The Twelve Clues of Christmas (Her Royal Spyness Mysteries, #6)

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The Twelve Clues of Christmas (Her Royal Spyness Mysteries #6)

by Rhys Bowen (Goodreads Author)

3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 · rating details · 1,364 ratings · 277 reviews

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...more

Hardcover, 311 pages

Published November 6th 2012 by Berkley Hardcover

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Jan 10, 2013 Hannah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy-mystery, favourites, historical-mystery

Oh my, what can I say about The Twelve Clues of Christmas without sounding like a complete and utter fangirl? Rhys Bowen has really outdid herself this time – this is the perfect Christmas book for mystery aficionados and longtime fans of the Royal Spyness series will have a great deal to be happy about with the developments in this latest installment. In two words: More Darcy!

After the fun, fashion and flirting of Naughty in Nice and Georgie's numerous adventures abroad, we return to England fo...more Oh my, what can I say about The Twelve Clues of Christmas without sounding like a complete and utter fangirl? Rhys Bowen has really outdid herself this time – this is the perfect Christmas book for mystery aficionados and longtime fans of the Royal Spyness series will have a great deal to be happy about with the developments in this latest installment. In two words: More Darcy!

After the fun, fashion and flirting of Naughty in Nice and Georgie's numerous adventures abroad, we return to England for a good old classic English village murder mystery when Georgie answers an ad in a newspaper to play social hostess at the Christmas party of Lady Hawse-Gorzley in the village of Tiddleton-under-Lovey. A house party composed of a spoilt American family, a countess, two very different couples, a nouveau riche family looking to move into upper-class society and a lecherous middle-aged bachelor, all stuck in a quaint village with its fair share of wild women, stern clergymen and queer old ladies – what could go wrong? It's back to the basics, and sometimes the basics are the best. The change-up from the assignments for the Queen or poverty-induced overseas travel of previous books is a delight, introducing a story that is almost Agatha Christie or Ngaio Marsh-esque in its setup, but effortlessly combined with the light-hearted fun and social antics that are the hallmark of the Royal Spyness books.

The murder mystery was truly front-and-center in The Twelve Clues of Christmas, and I loved this redirection in focus. Despite having enjoyed the social considerations of the previous few books, I must admit I felt that the mystery was increasingly taking the backseat to the fun and games and the mystery fan in me winced a little. Well, there is certainly no cause for complaint here! This was everything I wanted in a cozy mystery – full of suspense, suspicious goings-on and unexpected developments. The high body count certainly helped; a body per Christmas day undoubtedly ramps up the tension and keeps the mystery firmly in focus. The only issue I had was with the pacing of these murders versus the number of clues being revealed, whether to the characters or to the audience. It was quite a time before there was even enough circumstantial "evidence" for Georgie's suspicions of foul-play to be confirmed, and this had two adverse effects. (view spoiler) On the upside, the cause for the murders is really quite clever and guessing the identity of the murderer kept me occupied until the end.

Fittingly, Georgie's nearest and dearest are around to take part in the festivities – her Granddad, flighty mother and her loving Darcy – and we meet a number of new characters in the house party that will hopefully provide Georgie with friendly and stalwart supporters in the future. Lord knows she'll need some, considering her destitute state and Fig's increasing hostility. And Darcy fans, rejoice! He was almost a non-entity in Naughty in Nice, but it was quite the opposite here. The wait was worth it, because Darcy really stepped up to the plate in this book; I must admit I had previously doubted the depth of his affection for Georgie and his ability to maintain his loyalty and interest, but now I doubt no longer. I have never been so happy to be proven wrong! By golly is Rhys Bowen proving that she's too good a writer to draw things out, preferring to introduce positive developments rather than allow things to stagnate.

Really, The Twelve Clues of Christmas is such a little bundle of perfection that I feel like rolling back under my electric blanket with a hot cup of cocoa and rereading this all over again. It is now firmly cemented as my favourite of the series thus far. I know this sounds like a cliché, but I cannot wait to see what Book 7 will bring. Perhaps, fingers crossed, a meeting with Daddy O'Mara?(less)

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Jan 21, 2013 Lori McD rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: british-lit, british-monarchy, chick-lit, cozy-mystery, favorite-author, fun-fluff, historical-fiction, intrigue, mystery, romance, series

If you're not familiar with the Twelve Days of Christmas (the song and the tradition), I suggest you bone up a bit before reading this cozy little mystery....

