A solid festive murder mystery with the very quirky Edie. I loved the puzzle elements and although it felt a little slow in places, I enjoyed it!

I'm a bit late with this one - but the date was wrong on NetGalley.

Edie Sullivan, an octogenarian, is a bit of a loner and a lover of puzzles - setting crosswords keeps her occupied. With Christmas approaching, she is avoiding everyone even more that usual; to say it's not her favourite time of year is a bit of an understatement. When she finds a hand-delivered box on her doorstep it proves to contain six jigsaw pieces which, when joined together, make up part of a crime scene. Also included is a note warning of more deaths unless she finds the other pieces of the puzzle before Christmas eve. Edie contacts her nephew for help, DI Sean Brand-O'Sullivan but when a body is found near to death, he is warned by his superiors not to share any information with his aunt whose prowess is known to all. But Edie is not that easy to control ...

This is a very enigmatic read - I was never quite sure what was going to happen next. I did, however, love the characters and would be delighted if they appeared again. I lost track of the story from time to time but that probably more down to me than the book. If you enjoy a mystery, the author has set other little puzzles to enjoy along the way. For me, this is a four star read.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

Edie is a curmudgeonly old soul who is not fond of most things or people. She sets cryptic crossword puzzles and knows she is more intelligent than most people. When someone sets her a puzzle she has to solve it before too many people get killed. Definitely worth a read.

A good festive read with a bit of murder added in. I liked how occasionally you would get chapters from the killer, without giving anything away. Edie is the main character who is an avid puzzler who also creates them as her job, she gets sent some puzzle pieces and has to solve the puzzle or more people will die. I loved the character progression, and she is the type of character you aren't meant to overly like, you find her a bit stuck in her ways and rude, but the book shows you why she is like this and also allows her character to develop throughout the story.
It was a bit slow paced at times for me, and I think I prefer previous Christmas books from Alexandra Benedict, but I would still read more and I did enjoy this one, just not as much.

Alexandra Benedict is an author I always feel challenged by,her story and her puzzles. This story is a bit darker than the last book, however I thoroughly enjoyed it and the old lady. I couldnt solve the puzzle but had fun trying lol!!! Definitely worth a read

My second Benedict and I can honestly say what a vast improvement between her first and this one. Benedict has really honed her craft and utilised her skill with puzzles and jigsaws in a really impressive and compulsive way.
Great mystery, interesting set of characters and a satisfying conclusion. Exciting to see her develop even more as an author.

Alexandra Benedict is a sort of Christmas tradition and I always feel challenged by her story and her puzzles.
This story is a bit darker than the other but I thoroughly enjoyed it and the old lady.
Didn't solved the puzzled but had fun
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I requested a copy of this after absolutely loving The Christmas Murder Game by this author. Although completely different in plot, tone and characters, this didn’t disappoint, and I was instantly drawn into the life of Edie, a confident and sarcastic eighty-year-old woman who seems to dislike most people. There were lots of vibrant characters to suspect, along with the inclusion of puzzles to solve which complemented the main plot.

Did I manage to solve any puzzles or guess who the murderer was? No. But I thoroughly enjoyed trying to and that’s the main thing.

If you love cosy Christmas crime, cantankerous old people and can do a cryptic crossword without crying* then you’ll love The Christmas Jigsaw Murders.

*puzzling skills optional 😅

Never one to be put off, I do like to give authors a second chance. This third novel from Alexandra Benedict was certainly better than the second. I haven't read the first, so cannot possibly comment. This book appealed to me, as I do like a jigsaw.

So when Edie gets delivered a box of jigsaw pieces, that when put together resemble a crime scene and with a note saying, there will be four or more people dead by Christmas Eve, she sets out to try and solve the mystery.

Calling in help from her nephew, who happens to be a police inspector, they set out to solve the mystery. When more bodies turn up, each with jigsaw pieces, it seems that perhaps Edie is the intended victim. However Edie has all the pieces and she can put together the right picture so the culprit is found.

These books are intriguing as there are many other clues and references to be found in the book. Although I didn't really pay any attention to that as they are not necessary for the story. Just a bit of Christmas fun, which is what these stories are and I whilst I enjoyed this book more than the previous, I would be reluctant to perhaps pick up one again.

Alexandra Benedict has built a reputation on her Christmas murder mystery books, with three interactive mysteries released in as many years. After enjoying The Christmas Murder Game, this year’s Christmas Jigsaw Murders felt like the perfect festive whodunnit.

