Kitty and Matt recently tied the knot and are enjoying a belated honeymoon in the beautiful Yorkshire Hills. They are visiting Matt’s family and they decide to attend the Village Fair. Kitty and Matt pop into the fortune teller’s tent and they are shocked to discover the body of Madame Zaza. She had predicted the future of so many villagers but she never predicted her own murder. There are so many suspects and this is not how they expected to spend their honeymoon. How will they ever narrow down who the culprit is? It could be anyone from the village doctor to the reverend to someone that had lived there for decades. Kitty and Matt think they are onto something when they find an old photo album full of pictures of the villagers that Madame Zara had known throughout the many years of living there. Matt and Kitty believe they have narrowed down the search for the killer and are ready to solve the murder. Could they be right or did they just put their own lives in danger?

Murder at the Village Fair written by author Helena Dixon was a wonderful cozy mystery. This fun story had me running through the beautiful Yorkshire Village and just when I figured out who the culprit was, the twists began. I loved the way the author described the sights and sounds of the fair and I was ready to buy my ticket to ride the carousel. This is the thirteenth installment to the wonderful Miss Kitty Underhay Mystery Series. I enjoy how each book is a different story and can be read as a standalone. This is the perfect story for cozy mystery fans and I definitely recommend it.

I enjoy cosy murder mysteries set in the 1930s and 40s and was drawn to this book by its cover.

I have only read one of the previous books in this series and I found when reading that book that there were so many references to past cases and Kitty’s relationship with Matthew, that I felt I’d missed out on too much of the backstory. I still felt the same with this book, so I’d definitely recommend reading the whole series in order.

Overall, the plot is well written, interesting and well paced but I found it hard to feel any connection to the main characters, but I feel that may not have been the case had I read all the prior books and had got to know them better. 3.5*

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

A belated honeymoon takes Kitty and Matt away
With his aunt in Yorkshire to stay.
Whilst there, they are happy to discover there's to be
A village fair - with an elephant they can see!

What they hadn't anticipated was their dog running away
And into the fortune teller's tent he leads the way.
Unfortunately the lady, Madame Zaza is dead,
Poisoned, she didn't foresee that, it must be said!

Madame Zaza is a local in disguise
One who into others lives enjoyed to prise.
Although working hard for the church and community
She rarely the good in folks did see.

With lots of villagers who she'd crossed before
The perpetrator could one of so many more.
Matt and Kitty can't abstain or refrain
From looking for clues to the killer again.

With insights into the village community,
And dramas, surprises and secrets to see.
Can they discover who is the killer this time-
Without becoming victims to a similar crime?

A fascinating story that's also a fun read
Historic cosy crime readers, it is just what you need!
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
I throughly enjoyed reading it and this is my honest review.

June 1935. The Bryants are having a delayed honeymoon and have arrived at his Aunt Euphemia's home at the Dower house of the Quixshotte Estate. When a murder occurs, the body is discovered by them and they are asked to investigate. Will this be the only death but want could be the possible motive. Inspector Woolley arrives to investigate.
An entertaining and well-written cozy historical mystery. With its likeable main characters it is another good addition to this enjoyable series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read this in on sitting! This Gilded age mystery was the perfect mystery I needed to read. I was hooked form the start all the way to the end!
I just reviewed Murder at the Village Fair (A Miss Underhay Mystery Book 13) by Helena Dixon. #MurderattheVillageFair #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Murder at the County Fair’ by Helena Dixon.

This is Book 13 in her Miss Kitty Underhay series of historical cosy mysteries set in the mid-1930s. I complemented my reading with its unabridged audiobook edition, narrated by Karen Cass.

Each book in the series focuses on a central mystery with the setting of the murder clearly indicated by the title. Helena Dixon always provides background for new readers allowing each book to be read as a stand-alone, though reading them in order does allow for a deeper appreciation of the characters’ development over time.

June 1935. Kitty and Matt are enjoying a belated honeymoon in Yorkshire; taking the opportunity to visit Matt’s family in the area, including his Aunt Euphemia (Effie).

While attending the local village fair their spaniel, Bertie, slips his lead. They see his plumed tail disappearing inside the fortune teller’s booth. There’s a sign reading ‘back in ten minutes’, so they follow him inside. They are shocked to find Madame ZaZa slumped over her crystal ball. Unfortunately, it seems that she hadn’t foreseen her own death.

While willing to sit back and let the local police investigate, it soon turns into a busman’s holiday when Colonel Brothers, who had hosted the fair in the grounds of Quixshotte Hall, hires Matt in his capacity as a private investigator. The Colonel is concerned about his family’s reputation given that the murder occurred on his property and wants to ensure their names are cleared.

Investigating in parallel with Inspector Woolley and the local police, Kitty and Matt work as a team. Of course, there are plenty of suspects as the fortune teller under her real name had been an important member of the local community and something of a busybody. No further details to avoid spoilers.

I so enjoy this series as Helena Dixon’s mysteries are intriguing and she is always meticulous about the period details. As a result, I never find myself tripping over any stray anachronisms.

