Christmas Wrap-Around

This is very comfortable and often outlandish 'tosh' - steeped in a serving-up of Christmas and New Year with all the middle-class and upper-class trappings that will delight so many. I bought it for these reasons. The listen is a good one and helped me through my COVID infection: the short chapters were ideal; the heroine is a good one; a lot happens; there is nothing over complicated; and you operate on a willing suspension of disbelief. The narration/performance is good though rising intonation within some sentences strike initially as odd/quirky, but not spoiling. Characterisations are amply varied. I liked the voicing of the heroine's mother and her maid, particularly. There is no reason not to try this title, but feel it better satisfies when obtained through one of Audible's wonderful offers.

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Enjoyable!

What a Christmas! Loved the storyline, it was exciting and very Agatha Christie. Geirgie was on fine form and managed to escape Castle Rannagh at Christmas with Fig and her family. Great listening.

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Christmas treat

If you could sum up The Twelve Clues of Christmas in three words, what would they be?

Fun mystery

What other book might you compare The Twelve Clues of Christmas to, and why?

Agatha Christie books

What does Katherine Kellgren bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Good pace and brings characters to life

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Christmas carols can be deadly

Any additional comments?

Enjoyable and light hearted. Good Christmas listen.

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Light and entertaining listening

Would you consider the audio edition of The Twelve Clues of Christmas to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version but I enjoyed the audio version.

What other book might you compare The Twelve Clues of Christmas to, and why?

I would compare this book to a hybrid of Agatha Christie and P.G. Wodehouse with a bit of Brian Rix performance style thrown in.

Have you listened to any of Katherine Kellgren’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I haven't heard any of Katherine Kellgren's material before but I shall look out for her in the future.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Plenty of moments that made me smile and some that made me laugh.

Any additional comments?

I though that this was a good all round lighthearted listen that was enjoyable from start to finish. I found my self trying to guess the next victim so I had obviously become drawn into the story-line. Probably not my usual sort of listening but I will look out for some more of the same in the future.

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Enjoyable Christmas listen

This is the first of the series I have listened to, purchased for car listening during Christmas journeys. Whilst bodies mount up in a somewhat unrealistic manner, I thoroughly enjoyed the story for what it is an easy listening (cosy) mystery. The narration was strong and the writing decent.

Would recommend this and will probably try out more from the series.

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The Twelve Clues of Christmas

This is a great Christmas special, with people dying for no apparent reason. Until Lady Georgina works out why, then it is just trying to work out who it is. Read brilliantly again by Katherine Kellgren.

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A fun little Christmas story.

The story brings about a few mysteries, and while the theme to the murders should be easy to spot early on there are enough twists and turns to keep the story interesting all the way through.

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A cosy murder mystery.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to a friend if the friend needed a good listen while doing a mundane task. This is a guilty pleasure book which I find helps me keep ironing or cleaning the house. Nothing wrong with that!

If you’ve listened to books by Rhys Bowen before, how does this one compare?

I haven't listened to any other Rhys Bowen books before but will be listening in future. There is always a pile of ironing and my house never stays tidy.......cheaper than a cleaner.

What does Katherine Kellgren bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

The narrator is fantastic and has a good range of character voices. I would have given the performance five stars except that I HATED the voice of Darcy. He was meant to be from an aristocratic Irish family but spoke as if he was there to Tarmac the driveway.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This was a gently funny Christie-esque book.

Any additional comments?

Some audiobooks are mind improving and others are just for pleasure. This was an enjoyable pleasure.

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8 people found this helpful

Ruined by the screeching voices

Good grief, the SHRIEKING of nearly all the characters! Such a shame as this kind of thing - 1930s plucky female detective - is right up my street. But it was ruined for me by the constant high-pitched and emphatic tones of several of the characters. Is absolutely everything so filled with drama it needs to be voiced with such melodrama? No, it's not, and it's exhausting to listen to. I would love to hear an alternative version of this story, voiced by somebody who understands you don't need to assault listeners in this way.

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Murder with style

If you could sum up The Twelve Clues of Christmas in three words, what would they be?

Classy
Funny
Whodunit

What did you like best about this story?

I think Georgie is a great character we have seen her grow thru the series and you really root for her and want her to find her man as well as see things develop with Darcy.

What does Katherine Kellgren bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

She does a great voice for Georgie and a lot of the other characters. Her regional accents are not always the best but overall she brings a lot to the story.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The not so jolly 12 days of Christmas

Any additional comments?

This series is definitely worth listening to but I would recommend starting with book one

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4 people found this helpful