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Edie O'Sullivan #2
Sull'isola con l'assassino
Edie O’Sullivan ha smesso di odiare il Natale ma non di risolvere enigmi e omicidi.
È il periodo più pericoloso dell’anno...
Edie O’Sullivan è pronta a godersi una vacanza di tre giorni in un hotel su una remota isola scozzese e non vede l’ora di trascorrere un Natale da cartolina, ricco di passeggiate invernali, camini accesi con fuochi scoppiettanti, ottimi libri e whisky ancora migliore. Ma quando un ospite muore in circostanze misteriose, Edie capisce che il killer si nasconde tra i clienti dell’hotel. E l’incubo è appena cominciato. Con il mistero che si infittisce e la tensione alle stelle, per fermare la scia di omicidi Edie dovrà risolvere i complicati enigmi trovati nei cracker di Natale – i tradizionali piccoli gadget delle feste – che a quanto pare l’assassino ha confezionato per ciascuna delle vittime. Ma avvicinandosi alla verità, si avvicina anche pericolosamente a un killer astuto e ingegnoso. Edie riuscirà a risolvere questi delitti natalizi prima di diventare lei stessa la prossima vittima?
È il periodo più pericoloso dell’anno...
Edie O’Sullivan è pronta a godersi una vacanza di tre giorni in un hotel su una remota isola scozzese e non vede l’ora di trascorrere un Natale da cartolina, ricco di passeggiate invernali, camini accesi con fuochi scoppiettanti, ottimi libri e whisky ancora migliore. Ma quando un ospite muore in circostanze misteriose, Edie capisce che il killer si nasconde tra i clienti dell’hotel. E l’incubo è appena cominciato. Con il mistero che si infittisce e la tensione alle stelle, per fermare la scia di omicidi Edie dovrà risolvere i complicati enigmi trovati nei cracker di Natale – i tradizionali piccoli gadget delle feste – che a quanto pare l’assassino ha confezionato per ciascuna delle vittime. Ma avvicinandosi alla verità, si avvicina anche pericolosamente a un killer astuto e ingegnoso. Edie riuscirà a risolvere questi delitti natalizi prima di diventare lei stessa la prossima vittima?
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 6, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
January 5, 2026
*A Killer Christmas*
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, just like the first one. It maintains a gentle pace without being overly long, in my opinion. Edie, as always, steals the show.
This is book two of two in the Edie O’Sullivan series. This time, Edie isn’t so sceptical about Christmas. She made me laugh because she’s still as curmudgeonly as ever. A fun octogenarian who speaks her mind and doesn’t care who you are. This instalment sees her winning a Christmas break in a remote Scottish hotel. It’s exactly what she needs. She’s travelling with her partner and her great nephew/adopted son DI Sean Brand-O’Sullivan.
The hotel is remote and the general manager wants everything perfect. However, as the guests arrive, she starts to relax. There’s one thing she’s holding back which comes into play: a doll’s house she had made with a figurine of each guest. The killer uses it to their advantage.
As the guests have their meal, the crackers are pulled but none of the usual contents come out. Each cracker contains a riddle and they’re clearly pointed at Edie to explain them. One pointed question asks, “What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?” Each person must answer honestly or there will be consequences. Interestingly, each person’s cracker contains a clue to the answer.
Then the first person dies and it’s only much later that Edie works out why the cryptic clues. They are soon cut off as a storm rages and no emergency services can get to them. As more bodies stack up, Edie and Sean are under pressure to solve the puzzle. Are they up to the task? Why is adoption at the centre of it all?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, just like the first one. It maintains a gentle pace without being overly long, in my opinion. Edie, as always, steals the show.
This is book two of two in the Edie O’Sullivan series. This time, Edie isn’t so sceptical about Christmas. She made me laugh because she’s still as curmudgeonly as ever. A fun octogenarian who speaks her mind and doesn’t care who you are. This instalment sees her winning a Christmas break in a remote Scottish hotel. It’s exactly what she needs. She’s travelling with her partner and her great nephew/adopted son DI Sean Brand-O’Sullivan.
The hotel is remote and the general manager wants everything perfect. However, as the guests arrive, she starts to relax. There’s one thing she’s holding back which comes into play: a doll’s house she had made with a figurine of each guest. The killer uses it to their advantage.
As the guests have their meal, the crackers are pulled but none of the usual contents come out. Each cracker contains a riddle and they’re clearly pointed at Edie to explain them. One pointed question asks, “What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?” Each person must answer honestly or there will be consequences. Interestingly, each person’s cracker contains a clue to the answer.
Then the first person dies and it’s only much later that Edie works out why the cryptic clues. They are soon cut off as a storm rages and no emergency services can get to them. As more bodies stack up, Edie and Sean are under pressure to solve the puzzle. Are they up to the task? Why is adoption at the centre of it all?
October 1, 2025
I received a free copy of, The Christmas Cracker Killer, by Alexandra Benedict, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Edie O'Sullivan thought she finally had some good luck, winning a hotel stay, but then people started dying. This was a little darker of aread then I usually like, not a cozy mystery at all.
November 19, 2025
This was by far the most enjoyable of Alexandra Benedict's Christmas mysteries, so I'm rounding up this time.
All of my previous comments still stand. The metaphors are ghastly, the content corny, the 80 year olds read like 30 year olds, and there's not a grain of subtlety... and yet I keep on coming back for more!
The Christmas Cracker Killer was full of festivity, gaiety, drama, and action. If you have a higher tolerance for cheese than I do, you'll fall in love.
