this book: the 12 Christmas crimes, throughout the book the Christmas atmosphere is palpable, imbued with the charm of old English traditions, both in the celebrations and in the events that happen, thus determining the mystery to be discovered.
____ THE MYSTERY ____ the murders and therefore the mystery to be discovered, are not only really well thought out by the author, but they are even more engaging for the reader, because they are related to an old traditional Christmas song: THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS.
Despite being a cozy mystery, the writer also gives us a bit of traditional English history which for me always has an added value. Especially for non-English readers, therefore not so aware of British habits and customs, it adds an extra charm.
____ THE HISTORICAL and TRADITIONAL PART so interesting ___ In this Christmas mystery, set in England in the 1930s, we experience 12 days, from 22 December to 1 January, joyfully traveling together with the protagonist and the supporting characters through all the traditions of the old traditional English Christmas (Old fashioned English Christmas).
---> The 12 days of Christmas is the period in Christian theology that marks the span between the birth of Christ and the coming of the Magi, the three wise men. It begins on December 25 (Christmas) and runs through January 6 (the Epiphany, sometimes also called Three Kings' Day).
---> The crimes committed in the book refer to one of the oldest Christmas songs: "The 12 Days of Christmas". According to what I learned from Wikipedia (this song does not exist in Italy and it is not customary for us to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas), the music is of unknown origin, although present in the British and Scandinavian areas as early as the 16th century. The text is a children's nursery rhyme published for the first time in the book Mirth without Mischief (Gioie Innocenti) in London in 1780. It had to be recited by some players in a circle during a memory game in which the players took turns reciting a verse from the nursery rhyme, in sequence.
The interpretation of the meaning of the text is not universally recognized. Some sources would trace the origin of the song to English Catholics during the period in which the Catholic religion was banned in England, between 1558 and 1829. The "12 days of Christmas" would represent a mnemonic form for children in order to learn the basics of the Catholic faith.
Years later, the game and nursery rhyme were revived by a collector of folk songs, Lady Gomme, as "Great entertainment for the whole family before dinner on the Twelfth Night of Christmas."
This historical/traditional part is certainly what made the detective story so gripping to me.
___ ICING ON THE CAKE ___ I absolutely would never have guessed the murderer!!! It often happens that you can guess halfway through the book or towards the end who the culprit might be, sometimes even by exclusion or because it is often the least suspicious person... But of all the least suspicious people, I wouldn't have guessed the culprit here.
I must say it was partly a shock to me, but a surprise ending is what makes a mystery definitively successful (obviously it has to be well justified, not like in some books where the surprise ending makes no sense).
Despite the high number of people in this "cozy mystery" (too many characters are sometimes difficult to remember), it is a perfect Christmas read: every preparation, every entertainment game, every tradition in the house and in the village is described so well in colors, scents and sensations that seems to be there on the scene together with the friendly heroine Lady Georgiana.
__ A NICE HINT OF ROMANCE between Georgie (Lady Georgiana Rannoch) and her lover Darcy ____ This book can be read as a "standalone", so much so that in the past I read it as my first book in the series.
Those who know the series, however, will know that there are 5 other books before this one in which Lady Georgiana, carrying out various jobs, to survive the post-war poverty, becomes involved in various mysteries and murder cases, during which she meets Darcy, a spy in the service of the English Crown.
The two fall in love and the story grows slowly in each book of the series.
However, I assure you that this book has the most beautiful and exciting romantic content and if you have never read the previous books, don't worry, the book is absolutely enjoyable and the author will inform you, during the story, of all the important details previous ones!
_____ IN CONCLUSION ____ The festive atmosphere and the old fascinating traditions will pleasantly involve you.
There are many twists and turns, the moments of romance between the protagonist and her lover are sweet, the desire to discover the culprit while reading is pressing and the author expertly manages to mislead the reader until the final twist.
It is a book suitable for lovers of the genre: light detective stories with a historical setting:
I am sure that, after this book, you will want to read other adventures of the enterprising Lady Georgiana from the "Her Royal Spyness mystery series"
( Too long review, I know, but I couldn't contain my enthusiasm!
Also my English isn't that good...I'm Italian, please,be patient with me and all grammar or form errors in my text)
One of the best Christmas mysteries I've ever read (and I've read many), which has remained firm for years in my TOP 3 of "whodunits" set at Christmas (and in the TOP 5 of all genres Christmas books).
____ THE PLOT ______ 1933. Lady Georgiana, affectionately called Georgie, is stuck in the castle of her brother and his unbearable wife, in Scotland, when she finally receives an invitation for a job as a hostess, at an elegant party that will run for the full 12 days of Christmas in Tiddleton.
The village is truly enchanting and the snow makes it seem like something straight out of a Dickens story... however, strange accidents and unexpected deaths will soon occur.
While Georgie's lover, the charming Darcy, was supposed to be in South America, our heroine will find him among the guests and together with him she will live a thrilling adventure to unmask the culprit and prevent further deaths.
Not far away, in a cottage in the same village, Georgie's frivolous but in her own way affectionate mother is spending her holidays.
___ SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT ___
---> It is common in recent years for mystery crime authors, especially those who write series that feature the same protagonist in each book, to write a novel or often just a short story, set in the Christmas season.
___ :-( Unfortunately for most of the books I have read, Christmas is only mentioned in words here and there in the book or worse only in the title. :-( ______
An example ? We have it from the queen of mystery with "Poirot's Christmas", anyone who has read it can confirm that there is no Christmas atmosphere, on the contrary the "The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding " is extremely Christmassy and there is a pleasant festive air.
__YEAHHH ! :-D ----> This is why I loved reading this book: the 12 Christmas crimes, throughout the book the Christmas atmosphere is palpable, imbued with the charm of old English traditions, both in the celebrations and in the events that happen, thus determining the mystery to be discovered.
____ THE MYSTERY ____ the murders and therefore the mystery to be discovered, are not only really well thought out by the author, but they are even more engaging for the reader, because they are related to an old traditional Christmas song: THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS.
Despite being a cozy mystery, the writer also gives us a bit of traditional English history which for me always has an added value. Especially for non-English readers, therefore not so aware of British habits and customs, it adds an extra charm.
____ THE HISTORICAL and TRADITIONAL PART so interesting ___ In this Christmas mystery, set in England in the 1930s, we experience 12 days, from 22 December to 1 January, joyfully traveling together with the protagonist and the supporting characters through all the traditions of the old traditional English Christmas (Old fashioned English Christmas).
---> The 12 days of Christmas is the period in Christian theology that marks the span between the birth of Christ and the coming of the Magi, the three wise men. It begins on December 25 (Christmas) and runs through January 6 (the Epiphany, sometimes also called Three Kings' Day).
---> The crimes committed in the book refer to one of the oldest Christmas songs: "The 12 Days of Christmas". According to what I learned from Wikipedia (this song does not exist in Italy and it is not customary for us to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas), the music is of unknown origin, although present in the British and Scandinavian areas as early as the 16th century. The text is a children's nursery rhyme published for the first time in the book Mirth without Mischief (Gioie Innocenti) in London in 1780. It had to be recited by some players in a circle during a memory game in which the players took turns reciting a verse from the nursery rhyme, in sequence.
The interpretation of the meaning of the text is not universally recognized. Some sources would trace the origin of the song to English Catholics during the period in which the Catholic religion was banned in England, between 1558 and 1829. The "12 days of Christmas" would represent a mnemonic form for children in order to learn the basics of the Catholic faith.
Years later, the game and nursery rhyme were revived by a collector of folk songs, Lady Gomme, as "Great entertainment for the whole family before dinner on the Twelfth Night of Christmas."
This historical/traditional part is certainly what made the detective story so gripping to me.
___ ICING ON THE CAKE ___ I absolutely would never have guessed the murderer!!! It often happens that you can guess halfway through the book or towards the end who the culprit might be, sometimes even by exclusion or because it is often the least suspicious person... But of all the least suspicious people, I wouldn't have guessed the culprit here.
I must say it was partly a shock to me, but a surprise ending is what makes a mystery definitively successful (obviously it has to be well justified, not like in some books where the surprise ending makes no sense).
Despite the high number of people in this "cozy mystery" (too many characters are sometimes difficult to remember), it is a perfect Christmas read: every preparation, every entertainment game, every tradition in the house and in the village is described so well in colors, scents and sensations that seems to be there on the scene together with the friendly heroine Lady Georgiana.
__ A NICE HINT OF ROMANCE between Georgie (Lady Georgiana Rannoch) and her lover Darcy ____ This book can be read as a "standalone", so much so that in the past I read it as my first book in the series.
