Grace is incredibly excited to be away from boarding school for the Christmas holidays. And spending it with her mum and brother Billy at their Aunt Mollie's hotel. At first, everything is perfectly, but when her mum goes out for the morning and doesn't return, Grace and Billy begin to worry. Shortly after that, a dead body is discovered on the stairs at the hotel. What on earth is going on and can the siblings, along with their new friends, get to the bottom of things before Christmas Day?
The arrival of a new Fleur Hitchcock murder mystery is always exciting, but combine that with the Christmas theme and the book zoomed straight past my reading pile! Fleur has a way of writing murder mysteries that grip readers without being too scary, all whilst maintaining the drama and the action. This series is one that is very popular in school and I know that Murder At Christmas will not be in my office library for long.
Set in Bath in a small, luxury hotel that is run by Grace's aunt, the book exudes a Christmassy feel from the start: ginger bread and chocolate treats, rooms with thick carpet and a cosy feel, Christmas trees, breakfasts to make your mouth water, and staff that are always willing to help ... heck, I wish this hotel were real as I'd be there in a flash! The place gives off a lovely, cosy, homely vibe ... but there is definitely something going on and Grace and Billy are determined to get to the bottom of it.
All Grace wants is a relaxing Christmas holiday with her family. She hates her new boarding school and has missed her family who have moved to Australia due to her mum's job. But when her Mum goes missing, it's Grace who has to step up and become the adult. You can feel the weight of responsibility on her shoulders as she tries desperately to work out what's going on and who she can trust - it's a lot, especially when she also feels she has to take charge of her younger brother, Billy.
This is such a great book. To be fair, the entire series is superb, so I don't know why this one would be any different! Perfect for curling up with and getting lost in in the run up to the festivities, Murder At Christmas will make you want to embrace the holiday season whilst also checking in on your family! The plot is easy to follow but will keep readers guessing. It's an action packed whodunit with a rollercoaster of an ending that is guaranteed to put you in the festive mood and I absolutely loved it!