by Rhys Bowen
Part of Her Royal Spyness, book 6
First published 2012
Lady Georgiana Rannoch finds herself trapped at Castle Rannoch for Christmas, snowed in with her brother Binky and his disagreeable wife Fig. Her boyfriend Darcy O'Mara is traveling through South America, and her mother has retreated to the quaint village of Tiddleton-under-Lovey with playwright Noel Coward. Georgiana escapes her dreary situation by accepting a job as hostess for an elegant holiday party in the same village. The picturesque setting seems perfect for Christmas festivities, but the celebration turns deadly when Freddie, a local troublemaker, falls from a tree and dies. The next day brings another suspicious death, followed by a third. Georgiana suspects these aren't accidents. A recent prison escape might explain the violence, or perhaps an old witch's curse has awakened. When Darcy unexpectedly appears, Georgiana gains an ally in her investigation, but the killer remains active and dangerous.
Genres: christmas, historical-fiction, mystery, cozy-mystery
Vibes: atmospheric, cozy, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, found-family
Setting: Castle Rannoch, Tiddleton-under-Lovey
Period: Christmas
311 pages · Hardcover · Berkley