The story itself is intriguing - Edie, a 80-something crossword writer becomes embroiled in a murder investigation when the killer sends her jigsaw pieces, warning her people will die by Christmas if she doesn’t solve the case. Edie is a great character, she is brusque, says what she thinks and doesn’t care what anyone else thinks. When his parents died tragically, Edie took in her nephew, Sean, who has grown up to become a Detective Inspector. However, Edie also has a secret, and evidently a hidden past which we don’t know about.Between them, Edie and Sean both must investigate to find out exactly who is behind the jigsaw murders. Why has Edie been sent the jigsaw pieces? But of course, Edie is not officially allowed to investigate, but when she recieves further pieces, they come with a warning not to involve the police. So of course Edie must investigate in tandem with Sean.

As the book progresses and more, seemingly disconnected murders occur, it becomes a race for Edie to solve the puzzle before Christmas.

The plot for this one is slightly contrived, and there are certainly a few moments which stretch plausibility. If you are looking for a fair whodunnit where you can solve the clues, this book is maybe a little bit tricksy. However, in this book, it felt like the plot was less important than the characters themselves and the part they had to play in the unfolding drama. Benedict has built a compelling cast of characters, from our tempramental and sarcastic protagonist Edie to her lovable neighbor Riga and even Sean and his supporting officers. The relationships between Sean and Edie, and Edie and Riga are sweet, funny and heartwarming. It’s incredibly refreshing to read a book that centres not only one elderly woman as the protagonist, but two and shows such a wonderful friendship.

One major aspect of Benedict’s novels is that she embeds puzzles throughout. This time we had three: hiddens Dickens anagrams, Fleetwood Mac song references and a letter ‘jigsaw’ at the start of each chapter. Alongside this there were plenty of Dickens easter eggs (or should that be Christmas presents?) to spot. These aspects are a puzzle lover’s dream and I’ll admit, I spent more time solving the anagrams than I did trying to solve the actual murders! If you aren’t a fan of these puzzles, the are probably easily ignored, they just add a fun extra dimension to the book.

The Christmas Jigsaw Murders is a fun, festive cracker of a book. It might not be the most cohesive and well plotted mystery, but it’s full of Christmas spirit, If you love a bit of crime at Christmas Benedict’s books make for great festive reading.

I enjoyed this book and had to keep reading to find out who the murderer was and it had a very good ending.

Unfortunately, I ran out of time due to personal circumstances so was not able to read, really sorry for any inconvenience.

So you think Christmas is all joy, fun and laughter. Think again.. This Christmas tale is dark and murderous and mysterious. This is a book that keeps you on your toes and keeps you guessing. You will not want to put it down until you find out the truth.

Great characters and story and I really enjoyed reading this book. Very entertaining and it is great to read a different style of Christmas read.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I don’t usually read Christmas books but who can resist a murder mystery at Christmas. Eighty year old Edie O’Sullivan is a well known puzzle setter who at the start of December finds six jigsaw puzzle pieces on her doorstep which gives clues to a murder to be committed and the promise of more to follow if Edie cannot solve the mystery. With a cast of eccentric characters this novel certainly kept me guessing until the end and was perfect for the cold winters evenings. As well as the mystery we also learn more of Edies life and why she dislikes the Christmas season so much.I will be looking for more books from this author. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Alexandra Benedict's Murder on the Christmas Express so once I had completed that trip, I made sure to collect all the pieces for this new mystery.

And it is a mystery in several senses.

A week before Christmas, misanthropic crossword-puzzle setter Edie O’Sullivan receives a present - a handful of jigsaw pieces making up part of a murder scene. It's accompanied by a threat - Edie has been set a challenge, to prevent a series of murders which will climax on Christmas Eve.

Edie accepts the challenge, to the chagrin of her nephew Sean who, as a young Detective Sergeant, doesn't want her trampling all over the case (either metaphorically or - because Edie seems to know no law - literally, once the bodies start turning up).

The killer, "Rest in Pieces" seems to have a particular hatred of Edie, but is also happy to commit mayhem across Weymouth, causing panic and dismay among the Christmas lights and tinsel. What do they want, and can they be stopped?

This was a fun and enjoyable book, the more so - oddly perhaps? - because Edie is actually a thoroughly dislikable character. (She knows this - asked 'How many people do you p*** off every day?' Edie response is simple: 'Sure. I'm an a******e.' Admittedly as the story proceeds we learn more about what she's suffered, which goes some way to make her more sympathetic, but her behaviour is simply outrageous. Not suffering fools gladly, and rampaging across police business, is only part of it. She insults everyone she meets, behaves obnoxiously, and goes out of her way to be as disagreeable as she can. If somebody is targeting her, it's hardly surprising, and the list of suspects isn't going to be short.

How Edie resolves this, what it might cost her, and where in her shady past she'll need to go to find the resources she needs in this crisis - well, read the book if you want to find out! It's frankly a puzzle bt one that Benedict pulls off triumphantly.

