ABOUT THE BOOK
A glamorous engagement celebration in an English country manor house… and a local maid dead. Somebody call Kitty Underhay!
At home in Devon, Kitty is attending a ball at the very grand Markham Hall. With celebrations in full swing and everyone kitted out in their glad rags, Kitty and Matt enjoy the champagne. But the next morning, the party feels well and truly over when Kitty stumbles across a body while out walking her dog, Bertie. The maid, Agnes, is dead, and everyone at Markham Hall is a suspect…
Kitty and Matt set about piecing together the puzzle as the streamers are swept away and empty glasses gathered up. But who could the murderer be? The other maids seem shifty; Lord and Lady Faversham, the hosts, are not without motive, and even Kitty’s grandmother is keeping her cards close to her chest this time…
But then a safe filled with precious jewels has its lock broken, and another body is found tangled up in the weeds of the lake in the grounds. Kitty wonders if the poor guest knew their dancing days were almost over when they were merrily sipping punch the night before? And what secrets are the other guests hiding…
Can Kitty save the next victim at the eleventh hour? Or will this really be a weekend to die for?
Fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey or Verity Bright will adore this totally charming murder mystery. The perfect treat for cozy crime fans!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Helena Dixon is the author of the best-selling Miss Underhay murder mystery series and
lives in Devon. Married to the same man for over thirty-five years she has three daughters, a cactus called Spike, and a crazy cockapoo. She is allergic to adhesives, apples, tinsel and housework. She was winner of The Romance Prize in 2007 and Love Story of the Year 2010 as Nell Dixon.
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Buy Link:
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REVIEW
When Kitty Underhay walked through the lobby of her grandmother’s Dolphin Hotel in Dartmouth, I wonder if she ever thought how her life would change? In the 20th Miss Underhay novel, she’s now happily married and running a detective e agency with her husband, Matt.
When a maid at a Manor House goes missing, Kitty and Matt are roped into investigating, under the guise of providing security for the manor’s family hosting the ball. The family is in financial trouble, and arranging a marriage between the eldest son and an American heiress will put them back on a firmer footing. But the American heiress and her father have their own problems, being subject to a number of failed attempted robberies.
Providing a security service, solving robbery attempts and trying to find out what happened to Agnes the missing maid, all in the space of a weekend, is a big ask for Matt and Kitty. So it’s a good job they have the unwanted assistance of Mrs Craven. Friend to Kitty’s beloved grandmother, former mayoress of Dartmouth and incorrigible snob, Mrs Craven is also a friend of the host family, and employer of the missing maid’s sister. She initially brought the case to Kitty and Matt, and as she has her own motives for wanting a resolution, she is determined to get in on the detection action much to Kitty’s dismay.
As always there are plenty of red herrings and secrets to be uncovered, and it’s easy to get drawn in and you find you’ve lost a whole afternoon to following the adventures of Kitty.
After 20 books, the series feels like a historical cosy soap opera, but one that remains fresh and addictive. I’m a big fan of Helena Dixon mysteries – the period detail is exquisite but not overbearing, and the perfect way to spend an afternoon. As always the story is so well written and well paced, and the audio is perfectly read by Karen Cass.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for an advance copy for review.
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