What do you think?
Rate this book
The twelve deaths of Christmas
Maude Daneson's rooming house is festive, the perfect setting for an old-fashioned Christmas. But someone has been very bad. Each killing in London is more senseless than the one before and the killer is far closer than they know.
180 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1979
239 people are currently reading
692 people want to read
About the author
Marian Babson
62 books87 followersMarian Babson, a pseudonym for Ruth Stenstreem, was born in Salem, Massachusetts, but lived in London for the greater part of her life.
She worked as a librarian; managed a campaign headquarters; was a receptionist, secretary, and den mother to a firm of commercial artists; and was co-editor of a machine knitting magazine, despite the fact that she can’t knit, even with two needles.
A long sojourn as a temp sent her into the heart of business life all over London, working for architects, law firms, the British Museum, a Soho club, and even a visiting superstar.
She also served as secretary to the Crime Writers’ Association. She became a full-time writer whose many interests included theatre, cinema, art, cooking, travel, and, of course, cats, which feature in many of her mystery books. Her first published work was 'Cover-Up Story' in 1971 and 'Only the Cat' (2007) was her 44th novel.
The publisher's tagline for her style is "Murder Most British," a style reflected in each of her novels. Any violence is not graphically described and the sleuths are usually amateurs.
She re-used certain characters, such as the publicity firm Perkins & Tate, and a couple of ageing actresses, her books all stand-alone and can be read in any order.
Gerry Wolstenholme
September 2010
She worked as a librarian; managed a campaign headquarters; was a receptionist, secretary, and den mother to a firm of commercial artists; and was co-editor of a machine knitting magazine, despite the fact that she can’t knit, even with two needles.
A long sojourn as a temp sent her into the heart of business life all over London, working for architects, law firms, the British Museum, a Soho club, and even a visiting superstar.
She also served as secretary to the Crime Writers’ Association. She became a full-time writer whose many interests included theatre, cinema, art, cooking, travel, and, of course, cats, which feature in many of her mystery books. Her first published work was 'Cover-Up Story' in 1971 and 'Only the Cat' (2007) was her 44th novel.
The publisher's tagline for her style is "Murder Most British," a style reflected in each of her novels. Any violence is not graphically described and the sleuths are usually amateurs.
She re-used certain characters, such as the publicity firm Perkins & Tate, and a couple of ageing actresses, her books all stand-alone and can be read in any order.
Gerry Wolstenholme
September 2010
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
January 1, 2022
This was my last read of 2021. It had all the seasonal things I look for this time of year (except the snow) and the story wraps up fittingly as the New Year is rung in. Loved that!
This is a good mystery and I enjoyed trying to sus out who was the killer. It held to the end and I have to admit that I didn't figure it out. Well done! The story is told in two POVs, one of them is the unnamed killer. The murders are on the grisly side so that was a bit of a surprise (this isn't cozy!) and it's also clear that something is ailing the killer so added another layer of mystery.
I'd recommend this one. It's the second I've read by Babson and she has a knack.
This is a good mystery and I enjoyed trying to sus out who was the killer. It held to the end and I have to admit that I didn't figure it out. Well done! The story is told in two POVs, one of them is the unnamed killer. The murders are on the grisly side so that was a bit of a surprise (this isn't cozy!) and it's also clear that something is ailing the killer so added another layer of mystery.
I'd recommend this one. It's the second I've read by Babson and she has a knack.
December 26, 2019
Update, Dec. 25, 2019
What’s the sign of an excellent mystery? When you can re-read it, knowing the end, and still thoroughly enjoy the novel. I’ve re-read this with my Great Escape sisters and, of course, picked up clues that I missed the first time. So glad that I got to enjoy this yet again with some of the best women in the world.
Aug. 20, 2019
Marion Babson has penned a Christmas jewel with this short novel. One of the residents of Maude Daneson’s boarding house is a crazed killer — but whom? I cannot reveal anything more without ruining this suspense-filled novel. However, I recommend you read the audiobook in order to enjoy Sarah Nichols’ wonderful performance. Highly, highly recommended.
What’s the sign of an excellent mystery? When you can re-read it, knowing the end, and still thoroughly enjoy the novel. I’ve re-read this with my Great Escape sisters and, of course, picked up clues that I missed the first time. So glad that I got to enjoy this yet again with some of the best women in the world.
Aug. 20, 2019
Marion Babson has penned a Christmas jewel with this short novel. One of the residents of Maude Daneson’s boarding house is a crazed killer — but whom? I cannot reveal anything more without ruining this suspense-filled novel. However, I recommend you read the audiobook in order to enjoy Sarah Nichols’ wonderful performance. Highly, highly recommended.
