Tag Archives: Helena Dixon

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

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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. Helena Dixon 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

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 Wedding Murder’ by Fiona Leitch #1NoseyParker
‘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:- Renita d'Silva

#BookReview ‘Murder at Enderley Hall’ by Helena Dixon @NellDixon #cosymystery #crime

11 Replies

Read in two sittings over a rainy weekend, I devoured Murder at Enderley Hall by Helena Dixon, second in the Miss Underhay cosy historical murder mysteries. Picking up a matter of weeks after the events at the end of the first book, Murder at the Dolphin Hotel, the plotting is tight and the clues keep coming. I changed my mind three times about the guilty party. Helena DixonNow she’s had a taste of detecting, Kitty Underhay is finding life at her grandmother’s hotel in Dartmouth a quiet affair. She agrees to visit her previously-underheard-of aunt, Lady Medford, in the hope this will bring both a diversion and a clue to the truth of her mother’s disappearance. Elowed Underhay went missing when Kitty was a child and has never been found. Lady Medford is the sister of Kitty’s disreputable father Edgar. Arriving at Enderley Hall, Kitty finds a house party including cousin Lucy and dog Muffy, the family’s elderly nanny, a garden designer, an art conservator, two of Lucy’s friends from London, plus Lord Medford and his secretary Aubrey.
Lord Medford is an inventor of military munitions and materials and his work is conducted at Enderley in a secret laboratory. The setting is summer 1933 as Europe has become an uncertain, threatening place. So when important papers are stolen that may endanger the country, Sir Horace Blunt arrives from the government, followed by Inspector Greville and Kitty’s co-detective from the first book, Captain Matthew Bryant of Torbay Private Investigation Services.
Clues are collected and rumours abound. As the papers remain lost and one murder is followed by another, Kitty becomes irritated at being left out of the investigating. Alice, the Dolphin’s house maid who has been recruited as lady’s maid for the duration of Kitty’s stay at Enderley Hall, proves to be an able spy. Keeping watch, gathering gossip amongst the domestic staff, and acting as companion to Kitty when danger threatens.
This is only the second book of the series but I slipped easily into reading about these familiar characters. The story unfolds at a good pace as Kitty treads the delicate line of being a polite house guest with being a nosey, intrepid detective. I was cheering her on.
Thoroughly enjoyable. Next up is Murder at the Playhouse.

Here are my reviews of other books in the series:-
MURDER AT THE DOLPHIN HOTEL #1MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER AT THE PLAYHOUSE #3MISSUNDERHAY
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

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:-
‘The Vanished Bride’ by Bella Ellis #1BronteMysteries
‘The Killings at Kingfisher Hill’ by Sophie Hannah #4Poirot
‘Moonflower Murders’ by Anthony Horowitz #2SusanRyeland

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

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

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

12 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. Helena DixonIt 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.

Here are my reviews of other books in the series:-
MURDER AT ENDERLEY HALL #2MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER AT THE PLAYHOUSE #3MISSUNDERHAY
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

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:- SJ Parris