I loved the premise of the book! A family bought together to a country house to play a game to see who wins the family fortune, you have to stay for tI loved the premise of the book! A family bought together to a country house to play a game to see who wins the family fortune, you have to stay for the 12 days of Christmas otherwise your forfeit your chance to win.
BUT then the snow starts and the murders....
Yeap sounds awesome, but really was a dull predictable read that was too long and sorry if you don't spot the killer I think you should try reading some more Agatha Christie ...more
There are a string of suspects in this Christmas Country House whodunnit, but luckily Roderick Alleyn is on hand (kind of) to get to the bottom of theThere are a string of suspects in this Christmas Country House whodunnit, but luckily Roderick Alleyn is on hand (kind of) to get to the bottom of the mystery.
An enjoyable later Christmas whodunnit from Ngaio Marsh and a very clever twist on the County House trope.
I loved that the problem of the lack of domestic staff was solved by having the house serviced by ex cons (murderer's who've served their time) who are then instantly added to the suspect list rather then I'm other similar plotted books just accessory characters....more
I listened to this book on Audible as I wanted something to listen to whilst I was feeling rotten.
Basically this book reminds us that no matter how smI listened to this book on Audible as I wanted something to listen to whilst I was feeling rotten.
Basically this book reminds us that no matter how small our interactions they have repercussions.
Norah is lost and alone and her decision to end her life finds her in The Midnight Library where she's given the chance to see other lives and walk in other Norah's shoes but is a perfect life really perfect?
It's inspired me to be kinder, act with more care and try to be a better person......more
Well written, a little raunchy in parts but still a good m/m love story
A love story that shows you that love can be brutal!
The coveAn Audible listen.
Well written, a little raunchy in parts but still a good m/m love story
A love story that shows you that love can be brutal!
The cover here really does make it look terrible (it's not that bad! Well maybe it is! I mean surely all of us could head to sea in a brutal storm in a man made boat, an hour after waking from a coma and with a broken collar bone right?)...more
Set in a village where you can't move without bumping into someone you knowA clever crime read for Christmas.
Likeable (well most of them) characters,
Set in a village where you can't move without bumping into someone you know makes the. disappearance of a carol singer even the more bizarre. Luckily John Waits is on hand to start the investigation.
Well written with a hint of humour I really enjoyed this festive read....more
A light (as light as murder and blackmail can be) festive whodunnit set in a country house where friends and family have gathered to ce3.5 rounded up.
A light (as light as murder and blackmail can be) festive whodunnit set in a country house where friends and family have gathered to celebrate Christmas.
It's 1938 and The Westburys have the usual crowd over for festivities along with a high ranking MP, and a chum from over seas. But a body is discovered on Christmas morning and it's up to Hugh our keen amateur detective to find out what the heck is going on....
A wonderfully written saga of love and decline both in the class system and amongst a pair of siblings.
You could feel the cold and the snow and hear A wonderfully written saga of love and decline both in the class system and amongst a pair of siblings.
You could feel the cold and the snow and hear the crunch of footsteps on frost.
Cathy and Rob are semi feral, left to grow up in a rambling house with their Grandfather and beloved servants they soon discover nothing lasts forever....more
I love Joan Aiken, she's a wonderful way of writing that instantly transports you to the heart of the story. She is one of the few short story writersI love Joan Aiken, she's a wonderful way of writing that instantly transports you to the heart of the story. She is one of the few short story writers I adore and her longer stories are wonderful adventure filled tales also.
This one was perfect for a stormy weekend, a young charge, a new "nanny", an old country house in a bleak part of Yorkshire and people out to cause harm........more
After I read another in this series and commented to a friend that I enjoyed it they recommended that I go back to the start of the series and read frAfter I read another in this series and commented to a friend that I enjoyed it they recommended that I go back to the start of the series and read from he first book which I am glad I did as I knew so little about Josephine Tey and this gave me some great background information about her, her life and her fascinating work.
What I did find that there was a lot of character introduction in this book and it did remind me of the Ngaio Marsh books that are set in a theatre that tend to go on and on and like those so did this read ;)
I still enjoyed it and will crack on with number two in the series very soon. I certainly won't be put off. ...more
I read this whilst at Greenway so the books descriptions of the house and gardens were easy to imagine.
Evacuated children and they carers take over GrI read this whilst at Greenway so the books descriptions of the house and gardens were easy to imagine.
Evacuated children and they carers take over Greenway and are there when a murder occurs, nobody really investigates it, then a nurse disappears and nobody really investigates it and there are a spate of mysterious deaths (and yeap nobody investigates them either)
The book for me plodded on with no real focus and a lot of the chapters added nothing to the story (it was as if the author had a list of historical events and they wanted to get them in rather then progress the mystery)
In all one of those usual historical mystery stories that's okay but not great....more
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