Helena Dixon's Murder at the Charity Ball is book eleven in her Miss Underhay Mystery series, but my fifth as I jumped into it at book five. Cozy mysteries are a definite favourite of mine and the 1930s setting adds to its allure. It's December 1934 and there's a Charity Ball on the cards and Edgar, Kitty's dad will be there...

Kitty and her fiancé, Captain Matthew Bryant are great people and have a lovely relationship. They are soon to be married - on Christmas Eve. In fact, all of the energetic and dynamic characters of this charming series make it a fitting choice. I was kept guessing as to who the murderer could be. The novel sparkles with wit and I am thrilled that I have the first four books in the series to catch up on. I'm also happily anticipating book #13.

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

This is one of my favorite series. I like Miss Underhay and Matthew. They work together to solve the mysteries they come across.. I was able to figure out who did it in this one, but the question is always why did they do it when I do figure it out.

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

Kitty Underhay is happily engaged to Matt, and soon the pair will be married. However, there is a charity ball that they attend, and they are not the only ones who will be there. In fact, Kitty’s father Edgar will be there. And the previous books in the series, kitty had been searching for her father for quite some time, and now that they are able to spend time together, he will, indeed be giving her away at her wedding. However, at this charity ball, something tragic happens. The hostess, Lady Eliza Foxley, has been murdered. It does not take the police very long to have a very viable suspect, and that is Edgar, and he is immediately arrested for Lady Foxley’s murder

As Kitty has many times before, she is determined to get to the bottom of things, and her personal stake and this is more than clear. Kitty begins to look at some things about Lady Eliza’s life and her relationship with her teen daughter, as well as her sister. Considering that the police have determined that someone poisoned lady Eliza, and Kitty takes a close look at what was going on in her life as to any evidence that she might discover that will find her murderer.

I love this multi-layered story by Helena Dixon. Understanding the characters and their motivations, as well as the reasoning behind the poisoning, all while factoring in Edgar being charged with Lady Eliza’s murder, make this book a very intriguing read. This series has been enjoyable with each and every book, and with the wedding right on the horizon, this was indeed one of my favorites.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/OF2JVtJlsfw

This 11th installment in the Kitty Underhay series felt both as an ending and a new beginning, as we finally got a resolution in some plots that have been running in the background from the first book. It was so nice to finally see Kitty walking down the aisle, and I’m so excited for the new chapter that lies ahead of her.

It’s Christmas time. Kitty and Matt are tying the knot on Christmas Eve, but one week before the wedding, while attending a charity ball, their hostess is murdered and Kitty’s father is arrested as the main suspect. With the wedding so close, will they be able to catch the killer before they say “I do”?

This was such an enjoyable read! Kitty, Matt and the rest of the cast already feel like family after accompanying them in so many adventures, so it was inevitable to share the joy and excitement about their upcoming nuptials, and feel for them when those were endangered.

It was so nice to see back Kitty’s father and all her family together. Ms Dixon really made me feel part of that family reunion. I love how supporting characters as Alice or Mrs Craven have grown so much throughout the series, becoming all of them essential pieces in a really well oiled machine.

I loved how the mystery almost had a locked room vibe, with a pretty small pool of suspects to choose from. The story had some good twists and turns that kept me on my toes.

As I said at the beginning, “Murder at the charity ball” will give long time fans of the series much needed closure. At the same time, it opens a new chapter that I’m sure it’s gonna be as delightful as the one that just ended. Their marriage and their new living and business situation might change some of the dynamics we’ve grown used to, but the new ones promise lots of good moments ahead. I, for once, am really looking forward to them.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have been waiting for this moment for what feels like so long! Kitty and Matt are about to get married, but of course it wouldn't be a Kitty Underhay mystery if they didn't get themselves wrapped up in a case before the nuptials. This time they end up investigating the death of Lady Foxley at her annual charity ball, and Kitty's father Edgar ends up being the prime suspect.

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of this series and I'm glad to say that Murder at the Charity Ball was just as good as the other books before it.

