The Twelve Clues of Christmas

By: Rhys Bowen

Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren

Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

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

Addictive Series

I listened to this book out of sequence and fell in love with the characters and the narrator. I listened to the first six books as fast as I could....now I'm sorry! More please!!!

Another great Spyness novel!

I love Love Love this series! What a lovely Christmas gift from Rhys. Thank you very much. Love the narration of Katherine Kellgren as well.

It was a great Christmas Who-Done-It!

Read from November 20 to 24, 2012

Listened for FUN!
Part of my 25 Christmas Reads for 2012
Overall Rating: 4.50
Story Rating: 4.50
Character Rating 4.50

Audio Rating (not part of the overall rating): 4.50
Christmas Rating: Just plain fun!

First thought when finished: Rhys Bowen hit it out of the park with The Twelve Clues of Christmas. It was a great Christmas Who-Done-It!

Just my thoughts: The Twelve Clues of Christmas was a jolly good time! I had a blast while listening and was thrilled to delve back into her royal spyness. This is one fun series for those that like amateur sleuth stories. Check it out when you get a chance! These have a small carry over story but I think they can be read out of order or as standalones.

About the audio: Narrated by Katherine Kellgren and she did a bang up job! Her voices were spot on, the pacing was fantastic, and the reading was delightful.

Final thought: I recommend the Royal Spyness series to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries!

What ho, old bean!

If you could sum up The Twelve Clues of Christmas in three words, what would they be?

Lighthearted, Smart, Whodunnit

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Not on the edge of my seat, no. It was a good murder mystery without too much predictability. It was an utter pleasure to listen to and to follow Lady Georgie on yet another adventure. If there can be charming murder mysteries, this is definitely one.

What does Katherine Kellgren bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Katherine Kellgren is one of my favorite narrators of all time - she does voices and accents and dialects beautifully. It feels like an entire cast is acting out the story.

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

Laughed. MANY times.

Love this series

Was so happy to see that Rhys Bowen had added another novel. Lived up to expectations.

Christmas Time Treasure

Would you listen to The Twelve Clues of Christmas again? Why?

Yes, it was fun, great characters and a good plot.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

For the most part. I did not guess the ending a head of time and for someone who has read a lot of mysteries that is an achievement.

Have you listened to any of Katherine Kellgren’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Katherine is great as always and I can't imagine the main character with another voice. In fact we started this series because she had been the voice in another story.

Five stars as always!

STORY (suspense) - Love this series! The stories have great mysteries, a wonderful cast of characters, a touch of romance and lots of just plain fun. In this book Georgiana and the rest of the main characters travel to a small village in England to enjoy an old-fashioned Christmas. Everything is going great until people start dying. The deaths seem accidental, but they continue. Can't say much more or I'll give things away, but this is a fun listen especially at Christmastime.

PERFORMANCE - Two words say it all. Katherine Kellgren!

OVERALL - I love everything about this book. There is no sex or bad language. There are lots of deaths but no gory details. The book is a light easy listen but there are lots of characters to keep straight, and good luck figuring out the murderer! Highly recommended for everyone, though some men (like my husband) may find it a little girly or silly.

Old fashioned English Christmas Murder

Another fun spoof in the Royal Spyness series. Georgie and most of her familiar friends gather for an old fashioned English Christmas with all the trimmings. What she doesn't know is that a killer is using the carol about the Twelve Days Of Christmas to make a literal killing, murdering a person each day (almost) to fit the pattern. More deaths than in the rest of the series, as the need to fit the pattern, but I would love to be able to spend a Christmas like Georgie and Darcy do, without the murders!'

If you have not read (or heard) the earlier books in this series, go back to the first, Her Royal Spyness, and start off right. But if you have read or heard some or all of the earlier books and enjoyed them and are in the mood for some holiday related murder, start to listen at once. You will enjoy.

As always, Kathleen does a great job reading this book and her reading adds to the enjoyment.

An absolute delight!

What did you love best about The Twelve Clues of Christmas?

The huge cast of hilarious characters.

What does Katherine Kellgren bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She was an amazing actress who made each character believable and unique. Listening to her was like watching a play on stage. It was a particular pleasure because there were so many characters and she was able to make each one a complete individual. And, she not only had to differentiate between upper and lower classes, but variations within groups, such as a duchess versus a countess, or a butcher versus a jeweler. She was wonderful.

Any additional comments?

For my annual Christmas cozy quest, I delightedly present “The Twelve Clues of Christmas,” by Rhys Bowen. It’s part of the immensely popular “Her Royal Spyness” series which is highly recommended by Library Journal. Thirty-fifth in line for the British throne Lady Georgiana Rannoch hopes for a quiet Christmas in Devon, but of course murder, romance, genuine thrills, and hilarity ensue. It’s set in the 1930s, so Mrs. Simpson is the subject of talk and Noel Coward makes an appearance or two. It’s as much satire of the upper class as anything, with silly names, exasperating lady’s maids, and flaming plum puddings, as if P.G. Wodehouse decided to write murder mysteries set in great country houses. Wonderful fun.

A nice twist

What made the experience of listening to The Twelve Clues of Christmas the most enjoyable?

The story was great. I liked Georgies family set up and the Lady of the house she went to. I like that the mystery was clever. This was more of an Agatha style mystery.

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

Undressing the gypsy, everything Sal, the good "uncle" gift from Noel Coward. Darcy fuming at Georgie and of course the last chapter!!!

What about Katherine Kellgren’s performance did you like?

She does a great job as usual

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

Lots of little laughs and wanting to slap Queenie when she came in interrupted.