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lastblossom's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a review copy.
tl;dr
A tense, atmospheric, closed circle mystery with a classic whodunnit feel. End feels a little contrived.
About
Liliana Armitage is dead, and ownership of the family mansion is up for grabs. A series of twelve riddles are all that stand between the remaining members of the family and ownership of the luxurious house called Endgame. Lily Armitage has no desire to return to Endgame and the painful memories it holds of her mother's death all those years ago. But a secret letter arrives, informing Lily that her mother's death was actually a murder, and the culprit's identity will only be revealed if she can solve the riddles of Endgame.
Thoughts
The book opens with a map of the house that looks purposefully like the board for Cluedo/Clue. I think it's the best hint possible for readers to set their expectations. What lies within this book is a mystery that feels very classic: strict rules, only one winner, no world-breaking plot twists. Fans of closed circle mysteries, "And Then There Were None" plot lines, and angry family members scrambling to solve clues for an inheritance will find all that in spades here. The numerous puzzles in this book rely heavily on in-universe knowledge to solve, so it's not a fair game mystery. The author makes up for it by hiding anagrams within the text of the book for readers to find. I played along for the first part of the book (it was fun), but I stopped once the plot picked up because I was too engrossed in the story.
The main character Lily is clever and talented, but she spends a lot of time making herself smaller (literally and figuratively) to avoid the attention of her louder cousins. While she does learn to be herself a little more, I was disappointed that she didn't manage to be more assertive in the end, relying on a bit of contrived luck to get out of a bad situation. Other characters vary in likability (on purpose), with some rather clear-cut villains and several genuinely sympathetic friends. Overall, a fun read for fans of classic-styled murder mysteries.
tl;dr
A tense, atmospheric, closed circle mystery with a classic whodunnit feel. End feels a little contrived.
About
Liliana Armitage is dead, and ownership of the family mansion is up for grabs. A series of twelve riddles are all that stand between the remaining members of the family and ownership of the luxurious house called Endgame. Lily Armitage has no desire to return to Endgame and the painful memories it holds of her mother's death all those years ago. But a secret letter arrives, informing Lily that her mother's death was actually a murder, and the culprit's identity will only be revealed if she can solve the riddles of Endgame.
Thoughts
The book opens with a map of the house that looks purposefully like the board for Cluedo/Clue. I think it's the best hint possible for readers to set their expectations. What lies within this book is a mystery that feels very classic: strict rules, only one winner, no world-breaking plot twists. Fans of closed circle mysteries, "And Then There Were None" plot lines, and angry family members scrambling to solve clues for an inheritance will find all that in spades here. The numerous puzzles in this book rely heavily on in-universe knowledge to solve, so it's not a fair game mystery. The author makes up for it by hiding anagrams within the text of the book for readers to find. I played along for the first part of the book (it was fun), but I stopped once the plot picked up because I was too engrossed in the story.
The main character Lily is clever and talented, but she spends a lot of time making herself smaller (literally and figuratively) to avoid the attention of her louder cousins. While she does learn to be herself a little more, I was disappointed that she didn't manage to be more assertive in the end, relying on a bit of contrived luck to get out of a bad situation. Other characters vary in likability (on purpose), with some rather clear-cut villains and several genuinely sympathetic friends. Overall, a fun read for fans of classic-styled murder mysteries.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Car accident, Incest, Blood, and Suicide
Minor: Biphobia and Miscarriage
thequiltyreader's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Incest, and Murder
Moderate: Pregnancy and Toxic relationship
lemface's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
Every single character is one-dimensional or completely lacking in personality. You know exactly who's going to make it to the end of the book because they're the only four people with anything passing as a personality.. The language is unnecessarily flowery and Christmas related which takes you right out of the book as there's no way the author would use words like that unless they're hiding an anagram, right? Wrong. "Tomb-like womb" will haunt me for the rest of my days.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Murder
shelfofunread's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Death, Murder, Pregnancy, and Suicide
Minor: Biphobia and Cancer
zoeylou's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Murder
what_heather_loves's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy, Death, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Minor: Car accident, Suicide, and Death of parent
breezer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Suicide, and Murder
Minor: Incest
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