The Christmas Candle Murders: A 1920s Christmas Mystery

Lord Edgington Investigates #15

by Benedict Brown

A snowy English village with a thousand secrets, bad Christmas presents, far too many decorations and a string of inexplicable murders...Surrey, 1928. When a much unloved miser dies in the village of Kilston Down, no one suspects foul play – except for famed sleuth Lord Edgington, who may just be looking for a way to avoid his awful in-laws over Christmas. But after several unconnected villagers mysteriously die in their beds, the great detective and his young assistant must track down the culprit before the bells ring for Christmas Day and the killer strikes again.

Perfectly festive but with a fiendishly wicked mystery plot, this 1920s whodunit features a cast of eccentric suspects, a witty and warm detective duo and enough twists and turns to see you through to the New Year.

A spoiler-free, standalone novel in the bestselling “Lord Edgington Investigates…” series, “The Christmas Candle Murders” is an Agatha Christie-style mystery with a dash of Downton Abbey thrown in.

Genres: Mystery, Christmas, Audiobook, Historical Mystery, Historical Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Fiction

271 pages, Paperback

First published November 24, 2024

About the author

Writing has always been my passion. It was my favourite hour a week at primary school, and I started on my first, truly abysmal book as a teenager. So it wasn’t a difficult decision to study literature at university which led to an MA in Creative Writing. I spent a long time writing kids’ books, including funny fairy tales, dystopic adventures and serious issue-based YA, before switching to murder mysteries last year.

I grew up in a crime fiction family and spent a long time dreaming up the idea for my detective Izzy Palmer’s debut novel. A Corpse Called Bob is my first full-length book for adults in what is already becoming a long series.

I’m a Welsh-Irish-Englishman originally from South London but now living with my French/Spanish wife and slightly muddled daughter in Burgos, a beautiful city in the north of Spain. I write overlooking the Castilian countryside, trying not to be distracted by the vultures and red kites that fly past my window each day.

Reviews

[Morgan Giesbrecht · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the prologue is a smashing bit of cleverness, and then the first chapter leaves you chortling with hilarity!

A Christmas with Lord Edgington & Christopher is a Christmas well spent. I loved seeing Christopher in the natural element of his hometown village, and his desire for a Christmas like it used to be when he was a child resonated deeply.

The overarching affair(s) plot line wasn’t my favourite although I did appreciate that it wasn’t something commended or encouraged. It was portrayed as wrong and made everyone uncomfortable.

That aside, the twists were invigorating, and
I’m happy to say, I successfully called the murderer this time! All thanks to a handy little trick from my favourite FBI drama—it never steers me wrong, haha.



Content: the affair aforementioned between several married people; some mild innuendo/insinuations; mild language (d*mn)

[laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't wait

I promised myself that I would wait until it was closer to Christmas to read this, but within hours I was turning the pages. It was the expected Holiday treat! It seems like the mysteries are maturing along with Chrissy,becoming a bit more involved. I can't wait for the grand European tour!

[P.R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, but dozy me failed to realise that it's the 15th in the series! So, from a standalone viewpoint, whilst some of the references to earlier events were lost on me, the story held up extremely well. It's a great plot with a large number of characters, but most are likeable and the book is very well written, settling well into its time setting. I deducted a star because I found that it dragged at times, with unnecessary thought processes and asides from the main character.

Four stars. Would I read it again? Maybe not, but I'd like to start the series now!

[Les Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent read and looking forward to the next in the series.

[Taylor - Muse Ignited Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[marita lazarus · Rating 3 out of 5]

not my cup of tea. The setting was wonderful, the mystery was curiously written, but I could not relate to the characters.

Bah Humbug.

[Madita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these stories, they just give me a cozy christmas feeling and I love it. I also like the characters a lot and the way of story telling so I will probably start the first and none christmas book of the series in the new year.

[Glenn Younger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hometown Christmas Cacophony

Simpler than most of the whodunit stories in the Lord Edgington investigates series, it’s nonetheless entertaining in its opportunity to celebrate Christmas with Christopher and extended family in his childhood village.

Thanks to the title, we know the murder weapon so it boils down to figuring out the who and why. What makes that tricky is all the intertwining human dynamics from the cacophony of odious cousins to not-so-secret and very-secret love stories, from small town characters to people from Christopher’s youth who are not at all as he remembers them. In the process, we get to witness Christopher recognizing his growing maturity as a detective and human being.

The only thing I didn’t like was how Lord Edgington comes off as skirting the edges of mental weakness from old age. Here’s hoping that the author used it as a tool to give Christopher space to grow and isn’t an indication of Lord Edgington’s decline. From here on out, it’d be much better to have some friendly mental sparring to show Christopher’s growing sleuthing abilities rather than a swap-places dynamic.

