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The Twelve Days of Murder
Eight friends created the exclusive Masquerade Murder Society while in college. The murders they solved were fictional—until their final masquerade, when one of the group disappeared. Twelve years later, the remaining members are invited to a reunion in the Scottish Highlands . . .
Twelve years ago, eight friends ran an exclusive group at The Masquerade Murder Society. The mysteries they solved may have been grisly, and brilliantly staged, but they were always fictional—until their final Christmas Masquerade, when one of the group disappeared, never to be seen again.
Now our young, privileged cast of old university friends are summoned to the depths of Scotland for a Christmas-themed masquerade party. But all are hiding something deep below the surface that could make or break their careers. Charley is a struggling actress who has always been on the periphery of this high-flying group, but has decided to reunite with her frenemies on the promise of career help if she joins the old cast for one last weekend.
When they arrive each is assigned a new identity themed around the "Twelve Days of Christmas"—they become Lady Partridge or Mr. Gold; Lord Leapworth or Doctor Swan. The game begins, and it feels just like old times. Until the next morning, when Lady Partridge is found hanging—dead—from a pear tree.
It quickly becomes clear that in this game the murder will be all too real, and the story is bringing long-hidden secrets to the surface. Will Charley’s discerning eye and outsider status allow her to uncover the truth, or will she, too, fall prey to the murderer among them?
If the group hopes to win the game and survive until Christmas morning, they will need to face the truth about their history together and who they have become—and what really happened on that fateful night twelve years before.
Twelve years ago, eight friends ran an exclusive group at The Masquerade Murder Society. The mysteries they solved may have been grisly, and brilliantly staged, but they were always fictional—until their final Christmas Masquerade, when one of the group disappeared, never to be seen again.
Now our young, privileged cast of old university friends are summoned to the depths of Scotland for a Christmas-themed masquerade party. But all are hiding something deep below the surface that could make or break their careers. Charley is a struggling actress who has always been on the periphery of this high-flying group, but has decided to reunite with her frenemies on the promise of career help if she joins the old cast for one last weekend.
When they arrive each is assigned a new identity themed around the "Twelve Days of Christmas"—they become Lady Partridge or Mr. Gold; Lord Leapworth or Doctor Swan. The game begins, and it feels just like old times. Until the next morning, when Lady Partridge is found hanging—dead—from a pear tree.
It quickly becomes clear that in this game the murder will be all too real, and the story is bringing long-hidden secrets to the surface. Will Charley’s discerning eye and outsider status allow her to uncover the truth, or will she, too, fall prey to the murderer among them?
If the group hopes to win the game and survive until Christmas morning, they will need to face the truth about their history together and who they have become—and what really happened on that fateful night twelve years before.
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First published November 7, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,104 reviews
November 11, 2023
And Then There Were None on Christmas Eve! ❄️🎄
The Masquerade Murder Society of eight friends during college, where the one who played Santa vanished without a trace. Twelve years later the Murder Society has a reunion in Inverness at Snellbronach mansion out in the countryside. There's a forecast of the heaviest snowfall in a decade over the Christmas holiday.
Everyone is ready for the game as can be, dressed up and in their assigned roles for the "Twelve Days of Christmas" theme. They'll have a (fake) murder mystery to solve but the game has gone wrong and "Lady Partridge" is found dead hanging on a pear tree.
I enjoyed this one! I'm a fan of Agatha Christie's - And Then There Were None so any novel inspired by the Queen of Mystery is very appealing to me. The story has an amazing setting and a fun premise. The characters are pretentious and have traits that are unlikable but work well for the story.
I would probably enjoy it more if I read it instead of listening because the number of characters can be confusing. I still think Ella Lynch did a wonderful job with the narration, she does sound young and I have to remind myself that the characters are in their thirties and not young adults. Recommend for a locked room mystery fans and Christmas theme murder mysteries! 3.5⭐
Thank you Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the ALC.
9H 51M
Published Nov. 7, 2023.
The Masquerade Murder Society of eight friends during college, where the one who played Santa vanished without a trace. Twelve years later the Murder Society has a reunion in Inverness at Snellbronach mansion out in the countryside. There's a forecast of the heaviest snowfall in a decade over the Christmas holiday.
Everyone is ready for the game as can be, dressed up and in their assigned roles for the "Twelve Days of Christmas" theme. They'll have a (fake) murder mystery to solve but the game has gone wrong and "Lady Partridge" is found dead hanging on a pear tree.
I enjoyed this one! I'm a fan of Agatha Christie's - And Then There Were None so any novel inspired by the Queen of Mystery is very appealing to me. The story has an amazing setting and a fun premise. The characters are pretentious and have traits that are unlikable but work well for the story.
I would probably enjoy it more if I read it instead of listening because the number of characters can be confusing. I still think Ella Lynch did a wonderful job with the narration, she does sound young and I have to remind myself that the characters are in their thirties and not young adults. Recommend for a locked room mystery fans and Christmas theme murder mysteries! 3.5⭐
Thank you Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the ALC.
9H 51M
Published Nov. 7, 2023.
January 13, 2024
Charley comes from a blue-collared past. The daughter of a cook, she’s always felt like an outsider in the exclusive Masquerade Murder Society. After all, the other seven individuals all come from wealthy backgrounds. What brings them together, though, is their love for reenacting distinctly macabre—yet cleverly directed—murders. That is, until twelve years ago. At their final Christmas Masquerade, Karl, the leader of their little troop, disappeared without a trace.
