title: The Twelve Clues of Christmas: A Royal Spyness Mystery
author:  Rhys Bowen 
description: <b>Praise for the Royal Spyness Mysteries</b><br /><br /> Wonderful characters...A delight.#1 <i>New York Times</i> bestselling author Charlaine Harris<br /><br /> An insightful blend of old-fashioned whodunnit, clever satire and drawing room comedy of errors.<i>New York Times</i> bestselling author Jacqueline Winspear<br /><br /> Brilliant...This is so much more than a murder mystery. Its part love story, part social commentary, part fun and part downright terrifying. And completely riveting.#1 <i>New York Times</i> bestselling author Louise Penny<br /><br /> The perfect fix between seasons for <i>Downton Abbey</i> addicts.<i>New York Times</i> bestselling author Deborah Crombie<br /><br /> Fans of P.G. Wodehouse looking for laughs mingled with some amateur sleuthing will be quite pleased.<i>Publishers Weekly</i> (starred review)<br /><br /> Georgies high spirits and the authors frothy prose are utterly captivating.<i>The Denver Post</i><br /><br /> A smashing romp.<i>Booklist</i> (starred review)
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  THE SECRETS OF WINTER
  
  A JOSEPHINE TEY MYSTERY
  
  ![](images/00007.jpg)
  
  
  Nicola Upson
  
  ![](images/00005.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  For all the readers, librarians and booksellers
  
  who love this series. Happy Christmas.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  
  When I sat down to write about a beautiful island, cut off by extreme
  circumstances, I could have had no idea that – within the space of a few
  months – St Michael’s Mount would indeed be isolated from the mainland, its
  causeway eerily deserted in the wake of another international crisis. As I
  write these acknowledgements, the island has just reopened to the public, with
  the castle shortly to follow, and I wish everyone who lives and works there a
  safe and happy future. There really is nowhere quite like it. Today, St
  Michael’s Mount is managed in a unique partnership by the St Aubyn family and
  the National Trust, and you can find out more at
  [www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk](http://www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk/).
  
  I’m extremely grateful to Lord and La