文學小說
更新日期:
2021-10-13
The Christmas Murder Game
Alexandra Benedict
Zaffre
September 2021
400 pp
書籍編號:
01-30466
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● 內文簡介

★狂銷10萬冊
★已授權英、美、西、俄、波、義、法、芬、愛、塞爾維亞等10國語言!
★英國亞馬遜暢銷書榜機智解謎類#78
★ Steph Broadribb、Susi Holliday等知名驚悚作家齊聲好評
★2022年英國的犯罪作家協會匕首獎(Crime Writers Association Daggers)初選作品

倘若聖誕節註定是一場殺戮之戰,那麼現在,遊戲正式開始!

莉莉.阿蒂米奇從沒想過要回終結之家。因為,那是母親21年前過世的地方。直到她收到一封來自阿姨的信,要她回到這座氣派的豪宅,參加一年一度的家庭盛會——也就是「聖誕之戰」。

這場戰役中,參賽者需要藉由《聖誕節的十二天》(The Twelve Days of Christmas)這首歌,接連找出12個線索,以及12把通往個別線索的鑰匙,而贏家將能獲得這棟房子的繼承。

陌生的莉莉對這棟房子並無勝負欲。然而,阿姨卻表示,聖誕之戰的線索,將能揭曉21年前殺害她母親的兇手。就這樣,她將和一票疏離的親戚共度聖誕。殘酷的是,大夥似乎都有自己想爭奪房產的理由,也讓比賽充斥著不公的手段。

隨著一場暴風雪襲擊大夥所在的村莊,這場聖誕之戰迎來了一個致命的轉折。很快地,莉莉將會發現,她要做的,不僅是爭奪遊戲的勝利,更要挽回她的性命。

這部驚悚作品扭轉了聖誕歌祥和美麗的印象,隨著一個一個線索現形,這場聖誕之戰將超乎眾人所能負荷。

 

● 作者簡介

Alexandra Benedict,全職作家。Benedict畢業於劍橋大學英國文學系,並於薩賽克斯大學工讀創意寫作。在進入作家生涯之前,她曾為電視、電影配樂作曲,同時也是一名音樂家。Benedict又名A.K. Benedict,並以此筆名出版《The Beauty of Murder》及《Evidence of Ghosts》等書。

 

● 媒體報導

‘‘You'll be drawn in by the lavish, atmospheric setting.’’ ―― My Weekly

‘‘One for book lover that can't get enough of mystery fiction...even during Christmas’’ ――The Sun

‘‘This Agatha Christie-esque murder mystery is superbly written and so clverly plotted’’ ――Daily Mirror

‘‘A perfectly plotted festive mystery woven around a cleverly constructed game. It's all fun and games until someone gets killed! This book is beautifully unique, with an ending so incredibly well-done, I re-read it over and over. A clever, classic whodunnit that will see you through the bleak winter nights’’ ―― Susi Holliday

‘‘Utterly original and breathtakingly intriguing, The Christmas Murder Game is a twisty-turny masterpiece. With captivatingly quirky characters, a spooky country house mansion, and clues and riddles galore this pacy mystery keeps you hooked to the very last page. A must read this Christmas.’’ ―― Steph Broadribb

‘‘The perfect Christmas read, with a taut plot, a central character you will want to cheer on and puzzles galore for both readers and the players of the game.’’ ―― W.C. Ryan

‘‘Curl up by the fire (and lock all the doors) for this Christmas cracker of a book. Hugely entertaining.’’ ―― CS Green

‘‘With The Christmas Murder Game, Alexandra Benedict has created the perfect updating of the classic Christmas Country House mystery, and in Lily has created a brilliant, brave and wonderfully human heroine. The traditionalists will love the sensual descriptions of Endgame, the amazing food served there and the crisp falling snow that traps the inhabitants therein, while those who love their Holiday reading a little more modern will find much to admire in the manners and mores of the wonderfully bickering family. Puzzle fans, meanwhile, will adore the games-within-games in this smart, sassy, sexy and brilliantly written Holiday mystery. If you love Christmas, corsets, mysteries, murders and puzzles, then your Holiday reading is sorted. The Christmas Murder Game is the perfect escape from the craziness of Christmas, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Fabulous festive fun. Just read it, and thank me later.’’ ―― Derek Farrell