The Christmas Murder Game

by Alexandra Benedict

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Christmas Murder Game is a delightfully witty holiday themed mystery by Alexandra Benedict. Originally released in 2021, this reformat and re-release from Sourcebooks on their Poisoned Pen imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. Other editions available in other formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is an engaging cozy with a nice closed circle mystery revolving around the Armitage family gathered for the holidays at Endgame House for the annual Christmas Game. The mystery is well constructed and the characters well rendered. It's a very slightly harder-edged cozy, with lots of very clever wordplay, and is an enjoyable, diverting read. The plotting is *full* of twists with lots of undercurrents and red herrings to keep readers engaged. The resolution and denouement were written with finesse and facility and readers will find it a satisfying read. Bonus for cruciverbalists: the author has included lots of clues for readers to find and puzzle out parallel to the main story.

This one reminded me in a lot of good ways of the best of the golden age authors, especially Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, or even John Bude or Edmund Crispin's slight shadings of campy lighthearted repartee. Quite a worthwhile read. Fans of golden age British crime shouldn't pass it up since there won't be anymore classics from the original sources. 

Four stars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.