Those who know the series, however, will know that there are 5 other books before this one in which Lady Georgiana, carrying out various jobs, to survive the post-war poverty, becomes involved in various mysteries and murder cases, during which she meets Darcy, a spy in the service of the English Crown.
The two fall in love and the story grows slowly in each book of the series.
However, I assure you that this book has the most beautiful and exciting romantic content and if you have never read the previous books, don't worry, the book is absolutely enjoyable and the author will inform you, during the story, of all the important details previous ones!
_____ IN CONCLUSION ____ The festive atmosphere and the old fascinating traditions will pleasantly involve you.
There are many twists and turns, the moments of romance between the protagonist and her lover are sweet, the desire to discover the culprit while reading is pressing and the author expertly manages to mislead the reader until the final twist.
It is a book suitable for lovers of the genre: light detective stories with a historical setting:
I am sure that, after this book, you will want to read other adventures of the enterprising Lady Georgiana from the "Her Royal Spyness mystery series"
( Too long review, I know, but I couldn't contain my enthusiasm!
Also my English isn't that good...I'm Italian, please,be patient with me and all grammar or form errors in my text)
December 16, 2022
I read this very entertaining mystery with the English mysteries group and I really had a good time with it. It was obviously the Christmas pick and what a pick!
It's the 6th novel of the series "Her Royal Spyness" and has got everything you could desire in a Christmas book: there is an English country house with many guests, a traditional English Christmas celebration with typical food and games and, of course, mysterious accidents...
The heroine, the penniless lady Georgiana Rannoch, great- granddaughter of queen Victoria, arrives here with her maid to work as hostess and bumps into strange deaths. Absolutely unputdownable and charming.
It's the 6th novel of the series "Her Royal Spyness" and has got everything you could desire in a Christmas book: there is an English country house with many guests, a traditional English Christmas celebration with typical food and games and, of course, mysterious accidents...
The heroine, the penniless lady Georgiana Rannoch, great- granddaughter of queen Victoria, arrives here with her maid to work as hostess and bumps into strange deaths. Absolutely unputdownable and charming.
December 10, 2021
Absolutely delightful! A traditional English Christmas in the countryside is depicted by Rhys Bowen in this installment of her Lady Georgiana mysteries. Set in the English countryside, Georgie has fled the cold austerity of Castle Rannoch in Scotland to assist a lady with her ten day holiday house party.
Of course, crime rears its ugly head and Georgie promptly jumps in to help solve the case.
I really enjoyed the holiday traditions: mine pies, crackers, yule log, caroling, plum pudding, games such as sardines and catch a stick and inside fireworks. Sparks fly between George and Darcy, also!
Of course, crime rears its ugly head and Georgie promptly jumps in to help solve the case.
I really enjoyed the holiday traditions: mine pies, crackers, yule log, caroling, plum pudding, games such as sardines and catch a stick and inside fireworks. Sparks fly between George and Darcy, also!
November 4, 2020
'On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—well, actually, my true love, Darcy O’Mara, is spending a feliz navidad tramping around South America. Meanwhile Mummy is holed up in a tiny village called Tiddleton-under-Lovey with that droll Noel Coward! And I’m snowed in at Castle Rannoch with my bumbling brother, Binky, and sourpuss sister-in-law, Fig.
So it’s a miracle when I contrive to land a position as hostess to a posh holiday party in Tiddleton. The village is like something out of A Christmas Carol! But no sooner have I arrived than a neighborhood nuisance, a fellow named Freddie, falls out of a tree dead. On my second day, another so-called accident results in a death – and there’s yet another on my third. Perhaps a recent prison break could have something to do with it…that, or a long-standing witch’s curse. But after Darcy shows up beneath the mistletoe, anything could be possible in this wicked wonderland.'
_________________________________
4.5 stars, rounded down to 4 stars.
The Twelve Clues of Christmas is the sixth book in Rhys Bowen's A Royal Spyness Mystery series and follows the awkwardly clumsy yet charming Lady Georgiana Rannoch. A very whimsical holiday mystery based off of the well-known carol, The 12 Days of Christmas.
This is the first book that Belinda hasn't made an unexpected appearance after charming herself an invitation, which I think it was for the best. It would stretch belief if in every book Gerogie, Darcy, and Belinda always manage to appear in the same location independently where murders also happen to occur. Plus Belinda often overshadows Georgie who is more shy by nature and I wanted Georgie to have the opportunity to shine all on her own.
