A very entertaining and intriuging murder mystery, set in a remote country house in a snowstorm. Just my cup of tea! There is a difference to this story in that there are clues and anagrams and extra puzzles for the reader to solve along the way. You don't have to though, it reads just as well without the need to stop and unpick word puzzles if you prefer.. I liked the traditional big country house environment but with the modern day setting. It's pacy, there are plenty of twists and bumps in the night. I enjoyed the characters and it's a great plot. If you like the sound of it, you'll probably enjoy it, great fun!

I really loved this book. Ots such a step away from the norm and has you tyring to puzzle things out and if your anything like me, failing, but that doesn't stop it from being a really good read. O can't say I loved any of the characters but then isn't that families are all about, not being able to choose them and being stuck with what you're born into. It won't keep you up at night but you'll blast through it in an afternoon and love every second of it

I quite enjoyed this, it was a nice murder at Christmas book that was easy to get into. At times I felt I was a picturesque murder mystery weekend, and was pleased I wasn't part because my brain don't work with those clues! I think that some of the outcomes where a bit obvious, but it was the getting there that made it enjoyable

This is a quite dark and complex Christmas murder novel. I think it's a sort of homage to the complex puzzle of Golden Age mysteries and it uses some of the GAD trops delivering an original and gripping novel.
We are used to think as Golden Age mystery as light and cozy forgetting that some of them are quite dark and the families are usually dysfunctional.
The characters are not likeable, I wouldn't be happy to spend time with them. Lily, the MC, is damaged and still grieving the death of her mother.
Other characters are simply nasty but all of them are fleshed out.
I wasn't able to solve the puzzles but I found them fascinating.
The mystery is solid and, even if I guessed some twists, it kept me reading.
There are some repetition and some less repetition of how Lily is feeling would have helped.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I liked the modern take on the story and although I did guess some of the outcome I was intrigued to read to the end. Quite brutal in parts and the clues were way too cryptic for me but I liked the story and Lily and found it a quick and enjoyable read.

A good old fashion murder mystery tale well told. I enjoyed the plotting an puzzles that gave the book a refreshing update. Highly recommended for those cold winter nights.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The information given presents this book as a traditional murder mystery set at Christmas, and other reviewers gave described it as a cosy mystery. It is definitely set from Christmas Eve through the 12 days of Christmas but I would not describe it as a cosy mystery. Several family members, including Lily, the lead character in the novel, are invited to the country manor to solve clues and the winner will inherit the house. I think it is likely to appeal to readers who enjoy solving cryptic clues rather than reading a simple, predictable cosy mystery.
I found the clues so cryptic that I didn't want to bother to solve them. Some of the language used in dialogues was stronger than I like. The characters were generally selfish and unlikeable. Some of the descriptions were lovely, almost poetic, and some bordered on horror scenes. I persevered with this book because I committed to providing a review, and believe that it would appeal to some readers who enjoy wondering and solving clues but I did not like it or enjoy it.

Thanks to Bonnier Books for a review copy.

I was very interested to read a novel by Alexandra Benedict having only encountered her work in audio drama before.

This novel is the perfect festive read for those who enjoy a good mystery. The central character of the novel, Lily, is persuaded, much against her better judgement, to spend the twelve days of Christmas at her childhood home where a series of games will be played with other members of the family. So far so traditional but this year there is a difference; the matriarch of the family, Lily’s aunt and adoptive mother has died and has left instructions that the winner of the games will win the house and all the family fortune… For Lily there is an added incentive. She has never returned since her mother committed suicide two decades ago but now her recently deceased aunt has promised that she will also learn the truth of that terrible day - but only if she plays.

The story is set in Yorkshire and the weather is bad, soon after their arrival the family find themselves snowed in with only each other and the mysterious Mrs Castle for company. Then the games begin.

Whilst plenty of Christmas mysteries take place in snowed-in mansions I have never come across one like this. Lily has only agreed to take part so that she can find out what really happened the night her mother died and has no interest in winning the house but her cousins have very different ideas.

