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The Christmas Murder Game
The Christmas Murder Game: The must-read murder mystery for Christmas 2021 | Alexandra Benedict
42 posts | 28 read | 15 to read
The perfect gift for fans of Agatha Christie and classic crime this Christmas. 'A perfectly plotted festive mystery' SUSI HOLLIDAY THIS CHRISTMAS IS TO DIE FOR . . . LET THE GAME BEGIN Lily Armitage never intended to return to Endgame House - the grand family home where her mother died twenty-one Christmases ago. Until she receives a letter from her aunt, asking her to return to take part in an annual tradition: the Christmas Game. The challenge? Solve twelve clues, to find twelve keys. The prize? The deeds to the manor house. Lily has no desire to win the house. But her aunt makes one more promise: The clues will also reveal who really killed Lily's mother all those years ago. So, for the twelve days of Christmas, Lily must stay at Endgame House with her estranged cousins and unravel the riddles that hold the key not just to the family home, but to its darkest secrets. However, it soon becomes clear that her cousins all have their own reasons for wanting to win the house - and not all of them are playing fair. As a snowstorm cuts them off from the village, the game turns deadly. Soon Lily realises that she is no longer fighting for an inheritance, but for her life. Twelve clues. Twelve keys. Twelve days of Christmas. But who will survive until Twelfth Night? 'Utterly original and breathtakingly intriguing... A must-read this Christmas' STEPH BROADRIBB 'The perfect updating of the classic Christmas Country House mystery . . . Fabulous festive fun' DEREK FARRELL 'The perfect Christmas read . . . and puzzles galore for both readers and the players of the game' W.C. RYAN 'Curl up by the fire (and lock all the doors) for this Christmas cracker of a book' C.S. GREEN
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Cupcake12
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Pickpick

12 keys, 12 clues and the 12 days of Christmas to solve the murder? The prize is the family home called Endgame House. This a a dark, intense locked room mystery. The MC, Lily, is dealing with memories from her mother being back in the family home. There were quite a few characters, all with their own back story. Some characters dot play fair so will they all survive Christmas? A clever murder mystery and perfect for armchair detective work.

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Cammy1
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Mehso-so

Cool setting and I liked the game, clues, hidden keys etc but I did pick the culprit early.

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Cupcake12
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Added to my TBR, courtesy of my 17y/o daughter!

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bekakins
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Mehso-so

Meh. This was ok but quite predictable and the purpose was a bit over the top flowery and descriptive.

Here‘s my #bookspin for Jan!

#20in4 #promptmaze #wintergames #snowangels

TheAromaofBooks Looks great!!! 3mo
Andrew65 Yes I had the same feeling about this book, was very disappointed. 3mo
5 likes2 comments
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Robotswithpersonality
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Mehso-so

Not what I thought it would be, but I respect it for what it chose to do, insofar as it tackled heavier themes than I thought. With murder being in the title, I expected there to be death, but not this level of meditating on the trauma of loss, fresh and old, the grieving process, mother/daughter relationships, toxic or absent family situations, and how they can shape people. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? Seemingly random detail, but I do appreciate the dress/corset design descriptions. Also the strong bisexual and queer rep.

I'm not very good puzzles, but it didn't really feel like reader participation was required, everything got laid out soon after the introduction of each clue, not including the word puzzles directed at the reader that I didn't really care to figure out as they weren't necessary to the plot.
3mo
Robotswithpersonality 3/3 I'll admit the culprits were pretty obvious, it was the slow unveiling of the why rather than the who, while exploring family dynamics, that kept me reading. After twelve days of searching for answers, the ending did feel comparatively rushed, but I'm glad for the character roster that did survive and the promise of romance. 🥰

⚠️Incest
3mo
6 likes2 comments
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Robotswithpersonality
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Happy Jólabókaflóðið. Have a Merry one. 🎄❤️📚

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ChasingOm
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Mehso-so

My view while reading this book: A+

The book itself: Solid B?

I liked the setting and I liked the clues in the game, but I knew whodunnit WAY early on. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Good atmosphere, no suspense.

#GhostsofXmas

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 3mo
BookwormAHN Cute kitty 🤍 3mo
40 likes2 comments
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MidnightBookGirl
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Pickpick

I liked this mystery, but I wish I'd read it in print because there's a LOT of cousins to keep track of. It's a slower mystery, but I enjoyed the clues and the game, and of course, all the muuuuuuurder.
#WinterGames #GangstaWrappers @Bookwormjillk @Clwojick @StayCurious
#WGWordseach 3030 pts

Bookwormjillk 💙❄️💙❄️ 3mo
bthegood 🥳🎁 3mo
29 likes2 comments
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BookishGirl06
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Mehso-so

It was ok but I found it confusing at times and didn‘t really enjoy it all that much.