‘Murder at the County Fair’ proved a quick, fun read very much in the tradition of the Golden Age detective fiction. Indeed, Kitty is quite keen on reading Agatha Christie’s mysteries.

Dixon writes with a light touch providing plenty of humorous moments. I especially enjoyed the interactions between Kitty, Matt, and his Aunt Effie. Of course, Bertie the spaniel provides his own comic moments.

Summer 1935 finds Matt & Kitty enjoying a belated honeymoon visiting Matt’s Aunt Effie in the rolling Yorkshire hills. The couple attend the village fair. But when Kitty persuades Matt to visit the fortune teller’s tent, the lovebirds are shocked to find the body of Madame Zaza slumped over her crystal ball, pearl necklace askew and a half-drunk cup of tea at her elbow. Kitty soon feels like half the village had a motive for murder.
The thirteenth outing for Kitty & Matt & another delightful cosy mystery. It could easily be read on its own but I’ve loved seeing how Matt & Kitty’s relationship has grown & they are now happily married. They are both strong characters & bring out the best in each other. I was engrossed in the mystery & guessed who the murderer was but not the reasons for the murders, yes there’s more than one. Another fun, entertaining murder mystery with plenty of twists & turns, roll on number fourteen
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I can't believe we're already on the thirteenth mystery featuring Kitty and her husband, Matt! I just can't get enough of this fantastic series.

Kitty and Matt are meant to be having a relaxing holiday, but they stumble across the body of local busybody Miss Crowther aka Madam Zaza in the fortune teller's tent. They're reluctant to investigate, but Kitty's curious nature gets the better of her and they're dragged into another murder mystery.

Murder At The Village Fair was yet another fun and entertaining mystery from Helena Dixon!

I enjoyed the change of the setting of Yorkshire. This is a place that has been visited before in this series, the difference this time they're visiting Matt's Aunt Effie in the small village of Quixshotte. The village was like another character, full of secrets and gossip, adding brilliantly to the mystery.

I can't say I was that surprised by who the culprit was, but there were plenty of red herrings along the way to keep him guessing.

I'm eagerly awaiting the next adventure featuring Kitty and Matt!

Murder at the Village Fair by Helena Dixon is a Miss Underhay mystery, although she is now Mrs. Bryant. She and Matt are having a holiday and are currently with Matt’s Aunt Ellie’s home in York. The weather has been good and the company genial. The village fete, to raise money for the church roof or some such, is taking place on Saturday so the village is aflutter. Kitty and Matt, as well as Ellie, are in attendance, of course, and all is well until they visit the fortune teller’s booth, where they found the fortune teller, Miss Crowther in disguise, dead. Poisoned, mostly likely. Such a disappointment after Kitty seeing her very first elephant. Inspector Wooley seems much better than Inspector Lewis back home, who had come from York. It soon becomes a very convoluted mystery with one other person being murdered. There seemed to be so many possible suspects, but then there always are, aren’t there?

Kitty and Matt are an interesting couple. It is fun to see them away from home, away from the Dolphin. Kitty is younger than Matt, who became a private investigator after leaving the service, his wife and child having been killed in a bombing raid. He still suffers from PTSD (today’s terminology) as well as some damage to his lungs from gas warfare. Much of this has been brought to the surface after their last investigation, hence the holiday. She is clever and intelligent and needs a challenge, hence Matt. Very well-written and enticing characters. Ellie likes Kitty, as opposed to Matt’s parents who think she isn’t good enough for him. The solution of the mystery comes to Kitty and Inspector Wooley at the same time and it is all confirmed by the murderer. It was all very sad, but then, most murders are. Love this series!

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Murder at the Village Fair by Bookoutre, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #HelenaDixon #MurderAtTheVillageFair

I received a copy of this title from the publisher; all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. This title is the latest in the long running series featuring Kitty and Matt. Following the events of the previous book with Matt mostly recovered, they have been traveling around Brittian on a bit of a belated wedding trip. They stop to visit Matt's great-aunt and attend the local village fair. Unfortunately, Kitty can't escape dead bodies and finds one in the fortune teller's hut. The victim was the local village busybody so there are no shortage of suspects. I found the mystery to be fun and interesting enough to hold my attention; I also enjoyed the author's depiction of life in a small village during this time period. I find books in this series to be perfect for a quick and enjoyable read and look forward to many more.

This is the most intriguing mystery in this series, I loved them all but this one was a bit darker and the unusual setting was an added bonus as it featured different characters. Kitty and Matt are two characters that evolved and changed since the first novel, their relationship is solid and they are more mature and a solid couple.
The setting and the characters were the strength of this novel: there’s a lot of the classic tropes of the Golden Age mysteries like the busybody, the manor, and its inhabitants but there’s also something very modern and fascinating. Read the novel and you will understand.
The mystery is solid, there’s wasn’t a lot of suspects and a lot of surprising twists. I didn’t guess the culprit and thoroughly enjoyed the plot.
Even if it’s not the first in a series it can be read as a stand-alone.
It was the perfect read for a lazy summer afternoon.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture r for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This lovely cosy murder mystery book is the latest in a series but could also be read as a stand alone. Kitty and Matt are on holiday in Yorkshire and the descriptions of the countryside really give a feel for the area. I love the details of life during the 30s, with hats, pretty dresses, tea in china cups, silver coffee pots and motor cars being a rare sight. I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to the next adventure of this crime solving duo.