As usual, I was kept guessing as to who the murderer could be. I suspected almost everyone at one point. It wasn't until almost the end that I figured it out.

There was a bit of finality to this story, with the secondary storyline that's been weaved through the previous books being concluded. I hope there's going to be more books in the future and I look forward to seeing what will happen now Kitty and Matt are married.

If you're looking for a cozy mystery with great historical details, lovable sleuths and a puzzling mystery in each novel, I highly recommend this series to you.

The wedding is just a week away. Family is arriving including Kitty's notorious father. Matt, Kitty, and her grandmother have to attend the annual charity ball that raises money for widows and orphans. As luck would have it Kitty's father befriended one of the hostesses on the ship crossing and he too is at the ball. When a death occurs at the ball and her father is the prime suspect, will Matt and Kitty find the real culprit in time to walk down the aisle on Christmas Eve?

I really enjoyed Murder at the Charity Ball. It's book 11 in the Miss Underhay series. I haven't read the first 3 books in the series so this is the first time I've met Kitty's father. There are references to an earlier visit which I assume occurred in one of those books. But it is okay that I hadn't read the earlier book that included her father.

Speaking of the earlier books, I do wonder if Matt and Kitty knew each other before the series started and they were already together in the first book. The erroneous arrest of Matt is mentioned as having happened a few months ago. I know that was in one of the books I haven't read. So have they only been together a few months? I know courtships occurred a little faster in the 1930s.

That aside. It was a fun read. There are some great moments with Kitty's family and we get to see a little more of Matt's family. It's going to be great seeing Matt and Kitty together as a married couple. Though I will miss the little chats Kitty and Alice have in the morning over tea.

The mystery was good. There are a lot of suspects and as we don't really know any of them it is difficult to figure out who the murderer really is. I had my eye on one of the characters though I hoped it wasn't that one. I thought the character could be a great addition to the supporting cast in future books.

It's a light read and I read it pretty quickly. January can be just a blah month with long, cold days, but this book made the days a little better.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Monday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2023/01/murder-at-charity-ball-by-helena-dixon.html

I do so love the Miss Underhay series and it goes from strength to strength in every book. Once again, all the old gang are back, and you just knew that nothing would go smoothly with the upcoming marriage. The only problem with this series is that you cannot put the books down and even if you want to savour them you just have to keep reading to the end.
Another outstanding book in this must-read series.

My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Murder at the Charity Ball’ by Helena Dixon. I combined reading with its unabridged audiobook edition, narrated by Karen Cass.

This is Book 11 in the Miss Kitty Underhay series of historical cosy mysteries set in 1930s Devon. Each book deals with a central mystery and so can be read as a stand-alone, though reading in order does allow for an appreciation of its characters’ development along with ongoing supplemental storylines.

December 1934. Kitty Underhay is attending a charity ball at Villa Lamora, the lavish home of Lady Eliza Foxley. The annual event is in aid of the Seafarers’ Widows and Orphans Fund and is a highlight of the local social season

Kitty is excited to see her father, the roguish Edgar Underhay, who has recently travelled from New York to Devon in order to walk her down the aisle. He and the fun-loving Lady Foxley became chummy during the voyage and she invited him to stay at the house as her guest.

There’s plenty of champagne, music, and dancing though before the end of the evening there’s also a murder! Inspector Greville is on the case though in the past he has often arrested the wrong person. When suspicion falls on Edgar, Kitty and Matthew, her private detective fiancé, vow to clear his name. No further details to avoid spoilers.

Having followed this series from its beginning, it has consistently proved entertaining with plenty of period detail to set the mood. I also appreciate that rather than solving case after case and hitting reset, there has been real changes in Kitty’s circumstances.

Overall, ‘Murder at the Charity Ball’ proved another delightful cosy and I definitely will be looking forward to further investigations by Kitty and Matthew.