[John Presler · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Christmas approaching, Christopher and his grandfather, Lord Edgington, return to Kilston Down to spend the holiday with Christopher's family. Unfortunately, a number of unpleasant aunts and uncles also show up at their home. In an effort to avoid the unpleasant relatives, Lord Edgington and Christopher look for a mystery to solve. Maude Evans had recently died, but her death appears to be of natural causes. Maude Evans and her younger sister, Lillibet Evans, seem to have a grudge against practically everybody in town, especially Maude's new neighbor, Gareth Heywood. When Lillibet Evans goes to clean his house, she finds Nigel Tibbs, the local grocer, to be ill and calls for Dr. Steele. Dr. Steele announces that Nigel is dead. As a result of this second death, Lord Edgington is determined to investigate the matter. A false confession and additional deaths only lead to more confusion.

Was Maude's death from natural causes or murder? Who is responsible for the additional deaths? Can Lord Edgington and Christopher unravel the mystery before more people die? Can they solve the case before Christmas? How will they deal with the troublesome relatives?

Benedict Brown has created a wonderful Christmas mystery with plenty of twists, turns, and red herrings to keep the reader engaged clear to the end. A truly wonderful story to round out the year!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Benedict strikes gold yet again‼️😃
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This heartwarming mystery takes place in Christopher's home village as Lord Edgington and staff join the family for the holiday season. Unfortunately for them, but for the reader a source of hilarity, the obnoxious extended paternal family force the residents of the house to go to great lengths in avoiding them. Granny especially hides in unusual places! Solving multiple, and apparently unrelated, murders combined with a goodly number of suspects and motives proves to be quite the challenge for our favourite crime solving duo. But solved they are and in time for some Christmas magic to heal old memories and create friends from enemies. It was nice to see more of Albert and for the two brothers to bond as adults. All in all The Christmas Candle Murders reinforce family traditions and create the possibility of making this year the best Christmas yet🎄🎄🎄

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful Christmas mystery! Christopher is delighted to be spending Christmas with the whole family, until he remembers the more irritating members. Nevertheless, he looks forward to being at home and carrying on old childhood traditions, despite his advanced age of 20. Wonderful dry humor is present as well as we follow him and Lord E. as they investigate first one, then more mysterious deaths in the village which apparently have no cause. Other village goings-on complicate matters until the end - you will be turning the pages to see what comes next! Local Christmas traditions of the time are also present, and the thorough notes at the end are fun to read as well. - I received an advance copy and freely leave this honest review.

[Chautona Havig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Technically 4.5 stars.

This one I really can't say much about except to say that I think it's probably the easiest mystery that Brown ever wrote. Even still, I LOVED seeing Christopher growing more and more and yet still being his delightful self. Brown's character growth with Christopher (both maturing as he's getting older but also growing as a detective) is stellar. Genius.

I appreciated the way Brown handled the infidelity in the book--never is it treated as "okay" at all, but it is in there and isn't optimal. I think I might have even heard a single undesirable word. Not always a thing in his books, which I appreciate. It may have been my neighbors, though, so--just warning for those who appreciate it. Neighbors aren't usually that mild, though. Now that I think about it.

[Teddi · Rating 4 out of 5]

As much as I like these books, I do have mixed feelings about this one.
I liked the characters and the whole Christmas thing.
I didn't like that the title gave away the method and that grandfather acted quite different and wasn't up to his usual snuff!
And now spoilers - if you haven't read it yet, turn away now!
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.
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The method of the murders left me puzzled. Just how does a person so poor buy or make so many candles along with the wrappings they are described as arriving in? Where did she get them or the materials from in a small village without anyone noticing? Where did the poison come from? How did she know to do this in the first place?

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful Christmas mystery. The writer invites the reader to celebrate a 1920s style Christmas with snow,carols,candles and a touch of murder. Returning home after a few years, the character, Chrissy has grown into a fascinating young man. In this novel he finds that going home again is not always how we remember it. In This instance his quiet village has become the scene of a murder of two.
It is a fun read and I enjoyed discovering clues, and watching Chrissy balance his learning, extended family members, imagination and grandfather as he steps closer to the truth. It is a cast of interesting characters and a really good book. I recommend it.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect Christmas mystery

I have loved all of the Lord Edgington Investigates mysteries, especially the Christmas mysteries, but this one is my favorite . Benedict Brown has captured the spirit of Christmas perfectly. He then combines it with three murders, a village full of possible suspects, and Chrissy's wonderful (and not so wonderful) family.
Chrissy continues to develop his skills as a detective, picking up on clues, and solving the murders with less help from his grandfather.
I am looking forward to reading about their travels.