The whole thing felt a lot more well thought out than previous offerings. There was enough happening to keep me guessing this time. The ball kept rolling, the clues kept stacking, the characters that got murdered were so horrible that it didn't put a downer on the whole thing! And it FELT Christmassy.
We even get a little Christmas ghost story.
Usually, I would hate that kind of distraction from the plot, but I actually found myself leaning in because I could picture the characters gathered around in the library.
Murder on the Christmas Express is the one book by Benedict that I dissuade people from reading because of the tonally jarring sexual violence that overshadows the final third. Plenty dark motives underpin this story too, but they are alluded to rather than explored in depth, and it didn't marr the experience in quite the same way.
An enjoyable Christmas cosy to get you in the mood for the festive season.
Note: I've just seen that other reviews disagree and felt that (because of the darker content) this was not cosy at all, so do still check trigger warnings!
All of my previous comments still stand. The metaphors are ghastly, the content corny, the 80 year olds read like 30 year olds, and there's not a grain of subtlety... and yet I keep on coming back for more!
The Christmas Cracker Killer was full of festivity, gaiety, drama, and action. If you have a higher tolerance for cheese than I do, you'll fall in love.
The whole thing felt a lot more well thought out than previous offerings. There was enough happening to keep me guessing this time. The ball kept rolling, the clues kept stacking, the characters that got murdered were so horrible that it didn't put a downer on the whole thing! And it FELT Christmassy.
We even get a little Christmas ghost story.
Usually, I would hate that kind of distraction from the plot, but I actually found myself leaning in because I could picture the characters gathered around in the library.
Murder on the Christmas Express is the one book by Benedict that I dissuade people from reading because of the tonally jarring sexual violence that overshadows the final third. Plenty dark motives underpin this story too, but they are alluded to rather than explored in depth, and it didn't marr the experience in quite the same way.
An enjoyable Christmas cosy to get you in the mood for the festive season.
Note: I've just seen that other reviews disagree and felt that (because of the darker content) this was not cosy at all, so do still check trigger warnings!
December 22, 2025
I love watching other people solve puzzles.
December 4, 2025
First of all, a big thank you to Likely Suspects in the UK for sending me this gorgeous hardback copy all the way to Australia.🇦🇺 I was so excited to open this and find a Christmas murder mystery. I do love a good murder at Christmas time.
Now I haven’t read this first book in this series, The Christmas Jigsaw Murders but I had no trouble with the story. I have read 2 other Christmas murder mystery’s by this author and really enjoyed them… Murder in The Christmas Express and The Christmas Murder Game. The idea of having clues in a Christmas cracker was very clever. Edie had her hands full, they were some cryptic clues.
Imagine spending Christmas in a luxury hotel on a remote Scottish island. Lots of walks in the snow, log fires and cozy festive fun. Sounds perfect right. Well it is until guests of the hotel start to die, and a storm comes in and cuts them off from everything. It was very Agatha Christie style and I was there for it.
A fun book to pick up and read this Christmas. Really enjoyable.
Now I haven’t read this first book in this series, The Christmas Jigsaw Murders but I had no trouble with the story. I have read 2 other Christmas murder mystery’s by this author and really enjoyed them… Murder in The Christmas Express and The Christmas Murder Game. The idea of having clues in a Christmas cracker was very clever. Edie had her hands full, they were some cryptic clues.
Imagine spending Christmas in a luxury hotel on a remote Scottish island. Lots of walks in the snow, log fires and cozy festive fun. Sounds perfect right. Well it is until guests of the hotel start to die, and a storm comes in and cuts them off from everything. It was very Agatha Christie style and I was there for it.
A fun book to pick up and read this Christmas. Really enjoyable.
December 4, 2025
I loved the first and middle part of the book, but the end ruined everything for me. It’s a story very similar to “And then there were none” in setup, and I’m usually wary of those, but it works here, and seems almost like an homage to the classic detective novel… for the first three quarters of the book. But one very important detail ruins it for me. The author does not play fair. In a detective novel, the reader should have a fair chance of working out who the criminal is, and that isn’t the case here.We are told about all these different elements of the crime, and it is impossible to make that fit with any one or even two person(s) pulling it off. The explanation, of course, is that the criminal happens to have an entire network of likeminded toptrained spies who did many of those things she couldn’t have done, logistically speaking. I call that cheating. The reader has no way of working that out, and it’s too ‘easy’ to make an entire unknown network of spies the culprit. I understand the desire to make a whodunnit hard to crack for the reader, but it has to be fair and reasonable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2026
Edie O'Sullivan is headed to a soft opening of a new hotel on a remote island in the Hebrides, along with her son/nephew and partner. It all seems like a posh affair, replete with all the Christmas trimmings including crackers. But first the crackers reveal odd poems and an offer for the guests to reveal their secrets. And then the first guest turns up dead. As more strange poems and more bodies show up, it's clear, there's a killer with an agenda and it may be up to Edie to solve things before anyone else dies.
The old trope of And Then There Were None, it did have somewhat of knew twist to it, and had the Christmas theme throughout. Though it definitely had to be taken with a (many) grain(s) of salt, the story was fairly entertaining and kept you guessing who was behind the murders and what was the ulterior motive. However, a couple of the murders mainly took place off the page, the interludes with the killer were not the better parts of the book, and then they suddenly just stopped. And when the solution was finally presented, it felt pretty contrived. Trying to keep adventures going with Edie didn't seem like the best choice, especially as quite a bit felt forced in the plot. Entertaining, but not one of Benedict's best.