December 20, 2019
Holiday read with my Great Escape gals. :D
September 12, 2017
I didn't really expect much, but at least a bit more than what I got. I realise a murder mystery might not be the best way to bring me some festive cheer, but it wasn't very engaging either. The story was a bit festive, and there was a lot of talk of a traditional British Christmas with all the trimmings, but also grinches can find something in the cynic plot.
What I liked was the sudden opening from the killer's POV and the intermitting chapters every so often from that person's view without ever giving away their identity. Those chapters gave some hints as to who the murderer could be, but I had the feeling that I couldn't really guess since the potential characters weren't introduced properly. Their characterisations were rather superficial, so I didn't have the feeling that I got to know them and I didn't really care about them.
Also the reason and motivations for the killer were a bit disappointing and the ending rather abrupt and anticlimactic.
What I liked was the sudden opening from the killer's POV and the intermitting chapters every so often from that person's view without ever giving away their identity. Those chapters gave some hints as to who the murderer could be, but I had the feeling that I couldn't really guess since the potential characters weren't introduced properly. Their characterisations were rather superficial, so I didn't have the feeling that I got to know them and I didn't really care about them.
Also the reason and motivations for the killer were a bit disappointing and the ending rather abrupt and anticlimactic.
January 11, 2021
An old fashioned London murder mystery. A very enjoyable read.
December 13, 2017
Chapters alternate between the killer than a lodging house, and finally the police who are “investigating” but are so far from finding the killer that they have to be invited to dinner to catch ‘em.
Story-wise relied heavily on cliche characters and simplistic melodrama. So if you’re looking for a “mystery” look elsewhere.
If you’re a fan of this author you can probably ignore my review but if you’re a mystery fan that wants a mystery and someone investigating really - go elsewhere.
Story-wise relied heavily on cliche characters and simplistic melodrama. So if you’re looking for a “mystery” look elsewhere.
If you’re a fan of this author you can probably ignore my review but if you’re a mystery fan that wants a mystery and someone investigating really - go elsewhere.
September 10, 2018
This was an interesting story. Early on, I thought I had it all figured out...by the middle, I (again!) had it all figured out but with a different suspect (lol)...and at the end, I found out who the real killer was (neither of my suspects btw).
The writing style was interesting and definitely added to the mystery. Most of the story was told 3rd person except for the 1st person thoughts/actions of the killer allowing you to see what was driving the murder spree.
I highly recommend if you need a quick, engaging read.
The writing style was interesting and definitely added to the mystery. Most of the story was told 3rd person except for the 1st person thoughts/actions of the killer allowing you to see what was driving the murder spree.
I highly recommend if you need a quick, engaging read.
December 15, 2024
Entertaining holiday season listening 🎶🔰
This kindle e-book novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account stand alone book.
Someone is killing people in places of opportunity. It is about the relationships of a number of people living together in a house.
I would highly recommend this novella and author to 👍 readers looking for something different in a holiday mystery novels 👍🔰. 2024 👒😀
This kindle e-book novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account stand alone book.
Someone is killing people in places of opportunity. It is about the relationships of a number of people living together in a house.
I would highly recommend this novella and author to 👍 readers looking for something different in a holiday mystery novels 👍🔰. 2024 👒😀
July 13, 2023
This was the opposite of a cosy holiday book. It was about a serial killer wreaking havoc in London. It's a dual POV mystery and I loved reading from the killers perspective. It was truly creepy but a great read!
Loved the writing style!
Loved the writing style!
December 16, 2019
This had me cracking up. The inner monologue is just what everyone needs running through their head during the holidays.
I do wish I had picked up the book for this one, listening to the audio version, I think I missed a few clues here and there.
This one ended just about where you expected it but not exactly how I expected it.
A definite recommendation for the holiday season.
I do wish I had picked up the book for this one, listening to the audio version, I think I missed a few clues here and there.
This one ended just about where you expected it but not exactly how I expected it.
A definite recommendation for the holiday season.
December 12, 2020
This was fantastic, a really old school murder mystery which I adore.
Set in a boarding house full of lodgers over a Christmas period sinister murders are going on in the neighbourhood.
All the guests are nervy and speculating as to the culprit but little do they know the murderer is a LOT closer than they think...
These are the kind of murder mysteries I like, the old Keyhole crimes etc so this was absolutely perfect reading for this time of year.
Loved it.
