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Kitty Goring Investigates #4
The Twelve Lies Of Christmas: A 1920s Cozy Mystery
A Kitty Goring Investigates Holiday Mystery
December 1923, London
Kitty Goring isn’t in the mood for tinsel or trifle. But when her mother insists she attend Lady Penelope Ponsonby’s legendary Christmas masquerade at Frostbrook House, Kitty dons her peacock mask, her emerald velvet gown, and prepares for a night of brittle small talk and bottomless champagne.
What she didn’t prepare for was murder.
As snow drifts settle over the grand estate and champagne glasses clink beneath chandeliers, Lady Penelope unveils a scandalous parlour The Twelve Lies of Christmas.
But when one guest is found dead beside the punch bowl, the game turns deadly. And the lies begin to snowball.Trapped in a house full of high society’s most cunning socialites, rivals, and a few too many “coincidental” strangers, Kitty must race to uncover which lie was worth killing for...before the killer strikes again. With her loyal Scottie dog by her side, an increasingly irate Detective Inspector Henry Burton underfoot, and mistletoe concealing more secrets than kisses, Kitty must solve the case before the twelve lies turn into twelve corpses.
The Twelve Lies Of Christmas is the delightful fourth book in the Kitty Goring Investigates historical cozy mystery series; perfect for fans of Magda Alexander, Verity Bright and Kelly Mason.
Author's
London in the 1920s is a glamorous and exciting city, but danger and death are never too far behind. Join Kitty Goring and her group of Bright Young Things in the adventure of a lifetime, as they race to catch a killer who lurks amongst them.
Each book in this series is a cozy period mystery that features our plucky heroine, aided in her investigations by her scrappy little dog, Scottie, and a group of eccentric and lovable characters.
December 1923, London
Kitty Goring isn’t in the mood for tinsel or trifle. But when her mother insists she attend Lady Penelope Ponsonby’s legendary Christmas masquerade at Frostbrook House, Kitty dons her peacock mask, her emerald velvet gown, and prepares for a night of brittle small talk and bottomless champagne.
What she didn’t prepare for was murder.
As snow drifts settle over the grand estate and champagne glasses clink beneath chandeliers, Lady Penelope unveils a scandalous parlour The Twelve Lies of Christmas.
But when one guest is found dead beside the punch bowl, the game turns deadly. And the lies begin to snowball.Trapped in a house full of high society’s most cunning socialites, rivals, and a few too many “coincidental” strangers, Kitty must race to uncover which lie was worth killing for...before the killer strikes again. With her loyal Scottie dog by her side, an increasingly irate Detective Inspector Henry Burton underfoot, and mistletoe concealing more secrets than kisses, Kitty must solve the case before the twelve lies turn into twelve corpses.
The Twelve Lies Of Christmas is the delightful fourth book in the Kitty Goring Investigates historical cozy mystery series; perfect for fans of Magda Alexander, Verity Bright and Kelly Mason.
Author's
London in the 1920s is a glamorous and exciting city, but danger and death are never too far behind. Join Kitty Goring and her group of Bright Young Things in the adventure of a lifetime, as they race to catch a killer who lurks amongst them.
Each book in this series is a cozy period mystery that features our plucky heroine, aided in her investigations by her scrappy little dog, Scottie, and a group of eccentric and lovable characters.
166 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 20, 2025
34 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 25, 2025
This was a fun read! Kitty backs into a double murder investigation when her plan to rid herself of her brother’s interference backfires. They both end up at an exclusive Christmas house party, where the other party-goers make for some very interesting suspects when matters go south (as they inevitably do!). Best of all, a certain DCI is related to the hostess, and he makes sure Kitty’s assistance is welcome on the case. This doesn’t hurt the pace of their reluctant romance, which pleased me no end. I received an early copy via BookSirens, and was not required to post a review.
January 21, 2026
Kitty Goring is trying to get her new detective agency off the ground and keep it hidden from her mother. Just when it looks like she’s going to get away with it, her brother, James, finds out what she’s up to. Not being above a little sibling blackmail, he tells Kitty he’ll keep her secret if she lets him help with the investigations. After he botches the simple tasks she assigns him, Kitty realizes she has to get rid of him.
She calls her friend/colleague/bane of her existence, Det. Hugh Burton, to finagle an invitation to his cousin’s upcoming house party for Jimmy. When she’s included in the invitation, Kitty’s brilliant plan backfires, and she’s stuck accompanying her brother to the party, leaving her work behind. When a guest at the party is murdered in a room full of people, and Hugh asks her to help with the investigation, Kitty finds a job she can sink her teeth into.
This is a great book. Ella Strike pulls you right into the Roaring 20s. Her characters are wonderfully drawn, even the supporting cast. Hugh and Kitty’s relationship is growing nicely. I really like them as a couple. The mystery itself is entertaining with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing.