The old trope of And Then There Were None, it did have somewhat of knew twist to it, and had the Christmas theme throughout. Though it definitely had to be taken with a (many) grain(s) of salt, the story was fairly entertaining and kept you guessing who was behind the murders and what was the ulterior motive. However, a couple of the murders mainly took place off the page, the interludes with the killer were not the better parts of the book, and then they suddenly just stopped. And when the solution was finally presented, it felt pretty contrived. Trying to keep adventures going with Edie didn't seem like the best choice, especially as quite a bit felt forced in the plot. Entertaining, but not one of Benedict's best.
December 25, 2025
What could be more appropriate to read as a lover of thrillers and mysteries than a Christmas mystery during Christmas?
Not much, I think and I liked this murder mystery.
It was a nice read, well put together. Here and there a bit predictable, but still a nice & light read. Although that might sound a bit a strange thing to say about a book in which characters are murdered 🫣😇
Not much, I think and I liked this murder mystery.
It was a nice read, well put together. Here and there a bit predictable, but still a nice & light read. Although that might sound a bit a strange thing to say about a book in which characters are murdered 🫣😇
November 24, 2025
La storia ha per protagonista la famosa enigmista Edie O' Sullivan insieme ad altri illustri personaggi, che sono stati invitati sull'isola per l'inaugurazione dell'hotel.
Durante la prima serata in albergo però si rendono conto che uno degli ospiti è venuto a mancare. Il figlio adottivo di Edie, un detective, capisce subito che la morte non è stata accidentale e cerca di allertare la polizia, con scarsi risultati.
Sono rimasti isolati con un killer che continua a colpire indisturbato tra un bicchiere di Cherry e i cracker di Natale, tipici gadget tradizionali, che l'autore degli omicidi ha appositamente fatto confezionare per ognuno degli ospiti.
Tra indovinelli riguardanti il Natale, segreti e bugie, Edie si troverà a mettersi in gioco per non rischiare la vita sua e della sua compagna.
Per capire meglio di cosa parlo dovete assolutamente leggere la storia.
Mi è piaciuta questa storia perché le vicende si svolgono in un arco di tempo molto breve e l'autrice è stata in grado di trasmettere ansia e apprensione prima e dopo ogni omicidio.
Il personaggio che spicca è sicuramente Edie O'Sullivan e mi è piaciuta moltissimo quando ha spronato Mara a farsi rispettare. Proprio Mara è il personaggio chiave per capire le motivazioni del killer che, strano ma vero, non è il maggiordomo (spoiler, non c'è maggiordomo in questa storia).
La storia mi è piaciuta anche se deve dire che ho intuito presto, forse troppo, chi è l'assassino, anche se a un certo punto ho dubitato di un altro personaggio che è poi diventato una vittima.
Lettura piacevole, ideale per gli amanti del cozy crime.
Durante la prima serata in albergo però si rendono conto che uno degli ospiti è venuto a mancare. Il figlio adottivo di Edie, un detective, capisce subito che la morte non è stata accidentale e cerca di allertare la polizia, con scarsi risultati.
Sono rimasti isolati con un killer che continua a colpire indisturbato tra un bicchiere di Cherry e i cracker di Natale, tipici gadget tradizionali, che l'autore degli omicidi ha appositamente fatto confezionare per ognuno degli ospiti.
Tra indovinelli riguardanti il Natale, segreti e bugie, Edie si troverà a mettersi in gioco per non rischiare la vita sua e della sua compagna.
Per capire meglio di cosa parlo dovete assolutamente leggere la storia.
Mi è piaciuta questa storia perché le vicende si svolgono in un arco di tempo molto breve e l'autrice è stata in grado di trasmettere ansia e apprensione prima e dopo ogni omicidio.
Il personaggio che spicca è sicuramente Edie O'Sullivan e mi è piaciuta moltissimo quando ha spronato Mara a farsi rispettare. Proprio Mara è il personaggio chiave per capire le motivazioni del killer che, strano ma vero, non è il maggiordomo (spoiler, non c'è maggiordomo in questa storia).
La storia mi è piaciuta anche se deve dire che ho intuito presto, forse troppo, chi è l'assassino, anche se a un certo punto ho dubitato di un altro personaggio che è poi diventato una vittima.
Lettura piacevole, ideale per gli amanti del cozy crime.
December 28, 2025
This is the last time I will read one of her books.
January 1, 2026
Skim read to finish, not for me. I didn’t like the dialogue or the characters very much. The story felt very hammed up to me.
November 24, 2025
This was an utterly silly, completely untrue to the genre, not clever, and tedious read. It reads like ai generated text, packed with nonsensical sentences such as “his voice came through the speaker system, giving the eerie feeling that he was everywhere at once” (written, presumably by someone not familiar with how speakers work?) and “there was a little note next to the dollhouse corpse that read “dead om scene at 6:32, cause of death unidentified poison, resuscitation not possible”.
The amount of exposition is staggering and boring, and no one seems able to act within character for more than a minute at a time. The killers are happy to spill every detail of their stupid plan without the smallest bit of pressure to do so, which is the laziest way of explaining a plot. All devices are ripped from “and then there were none”, but have been made more complex and more stupid in an effort to hide the plagiarism. The statuettes become a convoluted doll house, the gramophone verdict becomes Christmas crackers, bad rhymes and plastic fish, and the nursery rhyme becomes a ghost story which completely breaks up the flow of the book and adds nothing.
I wish this genre would have higher guard rails.
The amount of exposition is staggering and boring, and no one seems able to act within character for more than a minute at a time. The killers are happy to spill every detail of their stupid plan without the smallest bit of pressure to do so, which is the laziest way of explaining a plot. All devices are ripped from “and then there were none”, but have been made more complex and more stupid in an effort to hide the plagiarism. The statuettes become a convoluted doll house, the gramophone verdict becomes Christmas crackers, bad rhymes and plastic fish, and the nursery rhyme becomes a ghost story which completely breaks up the flow of the book and adds nothing.
