I have read the other books in this series and was glad to be accepted for the next instalment. Really fun reads

Not usually something I would pick up, but was pleasantly surprised. Great book I would recommend to friends

Mrs Hudson and The Christmas Canary is the sixth book in the cozy English mystery series by Martin Davies. Released 10th Nov 2022 by Canelo, it's 310 pages and is available in ebook format. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is on the surface a nice tie-in series starring the redoubtable Mrs. Hudson (of 221B Baker St. fame), and featuring lots of nice Holmes and Watson cameos. As always, this installment also features Mrs. Hudson's assistant Flotsam who has blossomed into a capable, honourable, intelligent, and fearless protagonist in her own right.

There are several disparate plot threads - a Russian violinist's disappearance, a very cold case robbery, strange deliveries of live birds to luminaries in and around London, and Holmes seems more fascinated with criminal damage to Christmas trees in Sussex - and they all twine ever more tightly together to reach a satisfying climax and denouement. The author weaves fictional characters and events so skillfully around real historical characters that it's not always easy to figure out where fact shades into fiction.

Despite being the 6th book in the series, it works perfectly well as a standalone, and I had no trouble keeping up with the plot.

Four stars. This would be a good choice for holiday reading for fans of very historical British cozies. It would also make a good choice for bookclub discussion or a buddy-read for cozy enthusiasts. It's not canon, of course, but it slots neatly into the world better than most series featuring the Great Detective and his household.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Setting a mystery series around the life of Mrs. Hudson is such a smart idea! Makes for a great holiday read.

December in London, and Maximilian Cortado, the world famous violinist, has disappeared, the only clue being the unexpected delivery to his townhouse of a basket containing a live hen.

When it emerges that a number of other notable members of society have been receiving similarly unexplained fowl, the deliveries begin to appear more sinister.

Sherlock Holmes, however, seems more intrigued by a trivial incident in Sussex, where someone has been damaging Christmas trees intended for a local stately home. So when he is asked by the wife of a famous artist to investigate a robbery carried out twenty-three years before, Mrs Hudson sees an opportunity to assist.

At the centre of that mystery is the Christmas Canary, a solid gold decoration of mesmerising beauty, hand-crafted for the fifth Lord Empingham. For years it had graced the top of the Christmas tree at Frawling Hall – until its mystifying disappearance broke the seventh Lord's heart. Fowl deeds are afoot, but can Mrs Hudson restore the canary to its perch before it’s too late?

I read this in an evening, perfect light entertainment which left me wanting more……. Such a delightful read, which I absolutely loved!

December in London, and Maximilian Cortado, the world famous violinist, has disappeared, the only clue being the unexpected delivery to his townhouse of a basket containing a live hen. When it emerges that a number of other notable members of society have been receiving similarly unexplained fowl, the deliveries begin to appear more sinister. Sherlock Holmes, however, seems more intrigued by a trivial incident in Sussex, where someone has been damaging Christmas trees intended for a local stately home. So when he is asked by the wife of a famous artist to investigate a robbery carried out twenty-three years before, Mrs Hudson sees an opportunity to assist. This was a fun cozy read for the holidays. Mrs. Hudson makes a great crime solver on her own. This is a fairly long running series but each can be read as a stand-alone. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

My first in the series, although it is book six, I'm pleased to have met Sherlock Holmes in Martin Davies' Mrs Hudson Series, though most of the action takes part without him. Enter Mrs Hudson and Flotsam, the housemaid. This festive puzzle has a Christmas Canary at its core. The mysteries are well crafted, the characterisation is great and the Victorian Christmas atmosphere is perfectly drawn. Cleverly done.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Canelo via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

An interesting hypothesis that Sherlock Holmes' housekeeper and maid are also capable of solving mysteries when the great man is otherwise engaged with matters of national importance. There was a great build up of pace towards the end with many unexpected twists and turns and a surprising reveal at the end to tie it all together. A very enjoyable read.

Mrs. Hudson and the Christmas Canary is a cozy mystery which is part of a series set in the world of Sherlock Holmes with his cook, Mrs. Hudson, and a housemaid named Flotsam doing most of the investigative work. It's a light, easy-to-read Victorian-era mystery set in London and the English countryside during the Christmas season which ties together a missing violinist, several baffling deliveries of hens in London, damaged Christmas trees, stolen jewels, and a Christmas canary ornament that has been missing for 23 years. Although part of a series, this is fine as a standalone without having read the previous books in the series and it's an entertaining mystery for the holiday season!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I love Mrs Hudson series and this was another highly entertaining and compelling novel that kept me hooked and guessing.
I thoroughly enjoyed and it's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

It’s1896 and, as Christmas approaches, 221B Baker Street is confronted with several mysteries. Among them - a world-renowned violinist has disappeared, someone has sent live French hens to several men who seem to have nothing in common except they all attended a Christmas party 23 years before at which a beautiful tree ornament was stolen, and trees near the same estate have been vandalized. With all these problems, it’s a good thing Holmes has the help of Mrs Hudson and Flotsam.

Mrs Hudson and The Christmas Canary is the sixth entry in the historical mystery series A Holmes & Hudson Mystery, by Martin Davies and, like past books in the series, it is a whole lot of fun. I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys an entertaining Christmas cozy with likeable characters and an interesting locked-room puzzle, if you haven’t read any of the past books, not to worry, it can be read as a standalone.

<i> Thanks to Netgalley and Cannelo for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- I am in LOVE with the cover of this one!

This was my first time reading this author and my first foray into the Mrs. Hudson Series, and I can't praise it enough! Fantastic writing. Well paced. Suitably festive. Held up well as a standalone. An intelligent and well crafted plot that kept me guessing. And a plethora of likable characters. What more can I reader ask for!? I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in this series. 👍🏻👍🏻

ARC Via NetGalley**

Mrs. Hudson and Flotsam are the star detectives of this Victorian Christmas mystery. Holmes and Watson are busy in Scotland, and so it is up to the ladies to solve the mystery, and so they do! This is an entertaining series for Sherlock Holmes fans.

This kept me guessing, and I like that the entire household works on the mystery.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review

A pleasant surprise 5-star read!

This is the first time I've read this series, and while I felt like there was a little to the backstory that I didn't know, it didn't prevent me from really liking the book. I was surprised by how well-written and enjoyable this book was!

If you are new to this series: The main characters are Mrs. Hudson and a girl named Flotsam, "Flottie", who both work for Sherlock Holmes and end up doing a lot of the sleuthing for him. The setting is the same period as the original Sherlock Holmes books.

The plot revolves around a bejeweled canary that had been stolen 20 years ago. It took a while to get to the plot, but as it's in the title I don't think it's too much of a spoiler and I think it would have helped me if I'd known ahead of time.

I enjoyed the characters and descriptions, as well as the forward-moving plot! Definitely a surprise 5 star read for me!

This was a quick and fun read, although I did find it a bit slow and under-developed. I’ve not read any other books in the series, so I’m unsure how much character development I am missing because of that.

I think that this is the best yet in the series. I am completely obsessed with this group of characters and would buy anything if they were in it by Martin Davis. I read half the book in one sitting or was so good and engrossing. Great Job!! Can't wait to see what lies ahead for the characters!
I just reviewed Mrs Hudson and the Christmas Canary by Martin Davies. #MrsHudsonandtheChristmasCanary #NetGalley
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With hens being delivered to apparently random gentlemens homes across London, Christmas trees having their tops chopped off and a world renowned violinist disappears Holmes has a lot on his hands this Christmas. I really loved this book. Flotsam, Sherlock Holmes’s young housemaid is an instantly likeable and loveable character. She was easily my favourite character and I really fell in love with her intelligent, kind and caring character. Mrs Hudson reminds me of a kindly maternal figure, extremely intelligent and and a friend to almost everyone. The duo work perfectly together. This book had everything that a Sherlock Holmes novel needed, the baffling, confusing mysteries, that I had no hope of working out, the amazing descriptions that make you feel as though you’re there and wonderful characters. The vintage Christmas setting was perfect and made me wish I was sat in Mrs Hudsons warm kitchen surrounded by her delicious cooking and sipping Madeira wine. I enjoyed this book so much I’ll be reading the whole of the series. I highly recommend this perfect seasonal read.

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the publishers' blurb, but will instead recommend that you read this entertaining novel for yourself!

This is the second Mrs Hudson novel I've read (there are more in the series that I need to catch up on!!), and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The plot is interesting and well thought out, with more than one strand weaving through.

I love the way that although there are references to Holmes and Watson (who I love, don't get me wrong!), most of the action takes part without them even being present. This presents a very interesting slant on things, seen largely from the viewpoint of Flotsam and Mrs Hudson.

It's good to see the characters developing more with each novel, and I enjoy the period references, giving an insight into how things were for various classes at that time.

Already looking forward to reading the next in this series.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

Firstly, I want to thank #canelopublishers for accepting me to read an eARC of this book via @netgalley, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

If you love Christmas and a mystery, then this is the book for you. I love Sherlock Holmes, both the books and the movies (my favourites being the old ones with Basil Rathbone), so I just HAD to read this book!

Quite simply.... I loved it. It constantly made me question WHO STOLE THE CHRISTMAS CANARY AND HOW DID THEY DO IT?

Martin Davies is a genius and at times I had to remind myself I wasn't actually reading Arthur Conan Doyle!

All the characters were likeable (apart from Mr Snaresdon). I especially liked Flotsam the housemaid who ends up taking the lead role. She was a bit of a dark horse and I was impressed with the courage she showed at the end of the book.

This was such a cosy wintery Victorian read which has now got me in the Christmas spirit and I'm wondering if I can put my tree up soon!🎄