This is a really fun book that's perfect for the Christmas holiday period. If you're dreading a tedious week of claustrophobia with your fractious family then this will ease the tension.

It's an atmospheric, traditional murder mystery story but with 'goose egg' puzzles in each chapter and puzzles at the end of the chapters. I found some of them utterly perplexing and entirely impossible whereas others were easier for me but still challenging and fun. It's a joyful book and an ideal gift or an emergency boredom break-glass for yourself.

I loved the concept of the puzzles coming together to give the final solution. The writing style works too and it's witty and sharp.

Well if you want to dive into a story to get you into the festive mood, but want something to keep you guessing from the opening scenes to the very final page then this absolutely is the right book!

Every year I love to dive into my christmas stories early to get into the mood, but I like to vary the genres, and I am so so glad that I dove into this one! The story kept me guessing throughout and kept a fast pace. It didn’t drag at all, and There were several times I was surprised by where the story went.

Engrossing and enjoyable throughout, with surprises and a brilliantly done build up, this is a great seasonal read., even if not exactly the cosy type!

I loved that this was different to most other christmas stories, it has itself own quirks as do the characters. This is certainly an Author that I will be looking for more from in the future!

This was certainly different from anything I've read before.
I thought each story was a bit laboured, and I just wanted to get to the end of each so I could work out the clues.
Some of them are hard, and you definitely need a pen and notebook.
I'm not sure I would read another book lime this again.
I would also recommend reading the book rather than on a Kindle because you have to go back and forth.
Thanks to Avon books and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

This book is a perfect companion for the Christmas holiday season. Sarah Dunnakey's "The Twelve Murders of Christmas" is an enthralling blend of classic mystery and challenging puzzles that will delight fans of both genres.
Each story is a mini murder mystery, and while the concept is cool, I found that some of the stories dragged a bit. and could be confusing as the current characters interjected into the stories being told. I was often just trying to get to the end to figure out the clues.
Personally I would find the physical copy easier as you have to keep going back to look thin.gs up, I don't think it works as a Kindle book.
However the story itself is kept me captivated and I liked the fact I could get involved.

I know it says it’s a puzzle book, I just didn’t expect so many. I think it would definitely be easier to solve the m in an actual book, whereas I read the kindle edition. The book has the wrapper of the main story with several small mysteries within and with each mystery there are puzzles to solve and also each has a puzzle that when put together will solve the whole book - who killed Edward Luddenham..
A good book for Christmas, I enjoyed reading and trying, not very successfully to solve the puzzles.

This book was a lot of fun. Not only do we get a whole host of murder mysteries to puzzle over, we literally get puzzles to puzzle over too. PLenty of them in fact, so if you love to ponder over an anagram, if Logic Problem puzzle books were your favourite go to for whiling away a few hours, if you believe you are a genius at mathematics, or if you simply believe that you can out Poirot Poirot, then this could well be the book for you.

Sarah Dunnakey has created a wonderful mix of characters who all gather at Bracestone House at the bequest of the late Edward Luddenham. The reason - on paper at least - is to attend the reading of Edward's will. The real reason? Why to unmask Edward's killer of course. Now, it stands to reason that the killer will be one of the people attending this event, but who, of the many suspects placed before us, would it be? Well, to find out we have to navigate a series of short stories as it were, each ending in a series of puzzles, one of which will give a clue to the greatest mystery of them all - whodunnit.

With such a wide variety of characters, we are treated to a mixture of mysteries too. From tales of vengeance, to tales of greed, there is a little bit of everything for everyone, and a chance for us to flex out Detective muscles trying to outpace the story in terms of determining what each one might reveal. I really enjoyed these various fireside tales, each one giving a taste of something slightly different, like the many varied courses Bracestone House's housekeeper treated the guests to each night. If you like a good short story collection, then the book is worth reading for them alone.

For me, the real bonus, was the various puzzles that festoon the book at the end of each of the short stories. They vary in type, and often complexity, and it really did allow me to challenge my mental agility, as well as often my observational skills, something I can only benefit from as I age, right? This is the kind of book I can see keeping people amused around a fireside at Christmas, or even in the run up as it is easy to break down the book into a chapter, or story, a night, with one set of puzzles a day to lead you towards the big reveal. Will you be able to guess whodunnit ahead of the final set of clues? maybe, maybe not. Did I get the identity of the killer correct? Well, that's between me and my conscience isn't it? I'm certainly not going to reveal it to anyone reading this.

'Puzzle' based crime books are having a real boon right now, and I am loving it. A lot of fun and definitely recommended.

A very interesting premise but with a few too many puzzles for me (I was expecting some but not that many!). that said, you can enjoy all of the stories without ever having to work out the puzzles if you don't want to and the stories are, on the whole, excellent!

This is such a fun, quirky read with lots of puzzles to solve, too. Although I did manage with an ebook, I think a physical book would have been better.

I did find myself racing through the storyline, which I loved, to get to the puzzles.

This was such an exciting and adrenaline rushing read for me as it mixed my love of mystery with puzzles, it was fantastic,

We really enjoyed this book. I thought to begin with that the puzzles might interfere with my enjoyment or the flow of the story. As it was, the book provided breaks for family discussions and snack times (well you need snacks when working puzzles out !). It would make a great family entertainment over the festive period. Loved it.

This was so much fun and such a great concept for a book! I thought it was really cleverly put together, and how you as a reader get involved to solve puzzles throughout.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought it was well paced, entertaining and I couldn't put it down!