I wish this genre would have higher guard rails.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2025
Audiobook. Big flop for me - I find fault with murder mysteries that lean on stereotypes/trauma tropes, have plot holes from the larger mystery series canon, or pin the murders on someone who seemed purposefully left out of the readers’ puzzle-solving purview for the sake of a “surprise” reveal. And this book had all three pet peeves. I enjoy a cozy holiday mystery this time of year, but I won’t be willing to try another one from this author anytime soon.
December 20, 2025
The Christmas Cracker Killer follows Edie O’Sullivan, who is looking forward to a picture-perfect Christmas when she wins a two-day Christmas break in a hotel on a remote Scottish island. But when a guest dies under mysterious circumstances, Edie realises that there is a killer amongst them. As more guests begin to die, it's up to her to solve the strange riddles found in the victims’ Christmas crackers and stop the killing spree. But as she gets closer to the truth, she puts herself in the way of a devious and clever murderer. Can Edie solve these Christmas killings before she becomes the next victim?
The Christmas Cracker Killer is a charming, cosy festive murder mystery and an absolute pleasure to read!
One of my favourite things about The Christmas Cracker Killer is its protagonist, Edie O’Sullivan, who brings warmth, intelligence, and emotional depth to an otherwise chilling mystery. She is an endearingly eccentric and sharp-witted character, and a joy to read. Aside from Edie, there are quite a few characters, but the list at the beginning is a thoughtful and helpful addition. Many of the characters become pretty unforgettable anyway - but it’s admittedly always easier when the suspect pool shrinks!
The narrative is a cleverly constructed, puzzle-driven mystery that held my attention from start to finish. The plot steadily escalates through a series of murders that follow the logic of the riddles, and I thoroughly enjoyed trying to decode the clues alongside the characters. Then, the final reveal is both dramatic and satisfying, providing the perfect ending to a truly wonderful book.
I haven’t read the first book in this series, and I was able to follow this one absolutely fine, but I’ll definitely be going back to read the first instalment after enjoying this one so much!
Thank you so much to Likely Suspects and Alexandra Benedict for sending me this copy of The Christmas Cracker Killer to read and review. My opinions are my own.
The Christmas Cracker Killer is a charming, cosy festive murder mystery and an absolute pleasure to read!
One of my favourite things about The Christmas Cracker Killer is its protagonist, Edie O’Sullivan, who brings warmth, intelligence, and emotional depth to an otherwise chilling mystery. She is an endearingly eccentric and sharp-witted character, and a joy to read. Aside from Edie, there are quite a few characters, but the list at the beginning is a thoughtful and helpful addition. Many of the characters become pretty unforgettable anyway - but it’s admittedly always easier when the suspect pool shrinks!
The narrative is a cleverly constructed, puzzle-driven mystery that held my attention from start to finish. The plot steadily escalates through a series of murders that follow the logic of the riddles, and I thoroughly enjoyed trying to decode the clues alongside the characters. Then, the final reveal is both dramatic and satisfying, providing the perfect ending to a truly wonderful book.
I haven’t read the first book in this series, and I was able to follow this one absolutely fine, but I’ll definitely be going back to read the first instalment after enjoying this one so much!
Thank you so much to Likely Suspects and Alexandra Benedict for sending me this copy of The Christmas Cracker Killer to read and review. My opinions are my own.
November 14, 2025
Octogenarian & crossword setter, Edie O'Sullivan, wins a three-day Christmas break at a luxury hotel on a remote, uninhabited Scottish island which has a tragic past. Taking along partner nonagenarian Riga, son DI Sean Brand-O'Sullivan (whose partner & children will be joining them on Christmas Day) & dog Nicholas, they meet an unusual group of fellow celebrants.
Hotel manager, Mara, is nervous as this is the big opening for the hotel, the one her parents have sunk all their savings into. Understaffed & with a huge storm forecast, Christmas has to be a success. At first everything seems to be going well but at the Gala Dinner the first evening, the Christmas crackers are rather strange. They contain a gift & a party hat but also weird riddles rather than the traditional jokes. When over the next hours, the guests start being murdered one by one in ways pertaining to the riddles, Mara & Edie realise that there is a killer on the island.
This is apparently the second book to feature amateur detective Edie. I haven't read the first one but I don't think it made any difference as it works as a standalone. It started off well with the creepy crackers but suffered a common issue with mystery thrillers & became a little slow in the middle. I did like the fact that there are several optional word games for the reader to play as they read the book but they don't have any bearing on the mystery itself so they can be easily skipped. I did find that with so many characters it became a little muddled towards the end, but it just managed to keep my interest. 3.75 stars (rounded up)
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Simon & Schuster UK, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
TW:
Hotel manager, Mara, is nervous as this is the big opening for the hotel, the one her parents have sunk all their savings into. Understaffed & with a huge storm forecast, Christmas has to be a success. At first everything seems to be going well but at the Gala Dinner the first evening, the Christmas crackers are rather strange. They contain a gift & a party hat but also weird riddles rather than the traditional jokes. When over the next hours, the guests start being murdered one by one in ways pertaining to the riddles, Mara & Edie realise that there is a killer on the island.