[Lana Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nostalgia, Murder & Scrooge

Loved visiting Kilston Down for Christmas. Benedict Brown has a wonderful way of creating a community filled with interesting characters that always leads to murder and renewal. Here, Chrissy is growing into Chris, still making mistakes (though fewer), claiming his own voice, and, again, naming the killer before his grandfather. Lord Edgingham remains front and center but Chrissy stands tall on his right side. While reading this excellent story, think Scrooge!

[Dayna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fifteenth in the Lord Edgington series. Chrissy goes home to spend Christmas with his parents, brother, and other family. Finally, a Christmas with no murders, but wait... After several mysterious deaths in the village, Lord Edgington and Chrissy must once again save the day and solve the mystery. Fans of the series will thoroughly enjoy this installment as well. The depiction of Chrissy's grandmother and her family is hysterical, and that of the villagers with all their foibles is delightful.

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Christmas and Christopher and his grandfather are off to Christopher's childhood home. So is, unfortunately, Christopher's paternal grandmother's family. They could bring down the mood anywhere. So, to escape the house, Lord Edgington declares that a recent death in the village must have been murder. But it really could have been just an age-related death. Yes, the old woman was miserable and called in any number of complaints against her new neighbor (and others). However, nothing at all points to murder. Until there's another death. And another. What is happening in this small town?

[Dora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely have loved all the books in this series, I will have withdrawal symptoms when I finish the latest one. I particularly love that young Christopher grows and transitions to a young adult, the banter between grandfather and grandson makes me chuckle. I particularly like and enjoy the notes /epilogue by the author in each of the books. I highly recommend this series. Well written and very enjoyable if you like cosy mysteries. Suitable for a teen or a grandparent like me , to read.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I figured I'd do a little Christmas themed reading and this caught my eye as a cozy mystery though I haven't read any of the other "Investigates" book, luckily, it's not really necessary though I'm sure it adds a little depth if you did. Otherwise, I thought it was a delightfully pedestrian with a touch of humor, intrigue, and mood amidst the backdrop of the coming holiday.

So much fun to listen to.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I have read all the Lord Edgington books and have enjoyed every one. The bond that has grown between Chrissy and his grandfather throughout the series is so heart warming and fun. I laugh so much at Chrissy, but he is really coming into his own. I will definitely be reading the new series, and I can't wait.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait for next book.

Chrissy has grow into his own job by helping his grandfather detect who did it.
I would like to see Chrissy have his own series with a girl detective as his side kick?
No matter how old you are these books will keep you guessing to the last page.

[CJ Earls · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this 15th installment of the Lord Edgington murder mystery series we travel to grandson Christopher’s hometown where a series of mysterious deaths require the duos expertise to solve. I thoroughly enjoy this series and watching Christopher mature into a young man. I look forward to their Grand Trip to Europe.

[Kim Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great good fun

I realise that one probably shouldn't have a headline like that when the book has murder in the title, but really how can there not be fun when there is snow on the ground, a blizzard and Christmas. Oh and Christopher Prentiss solving the murders! Like I said, great good fun.

[Carola Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different

When the book begins I found it confusing, that is not new. What as new was that Lord Edgington was also confused. There are parts that had me in stitches, generally Christopher’s memories and descriptions. The ending, as always, surprising. I can’t wait for the books in the continent.

[Elizabeth B. Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done!

Might be your best yet and kept me guessing. So few facts to rely on. I almost started researching candles myself. Love the end note chapters. I, too, somehow segue from one topic to another when I research for my hobby of genealogy. I've learned a lot of history that way.

[Nancy Haddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner

Set in the village and house Christopher grew up in, this installment has him seeing himself differently. Childhood memories but seeing them and the villagers as an adult. His brother was funny in this book as was all of the core family avoidly the rude relatives who invited themselves. Now I'm excited to Lord E and Christopher on their grand tour.

[Christmas Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, goodness what a family - made for some hilarious moments. I'm talking laugh out loud hilarious. Mr. Brown knows how to write comedy as well as his quality mysteries. Christopher is really coming into his own. Highly Recommended.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun!

A slight departure from this author's usual take - investigating a non-murder that may be a murder, and Christopher more in the know than Lord E, since he grew up here. Lots of twists and turns - great addition to the series! Highly recommended!,

[Lauren Heiy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Christmas Candle Murders: A 1920 Christmas mystery.(Lord Edmonton book 15)

An intriguing English Mystery and throw in tolerating family members that can ruin the best of times. A death but is it a murder?