Admittedly, I didn't quite "get" this story until I did. Which is a sad thing for me to admit. But then the obvious clues fell into place.

Once again, Her Royal Spyness, Georgie, finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery. This time, it's the mystery of a serial killer intent upon using the Twelve Days of Christmas as the inspiration. B...more If you're not familiar with the Twelve Days of Christmas (the song and the tradition), I suggest you bone up a bit before reading this cozy little mystery....

Admittedly, I didn't quite "get" this story until I did. Which is a sad thing for me to admit. But then the obvious clues fell into place.

Once again, Her Royal Spyness, Georgie, finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery. This time, it's the mystery of a serial killer intent upon using the Twelve Days of Christmas as the inspiration. But why this little town? And why these people? What does it all mean?

Trying to escape the drudgery of her penny-pinching sister-in-law and the awful, bone cold of their Scottish ancestral castle, Georgie answers an add to be a Social Hostess to a small house party over the Christmas holiday. Turns out the party is to be held in the same little town that her actress gad-about mother is going to be in, sharing a quaint cottage with none other than Noel Coward. Ostensibly, the two are working on a new play with a starring role for her mother, who says she's leaving her latest - a German financier. Georgie even manages to get her grandfather (mother's father) into the role of butler for her mother, to give his bronchitis a break from the cold and soot of London.

So when Georgie lands the job, she's delighted. She gets to spend the holidays close to her family and play hostess to a delightful group of house guests...??? Turns out that the British family is facing the same awful taxes that most titled families are; so to keep their home, they've decided to host a lavish British Christmas for paying guests, many of whom are American.

But is there a murderer among them?

And Georgie can't believe her luck when Darcy turns up; he's cousins with the family! But how can she pursue romance with Darcy? He's penniless and his title is Irish. Being 30-something in line for the British crown, Georgie simply can't keep her heart and her family happy. Or can she?

Darcy is more than handy as the bodies pile up. And together, Darcy and Georgie make quite the team, tracking down the culprit.

Fun book - worth the wait! Hoping for the next book soon!(less)

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Apr 18, 2013 Gloria Feit rated it 4 of 5 stars

A holiday mystery based on the twelve days of Christmas is the basis for this latest Royal Spyness Mystery series. Georgie (Lady Georgiana Bannock, 35th or 36th in line for the throne) escapes from Castle Rannoch and her sister-in-law, Fig, whom she dislikes, by answering an ad to act as a social hostess for a large Christmas party in a small English village, Tiddleton-under-Lovey. Her actress mother and Noel Coward are staying in the same village, supposedly writing a play, and Georgie convince...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Mysterious Ed rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy-mystery, amateur-detective, historical, humor, great-britain

#6 in the Royal Spyness series. 1933, now number 35 in the line of succession for the English throne, Georgie applies for and is immediately accepted by Lady Hawse-Gorzley to assist in hostessing a large Christmas party. Georgie will add a royal presence to the house party, and enjoy warmth and sufficient food while escaping the drafty castle in SCotland and the company of her sister-in-law, Fig. The usual complications and coincidences ensue. Her mother is spending Christmas in the same village...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Marcie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Balderdash! I wish I had discovered this book at the library a month ago, mid-December. It's perfectly charming -- a Christmas-themed parlor mystery! Set in a quaint, Dickensian English village during a fascinating time (1930s, when royals were still "royal" but dirt-poor after investing in American stock). The hostess of the holiday vacay has offered a traditional English Christmas celebration for a FEE (loved all the details of the darling practices), but the bodies just keep dropping! I say,...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Marilyn Fontane rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People interested in Christmas customs who also love mysteries. Any cozy lover