This is apparently the second book to feature amateur detective Edie. I haven't read the first one but I don't think it made any difference as it works as a standalone. It started off well with the creepy crackers but suffered a common issue with mystery thrillers & became a little slow in the middle. I did like the fact that there are several optional word games for the reader to play as they read the book but they don't have any bearing on the mystery itself so they can be easily skipped. I did find that with so many characters it became a little muddled towards the end, but it just managed to keep my interest. 3.75 stars (rounded up)
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Simon & Schuster UK, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
TW:
December 22, 2025
Se siete amanti dei gialli, state lontani da questo libro. Scelto in libreria solamente per il tema natalizio e senza alcuna reale aspettativa, si è rivelato una delusione dalla prima all’ultima pagina. Gli eventi si susseguono senza alcuna logica, se non quella di eliminare un personaggio personaggio ad ogni capitolo, in una pessima imitatzione di “Dieci piccoli indiani”, per poi svelare la surreale soluzione nelle ultime pagine e chiudere con un epilogo senza senso. Forse la traduzione italiana ha contribuito a rendere meno chiaro l’intreccio, che ruota attorno ad indovinelli e giochi di parole. In ogni caso, 250 pagine facilmente dimenticabili, anche durante la lettura stessa 👎🏻
December 14, 2025
Nog verrassender dan deel 1! Een heerlijk spannend, kerstig boek. Kan zo in een spannende film worden omgezet. Je reinste Agatha Christie mysterie!
November 24, 2025
Alexandra Benedict è una garanzia. Per quanto mi riguarda, uno dei suoi migliori gialli natalizi. Avvincente, appassionante, originale, misterioso, suggestivo e la protagonista, Edie O’ Sullivan, si conferma un personaggio delizioso e indimenticabile.
December 23, 2025
A fiendish Yuletide game of murder.
A group of guests journeys to a remote Scottish island to spend Christmas at the exclusive pre-opening of a grand new hotel.
But amongst those gathered, a killer stalks, awaiting their moment to strike. Guests and staff are ensnared in a sinister scheme, calling upon the ghosts of their Christmases past.
Following the Christmas Eve reading of a ghost story, a guest is found dead in their chair. But they will be only the first, unless all present play the killer’s deadly game.
‘The Christmas Cracker Killer’ is a festive mystery thriller by Alexandra Benedict, the second novel featuring puzzle crafter Edie O’Sullivan, following ‘The Christmas Jigsaw Murders’ plus her appearance in short story “The Midnight Mass Murderer”, which featured in the ‘Death Comes at Christmas’ collection. An intricately plotted, tightly woven mystery in the tradition of cosy crime, with the dark, serated edge of a slasher; a psychological thriller glossed up in merriment for the Christmas season, set on an isolated island of the Scottish Hebrides, it’s both whodunit and whydunit with emotional character arcs and a killer with their own unique take on crossing people off the naughty-and-nice list.
Edie is a brilliant character, and I was very excited to learn she was making a return for a second novel. Since the events of the first, she has developed an affection for Christmas, if perhaps still holding a sliver of mistrust for the season. Edie may be softer, happier and more healed than in her first appearance, but she remains a bristling character, at times caustic and sarcastic, but her steely exterior hides an intelligent mind and abundant heart. It’s somewhat a rarity for an octogenarian to be a lead character, even in the realms of crime fiction where there have been notable stars. For her to be in a romantic relationship is rarer still, for that relationship to be with another woman even more so. Her relationship with Riga is a joy, often touching and poignant, leading to some of the novel’s most emotional moments.
Edie’s adopted son, police detective Sean, is also on the island with them, his husband Liam and their adopted children due to join them on Christmas morning. Lead guest character is hotel manager Mara, her doomed venture triggering a lot of unhealed wounds of her own, while we also gain insights into the killer’s scheme through intermittent monologues that allow us to be only slightly ahead of everyone else. Stranded by the worsening weather and the killer preventing them access to the mainland and summoning help, the guests and staff are isolated and afraid, a murderer in their midst. Edie and Sean are determined to identify them before more fall victim.
Benedict has crafted another cleverly-plotted mystery, fast-paced with sleight-of-hand twists, deft smatterings of clues, many laugh-out-loud moments juxtaposed with deeply moving ones, riddles and rhymes galore hinging on folkloric Christmas visitors, superbly stitched together and finished off with a tartan bow, as the killer implores each of them to confess their sins. As with many of the best and classic cosy mysteries, darkness lurks beneath the surface, with evil and tragedy at play, themes of past trauma and its enduring legacy playing a significant part, particularly in relation to the care of children, or the adverse neglect and abuse, against the tapestry of the season’s festive, haunted heart. This killer may be on a mission for retribution in a twisted morality game – but is this justice or vengeance?
Thrilling and captivating, ‘The Christmas Cracker Killer’ is a deliciously dark mystery for Christmastime. I very much hope this won’t be the last we see of Edie and the gang.
A group of guests journeys to a remote Scottish island to spend Christmas at the exclusive pre-opening of a grand new hotel.
But amongst those gathered, a killer stalks, awaiting their moment to strike. Guests and staff are ensnared in a sinister scheme, calling upon the ghosts of their Christmases past.
Following the Christmas Eve reading of a ghost story, a guest is found dead in their chair. But they will be only the first, unless all present play the killer’s deadly game.
‘The Christmas Cracker Killer’ is a festive mystery thriller by Alexandra Benedict, the second novel featuring puzzle crafter Edie O’Sullivan, following ‘The Christmas Jigsaw Murders’ plus her appearance in short story “The Midnight Mass Murderer”, which featured in the ‘Death Comes at Christmas’ collection. An intricately plotted, tightly woven mystery in the tradition of cosy crime, with the dark, serated edge of a slasher; a psychological thriller glossed up in merriment for the Christmas season, set on an isolated island of the Scottish Hebrides, it’s both whodunit and whydunit with emotional character arcs and a killer with their own unique take on crossing people off the naughty-and-nice list.
