The Twelve Clues of Christmas

I loved the cleverness of the mystery. I loved the wonderful descriptions of the houses, the countryside and the mists of Scotland. I get a good idea of the British royals and their airs and the expectations to keep the aristocracy going in spite of it being so outdated. Rhys’s descriptions of the characters and their names adds to the humor. Clever woman!

I've read/listened to all the Royal Spyness novels. By far this Christmas story is my favorite! Katherine Kellgren outdoes herself with the narration on Audible. Her voices for bratty American boy Junior, his older sister and the Dowager Countess are outrageously funny. I find myself bursting out laughing as the scene plays itself out in my head. The Christmas dinner feast is one of my favorite scenes. Makes me wish this novel was turned into a movie or TV series. To see it performed with the same agility as Ms. Kellgren would be amazing. (Seriously, she does various accents, tones, and even sings. Throughout the whole series I can tell who the characters are just by her accent alone. I don't need a "Darcy said" or "Fig groaned").Between the narration and the descriptions of a 1930's style "old fashioned country English Christmas" makes this audiobook a lovely replay while I'm sewing, baking, wrapping, shopping or doing all the little things to prepare for Christmas.The murder mystery kept me guessing right through the end. I had several plausible suspects and theories, none playing out as I imagined until the very end. Loved the Twelve Days of Christmas theme. Since I am mostly listening to this series, I didn't get that first clue until exactly the same time as Georgie. And even then I was wrong about the whodunnit.There are several things to love about the Royal Spyness series. The lead character, Lady Georgiana, seems like a levelheaded modern girl yet she is also firmly a member of her class and time period. I love how her romance with Hon. (and devilish) Darcy O'Mara plays out. This installment sees them together more and taking a more serious step in their relationship. (If you're reading for the relationship alone, you can concentrate on Books 1-3, 4, 6 (this one), 9, 10 (Crowned and Dangerous), 11 and next year's "Four Funerals and a Wedding Maybe".) Darcy develops nicely from a bit of a borderline cad/rogue (he first makes a play for Georgie on a bet) to a mysterious charmer with a purpose. It's not said clearly but you get the impression he started taking on jobs for the Secret Service as a lark or out of survival and then takes them so he can raise enough funds to settle down with the girl his heart desires. In this installment, fate seems to bring them together. Darcy is absolutely wonderful to Georgie. I love the wassailling scenes. The ending is so sweet I want to hug them both.As for those reviewers criticizing the actions of some characters, the point of Georgie's mother's stinginess is that she is a very self centered person. It doesn't occur to her that her daughter may need financial help. Georgie nearly starves herself in a freezing London townhouse because she's too proud and stubborn to admit to her brother or Queen Mary she needs help. That's what makes her a noble character. Despite being abandoned by her mother at age 2, surrounded by equally self-absorbed Society peers, constantly belittled and pestered by an overbearing sis-in-law and whimpy brother, Lady Georgiana sticks to her sense of morality and purpose. You can easily see she is the type of woman who could help propel England through the terror of WWII.