I read this series since the first instalment and liked all of them. This is a very good one: fast paced, full of surprises and highly entertaining.
Kitty and Matt are a great couple of investigators, they work well together and are able to interact and collaborate.
There's a lot going on in this book: a wedding that should take place a week after a murder, a father who is the main suspects, family and friends and everything necessary for the wedding.
I was happy to catch up with the characters, had fun, and the solid mystery kept me guessing.
This is the 11th instalment and Helena Dixon did an excellent job in alway delivering solid and entertaining mysteries.
Even if it can be read as a stand alone it's better to read the rest of the series before.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture for this arc, all opinions are mine

Of course, the road to Kitty's upcoming nuptials wasn't going to be easy. Her father always had some questionable things going. Her grandmother couldn't stand her father. And she worried about how her fiancée's family would deal with hers. But thing really became sticky when a death occurred at a charity ball and her father became the prime suspect. Well, she would have to clear his name if she hoped he would walk her down the aisle.

An entertaining book and it was nice to see Kitty finally getting married. It may have been a hard squeeze but she finally caught the killer and made it to the chapel in time. The future looks good for the newlyweds and many more mysteries to come.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

December 1934. With their wedding day approaching Kitty and Matthew decide to attend a charity ball held at Lady Eliza Foxley's home of Villa Lemora. Near the close of the evening Kitty's father discovers a body and becomes the prime suspect in the murder. Can their investigation find the true murderer.
An entertaining and well-written historical cozy murder mystery with its cast of varied and likable characters. Another good addition to this enjoyable series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Too Many Things Go Wrong Before The Wedding
This series should be read in order to fully understand the story arcs and to appreciate the character nuances. But, if you read it without background, you will still enjoy a great mystery that is complete in this episode. There are many things going on from the beginning to the end of this episode. The reader will be aware of clues as the sleuths find them. The plot of this book is very good with lots of twists and turns. I just did not want to put it down.

Wedding planner Kitty Underhay is getting married and she couldn’t be happier. But before the wedding festivities begin Kitty and her fiancé Captain Matthew Bryant have been invited to attend the charity ball at Lady Eliza Foxley’s home. They are so excited for the event because many of the attendees to the charity ball are also in town for Kitty and Captain Matthew’s wedding. However, while dancing the waltz and sipping cocktails at the ball, Kitty’s father Edgar Underhay, finds Lady Eliza strangled by her own silk stocking. Edgar immediately becomes a suspect. Captain Matthew and Kitty must jump into action and quickly find the killer in order to free her father in time to walk her down the aisle.

I was so happy to know that Kitty Underhay was back on the case. This cozy mystery was a rapid page turner that I enjoyed very much. The author kept me guessing who the culprit was until the very end. I thought the flow of the story was full of wonderful twists and turns and that made it unputdownable. Thank you Helena Dixon for such an enjoyable read, I loved it. This book is part of the Miss Underhay Mystery series, it can be enjoyed as a stand alone but don’t pass up this wonderful mystery series. I loved this series and I highly recommend it.

December 1934 & with only just over a week to go until her wedding Kitty Underhay is enjoying a night off from wedding planning as she attends a charity ball at the home of Lady Eliza Foxley. She’s excited to see her father, roguish Edgar Underhay, who is also a guest in the house. But the evening of cocktails and waltzing turns into a dance macabre when Edgar finds their lively, fun-loving hostess dead, strangled by her own silk stocking, suspicion falls on Edgar and he is arrested for murder, Kitty has to act fast if she doesn’t want her father walking her down the aisle in shackles. Together with her fiancé Matthew, they vow to clear Edgar’s name and discover who used hosiery to commit homicide. Lady Eliza’s widowed sister is the main beneficiary of her will, but before Kitty and Matt can question her, she is struck down by a severe case of poisoning.
The eleventh book in the series & another well written engrossing cosy mystery, it can easily be read on its own but throughout the series relationships have developed & some characters have become favourites. I love both Kitty & Matt & now their wedding day is approaching but there's a murder to solve. There are a limit number of suspects & as the pair dig each seems to have a motive. There's also the threat of Esther Hammett. There are twists & turns as well as red herrings before the murderer is revealed. I loved Matt’s wedding present, which was perfect for Kitty. A thoroughly enjoyable read
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

At last Kitty makes it to her own wedding, but before that she attends a Ball where a murder takes place, and Kitty's father, Edgar, is a suspect. When he is arrested shortly before he is supposed to be walking Kitty down the aisle, everyone leaps into action to clear him of suspicion. Kitty herself is too busy with wedding plans and relatives arriving, but Matthew and the Inspector work hard to solve the case.

Another enjoyable story in this delightful series. And another gorgeous cover. Hopefully we can now look forward to many more cases with Kitty and Matthew working together professionally as a team.

Kitty Underhay is excited to go to a ball and see her father, who has returned for her wedding. When the hostess is murdered, Kitty’s father discovers the body and is the top suspect. Kitty is certain he didn’t do it, but with her wedding in a week, can she prove his innocence in time for him to walk her down the aisle?

This book didn’t live up to the other Kitty Underhay books in my opinion, but it did seem to lay the groundwork for other books. I encourage you to start at the beginning rather than mid-series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. #netgalley

A Christmas cozy historical mystery in a favorite series.

It's almost time for Kitty Underhay and her fiance, Captain Matthew Bryant, to marry as scheduled on Christmas Eve in 1934. Excitement and anticipation build as Kitty's father, Edgar, is coming to visit and to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day. But first, Kitty and Matt are to attend a charity ball at the home of Lady Eliza Foxley. An evening of entertainment turns deadly when the lady of the manor is found murdered in her room. Things take a sudden turn when Edgar, who was staying at the house of their hostess, is arrested. Then, an attempt is made to poison Eliza's sister. What is going on at Villa Lemora?

Along with their usual cohort of friends and family, Kitty and Matt help Inspector Greville question the suspects and try to solve the case in time to enjoy their wedding day.

This series has long been a favorite and I urge those interested to start at the beginning. I like the characters and the story lines with all the period and historical details from food to fashion. I always enjoy going to visit at the Dolphin Hotel and am happy to finally see Kitty and Matt married. I look forward to the next installment with all the changes in their personal lives as they embark on a new business arrangement along with their domestic bliss.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

I am a huge fan of Miss Marple-esque cozy mysteries so the cover immediately appealed to me.

I haven't read any of the previous 10 books in the series, and while this worked fairly well as a standalone book, there are lots of references to past cases and Kitty’s relationship with Matthew. As a result, I felt I’d missed out on too much backstory, so I’d definitely recommend reading the whole series in order. Overall, the plot is well written, interesting and well paced but I don’t know if I’ll read the 10 books I’ve missed so far. 3.5*

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

Book 11 in the Miss Underhay series and my first read. Whilst there were quite a few references to previous cases, and it might have helped to have read them, this did read well as a stand-alone. The book had vibes of a young Miss Marple and I felt parts were written in a similar style. I’m sure it’s not coincidence that the series is set in the area in which Christie lived for many years. An easy read cozy mystery with the thread of a past case running alongside this one and an impending wedding.

Briefly, it’s 1934 and Kitty and her fiancé Matthew, a private investigator, are attending a charity ball held at the home of wealthy Lady Eliza Foxley when the hostess is found dead and Kitty’s rather degenerate father is arrested for murder. Kitty is getting married on Christmas Eve and is determined to have her father there…

Apart from wedding preparations it seemed that Matthew was more involved with the investigation than Kitty but they work well as a team looking to unmask the killer. A number of red herrings along the way but I did guess who the guilty party was - there were a few clues to their identity given. A good, fast paced cozy mystery and an enjoyable read.

Another enjoyable story in this great series where the wedding happens at last. I would have liked more details of the wedding etc as I felt it was rather skimmed over despite it being so long awaited. However the mystery was as good as ever even though I did figure out the murderer Hopefully we can now look forward to many more cases with Kitty and Matthew working together professionally as a team. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.