After drifting apart for over a decade, they are all invited to the Highlands of Scotland for a new Christmas Masquerade. Charley is far from open to the idea after being forced out of the group twelve years before following a scandal, but with the promise of a helping hand with her struggling acting career, she relents and hops on the first coach she can find. Little does she know that they’re all bearing some deep, dark secrets that each will do almost anything to keep hidden. Just how far would they go? Only time will tell.
Upon arrival at the remote estate, each are given their Christmas-themed roles. From Lady Partridge to Dr. Swan, their identities are pulled from the lyrics of the Twelve Days of Christmas. All seems in order as the game gets underway, following the normal routine they all know and love. Until the next morning, that is, when the first victim—Lady Partridge—turns up dead in a very real way. Even more disturbing is the fact that she’s been found hanging from a pear tree on the lavish snow-covered grounds.
What was originally a fun game between friends quickly becomes something far more deadly. After all, Lady Partridge’s death was hardly natural. As the group—now trapped by a blizzard—starts to investigate which one of them could be behind the treacherous crime, secrets are exposed. The more they learn, the more one thing becomes clear. In order to make it out alive, they’ll have to take a good hard look at their friendships and ultimately revisit what happened twelve years ago to one of their own.
Holy heck that was amazing! A stylish blend of an old, classic murder mystery and a chilling, present-day thriller, The Twelve Days of Murder hit just the right chord. From deviously spot on characters to the perfectly drawn Scottish setting, there wasn’t a thing missing, including a startling, adrenaline-fueled climax and a crafty yet satisfying finale. And coming from me, that’s quite the high praise.
My favorite piece to this dynamite book, however, was easily the plot itself. Weaving together the past and the present via dual timelines, the unanswered questions about what happened to Karl twelve years ago intermingled with the horrors of the present. All together, it seriously clouded the issue of who was to blame and meant that I was at a total loss in my armchair sleuthing. Don’t get me wrong, in hindsight, the storyline was peppered with deftly hidden clues, but I didn’t pick up on them until after the fact.
The characters themselves were full of color complete with a handful of eccentric, pretentious individuals. Between their murder mystery game personas and their actual identities, the storyline was rife with true-to-life action and tantalizing dialogue. Plenty of them were thoroughly unlikeable—bordering on offensive—but with both the endearing Charley and rare moments of empathy for the others, I was swept up by each and every one by the end. Even the murderer.
Trust me when I say, this was the perfect Christmas thriller, one which I think is massively underhyped. A spin on And Then There Were None but with a thrilling, modern twist, there was more than enough Agatha Christie-esque charm to make this mystery snob happy. If you love a good locked room puzzle, this is sure to be just your kind of book. After all, this whodunnit was everything I wanted and more. So be sure to grab a copy today as it was pure literary perfection in this mystery/thriller lover’s opinion. Rating of 5+ stars.
Thank you to Andreina Cordani and Pegasus Crime for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DAY: Out now!
Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling trigger list.
Trigger warning: bullying, death by hanging, near drowning, falling from a height, poisoning, stabbing, shooting, mention of: blackmail, infidelity
After drifting apart for over a decade, they are all invited to the Highlands of Scotland for a new Christmas Masquerade. Charley is far from open to the idea after being forced out of the group twelve years before following a scandal, but with the promise of a helping hand with her struggling acting career, she relents and hops on the first coach she can find. Little does she know that they’re all bearing some deep, dark secrets that each will do almost anything to keep hidden. Just how far would they go? Only time will tell.
Upon arrival at the remote estate, each are given their Christmas-themed roles. From Lady Partridge to Dr. Swan, their identities are pulled from the lyrics of the Twelve Days of Christmas. All seems in order as the game gets underway, following the normal routine they all know and love. Until the next morning, that is, when the first victim—Lady Partridge—turns up dead in a very real way. Even more disturbing is the fact that she’s been found hanging from a pear tree on the lavish snow-covered grounds.
What was originally a fun game between friends quickly becomes something far more deadly. After all, Lady Partridge’s death was hardly natural. As the group—now trapped by a blizzard—starts to investigate which one of them could be behind the treacherous crime, secrets are exposed. The more they learn, the more one thing becomes clear. In order to make it out alive, they’ll have to take a good hard look at their friendships and ultimately revisit what happened twelve years ago to one of their own.
Holy heck that was amazing! A stylish blend of an old, classic murder mystery and a chilling, present-day thriller, The Twelve Days of Murder hit just the right chord. From deviously spot on characters to the perfectly drawn Scottish setting, there wasn’t a thing missing, including a startling, adrenaline-fueled climax and a crafty yet satisfying finale. And coming from me, that’s quite the high praise.
My favorite piece to this dynamite book, however, was easily the plot itself. Weaving together the past and the present via dual timelines, the unanswered questions about what happened to Karl twelve years ago intermingled with the horrors of the present. All together, it seriously clouded the issue of who was to blame and meant that I was at a total loss in my armchair sleuthing. Don’t get me wrong, in hindsight, the storyline was peppered with deftly hidden clues, but I didn’t pick up on them until after the fact.
