Tag Archives: cosy crime fiction

#BookReview ‘The Cornish Castle Murder’ by Fiona Leitch #crime #cosycrime

Jodie Parker and DCI Nathan Withers are getting married at Kervoy Castle hotel but inevitably their weekend of pre-wedding activities is halted by a death. The Cornish Castle Murder by Fiona Leitch is eighth in the Nosey Parker Cornwall-set cosy crime series. Of course when a suspicious death occurs at a wedding where practically every guest is a police officer, there is no shortage of theories and help. There are also unforeseen complications. The wedding weekend is very expensive, prompting a debate about whether the nuptials should be postponed and everyone sent home; or should they stay for the limitless food and entertainment. So everyone stays. Nathan has two best men. Craig, who has flown from America, is acting strangely and having a dramatic personal crisis that can’t be ignored. The hotel is suffering from a spate of petty thefts. And the detective inspector in charge of the murder case is a) an outsider from Exeter; b) an officer Jodie worked with in London a long time ago; and c) determined to investigate the case in her own way without the interference of the police officers on site.
Nathan and Jodie of course ask their own questions, examine the murder scene and gather clues. Jodie’s daughter Daisy and boyfriend Joe are tasked with researching the victim’s social media feeds while Jodie’s oldest friend Tony teams up with her mother Shirley to find out the local gossip in the old-fashioned way, by talking to people. As always there are plenty of laughs, especially from Shirley who is an enthusiastic dancer and outlasts most of the youngsters at the disco. Dog Germaine, who at first is banned from the wedding as the hotel doesn’t allow pets, makes a crucial appearance and a key discovery.
The pace of the story is a little erratic at times and there are almost too many characters who look guilty. My attention strayed for a while, but the story hits its stride again in the last quarter. Leitch writes with an entertaining blend of humour, crime, puzzle-solving and saucy jokes, but is light on the food references this time.

Next in the series is The Cornish Christmas Pantomime Murder.

Here are my reviews of the first books in the Nosey Parker series:-
THE CORNISH WEDDING MURDER #1NOSEYPARKER
THE CORNISH VILLAGE MURDER #2NOSEYPARKER
THE PERFECT CORNISH MURDER #3NOSEYPARKER
A CORNISH CHRISTMAS MURDER #4NOSEYPARKER
A CORNISH RECIPE FOR MURDER #5NOSEYPARKER
A CORNISH SEASIDE MURDER #6NOSEYPARKER
THE CORNISH CAMPSITE MURDER #7NOSEYPARKER

If you like this, try:-
‘Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet’ by MC Beaton #2AGATHARAISIN
‘Death on Deck’ by Verity Bright #13LADYELEANORSWIFT
‘A Medal for Murder’ by Frances Brody #2KATESHACKLETON

And if you’d like to tweet a link to THIS post, here’s my suggested tweet:
#BookReview THE CORNISH CASTLE MURDER by Fiona Leitch https://wp.me/p2ZHJe-9Yy via @SandraDanby

COMING SOON… THE NEXT BOOK I REVIEW WILL BE:-

#BookReview ‘Murder at the Playhouse’ by Helena Dixon @NellDixon #cosymystery #crime

11 Replies

Murder at the Playhouse is another good adventure for Kitty Underhay, hotelier and amateur detective. Third in this nicely developing between-the-wars mystery series by Helena Dixon, Kitty now finds herself drawn into the theatrical world. Starting weeks after the ending of the previous book, Murder at Enderley Hall, Kitty is still not on speaking turns with her fellow investigator, Captain Matthew Bryant. And she isn’t only missing their cooperation as detectors. But before she can work out how to break the ice after their quarrel, everyday turns into drama when Matt is arrested on suspicion of murder. A young girl taking part in a treasure hunt at a party, is found dead on the golf course. She was strangled with a bootlace, the bootlace given to her and her friend by Matt when they knocked on his door to enquire about clues. Kitty, who soon discovers that the party was hosted by Matt’s next door neighbours, the theatrical Davenport family, volunteers for charity work with the Davenport’s daughter Genny and goes undercover.
Kitty and Matt’s relationship has reached an interesting stage, past their acknowledgement of mutual attraction they must now face up to their differing social expectations. Kitty is determined to prove her credentials as a detective, able to handle difficult and dangerous assignments as well as Matt himself. Soon she is part of the theatre company as it prepares for a charitable production. Burning the candle at both ends, Kitty’s assessment of likely risk becomes a little wobbly as she pushes on in her objective to clear Matt’s name. The cast of theatrical characters includes some colourful, and distasteful, people, so there are plenty of suspects. Assigned as prompter, Kitty fears sitting in the wings will prevent her ability to eavesdrop and discover clues. So she engages the Dolphin Hotel’s housemaid Alice to assist her again. Alice, deft with a needle and thread, proves adept at organising the theatrical costumes and props and rallying the troop of child performers.
Needless to say, Kitty takes one risk too many and, not wanting to worry Matt while also wanting prove herself to him, does not tell him everything that is happening. In the background is the longer-running mystery of Kitty’s lost mother; where did she disappear to during the war?
Kitty is a very likeable heroine while Matt has a complicated history. He is a widow and a war veteran, more of both in this book. The plot moves on nicely and the whodunnit is full of possibilities without being so complex that the clues become entangled in an impenetrable knot. More please.

