The Twelve Days of Murder

 

The Twelve Days of Murder by Andreina Cordani

Twelve years ago, eight friends ran an exclusive group at The Masquerade Murder Society. The mysteries they solved may have been grisly, and brilliantly staged, but they were always fictional—until their final Christmas Masquerade, when one of the group disappeared, never to be seen again.

Now our young, privileged cast of old university friends are summoned to the depths of Scotland for a Christmas-themed masquerade party. But all are hiding something deep below the surface that could make or break their careers. Charley is a struggling actress who has always been on the periphery of this high-flying group, but has decided to reunite with her frenemies on the promise of career help if she joins the old cast for one last weekend.

When they arrive each is assigned a new identity themed around the "Twelve Days of Christmas"—they become Lady Partridge or Mr. Gold; Lord Leapworth or Doctor Swan. The game begins, and it feels just like old times. Until the next morning, when Lady Partridge is found hanging—dead—from a pear tree.

It quickly becomes clear that in this game the murder will be all too real, and the story is bringing long-hidden secrets to the surface. Will Charley’s discerning eye and outsider status allow her to uncover the truth, or will she, too, fall prey to the murderer among them?

If the group hopes to win the game and survive until Christmas morning, they will need to face the truth about their history together and who they have become—and what really happened on that fateful night twelve years before.

This story didn't disappoint UNTIL the near end. Imagine agonizing over the disappearance of a friend for twelve years, then finally someone admits knowing what happens, gives a partial explanation, and YOU DON'T ASK QUESTIONS??? As a reader, I had sooo many questions plus followups. And that was just the backstory. The present mystery could have been solved easily if more details were given early on. I get that an author can't give away everthing because there would be no mystery. But the protagonist had the info and she was a clever girl. Why didn't she put it together earlier??  Ugh! I don't recommend it.