Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - The Christmas Murder Game

Sigh. Well, I'm happy to see the lgbtq rep in mysteries, especially a bi protagonist. That said, I didn't really care for the story or the characters. Too many deaths, not enough character development. I also really didn't like having to read about pregnancy. Overall I just couldn't get into it, which sucks because I love the whole stuck in a house mystery.

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purplepenning's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

A classic, tense, atmospheric whodunit with a dysfunctional family and a rising body count during a snowed-in, country-mansion inheritance game full of clues, puzzles, and the weight of the past, present, and future. Not entirely my cup of tea (I like my Christmas murder mysteries to have at least a little Christmas warmth and cheer 😆) but a good one for word-puzzlers who like to play along at home.

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thequiltyreader's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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what_heather_loves's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

"Endgame House is even darker than she remembers. A hulking, seventeenth-century grey Manor house made for marble and limestone that once, she was many times told as a child, seemed to glow at dawn and dusk. Now it absorbs all the light around it and keeps its secrets close. Curtains are drawn on the many windows. Ready or not, here she comes."

Following the death of her aunt Liliana, Lily (named after her) is summoned to the family house, Endgame House, in Yorkshire. Her cousins and their partners have been summoned too, for the family Christmas get-together. Since they were children, clever, but cruel Liliana devised 'the Christmas Game', whereby they raced around the house and its grounds, following clues to find their presents.

Managed by the family solicitor, with a housekeeper to look after them, this year it will be different, because this year the winner will become heir to Endgame House. However, Lily knows more is afoot, warned in advance by a letter from aunt Liliana, that Lily's late mother did not commit suicide, but was murdered.This is why Lily has come to Endgame House for the first time since childhood. Will Lily follow the clues, uncover the truth and survive her Twelve Days of Christmas at Endgame House?

With likeable, deteremined, but vulnerable Lily as the protagonist, the narrative quickly draws the reader into Endgame House. Tensions between this dysfunctional family (with some horrible characters) combine with them getting snowed in and the mystery of following the clues, make for an atmospheric and engaging read. A locked room mystery, one by one family members disappear or are found dead, leaving the reader, and Lily, guessing. Whilst the setting is not realistic it does feel like classic golden age crime fiction, and the author does a great job or rationalising the setting. I throughly enjoyed reading this pacy, engaging and immersive whodunit in the run-up to Christmas.

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