The characters themselves were full of color complete with a handful of eccentric, pretentious individuals. Between their murder mystery game personas and their actual identities, the storyline was rife with true-to-life action and tantalizing dialogue. Plenty of them were thoroughly unlikeable—bordering on offensive—but with both the endearing Charley and rare moments of empathy for the others, I was swept up by each and every one by the end. Even the murderer.
Trust me when I say, this was the perfect Christmas thriller, one which I think is massively underhyped. A spin on And Then There Were None but with a thrilling, modern twist, there was more than enough Agatha Christie-esque charm to make this mystery snob happy. If you love a good locked room puzzle, this is sure to be just your kind of book. After all, this whodunnit was everything I wanted and more. So be sure to grab a copy today as it was pure literary perfection in this mystery/thriller lover’s opinion. Rating of 5+ stars.
Thank you to Andreina Cordani and Pegasus Crime for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DAY: Out now!
Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling trigger list.
Trigger warning: bullying, death by hanging, near drowning, falling from a height, poisoning, stabbing, shooting, mention of: blackmail, infidelity
November 24, 2023
Couldn't get into the novel
Was looking forward to this whodunnit novel, but couldn't connect with the characters or story.
*** Thank you to NetGalley, Andreina Cordani, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
Was looking forward to this whodunnit novel, but couldn't connect with the characters or story.
*** Thank you to NetGalley, Andreina Cordani, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
November 26, 2023
The mystery equivalent of a gingerbread labyrinth—deliciously intricate and impossible to resist…
Book Information
“The Twelve Days of Murder” by Andreina Cordani is a 384-page mystery published on November 7, 2023. The audio version, performed by Ella Lynch, spans 9 hours and 51 minutes. Thank you to Dreamscape Media for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book for review.
Summary
Twelve years ago, a close-knit group of friends led The Masquerade Murder Society, solving fictional mysteries until one of them vanished during their final Christmas Masquerade. Now, these privileged university pals gather in Scotland for a Christmas-themed masquerade party, each harboring career-defining secrets.
Assigned new identities based on the "Twelve Days of Christmas," they immerse themselves in the game, reminiscent of their past. However, the festive atmosphere shatters the next morning when one friend is discovered dead. The game takes a dark turn as it becomes evident that the murder is real, exposing long-buried secrets. They must unravel the mystery of their shared history and the events from twelve years prior if anyone hopes to survive until Christmas morning.
My Thoughts
"The Twelve Days of Murder" by Andreina Cordani is a fantastic read that grabbed my attention from the start. Cordani keeps you guessing about who the murderer is, every character is a suspect, and my detective skills were on overdrive trying to untangle the web of secrets. The writing is clever, with lots of details and red herrings to keep you hooked.
The story is told from different characters' perspectives and in two timelines. Set against a snowy Scottish backdrop and incorporating a locked room mystery, the story's setting adds a layer of intrigue to the already compelling plot. I really liked how Cordani used the 12 Days of Christmas song and included creepy Christmas traditions from around the world. The mystery unfolds at a good pace. It’s like a suspenseful advent calendar—you never know which day will reveal the next shocking clue!
The characters are a bit unlikeable but fit well into the story. At first, it seemed like a lot to keep track of with so many characters, each playing a unique role in the mystery game and flashbacks including more played roles, but as the story progresses, it all comes together. The ending has a surprising twist that few will see coming although all the clues are there to figure it out.
The audiobook, narrated by Ella Lynch, does a good job handling the eight characters. However, it may have been more effective to have more than one narrator, maybe a male and a female, which would make the book easier to follow.
Recommendation
"The Twelve Days of Murder" is a gripping mystery with a clever plot, intriguing characters, and unique Christmas-themed twists. Cordani's storytelling keeps you engaged, making it a great pick for mystery lovers. It’s the eggnog of mysteries—rich, addictive, and leaves you wanting more with every sip (or page).
Rating
4 Krampus Stars
Book Information
“The Twelve Days of Murder” by Andreina Cordani is a 384-page mystery published on November 7, 2023. The audio version, performed by Ella Lynch, spans 9 hours and 51 minutes. Thank you to Dreamscape Media for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book for review.
Summary
Twelve years ago, a close-knit group of friends led The Masquerade Murder Society, solving fictional mysteries until one of them vanished during their final Christmas Masquerade. Now, these privileged university pals gather in Scotland for a Christmas-themed masquerade party, each harboring career-defining secrets.
Assigned new identities based on the "Twelve Days of Christmas," they immerse themselves in the game, reminiscent of their past. However, the festive atmosphere shatters the next morning when one friend is discovered dead. The game takes a dark turn as it becomes evident that the murder is real, exposing long-buried secrets. They must unravel the mystery of their shared history and the events from twelve years prior if anyone hopes to survive until Christmas morning.
My Thoughts
"The Twelve Days of Murder" by Andreina Cordani is a fantastic read that grabbed my attention from the start. Cordani keeps you guessing about who the murderer is, every character is a suspect, and my detective skills were on overdrive trying to untangle the web of secrets. The writing is clever, with lots of details and red herrings to keep you hooked.
The story is told from different characters' perspectives and in two timelines. Set against a snowy Scottish backdrop and incorporating a locked room mystery, the story's setting adds a layer of intrigue to the already compelling plot. I really liked how Cordani used the 12 Days of Christmas song and included creepy Christmas traditions from around the world. The mystery unfolds at a good pace. It’s like a suspenseful advent calendar—you never know which day will reveal the next shocking clue!
