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

Holiday fun!

Any additional comments?

Every one of the books in this series is terrific! They are very funny and have a great mystery. These books provide you with hours of true joy! Check out the whole series!

Fun. intriguing story!

Odd characters, mystery, romance and an education on old British customs. the narrator of this series is excellent! Hard to believe she is doing all the different voices, but no other name is listed so I'm assuming she is.

Christmas mystery

Another entertaining story with a Christmas murder twist! Simply ingenious!

Georgie takes as job as a host to a Christmas 2 week hosted stay and is happy to be near her mother and grandfather.

Superb narration and creative storyline!!

Such fun to listen to

This is such a fun series to enjoy. Sometimes kind of silly but always interesting. The series wouldn't be the same without the great narration of Katherine Kellgren. Looking forward to the next one.

Tradition English Christmas gone haywire

Once again, Lady Georgie is stuck at Castle Rannock with her miserly sister-in-law, Fig, making her life miserable and Christmas is just around the corner. So, why not take a job on a country estate in Devon, make a little money and get far, far away from Scotland? All is fine until local people start dying. But are these deaths accidents or murder?
Once again, Darcy is on hand to lend his simmering sensuality to mix and he does distract Georgie quite a bit as she goes about trying to figure out what's going on.
This is one of my favorites in the series. I just love Lady G's spunk and how wonderfully English these books always are. And there are always several laugh out loud incidents in any of the Royal Spyness books.
I loved this reader's ability to capture personalities so well with her intonations.

Christmas fun, my favorite Royal Spyness

What a fun little Christmas murder mystery. This is the 6th "Royal Spyness" book, but could easily stand alone for a fun Christmas read. Aside from 1st book beginning the series, this is my favorite. It is a fluffy, brain in neutral read... but my goodness, it captures the fun of a traditional English Christmas. The food, parlor games, caroling, and community traditions are woven cleverly with a series of crimes. Excellent narration.

Rhys Bowen entertains.

I enjoy her books. they are fun and have plots. not full of foul language or descriptive nude scenes. only problem is I cannot turn them off. as I try to work while listening I do get more done.

I enjoy this series

If you like the series, you will like this entry. I found the character development done well and it was a good story. The plot took a little while to get going but once Georgie got herself to where the story took place, I thought things moved along well. Narration was good as always and I enjoyed listening as well as tracking the story. Again, if you like the series, you are safe here.

I love this series.

My favorite so far! I love the romance between Darcy & Georgie. Katherine Kellgren is a wonderful narrator.

Titled and Penniless

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

A wonderful who done it in the style of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple. Only our heroine is younger, titled, and penniless. Or should I say shilling-less. Smart, sophisticated, and determined is our Lady Georgie. She has some brains to boot and sets about helping the police figure out who is behind all the "accidents" that have been happening in the quiet little village.

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

I don't think it kept me on the edge of my seat, but it kept me intrigued. The characters are engaging and the narrator's voice distinctions help keep everyone of them straight.

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

No. I haven't, but I am currently listening to the first one: Her Royal Spyness.

Any additional comments?

This is a fun listen, especially if you are an Agatha Christie fan. Give it a go. I think you will be delighted with the results.