This was a book I picked up at the Capital Crime Festival back in June, but saved to read closer to Christmas and it turned out to be the perfect festive read.

In Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife, six strangers have all been invited to spend Christmas at the mysterious Midwinter Trust. Their task is to solve the murder of a fictional crime writer in a remote village in North Yorkshire, with the promise of a life-changing prize for the winner. Each guest has been carefully vetted by the Trust, and staff are on hand to ensure everyone plays fair. However, with a snowstorm threatening to cut the village off completely, tensions rise and it soon becomes clear that fair play isn’t on everyone’s Christmas list.

This was a brilliant read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I’m a big fan of Murdle puzzles, and one of my favourite books of the past few years was The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers and this was definitely alongside those for me. First and foremost, it’s a really good story, but the added “play along” puzzle element really stood out for me.

The writing is superb and feels very much like a classic Golden Age mystery, but with a modern twist. The characters are all intriguing, and I loved how their stories intertwined. The balance between puzzle and narrative was great (but could be read as a story without playing along if you wished) I didn’t manage to solve the murder (no suprise, while I enjoy puzzles, I’m terrible at them) but being able to play along still added to the enjoyment.

The descriptions of the setting were excellent, and the snowstorm created a wonderfully atmospheric backdrop. that gave it a real locked-room mystery feel. The story is told from multiple points of view including that of the main narrator, Harry, a novelist whose book sales are slowing, the webpage entries of venue and the staff of Midwinter, all of which adds to the intrigue.

If you’re still looking for a last-minute Christmas present, or an early New Year gift for a crime and puzzle fan, I’d definitely recommend Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife.

#crimefiction #christmasread #Jólabókaflóð  #christmasbookflood #christmaseve