The characters are a bit unlikeable but fit well into the story. At first, it seemed like a lot to keep track of with so many characters, each playing a unique role in the mystery game and flashbacks including more played roles, but as the story progresses, it all comes together. The ending has a surprising twist that few will see coming although all the clues are there to figure it out.
The audiobook, narrated by Ella Lynch, does a good job handling the eight characters. However, it may have been more effective to have more than one narrator, maybe a male and a female, which would make the book easier to follow.
Recommendation
"The Twelve Days of Murder" is a gripping mystery with a clever plot, intriguing characters, and unique Christmas-themed twists. Cordani's storytelling keeps you engaged, making it a great pick for mystery lovers. It’s the eggnog of mysteries—rich, addictive, and leaves you wanting more with every sip (or page).
Rating
4 Krampus Stars
November 21, 2023
Wow! What a clever murder mystery this was!!
Super engaging and fun right from the start! I loved getting to know all of the characters and their secrets and the constant game of cat and mouse
It kept me wondering who the killer was and how the mystery will unfold and was a constant work out for my brain cells, haha
Just when i thought i had it all figured out, the author threw in another plot twist and i loved how there were little clues along the way which i was apparently too dumb to notice at the time lol
Couldn't put this down since the moment i received the Arc tho i had an 8 am class in the morning 😆
Thanks to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for my gifted review copy
Super engaging and fun right from the start! I loved getting to know all of the characters and their secrets and the constant game of cat and mouse
It kept me wondering who the killer was and how the mystery will unfold and was a constant work out for my brain cells, haha
Just when i thought i had it all figured out, the author threw in another plot twist and i loved how there were little clues along the way which i was apparently too dumb to notice at the time lol
Couldn't put this down since the moment i received the Arc tho i had an 8 am class in the morning 😆
Thanks to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for my gifted review copy
dnf
December 18, 2025DNF at 23% because it was not holding my interest. I couldn't even tell you the name of the main character 🤷♀️ The only thing I can tell you is that it's told in the 3rd person.
January 13, 2024
I'm always up for a sequestered group under siege by malevolent weather and murderous intent so this had my attention. If it's giving And Then There Were None and there's also holiday trimmings and snow, I can't help myself. This modern nod to Dame Christie did deliver quite well.
A group of college associates (there's no way to call this den of self-interested and involved, back-biting vipers friends) get together for a Christmas many years after one of them had gone missing and is presumed dead (though no body was ever found). The main character lacks the money and status of the others, so this also plays as a class tale. It seemed to loom larger in various characters' minds than necessary because they were all pretty miserable.
The first murder took a while and I always ding for that but otherwise, I was having a good time reading this. Still, just beyond a third of the way through to finally get to our first victim was a bit much. The middle third was a little slow but had some very good plot points and misdirection. For the most part, the mystery is well done and Charley, the main character, while sometimes annoying and too much wanting to be accepted, did hold my interest and I wanted her to make it through. The stand-out character is mostly off the canvas and much talked about by the other characters which was a real shame because once the character shows up, I loved them and wished they'd been around all the while. They even had the best lines of the characters and closed out the book so perfectly, that I want them to have their own book. Surely, there's a whole story worth telling!
This kept me up late finishing so that was to the good. The final third of this was a page-turner and I loved that. It had all the things I love in my reads this time of year, snow, murder mystery and very well-done atmospheric description. I'll leave this review with the sign-off of my favourite character in the book "May your days be merry & bright, motherf*****s!"
Recommended.
A group of college associates (there's no way to call this den of self-interested and involved, back-biting vipers friends) get together for a Christmas many years after one of them had gone missing and is presumed dead (though no body was ever found). The main character lacks the money and status of the others, so this also plays as a class tale. It seemed to loom larger in various characters' minds than necessary because they were all pretty miserable.
The first murder took a while and I always ding for that but otherwise, I was having a good time reading this. Still, just beyond a third of the way through to finally get to our first victim was a bit much. The middle third was a little slow but had some very good plot points and misdirection. For the most part, the mystery is well done and Charley, the main character, while sometimes annoying and too much wanting to be accepted, did hold my interest and I wanted her to make it through. The stand-out character is mostly off the canvas and much talked about by the other characters which was a real shame because once the character shows up, I loved them and wished they'd been around all the while. They even had the best lines of the characters and closed out the book so perfectly, that I want them to have their own book. Surely, there's a whole story worth telling!
This kept me up late finishing so that was to the good. The final third of this was a page-turner and I loved that. It had all the things I love in my reads this time of year, snow, murder mystery and very well-done atmospheric description. I'll leave this review with the sign-off of my favourite character in the book "May your days be merry & bright, motherf*****s!"
Recommended.