Here are my reviews of other books in the series:-
MURDER AT THE DOLPHIN HOTEL #1MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER AT ENDERLEY HALL #2MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER ON THE DANCE FLOOR #4MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER IN THE BELLTOWER #5MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER AT ELM HOUSE #6MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER AT THE WEDDING #7MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER IN FIRST CLASS #8MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER AT THE COUNTRY CLUB #9MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER ON BOARD #10MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER AT THE CHARITY BALL #11MISSUNDERHAY

And my reviews of the first in a new series by Helena Dixon:-
THE SECRET DETECTIVE AGENCY #1SECRETDETECTIVEAGENCY
THE SEASIDE MURDERS #2SECRETDETECTIVEAGENCY

If you like this, try:-
‘An Expert in Murder’ by Nicola Upson #1JOSEPHINETEY
‘The Cornish Village Murder’ by Fiona Leitch #2NOSEYPARKER
‘The Anarchist Detective’ by Jason Webster #3MAXCAMARA

And if you’d like to tweet a link to THIS post, here’s my suggested tweet:
#BookReview MURDER AT THE PLAYHOUSE by Helena Dixon @NellDixon https://wp.me/p2ZHJe-7Bd via @SandraDanby

COMING SOON… THE NEXT BOOK I REVIEW WILL BE:-

#BookReview ‘Murder at the Dolphin Hotel’ by Helena Dixon @NellDixon #cosymystery #crime

14 Replies

I do like starting a new cosy mystery series and have great hopes of the Miss Underhay series by Helena Dixon. The first book Murder at the Dolphin Hotel, is set between the world wars and stars Kitty Underhay. It is 1933 and at the Dolphin Hotel in Dartmouth, Kitty is left in charge of the family hotel by her grandmother who must visit a sick relation. Before she leaves, and without explaining her reasons to her grand-daughter, ‘Grams’ employs a hotel security manager Captain Matthew Bryant. There is quite a cast including a deliciously grimy newspaper reporter, a well-meaning but nosy friend of Grams, and a glamorous American jazz singer. When a dead body is found in the river and hotel rooms are burgled, Kitty and Matt begin to share their fears, without sharing all their secrets. This is the first meeting of what will become an established detective pairing; at the time of writing there are now 17 in this 1930s series. Some of the language at times seems modern; a trait I dislike as it takes me away from the page and the characters, as did a couple of other discrepancies including the fate of the unnamed verger.
It always takes me time to settle into the first book of a new series by an unfamiliar author and the first half seemed a slow read. But the book blurb promises a hunt for a stolen ruby and the pace of the story picks up when the promised jewel makes its first appearance. There is no shortage of dodgy characters and therefore loads of suspects. And all the time Kitty must balance dealing with daily hotel tasks, organising the visit of singer Miss Vivien Delaware, and curiosity about the real reason for Captain Bryant’s appointment. Grams, Kitty fears, has not told her the whole truth. Throw in Kitty’s history as an orphan, the lasting effects of Matt’s wartime service and the suspected reappearance of Kitty’s disreputable father, and there are a lot of mysteries to keep me reading to the end.
A light enjoyable read, quickly finished, and a promising start to a new series. Next in line is book two, Murder at Enderley Hall.