It did seem to me that there had been some editing issues with this book. Two instances stood out to me where a character didn't seem to remember having a specific piece of information or clue when they had recently learned of it only the chapter or so before. It wasn't a huge deal, but it did impede the sleuthing temporarily because it gave the impression of a character ignoring something obviously relevant to sorting things out with what was going on.
It was sweet that Georgie was able to have her some of her family together for the holiday without the shadow of Fig hanging over her, even if they weren't all under the same roof. Georgie so often seems lonely, floating about like a shadow in the background of others' lives so it was lovely that she was able to have her favorite person nearby for the holidays.
Loved the action at the end and the hint of the paranormal, that was my favorite bit of the whole book. And this book had so many victims and so many moving pieces, it was really interesting to follow the net closing in around the culprits.
As much of a dear Darcy is and how much I adore his character, I was ready to slap that boy for shrugging off Georgie's concerns for as long as he did. For a man that does some covert work for England, he really was blind to an increasing body count and laundry list of clues for far too long. I found it truly shocking how dense he was in this book and his continued belief it wasn't suspicious that there were so many seeming accidents day after day was making him look quite stupid. I hope he is in better form for the next book and not so ready to brush Georgie's concerns away. She has a knack for stepping into dangerous situations, why not just automatically assume that she is always mixed up in some plot or another.
Overall though, I really enjoyed The Twelve Clues of Christmas and it has been one of my favorite of the series so far. The guide at the end of the book to traditional English holiday customs and activities was a real treat(pun intended), I'll definitely be trying my hand at some of the recipies included this holiday season. Looking forward to the next book in the series!
So it’s a miracle when I contrive to land a position as hostess to a posh holiday party in Tiddleton. The village is like something out of A Christmas Carol! But no sooner have I arrived than a neighborhood nuisance, a fellow named Freddie, falls out of a tree dead. On my second day, another so-called accident results in a death – and there’s yet another on my third. Perhaps a recent prison break could have something to do with it…that, or a long-standing witch’s curse. But after Darcy shows up beneath the mistletoe, anything could be possible in this wicked wonderland.'
_________________________________
4.5 stars, rounded down to 4 stars.
The Twelve Clues of Christmas is the sixth book in Rhys Bowen's A Royal Spyness Mystery series and follows the awkwardly clumsy yet charming Lady Georgiana Rannoch. A very whimsical holiday mystery based off of the well-known carol, The 12 Days of Christmas.
This is the first book that Belinda hasn't made an unexpected appearance after charming herself an invitation, which I think it was for the best. It would stretch belief if in every book Gerogie, Darcy, and Belinda always manage to appear in the same location independently where murders also happen to occur. Plus Belinda often overshadows Georgie who is more shy by nature and I wanted Georgie to have the opportunity to shine all on her own.
It did seem to me that there had been some editing issues with this book. Two instances stood out to me where a character didn't seem to remember having a specific piece of information or clue when they had recently learned of it only the chapter or so before. It wasn't a huge deal, but it did impede the sleuthing temporarily because it gave the impression of a character ignoring something obviously relevant to sorting things out with what was going on.
It was sweet that Georgie was able to have her some of her family together for the holiday without the shadow of Fig hanging over her, even if they weren't all under the same roof. Georgie so often seems lonely, floating about like a shadow in the background of others' lives so it was lovely that she was able to have her favorite person nearby for the holidays.
Loved the action at the end and the hint of the paranormal, that was my favorite bit of the whole book. And this book had so many victims and so many moving pieces, it was really interesting to follow the net closing in around the culprits.
As much of a dear Darcy is and how much I adore his character, I was ready to slap that boy for shrugging off Georgie's concerns for as long as he did. For a man that does some covert work for England, he really was blind to an increasing body count and laundry list of clues for far too long. I found it truly shocking how dense he was in this book and his continued belief it wasn't suspicious that there were so many seeming accidents day after day was making him look quite stupid. I hope he is in better form for the next book and not so ready to brush Georgie's concerns away. She has a knack for stepping into dangerous situations, why not just automatically assume that she is always mixed up in some plot or another.
Overall though, I really enjoyed The Twelve Clues of Christmas and it has been one of my favorite of the series so far. The guide at the end of the book to traditional English holiday customs and activities was a real treat(pun intended), I'll definitely be trying my hand at some of the recipies included this holiday season. Looking forward to the next book in the series!