December 29, 2023
3.5 Stars
Video Review: https://youtu.be/EMgU50NWDe4
This was a really interesting setup for a murder mystery. Personally I love these parties so this premise completely hooked me in. A lot of this novel revolves around these characters, which was more or less interesting depending on the character. At times it was a little slow pace, but it was interesting enough to keep me reading.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Video Review: https://youtu.be/EMgU50NWDe4
This was a really interesting setup for a murder mystery. Personally I love these parties so this premise completely hooked me in. A lot of this novel revolves around these characters, which was more or less interesting depending on the character. At times it was a little slow pace, but it was interesting enough to keep me reading.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
November 14, 2023
A fun holiday take on an isolated, closed circle murder mystery! This follows a group of friends who started doing murder mystery dinner parties in college, but one of the group disappeared at a party. Now the rest of them are all back together at an isolated rental just before Christmas reprising this murder mystery tradition, except then they start being murdered to a 12 Days of Christmas theme (actual pear tree included!). Secrets from the past and present must come to the surface before all is made clear. I really enjoyed this thought it was clever at times. One of the primary characters is the poor outsider amidst a group of wealthy and privileged friends which I think works. The audio narration is excellent as well and I would recommend this one!
December 9, 2023
I randomly saw The Twelve Days of Murder by Andreina Cordani when I was trolling my library's app looking for audiobooks I might want to listen to. I am so glad I found this, because not only was it a solid read, but it was also thoroughly engaging and I loved Cordani's writing! There is just the slightest touch of humor, but I was completely invested in this murder mystery and our rich people with terrible morals. There is no setting I like better than a secluded location with a huge snowstorm and a killer on the loose, and I loved the Christmas theme as well. I never realized just how weird the song The Twelve Days Of Christmas is until I read this, and I can't say I will ever think of it the same way again after the creepy things that happen in this story.
I loved the audiobook and thought Ella Lynch was a fabulous narrator. The majority of the book is told from Charley's viewpoint although there are others as well, and I couldn't believe how well Lynch heightened the intensity of the story. She helped me really connect to the storyline and characters, and I would recommend the audiobook over reading it I think. This is Cordani's adult debut as well as her first novel released in America, and I sure hope more will be coming! You do need to suspend some disbelief, but I loved the way the twists surprised me, and the end was definitely a little crazy. I also loved that this was not only set in a secluded location but that it just so happened to be in Scotland as well. The Twelve Days of Murder was a great adult debut and I would recommend it to anyone looking to get lost in a book that doesn't have to be believable.
I loved the audiobook and thought Ella Lynch was a fabulous narrator. The majority of the book is told from Charley's viewpoint although there are others as well, and I couldn't believe how well Lynch heightened the intensity of the story. She helped me really connect to the storyline and characters, and I would recommend the audiobook over reading it I think. This is Cordani's adult debut as well as her first novel released in America, and I sure hope more will be coming! You do need to suspend some disbelief, but I loved the way the twists surprised me, and the end was definitely a little crazy. I also loved that this was not only set in a secluded location but that it just so happened to be in Scotland as well. The Twelve Days of Murder was a great adult debut and I would recommend it to anyone looking to get lost in a book that doesn't have to be believable.
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Want to read
December 5, 2024I CAN'T. THE WRITING STYLE'S... QUESTIONABLE. 6 CHARLEYs IN ONE SINGLE PAGE.
January 29, 2025
Для мене це десь 3,5 з 5🌟
Головна проблема в тому, що я не змогла зануритись в історію. Якщо на початку я була в очікуванні крутої зимової атмосфери й таємниць, то ближче до середини зрозуміла, що мені ну дуже нудно🥱
Здавалося б, є усе, заявлене в анотації - спільнота знайомих, що відновлюють давню традицію Вбивчих маскарадів, де розігрують костюмовані детективні історії з можливістю грати й розкривати злочин. Правда я була здивована, що це не шоу для публіки, а саме для учасників маскараду.
Події відбуваються з відрізком у 7 років. Сьогодні - в маєтку в стилі арт-деко в сільській місцевості Шотландії, де звичайно немає звʼязку та усе засипає снігом.
Минуле - у старому родовому маєтку, який зберіг велич минулих днів і де таємниче зник один з друзів під час останньої вистави.
Персонажі - в більшості нащадки заможних родин - бізнесмен, лікар, інстаграм інфлюєнсерка, ексцентрична мисткиня. І серед них наша головна персонажка - акторка невдаха, яка завжди здавалась зайвою в цій компанії. І звичайно ж вона буде найбільш задіяна у розгадуванні загадкових вбивств.
Сторінки після 250-ї мене нарешті захопив сюжет й до кінця усе розгорталось доволі динамічно. Підозрювати часом хотілось усіх, але зрештою я розгадала одну зі складових злочину.
З родзинок - сюжет крутиться не лише довкола костюмованих вечірок в час Різдва, але й старої святочної колядки, якою починається й закінчується книжка.
Загалом не погано, але й не захват 🙃
Головна проблема в тому, що я не змогла зануритись в історію. Якщо на початку я була в очікуванні крутої зимової атмосфери й таємниць, то ближче до середини зрозуміла, що мені ну дуже нудно🥱
Здавалося б, є усе, заявлене в анотації - спільнота знайомих, що відновлюють давню традицію Вбивчих маскарадів, де розігрують костюмовані детективні історії з можливістю грати й розкривати злочин. Правда я була здивована, що це не шоу для публіки, а саме для учасників маскараду.
Події відбуваються з відрізком у 7 років. Сьогодні - в маєтку в стилі арт-деко в сільській місцевості Шотландії, де звичайно немає звʼязку та усе засипає снігом.