Edie is a brilliant character, and I was very excited to learn she was making a return for a second novel. Since the events of the first, she has developed an affection for Christmas, if perhaps still holding a sliver of mistrust for the season. Edie may be softer, happier and more healed than in her first appearance, but she remains a bristling character, at times caustic and sarcastic, but her steely exterior hides an intelligent mind and abundant heart. It’s somewhat a rarity for an octogenarian to be a lead character, even in the realms of crime fiction where there have been notable stars. For her to be in a romantic relationship is rarer still, for that relationship to be with another woman even more so. Her relationship with Riga is a joy, often touching and poignant, leading to some of the novel’s most emotional moments.
Edie’s adopted son, police detective Sean, is also on the island with them, his husband Liam and their adopted children due to join them on Christmas morning. Lead guest character is hotel manager Mara, her doomed venture triggering a lot of unhealed wounds of her own, while we also gain insights into the killer’s scheme through intermittent monologues that allow us to be only slightly ahead of everyone else. Stranded by the worsening weather and the killer preventing them access to the mainland and summoning help, the guests and staff are isolated and afraid, a murderer in their midst. Edie and Sean are determined to identify them before more fall victim.
Benedict has crafted another cleverly-plotted mystery, fast-paced with sleight-of-hand twists, deft smatterings of clues, many laugh-out-loud moments juxtaposed with deeply moving ones, riddles and rhymes galore hinging on folkloric Christmas visitors, superbly stitched together and finished off with a tartan bow, as the killer implores each of them to confess their sins. As with many of the best and classic cosy mysteries, darkness lurks beneath the surface, with evil and tragedy at play, themes of past trauma and its enduring legacy playing a significant part, particularly in relation to the care of children, or the adverse neglect and abuse, against the tapestry of the season’s festive, haunted heart. This killer may be on a mission for retribution in a twisted morality game – but is this justice or vengeance?
Thrilling and captivating, ‘The Christmas Cracker Killer’ is a deliciously dark mystery for Christmastime. I very much hope this won’t be the last we see of Edie and the gang.
October 21, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I have read all of Alexandra's festive thrillers and she is an author I get really excited about and so I jumped at the chance to read her new one.
Once again, she has set a few quizzes for the reader, things like working out anagrams, finding song titles in the story etc. things you don't have to do to enjoy the book, but just a little bit of added fun.
I loved Edie in the first book - The Christmas Jigsaw Murders - and whilst at the time I didn't necessarily think a sequel was coming, I am glad she brought the character back as she was so memorable and just fabulous.
It takes a little while before the tension rises, about a third, and then it's a little bit more before the first death hits, and at first that may seem like a long time but I think it's perfect. It isn't a slow opening, even without the deaths, it's still fast paced and exciting. We get to refresh ourselves with the old characters and get to know the new. And so by the time the stakes start to rise, we're invested and we really get involved with the whodunnit aspect.
This is slightly darker than her previous books. Less of a cosy crime novel and more of a proper thriller, but it still had the elements I've come to expect from her. But it definitely felt like a new angle and I'm intrigued to see what direction she goes in next.
To me, her books feel very Agatha Christie, particularly Murder on the Christmas Express.
I loved the ending - I won't spoil it, but if you're used to the likes of Agatha Christie and Miss Marple or Poirot, you always get that big final reveal at the very end, which I love, as it's just so dramatic, and would never work in real life but works perfectly in fiction.
And it doesn't matter how many of these books I read, I never see the reveal coming, and this was no different.
I read this in one day, when it was hammering down with rain outside and I was curled up under a fleeced blanket, with the lamp on and the darkness seeping in, it was just glorious.
I have read all of Alexandra's festive thrillers and she is an author I get really excited about and so I jumped at the chance to read her new one.
Once again, she has set a few quizzes for the reader, things like working out anagrams, finding song titles in the story etc. things you don't have to do to enjoy the book, but just a little bit of added fun.
I loved Edie in the first book - The Christmas Jigsaw Murders - and whilst at the time I didn't necessarily think a sequel was coming, I am glad she brought the character back as she was so memorable and just fabulous.
It takes a little while before the tension rises, about a third, and then it's a little bit more before the first death hits, and at first that may seem like a long time but I think it's perfect. It isn't a slow opening, even without the deaths, it's still fast paced and exciting. We get to refresh ourselves with the old characters and get to know the new. And so by the time the stakes start to rise, we're invested and we really get involved with the whodunnit aspect.
This is slightly darker than her previous books. Less of a cosy crime novel and more of a proper thriller, but it still had the elements I've come to expect from her. But it definitely felt like a new angle and I'm intrigued to see what direction she goes in next.
To me, her books feel very Agatha Christie, particularly Murder on the Christmas Express.
I loved the ending - I won't spoil it, but if you're used to the likes of Agatha Christie and Miss Marple or Poirot, you always get that big final reveal at the very end, which I love, as it's just so dramatic, and would never work in real life but works perfectly in fiction.
And it doesn't matter how many of these books I read, I never see the reveal coming, and this was no different.
I read this in one day, when it was hammering down with rain outside and I was curled up under a fleeced blanket, with the lamp on and the darkness seeping in, it was just glorious.
