This was a really interesting and entertaining series. I was so involved in the story and could not put it down for very long. I love all the different characters and the way they interacted with each other. I hope there is going to be more to this series!! Will definitely love to read more by this new to me author!

Excitement is brewing as the eagerly anticipated wedding between American born heiress Stella Kendrick and Viscount Lyndy Lyndhurst is to take place in a matter of days. The couple, while originally a match of convenience, have since fallen deeply in love however not everyone shares in their excitement. Stella's father is just as odious and overbearing as usual and demands Stella's assistance as he travels to Southhampton to meet up with friends and family coming overseas for the wedding. While awaiting the arrival of the guests however they witness a tragic and grisly accident that results in the death of a young man. In an effort to lighten the mood, Stella plans an outing at Keyhaven Castle however another tragedy takes place, this one hitting a bit closer to home for Stella in particular. Stella and Lyndy once again join forces in an effort to solve not one, but two murders that may or may not be linked. Their wedding and future hangs in the balance and hinges greatly on the success and outcome of their investigation. The stakes become even greater when an attempt is made on Stella's life as well.
Murder at Keyhaven Castle is the third in the masterful historical mystery series that takes place at the turn on the century in the New Forest region of Hampshire England. The series follows the romance of American heiress Stella Kendrick and Viscount Lyndhurst. While the pair have been engaged since the first novel, it is not until the third installment that their marriage is set to take place. However before they can get to the alter to exchange vows, they must first solve not one, but two murders. With family and friends arriving from the states for the upcoming nuptials, there are plenty of new characters woven into the plot. Some we are meant to love and some to hate, but each with has their own unique personality and part to play in the overall narrative. The story takes us back to the Edwardian Era where horses were still the prominent mode of transportation and telegraphs were the primary method of communicating news quickly. The mystery takes center stage and is full of surprising secrets, scandals, and murder right up until the end. I highly recommend Murder at Keyhaven Castle as well as the first two books in the series for readers looking for a new historical mystery to add to their summer reading list.

Murder At Keyhaven Castle is the third book in the Stella and Lyndy series by Clara McKenna.

It’s September 1905, and Stella and Lyndy’s wedding is just days away. Preparations are moving along nicely, and guests are starting to arrive in Hampshire. Stella would rather stay home and take care of any last-minute wedding preparations. Still, her father orders her to accompany him to Southampton to welcome the Swenson’s, friends or the Kendrick family, and a fellow horse breeder. As Miranda and her father are waiting for the Swenson’s to disembark, Stella watches as a young man is run over by what appears to be a runaway wagon and will die from the injuries caused by being run over. Miranda will later learn that the young man had a newspaper article announcing the upcoming wedding. When Miranda arrives home, she is surprised that her uncle and his two young children have come for the wedding. It will soon become evident that there is a lot of hostility between her father and his father. Stella will suggest an outing to the nearby Keyhaven Castle, thereby hoping to keep everyone at ease. Everyone has gone off to explore different castle areas when a terrifying scream sets everyone on edge. She finds a dead body that will affect her life.

Stella and Lyndy will determine if the two deaths are related and how they might be. They soon find no shortage of suspects that will include a nearby racehorse owner, close friends of Lyndy, and even Stella’s uncle.
I really like this series. The author has done an excellent job of developing two characters from very different backgrounds into a couple on the verge of marrying. The story is well-written and plotted, and there were enough red herrings that I was kept guessing until the end as to who the killer was. The characters are all believable and well-developed.

I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this exciting series.

Another delightful installment in this series. Highly recommend.

Stella and Lyndy's wedding is imminent and guests and presents are beginning to arrive. While their engagement was an exchange of American money for an English title, the couple has fallen in love and are eager to begin their married life. Unfortunately events conspire to throw that into question.

Stella and her father go into town to retrieve guests-her father's friend and neighbor from Kentucky and his wife and daughter. While there, they witness a tragic accident where a man is trampled by a runaway wagon. There is no identification on the victim but it turns out he has a connection to Morrington Hall because of a ragged newspaper article that mentions their wedding and he was overheard threatening to kill someone.

