Thank you to NetGalley and Pegasus Crime for the ARC. This book was very good but at times confusing as the main characters were also playing fictional characters in a murder mystery game. I really enjoyed how everything starts calm until the first murder happens and than all bets of a fun weekend is out the window. This was a fun Christmas mystery that is enjoyable to read, once you know all the players.

A fun and fast paced read for the holiday season. These 8 friends come together after years apart to what they think will be a fun gathering of le friends. However, they all have secrets hidden just below the surface and none of them want to get out! Can they survive the holidays and this vicious game with their secrets and lives intact.

Early contender for my favorite holiday book this year! But it's no feel good story...as the title says, this holiday season comes with gruesome deaths for some of the characters of the Twelve Days of Christmas carol. A murder masquerade group's Christmas celebration takes a twisted turn from fun mystery solving to discovering a longtime friend dead in the woods.

The suspense and fantastic narration kept me listening long past my bedtime to find out whodunnit. I wasn't able to predict most of the plot twists, and the author kept me guessing. Highly recommend!

HO HO HO!!
Merry Christmas murder !!!

This was very interest read.
The characters were very annoying but so well written it was enjoyable to read it.
I listened this book as a audiobook and I really enjoyed the voice actor.

“The Christmas Eve mystery schedule was laid out before her. Cocktails at six, murder at nine, criminal brought to justice by eleven…”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When a group of uni friends get together at a remote Scottish property to play a game of murder, none of them imagine it might be their last. The Masquerade Murder Society haven’t been together since their best player, Carl, disappeared 12 years ago…but when they receive invitations to play one more game, they can’t resist. At the remote, inaccessible property, the masqueraders slowly uncover each others secrets, unraveling the past and unearthing motives for murder. Then, one by one, the group begins to die. When everyone has a motive, how will a murderer be discovered?

This was such a fun, fast paced read. Were the characters insufferable, yes. Were they meant to be, also yes. I genuinely found myself getting angry when some of them would talk but as the story progressed and each became more human, I could see the intricate web the author was weaving. I didn’t guess the killer until it was obvious, which I LOVED! I have a preternatural talent for guessing the whodunit way too early and any story that can keep me guessing until the end is really fun!

I would highly recommend the audio for this one, Ella Lynch gives an excellent performance and everyone gets a totally unique voice. The accents and the silly nature of some of the masquerade dialogue was especially amusing in audio.

This is an enjoyable Christmas mystery.
The Masquerade Murder Society was created when its members were university students. They regularly organized murder parties where each attendee would play a character and solve (or commit) a fictional murder. It was all fun and games until one of their members disappeared during a game 12 years earlier.

Now they've reunited at a remote Scottish location for one more game. But relationships have changed and resentments have grown and the group finds themselves trapped with an actual murderer on the loose.

It's an enjoyable listen, though I had some difficulty sorting out the characters. They've known each other for so long and their lives have intersected in so many ways, that there were some similarities. Nevertheless I'd definitely recommend it to anyone wanting a quick Christmas themed read.

A Christmas themed thriller? Take my money. I was immediately interested in the concept of this book. A group of college friends, who called themselves the Masquerade Society, got together and played murder mystery games that were innocent in nature. Until their final game in which one of their friends disappeared. Twelve years later, the old friends gather together for a final Christmas themed murder night. It’s all fun and games until they are picked off one by one…

I’ll say it again, this concept stole my interest. The theme of the murders was based upon “The Twelve Days of Christmas”. This is such a unique idea. Given this childhood jingle, I expected the book to have more humor. It didn’t have any humor, which was a bummer.

The characters were complex and each held their own secrets. I loved all the little surprises along the way. However, the characters were bit confusing because we had to remember all of their names and the names they had in the murder game. I feel like I would have followed along better with the physical copy rather than the audio. It could have also helped if the narrator switched her voice up a bit for each character.

This one was a solid three star read. I enjoyed the twists and the secretive characters but it also had its downsides.

This was a really interesting setup for a murder mystery. Personally I love these parties so this premise completely hooked me in. A lot of this novel revolves around these characters, which was more or less interesting depending on the character. At times it was a little slow pace, but it was interesting enough to keep me reading.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

"The Twelve Days of Murder" is like the ultimate reunion of old university friends with a sinister twist. Imagine this: a Christmas-themed masquerade party in the depths of Scotland, where everyone is assigned identities based on the "Twelve Days of Christmas." It's all fun and games until, well, it's not.

The backdrop of old friends reuniting and playing this elaborate game of mystery and intrigue is captivating from the get-go. You've got Lady Partridge, Mr. Gold, Lord Leapworth, and the gang all decked out in their themed identities. It feels like a blast from the past, reminiscent of their university days—except this time, there's a real murder afoot.

The tension in this story is palpable as secrets start bubbling to the surface. The plot twists and turns like a rollercoaster, and you can't help but wonder what really happened twelve years ago when one of the group mysteriously disappeared. It's a thrilling whodunit that keeps you guessing until the very end.

The characters are richly developed, and their individual secrets and quirks add depth to the narrative. As the story unfolds, you'll find yourself trying to piece together the puzzle, just like the characters themselves.

Overall, "The Twelve Days of Murder" is a gripping and entertaining read. It's the perfect blend of mystery, suspense, and a dash of nostalgia. If you're a fan of thrilling murder mysteries with a unique twist, this book is a must-read. Be prepared for a wild ride through the twelve days of Christmas you'll never forget! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

3.5

This was a fun take on an isolated mystery that takes a lot of inspiration from the carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas. It follows eight friends who ran a murder mystery club in college until at their last event one of their members went missing. The reunite for a Christmas themed party only to have their fake murder mystery party turn deadly.