November 19, 2012
Clearly I am in the minority with regard to this book. I have really been enjoying this series and I looked forward to this latest entry eagerly. I had it on reserve at the library while it was still listed as "on-order". I was disapointed though and I think it is the weakest entry to date.
I will leave the plot summary to the others . . . .and move on.
One of the things I like about this series is that it is "cosy". I will grant you that "cosy" and "murder" together would seem to be a little contradictory but those of us who like cosy mysteries manage. That said,12 murders is a little over the top. I just couldn't get past 12 murders as "cosy".
In addition, Georgie witnesses several deaths which occur in a particularly gruesome way and that went way beyond my idea of cosy also.
I always enjoy Georgie, her mother and her grandfather. It was good to see all of them. I also liked the premise that got Georgie to the house party and her role there.
So I will continue to read this series, but I'm hopeful that the next installment will be back up to par. It is a great premise and Georgie is one of my favorite heroines!
I will leave the plot summary to the others . . . .and move on.
One of the things I like about this series is that it is "cosy". I will grant you that "cosy" and "murder" together would seem to be a little contradictory but those of us who like cosy mysteries manage. That said,12 murders is a little over the top. I just couldn't get past 12 murders as "cosy".
In addition, Georgie witnesses several deaths which occur in a particularly gruesome way and that went way beyond my idea of cosy also.
I always enjoy Georgie, her mother and her grandfather. It was good to see all of them. I also liked the premise that got Georgie to the house party and her role there.
So I will continue to read this series, but I'm hopeful that the next installment will be back up to par. It is a great premise and Georgie is one of my favorite heroines!
July 13, 2015
Please, do yourself a favor, run to your library or your bookstore or borrow the first book in this series from a friend and read it, you will NOT regret it. In yet another amazing installment Georgie finds herself playing hostess to a group of people from various backgrounds in a small village named Tiddleton. However, the first day she's there someone dies, and the second day another villager dies, and the third day, too. Soon people are scared for their lives wondering who could be next. But were all of these simply accidents or were they more? Georgie is determined to find out.
Most of the normal, wonderful characters appeared, Georgie, Claire, Darcy, Queenie, Mrs. Huggins, and Georgie's grandfather, and we are introduced to many new characters. Georgie and Darcy's relationship takes a turn in this book and we see a lot more of him and even learn more about him. Queenie is ever hilarious with the best intentions and Georgie's grandfather is, as always, kind and helpful.
The mystery in this book really shined. It completely blew me away once I recognized the pattern, and I must say that I did recognize the pattern before Georgie did, but that was the absolutely only negative part of the book. The reason for the killings was also different and unique, and it made a wonderful and different mystery that I'd read again.
Overall an amazing book, the mystery, the characters, the setting, it was all stellar. The Twelve Clues of Christmas deserves 5/5 stars!
Most of the normal, wonderful characters appeared, Georgie, Claire, Darcy, Queenie, Mrs. Huggins, and Georgie's grandfather, and we are introduced to many new characters. Georgie and Darcy's relationship takes a turn in this book and we see a lot more of him and even learn more about him. Queenie is ever hilarious with the best intentions and Georgie's grandfather is, as always, kind and helpful.
The mystery in this book really shined. It completely blew me away once I recognized the pattern, and I must say that I did recognize the pattern before Georgie did, but that was the absolutely only negative part of the book. The reason for the killings was also different and unique, and it made a wonderful and different mystery that I'd read again.
Overall an amazing book, the mystery, the characters, the setting, it was all stellar. The Twelve Clues of Christmas deserves 5/5 stars!
May 25, 2019
The Twelve Clues of Christmas
4 Stars
Lady Georgiana Rannoch manages to avoid spending Christmas with her idiotic brother and priggish sister-in-law by agreeing to act as hostess to a posh house party in Tiddleton-Under-Lovey. Unfortunately, things go awry early on when a young man is found dead in a tree and several others in the village die from apparent accidents. Is all of this merely coincidence or does someone have a grudge against the townsfolk?
This is such a wonderfully zany series and Katherine Kellgren's narration never fails to have me laughing out loud at Georgie's antics.
The mystery is very entertaining with the deaths occurring in accordance with the . That said, it takes Georgie far too long to catch on to this particular twist.
Georgie and Darcy's romance is finally getting somewhere and it was good to have him front and center after his being virtually MIA in the previous book. Looking forward to them finally getting their much deserved HEA.