This is one of my favorite mystery series and I enjoy the progression of the characters' stories just as much as the mystery itself. Some mystery series fall into a pattern without much character development. I like that these characters build relationships that evolve and mature. I love to read how the characters are interwoven with real historical figures, too. I am curious if Rhys Bowen will draw somewhat more of a parallel between Georgie and Darcy's relationship and the relationship between the Prince of Wales and Wallis Simpson. For instance, will Darcy give up his religion out of respect for Georgie's sense of duty to her family (recognizing his own desire to "make his mark on the world" presumably out of his own sense of duty) or will Georgie choose to give up her place in line or will something else get in the way, but I digress, and I'll leave this in Ms. Bowen's much more capable hands.The mystery was intriguing and kept me guessing. Maybe a bit fantastic, but in the end reminiscent of my all time favorite mystery, And Then There Were None.The return of old characters was like visiting old friends. I love Georgie's grandfather and her mother is a fun character (like the this-time-absent Belinda). The scenes with Binky and Fig are amusingly frustrating. Queenie, though sometimes maddeningly in the way, has her endearing moments.These books are always interesting as period pieces. The time between wars in Britain is fascinating (love the Maisie Dobbs series, too) and the attitudes and actions of the smart young things and upper class is fun to "observe" especially in current economic times. Rhys Bowen does a good job of vividly describing everyday life, and in this book holiday food, games, and traditions, in a way that is engaging and never cumbersome.SPOILER ALERT?I like the evolution of Darcy's character and Georgie and Darcy's relationship. Some authors are tempted to overplay the rogue bit to the point that the reader has a tough time imagining what the heroine sees in him. I think Darcy is the right mix or dashing and affectionate. I like that both Georgie and Darcy occasionally say or do the wrong thing, but not to the point that the reader wants to shout to the other to just RUN (though like another reviewer, I was a little frustrated that Georgie didn't realize earlier that there were ways around the religion issue). I like that at this point, they both have let the other know their true feelings (no silly cop outs) and their scenes together were very rewarding. Like another reviewer, I do like the more worldly, spy representation of Darcy, and he did feel more like a sidekick at times in this book, but this was a family, holiday setting and there will be other books for that side of Darcy (please, oh, please keep this series going). Curious if there was more to any of the looks that Darcy gave Georgie near when he first arrived. Already looking forward to Heirs and Graces next year.

What a great Christmas mystery. This was my first dive into the Her Royal Spyness series and I’m already looking up the rest of the series.It was very clever using The Twelve Days of Christmas as the theme. Even knowing that going in I still didn’t catch on.I also enjoyed the time frame of the 1930s. An interesting time between the two World Wars.

What a fabulous read! Perfect for this time of year. It reminded me of lovely Sunday afternoon mysteries. With the added horror of murders. The main character is a fabulous, rounded young person by the name of Lady Georgiana Rannoch. Thirty fifth in line for the English throne, Georgie doesn’t let tradition hold her back.Her mother is a free spirited older woman who is spending the Christmas holiday with the fabulously flirtatious play-write Noel Coward. Georgia’s Christmas seems to be heading for a major flop until she spies an advertisement for position as a hostess to a posh holiday party in Tiddleton-under-Lovey, where her mother is also staying. She applies and is successful.Tiddleton-under-Lovey becomes the centre for a wonderful party, Georgia’s family all together in the same village, and also the love of Georgiana’s life, the enigmatic Darcy. Unfortunately it also becomes the centre piece for a host of seemingly unrelated accidents, or maybe murders.The book has everything you could want at this time of year, old mansion houses coming to life under candles and holly wreaths, cottages alive with alcoholic punch and traditional singing, the church resonating to organ playing carols. And murders demanding to be solved. What more could you want?

Not quite as good as Dame Agatha, I stress, but lovers of the blend of Romance Mystery and Frankly Outlandish (though completely explained and - in hindsight - understandable) solutions will love this one.Hard to discuss the plot without giving too much away, but suffice it to say that Georgie and D'Arcy are up their ears in bodies, the deaths are suitably bizarre, and the solution (though it might be 30 or 40 pages too late in coming) is wonderfully satisfying.The supporting characters - from Series regulars Queenie through Georgies mother, grandfather, and the vile Fig to the cameo of Noel Coward and on to the various Houseguests that make up "This weeks special guests," are wonderfully realised, and the entire thing is fun and immersive.Just the ticket for a Christmas read.

I do like this series! The books are easy to read and I have to keep turning the page. Once I got past the need to suspend my disbelief, (in particular, the 'fancy seeing you here .... again!') I enjoy them immensely. After all, every book has set the stage and if any of the characters were missed I would miss them!Little niggle - note to author, Georgie does have a fur coat - her mother gave her one in the last book!!

This was a great book, i do like Rhys Bowen as an author, enjoy her stories immensely.This was read at christmas time, the perfect time to read it.Very ingenious plot, murder and mayhem in a sleepy english villiage preparing for the festive period, snowy cottages, christmas folklore and great fun...whatto!

Ugh! Can't think of anything to say to recommend this dire story. Cardboard cut-out characters, an incredibly stupid policeman, who would have never kept his job in the keystone cops, unbelievable story, a certifiable maid and an unsympathetic 'heroine'. I hated the narration, which was downright hectoring at times. Dreadful.