Kitty Underhay’s dance card is full… of death.
November 1933. Amateur sleuth-cum-dutiful granddaughter Kitty Underhay stifles a sigh of boredom as she attends the annual Hoteliers’ Association Dinner and Dance on behalf of her grandmother, the proprietress of the Dolphin Hotel. She hopes the company of ex-army captain Matthew Bryant will enliven the otherwise dull evening. That is, until bullish and overbearing local councillor Harold Everton drops dead into his bowl of consommé.
While the local police are still scrambling for their whistles, Kitty and Matt waste no time leaping into action. Soon they find themselves caught up a dangerous search to uncover who amongst the distinguished guests used cyanide for seasoning?
When their digging throws light on a corruption scandal brewing in the local council involving Everton’s assistant Thomas King, they are sure they’ve cracked the case. But before he can be questioned further, King’s body is found in a smouldering car wreck.
Meanwhile, the murderer has made a sinister plan to avoid detection or punishment, and it will lead Kitty and Matt into a dangerous dance with death…
A fast, fun and utterly unputdownable Golden Age cozy murder mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T E Kinsey and Lee Strauss.
Miss Underhay Mystery series
Book 1 – Murder at the Dolphin Hotel
Book 2 – Murder at Enderley Hall
Book 3 – Murder at the Playhouse
Book 4 – Murder on the Dance Floor
A Fine Mystery, Beautifully Written! 
I’m so sorry to have missed the first three of this series because this one is right up my street!
With her grandmother ill, Kitty Underhay has been given the task of representing the Dolphin Hotel at the annual Hotelier’s Association Dinner and Dance. Accompanied by Captain Matthew Bryant, Kitty is hoping he will brighten what otherwise promises to be a dull evening. As they enjoy their meal, exchanging pleasantries with others seated at their table they are shocked when one of them, a rather obnoxious local councillor no less, keels over dead. With their sleuthing history, neither Kitty nor Matt can let this one go and are soon up to their eyes in investigating, desperate to aid the police in their probing for the murderer. However, the guilty party will go to any lengths to avoid being found out, and Matt and Kitty are in their sights.
Now, I love a good murder mystery, particularly one set in times gone by which skips past all the ‘in your face’ blood and gore so this one is just perfect for me. I wallowed in all the period details – especially the fashions! The characters are many and varied – all beautifully drawn – with a wide range of traits but what shines through is Kitty’s kindness. There are plenty of suspects and a bunch of clues which could point to any of them and it all adds up to a lovely, entertaining read which made me smile every now and then. A fine mystery, beautifully written and worth 4.5 stars and a hearty recommendation.
My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is – as always – my honest, original and unbiased review.
Tags: cosy mystery
- Format: ebook, audiobook
- Size: 258 pages
- Publisher: Bookouture
- Publication Date: 28 October 2020
- Links: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54401348
Author Bio
Helena Dixon splits her time between the Black Country and Devon. Married to the same man for over thirty five years she has three daughters, a cactus called Spike, a crazy cockapoo and a tank of tropical fish. She is allergic to adhesives, apples, tinsel and housework. Her addictions of choice are coffee and reality TV. She was winner of The Romance Prize in 2007 and Love Story of the Year 2010 as Nell Dixon. She now writes historical 1930’s set cozy crime. Nell enjoys hearing from readers.
Social Media
Website: http://www.nelldixon.com
Blog: http://www.nelldixonrw.blogspot.com
Twitter: @nelldixon
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nell-Dixon/228642037151856
Grace J Reviewerlady 