4 Stars
Lady Georgiana Rannoch manages to avoid spending Christmas with her idiotic brother and priggish sister-in-law by agreeing to act as hostess to a posh house party in Tiddleton-Under-Lovey. Unfortunately, things go awry early on when a young man is found dead in a tree and several others in the village die from apparent accidents. Is all of this merely coincidence or does someone have a grudge against the townsfolk?
This is such a wonderfully zany series and Katherine Kellgren's narration never fails to have me laughing out loud at Georgie's antics.
The mystery is very entertaining with the deaths occurring in accordance with the . That said, it takes Georgie far too long to catch on to this particular twist.
Georgie and Darcy's romance is finally getting somewhere and it was good to have him front and center after his being virtually MIA in the previous book. Looking forward to them finally getting their much deserved HEA.
December 22, 2019
Surprisingly good mystery which kept me guessing despite the clue of the title! It has been a while since I have read any of this series and I found this one was less silly than I had remembered.
December 23, 2013
As I came to the end of the last week at school – I was so exhausted I needed something undemanding and cosy to read – I had been planning to read Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot’s Christmas. However I had bought The Twelve clues of Christmas on something of a whim from ebay a couple of weeks ago – and so decided to give it a try instead. I have to admit when I saw it was published by Berkley Prime Crime I had groaned slightly – because although I have read a few rather pleasant little cosy (sorry I refuse to use the z) mysteries from them I sort of see them all as a bit samey. There is absolutely no doubt that although this story (and presumably the rest of series) is set in 1930’s England among the aristocracy – the novel was written for an American cosy market. That isn’t to denigrate it at all – it is actually really rather good – one or two inappropriate Americanisms (despite the author being British) which jarred slightly – but overall lovely festive cosy reading. This is the kind of book that is just right for curling up with, with a cup of hot chocolate and a blanket. It is unashamed cosy reading – and just what I needed.
Lady Georgiana Rannoch is thirty fifth in line to the throne – a cousin to the king. Unfortunately her title comes with no money – her family is impoverished, and she is fated to spend Christmas with her bumbling brother Binky and his sour wife Fig in the freezing family castle in Scotland. Unwanted by her sister-in-law – and banned from using the London house due to the cost it would incur – Georgie is not looking forward to the season at all. Georgie’s mother – an actress – who once shocked society by leaving her husband and embarking on a series of affairs – is holing up in a small Devon village with Noel Coward to work on a new play.
When Georgie spots an advertisement for a lady of impeccable background to assist with the running of a Christmas house party in the very same village where her mother will be she sees it as her one chance to escape a dreary, freezing Christmas with people who don’t really want her around anyway. Accepted by Lady Hawse–Gorzley, Georgie is soon on her way to Devon, where she meets up with her mother, and grandfather (an ex-metropolitan policeman) who are staying in the village.
“What in God’s name is all this weeping and wailing?” Noel Coward appeared in the doorway, wearing a striped silk dressing gown, with a long cigarette holder between his fingers and a pained expression on his handsome face. “I thought I chose this place for peace and quiet.”
“There’s been a tragedy, Noel. Rosie’s uncle fell off a bridge last night and drowned.”
“Ah the transience of life.” Noel gave a dramatic sigh. “Frightfully sorry to hear about your uncle, Rosie dear, but could you grieve more quietly do you think? The muse was doing splendidly until a few minutes ago, when she fluttered out of the window and simply vanished,”
“Do you want me to go and look for it for you, sir? Rosie asked “some kind of pet bird is it?”
Up at Gorzley Hall, Lady Hawse-Gorzley takes to Georgie right away. As they wait for the mixed bag of guests to arrive for a proper old fashioned English Christmas, Georgie learns that there has been a tragic accident at the neighbouring property resulting in a man’s death. This is the first in a series of bizarre deaths – which all at first appear to be accidents. However Georgie and her grandfather – soon start to wonder if they are really accidents at all. The local police inspector – a fairly bumbling old soul – even takes to consulting Georgie’s granddad as he tries to unravel the truth behind the deaths – which some local villagers are even putting down to a centuries old curse. When Darcy O’Mara, the man Georgie is in love with turns up at the hall, she is delighted – and draws him into the baffling mystery.
This is all perfect cosy mystery fare – a country house, countryside deep in snow, a collection of charming characters (a mixture of village odd bods, toffs and cockneys ) and some baffling deaths – no gruesome descriptions of horridness though which I appreciate . The plot is pretty good – and I only began to work things out right at the very end. Yes there are some improbabilities – but so what? It actually doesn’t matter – I thoroughly enjoyed this festive mystery – and I would happily read more of this series. Incidentally this is the sixth of the series – and I don’t think it matters what order you read them in – but presumably the earlier books would fully explore Georgie’s peculiar family background.
