Twelve years ago, eight friends ran an exclusive group at university: The Masquerade Murder Society.

The mysteries they solved may have been grisly, but they were always fictional – until their final Christmas Masquerade, when one of the group disappeared, never to be seen again.

Twelve years later, the remaining members of the group receive an invitation to a reunion masquerade, to be held in a beautiful and remote hunting lodge in Scotland. When they arrive they are each 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.

#TheTwelveDaysOfMurder @AndreinaCordani @ZaffreBooks @Tr4cyF3nt0n #CompulsiveReaders #blogtour

Until the next morning, when Lady Partridge is found hanging 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. If they hope to win the game and survive the festive season then they will need to face the truth about their history together, who they have become – and what really happened on that fateful night twelve years before.

My Review

“On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…a partridge in a pear tree.” And so goes the carol. Remember it as it’s important.

Twelve years ago, eight university ‘friends’ – and I use the term loosely – ran The Masquerade Murder Society. They took it very seriously, the characters dressing up, learning their identities, and really getting into their roles. There was always a grisly murder, and one of the group did it. Then a member of the society disappeared and was never seen again.

The society was disbanded, everyone went their separate ways, and that was it. Until the remaining members are invited to a reunion in a remote Scottish hunting lodge. It’s Christmas and it’s starting to snow.

Charley was never really one of them. They were all rich toffs, from wealthy families, and she was the poor relation. They treated her like dirt, accusing her of stealing a necklace, and basically looking down on her class, or lack of it. I don’t really know why she turned up. Oh yes, Ali the organiser was going to pay her. And she needs the money.

As they arrive, each one is assigned an identity, based around the Twelve Days of Christmas. I said it would be important. But the game becomes too real when influencer and Greek heiress Pan, aka Lady Partridge, is discovered hanging from a pear tree.

Is she the first? Will she be the last? And who would want to kill them all (if not literally)? Probably most people, if truth be told, as they are all horrible, rude and arrogant, Charley excepted, and they all have secrets and someone knows what they are.

It’s great fun, and I really enjoyed it, though there was one character I’d love to have kept alive, but I’m not saying which one.

Many thanks to @Tr4cyF3nt0n for inviting me to be part of the #CompulsiveReaders #blogtour 

About the Author

Andreina Cordani lives on the Dorset coast with her family where she reads voraciously, occasionally makes Tik Tok videos and swims in the sea. She is the author of two dark thrillers for young adults, The Girl Who… and Dead Lucky. The Twelve Days of Murder is her first novel for adults.