Shelves: mystery

Lady Georgiana Rannoch, too poor to live with any but obnoxious relatives, but 35th in line to the throne of England, takes a job as a social hostess for a house party given by Camilla Hawse-Gorzley to celebrate (and charge for) an old fashioned Christmas in 1933. A wide assortment of paying guests come from far and wide (India and America)to spend the 12 days of Christmas (ending on Jan. 1st, not Jan. 6, Epiphany--a likely switch since few realize the 12 days start, rather than end, with Christ...more Lady Georgiana Rannoch, too poor to live with any but obnoxious relatives, but 35th in line to the throne of England, takes a job as a social hostess for a house party given by Camilla Hawse-Gorzley to celebrate (and charge for) an old fashioned Christmas in 1933. A wide assortment of paying guests come from far and wide (India and America)to spend the 12 days of Christmas (ending on Jan. 1st, not Jan. 6, Epiphany--a likely switch since few realize the 12 days start, rather than end, with Christmas and it is a better time for parties and celebrations). However, at the same time and same place, Tiddleton-Under Lovey, a convict decides to eliminate the 12 jurors who put him away; the oddity is that he chooses the same 12 days to "celebrate" his Christmas. Hmmm. At least Mrs. Hawse-Gorzley had a useful reason to change her dates. There is a Partridge, 2 turtle doves, 3 French hens, a calling (if not colly) bird (perhaps there were three other telephone operators--we don't know), 5 gold rings, 6 geese a lying (since they are dressed to be cooked for Christmas, they can't be laying), some (who can tell how many in the mist)swans swimming, 1 maid milking (perhaps the other seven are at other farms), a lot of ladies (but at least 9) dancing, 10 lords a leaping, one organist playing (organs do have pipes), but I failed to find a drummer--unless banging on pots and pans to chase away evil spirits is drumming, and the whole community (far more than 12)did that. On the other hand the twelth jurist emigrated, so the person who presided as magistrate when he was charged was substituted to make a twelth victim. He obviously takes a liberal interpretation of the carol.
Of course, the main interest in the story centers around the love interest of Georgie and Darcy O'Mara. With a lover named Darcy how could it not be interesting? (Is there anyone who hasn't read Pride and Prejudice?) A lot of customs and games are lovingly described to add historical interest, and Rhys Bowen even added recipes at the end. How more cozy can you get?
But all in all it is a lot of fun. Light humor, but with each murder the suspence thickens. Soon you actually care about some of the characters and hope they escape. A pleasurable, if not memorable, read. (less)

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Dec 10, 2012 Judy rated it 3 of 5 stars

It's December 1933 and just because you are thirty-fifth in line for the English throne doesn't mean that you can't be penniless. Lady Georgiana Rannoch finds herself in just that position and things become unbearable when her sister-in-law, the unlovable Fig, makes it quite clear that Georgiana won't be welcome to stay at her family's home, Castle Rannoch, for the Christmas holidays. So Lady Georgiana answers an advertisement and agrees to help hostess a large Christmas party at Lady Hawse-Gorz...more

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Dec 06, 2012 Kathy Davie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: history, mystery

Sixth in the Her Royal Spyness historical mystery series revolving around Lady Georgiana and a country house Christmas in 1933 in Tiddleton-under-Lovey.

My Take
I do enjoy the setting Bowen has created for this series. It's a treat to read about a noble family that has fallen on hard times and the straits to which they're reduced...ooh, that sounds kind of nasty. It's not that I enjoy their "poverty" so much as it's a change from the usual billionaire romances. And it gives us an inside look at th...more

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Dec 02, 2012 elaynne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Downloaded from Audible.com
Narrated by Katherine Kellgren

I selected this book because when I chose it, it had a 5 star rating in all three categories (Overall, Performance, Story) by at least 30 people. Since listening, Overall and Story have been downgraded to 4.5 and over 40 people have reviewed it.

Definitely not really my sort of book though I do confess to liking occasional and random murder mysteries.

Even though she's "only" 35th in line for the throne, Lady Georgiana Rannoch has a reputati...more Downloaded from Audible.com
Narrated by Katherine Kellgren

I selected this book because when I chose it, it had a 5 star rating in all three categories (Overall, Performance, Story) by at least 30 people. Since listening, Overall and Story have been downgraded to 4.5 and over 40 people have reviewed it.

Definitely not really my sort of book though I do confess to liking occasional and random murder mysteries.

Even though she's "only" 35th in line for the throne, Lady Georgiana Rannoch has a reputation to maintain and it's very difficult doing so because her funds are precariously low. She decides to apply to an advertisement for a position over the Christmas holidays where she will help play hostess for a Christmas event. She's not only desperate to add to her dwindling funds but she's bored senseless at the castle of her brother (Binky!?) and his wife (Fig) and Fig's pompous mother.

She arrives to a succession of freak accidents, beginning with a man who accidentally shoots himself while still in a tree (hunting geese or some such thing). Georgie starts suspecting that the deaths aren't, in fact, accidents and starts doing some of her own investigating. She concludes that they're all local, long-time residents and they have a specific event in common.