Минуле - у старому родовому маєтку, який зберіг велич минулих днів і де таємниче зник один з друзів під час останньої вистави.
Персонажі - в більшості нащадки заможних родин - бізнесмен, лікар, інстаграм інфлюєнсерка, ексцентрична мисткиня. І серед них наша головна персонажка - акторка невдаха, яка завжди здавалась зайвою в цій компанії. І звичайно ж вона буде найбільш задіяна у розгадуванні загадкових вбивств.
Сторінки після 250-ї мене нарешті захопив сюжет й до кінця усе розгорталось доволі динамічно. Підозрювати часом хотілось усіх, але зрештою я розгадала одну зі складових злочину.
З родзинок - сюжет крутиться не лише довкола костюмованих вечірок в час Різдва, але й старої святочної колядки, якою починається й закінчується книжка.
Загалом не погано, але й не захват 🙃
June 16, 2025
Десь до середини книжки, я думала над оцінкою 3, бо мене дратувало, що всі персонажі накидались на Чарлі, звинувачувати її в крадіжці, яка відбулась 10 років тому, хоча проти неї тільки те, що вона нібито найбідніша з усіх, хоча як виявиться не все так однозначно. Напевно можна сказати, що Шона мені найбільше подобалась, хоча оце її тварині жертвоприношення 😐 Найбільше я чекала на появу Єви, бо її так описала ніби вона кіборг вбивця сотого левела, а виявилася адекватною жінкою. Від епілога очікувала чогось більшого, більш інформативного про подальші долі, але може і так піде.
December 3, 2023
If you’re an Agatha Christie fan, then you will love The Twelve Days of Murder. Inspired by And Then There Were None, with a Christmas setting, the stage is set for a perfect holiday whodunnit. This locked door mystery is full of whimsical characters to both like and despise in this entertaining, masquerade murder game. The narrator, Ella Lynch expertly brings the story to life, adding a layer of suspense and intrigue. This is the perfect read for the holidays. Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my audiobook.
December 26, 2025
not good not bad just happened. LOL.
I think I’ve decided Christmas whodunnits aren’t for me - shocking; I know.
There wasn’t anything wrong with this one it just didn’t change my life. DNR x
I think I’ve decided Christmas whodunnits aren’t for me - shocking; I know.
There wasn’t anything wrong with this one it just didn’t change my life. DNR x
dnf
December 23, 2024A third of the way into the story, I realized I didn’t care.
December 28, 2024
Entretenido
November 13, 2023
This is a whodunnit mystery that occurs in two timelines.
They were the Masquerade Murder Society in college. The 8 of them would get together and have murder mystery dinners. That is until their final masquerade when one of them went missing. Twelve years later they are called back for one final masquerade, but thats when everything goes crazy & people start dying.
I really loved the concept when I requested the audio but it didn’t resonate with me as I had hoped. There were some Agatha Christie vibes so if you are a fan perhaps you would enjoy this more, I just struggled with certain aspects of story & found the characters very narcissistic.
Thank you Netgalley, Dreamscape Audio, and the author for this ALC.
They were the Masquerade Murder Society in college. The 8 of them would get together and have murder mystery dinners. That is until their final masquerade when one of them went missing. Twelve years later they are called back for one final masquerade, but thats when everything goes crazy & people start dying.
I really loved the concept when I requested the audio but it didn’t resonate with me as I had hoped. There were some Agatha Christie vibes so if you are a fan perhaps you would enjoy this more, I just struggled with certain aspects of story & found the characters very narcissistic.
Thank you Netgalley, Dreamscape Audio, and the author for this ALC.
December 11, 2025
Christmas ‘locked room’, multiple -POV murder mystery involving the privileged members of the exclusive Murder Masquerade Society. This novel is filled with long-hidden secrets and plenty of foreboding with this dual-timeline story.
December 18, 2024
3.5 stars
December 9, 2024
3.75/5
January 13, 2025
3⭐️
Дочитав…. Читав довго і від цього загкартина постійно як «щось нове» 😬 забував багато по сюжету ( можливо, якби читав за два-три дні ситуейшин була б інша, але скоріш не факт). Ніхто з Гг не зацікавив. Задумка норм, а реалізація певно таки не дуже. Але ви читайте😀
Дочитав…. Читав довго і від цього загкартина постійно як «щось нове» 😬 забував багато по сюжету ( можливо, якби читав за два-три дні ситуейшин була б інша, але скоріш не факт). Ніхто з Гг не зацікавив. Задумка норм, а реалізація певно таки не дуже. Але ви читайте😀
March 16, 2025
2.75, загалом, це було не так вже й погано, але здебільшого дуже нудно і затягнуто.
я обожнюю whodunnit історії та слешери, тому це мала бути прям МОЯ історія, а натомість якийсь екшн почався лише в кінці, і він був занадто нереалістичним. у мене склалось таке враження, ніби я раптово почала якийсь тупий бойовик дивитись. ну ок?
всі персонажі неприємні, якісь особистості в них ніби намагаються з'явитись, але спостерігати за ними нецікаво. а оцей троп (не спойлеритиму), ким насправді виявився вбивця, ЦЕ ТАК КЛІШОВАНО, дайте щось нове, господи.
радити нікому не буду і, напевно, навіть троооооооошечки шкодую, що витратила ті три години на цю книжку, можна було щось цікавіше почитати.