Each of twelve days of Christmas has a clue in the form of a sonnet which leads to a key. These sonnets have been beautifully constructed by the author to provide hours of entertainment for the reader as we try, along with Lily, to solve the anagrams, acrostics, hidden words and other clues concealed within them. For extra head scratching entertainment we are also encouraged to spot an anagram of the relevant line from ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ in each of the days as well as the names of twelve festive crime novels cunningly hidden in the text. This is a book which the puzzle enthusiast will savour – I will definitely buy a copy of the physical book so that I can enjoy the word play and word games over and over again.

Lily is a keen sewer and I pictured her as a contestant on the Great British Sewing Bee. Although she is an excellent puzzle solver she stumbles towards the larger truth slowly and and does not piece together the physical clues to the larger mystery until the very end. As I reader I felt I could share her journey rather than just feeling as though she had Herculean deductive powers.

The rest of the family are a mixed bunch; all well differentiated from one another. As often in these types of stories some of the people are so dysfunctional that it almost impossible to believe in them but then there are some very strange folk around and forced family get togethers do tend to bring out the worst in people!

The story is fun and well written though the ending is quite predictable. But then this book is not really about the ending but about the Lily’s journey and, as such, it is wholly different from anything which I have read before. It is written in the present tense which I normally don’t like but it works extremely well here and gives pace to the narrative.

My only criticism is that there are rather too many similes which give some sections an unnecessary air of pretentiousness that detracts from, rather than adds to, the fun of the novel. The writing is such that we could easily picture the characters and settings without the slightly forced similes that seem very out of place. Other than that I thoroughly enjoyed my twelve days at Endgame House and I recommend this book to anyone who likes to lose themselves in a good puzzle as the nights draw in and the snow starts to fall.

I really enjoyed this country house Christie style whodunnit. Full of great characters and an engaging plot. An author to watch out for.

Oh my goodness, I loved this book. I gobbled it up in one sitting.
The story is set over the Christmas holidays, running from Christmas Eve to the 12th January as a family attempt to unravel cryptic clues and avoid a killer to complete the annual 'Christmas game' as they compete to 'win' their inheritance of the family estate.
Our protagonist Lily is returning to Endgame House for the first time in over 21 tears. She has no wish to return and only does so after receiving a letter from her recently deceased Aunt Liliana - a letter that emotionally blackmails forces Lily in attending Endgame House for the 'game'. Under the terms of the will the potential beneficiaries must participate in one final version of the annual Christmas Game as created by Liliana over the years. Now, Lily is reluctantly reunited with her cousins and it's not long before old feelings of resentment rise and the group are fighting with each other. Each day the group are faced with a cryptic clue (as long as they participate in all meals, remain at the house etc). When the weather worsens, the group realise that they are now snowed in and there is no way to connect with the 'outside' world. And then the murders start .....
There is a wonderful sense of the 'golden age' of mysteries in this book, filled with twists and puzzles. The group are isolated and do not know who - if anyone - to trust. Memories of Agatha Christie come to mind - and cannot think of a better recommendation. This is a wonderfully original and intriguing tale with the added bonus on a 'game' for the reader to play.
Also, despite the title and Christmassy setting, this book can be read at any time of the year so don't miss out.

This is a Christmas murder mystery with a twist: readers who enjoy puzzles will love searching for the hidden book titles and anagrams in each chapter. The story is set in a remote country house, with the inevitable heavy snow to prevent anyone getting to or from the house during the twelve days of Christmas . The family group are tasked with solving clues and finding keys, the winner inherits the house. Hen the killings start…..
This is a good seasonal mystery.

Rating: 3.2/5

Firstly, I would like to point out that although this is entitled "The Christmas Murder Game" it could equally well be read at any time of year and I hope people do not dismiss is as purely a seasonal read. In this respect it shares something in common with Agatha Christie's "Hallowe'en Party".