As each day passes, and another death is discovered, the town gets twitchy. The woman who hired her is worried her guests will depart yet feels bad that she planned this "Old-Fashioned Christmas" in the first place. But Georgie isn't terribly upset because after she arrives on the scene, she discovers that her sweetheart is the nephew of house's lady so they get to spend the holiday under the same room.

In the end, with the help of her grandad, who retired from Scotland Yard, she finally discovers what the murderer is up to and they save the day! Sadly, it isn't until 11-ish innocent people are done in. But her sweetheart, Darcy, asks her to marry him and even though he's Catholic, she plans to give up her place in the royal lineage in order to become his bride. Someday. (less)

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Nov 30, 2012 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lady Georgiana Rannoch cannot stomach the thought of spending the holidays with her brother and dreary sister-in-law in frigid Scotland. Being nearly penniless, she doesn't have many options until she reads an advertisement asking for a royal hostess in a little town called Tiddleton-under-Lovey. Another resourceful Lady has planned an authentic English Christmas for paying guests in the quaint town. Georgie is thrilled with the arrangements except for the death of the next door neighbor. And an...more

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Nov 20, 2012 Jaylia3 rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Twelve Clues of Christmas is full of the charms of an old fashioned traditional English Christmas, in spite of the numerous suspicious deaths that keep occurring around the small country village where Lady Georgina has fled for the Christmas season. She had been staying at her family's ancestral home, the grand but drafty Castle Rannoch in Scotland with her sweet,clueless brother Binky and his grumpy, penny-pinching wife Fig, but with Fig's family about to descend for a long stay Georgie nee...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Deborah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: cosy-mysteries, historical-mystery

Clearly I am in the minority with regard to this book. I have really been enjoying this series and I looked forward to this latest entry eagerly. I had it on reserve at the library while it was still listed as "on-order". I was disapointed though and I think it is the weakest entry to date.
I will leave the plot summary to the others . . . .and move on.
One of the things I like about this series is that it is "cosy". I will grant you that "cosy" and "murder" together would seem to be a little cont...more

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Nov 18, 2012 Brett rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-historical

Pure escapist fun of the best kind, this book does a beautiful job of channeling vintage Agatha Christie. The "Her Royal Spyness" series is my favorite of Bowen's, because of the way she captures the feel of Christie, only with tongue held firmly in cheek. The mystery is always a good one, but there's plenty of room for humor, too.
This one is obviously set at Christmastime, & captures that perennial favorite of Golden Era mystery settings, the country house party with a house full of potent...more

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Jul 27, 2012 Amy Lignor rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is a delightful mystery that’s masterfully plotted! With the locations, wardrobes, and the ‘pride & prejudice’ of the societal elite, readers will be automatically reminded of Agatha Christie’s perfect novels.

Lady Georgiana Rannoch is staying with her brother and his wife at the ‘Family Home,’ which is a very cold and damp pile of stones located in Scotland called, Castle Rannoch. The date is December 14, 1933, and Georgie is basically thinking she would love to be anywhere but th...more

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Feb 25, 2013 Jessica Andersen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, series-i-love-to-read

I love this series bye Rhys Bowen. Georgie is one of my favorite amateur sleuths. This was a great antidote to the season 3 finale of Downton Abbey. The series takes place in the 1930s in England. Georgie is 34th in line for the throne, but her family has fallen on hard times and her brother inherited an estate that was all but bankrupt, leaving Georgie with no allowance and not much prospect for employment befitting a member of the royal family.

In this book, Georgie is faced with the prospect...more

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Feb 25, 2013 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-suspense, modern-historical-fiction, historical-fiction, all-time-favorites

LOVED IT!! This is Bowen at the top of her game and showing the best that this series can be. In the world of cozies, this one really manages to stand out as something special. Not only is Georgie as fabulously adorable and klutzy as ever, but the mystery really has definite substance to it. Twelve days leading up to the New Year, mysterious violent deaths, escaped convicts, a house party of mismatched guests, and our favorite member of the royal family with Grandad, Mummy and dreamy Irish peer...more

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Jan 29, 2013 DeAnne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: leisurereads

I read this while I was out-of-town and throughly enjoyed it; so much that I am going to start at the beginning of this series with "Her Royal Spyness." The mystery is about a young woman who is 35th in line for the British throne; she knows all the wealthy families in Britain, and is invited to many galas, but her family no longer has money. She has taken a job over Christmas as a party-planner in the home of another British aristocratic family, who is trying to make some money by showing touri...more