I thought the twists and turns of the story were quite fun and appreciated the ties back in to the classic carol. Each of the members have secrets that they’re hiding both about their current lives and about that last weekend, and I liked the slow reveals and the way the mystery was sorted in the end.

Overall, I thought this was an enjoyable, festive read for this holiday season!

When a group of friends' murder mystery results in a real murder, they must work to find the murderer before the rest of them are next. Years ago, a group of friends began participating in murder mysteries, intricately written, and well-planned, allowing the group the opportunity to get into character and solve the mysteries. But this year, amid a terrible storm, their Christmas-themed murder mystery goes awry. Playing the roles assigned for their Christmas-themed murder mystery, each day, the friend group finds that each day, they are finding the worst versions of the 12 days of Christmas. But, who is the culprit?

I wasn’t sure if I would like this one because I’m not a huge fan of murder mystery games. However, the game quickly turns to deadly reality. Ending was done well and everything was tied together nicely. If you liked The Writing Retreat read this one!

An old college acting troop that specialized in fictional murder drama comes together twelve years after a tragic event that split the group to take part in a fictional Christmas murder mystery. But when the worst happens and one of them is murdered it soons becomes clear that fiction has become fact. An intriguing murder mystery set in an atmoshpheric setting, I enjoyed the mystery but didn't find the characters as relatable to make me feel attached to any of them. I did enjoy reading a Christmas mystery in a world full of Christmas romances. The audiobook was really good with a narrator that keeps you engaged. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the audiobook for a honest review.

Thanks, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for the Advanced Listening Copy.

Twelve years ago, a group of university students performed fictional murder mystery weekends for fun until one of their group disappeared mid-game. They’ve reunited in a remote Scottish castle for another game, except now the murders aren’t fiction.

This was a clever take on a locked room mystery with a Twelve Days of Christmas theme (e.g., Lady Partridge was found hanging from a pear tree). One reviewer called it a “suspenseful advent calendar,” and I love that analogy. There were surprises, shocking secrets, plenty of red herrings, and lots of themed murders. I had NO IDEA who the killer was, but once it was revealed, I found it satisfying.

While there were a large number of characters, I was able to identify who was whom quickly and followed along without trouble. The audiobook narrator did a lovely job with accents and characterizations, and I enjoyed listening to her perform.

If you’re an Agatha Christie fan, then you will love The Twelve Days of Murder. Inspired by And Then There Were None, with a Christmas setting, the stage is set for a perfect holiday whodunnit. This locked door mystery is full of whimsical characters to both like and despise in this entertaining, masquerade murder game. The narrator, Ella Lynch expertly brings the story to life, adding a layer of suspense and intrigue. This is the perfect read for the holidays. Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my audiobook.

I loved the premise of this book. And Then There Were None is one my favorites, so that + Christmas time sounds like a winner to me. I found parts of it slow but was interested in finding out who/why so it was worth it to continue listening.

The narrator did a great job, I liked her varied accents. I think the physical book would have been better for me, as there are so many characters and I had a hard time keeping track of who is who.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I haven't read anything by this author before and honestly, I think I may have been missing out.

This book was really good. If I'm being honest, the first half was a bit slow, I found it dragged in times.

But the second half - the second half is great.

I'm the type of person who guesses the murderer before the end of the book/show/movie, but this one, I was questioning until nearly the very end wondering who it was.

I saw someone else compared it to Agatha Christie's And Then There Was None and that's accurate, but it's also so much more than that.

I recommend it, and if you start it and find it slow, just stick with it.

Not all Christmas books are good, but this one is absolutely brilliant. The narration is first class, the characters well set out and the setting perfect. It could be one of my tops Christmas books this year. Bravo.

The Masquerade Murder Society reluctantly welcomed Charley, an outsider into their fold back when they were all in college, but they accused her of theft and even suggested she could have had something to do with their missing friend. When Allie brings them all together again ten years later for a Twelve Days of Christmas-themed masquerade, the truth about their missing Carl finally comes out...but not until Mrs. Partridge ends up dead in the Pear Tree. It's a great locked-door mystery reminiscent of Agatha Christie. An enjoyable and seasonal read.

Charley never much liked the other members of the Masquerade Murder Society when they were at university 12 years ago. Yet when she receives an invitation to attend one of their scripted murder mystery plays over Christmas at a remote house in the Scottish highlands, she decides to go anyway. Her acting career is going nowhere and she could use some extra cash to finally leave her unhappy relationship and move out on her own. Ani, one of the other members who is working for a successful ad agency, offers Charley some money and the promise of more acting work, if she'll agree to attend. Once everyone arrives, it seems Ani has been delayed, but all of the other snooty people have arrived. As an outsider, Charley has never felt that she fit in. At university, she was the secret girlfriend of Ani's brother Karl -- until Karl mysteriously disappeared from a locked room at the last murder mystery they held 12 years ago. An expensive necklace also disappeared at that time, and as the only one from a "poor" background, Charley immediately fell under suspicion. As the characters have no cell reception and inevitably get snowed in and cut off from the world, people suddenly start being killed in imaginative ways that echo their "12 Days of Christmas" play names. There are flashbacks from the perspectives of various characters to the events from 12 years ago as the truth about what happened to Karl is finally revealed.

I enjoyed the narrator and her pacing of the story. The slow build-up of what really happened to Karl was interesting (although I'm not sure it really follows the "fair play" rules of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction that is mentioned as being something of a passion of one of the characters). Everyone has a motive and it's fun to anticipate the next imaginative dispatching of an entitled, spoiled, and cruel character. The ending provides a satisfying dose of vengeance. This is a nice "holiday" murder mystery that will keep readers guessing!