December 4, 2025
A highly enjoyable addition to the Alexandra Benedict series of Christmas themed (cosy) murder mysteries, and the second outing for Edie O'Sullivan and her adopted son Sean. With Edie's girlfriend having won a free Christmas stay at a hotel on Holly Island in Scotland, Edie, Edie's GF and Sean find themselves trapped with a murderer. The murderer is not only leaving bodies in their wake but also leaves clues inside Christmas Crackers. The cast of characters is mixed and interesting though there is not enough time to truly get to know all the characters. Edie and Sean work together to try to solve the crime. Due to the murders happening there is not a lot of festive spirit in the book, but enough to make it a nice Christmas read. The murder(er) itself is intriguing, though at least some of the riddles that surround the overall mystery are not too hard and at least one of the 'big' reveals at the end is painfully obvious from the start (though one was not, and that was the more interesting and fun one). I'd wished that the characters were a bit more developed. This could have helped with the murderer being more likeable. Though murder is never a good thing, there is a redeeming feature to these murders and I did not mind the final ending.
I hope Alexandra Benedict continues writing Christmas themed murder mysteries and I'd not mind if some (but maybe not all) will continue to feature Edie. I highly enjoyed the reference to the 'Murder on the Christmas Express' book early in this book, showing that at least that book and the Edie O'Sullivan novels take place in the same shared universe. What I could live without is some of the language, with AB going out of her way to create the most horrible metaphors and comparisons.
I hope Alexandra Benedict continues writing Christmas themed murder mysteries and I'd not mind if some (but maybe not all) will continue to feature Edie. I highly enjoyed the reference to the 'Murder on the Christmas Express' book early in this book, showing that at least that book and the Edie O'Sullivan novels take place in the same shared universe. What I could live without is some of the language, with AB going out of her way to create the most horrible metaphors and comparisons.
December 11, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Another fantastic read! I just love these characters! It was lovely seeing how much each character’s relationship has developed from the last book! Especially with that ending!
It had the same incredible writing, pacing, characters, light hearted funny moments and Christmas murder mystery vibes as the previous book but in an isolated house story. It has a fantastic cast of new characters that you will end up loving or loving to hate. Some really not so nice characters. But they were all written amazingly. As well as the story. It was so visual in my head I just loved it. That helps you get sucked into the story.
One scene in particular made me laugh calling Edie Agatha Christie! Maybe, just maybe I’ll have to give her books another go and read “And Then There Were None”… I was absolutely not expecting these twists at all! I’m not the sharpest tool in the box when it comes to these riddles of figuring out who the killer is…
I really liked how eerie it was having the doll house with all of the characters having a little figure of themselves and they get moved every time something has happened…
Edie, Sean and Riga are at the grand opening of a beautiful hotel. Lots of new and mysterious characters. But one of them is a killer. Can they stop the killer and figure out the festive cracker riddles before the body count starts to rise?
The only I was sad about was it was shorter than the first one. But regardless another absolute must read for your Christmas TBR! Now I need to go buy the other Christmas books Alexandra has wrote ASAP!
Another fantastic read! I just love these characters! It was lovely seeing how much each character’s relationship has developed from the last book! Especially with that ending!
It had the same incredible writing, pacing, characters, light hearted funny moments and Christmas murder mystery vibes as the previous book but in an isolated house story. It has a fantastic cast of new characters that you will end up loving or loving to hate. Some really not so nice characters. But they were all written amazingly. As well as the story. It was so visual in my head I just loved it. That helps you get sucked into the story.
One scene in particular made me laugh calling Edie Agatha Christie! Maybe, just maybe I’ll have to give her books another go and read “And Then There Were None”… I was absolutely not expecting these twists at all! I’m not the sharpest tool in the box when it comes to these riddles of figuring out who the killer is…
I really liked how eerie it was having the doll house with all of the characters having a little figure of themselves and they get moved every time something has happened…
Edie, Sean and Riga are at the grand opening of a beautiful hotel. Lots of new and mysterious characters. But one of them is a killer. Can they stop the killer and figure out the festive cracker riddles before the body count starts to rise?
The only I was sad about was it was shorter than the first one. But regardless another absolute must read for your Christmas TBR! Now I need to go buy the other Christmas books Alexandra has wrote ASAP!
December 16, 2025
Alexandra Benedict, the queen of the Christmas cosy mystery, is back. She did not disappoint! What a wonderful story. It was a pleasure to read, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. The cover is beautiful. I love the blue and red combination. It's very eye-catching! The writing is excellent and flows beautifully. Alexandra has included puzzles and games for us to play along with as we read. They're really fun! The main setting was the Aster Castle Hotel on Holly Island up here in Scotland. The island itself is fictional. I loved this setting; it made the read more claustrophobic because of the single setting. It made it more eerie in a way. I loved all the characters. Even the killer. They had good morals, but they went the wrong way about dealing with it. Edie is back, which I love. She's a brilliant amateur sleuth. I do hope we see more of her! There's definitely more that can be done with her after the ending. I really recommend the book and all of Alexandra's other Christmas mysteries. They're fun to read!
December 29, 2025
To quote comedian Frank Carson (you have to be of a certain age) "it's a cracker".
The Christmas Cracker Murders by Alexandra Benedict is a festive crime novel that leans unapologetically into its seasonal setting while delivering a more assured and satisfying mystery than its predecessor. Christmas practices are liberally applied, providing a seasonal stage setting for the launch of a luxury hotel on a remote Scottish isle.
Having read The Christmas Jigsaw Murders, this second instalment feels like a clear step up. The plotting is tighter, the pacing more controlled, and the narrative has a stronger sense of direction. There are obvious echoes of classic closed-circle mysteries — most notably Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None — in the way the characters are gathered together, isolated, and forced to confront both suspicion and consequence as the body count rises.
