Publication Dec. 9, 2026
I don't speak Welsh but you'll encounter the odd phrase here and there throughout as you read. Having some Welsh in my family tree, it was rather fun, especially with Byron Detective Agency's Clifford along to translate. Fortunately, the townspeople of Llandanderry are happy to offer an English translation with a smile. In town with Eleanor's extended found family, the three private investigators are there partly due to an assignment and partly due to an unexpected event at home. Their hopefully serene, peaceful Christmas goes astray quickly, however, after not just an auto accident but, well, them stumbling into a murder scene. That's where the story truly begins, of course, though their journey over the summit of the mountain on a hay wagon pulled by a slow, slow tractor is fun, especially when the rest of their group later arrives via it, too, with song and made up carol lyrics, at that. Grin.
In any case, they find they've stumbled into an isolated but intriguing village full of characters of all sorts. Some are borderline questionable but most open their arms to the strangers and pull them into the traditional festivities. You'll not only encounter a bar with a noose hanging over the staircase and its true story based on history, but discover how huge a role music plays in their Christmas traditions. Four hours of church service? Baking contests? And, oh, my, the food. All quite festive and don't miss the recipe at the end.
But, anyway, on to the murder. It's a tough case, made all the tougher, of course, with them being total strangers. It was fun to see how Eleanor and Hugh drew their extended group of found family and friends together, even adding in a few relatively new names this go-round. Clifford was the last person to talk to the victim and is the initial suspect, not a good start, but they discover that the local constable, however isolated the village, is quite helpful and smart. The mayor...not so much. They are soon pulled into a decades-long mystery, too, as well as Eleanor's sense of being watched, especially when things go very wrong. Nope, not telling, but the author does an excellent job of setting the scene and introducing us to the players in this drama. I'm tempted to ramble on but won't give away much more of the plot so you can enjoy it (along with a bit of a history of Wales as well as fun phrases you can use to impress others this holiday season. Be sure you read the author's notes.
Bottom line, I thoroughly enjoy this series and have come to enjoy spending time with the "aprons" as Eleanor's ladies are known, and the rest. Clifford continues to amaze as does Eleanor with her ability to rein in his tendency to over-explain at the wrong time, while Hugh seems to mostly a symbol of authority this book, largely following Eleanor's hunches as he's learned she's more often right than not. And, oh, can't forget the critters. Gladstone the bulldog, Tomkins the cat, and Rune, the raven who tends to perfectly mimic things he's heard. Even the shady characters are intriguing, their stories of the past merging with the present, which includes...oops, almost away another sorta clue, and a recent crime spree that includes.... Yikes, definitely not giving that one away. Thanks #Bookouture for introducing me to Eleanor and her circle and allowing me this early read of their Christmas adventure.
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