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The Christmas Cracker Killer
The Christmas Cracker Killer: The new fiendishly clever Christmas mystery from the bestselling author of Murder on the Christmas Express | Alexandra Benedict
1 post | 1 read | 1 to read
IT'S THE MOST MURDEROUS TIME OF THE YEAR… Puzzle compiler and former Christmas sceptic Edie O’Sullivan returns in the newest seasonal mystery from bestselling author and ‘Queen of the Christmas Mystery’ Alexandra Benedict. When Edie O’Sullivan wins a two-day Christmas break in a hotel on a remote Scottish island, she’s looking forward to a picture-perfect Christmas full of winter walks, roaring fires, good books and even better whisky. But when a guest dies under mysterious circumstances, Edie realises that there is a killer amongst them. As more guests begin to die, it's up to her to solve the strange riddles found in the victims’ Christmas crackers and stop the killing spree. But as she gets closer to the truth, she puts herself in the way of a devious and clever murderer. Can Edie solve these Christmas killings before she becomes the next victim? PRAISE FOR ALEXANDRA BENEDICT'S CHRISTMAS MYSTERIES: ‘The perfect gift for quizzers and mystery addicts’ VAL McDERMID ‘Whatever you unwrap for Christmas, you had better hope it’s this book. This is 21st-century cosy Christmas crime that doesn’t shy away from the darkness’ JANICE HALLETT ‘A thrilling journey from start to finish. Highly recommended’ ELLY GRIFFITHS ‘It’s wonderful! A page-turning homage to the Golden Age, with a dash of Poirot and a dark, modern heart’ S J BENNETT
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Octogenarian & crossword setter, Edie O'Sullivan, wins a three-day Christmas break at a luxury hotel on a remote, uninhabited Scottish island which has a tragic past. Taking along partner nonagenarian Riga, son DI Sean Brand-O'Sullivan (whose partner & children will be joining them on Christmas Day) & dog Nicholas, they meet an unusual group of fellow celebrants. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf Hotel manager, Mara, is nervous as this is the big opening for the hotel, the one her parents have sunk all their savings into. Understaffed & with a huge storm forecast, Christmas has to be a success. At first everything seems to be going well but at the Gala Dinner the first evening, the Christmas crackers are rather strange. They contain a gift & a party hat but also weird riddles rather than the traditional jokes. 2d
OutsmartYourShelf When over the next hours, the guests start being murdered one by one in ways pertaining to the riddles, Mara & Edie realise that there is a killer on the island.

This is apparently the second book to feature amateur detective Edie. I haven't read the first one but I don't think it made any difference as it works as a standalone. It started off well with the creepy crackers but suffered a common issue with mystery thrillers & became a little slow
2d
OutsmartYourShelf in the middle. I did like the fact that there are several optional word games for the reader to play as they read the book but they don't have any bearing on the mystery itself so they can be easily skipped. I did find that with so many characters it became a little muddled towards the end, but it just managed to keep my interest. 3.75🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Simon & Schuster UK, for the opportunity to read an ARC
(edited) 2d
OutsmartYourShelf TWs: see GR post for possible spoilers

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7873240409
Read 12th - 14th Nov 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
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DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 1d
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