The Twelve Clues of Christmas

By: Rhys Bowen

Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren

Audie Award Winner, Solo Narration - Female, 2014

She may be 35th in line for the throne, but Lady Georgiana Rannoch cannot wait to ring in the new year—before a Christmas killer wrings another neck…

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—well, actually, my true love, Darcy O’Mara, is spending a feliz navidad tramping around South America. Meanwhile, Mummy is holed up in a tiny village called Tiddleton-under-Lovey with that droll Noel Coward! And I’m snowed in at Castle Rannoch with my bumbling brother, Binky, and sourpuss sister-in-law, Fig. So it’s a miracle when I contrive to land a position as hostess to a posh holiday party in Tiddleton. The village is like something out of A Christmas Carol! But no sooner have I arrived than a neighborhood nuisance, a fellow named Freddie falls out of a tree, dead…. Dickensian, indeed.

Freddie’s merely a stocking stuffer. On my second day in town, another so-called accident turns up another mincemeat pie—and yet another on my third. The village is buzzing that a recent prison break could have something to do with it… that, or a long-standing witch’s curse. I’m not so sure. But after Darcy shows up beneath the mistletoe, anything could be possible in this wicked wonderland.

©2012 Janet Quin- Harkin (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Katherine Kellgren performs an impressive range of accents: Irish brogue, high-pitched Cockney, fussy American, West Country burr, and more. Kellgren triumphs as Georgi, who is 34th in line to the throne, giving her a refined accent contrasted with down-to-earth sensibilities. Due to the author's light touch and Kellgren's humorous delivery, the many Yuletide deaths in this cozy do not become macabre. The listener just marvels at the mounting 'accidents' amid the bountiful Christmas cheer." ( AudioFile)

Audie Award Winner, Solo Narration - Female, 2014

Delightful mystery

Where does The Twelve Clues of Christmas rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The Twelve Clues of Christmas is the best of the series yet...

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Twelve Clues of Christmas?

Loved the ending ... won't spoil it for you.

Which character – as performed by Katherine Kellgren – was your favorite?

Katherine performs all the characters well and dramatically acts out the performances with her voice. Darcy O'Mara is delicious.

A great Christmas mistery

Where does The Twelve Clues of Christmas rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the top 10.

What other book might you compare The Twelve Clues of Christmas to and why?

It was a nice break from some of the sappy but good Christmas reads.

Any additional comments?

This book will be on my traditional Christmas reads list.

Fun Mystery with Exceptional Narration

Would you consider the audio edition of The Twelve Clues of Christmas to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version of this book, but Katherine Kellgren's performance is absolutely exceptional in this work. She managed to differentiate between at least 15 characters with ease. Kellgren's narration definitely enhanced my listening experience!

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love the main character Lady Georgiana for her wit and spunk.

Which character – as performed by Katherine Kellgren – was your favorite?

It would be impossible to choose a favorite as Kellgren performed each character with such finesse. She is a master.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This is a rather light mystery, so there wasn't much to cause an extreme reaction either way. I chose it as something easy to listen to during the holidays, and this fit the bill perfectly.

One of the best Audio books I’ve listened to

Katherine Kellgren is a master story narrator! The story is lovely and compelling. If you love a cozy mystery, you’ll adore this one!

Excellent mystery

Plot line pulled together incredibly well. The villains were hidden and red herrings offered options until the end. The romance came together nicely and the ending offered how for the characters'future.