я обожнюю whodunnit історії та слешери, тому це мала бути прям МОЯ історія, а натомість якийсь екшн почався лише в кінці, і він був занадто нереалістичним. у мене склалось таке враження, ніби я раптово почала якийсь тупий бойовик дивитись. ну ок?
всі персонажі неприємні, якісь особистості в них ніби намагаються з'явитись, але спостерігати за ними нецікаво. а оцей троп (не спойлеритиму), ким насправді виявився вбивця, ЦЕ ТАК КЛІШОВАНО, дайте щось нове, господи.
радити нікому не буду і, напевно, навіть троооооооошечки шкодую, що витратила ті три години на цю книжку, можна було щось цікавіше почитати.
December 26, 2023
2.5 ⭐️Technically, DNF around 100 pages. I couldn't connect with the characters and found the authors writing style a bit chaotic for me.
October 26, 2023
Several friends are spending Christmas together.
The Twelve Days of Murder seethes with menace and toxicity as the Masqueraders reunite for a Christmas Murder mystery weekend. From the very beginning when we witness Charley’s journey to the meet up, there is a sense that something nasty is going to happen and because so much is seen from Charley’s perspective, the reader is totally enmeshed in the story.
The structure of the narrative is so clever. The freshness and ingenuity of the plot is enhanced by the traditional five act structure, and the lynchpin of the familiar Twelve Days of Christmas song, reimagined so violently and viscerally, makes the story both captivating and rather unsettling. With an almost hypnotic pendulum of timed past sections gradually adding to the understanding of the current events, Andreina Cordani provides intriguing detail. I thought the way the tenses in the writing reflected the action worked brilliantly and gave an immediacy to the present day sections. Part One sets up the insidious, untrustworthy nature of all the characters, giving tantalising glimpses into who they really are beneath the surface so that I found myself well and truly hooked into wanting to find out more. It’s such a clever trope of people playing multiple roles, not just in their murder mystery gatherings, but in real life, so that the thin veneer of civilisation is in danger of cracking at any moment. This has the effect of making the reader suspect every single character of being a murderer, and as clues are presented and the truth uncovered, Andreina Cordani takes her reader on an interesting, thrilling and dangerous ride.
The setting is equally traditional and equally innovatively used. The characters are trapped by the weather, lack of phone signal and blocked roads, but they are also trapped by their own secrets and lies so that the tension is ramped up throughout. I loathed almost of all of them, trusted none of them and was entirely mesmerised trying to decide who was likely to be the next victim and who the perpetrator might be. There’s an uncomfortable pleasure in trying to work out those elements that almost makes the reader feel as culpably unpleasant as the people. I thought this was such skilled writing.
The themes woven into The Twelve Days of Murder are so pertinent to today’s world of cronyism, class division, bullying and corruption that the book has an edginess that enhances its impact. I think that whilst it’s a captivating story, it’s one that lingers after it is finished in a rather disquieting fashion, making the reader think.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Twelve Days of Murder. It’s brilliantly plotted, fast paced and entertaining and absolutely perfect for setting down to read on a cold winter’s afternoon, although it might make you look twice at any guests staying over Christmas!
The Twelve Days of Murder seethes with menace and toxicity as the Masqueraders reunite for a Christmas Murder mystery weekend. From the very beginning when we witness Charley’s journey to the meet up, there is a sense that something nasty is going to happen and because so much is seen from Charley’s perspective, the reader is totally enmeshed in the story.
The structure of the narrative is so clever. The freshness and ingenuity of the plot is enhanced by the traditional five act structure, and the lynchpin of the familiar Twelve Days of Christmas song, reimagined so violently and viscerally, makes the story both captivating and rather unsettling. With an almost hypnotic pendulum of timed past sections gradually adding to the understanding of the current events, Andreina Cordani provides intriguing detail. I thought the way the tenses in the writing reflected the action worked brilliantly and gave an immediacy to the present day sections. Part One sets up the insidious, untrustworthy nature of all the characters, giving tantalising glimpses into who they really are beneath the surface so that I found myself well and truly hooked into wanting to find out more. It’s such a clever trope of people playing multiple roles, not just in their murder mystery gatherings, but in real life, so that the thin veneer of civilisation is in danger of cracking at any moment. This has the effect of making the reader suspect every single character of being a murderer, and as clues are presented and the truth uncovered, Andreina Cordani takes her reader on an interesting, thrilling and dangerous ride.
The setting is equally traditional and equally innovatively used. The characters are trapped by the weather, lack of phone signal and blocked roads, but they are also trapped by their own secrets and lies so that the tension is ramped up throughout. I loathed almost of all of them, trusted none of them and was entirely mesmerised trying to decide who was likely to be the next victim and who the perpetrator might be. There’s an uncomfortable pleasure in trying to work out those elements that almost makes the reader feel as culpably unpleasant as the people. I thought this was such skilled writing.
The themes woven into The Twelve Days of Murder are so pertinent to today’s world of cronyism, class division, bullying and corruption that the book has an edginess that enhances its impact. I think that whilst it’s a captivating story, it’s one that lingers after it is finished in a rather disquieting fashion, making the reader think.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Twelve Days of Murder. It’s brilliantly plotted, fast paced and entertaining and absolutely perfect for setting down to read on a cold winter’s afternoon, although it might make you look twice at any guests staying over Christmas!