And as I said above, that's not the only puzzle. Hidden in the story are multiple challenges for the reader, including anagrams and song titles (some of which I managed to solve, but mostly not - the story is so good and so distracting!) It's also got a pleasingly Dickensian (while modern) affect, signalled by the opening words: 'No one was dead, not to begin with.' Indeed there's perhaps a touch of the Miss Havisham about Edie - if Miss H was prone to solve murder mysteries.

All in all, immense fun.

Fun and easy read, perfect for Christmas and anyone who likes cosy crime. Festive solution to anyone shopping for Richard Osman fans.

Read this with interest after listening to The Christmas Murder Game and found this different and a very pleasant and well constructed read. I enjoyed the previous novel by the author but felt that this was a real progression in plot and character building with a good twist.

The main protagonist is 80 year old Edie, hating Christmas due to events from the past and loving only her beloved crosswords and jigsaws. Can she solve a puzzle based on both and save someone close to her before it is too late?

Enjoyable read and good plot twist at the end.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Christmas Jigsaw Murders centres around Edie O'Sullivan, a renowned puzzle setter, who receives a note and a jigsaw puzzle to solve in order to prevent multiple murders. The plot takes place throughout the month of December in the run up to Christmas.

I really enjoyed this book, particularly Edie's character who was extremely blunt but had a very unique way of thinking which was fascinating to follow along with. The chapters from the killer's perspective really helped build the tension and were quite creepy to read. I loved the seaside setting of Weymouth and thought it added to the festive atmosphere. There were some absolutely incredible plot twists which I didn't see coming!

My only complaint is that I found at times the plot moved slightly too slowly for my liking. I loved the ending however I think it took a bit too long to get there and there were some details which became irrelevant to the ending which we spend a long time focussing on.

Overall I would recommend this book if you're looking for a fun, Christmassy murder mystery and I'm already looking forward to rereading this next Christmas!

3.5 stars for me!

I really enjoyed this. It was an easy, fun read and I think a great cozy Christmas thriller/mystery book! I loved the extra puzzles in the book (although I am not very good at puzzles myself lol) but I think that this is a great extra and also makes this the perfect book to gift for any family/friends who are booklovers!

Edie is 80 years old and she receives a parcel full of jigsaw pieces. She must figure out the puzzle to stop the murders happening in the days leading up to Christmas. Edie was a great character to follow and see her grow throughout the plot. This book really reminded me of the Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman, so if you are a fan of those I think you would also enjoy this!

I would like to thank Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

You’ve got to love a festive, puzzle-based (with a dash of murder mystery thrown in) book title, right? The Christmas Jigsaw Murders had me hooked instantly from the title and, luckily the story was just as good! It kept me entertained, guessing all the way through and satisfied at its conclusion – like any good jigsaw puzzle.

Not many books start with games, but The Christmas Jigsaw Murders lives up to its puzzle theme with author Alexandra Benedict setting challenges for us, the readers, such as spot the Fleetwood Mac song titles throughout and see if you can work out the Charles Dickens anagrams too. This perfectly set the scene for what’s to come in the story…

Set on the English coast, in Weymouth, eighty-year-old Edie O’Sullivan has the fantastic job of creating crosswords for a newspaper. She lives with her three cats (Peggoty, Fezziwig and Mr Bumble), laments her ex-lover, Sky and regularly has boozy catch ups with her rather fabulous neighbour and friend, Riga.

Her adopted son (also nephew), Sean is a DI in the police and when Edie receives some sinister jigsaw pieces in the post, from the perfectly named, Rest In Pieces, they need to join forces to solve a puzzle with potentially fatal consequences.

On the one hand, Edie is in her element. She loves putting her puzzling mind to work – but on the other, people will literally die if she isn’t quick enough to solve the clues. And just who, exactly, is sending her the jigsaw pieces? They know a lot about Edie’s life and definitely have a grudge against her – but why? Are Edie’s years of being too cantankerous coming back to haunt her?

Edie is a classic Christmas novel character. Alexandra Benedict shares her love of Charles Dickens at the beginning of the book, so it’s no surprise to see the similarities between Edie’s story arc and that of Scrooge. But with a far more fabulous wardrobe – Edie wears vintage Vivienne Westwood and I do love her for that.

Ending with the answers to the puzzles set at the beginning and one or two recipes to get us in the Christmas spirit, The Christmas Jigsaw Murders really was a cosy, fun little read! I laughed out loud quite a few times at Edie and Riga’s dry take on things.

The book also had a strong emotional hit as it captured the mixed feelings people can have about this time of year, while layering on the sentimentality that, let’s face it, if you have Christmas in the book title, has to be there. The ending got me welling up and reaching for the mulled wine and mince pies – always a great sign!