Solve the murder of a fictional crime writer in a remote but wonderfully atmospheric village in north Yorkshire to win a prize that will change your fortunes for good.
Six members of staff from the shadowy Trust are there to make sure everyone plays fair. The contestants have been meticulously vetted but you can never be too careful. And with the village about to be cut off by a snow storm, everyone needs to be extra vigilant. Midwinter can play tricks on people's minds…
The game is set – but playing fair isn't on everyone's Christmas list.
~ ~ ~
"... the skill lies in diverting attention from what really matters, seducing the players with red herrings ..."
The narrative is in the form of journals, letters, tourist-like pamphlets, maps, floor-plans where the challenge to solve the mystery is between both reader and characters. If the reader is stuck, Martin provides a "clue finder" at the back of the book. It will remind some readers of the classic interactive crime books and of more recent versions such as "Cluedle" or "Murdle".
For me, this really needs to be visual - I think you need to see how things play out - a bit like the movie "Clue". I wasn't really a fan of this one nor its set up. The story line was great, the characters fine, the setting suitable, but ... I don't know ... the delivery just wasn't there for me. I felt like I needed to be watching rather than reading, if that makes sense.
Give it a go as Martin is the supreme classic crime novelist - and his curated anthologies are exceptional.
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