Lady Georgiana Rannoch is thirty fifth in line to the throne – a cousin to the king. Unfortunately her title comes with no money – her family is impoverished, and she is fated to spend Christmas with her bumbling brother Binky and his sour wife Fig in the freezing family castle in Scotland. Unwanted by her sister-in-law – and banned from using the London house due to the cost it would incur – Georgie is not looking forward to the season at all. Georgie’s mother – an actress – who once shocked society by leaving her husband and embarking on a series of affairs – is holing up in a small Devon village with Noel Coward to work on a new play.
When Georgie spots an advertisement for a lady of impeccable background to assist with the running of a Christmas house party in the very same village where her mother will be she sees it as her one chance to escape a dreary, freezing Christmas with people who don’t really want her around anyway. Accepted by Lady Hawse–Gorzley, Georgie is soon on her way to Devon, where she meets up with her mother, and grandfather (an ex-metropolitan policeman) who are staying in the village.
“What in God’s name is all this weeping and wailing?” Noel Coward appeared in the doorway, wearing a striped silk dressing gown, with a long cigarette holder between his fingers and a pained expression on his handsome face. “I thought I chose this place for peace and quiet.”
“There’s been a tragedy, Noel. Rosie’s uncle fell off a bridge last night and drowned.”
“Ah the transience of life.” Noel gave a dramatic sigh. “Frightfully sorry to hear about your uncle, Rosie dear, but could you grieve more quietly do you think? The muse was doing splendidly until a few minutes ago, when she fluttered out of the window and simply vanished,”
“Do you want me to go and look for it for you, sir? Rosie asked “some kind of pet bird is it?”
Up at Gorzley Hall, Lady Hawse-Gorzley takes to Georgie right away. As they wait for the mixed bag of guests to arrive for a proper old fashioned English Christmas, Georgie learns that there has been a tragic accident at the neighbouring property resulting in a man’s death. This is the first in a series of bizarre deaths – which all at first appear to be accidents. However Georgie and her grandfather – soon start to wonder if they are really accidents at all. The local police inspector – a fairly bumbling old soul – even takes to consulting Georgie’s granddad as he tries to unravel the truth behind the deaths – which some local villagers are even putting down to a centuries old curse. When Darcy O’Mara, the man Georgie is in love with turns up at the hall, she is delighted – and draws him into the baffling mystery.
This is all perfect cosy mystery fare – a country house, countryside deep in snow, a collection of charming characters (a mixture of village odd bods, toffs and cockneys ) and some baffling deaths – no gruesome descriptions of horridness though which I appreciate . The plot is pretty good – and I only began to work things out right at the very end. Yes there are some improbabilities – but so what? It actually doesn’t matter – I thoroughly enjoyed this festive mystery – and I would happily read more of this series. Incidentally this is the sixth of the series – and I don’t think it matters what order you read them in – but presumably the earlier books would fully explore Georgie’s peculiar family background.
December 10, 2018
I was utterly enchanted by this addition to the Georgie mystery series, as it had some excellent character development, a rather devious set of murders and a most beautiful Christmas celebrations.
August 1, 2017
Well! This is definitely the best of the series so far. Very clever mystery along with all the trappings of an old-fashioned English country Christmas - what more could an Anglophile cozy mystery fan ask for?
At the beginning, Georgie is at Castle Rannoch with Fig, who has recently given birth to a daughter. Fig is clearly suffering from what we now call post-partum depression and Georgie is at her wit's end. Then Fig's overbearing mother shows up, and Georgie overhears the two of them complaining about Georgie sponging off Binky and that she should be married to someone suitable by now. When Fig announces that her sister's family will be arriving for Christmas, Georgie knows she must escape.
She answers an advertisement in The Lady ; a Lady Howse-Gorzley is looking for a hostess' assistant for a county house party in Devon. As it turns out Lady H-G is thrilled to have royalty at her party. And coincidentally, Georgie's mother is also in the same Devon village with Noel Coward who is writing a play for her. Georgie suggests that her mother hires Mrs. Huggins, and invite Granddad as well. So when Darcy appears, it seems that Georgie is set for the perfect Christmas with everyone she loves.