Set in a boarding house full of lodgers over a Christmas period sinister murders are going on in the neighbourhood.
All the guests are nervy and speculating as to the culprit but little do they know the murderer is a LOT closer than they think...
These are the kind of murder mysteries I like, the old Keyhole crimes etc so this was absolutely perfect reading for this time of year.
Loved it.
December 4, 2021
The beginning of this one was great. A string of random murders is being committed and no one has a clue who the murderer is except for us, the reader. About 30ish% in, it lost me. I almost DNFed but I was holding out hope that it would pick back up. I was disappointed until the last ten minutes of the big reveal. 2.5/5 stars for me.
March 15, 2019
Excellent, excellent book! Lots of Christmas going on, carols, decorations, lights, cards...and murder. Easy to read but a page turner. I highly recommend this book for cozy fans and Christmas fans alike.
October 25, 2025
A bit of an unusual book. Half from the vantage point of a the deranged killer, half from the perspective of a regular person who was clearly not the killer because she was the only one the killer would mention by name, and some brief chapters digging into those halves from the point-of-view of the police who did little.
The book was enjoyable and engrossing most of the time, until you start to notice the problems: there aren't any clues as to the murderer, so you can't play along, pieces things together, only to be fooled by the author at the last minute, which is much of the fun. No. None of that exists. Instead the writer goes out of the way to have the murder NOT think anything that might lead you to guess who they are, so that's no good. It literally could be anyone (except Iris, and it coulld even be her if the killer were deranged enough to not realise they were the same person, say). The police have no clues and do no narrowing-in except "must be from our part of London".
And once you realise Iris isn't going to solve anything, the police aren't going to solve anything, the deranged killer isn't going to think anything at all helpful, and everyone who might be the killer will seem equally plausible, it's no longer worth reading, really, and you just gamely go along to find out which person it is. And it honestly could have been any of them: there could be 10 versions of this book, each with a different final chapter, and you'd never know it, and the author wouldn't have had to rewrite anything leading up to it.
(5* = amazing, terrific book, one of my all-time favourites, 4* = very good book, 3* = good book, but nothing to particularly rave about, 2* = disappointing book, and 1* = awful, just awful. As a statistician I know most books are 3s, but I am biased in my selection and end up mostly with 4s, thank goodness.)
The book was enjoyable and engrossing most of the time, until you start to notice the problems: there aren't any clues as to the murderer, so you can't play along, pieces things together, only to be fooled by the author at the last minute, which is much of the fun. No. None of that exists. Instead the writer goes out of the way to have the murder NOT think anything that might lead you to guess who they are, so that's no good. It literally could be anyone (except Iris, and it coulld even be her if the killer were deranged enough to not realise they were the same person, say). The police have no clues and do no narrowing-in except "must be from our part of London".
And once you realise Iris isn't going to solve anything, the police aren't going to solve anything, the deranged killer isn't going to think anything at all helpful, and everyone who might be the killer will seem equally plausible, it's no longer worth reading, really, and you just gamely go along to find out which person it is. And it honestly could have been any of them: there could be 10 versions of this book, each with a different final chapter, and you'd never know it, and the author wouldn't have had to rewrite anything leading up to it.
(5* = amazing, terrific book, one of my all-time favourites, 4* = very good book, 3* = good book, but nothing to particularly rave about, 2* = disappointing book, and 1* = awful, just awful. As a statistician I know most books are 3s, but I am biased in my selection and end up mostly with 4s, thank goodness.)
January 3, 2018
Excellent, suspenseful whodunnit! It's always nice to discover a new author (for me at least). I wish I had read this in December, but I wasn't too late.
A deranged killer is on the loose in London, striking down anyone who gets them angry - noisy children, a solicitor, a newsagent, a salesgirl - and it does not take much to get them angry. The novel switches back and forth between the killer's first-person narrative, and a third-person narrative of the investigating detectives and the residents of a boarding house. It soon becomes obvious that the killer is one of the residents of the boarding house, but which one? The story becomes more and more suspenseful as the killer slowly loses what little control they have and people continue to die.
This mystery was a nice surprise. The writing is excellent and the characterizations are well done. I really cared for the characters and didn't want any harm to come to come to them, even the killer. The murderer is a sad, sick figure and I could not help but feel sorry for them, even after all that they had done.
The effect of the murders on the victims' families is also touched on in a few cases. For example, a female shopper is murdered because the killer was annoyed by the fishing pole she carried. The fishing pole had a special connotation for the victim's husband and young son. The killer is totally oblivious to such concerns. These people were annoying, so they deserved to die.