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Dec 09, 2012 Larraine rated it 3 of 5 stars

t's hard to be a penniless aristocrat in 1930's England especially when there are plenty of people just like you who are doing just fine. Lady Georgianna is at her wit's end. Her sister-in-law, aka the detestable "Fig," has recently had a baby and is suffering from post partum depression although in 1933, nobody knows what that is apparently. It's nearly Christmas, she is still in the castle in Scotland. It's cold - because Fig claims they don't have the money for heat. The food is awful because...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Annemarie Donahue rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime, fiction, history, mysteries

Cute little murder mystery. Something to snuggle on the couch with for a easy read over the weekend. You'll like it if you liked her others. I believe this is the fifth in the series, sixth if you count the prequel. Narrator Georgie finds herself in Tiddleton-under-lovey hosting an old fashioned Christmas. Essentially she's been paid to be royal at a party. She arrives as people are already dying. Each day a new person passes in a mysteriously accidental way. Of course the reader through Georgie...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Audrey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Rhys Bowen's Christmas caper contains over a dozen murder attempts (some successful, some not), which must be a new personal record! Fear not, those faint of heart. Bowen strikes the right mix of intrigue and innocence in this this, her sixth Royal Spyness installment.

The lovely and impoverished Lady Georgiana Rannoch, sick of her bossy sister-in-law, leaps at the chance to escape dreary old Scotland for the holidays. She responds to an advertisement in The Lady and is soon instated as the fashi...more Rhys Bowen's Christmas caper contains over a dozen murder attempts (some successful, some not), which must be a new personal record! Fear not, those faint of heart. Bowen strikes the right mix of intrigue and innocence in this this, her sixth Royal Spyness installment.

The lovely and impoverished Lady Georgiana Rannoch, sick of her bossy sister-in-law, leaps at the chance to escape dreary old Scotland for the holidays. She responds to an advertisement in The Lady and is soon instated as the fashionable young hostess at Lady Hawse-Gorzley's house party -- for better, or for worse.

A string of apparently accidental deaths plagues the quiet town of Tiddleton-under-Lovey. The clever Lady Georgie cannot help but try to solve the mystery, with help from a comical cast of characters.

Escaped convicts, handsome young lords, a flighty mother and a manor full of strange and suspicious guests made for a quick and easy read with more than enough intrigue to keep the reader guessing. Each character had their own little (or large) secret to protect. Bowen threw in a wild woman, inept inspectors, a village idiot and a classic English hunt, for good measure.

A cheery old-fashioned English Christmas served as a charming backdrop in this novel, and helped to keep things light and humorous amidst multiple gruesome murders. Dangers abound in this town cloaked in mist and surrounded by bogs. Oh, and one must not forget the Lovey Curse -- a centuries-old tale of horror that sends townfolk into a tizzy!

Georgie the girl sleuth (and great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria) really irked me, at first. She seemed spoiled and whiny, and a bit too dramatic. It was not until the rest of other peculiar house guests arrived that I settled into this book. Georgiana grew on me as I continued to read, and her shenanigans and difficulties made for an entertaining read.

Bowen's latest mystery provides the reader with a vast collection of personalities, which kept me guessing until the last pages of the novel. I was happily befuddled until the end of the book, which was a nice surprise.

Lucky for me, this book features a bonus at the end...

(( Read my full review at my blog: http://audreyellis.blogspot.com/2012/... ))(less)

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Nov 20, 2012 Felicia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-read, audible-purchase-2012, audiobook, 4-50-wine-glasses

Listened for FUN!
Part of my 25 Christmas Reads for 2012
Overall Rating: 4.50
Story Rating: 4.50
Character Rating 4.50

Audio Rating (not part of the overall rating): 4.50

Part of my 25 Books for the Holiday 2012

How did the book put me in the holiday spirit: The Twelve Clues of Christmas was a jolly good time! There were sprinkles of an old Dickens Christmas with caroling, games, and tree trimmings. The setting was perfect for a little holiday mystery.

