Octogenarian sleuth that could be the sister to Scrooge. Edie is an 80-year-old retired teacher who creates crossword puzzles for a national newspaper. The author did a great job of character creation. You truly get to know who the characters are and what their personalities are like. It was fun having the main sleuth be an older woman and her friend, a 90-year-old herbalist. The mystery was really well developed and was intriguing to puzzle out. I found the book a good read and the narrator did an outstanding job of bringing the characters to life and making the puzzle even more intriguing. I enjoyed the book and found it a good read and it is really more of a 3.5-star book. It didn't quite get to a four star because I was frustrated that Edie, the main character was in essence obstructing justice by keeping the clues the killer kept giving her to herself and not sharing with the police. The book had a happily ever.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

Alexandra Benedict’s The Christmas Jigsaw Murders is a delightful holiday mystery that combines the charm of a cozy Christmas setting with the intrigue of a classic whodunit. Narrated by the talented Sandra Duncan, this audiobook offers a festive yet thrilling experience that will keep listeners engaged.

The story centers around Edie O’Sullivan, an octogenarian crossword setter and jigsaw puzzle enthusiast who despises Christmas due to past tragedies. Her quiet life is upended when she receives a mysterious gift-wrapped package containing an incomplete jigsaw puzzle and a note warning that four people will die by Christmas Eve if she doesn’t solve the puzzle. As bodies start to appear, each with a piece of the jigsaw, Edie teams up with her son, Detective Inspector Sean Brand-O’Sullivan, and her glamorous neighbor, Riga Novack, to unravel the mystery.

Sandra Duncan’s narration is a highlight of this audiobook. Her expressive voice and impeccable pacing bring the characters to life, particularly capturing Edie’s sharp wit and Riga’s eccentric charm.

Benedict’s writing is clever and engaging, with a knack for creating vivid, memorable characters. The dialogue is sharp and often humorous, adding a lighthearted touch to the darker elements of the plot.

The Christmas Jigsaw Murders explores themes of family, redemption, and the enduring impact of past traumas. It also delves into the idea of community and the unexpected ways people come together in times of crisis.

The Christmas Jigsaw Murders is a thoroughly enjoyable holiday mystery that combines the warmth of Christmas with the excitement of a murder investigation. Alexandra Benedict has crafted a story that is both heartwarming and suspenseful, making it a perfect listen for the holiday season. Sandra Duncan’s excellent narration further elevates the audiobook, ensuring that it will be a hit with fans of cozy mysteries and festive thrillers alike.

Edie O’Sullivan is a curmudgeon, who doesn’t like the holidays, or people, or even her own family. She is a retired teacher in her 80s who spends her days doing jigsaw puzzles and creating crosswords for the London times. But someone is out to ruin her already dreary holidays. Evil shenanigans are afoot when Edie receives a package of puzzle pieces with a note to solve the mystery or else. She gets the neighbor, and her nephew involved, and the story progresses. This is no Angela Lansbury. This is not a cozy festive read, but rather a slog through various parts of Edie’s history, and the stories of those around her. It is terribly slow, and I find myself not wanting to start out on the story again after I turn it off each night. I need something more fun and uplifting for Christmas. Or something with more blood and guts. Let’s save Ebeneezer for the TV as the story is told better there.

The Christmas Jigsaw Murders by Alexandra Benedict was fun but also difficult to pay attention to.

Thank You to Alexandra Benedict, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audio digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

**3.5-stars rounded up**

In The Christmas Jigsaw Murders we follow octogenarian crossword puzzle setter, Edie O'Sullivan, who on December 1st finds a hand-delivered Christmas gift on her doorstep. Upon opening it, Edie is intrigued: a jigsaw box containing 6-puzzle pieces. Once she's pieced them together they reveal a portion of a crime scene, with blood splattered across black and white tiles and the outline of body.

How odd. What could this mean?

The Sender knew Edie might need a little help, so included the following message: ‘Four, maybe more, people will be dead by midnight on Christmas Eve, unless you can put all the pieces together and stop me.’ Signed, Rest In Pieces. Edie's great-nephew, Sean, who she raised as her son after his parents were tragically killed, happens to be a Detective. She contacts him about her special gift and they intend to work together to figure it out.

Shortly thereafter, a local man is found close to death with a puzzle piece gripped in his hand. This pushes Sean over the edge. Edie could be in real danger and he expects her to shut down her little investigation into Rest in Pieces right away. Octogenarians aren't so easily controlled, however. Anyone with elderly parents knows that...

As bodies continue to drop, Edie realizes she is this key to this all. Only her knowledge can solve it. Going against Sean's wishes, Edie digs in deeper with the hopes of uncovering the identity of Rest in Pieces before anyone else can be killed.

I really enjoyed this detailed Adult Mystery. It's probably my 2nd-fave out of the 3-books that I have read thus far from this author. I liked the incorporation of the jigsaw puzzle pieces as clues left by the murderer. I also grew quite attached to Edie. She's a bit of a curmudgeon, which I can get behind, and has quite the Scrooge character arc within this story. While this wasn't as Christmas-focused as I was expecting, it was still just enough to get my spirits up as we soar into the holiday season.

