A review by lydias1
The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Benedict

adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

I don’t like present tense writing :(

I couldn’t place the tone. It was an odd combination of intelligent and precise metaphors (albeit they were excessively used), and rather obvious and unclever ways of revealing plot information (“remember when you found your dead mum in the centre of the maze?”).

The characters were rather flat. 

The pace was odd, because it was so drawn out over 12 days. 12 clues, except they were all the same - fancy sonnets that the reader had no chance of solving so it was pointless to try. 

I predicted Tom was the killer, but I didn’t predict the incest (WHAT?). I get the motives for the murders, but I’m still left wondering why Lilliana decided to make the whole thing a game, while simultaneously tipping the odds in Lily’s favour.

Overall, the plot is just bizarre and I finished the book out of spite. Wouldn’t recommened. A bonus star given because it had good bisexual representation which was nice.
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