Lyndy is able to recognize the victim as a disgraced American jockey but having never met him, he has no idea of why he was threatened.

Then another suspicious death occurs and this hits closer to home. Stella is determined to help the Inspector discover who the murderer is, even if it could be someone close to her.

There are plenty of potential suspects, another person involved in the same scandal as the jockey, a relative hoping to inherit, suspicious activity and conversations between the victim and others.

Good, well plotted mystery with some bittersweet moments for Stella.

Murder at Keyhaven Castle is the third in the Stella and Lyndy mystery series. I have thoroughly enjoyed each book and this installment definitely didn't disappoint. One of the things I love about this series is that you never know what is going to happen and who the victim might be in the new book. No one seems to be safe. This time round, it's only a few days from Stella and Lyndy's wedding when friends and family start to arrive for the wedding. Unfortunately, disaster arrives right on their heels.

I love how close Stella and Lyndy have become after being forced into an arranged marriage by their parents. They suit each other so well and it's been fun getting to meet more of their family, too. I highly recommend this series. It's filled with a fun cast of characters, intriguing mysteries, and lots of red herrings. You could read this as a standalone without any issues, but I do recommend reading the whole series. It's fun to see the characters' relationships grow throughout the books.

Thanks so much to Kensington and Netgalley for the arc!

MUCH better than the previous one, this one grabs your attention from the first page and keeps it until the very end. Even though I guessed the killer fairly early on [and had a huge shock in who was killed - one often wished disagreeable characters are the ones that are killed off, but it never happened until this book and I. WAS. SHOCKED.] and then guessed the side story almost immediately, this still kept me reading feverishly until the end [there WERE moments where I was second guessing myself and that makes it even more fun]. I love Stella and Lyndy together and I adore how Stella just takes everything thrown at her with grace and composure, even when she doesn't want to be [especially with her upcoming MIL and the very conventions that are very much England], and also refuses to sit back and just let things move forward with no help from her - her independence is awesome. Her father may not love her, but his indifference instilled an independence in Stella that continues to serve her well and makes her an amazing character. Very well done.

Thank you to NetGalley, Clara McKenna, and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars
Between ornate bridal gown fittings and meetings with Lyndy’s distant relatives, Stella finally feels less like an out-of-place American and more like a respected aristocrat. Everything changes as the arrival of an anonymous gift and return of her overbearing father cast a dark shadow over the festivities, conjuring difficult memories and new fears. Tensions intensify when a daytrip to Southampton ends with a suspicious stranger getting trampled by a horse-drawn cab. Before anyone can explain why the victim possessed a newspaper clipping about the upcoming ceremony at Morrington Hall, tragedy strikes again, this time resulting in a murder that turns Stella’s world completely upside down while implicating one of Lyndy’s well-regarded family members.
This is the third book in the series & whilst it could be read on its own I’d recommend reading in order as the two main characters Lyndy & Stella's relationship develops throughout the series. A very well written page turning read with plenty of twists & turns plus red herrings so I was guessing until the end. I was engrossed from cover to cover & a rainy day meany I was curled up & read it in a couple of sittings. There were a couple of loose ends which I hope are resolved in the next book
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Stella and Lyndy are getting closer to their wedding. If you read my previous two reviews of this series, you would see how caught up I have been with it as a whole. That said, I think I liked the second even more than this one.
In this third instalment, we have people arriving from America for the wedding, and things are ramping up. Lyndy is getting a little impatient with all the waiting! Unfortunately, as often with situations like this, a wrench has to be thrown in the works. There is a pretty significant end to a character, which leads to many unforeseen issues.
This time around, thanks to a few choice exclamations, I knew exactly who the culprit was! However, despite that one issue, I liked the foundation that it is laying with regard to all the familial connections and the possibilities of further adventures of the unlikely couple.
Each character, old and new, is entertaining even in the most severe of situations leading to a very enjoyable reading session, even with the heavier overtones. It is not a very large volume and can be read in a few sittings, and I recommend starting with the first in this series in order to best enjoy it.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I am really enjoying this series in general. Each book takes its time without rushing anything. We don't get to see a LOT of Stella and Lyndy's relationship developing and the backstory on the mystery for this one was a little underdeveloped but it is just a light, cozy mystery that is perfect for beach reading.
Stella and Lyndy are finally heading toward marriage, the random murders and her father's meddling notwithstanding. The invitations have been sent, the wedding is announced in all the papers, and everyone is starting to come over - even some uninvited guests.
In the invited category is a family that Stella's father invited because they are influential in Kentucky. Stella was always set up to be the daughter's best friend but the girl didn't treat her very well and that continues to this day with backhanded compliments and little digs that no one else seems to notice.
For the uninvited guest, there is one rather sinister young man with a pistol and murder on his mind but also Stella's father's brother and his children. It is looking like it will be an interesting gathering but Stella and Lyndy are just ready for one thing, to finally be married. Except that it looks like a murder is going to change their plans...

Four stars
This book comes out June 29th, 2021
Follows Murder at Blackwater Bend
ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

** 4.5-Stars **

I came to absolutely adore Stella and Lyndy over the last two books. She’s the filthy rich American heiress and he’s the pockets-to-let English heir to an earl. I know you are thinking – so what - that is the theme of a lot of historical romances. True, but these two are really special and they both do a lot of growing and changing over the course of these three books. Of course, they also find dead bodies and solve murders while they are at it.

Only a couple of days left until the wedding and Lyndy and Stella are so excited. They can hardly wait to begin their new lives together. Stella’s father is still just as awful, overbearing, hateful, manipulative, demanding, and downright mean as ever, but he’ll be headed back to Kentucky once the wedding is over. Happy sighs will be heard by all.

Stella’s father demands she travel with him to Southampton to meet his friends from America who are coming in for the wedding. While waiting, they witness a horrendous accident that results in a man being trampled to death by horses. Definitely not a very auspicious welcome for her father’s friends.

To relieve some of the mounting tensions between family members, unwelcome guests, invited guests, and hosts, Stella plans an outing to nearby Keyhaven Castle. While the guests are exploring the castle another tragedy occurs. This one turns Stella’s world upside down.

Can Lyndy and Stella find the murderer? Are all of the murders related? After an attempt is made on Stella’s life, they know they have to solve the murder – and quickly – or they may never have their wedding.

This is a wonderfully well-written, well-plotted mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page. There are lots of suspects and lots of motives – Stella and Lyndy just have to find the right one. I rated this book at 4.5 stars because I wanted to learn a bit more about Jedidiah Kendrick. Perhaps we’ll learn more in the next book, but this one just sort of left the fate of his two children unknown. I’m sure Stella and Lyndy would see them cared for, but we didn’t actually learn that. I just wanted a bit of closure there.

I highly recommend this book – and this series – and I hope you’ll love it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As soon as I started reading this I thought this cannot be the first book in a series and sure enough it was the third! This did not affect my enjoyment of the book but it made me want to go back and get the first two!

Anyway, meeting Stella and Lyndy for the first time in Murder at Keyhaven Castle I was immediately aware that they had not had an easy time getting to the altar. At last their wedding is about to take place but there are still a lot of bad feelings between various family members. This is 1905 and the purpose of the wedding is to match Stella, the rich American heiress to Lord Lyndhurst, the not so rich but titled Englishman.

Then things begin to go wrong, there are a couple of murders and some confusion over race horses, stolen guns and people turning up to the wedding uninvited. Stella is a delightful main character who manages to save herself in several moments of crisis. I liked Lyndy too and thought their relationship seemed solid and that it would survive all the trials and tribulations.

This was a very entertaining and enjoyable story, nicely told and with well written characters. I will certainly be seeking out the first two books and looking forward to book four.

3.5 stars

This third series entry features forthright American heiress Stella Kendrick, whose uncouth father Elijah has basically sold her into marriage into a British aristocratic family. She gets a title and social rank, they get cash. But a funny thing has happened along the way: Stella and Lyndy, the viscount, have fallen in love and turned the whole situation into a happy one.

They are three days away from their wedding, and out of town guests (included some of Stella's uninvited family) are arriving. The mysterious death of a disgraced American jockey is mixed up somehow and then murder hits closer to home, close enough to postpone the wedding. Stella and Lyndy are determined to solve the crime so they can move on with their life together.

Stella is an appealing character with some appalling family and friends. Lyndy still has a lot of entitlement (he is a lord, after all) but he truly loves Stella. I liked the earlier books when they had some conflict to iron out -- their romance is a little sappy this time out. The mystery is complex and there are a lot of characters to keep straight but it's quite readable. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I don’t know how each Stella and Lyndy book is better than its predecessor, but it’s true. I read this book in every single spare moment I had so I could read it faster. Stella is so strong - a force to be reckoned with - but she can be a vulnerable at times. It makes her so real. Once again, the mystery is tight and well-paced (though I did figure something out after the introduction of Aunt Ivy). I cannot wait to find out what Stella and Lyndy get up to next.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I think I may have found myself a new author to look out for. This is my first book by Clara KcKenna and I enjoyed it very much. Despite being book 3 in the series I found the characters and story easy to follow.

While the marriage of Stella and Lyndy started out as an arranged marriage (quite common for the turn of the 20th century), I appreciated that it didn't take long for this couple to love one another and it is evident that they are very much determined to resolve the murders together. It didn't take much effort to come to the conclusion that the deaths were related, but I did enjoy the twists and turns in the storyline. Perhaps a little bit of a stretch here and there, but still most enjoyable.

There are losses, gains and surprises for Stella, so I am intrigued to see just where the storyline will go from here.

With my thanks to #Netgalley, Kensington Books and the author for my Advance Reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Stella can't catch a break. In the first book, Stella finds herself in England for a wedding...her own wedding...that she wasn't told about in advance. She has to defend herself from the disapproval of her betrothed's mother (and discovers a body and solves a murder). She's given a reprieve from the wedding so she can get to know Lyndy (who has grown on me), only to discover another body and solves a murder. But also has to deal with the growing feelings she has for Lyndy and her future mother-in-law's desire to have him marry someone else. Now, in the third installment, Stella discovers a family member murdered and other family members and close family friends are all suspects. I want Stella and Lyndy to find their happiness and I hope in future installments, the murders they solve are of those that aren't so near and dear to them.

Murder at Keyhaven Castle is the third title in the series featuring American heiress Stella Kendrick and Viscount Lyndhurst (Lyndy) who are quickly approaching their wedding day. Stella's father has invited his friends, the Swensons who the pair travel to pick-up from Southhampton where their ship docked. While there, Stella sees a young man trampled to death by a cart, but doesn't think much of it once home. Once home, they discover Stella's uncle and two young children have arrived uninvited to attend the wedding; although not aware of the details, there was clearly some kind of falling out between Stella's father and her uncle. Also arriving is a maternal aunt, who Stella hasn't seen much of since her mother's death when she was a child. Her aunt seems to have a larger purpose than just attending the nuptials, but Stella can't figure out what it is.

To make matters worse, the young man killed by the cart was apparently headed to visit Morrington Hall causing the police to come and investigate if Lyndy or someone else connected to the Hall may have been involved in the death. Luckily, Lyndy and Stella are no strangers to solving mysteries, and they are determined to quickly clear everyone connected with the Hall so that nothing will mar their wedding. Sadly, while visiting a local attraction, Keyhaven Castle, another murder occurs that hits much too close to home for them to ignore. In order to find a killer, they must figure out the motive which isn't as easy as it sounds.

Overall, I enjoyed this latest title in the series. I have to give major credit to the author for a twist that I didn't see coming that certainly upped the stakes for both Stella and Lyndy in this case. There are enough twists in the main mystery to keep readers guessing, but I also enjoyed several side plots that I'm looking forward to seeing playout in future books. Readers looking for a fun read should look no further than this third title in a very enjoyable and well written series.

It’s getting closer to Stella and Lyndy’s wedding day and as her friends starts arriving from the US, there’s lots of drama right from the get go, particularly with Stella’s obnoxious father and jealousy from a friend.

This takes up a bit of the first half of the book but then there’s a murder mystery when a member of their party is killed with a note indicating there’s more ominous plans during the wedding.

I absolutely love Stella and Lyndy, they’re intelligent, having a healthy, loving relationship that has steadily been growing closer during each book.

I hope this isn’t the last book with Stella and Lyndy as it’s become one of my favorite historical mystery series.

Excitement is building in the New Forest region of Hampshire with only three days before Stella Kendrick, an ex-pat American from Kentucky and Viscount Lyndy marry. Stella has her final dress fitting and is positively glowing with happiness. Her mother-in-law still isn't exactly warm and welcoming and interesting relatives appear, akin to what can happen in real life!

When a man is crushed and trampled to death by horses, locals are aghast at the grisliness. And when another person is found at the bottom of stairs, not exactly alive, matters become increasingly serious as it looks like murder. The inspector investigates but it is Stella who, as an amateur sleuth, has the knack and insight needed to snoop and question.

Murder at Keyhaven Castle is the third in this series and, like the previous two, is delightful with slivers of wit and whimsy mixed with deception and heartache. This story is about love, family and new beginnings. It is fun to see how the characters evolve, including glimpses not seen before. The New Forest setting is a beautiful one and as a castle fanatic am always drawn to stories with castle mentions. They contribute beautifully to the atmosphere, as do the surprises. That ending!

Historical Fiction fans, do read this series. It is well worth it. There are realistic circumstances, yet without grittiness and gore.

My sincere thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this charming book. I like that the author loosely based her book on bits of history.

I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley some time ago. I have an odd history with this series, where I find the books just “OK “on first reading, but they grow on me over time. While I liked “Murder at Keyhaven Castle” more than usual initially, it still took me some time to decide how I wanted to review it.

This installment of the Stella and Lyndy Mysteries feels different from the earlier ones, in ways both good and bad. It marks a definite turning point in the series, as the main characters finally get the chance to move forward with their lives. But whereas the previous books could move a bit slowly, there is A LOT going on in this story.

The first two books gave the sense that Stella’s character was shaped- at least partly- by a lonely childhood and continued isolation as an adult. So it felt somewhat contrived when a horde of relatives and old friends (who had never even been alluded to previously) suddenly descended.

On the plus side, this development served to emphasize the relationship between Stella and Lyndy, which has always been one of my favorite parts of the series. It also gave Lyndy an opportunity to demonstrate how much he has evolved as a character.

My main problem with the book is the surprise twist at the very end. Frankly, I hated it- and I hate it more the longer I think about it. I don’t want to give anything away, so suffice it to say it felt very inconsistent with the previous books, and was just ridiculously melodramatic.

If this book has a theme, it is “fresh start,” and a fresh start is what the characters deserved. There were enough unresolved questions in the story to provide plenty of dramatic fodder for further books. It was unnecessary- not to mention unfair- to drop such a bomb on Stella just when she has finally found acceptance, freedom, and happiness.

Stella, from Kentucky, and Viscount Lyndy are finally, finally going to marry. Or will they have to postpone? It's 1905 and these two, who became engaged because of a deal between their fathers (her money, his title) have had a rocky path to the altar. This third installment in the series is perfectly great as a standalone (although I admit to being a fan of the series). Here, Lyndy's mother is still being awful to Stella because she's an American and her father, well, he's a pain. When an American is killed and a note indicating that there will be a murder at the wedding is found, well, Stella and Lyndy have to investigate. And then there's more. I like the POV shifts between the two of them as it spices things up. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fun historical cozy. I'm hoping their story will continue.