(Note: There was an amusing typo on page 175 when a character is referred to as a "financee" (fiancee). It sounds like they're financing something, rather than being simply engaged.)
A deranged killer is on the loose in London, striking down anyone who gets them angry - noisy children, a solicitor, a newsagent, a salesgirl - and it does not take much to get them angry. The novel switches back and forth between the killer's first-person narrative, and a third-person narrative of the investigating detectives and the residents of a boarding house. It soon becomes obvious that the killer is one of the residents of the boarding house, but which one? The story becomes more and more suspenseful as the killer slowly loses what little control they have and people continue to die.
"But, first, there will be the turkey.
And, waiting beside the turkey, the carving knife.
The long, sharp, glittering knife..."
This mystery was a nice surprise. The writing is excellent and the characterizations are well done. I really cared for the characters and didn't want any harm to come to come to them, even the killer. The murderer is a sad, sick figure and I could not help but feel sorry for them, even after all that they had done.
The effect of the murders on the victims' families is also touched on in a few cases. For example, a female shopper is murdered because the killer was annoyed by the fishing pole she carried. The fishing pole had a special connotation for the victim's husband and young son. The killer is totally oblivious to such concerns. These people were annoying, so they deserved to die.
(Note: There was an amusing typo on page 175 when a character is referred to as a "financee" (fiancee). It sounds like they're financing something, rather than being simply engaged.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2024
3.5⭐️ This was an entertaining read for the most part. I found it got a bit repetitive & the investigation aspect was... well, not gonna spoil anything but I'll just say it was lacking. Didn't see the twist/reveal at the end coming, so that was good. Enjoyed it overall.
February 14, 2025
3 1/2 stars
I loved listening to this audio book but I had some problems with the ending.
Unfortunately, since I had listened to this I could not go back and skim the clues. Because I must tell you that I missed most of them completely.
It would be interesting to read this next year and see if I could pick up on all the things I missed.
Audiobook
4 hours 36 minutes
Excellent narration
Nothing graphic
Audiobook
Narrator: Sarah Nichols
Duration: approx 5 hours
I loved listening to this audio book but I had some problems with the ending.
Unfortunately, since I had listened to this I could not go back and skim the clues. Because I must tell you that I missed most of them completely.
It would be interesting to read this next year and see if I could pick up on all the things I missed.
Audiobook
4 hours 36 minutes
Excellent narration
Nothing graphic
Audiobook
Narrator: Sarah Nichols
Duration: approx 5 hours
July 30, 2009
This is good little mystery. It's a little troubling too.
This book is written in from three points of view: 1) Third-person, omniscient of two members of a boarding house; 2) Third-person, omniscient following two of the detectives, and; 3) First-person narrative of the killer. It is this latter view that can be unsettling. It can unsettle the reader because at times you sympathize with the killers motives.
There are many things in the story that lock it in it's time, but still a good read.
This book is written in from three points of view: 1) Third-person, omniscient of two members of a boarding house; 2) Third-person, omniscient following two of the detectives, and; 3) First-person narrative of the killer. It is this latter view that can be unsettling. It can unsettle the reader because at times you sympathize with the killers motives.
There are many things in the story that lock it in it's time, but still a good read.
December 6, 2017
Poor attempt at a Christie type mystery. The characters were living in the 70's, but acted like it was still the 40's or earlier. Also, did not think the identity of the killer was justified by the text.
December 1, 2016
The setting reminded me a lot of Hickory Dickory Death. This one kept me guessing, but the final reveal wasn't explained very well.
December 30, 2022
I've started this book at the beginning of the month, but being that I only had it as an ebook it had become harder for me to read (my eyes get tired easily and I get headaches) but I didn't want to DNF it since I was enjoying the read.
I finally continued reading without the pressure of doing it for my final goal and was able to finish it and I'm glad I did since it ended up being a Mozzarella (4 stars) for me.
The murder mysteries that I enjoy are the ones full of clues and little messages that I need to decipher, I don't need romance or fluff, just plain old detective work on my end and that's exactly what I got here.
On The twelve deaths of Christmas we have an array of characters all living in a boarding house in England while a murderer is on a crime spree.
The writer sets up scenes where you really do suspect every single character in this book, and that's my favorite part of a murder mystery.
I gave it four stars because the cop's point of view isn't really necessary for most of the story, but it does serve a purpose in the end, it just needed a bit more interesting things leading up to it. The other thing that I didn't like was that at the beginning each chapter is from a specific character or narrator point of view but at the end, the points of view are combined in the chapters and it confused me a few times, but other than that I really enjoyed it.