November 20, 2023
2.5 stars
I loved the setting, the murder mystery dinner concept, the dual timelines, and the Agatha Christie vibes, but I struggled with this book for a few different reasons.
My biggest struggle with this book was the amount of characters along with the mystery dinner names to go with each of them. Since I listened to the audiobook, I had a very difficult time keeping track of them all. I wonder if the narrator changed her voice more for each character if I would have tracked this better? I also didn’t connect with any of them. So I had a hard time engaging with the story.
I love dual timelines in a book, but in this audio version, I usually couldn’t tell the timeline changed until it was too late.
Then some of the plot pieces felt a little repetitive and made the story drag on for me. It might have felt this way since I had a hard time connecting with the story.
Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
I loved the setting, the murder mystery dinner concept, the dual timelines, and the Agatha Christie vibes, but I struggled with this book for a few different reasons.
My biggest struggle with this book was the amount of characters along with the mystery dinner names to go with each of them. Since I listened to the audiobook, I had a very difficult time keeping track of them all. I wonder if the narrator changed her voice more for each character if I would have tracked this better? I also didn’t connect with any of them. So I had a hard time engaging with the story.
I love dual timelines in a book, but in this audio version, I usually couldn’t tell the timeline changed until it was too late.
Then some of the plot pieces felt a little repetitive and made the story drag on for me. It might have felt this way since I had a hard time connecting with the story.
Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
January 23, 2024
3.5 Enjoyable read after a somewhat slow start.
1st part is from the main character's POV. I pivoted back and forth. Between entertained and wanting to skip forward. I was worried it would drone on for the entire story.
The remainder of the book offers several chapters from the other characters' POV. The addition of the other characters' voices and internal dialog allows the reader to become engaged and offers more intrigue. I came to be very interested in learning the "who, what, how, and why" of the story.
Offers a satisfying multi-pieced conclusion. A good read for a snowy day.
1st part is from the main character's POV. I pivoted back and forth. Between entertained and wanting to skip forward. I was worried it would drone on for the entire story.
The remainder of the book offers several chapters from the other characters' POV. The addition of the other characters' voices and internal dialog allows the reader to become engaged and offers more intrigue. I came to be very interested in learning the "who, what, how, and why" of the story.
Offers a satisfying multi-pieced conclusion. A good read for a snowy day.
October 21, 2023
A group of friends who met at university were members of The Masquerade Murder Society where they played immersive murder mystery games. The last Christmas Masquerade ended on a low when the 'victim' played by Karl, disappeared from a locked room & was never seen again. The group disbanded but twelve years later, Karl's sister, Ani invites them all on a Christmas getaway to a remote Scottish hunting lodge. When the guests arrive, Ani has not yet arrived, but the Christmas murder mystery is to go ahead & this time it is based around the song 'Twelve Days of Christmas', i.e. Lady Partridge, Lord Leapworth, & Miss Colly. As the game begins, past secrets are revealed & friendships are strained until on Christmas morning, Lady Partridge is found hanging from a pear tree. It soon becomes clear that one of the group is a killer & the rest are now sitting ducks.
The present narrative is told from the point of view of Charley, the outsider in the group of friends. Charley came from a working class background whilst all the others were from rich families & she was treated rather badly by most of the group. Even in the Christmas Masquerade she is playing 'Miss Colly', the only servant in the game & her costumes are dull & boring. The reader gets some background from chapters set twelve years ago one from each of the friend group & as their secrets are gradually revealed you see that none of them are particularly nice people . I did actually guess the guilty party but not the whole reason. I thought it was a diverting, entertaining read & if you like 'locked room' murder mysteries I would recommend this one.
My thanks to NetGalley & publisher, Bonnier Books/Zaffre, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
The present narrative is told from the point of view of Charley, the outsider in the group of friends. Charley came from a working class background whilst all the others were from rich families & she was treated rather badly by most of the group. Even in the Christmas Masquerade she is playing 'Miss Colly', the only servant in the game & her costumes are dull & boring. The reader gets some background from chapters set twelve years ago one from each of the friend group & as their secrets are gradually revealed you see that none of them are particularly nice people . I did actually guess the guilty party but not the whole reason. I thought it was a diverting, entertaining read & if you like 'locked room' murder mysteries I would recommend this one.
My thanks to NetGalley & publisher, Bonnier Books/Zaffre, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
December 26, 2023
3.5/5
This was fine and fun! The mystery was quite engaging and it was one of those solvable ones, and not too soon either. I had my suspicions, but around the 80% mark I was very clear on who had done it. There was plenty of class commentary to go around (though none of it particularly fresh), which I appreciated. I can't rate it higher though, because the characters were more like types and didn't necessarily come alive for me. And with that, I have nothing else to say or comment about it! It was a good time, sometimes it doesn't have to be that deep...
This was fine and fun! The mystery was quite engaging and it was one of those solvable ones, and not too soon either. I had my suspicions, but around the 80% mark I was very clear on who had done it. There was plenty of class commentary to go around (though none of it particularly fresh), which I appreciated. I can't rate it higher though, because the characters were more like types and didn't necessarily come alive for me. And with that, I have nothing else to say or comment about it! It was a good time, sometimes it doesn't have to be that deep...
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