I received an advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily and enthusiastically leaving this 5-star review.
She calls her friend/colleague/bane of her existence, Det. Hugh Burton, to finagle an invitation to his cousin’s upcoming house party for Jimmy. When she’s included in the invitation, Kitty’s brilliant plan backfires, and she’s stuck accompanying her brother to the party, leaving her work behind. When a guest at the party is murdered in a room full of people, and Hugh asks her to help with the investigation, Kitty finds a job she can sink her teeth into.
This is a great book. Ella Strike pulls you right into the Roaring 20s. Her characters are wonderfully drawn, even the supporting cast. Hugh and Kitty’s relationship is growing nicely. I really like them as a couple. The mystery itself is entertaining with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing.
I received an advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily and enthusiastically leaving this 5-star review.
January 11, 2026
My review of book 3
Genre: Cozy historical mystery
Trope: Closed circle of suspects
Setting: December 1923; Hampstead, England
Writing style: 1st person, past tense
Tone: Mostly even, humorous
Character- or plot-driven: Plot-driven
Romance: Hints of a relationship possibly becoming romantic at some point
Sensitive aspects:
• Drug addiction (the effects are not detailed)
• 3 instances of a** (as an insult)
Yet another thoroughly enjoyable mystery. A couple things stand out: This is the first investigation DCI Burton does not lead, because the murder happens in the home of his cousins, as well as the first time he asks for Kitty's help, even if not to the extent that she of course ends up helping. There are a few misfires and bits of misdirection when it comes to identifying the culprit, keeping you on your toes. I think the trick is to pay attention to how many pages are left before trusting that the killer has been correctly identified.
Favorite Quotations:
• “Jimmy, you were ready to fight a duel for my sake. I’m so touched,” I said, putting a hand to my chest. “That’s exactly what you are,” came the acerbic reply. “Touched in the head.”
• “But why should you interfere at all?” he asked. “It is most unlike you, Kitty.” I shot him a sceptical glance because I had always been the interfering kind.
• “Besides, think of me as free labour. You don’t even have to pay me. I just want something fun to keep me occupied.” “Well, you could take Lord Huntley up on his offer of a job at the Foreign Office,” I pointed out. “I said I wanted to do something fun. Weren’t you listening? You really must work on those listening skills, Kitty,” he said severely.
• “Miss Goring, isn’t there someplace you can send Sir James?” “You mean… a lunatic asylum?”
• And Lady Carstairs would join a convent before she asked the police to retrieve the compromising letters that are currently in Lord Myer’s possession.” I let out a loud snort. “If Lord Myer makes those letters public, as he’s threatening to, a convent might be her only option after her husband reads the unsavoury passages she wrote to her tennis instructor,” I said dryly.
• “This is a lovely house, Lady Ponsonby,” said Jimmy, who had been staring at the hideous tapestry speechlessly.
• I drew myself up and stared down my nose at him. At least, I tried to, but it was made difficult by the fact that he was almost a head taller than me, and I had to look up at him while trying to stare down my nose.
• His misadventure with the plague doctor last night seemed to have bolstered Jimmy’s courage, which had an adverse effect on his nearly non-existent driving skills.
(I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens and am gratefully—voluntarily—leaving a review.)
Genre: Cozy historical mystery
Trope: Closed circle of suspects
Setting: December 1923; Hampstead, England
Writing style: 1st person, past tense
Tone: Mostly even, humorous
Character- or plot-driven: Plot-driven
Romance: Hints of a relationship possibly becoming romantic at some point
Sensitive aspects:
• Drug addiction (the effects are not detailed)
• 3 instances of a** (as an insult)
Yet another thoroughly enjoyable mystery. A couple things stand out: This is the first investigation DCI Burton does not lead, because the murder happens in the home of his cousins, as well as the first time he asks for Kitty's help, even if not to the extent that she of course ends up helping. There are a few misfires and bits of misdirection when it comes to identifying the culprit, keeping you on your toes. I think the trick is to pay attention to how many pages are left before trusting that the killer has been correctly identified.
Favorite Quotations:
• “Jimmy, you were ready to fight a duel for my sake. I’m so touched,” I said, putting a hand to my chest. “That’s exactly what you are,” came the acerbic reply. “Touched in the head.”
• “But why should you interfere at all?” he asked. “It is most unlike you, Kitty.” I shot him a sceptical glance because I had always been the interfering kind.
• “Besides, think of me as free labour. You don’t even have to pay me. I just want something fun to keep me occupied.” “Well, you could take Lord Huntley up on his offer of a job at the Foreign Office,” I pointed out. “I said I wanted to do something fun. Weren’t you listening? You really must work on those listening skills, Kitty,” he said severely.
• “Miss Goring, isn’t there someplace you can send Sir James?” “You mean… a lunatic asylum?”
