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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

Thanks MetGalley! I found this a little hard to follow. Was a good mystery with some charming characters

Edie finds a present in her doorstep. Inside, there is a jigsaw puzzle that represent a murder scene. A note says people will die if you don’t solve the puzzle. Edie convinces her nephew to help in the investigation until a person is found dead with a jigsaw piece. With or without Sean, Edie decides she is the one to solve the case.

This gave me Thursday Murder Club vibes. For a Christmas themed book, it wasn’t very heavy on the Christmas feel. The book starts a little slow, but the suspense continues to increase. The killer was a total surprise with a very satisfying conclusion to the story.

Thank you to Alexandra Benedict, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

While The Christmas Jigsaw Murders offers an intriguing premise, it ultimately fell short of my expectations. The concept of intertwining holiday themes with a murder mystery is appealing, but the execution felt a bit lackluster. The characters lacked depth, making it difficult to become fully invested in their journeys. Additionally, the pacing was uneven, with some sections dragging on while others rushed through critical plot points.

On the positive side, the atmospheric setting and clever twists kept me engaged at times. Benedict’s writing style has its moments of brilliance, but I found myself hoping for more complexity and depth in both the plot and character development. Overall, it’s an entertaining read for those who enjoy light mysteries, but it didn’t quite resonate with me as I had hoped.

The Christmas Jigsaw Murders by Alexandra Benedict presents an intriguing blend of mystery and holiday cheer, featuring well-crafted characters and a compelling plot. The audiobook, narrated by Sandra Duncan, brings the story to life with her engaging voice and excellent pacing. Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for the advanced review copy of this captivating audiobook.

This is a clever, engaging story chock full of puzzles and clues and more mystery than any mystery I've read in ages. There's so much going on, both in the story and on the pages that the audiobook will not do this book justice. There are things for you to independently solve that are not part of the story. It's a puzzlers dream book!

That said, Edie is a complex character, and when people write her off for her abrasive behavior or shut her out for her brash forthrightness, we know where she she's coming from and cringe at her delivery. As we get to know her, we like her more and more. And her relationship with Sean is something special. But she's the recipient of clues involving a murder/murders and Sean is a detective, so they both are trying hard to find the killer and protect each other, to the other's detriment.

Murder mysteries should not be lovely, but this book certainly has its shining moments. Quite enjoyable, sinister, and amusing as well.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC! A Christmas surprise jigsaw puzzle reveals a murder, Edie O' Sullivan turns to her nephew, DI Sean Brand-O'Sullivan to help solve the case. With twists and turns (and the revelation of Edie's past), The Christmas Jigsaw Murders is a Christmas Mystery that keeps you guessing until the big reveal. Themes of family and love bolster the body count as Sean and his partner work toward building their family and Edie reflects on the family she never had (and the one she did). The Christmas Jigsaw Murders is a great choice for those looking for a holiday mystery.

I never am really impressed with with holiday thrillers, however, this one kept my interest. I enjoyed it.