I loved the authors writing style.

Thank you to the publisher for this advanced reader copy.

It’s Christmas Eve and guests have gathered to remember Edward a year after his mysterious death. Everyone has been asked to bring a puzzle with them for everyone else to solve. The only issue is that one of them also killed Edward.

This was a fun concept with a festive theme from an accomplished puzzle setter turned author. Although the story isn’t very twisty, the puzzles are fun and definitely kept me guessing. A couple required very lateral thinking to solve them!

All in all, some good puzzles and something a bit different!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book in advance of publication.
The idea was great but I am not a fan of short stories. I was more interested in the story that held the players in the great house. The puzzles were difficult to grasp when read on a Kindle and I think I will have to revisit this book if I can get it at a decent price.

Amazing and great for a christmas book! A fun murder book with an intriguing concept and plot. The best for me was the added in puzzles throughout the book

This book was unlike any I’ve ever read before I felt like I was the detective in this book, it was very cleverly written and I loved it.

Edward died under suspicious circumstances and on the first anniversary of his death all of his friends and family have gathered to hear the reading of his will, however there’s a twist the murderer is in the room amongst the guest, but who is the murderer?

Everything the guests needed was provided for them whilst they were at Edward’s house and all guests have to stay until Christmas Eve. Whilst they are there they are all encouraged to tell a festive each of these stories has its own clues to be solved. This is where I felt I became an arm chair detective trying to piece everything together. I knew right from the start this was going to be a book like nothing I’ve ever read before and I wasn’t at all disappointed.

I was honestly left guessing right up until the very end. This is honestly one of the most interesting and exciting books I’ve ever read all I will say is keep a pen and paper beside you as suggested in the book when you are reading this and trying to solve it. Wow just wow!

Thank you to NetGalley the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review.

This a super festive read for armchair sleuths. On the anniversary of the unsolved murder of Edward Luddenham, a group of family and friends are invited to spend a few days at his former home in North Yorkshire before the reading of his will. Each person shares a tale of mystery, and often murder, and at the end of each chapter we, the reader, are presented with some puzzles to solve which will help us solve mystery of Edward’s murder. Very entertaining and I enjoyed solving the puzzles and trying to figure out whodunnit. If you fancy yourself as a secret Miss Marple or Her use Poirot then this is the book for you!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Avon Books, for a copy in exchange for a review.

It's the first anniversary of the mysterious death of Edward Luddenham. Nine people gather at his manor house for the reading of his will. They all have their own motivations for going. They have each been instructed to bring a festive mystery story to share.

I really enjoyed being able to take part in this story. As the main story unfolded their own stories gave a few things away. The puzzles at the end of each story were fun (although there were a few goose eggs thrown in).

Thanks to netgalley for this ARC published 07/11/24.

I'd heard a lot about this and was looking forward to seeing what all the fuss was about. It's brilliantly written and does keep you on your toes. The puzzles throughout make it interactive although you can find the answers at the very back if you don't want to do the puzzles.

I liked the concept of bringing everyone together in what reminded me of murder mystery TV shows like Poirot where everyone squirms under scrutiny as everyone has something to hide! This book was no different and each had their own secret that showed each person to perhaps have motive.

I think the difference in this is that the victim played a game with them all, toying with them and encouraging them to come with their own tale to share with the others. Even the dog got a chance to share a tale of murder. It gave some insight into the characters and the relationships they have with others whilst also setting things up nicely for a puzzle at the end.

This wasn't a particularly long book but it took me a little longer to read as I was concentrating on the detail and the puzzles to really get the most from the book. Well worth a read! Fun concept and I didn't guess the true perp in the end!!

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Edward died under suspicious circumstances. His friends and family are eagerly awaiting the reading of his will. The other issue is that among the guests, is the person that killed Edward. This book kept me guessing.

I received a free copy of, The Twelve Murders of Christmas, by Sarah Dunnakey, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Its Christmas Eve in Yorkshire, and the first anniversary of the death of Edward Luddendham. People are gathered at his place for the reading of his will, they were asked to bring a mystery with them, and its up to the reader to solve it. This was a good murder mystery puzzle book, with a Christmas theme.

A group of Edward Luddenham's nearest & dearest are invited to gather at his home on the North Yorkshire moors on the first anniversary of his mysterious death. All meals & accommodation have been paid for & they are to stay until Christmas Eve when his final Will will be read. For entertainment, each one has been instructed to tell a 'festive mystery story' over the week. It soon becomes clear that before his death, Edward suspected that one of his friends or relatives was going to kill him & his murderer is amongst the guests this year.

Wow, this was something different! I absolutely loved working out the puzzles & the clues & some of them were real brain teasers & you'll definitely need to keep a pen & paper handy. The individual stories were also great & I particularly enjoyed the one about the man disappearing into thin air from the underground tunnels & the one about the young man who inherits his estranged uncle's mansion. I actually managed to work out the guilty party before the final clue. Speaking of which, if I had a criticism it would be that I found the final clue a bit disappointing (a cypher type puzzle) whereas I don't know, I suppose I was expecting the clues collected to point to the killer à la Poirot. 4.5 stars (rounded up).

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Avon Books UK, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

This was an enjoyable read mainly for the short mysteries in each chapter that’ were not always straight forward whodunnits. I did find the puzzles at the end of each chapter too difficult- I think mainly as I was reading on my kindle and so did not have pen and paper to hand. Would definitely recommend as a cosy read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early copy of this book.