Could this coming Christmas of 1933 be more dismal? Jobless and isolated from her friends, Lady Georgiana Rannoch is now made to feel unwelcome in her own family ancestral home in Castle Rannoch on the cold windy moors of Scotland. After her father had lost his fortune in the crash of 1929, things have been tough, but while her beloved brother, Binky, may be a Duke, his mean-spirited wife Hilda, commonly called Fig, rules the roost and the castle and she is out to make life a misery.

The weather is dreary and she hasn't even gotten a postcard from Darcy O'Mara who is supposedly off in South America. Was their relationship going anywhere or not? Finding out he is Catholic presents even more of a dilemma. Despite now being bumped to being 35th in line to the throne, he would not be eligible for her to marry. Dare she still love him when there is no future? What can she do?

Meanwhile, Georgie tries to find a way to get away from Fig; however, her small list of options do not pan out. She couldn't even visit her flighty mother as she is not going to spend Christmas in London, but is going to be holed up in some small village called Tiddleton-under-Lovey with the playwright Noel Coward working on a new play for her comeback as an actress. With her life as dreary as the weather, Georgie is flummoxed until an advertisement in The Lady magazine sets her on a whole new path.

For her part, Lady Hawse-Gorzley is totally thrilled to get such a high level Royal to be a social hostess at her traditional English house party! She has a number of guests coming over the holidays from different parts of the world and wants to make sure they have a good time. Times have been very tough and even the titled are feeling the pinch, so Lady Hawse-Gorzley and her daughter, Bunty, are trying out a new way to cope with their change in circumstances.

For her part, Georgie didn't care as Christmas in this small village is definitely a huge improvement over the coldness of Castle Rannoch, despite learning about some escaped convicts nearby and a number of deadly accidents that unexpectedly happen to the local villagers. Life becomes even more interesting especially when Bunty's cousin arrives. But, as the accidents start to look more like murders, what can she do to help to stop this killing spree?

Winner of numerous mystery awards, Rhys Bowen sets her titled heroine and amateur sleuth into action in a totally delightful olde English village complete with all the usual eccentric English characters. The sixth book in Bowen's Royal Spyness Mystery series, THE TWELVE CLUES OF CHRISTMAS is definitely a suspenseful treat for the season, especially as its title gives a not too subtle clue to the mystery involved.

The story is also intriguing as a stand-alone as Bowen has a deft hand at developing her characters and the reader is quickly immersed and captivated by this mirthful mystery. Aside from the suspenseful happenings, I was particularly intrigued by the insights into how those with ancient titles, but living in genteel poverty found interesting ways to keep up with their class values despite the strained circumstances they were in during the Great Depression. I also enjoyed reading about the historical Christmas related activities and events happening in the large country home of the Hawse-Gorzleys as well as in the village. Bowen has thoughtfully shared recipes and instructions for the traditionally played games and activities in an appendix, which I am sure will be helpful to those both familiar and not overly familiar with British traditions.

This is a fun book to curl up with and figure out THE TWELVE CLUES OF CHRISTMAS or it would be a great gift for those mystery fans in your life! Enjoy!

Book Summary

She may be thirty-fifth in line for the throne, but Lady Georgiana Rannoch cannot wait to ring in the new year—before a Christmas killer wrings another neck…

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—well, actually, my true love, Darcy O’Mara, is spending a feliz navidad tramping around South America. Meanwhile, Mummy is holed up in a tiny village called Tiddleton-under-Lovey with that droll Noel Coward! And I’m snowed in at Castle Rannoch with my bumbling brother, Binky, and sourpuss sister-in-law, Fig.

So it’s a miracle when I contrive to land a position as hostess to a posh holiday party in Tiddleton. The village is like something out of A Christmas Carol! But no sooner have I arrived than a neighborhood nuisance, a fellow named Freddie falls out of a tree, dead…. Dickensian, indeed.

Freddie’s merely a stocking stuffer. On my second day in town, another so-called accident turns up another mincemeat pie—and yet another on my third. The village is buzzing that a recent prison break could have something to do with it… that, or a long-standing witch’s curse. I’m not so sure. But after Darcy shows up beneath the mistletoe, anything could be possible in this wicked wonderland.