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candc320
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Mehso-so

This audiobook was definitely a so-so listen for me. It started out interesting - a bunch of cousins competing in a game to win their relative‘s mansion while one of them also searches for answers to her mother‘s murder - but it became hard to keep all the characters straight and to figure out who was siblings with whom. It wasn‘t too hard to figure out the twist either. Not bad but nothing special either. 🌟🌟🌟 #wintergames #SantasBookshELVES

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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this gothic feeling, kinda spooky but make it Christmas, ode to Agatha Christie mystery. Perfect to balance out the holiday romances, this has a solid storyline, strong characters, and great pacing. Highly recommend! #wintergames #restinggrinchface #wordsearch point total: 3,970

AmandaBlaze Sounds good. I know people have been using it a lot in #wgguessthebook. 3mo
41 likes1 stack add1 comment
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kimmypete1
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Bailedbailed

Just not the vibe I‘m looking for.

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NikkiM5
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Mehso-so

I solved it!!!! Okay 70% of it 🤣 great read for the #wintergames word search but I‘m rating it so-so.
MC makes a lot of questionable decisions for someone so smart.
#USS #UglySweaterSquad

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BookishGirl06
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Interesting. Not your typical Christmas book

61 likes3 stack adds
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kezzlou85
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Happy #WinterGames start day. #ReindeerGamers @LiseWorks #DailyPhotoChallenge #day1 #RedCover. Easy prompt this one and plan to read it during the games.

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MatchlessMarie
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Pickpick

Completed my July #DoubleSpin. Kind of like And Then There Were None at Christmas with family members instead of strangers. There seems to be a lot of hate for this book but I enjoyed it. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Maybe I am just a sucker for (bad? lol) puns.

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MatchlessMarie
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RaeLovesToRead
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Humbug!

That's my first square down on my Beat the Winter Blues Bingo! #btwbb

I've given myself until the end of March to get a Bingo.

Still plenty of time to join me 😊

peanutnine This is a super cute idea! 1y
RaeLovesToRead @peanutnine Aww, thanks! 😊 I needed some encouragement to read some cheerful stuff instead of all the intense literary fiction I've been picking up lately! 1y
41 likes2 comments
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RaeLovesToRead
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Pickpick

This whole book was a load of crap, but festive, irresistible, cosy crime crap!

Lily goes back to her childhood home / mansion to play one last Christmas Game. Her (dead) Aunt Liliana has left a bunch of clues that will show who murdered Lily's mother (yes, I know, don't think about it too hard). Whoever wins the game, gets the house.

Then her cousins start dropping like flies.

Puzzling, silly, clichéd, cheerful, Christmassy crud.

⭐⭐⭐

MicheleinPhilly 😂😂😂 A+ review. 1y
RaeLovesToRead @MicheleinPhilly Thanks! 😆😁 The book also has anagrams scattered in each section for the reader to find 1y
RaeLovesToRead It's possible that this distracted me from the ropy writing 🤣🤣 1y
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julesG Looking at it like this it's definitely a pick. 🤣🤣 1y
batsy Fab review! I love the "don't think about this too hard" bit ? That's the trick when it comes to the popcorn reads. 1y
DaveGreen7777 I love how in this instance “this book was a load of crap” is a positive review! 😂🤣👏 1y
RaeLovesToRead @julesG I've started Murder on the Christmas Express now 🤣 I expect it will be more of the same... 😊 1y
RaeLovesToRead @batsy Thanks! Haha, yeah, if you give the plot a moment's thought, it's completely ludicrous, but it's not very Christmassy of me to point this out 😉🤫 1y
RaeLovesToRead @DaveGreen7777 Usually, I require quality in order to enjoy a book. This one had festive anagrams, Dave. FESTIVE ANAGRAMS!!!!! 1y
julesG You're a daredevil! 🤣🤣 1y
52 likes10 comments
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emmaturi
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Pickpick

This was a good solid read, set in a house, family members are asked to return to their childhood home and compete in a game. The winner gets the house. And of course murder happens.

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StaceGhost
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Pickpick

My favorite thing about this book was the mini games! Lots of fun finding the anagrams and titular lines 🎄also, the small ones in our house finally finalized their Santa requests 🎅 here‘s hoping everyone gets their just desserts 🧁 nothing like murder for the holidays

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Aimeesue
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Panpan

I wanted to like this, but it didn't work for me. The "clues" mostly required knowledge of the characters to make sense of them, which the book didn't really provide. By the end, it got so ridiculously over the top that I caught myself rolling my eyes at the book. The puzzles were clever, but in the end it felt like the story was hung on the scaffolding of clever clues, bad sonnets, and word games, when it should have been the other way around.

