Member Reviews

Cousins snowed in over Christmas in a country house. A game set up by a deceased aunt to pass on the deeds of the house that leads to more deaths. Puzzles in sonnet form and treasure hunts around the house. Mysteries from the past to be uncovered.
If you like your mystery stories cheesy, predictable and totally implausible then this is the book for you. There were so many things to dislike about this book. The writing style was especially painful in it's over use of simile and metaphor, it was like reading a school exercise in using imagery, totally overdone. The characters were rather flat and conformed to a type. The whole premise of the story was absurd and the ending predictable.
But having said all that, I did actually find it rather entertaining, just not really my cup of tea.

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Controversial statement incoming: I personally think this is as good, if not a slightly better murder mystery than Agatha Christie. I admit, I’ve only read one Christie book in my times, but if I compare one book with the other, this definitely trumps it. There I said it.

There’s not much I can say about this book without spoiling it, so I’ll leave it at the bare minimum - just enough to entice you.

It is eery and fast-paced and tentative and chilling and thrilling and unassuming and surprising and keeps you on the edge of your seat and guessing right up to the last page. There are several main characters - Lily, Tom, Sara, Philippa, Isabelle, Rachel, Holly, Mrs Castle, Ronnie, and Gray - and each one is so well developed, and each of them could be the murderer or a red herring. They are lovely, kind, concerned, lustful, loving, timid, brash, nasty, grieving - they are very human.

It is such an unusual mystery - clues laid out in poems and sonnets, most which are far too difficult for my brain to even begin to figure out. Good thing Lily’s got her wits about her.

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A Christmas game where the winner takes all and the others get nothing. Every day the family are given a sonnet which is a clue as to where to find that day's prize. Someone is certainly taking it all very seriously as player after player is murdered - not a good time to be snowed in in Yorkshire.

Thoroughly enjoyed it - even if I couldn't work out the clues.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

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This is such an enjoyable book to read, who doesnt love a nurder mystery or christmas so putting them both together YESSS. it was twisty, unpredictable and so gripping

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A tribute to the Golden Age crime novels which is perfect for a cold night and a warm fire. If you like country houses, locked rooms, mysterious noises sumptuous costumes and family secrets then this is the Christmas mystery for you.

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I quite enjoyed this book. The fact there are puzzles hidden within the book itself makes this quite unusual and added another layer to this read. Lily is sent a letter by her aunt, and adoptive mother, Liliana telling her that her mum, Mariana, was murdered and she must go to Endgame House and play the Christmas game and discover the truth.

This is such a fun read with a great cast of characters. Perfect for a cozy night in with a mug of hot chocolate as you also try to solve the clues. Very entertaining and a must read.

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This is the first novel I have read by this author and lived every minute of the story. Loved being apart of the game to find all the secrets that are unravelling in Endgame! Loved the fact there are games you need todo throughout the book too! A wonderful mystery written! Look forward to many more by her.

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Lily Armitage receives a letter from her dead Aunt asking her to attend the family home Endgame House for Christmas, here along with her cousins they will take part in the annual tradition of the Christmas Game. However, her aunt has also informed Lily that she will find out what really happened to her mother and how she died if she takes part. And so Lily finds herself a participant of the game where the prize is Endgame House itself. The is the perfect Christmas read, it's entertaining and is a modern take on Agatha Christie, think And then there were none. Built into the story are riddles for the reader to solve, this is a nice touch. Even though I worked out the killer very early on, it didn't spoil my reading experience

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Mostly this was a fun read,though I did find myself thanking my lucky stars for not having to ever spend a Christmas with a family like this.
The clues,and the games were a nice addition to a mystery type story.
At times a tad predictable,it ended as I expected it to,but I enjoyed the whole of the book getting me to that end.

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