Did I guess who the murder was...well yes, but it could have been because by the end I suspected everyone haha.
I finally continued reading without the pressure of doing it for my final goal and was able to finish it and I'm glad I did since it ended up being a Mozzarella (4 stars) for me.
The murder mysteries that I enjoy are the ones full of clues and little messages that I need to decipher, I don't need romance or fluff, just plain old detective work on my end and that's exactly what I got here.
On The twelve deaths of Christmas we have an array of characters all living in a boarding house in England while a murderer is on a crime spree.
The writer sets up scenes where you really do suspect every single character in this book, and that's my favorite part of a murder mystery.
I gave it four stars because the cop's point of view isn't really necessary for most of the story, but it does serve a purpose in the end, it just needed a bit more interesting things leading up to it. The other thing that I didn't like was that at the beginning each chapter is from a specific character or narrator point of view but at the end, the points of view are combined in the chapters and it confused me a few times, but other than that I really enjoyed it.
Did I guess who the murder was...well yes, but it could have been because by the end I suspected everyone haha.
December 23, 2022
What a fantastic murder mystery! This was as good as one from my beloved Agatha Christie, and that’s saying a lot! The story is set in an English boarding house with several lodgers and it takes place over the Christmas holidays. Sinister murders are happening all over the neighborhood and they are occurring closer and closer to home (the boarding house). The story is told from two POVs, alternating between the unknown killer and everyone else. I found it very intriguing getting to be inside the killer’s head and seeing what prompted each murder. Yikes! What does that say about me?? 😅 Twice I thought I had figured out who the killer was, but in the end, I was proven wrong. An excellent mystery, and I will certainly be reading more from this Agatha Award-winning author!
December 30, 2019
3.5 stars
Told from multiple points of view...One being the unknown murderer.
The story kept me on my toes and was very entertaining.
The ending was a little unusual.
I am done with Christmas stories for another year.
Told from multiple points of view...One being the unknown murderer.
The story kept me on my toes and was very entertaining.
The ending was a little unusual.
I am done with Christmas stories for another year.
December 8, 2024
im not sure whether to LOL or do that side eye 'what the heck' thing and cover my mouth or just clutch my pearls over this one, but it was definitely a mix of all the things. It was Unique and i enjoyed it. lolll xD
December 24, 2019
Very fun and bloody!
December 11, 2020
It was an okey mystery with a Christmas setting however I didn't really feel engaged in the story and didn't really care much about it, but maybe I wasn't in the right head space for it
Read
January 1, 2021Squeezed in one final book for 2020. This was a fun and quick read.
January 1, 2019
Wow, this wasn't really a cozy. It's cleverly written, with changing points of view. It's a gruesome and quick read. Happy Holidays!
December 20, 2024
3.5 stars out of 5.
The dual narration will keep you guessing up until the very end!
The dual narration will keep you guessing up until the very end!
October 9, 2014
It's a documented fact that the number of suicides peak at Christmastime, and, as veteran mystery writer Marian Babson points out in this nifty whodunit, it's not a bad time for murder either. "The Twelve Deaths of Christmas" is part psychological thriller, part police procedural, and part cozy mystery. Accordingly, there are three points of view presented. The cozy comes to us in the form of a rooming house, home to a wide spectrum of late-1970s London characterizations -- maiden ladies, retired military officer of the Great War, visiting Canadian cousin, Jew trying to get along with Christmas traditions, student who is just this side of a yob, and so forth. The minutiae of their lives is tedious in the extreme, and their eccentricities grating, but the very banality of their lives adds to the mounting tension in the novel because we know early on that one of them is a murderer. The police procedural portion of the book is played out by the two hapless, yet highly efficient, investigators who have been assigned the hopeless task of finding a serial killer who apparently has no motives, no established methods of killing, no victimology, and who leaves no viable clues. The psychology of the tale is illustrated through first-person accounts of the crimes by the murderer, detailing motivations, the reasons for choosing the victims, and the explanations for why they were killed by the methods used. If you think that will help you figure out the identity of the murderer before Babson decides to reveal it, you will be as disappointed and baffled as the police. Clues are definitely given, many of them quite telling, but you could certainly feed more than five thousand with the red herrings left behind by the loquacious killer. This is a self-contained cozy police procedural psychological mystery, with a well-realized London setting, and well-defined characterizations. I am accustomed to great stories from Marian Babson, and, once again, I was not disappointed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews