I will read absolutely any historical mystery published by Bookouture. They do such a lovely job of curating the best of the genre.

I struggled a bit with my first Helena Dixon mystery in this series but found that I liked this one quite a bit. Though this series isn’t quite on the same exceptional plane as the publisher’s Verity Bright and Fliss Chester series, it’s still fun and I feel it has improved since the early novels.

There isn’t quite enough history or sense of place in these books for me to consider them truly exceptional historical mysteries, and they could certainly stand to add a bit of humor, but the characters are good and the mysteries solidly constructed.

The continuing mystery of Kitty’s mother’s disappearance has also proven to be a good hook for the series, and Dixon has done well to keep that plot thread continuously interesting by revealing just enough to keep the story fresh while still holding back enough to keep you going for the next offering in the series.

Book 3 of the cozy mystery series of hotel owner Kitty and private investigator Matt. When Matt is framed for a murder, Kitty steps up to help clear his name. Liked this one, but a bit darker that the previous two books. Still though, good to read in order, and would recommend.

I love this series, and I think Murder at the Playhouse might be my favourite so far! It’s full of jeopardy and peril, as well as glamour and wit and, unfortunately for Kitty, a lot of Mrs Millicent Craven…

There’s another batch of shifty suspects for Kitty to scrutinise and I loved getting to know more about cheeky Alice. I love the descriptions of Dartmouth and its surrounding areas and the way it further explores the mystery of Kitty’s missing mother. This is another excellent and well-crafted murder mystery in the classic style.

Whilst none of the subsequent books include real spoilers for the previous ones in the series, I think you get much more from this series by reading them in order from the beginning; start with Book 1 and lose yourself in this elegantly fabulous series.

Thank you again to Bookouture for the ARC.

I love this cozy mystery. In general I love cozy British mysteries to begin with but the author adds in authenticity from the 1930s that I really appreciated.

The author does an excellent job with her characters and has a well-written plot. I love the heroine, Kitty. I look forward to reading her further adventures.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of Murder at the Playhouse by Helena Dixon.

This third in the cozy mystery series featuring Kitty Underhay is another hit with me. I like these for so many reasons -- and if you agree, this is definitely one you should follow.

I love the time period. I'm addicted to the 1920s and 1930s. The clothes, the customs, the manners, and all things cultured and classy. Despite dealing with murder and mayhem, Kitty is always poised but very modern in her thoughts and actions. Another aspect I enjoy is that it is set in a small English town and that Kitty and her grandmother own and operate a hotel. The characters are fun and the author uses a lot of description and detail to make them come alive so that I can visualize them quite clearly. The only thing I can't quite wrap my head around is this obsession with tea -- I mean, really, it's a constant thing this tea drinking! I'm also certain that people of that time period ate food other than eggs, biscuits and fish -- don't they? Regardless, this is a fun whodunit and might be predictable but that thoroughly entertained me over the course of the couple of hours it took to read.

I feel that one should read the installments in order from the beginning so to get a feel for the relationships that have evolved over the past cases and events that have transpired. We're still following a couple of storylines that have yet to be resolved so I look forward to the next book.

If you're a fan of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries or Gran Hotel or Downton Abbey or any of the other similar television dramas, you'll like this too. As I said, for me it's mainly the time period and the setting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoutre for this E-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

I volunteered to read this book. It is well written and the characters are described well. This is the third book in the Miss Underhay series. I enjoyed this author's writing style. I like Kitty's character. I think it is better to read the first book to get to know the characters better. But this is a enjoyable mystery. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. It is in bookstores now for $1.99 (GBP).

Despite mentioning several times that the writing style was not for me, I was lured into trying out this book just to see where the storyline for Kitty’s mother would go and on that front, I was not disappointed. Some headway was made in not just that but also in the relationship between Kitty and Matthew, the latter though expected was done in a smooth but interesting manner.

The crime was very different from the last two books and especially since Kitty is given sole charge of figuring out the culprit she had free reign to rush headlong into the situations. It is her luck that keeps her alive. Unfortunately for me, this time I figured out the criminal with the mention of one particular event because it seemed quite random for it to be described in that manner. An unknown woman has been found on the golfing green and everyone is claiming to not know who she is! The case has a lot of quirky, artsy people thrown in together, the rise of the individual relying on another. There are multiple dynamics at play in the background. It should satisfy those who are enjoying the series and for me, I will try to read the next one if I can because I would like to know about the mother situation!

⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Set in the 1930's this is one of the better historical cozy mysteries out there. The book is well paced and the characters are developing nicely. There are enough twists and turns to keep you interested. This is book 3 in the series, it can be read as a standalone but, the series is so enjoyable you might as well read the first 2.

Release Date: June 30, 2020

📖📖📖📖📖

Mrs Craven is miffed when she finds a body on the 11th hole of the golf course but she is downright outraged when Matthew Bryant is taken into custody for the murder. She applies to Kitty and her grandmother for help. Kitty would have helped regardless but Mrs Craven can get her connected to the family and friends of the Davenports who were the last people to see the murdered girl alive. When secrets start unraveling and Kitty narrows down the suspects, she becomes a target. Can Kitty clear Matthews name and stay alive long enough to tell someone?!

This is the third in the #themissunderhaymystery series. I did not read the first two and I felt like I missed out on some of the story because of that. The murder happens very early in the book and kept me guessing #whodunnit the whole time! It was full of red herrings which I love and there is an overarching mystery through the series. The quote on the cover says “An unputdownable cozy mystery” and I fully agree. I highly recommend this book. I will also be purchasing books 1 and 2 so I can read them and see if I can connect the overarching story.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

#murderattheplayhouse #MissUnderhayMystery #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #cozymysteryseries #netgalleyreads

The glamour of showbusiness provides the backdrop to Murder at the Playhouse, the third book in the Kitty Underhay series. An actress wanting her big break is found dead on a golf course and Kitty's love interest Captain Matthew Bryant is the prime suspect. Can she clear his name...?
Helena Dixon's lead characters have not really spoken since their argument at the end of the last book. However, when Kitty discovers that Matthew has been wrongly accused of murder she springs to his defence. The police's case against him is circumstantial as he was the last person to admit to seeing the victim alive. But when another body is found, Matthew has a definite alibi. Together they set about finding alternative suspects and Kitty volunteers at the playhouse for a charity event involving all of the characters with a motive.
Kitty and Matthew's romance continues to simmer during Murder at the Playhouse. The introduction of his parents provides an extra complication and he finally reveals to Kitty the loss of his daughter (she was already aware of the death of his wife). The emotional connection between the two lead characters is strengthened and I hope their relationship continues to develop.
The ongoing family mystery of Kitty's mother's disappearance continues to produce a subplot of investigation and leaves more revelations anticipated for the next book (I hope there is one!)
As with the two previous books, I enjoyed the historical details of the 1930s and the social and class distinctions which affect the lives of the characters. This was an enjoyable traditional murder mystery with no violence or graphic detail. Like Agatha Christie novels, the focus of the plot is on revealing the motives through unofficial interrogation and secret observation.

In Which Kitty Despairs.....
Book three in the Miss Underhay mystery series in which Kitty despairs when Matt finds himself on the wrong side of the law. Entertaining cosy mystery with an engaging plot, a likeable protagonist and a colourful cast of supporting characters. Enjoyable addition to the series.

4.5 stars

This is the 3rd book in the Miss Underhay mystery series by Helena Dixon.

Kitty is at it again with another British inspired historical cozy mystery. She is drawn in to solve the murder of a young girl at the Playhouse. Matt is named a suspect on very little evidence which launches Kitty into investigation mode.

I was rather distressed as I read the sections of this story concerning Matt when he was in jail and losing hope each minute he was behind bars. This did not mirror the strong man I remembered from previous books. It makes me realize that we aren’t always strong all the time and sometimes we break down when we need to be strong. Luckily he gets out but is told to stay at Kitty’s large house.

It took me awhile to read this since I felt like there was a lot going on and I wanted to digest it all and understand what was happening between the characters. Great mystery and whodunit. I had a hard time deciding who the bad guy was.

Great story and plot, it really keeps you guessing. If you want to read a good historical cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Murder at the Playhouse (An Unputdownable Historical Cozy Mystery) by Helena Dixon was a delightful murder mystery set in 1930s England. Complete with loads of suspects, and several twists and turns, it was a quick, fun read and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

So this was such a pleasant surprise ! I really loved the setting of this book and I came to like Kitty so quickly!

This is such a brilliantly paced book with the first murder happening right at the beginning to draw you straight in!

We quickly get to meet Matt and Kitty and learn that they have had a recent disagreement when things end of bad terms!

Set in the 1930s, when a murder of a young woman takes place locally, Matt who owns his own private investigation company goes to the police to help them with their enquiries and investigation but he soon finds himself locked up as their main suspect, mainly because he provided her with the murder weapon and no one can vouch for seeing the girl before!

When Kitty learns that her friend Matt is being held by the police she makes it her mission to prove his innocence and get him out of there as soon as possible, and this means she needs to find out who DID do it!

When Kitty does this she finds herself in some very dangerous situations to find out who did it and to get her friend off a potential murder charge! But can she find out who committed the murder in time as there are so many potential suspects!

I loved watching Kitty and Matt’s relationship grow and was really hoping for a romance ! I hope there will be another book after this to find out what happens next between them!

I wasn’t able to guess who done it which I always love and I love the element of surprise, I found the writing so engrossing as the author has done an amazing job at setting the atmosphere!

Even though this is book 3 in the series I found this so easy to just pick up and read as a stand-alone! But it has made me want to go back and read from the beginning for sure!

Overall this is definitely a cozy, classic, murder mystery, great paced, full of great characters and extremely thrilling! I’d definitely given me the confidence to try more, especially from this series! So I’d like to give it 4 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️!