I do want to mention that I feel like some Readers may expect this to be a Cozy Mystery, maybe due to the inclusion of Christmas in the title, or just the basic synopsis, but it's really not. This is a straight Adult Mystery with some heavier topics explored throughout. I feel like a couple of Benedict's earlier books could have fallen victim to this quandary. Readers going in expecting one thing, getting another and not being happy about it. That's the only reason why I am mentioning that.

I enjoy Benedict's mysteries. They intrigue me and I enjoy that the MCs are often dealing with some pretty significant real life things in addition to the mystery elements. While her characters may be hard for some to understand, or get behind, I always end up rooting for them. Edie is someone I would want to be close to in real life. She's a grump and so am I. I find that endearing. I can relate.

I'm hoping Benedict has a few more Christmas Mysteries in store for us. I would definitely be picking them up. Thank you to the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press and Dreamscape Media, for providing me with copies to read and review. The audiobook was fantastically narrated and I absolutely recommend that format for this one!

The Christmas Jigsaw Murders by Alexandra Benedict was such a fun read. Great plot points and character development.

I love octogenarians solving murders, so when Edie is mailed pieces of a jigsaw puzzle depicting murders with instructions that say that at least 4 murders will occur by Christmas Eve unless Edie can put all the pieces of an incomplete puzzle to save the victims, I knew this book was for me.

Thank you to Netgalley for the audiobook.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, English villages are dangerous places. Lots of people seem to get murdered and then the police seem to be unable to solve the multiple deaths without the sleuthing of elderly residents. Now it may be that, as Edie O’Sullivan states, people tend to look past older women so they have a better chance of finding out information, and if that is the case, then she joins that esteemed list of female amateur detectives.

In this book though, the murderer wants Edie to be involved. On Christmas she receives puzzle pieces showing a violent crime scene. In the corner of one of the pieces, she sees something that makes her think the victim might be her nephew, Detective Inspector Sean O’Sullivan-Brand. And since he is her last living relative, she knows that she needs to help find who is sending these pieces.

Edie is a prickly, tough broad (I think she would be ok with that description) but Benedict writes her in such a way that the reader feels sympathy for her; her life has not been easy. Benedict also creates a number of miscues and red herrings to keep the reader guessing. The narration by Sandra Duncan is excellent, she creates a wonderful sense of the characters. I always feel like the first book in a series can feel a little clunky since the author has to get so much information in there but I would definitely read more stories with Edie.

The Christmas Jigsaw Murders is a holiday-themed mystery featuring Edie O'Sullivan, an 80-year-old puzzle maker who receives a cryptic jigsaw that threatens deadly consequences if unsolved. She teams up with her nephew, Detective Sean Brand-O'Sullivan, to track down the killer.

While the premise is intriguing, the book’s slow pacing and gradual unfolding mystery might not be for everyone. Some readers struggled to connect with the characters, especially Edie, though her relationship with Sean adds depth to the story. The family drama can feel repetitive at times, and the suspense around the murders could have been more intense. However, the ending ties everything together nicely and offers a satisfying conclusion.

If you enjoy slower-paced, character-driven mysteries like The Thursday Murder Club, this book might be a good fit. The audiobook, narrated by Sandra Duncan, adds an extra layer of enjoyment. Overall, The Christmas Jigsaw Murders is a cozy yet slightly melancholic mystery with a dash of redemption, ideal for the holiday season.

Rating: 3/5 Stars
Pub Date: 10/8
•
Man, I was super stoked for this murder mystery - Christmas Edition... it just didn't hit that mark for me. On December first, a grumpy old woman, Edie, receives a puzzle box claiming to commit murders until she figures it out signed "Rest in Pieces". Edie works alongside her nephew, a DI to track down the killer.
•
The Christmas Jigsaw Murders gives off some serious Thursday Murder Club vibes, except this is more of a lone woman for the most part. This is a super low burn, which made this book feel extra-long (spoiler it's really not that long of a read). I didn't really feel a serious connection with any of the characters, but I definitely think that there was some pretty good character development for some of them.
•
I wish this was a bit more suspenseful when it came to the murders and the ending, maybe less about the family drama that almost felt repetitive. I did like the ending though, the story is brought full circle and there and I loved where Benedit decided to go with it.
•
I listened to this one via audiobook, this was narrated by Sandra Duncan, she did a great job, and I can honestly say that if i did not have the audiobook I would not have finished this book.
•
Overall, this wasn't really the book for me, but if you are a fan of The Thursday Murder Club then you may enjoy this one! Check it out! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Alexanra Benedict and Dreamscape Media in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this one, and trying to figure out how it was going to end. I kept thinking I knew what was going to come next and I was wrong. I love the inclusion of puzzles, an older protagonist and a Christmas book that is not romance. Definitely worth giving it a try around Christmastime.