I like this series and the relationship between the two MCs. I also enjoyed the setting. The mystery kept me guessing (although I did figure out some one part before the clue).

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

I loved this book.
The year is 1935. Kitty and her husband Matt are spending part of their honeymoon at an aunt's house in Yorkshire. Preparations for a village fair are currently underway in the village. There should even be a real elephant there. A big event for the whole community. Everyone has a wonderful time on the big day. At least until Kitty and Matt find a villager's dead body in the fortune teller's tent. It quickly becomes clear that the victim was not very popular in the village. That leads to many suspects. Kitty and Matt take up the investigation and get deeper and deeper into the abysses of the village community.

As I said before, I loved the book. The main characters were very sympathetic, and many of the secondary characters are also quickly drawn into the reader's heart. In the course of the story you have a number of suspects and it stays exciting until the end. The book is worthwhile for every fan of cozy crime. And best of all, there is a whole series of books. So, excuse me, I must now read the other volumes. ;-)

My favourite cosy mystery series is back! Kitty and Matt are on honeymoon but murder is never far away; and thank heaven for that. I read this book as slowly as possible, simply to savour each page, but it was still over too soon. A perfect murder-mystery with more red herrings than you could shake a smokehouse at. Something I really enjoy about this series are the references to previous events in the series and the character's back stories. You are really cheering them, willing them on.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

Captain Matthew Bryant and his new bride, the former Kitty Underhay, along with their dog Bertie, had travelled to Yorkshire to stay with Matt's Aunt Effie for their belated honeymoon. It was 1935 and a very hot and humid summer, and with the village fair being prepared for, everyone was busy. Miss Crowther, the town's busybody, was admittedly working hard at getting everything perfect, but on the day of the fair, when Matt and Kitty followed a run-away Bertie into the fortune teller's tent, they discovered her dead body, with the sign "back in 10 minutes" still on the tent flap.

With the Inspector investigating, along with Matt and Kitty, it seemed everyone in the village had motive for the death. Finding evidence was elusive, but they were all determined to find the answers. With another person attacked with intent to kill, and a second murder, the small village and its people were shocked. What was happening in their peaceful and normally quiet village?

Murder at the Village Fair is the 13th in the Miss Underhay series by Helena Dixon and once again it was fun, entertaining and filled with twists. I really enjoy the two MCs, and hope the author continues the series for a long time. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Kitty and Matt are finally enjoying their honeymoon and visiting his aunt. A village fair provides plenty of fun, entertainment and...murder! Of course, there is a murder. It is fun to see Kitty and Matt away from their normal setting of a seaside town. I did guess who the murderer was but there are some twists and turns to keep it interesting. Plus, the side characters add enjoyment to the book. I especially love Matt's aunt.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

I have loved all twelve books in the Miss Underhay mysteries so far, so I couldn’t wait to read Murder at the Village Fair.

Matt and Kitty are on their somewhat delayed honeymoon, and staying with Aunt Effie. Kitty finds another dead body, and in spite of trying to stay out of it as she’s on holiday, can’t resist investigating!

I really enjoyed this mystery. It was fun to be in a new location, with mostly unfamiliar characters. The apparently peaceful village is seething with secrets and hidden resentments, so finding the killer is tricky. I didn’t work out for sure who it was until the reveal, which is always good.

I always love spending time with Kitty and Matt. I thought that the way the aftermath of their previous case was handled was realistic. So often in fiction detectives end up injured and seem to recover almost instantly. It’s so good to see convalescence happening.

Overall, this was another excellent mystery that will keep you guessing until the end! I highly recommend the entire series.

I was given a copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

This is the first book I've read in this series and can definitely be read as a standalone, but as I enjoyed this one immensely Im absolutely going to be reading the other books in the series.

The setting was quaint, I loved the characters and it had twists and turns around every corner. I loved how Matt and Kitty worked alongside the police, while still investigating instead of getting in the way.

This book kept me entertained and on the edge of my seat while trying to put the clues together on who the killer could possibly be. I can't wait to read the other books in the series and see how Kitty and Matt met!

We are now up to the thirteenth book in this series and I am still enjoying them wholeheartedly.

In Murder at the Village Fair Kitty and Matt are visiting Matt's Aunt Effie in Yorkshire. It is supposed to be a relaxing holiday but of course there is a murder or two, and Kitty cannot help but be involved. The mystery is interesting, and the suspects are many. Matt puts on his P.I. hat and the pair are off and away on another investigation.

This time the policeman in charge is a pleasant chap who does not share much information but nor does he object to Kitty and Matt's involvement. I picked the wrong person for the murderer at first but, about halfway through the book, I started jumping up and down with excitement because I just KNEW whodunnit. I was right too:)

Another excellent and very readable book in this series.