This book is the third in the series but can easily be read as a standalone-- I haven’t read the first two and had no challenges. There is enough backstory to ease you into it.
I enjoy cozy historical mysteries and this was a delightful new series for me. Kitty, the heroine is a determined spunky young woman-and when her friend Matt is arrested for murder she is determined to help him by finding the real murderer.
The woman who was murdered was attending a party at Matt’s neighbors, the Davenport’s. They were theatrical people and so we are introduced to a cast of characters who may have a reason to murder the woman, especially when you learn blackmail was involved. Sebastian, one of the actors and a friend of the Davenport’s son Peter is deliciously snarky and smarmy.
There a few recurring supporting characters that add a lot to the story-namely Alice, the maid and Kitty’s accomplice, and Lady Craven who brought a smile to my face with her attitudes and condescension.
The story kept me guessing and I was sure of the murderer at the same time that Kitty realized it.
There are a few subplots that are nicely weaved through the story. Matt’s past and his experiences in the war, a budding romance between Kitty and Matt and the disappearance of Kitty’s mother 16 years ago. They all add substance to the story.
I plan on going back to read the first two installments and anxiously await the next installment in October. I highly recommend this charming cozy.
I received an advanced copy from Bookouture via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks for an introduction to a series I will continue to follow.

Captain Matt Bryant seems to be made the fall guy for the murder of a girl on the golf course. It was he who first made the detectives aware that he was the last person to have seen the murdered girl . The Davenports are the rich family of the area and seem to be able to make a lot of noise so it is upto Kitty Underhay who has worked with Matt before to make sure that he is not made the scapegoat for the Davenport's actions.

The Davenports seem to be a rum lot. Peter the son is typical of a high flyer - lots of money, no sense or purpose and then there is his "friend" Seb giving rise to lots of speculations as to his sexual identity, the daughter who is a frumpy girl but the brains in the family ignored by both father and mother, the mother the neuroitic dipsomaniac and the father only wanting to keep his reputation clean with an impending peerage in the reckoning

Uncovering a trail which is complicated and involves blackmail, a second girl is killed and when an attempted murder of Kitty goes unsuccessful those who are sleuthing know that the killer is now becoming desperate.

Full of contrasting characters all which added depth and color to the story, the second in the Kitty and Matt series this was a page turner set in a slightly older vintage than the current thriller reads.

This is another brilliant book in this series. The series gets better with each book as the characters continue to develop.

I liked seeing Matt back with Kitty again after their argument in the previous book. It was interesting watching Matt deal with Kitty investigating almost without him as he can’t get involved in this case. We also have Mrs Craven involved in this one, it’s almost a partnership at times between her and Kitty and it was interesting to get the perspective of someone from a different generation.

There’s a lot of deception and people hiding information as you would expect, and for all sorts of reasons too. Watching Kitty and everyone else work through this and find the truth made for a very involving read. If you want something with lies, intrigue and a bit of danger then this is worth a look. Especially if you fancy a break from technology, happily the internet didn’t exist in the 30s. Although it’s part of a series it could be read as a stand alone too.

If you liked the previous books in the series you’ll enjoy this one and if you’re new to the series then you have a lot more to look forward to.

The third book in the series, and just as enjoyable as the first two. Following on from the previous outing, Kitty Underhay is back running the Dolphin Hotel with her grandmother, while she and the dashing Matthew Bryant have yet to make up after their argument at the end of book two. All of this is soon forgotten as Matt is arrested for the murder of a young aspiring actress, and Kitty finds herself involved with actors and the local amateur dramatic society. A second body turns up, there is suggestion of blackmail, and Kitty soon starts receiving threatening letters telling her to stop poking her nose in. Can she, Matt and the annoying Mrs Craven find the culprit?

As ever, this is the kind of book to just absorb you for a few hours, spotting the clues and watching the will-they-won't-they relationship between Kitty and Matt develop. The subplot of Kitty's missing mother moves on, too, when she discovers someone from her parents' past down in Exeter. Plenty is left hanging for more books in the series, which many of us will welcome. Pleasurably diverting with excellent characters and the classic 1930s setting.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)

Each book in this series is better than the previous and this is my favourite so far.
It's engrossing and entertaining, the mystery is solid and full of twists and turns. I can't wait to read the next instalment and read about the development in Kitty&Matt relationship.
As usual is well written, there's a great cast of characters and the mystery kept me guessing (the solution came as a surprise).
I can't wait to read the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This is not my first Helena Dixon book - won't be the last either - and it is the third instalment in the Miss Underhay mysteries. Never fear, it reads well as a stand alone, but be advised you WILL want to go back and read the first two!

These characters are endearing. I could see myself - back in the 1930s, my favourite era for cozy mysteries - having any one of these as friends. Well, except maybe the villain!!!

Kitty is determined to clear Matt of this bogus charge, and the antics that ensue will have you turning pages until the very last one. A great rainy - or sunny - afternoon that I highly recommend!!!

[Many thanks to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. I was not required to write a review. The opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.]