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StaceGhost
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Pickpick

❤️ I do! Last year my goal was 200. This year I‘m aiming for 250.

💜 I‘m only 5 books shy of my goal! I‘ve read 195 so far.

💙 Unfortunately, we just canceled our extended family holiday breakfast plans. I‘m really excited for our family‘s celebration though!

Thanks @Yuki_Onna for the tag! @Eggs

@BookwormAHN feel like playing?

Eggs Congratulations on the reading!! 1y
Yuki_Onna Woohaaa - 200 books?! You're a genius 🤩 1y
26 likes2 comments
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RaeLovesToRead
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#wondrouswednesday @Eggs
Thanks for the tag @The_Penniless_Author 😊💕

❤ Yes, on Goodreads

💜 *Looks shifty* Erm... 56 out of 80 so far. As long as I read 24 books in the next 9 days... should be OK?

💙 At the moment I am not feeling in the least bit festive, so probably having a good old Christmas sulk? ✌🏻😇 Hopefully the smell of Xmas Dinner will lure me out of my Humbug state of mind.

ravenlee Sounds like a job for graphic novels and picture books! 😆 1y
RaeLovesToRead @ravenlee I reckon I'll just have to admit defeat on this one. Will I learn my lesson and have a more moderate goal next year? 🤔 Probably not! 1y
JenReadsAlot I'm feeling that mood too 😂 1y
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TheNeverendingTBR I'm the same, not feeling it. I'd prefer a holiday in the sun 1y
RaeLovesToRead @JenReadsAlot @TheNeverendingTBR Solidarity, my fellow humbugs!! 😄🎁 1y
ravenlee I‘m having a grumpy Christmas, too. It‘s not my favorite time of year, and the last quarter of this year has been pretty awful already. Maybe if we just close our eyes and wish really hard, it‘ll either all be over or it won‘t be so bad. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1y
RaeLovesToRead @ravenlee If I had another couple of weeks to chill out and prepare I might get more into the spirit of things... Jan, Feb & March are the WORST months of the year 😵😵 Sorry you're having an awful year too 😔 At least we grumps are in good company 😊💕 1y
Eggs Rest and low-stress space & time should help?? I wish you a great 2023 🤗 1y
RaeLovesToRead @Eggs Absolutely 😊 Luckily I've got next week off and then I can throw myself into New Year! 😁🤗 1y
RaeLovesToRead @Eggs Happy 2023 to you too! 💕 1y
Branwen I'm sorry you're not feeling it this year! *hugs* 💕 I am sending you all the love and good vibes for a happy 2023! May it be filled with fabulous books! 📚 1y
46 likes11 comments
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Curvybookgirl
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Pickpick

I picked this one up as it sounded like a perfect winter cozy evening kind of book. I really enjoyed it. It was a little bit predictable but not too deep that you couldn‘t follow along. I‘m currently reading another of hers and enjoying that too so far

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LeslieO
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I liked this one, kept me turning the pages. Love a group of people trapped in an English country house. #seasonsreadings #tistheseason

40 likes1 stack add
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LeslieO
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Cozy and warm on this snowy night. Got my book, my tea and football. Go Bills💙❤️🏈#tistheseason #happyholidays #GoBills

RebelReader @LeslieO I‘m a Vikings fan so I was not reading a bit in the second half as we came back 39 points to win. I see your Bills won too by a FG! See you in the playoffs! 🤣🤣🤣 1y
LeslieO @RebelReader Congrats! The Vikings also took the “greatest comeback ever” title from the Bills. Great game! 1y
42 likes2 comments
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Laughterhp
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Mehso-so

Eh. Maybe it would have been better when reading it, because I heard the author left anagrams throughout the book.

The story itself was a bit all over the place. Thought a Christmas murder book would work for me, but didn‘t really care for this one.

#winterreadathon

Andrew65 Well done 🎄🎄🎄 1y
DieAReader 🎄🎄🎄 1y
53 likes2 comments
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Bookzombie
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I sent some of my Litsy holiday cards out this morning and received my first two in the mail. So cute!

I listened to the tagged book today as I cleaned my office up and made this little book tree.

Sleepswithbooks Your book tree 🥰 1y
40 likes2 comments
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MaleficentBookDragon
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B&N got me again with their BOBO.

68 likes2 comments
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Preciouz29
Pickpick

This was pretty fun for me! I liked the Christmas details and the little mysteries sprinkled in that the characters were solving. The big mystery was also good and the setting and characters gave me a bit of an old school mystery vibe.

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MrsK
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Panpan

This is a book I should have enjoyed. I loved the idea of the book and wanted very much to enjoy it. But, there was very little that I found to like about it. Unfortunately, what could have been a fun take on several Golden Age of Detective Fiction tropes was instead unnecessarily complicated, frustratingly cryptic, and utterly depressing. #NetGalley #PoisonedPenPress

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julesG
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Panpan

I thought this was a Christie-esque murder mystery set in a Scooby-Doo-House. It was flat characters, weird metaphors to create anagrams, puzzles the reader can't solve, a predictable outcome, typos,...

Who writes "obvs" in their prose?

#ARC #NetGalley #MountARC

#SuperSeptember @Andrew65

MicheleinPhilly Teenagers. Obvs. 😉 2y
julesG @MicheleinPhilly Had it occurred in dialogue, I wouldn't have worried. The author also misspelled the MC's name. 😬 2y
MicheleinPhilly Good grief. Who edits these things? 2y
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Andrew65 Oh dear 😔 2y
batsy I had this filed as a mystery to read during Christmas but ... not anymore 😬 2y
72 likes6 comments
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julesG
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#SuperSeptember #readathon @Andrew65

Early morning train reading. First in person "professional support" meeting since 2019. Feels weird, especially since we're normally four people going and this time I'm all alone.

Murder mystery that's due to be published in the US this autumn.

#NetGalley #ARC #MountARC

TrishB Enjoy the reading 😁 2y
Andrew65 Hope you had a good day. 2y
72 likes1 stack add2 comments
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bthegood
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Putting tagged book back on the TBR pile - I will pick it up around the Holidays - 🌲

Make a great day everyone - 🙂

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bthegood
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Thanks to all the teachers from toddlers to University and beyond...enjoy your summer break...you've earned it!

#ThinkPositiveBePositive
Thx for the tag @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Make a great day everyone 😊

eeclayton ❤️❤️❤️ 2y
WJCintron 🙌 Have a wonderful rest during your summer break! 😃👏 2y
See All 10 Comments
kspenmoll Thank you! I am done 6/13! 2y
bthegood @WJCintron thx👍 2y
bthegood @kspenmoll good luck with the last few weeks, and have a good summer👍 2y
Nutmegnc So true! 👏👏 2y
PaperbackPirate Thank you! It‘s true! 💙 2y
30 likes10 comments
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bthegood
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#WondrousWednesday @Eggs

1. Not that I recall
2. Stephen King books are the ones I have probably re-read the most (although I don't often read a book a second time) -right now I read “How to Babysit a Grandpa“ for my grandson before nap time (so that is read at least once a week 🙂)
3. Read, spend time with family, read , get work done on house, read , get garden in order, read ...

I tag @lauram @Christyco125

Make a great day everyone - 🌞

Eggs Busy May for you! Thanks for joining in 🥳 2y
bthegood @Eggs 👍😊 2y
26 likes2 comments
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julesG
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Reminded me of our trip. @Oryx @scripturient

squirrelbrain 😬❄️😬❄️ 2y
julesG @squirrelbrain Made me shiver too, despite the rather mild temperatures today. Saw it on @Leniverse's currently reading pile. 2y
Oryx Yes, that pretty much sums it up! 2y
53 likes3 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Mehso-so

Big old house full of secrets & hidden rooms (✔), a treasure hunt game to win the deeds to said house (✔), squabbling relatives all wanting to inherit (✔), snowstorm cuts them off from the outside world just as the murders begin (✔). Unfortunately it was only half as good as it promised, mainly down to the insipid MC & obvious plot. Still it was set at the perfect time of year to read now, & I did enjoy it enough to finish it. 3⭐

5,816 pts

27 likes1 stack add3 comments
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eraderneely
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Celebrating Jolabokaflod. But my father-in-law doesn‘t really understand the silent component of family reading time. 🙄

24 likes1 stack add
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PuddleJumper
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book though it did feel a bit rushed at the end and the 'twist' was telegraphed quite early on and wasn't much of a surprise

Jadams89 🎁🎅🏻🎉🎄 2y
BookmarkTavern What a lovely reading companion! 2y
keys_on_fire I don‘t mind figuring out the ending or a twist, but it stinks when it happens too early! Great job though! 2y
26 likes4 comments
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kaysworld1
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5 Christmas murders for you all.
1: the killer in the snow
2: twelve motives for murder
3: the Christmas murder game
4: Death on the trans- sobering express
5: A cotswold Christmas mystery

#crimemonthly #recommendation #murder #mystery #realcrime #death #merrychristmas #reading #books #read

guinsgirlreads Oh I love this! Thank you! 😁 2y
35 likes1 comment