• And Lady Carstairs would join a convent before she asked the police to retrieve the compromising letters that are currently in Lord Myer’s possession.” I let out a loud snort. “If Lord Myer makes those letters public, as he’s threatening to, a convent might be her only option after her husband reads the unsavoury passages she wrote to her tennis instructor,” I said dryly.
• “This is a lovely house, Lady Ponsonby,” said Jimmy, who had been staring at the hideous tapestry speechlessly.
• I drew myself up and stared down my nose at him. At least, I tried to, but it was made difficult by the fact that he was almost a head taller than me, and I had to look up at him while trying to stare down my nose.
• His misadventure with the plague doctor last night seemed to have bolstered Jimmy’s courage, which had an adverse effect on his nearly non-existent driving skills.
(I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens and am gratefully—voluntarily—leaving a review.)
January 26, 2026
Christmas lies
Kitty is trying to start up her own private detective agency while also avoiding her mother finding out this fact. Unfortunately for her her brother Jimmy who bless his heart is special (if you’ve read the books you know) finds out and insists on being a part of the agency. After his blunders threaten to destroy all Kitty’s plans she decides to get him out of the house for the holiday so she can carry on. Roped into a house party she finds she’s not left business home at all. The holidays are especially treacherous and the clock is ticking for Kitty to catch the culprit before they escape for good. This book is great fun! I enjoyed the manor house mystery taking place in an actual English manor house lol. Limited suspects and a whole lotta questionable behavior is leaving the sleuths and the police scratching their heads. The chase for the capture through a masquerade was a lovely and exciting touch. A light quick read perfect for the holidays or any season!
Kitty is trying to start up her own private detective agency while also avoiding her mother finding out this fact. Unfortunately for her her brother Jimmy who bless his heart is special (if you’ve read the books you know) finds out and insists on being a part of the agency. After his blunders threaten to destroy all Kitty’s plans she decides to get him out of the house for the holiday so she can carry on. Roped into a house party she finds she’s not left business home at all. The holidays are especially treacherous and the clock is ticking for Kitty to catch the culprit before they escape for good. This book is great fun! I enjoyed the manor house mystery taking place in an actual English manor house lol. Limited suspects and a whole lotta questionable behavior is leaving the sleuths and the police scratching their heads. The chase for the capture through a masquerade was a lovely and exciting touch. A light quick read perfect for the holidays or any season!
January 10, 2026
The Twelve Lies Of Christmas is an Excellent story about Kitty Goring who has a secret detective agency and her very clever,sleuthing, heroic dog Scottie and her Brother Jimmy. They attend house party and a Christmas Masquerade and they play a game of twelve lies. But one of the guest are murdered. DCI Henry Burton is called to investigate and asks for the assistance of Kitty. There are many twists and turns throughout mystery. But can they discover the truth before Christmas?
Superb story and series that I am enjoying reading and I highly recommend that you read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Superb story and series that I am enjoying reading and I highly recommend that you read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 19, 2026
this was another winner in the Kitty Goring Investigates series, it had that historical cozy mystery element that I was looking for and was engaged in the time-period being used. It had that element that I enjoyed from the previous three books and enjoyed how everything worked together to create this mystery. Ella Strike has a strong writing style and have enjoyed the entire series and characters and glad I got to read this.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 19, 2026
This was another exciting adventure with Kitty going to a Christmas party with her brother, Jimmy, only to be involved in another murder when a guest is stabbed while everyone else is dancing. It was an exciting case to read about where you were kept guessing who the culprit was until the very end, and you also got to learn more about Henry, which was extra fun. I'm looking forward to the next adventure in Egypt!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 27, 2025
A simply fantastic cozy mystery! I’ve been following this series since book one and I absolutely adore each book that has followed. The characters are so enjoyable and I love their idiosyncrasies. If you are looking for a classical historical cozy mystery, then this book is for you! Read the series in order of each book as a standalone, either way it is wonderful!
Until next time,
Happy reading !📖
Until next time,
Happy reading !📖
December 20, 2025
Kitty Goring and her brother Jimmy are in the midst of murders where a game sets off a chain of chaos. There is a lot more than meets the eye. Lots of suspense, mayhem and humour to make this captivating from the start. I received this ARC copy via Booksirans which is intriguing and has you on the edge of your seat . I recommend this book to other readers.
December 24, 2025
Who is killing people? First a gentleman and then a lady.This book is a great Christmas mystery.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 30, 2025
I really enjoyed this one! A great mystery, and I'm optimistic about the new friendship between Kitty and Henry will soon become more.
January 7, 2026
A quick way to pass the afternoon. The extraneous characters are meant to be boorish and a challenge and the author succeeds. An easy fun read to pass the afternoon.
January 18, 2026
I received a ARC free from the author and this is my voluntary honest.
Humorous.
Clever.
Suspenseful.
Easy read.
Humorous.
Clever.
Suspenseful.
Easy read.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews