I was drawn to this because of the promise of a Christmas mystery. I hadn't read any of the previous titles in the series, so was a little lost with the characters at first. Nevertheless, I found it to be an engaging story with quite sympathetic characters. A little slow in parts but this adds to the Victorian charm. I will be investigating the others in the series.

Cosy And Clever…
The sixth in the Holmes and Hudson series of mysteries which continues to delight with this festive tale of multiple conundrums in the middle of which sits the Christmas Canary. The mysteries are well crafted, the characters once again leap from the page and the Victorian Christmas atmosphere is perfectly drawn. Cosy it is and always cleverly done.

Written in an old fashioned style , from the point of view of Flottie, a housemaid in the employ of Sherlock Holmes. I have to say that the writing style did take me a while to get used to, but the plot did capture my imagination and I enjoyed the book on the whole. Part of a series, this is the first book I have read , which was fine. Perhaps I would have known more about the characters if I had read previous books.
An unusual read, I suppose, but it is certainly an original premise.
My thanks to Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5107555408

MRS HUDSON AND THE CHRISTMAS CANARY by Martin Davies is a delightful addition to the Sherlock Holmes oeuvre. Once again (as in Mrs Hudson and the Malabar Rose and others in this series), Holmes and Watson willingly share investigative duties with housekeeper Mrs. Hudson and the housemaid, Flotsam. Relying on Mrs. Hudson's extensive connections below stairs and her knowledge of country estates is as important as Flottie's romantic inclinations and bravery in an effort to do the right thing. In this case, multiple mysteries seem to be involved: Who defaced the Christmas trees? Why has a violin virtuoso disappeared? And who stole a family heirloom from a locked room twenty-three years ago? But first, the detectives may need to learn why hens are being sent to seemingly unconnected aristocrats across London. It's complex, surprising and Christmas-y, like Conan Doyle's own short story "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle." MRS HUDSON AND THE CHRISTMAS CANARY is truly a holiday puzzle to enjoy!

I stayed up far too late because I had to finish this book. I had to know what happened. What is up with the six weird chickens?!

If you're looking for a traditional Holmes mystery, this is a departure from the Conan Doyle cannon in the main character in the book is actually one of Holmes' housemaids, Flotsam, aka Flottie. Mrs. Hudson also plays a significant role in that she has her fingers in so many pies in London and knows so many people she practically has the world at her fingertips. Holmes and Watson do play a part in the story. I did think in comparison to the Doyle books that Holmes had a far more detached form to something that intrigued him and let Flottie take over, which I don't think is something the original Holmes would do. The man seems to only gather information on things that interest him and even when he does not have all the pieces, he gives up? Doesn't sound like Sherlock Holmes to me.

Either way I found the book to be full of intrigue and suspense because I would think mailing chickens through the post in Victorian England would be rather difficult, not to mention expensive. I would consider reading the other five books in the series eventually. A jolly good Christmas locked room mystery!

I was drawn to request this title because it's Mrs. Hudson, Sherlock Holmes and I love Christmas themed mysteries. I was in the perfect mood to enjoy this one and I wasn't disappointed. Meeting the additional character of Flotsam aka Flottie made it very enjoyable. She is a delight and a great co-sleuth to Mrs. Hudson.
The mysteries are a plenty - strange fowl deliveries, Christmas tree vandalism and the 23 year old mystery of the missing Golden Canary that had, at one time, graced the top of a Christmas tree. Let the sleuthing begin. After reading this entry I can't wait to catch up and read the previous five mysteries in the series.
My thanks to the publisher Canelo and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is the sixth book in the Mrs. Hudson series by Martin Davies. Although I haven't read the other books, I had a wonderful time with this one.

We mostly follow Mrs. Hudson and Flotsam, aka Flottie, who are housemaids for THE Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.

Christmas preparations are in full gear, when world famous violinist, Maximilian Cortado, disappears.

Simultaneously, a number of noble man received a basket containing an exotic live hen. Later we find out, that the missing Mr. Cortado also received one. These noble men have nothing in common, except that they were all present 23 years ago, when a priceless gold/bejeweled canary went missing.

➕It was a very well written Victorian mystery in a Christmas setting. What more could I want? I like that the mystery was lighthearted and that it was made clear to us, that the thief 23 years ago had only good intentions. I really liked the characters and the authors take of Holmes and Watson were very well executed. Even though they were in the background most of the times, it never felt like they were missing from the story. I would also love to eat a meal prepared by Mrs. Hudson 😅

➖Not a lot! There were a few filler pages that felt unnecessary. Some of the characters felt one dimensional, which is understandable since there are a lot of them. I also wished we would have gotten a bigger „Aha!“ moment, when the mystery was revealed.

896. Several mysteries have arrived at the home of Holmes and Watson. They have been contacted because world famous violinist, Maximilian Cortado, has disappeared. Also brought to there notice is that someone is damaging Christmas trees in Sussex, seven men have received a live hen and the robbery 23 years ago of a Christmas ornament. Ably aided or lead by Flotsam and Mrs Hudson can they between them solve the mysteries.
An entertaining and well-plotted historical mystery. Anther good addition to this well-written and enjoyable series with its cast of likeable characters. Which can easily be read as a standalone story.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Mrs. Hudson mysteries are always well crafted and entertaining, and this one especially sparkles with the oncoming festive season as a backdrop.

The cast of characters however is extensive, with many lords and ladies and Mr’s and Mrs’s is to keep straight in your head. Some are helped by their names, such as the odious Snaresdon and the artistic Alma Tadema couple. The food is mouthwatering; you’ll want mince pies and Madeira cake to hand while the hens are laying and the ladies dancing and those numerous lords a-leaping to clear their names.

Just when it seems all is in train, Holmes and Watson hotfoot it to the Hebridean wilds to crack a spy ring, leaving the household staff to keep the canary case cooking as Christmas Day draws ever closer.

Settle into your arm chair by the fire, with a glass of good mulled wine at your side, the scent of gently warming Christmas tree, and holiday classics playing softly on a gramophone. You are in the hands of a master storyteller, with a highly competent set of sleuths from Sherlock Holmes himself and Dr. Watson down to Mrs. Hudson the housekeeper and Flotsam, the intrepid housemaid. Throw in a missing musician and the theft of a fabulous jeweled Christmas tree ornament, and the stage is well set for a high Victorian holiday mystery.

An entertaining and well-plotted historical mystery with a cast of very likeable characters, which shows how vital the female staff are to helping solve the mysteries. This can easily be read as a standalone story as I haven't read any of the other's will I will do so now. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The combination of mystery and Christmas pulled me in from the start. Although I hadn’t read any other books in this series, or any other Sherlock Holmes books, that didn’t stop me from immediately jumping into this one. While the story was well written, I found it to be a bit slow at parts and was wanting more Christmas-y vibes.

Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for the opportunity to read this book. It was my very first ARC!

The latest Mrs. Hudson mystery finds her investigating the theft of a canary that sits on top of a Christmas tree belonging to nobility every year. She must find the culprit before Christmas to save the day.

I hadn't read any of the previous of these books, so was a bit lost on the characters. Besides that, a solid mystery and I definitely want to go back and catch up!

This is the first Martin Davies' book I have read and I found it very enjoyable. The atmosphere of Victorian Christmas in London provides a great opening and introduces new readers to the feisty Flotsam. Very well plotted with multiple strands woven seamlessly together. I struggled initially with the sheer number of characters popping up very rapidly but once I settled into it, everything came together quite nicely. A little slow in places but, all in all, a very pleasant read, especially at this time of year.
I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A book a day I am trying to read and with books like this it makes my job easy. I love the length of the book (just long enough) and I love the Christmas theme as I love Christmas. I was also drawn in by the Sherlock Holmes reference and then there is the missing canary and of course Mrs Hudson.

Mrs Hudson is the best housekeeper and the best character as is her sidekick Flottie. I loved the theme and the way the characters worked in this book, the setting and the Victorian Era all brought something to this story. It takes your imagination on a journey.

A very enjoyable and entertaining read, a cosy mystery that is well worth reading. I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend.

This book felt exactly like a Sherlock Holmes book which I loved and appreciated. However, I couldn't help but feel bored throughout a lot of it as I didn't care all that much about the mystery or any of the side characters. I did love the main character though and enjoyed reading about her solving the mystery.

I love retellings/reimaginings so this was always a book I would be excited about. I liked the writing style and I found the story to be comeplling and the charcaters well developed and perfectly suited to a Sherlock Holmes retelling/reimagining. A great read with a fantastic setting,

*3.5 Stars*

I like to think of myself as a connoisseur of Christmas. I love all things yuletide-related, whether it be a trope-laden holiday romance or, in this case, a simple Sherlockian-style mystery with slushy London as the background. Mrs. Hudson and the Christmas Canary by Martin Davies surprisingly has very little to do with Mrs. Hudson, Sherlock Holmes, or John Watson. Instead, the story follows Flotsam, better known as Flottie, in her work for the famous detective, which sometimes includes solving mysteries.

This is the sixth installment in the series, which finds Flottie investigating the disappearance of a famous violinist. It is coupled with the fact that someone has been sending chickens to men of society with seemingly no connection to one another. Not to mention the cold case of a bejeweled canary that was stolen many years prior. (And surely the Christmas season can't pass without a bit of romance, as well). So what's a former orphan turned assistant to one of the most famous detectives to do? Why solve the mystery, of course!

It's been at least a decade since I last read Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, but to my recollection, the style feels similar. There are no spoilers for the original novels, so you'll not be ruining a plot twist if you decide to try this book. The central mystery is a bit convoluted, and the physical description of where one of the main capers takes place makes no sense. Try as I might, even rereading the passage serval times, I could not picture what Davies was trying to convey. It would have also been nice if more prequel information had been peppered throughout the narrative. Although, not knowing precisely what happened in the previous novels doesn't detract from the current story. Watson, although his appearance brief, was my favorite character. Rather than the oafish portrayal that sometimes accompanies his character, he gives the reader stodgy comedic interludes.

My biggest qualm with this novel will likely be why some love it: it's simply not that gripping. I found myself with just a general curiosity about what was to come, lackadaisically guessing at whodunit and internally shrugging at the big reveal. This mystery has little thrill, making it a good choice for those who enjoy a lighter read. The low-stakes nature of the book makes it perfect for those who like the idea of mysteries but without the high tension. The characters are also incredibly likable and fun to read.

Overall, this was a solid mystery and good for someone looking for a touch of romance where Christmas themes are imbued throughout but hardly a main character.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for the ARC!

This is another Sherlock Holmes spin-off, featuring Mrs Hudson as a formidable detective and Flossie, Sherlock's housemaid. I enjoyed the atmosphere very much - I do love Victorian Christmas stories a lot - and the mystery - the disappearance of a famous musician - was endearing. The one problem I always have ith Holmes stories is that I invariably always seem to be missing a piece of the puzzle, perhaps because I haven't read Conan Doyle's stories myself yet but the characters always seem rather aloof. I prefer original creations, but this was really enjoyable.

My endless thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book.

I am so glad to see that Martin Davies continues to make this series one I can get without having to read the blurb or check on reviews. For me, this is the best one yet and I think that is due, in large part, to the fact that Flotsam is maturing, in this story she is seventeen, so sending her out into some sketchy situations doesn't seem to be so risky because of her age. She has grown into the circumstances she finds herself in while "helping" Mrs. Hudson and Sherlock Holmes solve cases. This book contains multiple crimes or situations for Holmes and Watson to investigate so they are off to Scotland to work on the most important one while Mrs. Hudson and Flotsam travel all over London and to Sussex, to Frawling Hall to tell Lord Emplingham that his precious Christmas canary ornament would finally be restored to him.

I enjoyed this story very much even though I spent many a moment trying to picture exactly how large that canary could be. It had to be seen sitting on a branch at the top of the tree (which was even with the gallery on the upper floor) and yet small enough to be easily concealed in a wooden box when someone was carrying it. A conundrum for me for sure. The setting for most of the novel is Victorian London in the weeks leading up to Christmas and the author does a very good job of showing that city off at its best. The Christmas traditions, both indoor and out, are dropped naturally into the narrative, so you want to make a cup of hot tea and enjoy browsing the shop windows with Flottie as she makes her way back to Baker Street.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for an e-galley of this novel.

I’m so surprised this series wasn't on my radar already, but this was my first book from this series. I loved the strong women of Holmes’ household. Flottie and Mrs. Hudson prove to be sharp, dedicated and humorous.

The mystery was clever with a charming love story that added to the mystery without over-doing it. I think some of the repetition of the theft could have been avoided, but I really enjoyed how Martin Davies brought everything together in the end.

I can’t wait to read the earlier books in the series! Thank you #Canelo and #NetGalley for the ARC.