The Christmas Clue: How Cluedo Got Its Start

Set against the snowy backdrop of Christmas Eve 1943, The Christmas Clue by Nicola Upson is a gently clever cosy whodunnit that playfully blurs the line between game and reality. Anthony and Elva Pratt arrive in a wintry English village to host a murder mystery game, only to find themselves caught up in a genuine—and rather grisly—murder investigation when one of their guests turns up dead in the hotel they’re staying at. With its historical setting, intriguing cast of characters, and a plot that tiptoes between playful and serious mystery, it’s a satisfying choice for readers who enjoy a classic festive puzzle with a thoughtful twist.

This book takes a fun, unique spin on the classic whodunnit by basing its main characters—Anthony and Elva Pratt—on the couple who created the famous board game Cluedo. It explains how they came up with the idea, inspired by a nightmarish Christmas when they were asked to host one of their legendary murder mystery evenings at a once-popular hotel. This year, they stumble across a dead body and end up snowed in at the hotel, trying to figure out what happened—and why.

The story has plenty of humorous touches and is a very easy read, with a manageable number of characters and details to keep track of—something I really appreciated.

For the first time in ages reading whodunnits, there was a genuinely shocking moment early on: a chapter ends on a cliffhanger that I didn’t see coming at all. I even turned to my wife in bed (who was reading her own Christmas novel) and couldn’t help but go, “Ooooh!” Naturally, she asked what had happened, because I almost never do that.

My only quibble—though “problem” might be too strong a word—is that the big reveal and the backstory behind everything was more elaborate than I expected, a bit convoluted at times. It all makes sense in the end and is quite rational, but at the time, I found it a little off-putting. Take that with a pinch of salt—chances are, you might have no issue with how the story wraps up.

Verdict

While The Christmas Clue is an enjoyable read that happily scratches the whodunnit itch, there are other books in the cosy mystery genre that do a bit more to fully immerse you in the snowy, festive atmosphere we tend to crave this time of year. If you’ve got some extra reading time to spare, it’s worth picking up, but don’t expect it to be the most atmospheric or deeply engaging Christmas cosy you’ll encounter.