This is an enjoyable murder mystery with some fun elements that has its roots firmly in the "Golden Age" tradition, but with something of a modern day makeover. Following the death of her Aunt Liliana, Lily attends Endgame House, the manor house that will form the central part of the estate to be inherited. She is joined there by her cousins and their significant others. Under the terms of the will the potential beneficiaries must participate in one final version of the annual Christmas Game that Aunt Liliana loved to arrange when she was alive. It is a pre-condition of winning the ultimate prize that the participants must remain in the house for the full twelve days of Christmas - but will they all live that long?

There is more than a hint of Christie's classic "And Then There Were None" to the format - though that observation could be made about any number of latter day locked room style murder mysteries. Alexandra Benedict has generally succeeded in transposing the action to a modern day setting, while still retaining the feel and atmosphere that is associated with a story from the "Golden Age". The cast of characters are generally engaging, if not always likeable. The author has also tried to introduce an element of uniqueness by setting the reader some puzzles of their own to solve along the way, in addition to the usual "whodunnit?" question.

On the whole, I found this to be an enjoyable read that is well-paced and holds the attention. Stylistically it is a little awkward at times and comes across as a bit clunky on occasion, though this is a result - at least in part - of incorporating the reader's challenge into the narrative.

Nonetheless, this is an interesting variation on an established theme and should provide fans of the genre with a worthwhile and entertaining read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

The Christmas Murder Game - Alexandra Benedict

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Zaffre and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Follow the clues. Find the fortune. Solve the Mystery. This Christmas is to die for. Let the game begin . . .

'Endgame has kept our secrets for half a century, now it's time for it, and its secrets, to have a new owner.'

When Lily returns home to her aunt's manor house, she discovers that in order to inherit, she and her estranged cousins must stay together over the Christmas week and take part in a family tradition: the annual treasure hunt.

First of all, it was nice seeing local place names in this book. This is an entertaining read with an interesting twist on a Christmas book. The writer has even stuck a puzzle in for the reader to play along with as they follow Lily's journey through the maze that is Endgame.

I was invested in this book until the end as whilst it is predictable in places, it also through up some interesting surprises. It is very difficult to write a review for this book without giving away too much - but if you are a fan of Agatha Christie then you should enjoy this book. Give it a read and see if you can survive the murder game.

Rating 4/5

Painstakingly Plotted….
A festive murder mystery is always, always a delight and one that invokes the Golden Age is, for me at least, more so. A snowstorm, a village, a country house, an estranged family and a tradition- the Christmas Game. That tradition is soon to turn deadly and there will be more than an inheritance at stake. Uniquely told, a joy to read, painstakingly plotted and puzzles in which to participate - this is a modern take on the traditional Christmas Country House Murder Mystery. All good, festive fun.

This is a bit Agatha Christie in nature... Set in big house, add a bunch of family members all vying to inherit, isolate them with no technology, and throw in a game they must compete against each other - to win the house. Oh and there's a snowstorm coming... What Could Possibly Go Wrong!
Murder and Mayhem ensues...
Lily, our main character, is reluctant to take part in the shenanigans but there's an extra tempter for her to do so. Her deceased Aunt has made it clear to her that as well as the house to play for, she will also get clues which will tell her the truth about the death of her mother.
There's also games for the reader to play along the way which might appeal to some but I find that stuff distracting and competing would just take me out of the story so i passed on that invitation...
So there's 12 clues, one a day for the 12 days of Christmas and they are actually quite cleverly created. I gave up quite early on trying to make head or tale of them. But I appreciated them when Lily solved and explained them to me! They added to the main theme of the story - that of being dark and claustrophobic. And as the body count starts to rise - very Agatha - I was swept away with all that was happening and gave up trying to second guess everything.
I also didn't really fully buy into the characters. I found them both a little flat and overcomplicated and didn't really connect to any of them fully. But I still cared a bit about what happened to some of them so I guess I was invested in a way.
Pacing was on the whole good but there were times when it went a bit wordy and I lost focus of the story. Not many, but enough to notice.
It's also alternately predictable and surprising - and yes that does make sense! But it held my attention well and finished strong, if a little cheesy!
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Loved this festive murder mystery - hugely entertaining, filled with twists and puzzles. You could see some of the outcome coming from a way off, but the journey is a joy. It would be a stretch to suggest the Christmas Murder Game is particularly realistic, but the inter-character tensions (awful families are very much the order of the day) and a ‘no one is safe’ vibe keep things rattling along. Bonus points for including actual puzzles for the reader too (which I failed entirely).