What I thought of the Characters/Story:Rhys Bowen h...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Beth rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is the latest entry in the "Royal Spyness" series of mysteries featuring Lady Georgianna (Georgie) who is 35th in line to the throne. Set in the 1930s, Georgie can't stand the thought of spending Christmas at dreary Castle Rannoch in Scotland with her unpleasant sister-in-law and relatives. Georgie's family is in financial straits and she is being pressured to marry well so her brother and his wife don't have to continue supporting her. She has been creative in the past in finding small emp...more

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Nov 22, 2012 Deb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Georgie escapes Castle Rannoch to help a Devon noblewoman host an "old-fashioned country Christmas" and stumbles right into a mystery. The spacious manor house is located on the edge of a quaint village, complete with greensward, swan pond and picturesque pub. Alas, three convicts have escaped from nearby Dartmoor Prison and people begin dying in "accidents" which mimic the twelve days of Christmas. Luckily, the noblewoman who hired Georgie turns out to be Darcy's aunt, Georgie's mother, grandfa...more

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Nov 16, 2012 Grey853 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy, mystery, holiday

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 07, 2013 George rated it 4 of 5 stars

#6 in the Royal Spyness mystery series featuring Lady Georgiana Rannouch 35th in line in succession to the British throne. She is 22 years old and trying to make her way in the world since she has no money. Set at Christmas, 1933, Georgiana's continuing problems with her sister-in-law who feels that Georgiana is a financial burden on she and her husband, Georgiana's brother, so wants her out of their lives. Result: Georgiana takes a job as hostess for a Christmas revel in Devon and quickly becom...more

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May 01, 2013 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Interesting, how I went from the opinion in the first book, "Would read the rest of the series for free" to finishing this one, and being like, "Oh, how will I ever wait for August?!" I will say that the books tend to be a bit up and down, so may 7 will be mediocre and 8 fantastic, but at this very moment I would fly to Rhys Bowen, cash in hand, for the sequel.

This book was a delight. The setting, the mystery, the characters, everything was just outstanding and so fun. I fully admit to hitting...more

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May 06, 2013 Hoover Public Library Adult Fiction rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy-mystery, historical-fiction, womens-fiction, british-fiction

If you love light British mysteries, you need to try this series! Lady Georgiana Rannoch is 35th in line for the British throne, but she has a one major problem... she's broke. It's the 1930's and convention says that British royalty shouldn't work, so Georgie has to find creative ways to support herself. The latest book, The Twelve Clue of Christmas, brings us to the English countryside, where Georgie has been hired to help host a traditional English Christmas for paying guests. It's not the qu...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audible, fiction, mystery

This was a fun listen. I picked it up from Audible around the holidays and it takes place at Christmastime, so it would have been fun to listen to around then, but it was still enjoyable to listen to in Jan/Feb. The mystery isn't all that difficult to figure out once the connection between victims is revealed, but that connection is revealed late in the book and I quite enjoyed how the author wove things together. (view spoiler)...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Alethea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

The sixth escapade of Lady Georgiana Rannoch takes her to the seemingly-charming village of Tiddleton-under-Lovey, to help host a traditional English House party. However, what seems like an ingenious plan to escape her dreadful sister-in-law, Fig, make some money on the side, and be closer to her grandfather and theatrical mother for the holiday, seems to go awry when villagers start to die. Georgie cannot resist the opportunity to sleuth and her efforts, once again, take her into the arms of h...more

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Apr 05, 2013 Waverly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobook, humor, historical-fiction, mystery

I'll say it straight: I love the series. Bowen does a wonderful job with the denouement of the plots, the atmospheric period elements, the developing relationship between Georgie and Darcy, ditto Georgie and her mother...but, straight up, I hate Queenie. The same screw ups happen again, and again, and again, and they don't get any more amusing through repetition. Obviously anything can happen in these madcap capers, and it is teeth-grindingly frustrating that we can't find some sort of kind exit...more

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About Rhys Bowen

"I'm a mystery author, winner of both Agatha and Anthony awards for my Molly Murphy mysteries, set in 1902 New York City.

I also write the bestselling Royal Spyness series, about the British royal family in the 1930s. It's lighter, sexier, funnier, wicked satire. It was voted by readers as best mystery series this year.
I am also known for my Constable Evans books, set in North Wales, and for my aw...more

More about Rhys Bowen...

Books by Rhys Bowen

Her Royal Spyness (Her Royal Spyness Mysteries, #1)

A Royal Pain (Her Royal Spyness Mysteries, #2)

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title link	preview: The Twelve Clues of Christmas
avg rating	preview: The Twelve Clues of Christmas Goodreads rating: 3.98 (1364 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13542533-the-twelve-clues-of-christmas?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1342983249l/13542533.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13542533-the-twelve-clues-of-christmas?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Twelve Clues of Christmas by Rhys Bowen[/url]

The Twelve Clues of Christmas (Her Royal Spyness Mysteries #6)

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