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bookish79's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
bookishpanda97's review against another edition
4.75
This book was thoroughly enjoyable our main character edi gets puzzle pieces to her house with a note to solve the murders they depict and we go on her journey with her as well as a very slight romantic story line and her healing journey and reconnecting with her family
anneessdee's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
no_more_shelf_control's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑪𝑯𝑹𝑰𝑺𝑻𝑴𝑨𝑺 𝑱𝑰𝑮𝑺𝑨𝑾 𝑴𝑼𝑹𝑫𝑬𝑹𝑺 𝒃𝒚 𝑨𝒍𝒆𝒙𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒓𝒂 𝑩𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕 is a read I finished today and thoroughly enjoyed!
Narrated wonderfully by Sandra Duncan, I was immediately endeared to Edie O'Sullivan, the 80 year old curmudgeonly puzzle setter. I was tried and tested through the story, as Edie is certainly a difficult woman to love. Her nephew whom she raised after a particularly difficult tragedy becomes a beloved detective who loves Christmas despite his Aunt's disdain. When Edie receives a package in the mail with a handful of puzzle pieces and a cryptic note, she is disturbed, but what is most alarming is that one clue in the picture that is emerging may put the only one who can solve this mystery in danger.
I enjoyed this Christmas murder mystery quite a bit. It was entertaining with a sour protagonist whose story comes to light as the tale unfolds. I am drawn to these characters, though Edie took a bit extra patience. The mystery and motives were engaging and kept up a good pace for me. It felt like a clever premise, and though I would like to say more, it would give away too much.
This is a fun murder mystery with a bit of a Christmas atmosphere, a touch of trauma and grief, some love and loss, and finally redemption.
Thank you to @dreamscape_media and @netgalley for providing me with this seasonal audiobook, out October 8th, so available now!
Narrated wonderfully by Sandra Duncan, I was immediately endeared to Edie O'Sullivan, the 80 year old curmudgeonly puzzle setter. I was tried and tested through the story, as Edie is certainly a difficult woman to love. Her nephew whom she raised after a particularly difficult tragedy becomes a beloved detective who loves Christmas despite his Aunt's disdain. When Edie receives a package in the mail with a handful of puzzle pieces and a cryptic note, she is disturbed, but what is most alarming is that one clue in the picture that is emerging may put the only one who can solve this mystery in danger.
I enjoyed this Christmas murder mystery quite a bit. It was entertaining with a sour protagonist whose story comes to light as the tale unfolds. I am drawn to these characters, though Edie took a bit extra patience. The mystery and motives were engaging and kept up a good pace for me. It felt like a clever premise, and though I would like to say more, it would give away too much.
This is a fun murder mystery with a bit of a Christmas atmosphere, a touch of trauma and grief, some love and loss, and finally redemption.
Thank you to @dreamscape_media and @netgalley for providing me with this seasonal audiobook, out October 8th, so available now!
echoviper's review against another edition
not in the mood for xmas books or detective books
whimsyandwitt's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The only thing(s) that would have made this book better is if I had been reading it via audiobook, around Christmas, while working on a puzzle.
Read if you enjoy:
Christmas
Mysteries
Puzzles (of all sorts)
Pop Culture References
Golden Girls Vibes
Snappy Protagonists
The Christmas Jigsaw Murders was a fun time. The MC, Edie, was full of snark, instantly warming me to her. A perfect balance to some of the other darker/sadder plot points. The pacing was fast and the story was fairly easy to follow. There are puzzles throughout (maybe less easy to follow, if youre like me) to work through with Edie. Did I guess the Murderer? Nooope. But I enjoyed Edie's problem sovling and snappy banter with the actual investigaters/family.
Read if you enjoy:
Christmas
Mysteries
Puzzles (of all sorts)
Pop Culture References
Golden Girls Vibes
Snappy Protagonists
The Christmas Jigsaw Murders was a fun time. The MC, Edie, was full of snark, instantly warming me to her. A perfect balance to some of the other darker/sadder plot points. The pacing was fast and the story was fairly easy to follow. There are puzzles throughout (maybe less easy to follow, if youre like me) to work through with Edie. Did I guess the Murderer? Nooope. But I enjoyed Edie's problem sovling and snappy banter with the actual investigaters/family.
michaelbereading's review
3.0
80 year old Edie O'Sullivan, a puzzle setter and Christmas sceptic, receives a mysterious jigsaw box containing a crime scene image and a chilling threat. She enlists the help of her nephew, a detective, but as the body count rises, she realizes she's the only one who can stop the killer. Her nephew, fearing for her safety, shuts her out of the investigation, leading to a tense family conflict.
This book was perfectly fine. Short. Mysterious. Funny. But it really just wasn't my style. It was a bit too "cozy" mystery for me and not nearly as dark as I like my thrillers. The main character was hilarious, if not completely socially inept, and her gay nephew added some nice Queer representation. Overall, there was some of the intensity, but mostly this British mystery wasn't quite what I was looking for. This is likely more of a me issue, rather than a book issue though.
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and this is my voluntary and unbiased review.
This book was perfectly fine. Short. Mysterious. Funny. But it really just wasn't my style. It was a bit too "cozy" mystery for me and not nearly as dark as I like my thrillers. The main character was hilarious, if not completely socially inept, and her gay nephew added some nice Queer representation. Overall, there was some of the intensity, but mostly this British mystery wasn't quite what I was looking for. This is likely more of a me issue, rather than a book issue though.
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and this is my voluntary and unbiased review.
claudia2982's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
juliachilver's review
3.0
Easy Christmas read that works at most times of the year. It took me a long time because I dipped in and out between other books and nothing in the plot prevented that.
cgonya1's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Alexandra Benedict has two previous Christmas murder mysteries, but they are all stand-alones. That said, she does mention the Murder on the Christmas Express, so the novels are in the same timeline.
I liked Edie. I completely understood her anger and sadness at Christmas. I also can understand why the only person she allows near is her nephew/son Sean. However, I would have thought that the police would have kept Edie close, in light of the jigsaw puzzle pieces being sent to her, and in order to remove her as a suspect.
The mystery was interesting as well. Since it tied so well with Edie and Sean, some of the motive made sense. I also did not figure out the solution, and thus found it well thought out.
As with her precious novels, Benedict includes games that the reader could search for throughout the novel. As I have mentioned before, I do not participate during the first reading, but I might re-read in the future and try them.
Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars.
I liked Edie. I completely understood her anger and sadness at Christmas. I also can understand why the only person she allows near is her nephew/son Sean. However, I would have thought that the police would have kept Edie close, in light of the jigsaw puzzle pieces being sent to her, and in order to remove her as a suspect.
The mystery was interesting as well. Since it tied so well with Edie and Sean, some of the motive made sense. I also did not figure out the solution, and thus found it well thought out.
As with her precious novels, Benedict includes games that the reader could search for throughout the novel. As I have mentioned before, I do not participate during the first reading, but I might re-read in the future and try them.
Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars.