The Twelve Books of Christmas

No sooner does San Francisco bookbinder Brooklyn Wainwright get a break from sleuthing at a Scottish castle than she’s invited back to Scotland for a wedding and must again save the day. On Christmas Eve, Brooklyn gets a call announcing that her friends Claire and Cameron—Laird McKinnon, thank you—are getting married in a week. Brooklyn, her partner, and her parents are soon off to Castle McKinnon, on the shore of Loch Ness. At first only Brooklyn’s (meticulously described) book-restoring skills are in demand, as the bride-to-be wants a precious volume from the castle’s extensive library repaired for her beau. Then Claire also confides that 12 books, all of them set at Christmas and some very valuable, are missing from the shelves. But that investigation soon takes a back seat as a young man who works at the castle is found dead, not the last to meet a sad end. There’s a lot packed in here, from yummy food descriptions (there might also be a drink or two) to a family whose members are intent on grabbing a noble title and from archery competitions to Scotland’s Hogmanay traditions. It all comes together beautifully to create an atmospheric puzzle that fans of the author and newcomers will find festive and engaging.