And my reviews of the first in a new series by Helena Dixon:-
THE SECRET DETECTIVE AGENCY #1SECRETDETECTIVEAGENCY
THE SEASIDE MURDERS #2SECRETDETECTIVEAGENCY

If you like this, try:-
‘A Very English Murder’ by Verity Bright #1LADYELEANORSWIFT
‘Murder at Catmmando Mountain’ by Anna Celeste Burke #1GEORGIESHAW
‘The Cornish Wedding Murder’ by Fiona Leitch #1NOSEYPARKER

And if you’d like to tweet a link to THIS post, here’s my suggested tweet:
#BookReview MURDER AT THE DOLPHIN HOTEL by Helena Dixon @NellDixon https://wp.me/p2ZHJe-7sK via @SandraDanby

COMING SOON… THE NEXT BOOK I REVIEW WILL BE:-

#BookReview ‘A Very English Murder’ by Verity Bright @BrightVerity #cosymystery #crime

19 Replies

A Very English Murder by Verity Bright is first in the Lady Eleanor Swift series of 1920s historical cozy crime novels. It’s a rollicking mystery that speeds along at a fair clip with lots of red herrings, dastardly villains and multiple glasses of homebrew. Lady Swift inherits her title from her uncle, along with his mansion Henley Hall at Little Buckford in the Home Counties. Accustomed to fending for herself she has travelled alone around the world, in jungle, deserts and cities, plotting routes for travel companies. But now Ellie finds herself in foreign territory; an English village. Not only must she become accustomed to being mistress of a house and its staff, a local celebrity, source of fascination, causer of awkward silences, she also witnesses a murder.
When the local police don’t believe her, given the lack of a body or evidence, Ellie sets off on a detective spree. In her search for clues she gets into scrapes, makes all kinds of wrong assumptions, and some correct ones, doesn’t know who to trust and argues with lots of people. The only ‘character’ she trusts to be on her side is gentle bulldog Gladstone. There’s also a rather dashing neighbour with an airplane, who also may be the murderer. Her title fails to elevate her in the eyes of the local mayor or police – who see only a woman so obviously incapable, ill-equipped and unfit for murder detection – so she teams up with one of her suspects, Clifford the butler at Henley Hall. “A mere woman and a mere servant. Two classes undervalued and underestimated for generations joining together to make a formidable team.”
This is a fun historical mystery which, despite a few unlikely plot points and some silliness, is curiously addictive. It is however set in the Twenties with few references to the events of the day though the upstairs/downstairs divisions at Henley Hall are soon broken down. This was a decade of adjustment after the Great War; the men who didn’t come home, the injured men who can’t work, the women who took on men’s jobs during the war have now been pushed back into a pre-war world. None of this seems to impact on Henley Hall or Eleanor’s lifestyle. Nor is there is mention of women’s suffrage, female MPs or the rights of titled women to sit in the House of Lords; all of which would affect Lady Swift when she inherited her title. But of course this is a cozy mystery, an escape from the real world, and A Very English Murder does this job well.
It’s an entertaining read which made me chuckle. Plus there are plenty of unanswered questions to fuel further adventures.
PS. I loved the cover artwork too.

If you like this, try:-
‘The Vanished Bride’ by Bella Ellis #1BRONTEMYSTERIES
‘The Mystery of Three Quarters’ by Sophie Hannah #3POIROT
‘A Fatal Crossing’ by Tom Hindle

And if you’d like to tweet a link to THIS post, here’s my suggested tweet:
#BookReview A VERY ENGLISH MURDER by Verity Bright @BrightVerity https://wp.me/p2ZHJe-6Xs via @SandraDanby

COMING SOON… THE NEXT BOOK I REVIEW WILL BE:-

	#BookReview ‘Dissolu… on #BookReview ‘The Ashes of Lond…
	#BookReview ‘Dissolu… on #BookReview ‘The Witchfinder’s…
	#BookReview ‘Dissolu… on #BookReview ‘The Last Hours’ b…
	#BookReview ‘Old God… on Great Opening Paragraph 118… ‘…
	#BookReview ‘A Thous… on Great Opening Paragraph 118… ‘…

SANDRA DANBY'S BOOK REVIEWS

Sharing thoughts on the books I read, new authors, favourite authors, classics re-visisted

Tag Archives: cosy crime fiction

#BookReview ‘The Cornish Castle Murder’ by Fiona Leitch #crime #cosycrime

#BookReview ‘Murder at the Playhouse’ by Helena Dixon @NellDixon #cosymystery #crime

#BookReview ‘Murder at the Dolphin Hotel’ by Helena Dixon @NellDixon #cosymystery #crime

#BookReview ‘A Very English Murder’ by Verity Bright @BrightVerity #cosymystery #crime

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