But people keep dying in the village, one per day. All seem to be accidents - a known prankster accidentally shoots himself, a man falls into a stream and drowns as he is walking home from the pub, an old lady is killed by a faulty gas heater.
It was somewhere around the fifth or sixth crime that I caught on to the pattern. I have to admit I did not figure out who the murderer was. As I said, it was quite cleverly done.
And for Darcy fans, there are some romantic interludes with him and Georgie. I confess I loved just about everything about this installment - it was great fun! 4 stars.
At the beginning, Georgie is at Castle Rannoch with Fig, who has recently given birth to a daughter. Fig is clearly suffering from what we now call post-partum depression and Georgie is at her wit's end. Then Fig's overbearing mother shows up, and Georgie overhears the two of them complaining about Georgie sponging off Binky and that she should be married to someone suitable by now. When Fig announces that her sister's family will be arriving for Christmas, Georgie knows she must escape.
She answers an advertisement in The Lady ; a Lady Howse-Gorzley is looking for a hostess' assistant for a county house party in Devon. As it turns out Lady H-G is thrilled to have royalty at her party. And coincidentally, Georgie's mother is also in the same Devon village with Noel Coward who is writing a play for her. Georgie suggests that her mother hires Mrs. Huggins, and invite Granddad as well. So when Darcy appears, it seems that Georgie is set for the perfect Christmas with everyone she loves.
But people keep dying in the village, one per day. All seem to be accidents - a known prankster accidentally shoots himself, a man falls into a stream and drowns as he is walking home from the pub, an old lady is killed by a faulty gas heater.
It was somewhere around the fifth or sixth crime that I caught on to the pattern. I have to admit I did not figure out who the murderer was. As I said, it was quite cleverly done.
And for Darcy fans, there are some romantic interludes with him and Georgie. I confess I loved just about everything about this installment - it was great fun! 4 stars.
January 10, 2013
Balderdash! I wish I had discovered this book at the library a month ago, mid-December. It's perfectly charming -- a Christmas-themed parlor mystery! Set in a quaint, Dickensian English village during a fascinating time (1930s, when royals were still "royal" but dirt-poor after investing in American stock). The hostess of the holiday vacay has offered a traditional English Christmas celebration for a FEE (loved all the details of the darling practices), but the bodies just keep dropping! I say, one each day.
I would have spent my own holiday adopting the speech patterns of our intrepid, royal-girl narrator, exclaiming "Oh, bugger!" while unraveling the mystery of tangled Christmas tree lights and "Away from there, you nosy parker!" to those snooping for clues to their presents. I would have had to give everyone in my family a stupid British nickname like Bunty or Binky or Fig.
There is a weird mistake in logic on page 266 -- but, who cares?! There's recipes and game descriptions in the back to recreate your own traditional English Christmas!
Sometimes, I just want to read something girly and silly, and this was really fun. I just found an online Jolly Well Spoken Translator, lol. Crikey! You just jiggle in your phrase, and Bob's your uncle!
I would have spent my own holiday adopting the speech patterns of our intrepid, royal-girl narrator, exclaiming "Oh, bugger!" while unraveling the mystery of tangled Christmas tree lights and "Away from there, you nosy parker!" to those snooping for clues to their presents. I would have had to give everyone in my family a stupid British nickname like Bunty or Binky or Fig.
There is a weird mistake in logic on page 266 -- but, who cares?! There's recipes and game descriptions in the back to recreate your own traditional English Christmas!
Sometimes, I just want to read something girly and silly, and this was really fun. I just found an online Jolly Well Spoken Translator, lol. Crikey! You just jiggle in your phrase, and Bob's your uncle!
October 23, 2021
One of my all time favorite books. I even purchased the paperback for my grandmother for Christmas in 2013. I’m addicted to this series. I can’t listen to each book fast enough. I love the storylines, the settings, all the characters and all their crazy names. This one has more characters than usual. It also had more Darcy...yeah!
The audible narrator of this series until 2017, was the extremely talented Katherine Kellgren. Her accents and voices for each character was just awesome. Her voice made each book even more entertaining. Unfortunately, she passed away on Jan. 10, 2018. She is truly missed.
The audible narrator of this series until 2017, was the extremely talented Katherine Kellgren. Her accents and voices for each character was just awesome. Her voice made each book even more entertaining. Unfortunately, she passed away on Jan. 10, 2018. She is truly missed.
May 2, 2019
Actual rating: 3.50
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