The most noticeable improvement lies in the characterisation. Here, the cast is more rounded and credible, with clearer motivations and emotional depth that go beyond their function as potential suspects. As with Christie’s island-bound guests, Benedict allows personalities to expand and tensions surface gradually, making the unravelling of relationships as compelling as the solving of the crimes themselves.
The Christmas cracker motif is cleverly woven into the clues and misdirection which heightens the unease and foreboding.
A pleasing page turner for the festive season.
4⭐️
The Christmas Cracker Murders by Alexandra Benedict is a festive crime novel that leans unapologetically into its seasonal setting while delivering a more assured and satisfying mystery than its predecessor. Christmas practices are liberally applied, providing a seasonal stage setting for the launch of a luxury hotel on a remote Scottish isle.
Having read The Christmas Jigsaw Murders, this second instalment feels like a clear step up. The plotting is tighter, the pacing more controlled, and the narrative has a stronger sense of direction. There are obvious echoes of classic closed-circle mysteries — most notably Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None — in the way the characters are gathered together, isolated, and forced to confront both suspicion and consequence as the body count rises.
The most noticeable improvement lies in the characterisation. Here, the cast is more rounded and credible, with clearer motivations and emotional depth that go beyond their function as potential suspects. As with Christie’s island-bound guests, Benedict allows personalities to expand and tensions surface gradually, making the unravelling of relationships as compelling as the solving of the crimes themselves.
The Christmas cracker motif is cleverly woven into the clues and misdirection which heightens the unease and foreboding.
A pleasing page turner for the festive season.
4⭐️
January 5, 2026
A cozy, festive mystery anchored by a strong and memorable main character. Edith is a highlight—sharp, observant, and quietly formidable—and she strongly evokes Elizabeth from The Thursday Murder Club. The story is intriguing and well-paced, and the holiday setting adds warmth and atmosphere throughout.
That said, I found the motive behind the murders unexpectedly dark for the tone of the book, which slightly undercut the cozy feel for me. Even so, the mystery itself remained compelling, and the characters kept me invested. Overall, an engaging seasonal read with a standout protagonist, even if the resolution didn’t entirely work for me.
That said, I found the motive behind the murders unexpectedly dark for the tone of the book, which slightly undercut the cozy feel for me. Even so, the mystery itself remained compelling, and the characters kept me invested. Overall, an engaging seasonal read with a standout protagonist, even if the resolution didn’t entirely work for me.
October 18, 2025
What a fun read this was! A Christmas mystery from Alexandra Benedict has definitely become a staple of my festive reading. It was nice to see our octogenarian sleuth from the jigsaw puzzle killer book return for this tale of Christmas cracker carnage. I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
There’s two parts to this, one is the mystery, the other is the puzzle solving! This book has puzzles hidden throughout every chapter so you’ve got a bit of extra fun! For that reason I prefer to read physical copies of these books so I can jump back to the front of the book while reading to look at the clues.
The mystery is entertaining. It’s all themed around Christmas crackers and there are riddles thematically woven through. The story takes place on a remote island, at a luxury Christmas dinner experience taking place at a newly launched hotel. It’s isolated, at the mercy of the elements and rife with schemes!
I had a really good time reading this. It’s of course a murder mystery but there’s fun little touches and it’s a cool setting.
There’s two parts to this, one is the mystery, the other is the puzzle solving! This book has puzzles hidden throughout every chapter so you’ve got a bit of extra fun! For that reason I prefer to read physical copies of these books so I can jump back to the front of the book while reading to look at the clues.
The mystery is entertaining. It’s all themed around Christmas crackers and there are riddles thematically woven through. The story takes place on a remote island, at a luxury Christmas dinner experience taking place at a newly launched hotel. It’s isolated, at the mercy of the elements and rife with schemes!
I had a really good time reading this. It’s of course a murder mystery but there’s fun little touches and it’s a cool setting.
December 10, 2025
Edie O´Sullivan (80+) is met haar vriendin in een hotel. Haar zoon - die politieman is - is er ook en zijn man en gezin zullen nog komen. Er is natuurlijk ook de familie die het hotel runt en er zijn andere gasten. En een moordenaar, die een statement wil maken met christmas crackers. Edie heeft het gelukkig net niet te druk met haar vriendin zoenen om de zaak op te lossen.
- De personages zijn te ongenuanceerd en te woke. Daarom is het moeilijk om doorheen te komen.
+ Benedict heeft verschillende puzzels in het boek verwerkt.
+ De setting is een hotel op een afgelegen Schots eiland met een geschiedenis.
- De personages zijn te ongenuanceerd en te woke. Daarom is het moeilijk om doorheen te komen.
+ Benedict heeft verschillende puzzels in het boek verwerkt.
+ De setting is een hotel op een afgelegen Schots eiland met een geschiedenis.
January 5, 2026
It took me a while to get through this audiobook because of the holidays and I did a lot of traveling and when I'm home, I'd rather be watching a Christmas movie than listening to a book. So I think that is partially to blame for me not enjoying this as much as I normally would have. There were a lot of characters and I had trouble remembering who did what and their connection to other people.
Still an enjoyable story.
Still an enjoyable story.
January 7, 2026
An entertaining festive read- an Agatha style murder mystery. all the key ingredients are there: remote location, stranded guests and staff, an intelligent sleuth with a brain for solving puzzles.
The author has included a few puzzles of her own for the reader to solve. An ideal gift!
The author has included a few puzzles of her own for the reader to solve. An ideal gift!
December 18, 2025
A fun, page-turning, and definitely cheesy, read with a cosy festive feel. Did have some darker themes which I wasn’t expecting.
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