by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase the book from Amazon.

As much as Brooklyn Wainwright loves her family, she wasn’t entirely prepared to be hosting a Christmas Eve dinner for over 34 of her nearest and dearest. But she and her husband, Derek Stone, specifically bought a second home in Dharma, California to be closer to her family, and Derek’s brothers as well are flying in with their families for a visit.

While book restorer Brooklyn is giving out handmade butterfly books as gifts, perhaps the greatest gift she receives is the all-expense paid trip to Scotland for her friend Claire’s wedding. The Laird Cameron MacKinnon has proposed to Claire and they are inviting Brooklyn and her parents to stay in Castle MacKinnon for the New Year’s wedding, so despite the rush she is unable to resist. Claire even offers the lure of a library mystery puzzle to solve, as a dozen Christmas-themed books have gone missing from the castle library. So while Brooklyn and Derek’s last venture to Scotland did involve a murder and threats against their lives, they are still quickly on their way for a holiday vacation in a genuine Scottish castle.

As Brooklyn and her family tour Oddlochen and venture into the local pub, they learn that not everyone is happy with the upcoming nuptials of the castle laird. More than one lady had intended to make herself the mistress of the castle, and they are not shy about showing their disdain towards Claire or their affection for Cameron. Brooklyn is more concerned about tracking down the missing Christmas books, which include famous titles such as The Velveteen Rabbit and less well-known ones like A Child’s Christmas in Wales. A near-miss attack on Claire and then a death by poisoning have Brooklyn and her security specialist husband worried that the wedding may never take place, so they must focus upon the mysteries that are making the castle seem more gothic by the second. Noises in the attic, a pair of jealous sisters named Fluff and Bitsy, and the arrival of an Assistant Chief Constable all make Brooklyn’s holiday less of a cozy Hallmark special and more of a gothic suspense thriller.

This 17th in the series takes readers on a delightful Christmassy tour through an atmospheric Scottish castle and an even more enviable library. Who hasn’t wanted to ride a rolling ladder from bookshelf to bookshelf to reach the highest shelves? Here Brooklyn and her family not only track down both famous and more esoteric Christmas books, they also navigate through the capricious relationships of a Scottish laird.

Bibliophiles will again have the pleasure of reading details of Brooklyn’s meticulous book repairing, not to mention learning more about the values of the sought-after Christmas tomes. Since readers are taken away from Brooklyn’s homes in San Francisco and Dharma, those new to the series will be more than welcome to dive into the latest in a long-running, beloved bibliophile series. Fans of Brooklyn and her love for books and book restoration will be especially rewarded as they spend time with her quirky parents and experience a clever plot that successfully honors both classic and more modern mysteries. This is the perfect gift for mystery lovers and those looking for a cozy book-themed holiday read.

To enter to win a copy of The Twelve Books of Christmas, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “twelve” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen December 16, 2023. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.