Reading on a warm September weekend was the only disappointment- this book wants a cold winters day, a roaring fire and maybe a nice chilled Sherry or glass of port.

Alexandra Benedict serves up a traditional country house Christmas mystery set in the Yorkshire Dales as the snow falls heavily, threatening to cut off Endgame House. 33 year old Lily Armitage lost her mother, Mariana, as a child in an apparent suicide in the famous maze at Endgame House, an event that scarred her, which she has never got over, as she keeps the world at bay, not allowing herself to get close to anyone so that she would never be hurt again. She is a gifted dressmaker, rustling up copies of whatever her clients desire, living in a tiny place in London. Her adoptive mother, a professor of poetry at Cambridge, Aunt Liliana, has died, leaving behind instructions that Lily must go to Endgame House, a place she has avoided after her mother died there.

Lily really doesn't want to go, but is enticed by Liliana telling her Mariana was murdered, and if she wants to know more, then she must spend Christmas at the manor. Her cousins will be there, and a Christmas puzzle game has been set up for them to solve with 12 clues, 12 keys they must get, with the prize, Endgame House itself. However, they have to stay for the entire 12 days of Christmas, looked after by the housekeeper, Mrs Castle, but they have to give up their phones and any device that might provide them access to the internet. All of them are welcomed by a familiar face, Isabelle Stirling, a lawyer who sets out the terms of Liliana's wishes which they must abide by, after which she leaves. It is not long before the first murder occurs, and everyone is trapped with a ruthless killer among them intent on ensuring Endgame House will be owned by them.

This is a dark and intense locked room Christmas mystery which I am sure many readers will enjoy, although perhaps there was a little too much repetition of Lily's grief and memories of the loss of her mother for me. Benedict adds a series of anagrams from the 12 Days of Christmas in the narrative, along with titles of other known murder mystery novels too. This is a entertaining and engaging seasonal crime read, of secrets, Lily's, Endgame House's and others in her family, and murders, past and present. Although it did take me a little time to become immersed in it, I liked the second half of the book more, and the puzzles within the novel will appeal to those who love the crime and mystery genre and want to use their own little grey cells! Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

This was sadly absolutely not my cup of tea. I have no idea how this managed to be both utterly predictable and also way too complicated!

If you like a cosy murder mystery, this is the book for you!

Lily Armitage receives a letter from her deceased aunt claiming that Lily's mother didn't commit suicide, she was murdered. The only way Lily will find out what really happened to her mother is to spend the 12 days of Christmas at Endgame House playing the Christmas Game.

With the snow falling heavily and all communication cut off at the house and the prize at the end of the game is Endgame House itself, we have the perfect setting for murder!

I absolutely loved this! I thought the characters were brilliant but I am glad I don't need to spend any time with them! I loved all the clues in the game and I found myself trying to solve the riddles! One by one people in the house are killed and you are trying to find the killer but as usual I am a hopeless detective!

An absolutely brilliant read for this time of year!

My favourite book of this year so far! SO much fun, cleverly written and with all the intrigue and festivity of an Agatha Christie classic, I stayed up until 2am to finish this one.

Cannot WAIT to see what the author brings out next, I'll be sure to be the first in line to read it!