It’s Christmas time and Edie O’Sullivan is as crotchety as ever when it comes to the holiday season. Renowned for her puzzle-making and doing skills, she is intrigued by a mysterious jigsaw that arrives at her front door. It claims that if she doesn’t figure out the mystery, multiple murders will take place this holiday season.

Soon, she’s working with her nephew, DI Sean Brand-O’Sullivan to solve the case and stop the murders. But she isn’t being entirely honest with Sean because the jigsaw is hitting a little too close to home!

Why Kirsten loves it
I was on the edge of my seat as I tried to figure out who was behind the killings and why! I would love to see the book’s jigsaw puzzle come to life. That would be soo cool!

𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑪𝑯𝑹𝑰𝑺𝑻𝑴𝑨𝑺 𝑱𝑰𝑮𝑺𝑨𝑾 𝑴𝑼𝑹𝑫𝑬𝑹𝑺 𝒃𝒚 𝑨𝒍𝒆𝒙𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒓𝒂 𝑩𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕 is a read I finished today and thoroughly enjoyed!

Narrated wonderfully by Sandra Duncan, I was immediately endeared to Edie O'Sullivan, the 80 year old curmudgeonly puzzle setter. I was tried and tested through the story, as Edie is certainly a difficult woman to love. Her nephew whom she raised after a particularly difficult tragedy becomes a beloved detective who loves Christmas despite his Aunt's disdain. When Edie receives a package in the mail with a handful of puzzle pieces and a cryptic note, she is disturbed, but what is most alarming is that one clue in the picture that is emerging may put the only one who can solve this mystery in danger.

I enjoyed this Christmas murder mystery quite a bit. It was entertaining with a sour protagonist whose story comes to light as the tale unfolds. I am drawn to these characters, though Edie took a bit extra patience. The mystery and motives were engaging and kept up a good pace for me. It felt like a clever premise, and though I would like to say more, it would give away too much.

This is a fun murder mystery with a bit of a Christmas atmosphere, a touch of trauma and grief, some love and loss, and finally redemption.

Thank you to @dreamscape_media and @netgalley for providing me with this seasonal audiobook, out October 8th, so available now!

This is my second Christmasy book by Alexandra Benedict and I would categorize it as more of a cozy mystery than thriller. The characters are quirky and fun. Edie was a good heroine to root for with her advanced age and strong opinions. The mystery kept me interested until the end. I gave the book three stars just because, though it is cute, there is nothing about it that really stood out to really like or love. I would recommend to anyone looking for a cozy holiday mystery.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!!

What a good book! I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I loved the main characters! They had great chemistry and worked so well together. I loved how the book just flowed. My first by this author but will not be my last!!!

80 year old Edie O'Sullivan, a puzzle setter and Christmas sceptic, receives a mysterious jigsaw box containing a crime scene image and a chilling threat. She enlists the help of her nephew, a detective, but as the body count rises, she realizes she's the only one who can stop the killer. Her nephew, fearing for her safety, shuts her out of the investigation, leading to a tense family conflict.

This book was perfectly fine. Short. Mysterious. Funny. But it really just wasn't my style. It was a bit too "cozy" mystery for me and not nearly as dark as I like my thrillers. The main character was hilarious, if not completely socially inept, and her gay nephew added some nice Queer representation. Overall, there was some of the intensity, but mostly this British mystery wasn't quite what I was looking for. This is likely more of a me issue, rather than a book issue though.

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and this is my voluntary and unbiased review.

This book has started my addiction to Alexandra Benedict!!! For anyone seeking a cozy Christmas mystery, Benedict has written several novel all set at Christmas and all with winding mysterious romps with clues tucked in clues. In this book, we get close to a (not entirely reliable) narrator who works to solve a jigsaw of clues in time to save her beloved adopted grandson. Thanks to #NetGalley for the chance to read #TheChristmasJigsawMurders!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.
This was an ok mystery audiobook that was a bit confusing at times. It wasn’t bad but it also wasn’t my favorite either.

This is a fun book for anyone who likes cozy mysteries and doing puzzles. It’s told from both the killer’s perspective as well as the detective’s. The killer starts sending puzzle pieces to Edie O’Sullivan on December 1st, which helps her solve the crimes. Her nephew is a DI so she gets inside information on the cases.

I had actually read this book back in March for the first time, and when it popped up as an option on Netgalley I scooped it up because I thought it was a second in the series (because the cover was a different color). But I’ve read enough books since then so it was a pleasure to read again.

This is my ideal story type - British woman solving mysteries that aren’t too scary. The narrator was very easy to listen to and believable as a person of this age and temperament.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the chance to (re) listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

I listened to the audiobook, and while I enjoyed the narrator and the premise, I found myself having to rewind and relisten to make sure I knew what was happening. I did like the connection she had to her nephew and his partner who were adopting a child together, and felt that the backstory was very nice. However I felt that the mystery was hard to follow, and unfortunately not very compelling. I might have enjoyed this more with a print copy as it did seem to require more concentration than I could give while driving.

I think if readers are looking for a holiday cozy mystery, and are willing to push through the slow parts, this might be a good fit for someone else.