Member Reviews
1935 Scotland is the setting for the 14th book in this series. Kitty and Matt have now been married a year and are in Scotland for New Year's to help a friend of Kitty's great-aunt. A murder, a snowstorm and a seance keep this lighthearted cozy moving at a fast pace, leaving you with a totally enjoying experience.
Reading this was a great escape for an afternoon! I loved the setting of this book- it was so cozy. I have not read other books in this series but look forward to doing so!
I love this series! It is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I adore the historical aspect of the setting, 1930s Scotland. I love Kitty, Matt and Bertie! They always get themselves involved in a mysterious death that they have to figure out and I was hooked from the beginning of this one!! This is a winter must read cozy mystery!
I just reviewed Murder at the Highland Castle (A Miss Underhay Mystery Book 14) by Helena Dixon. #MurderattheHighlandCastle #NetGalley
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This cozy mystery was a fun surprise. Based in 1935 Scotland, Kitty and Matt are private investigators hired to help Lord Baralas find out who is trying to murder him. He is hosting several family and friends for the holidays, There are maids, servants and guests- all who become suspects.
The characters are very likable in this whodunit mystery.
This is a light hearted, easy and entertaining read. It takes place during the holidays, in the large castle, the heavy snow and ice have cut them off from civilization while a murderer is among them.
This is the 14th book in this series. I had never heard of the series before, or read any of them before this one. It works as a stand alone. I will definitely be checking out more books in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley, Helena Dixon and Bookoutre for an e-copy of this book.
I love this series!
Kitty and Matt are invited to a Scottish castle by an acquaintance of Kitty’s great aunt to celebrate New Year’s.
Lord Barlas is afraid for his life after a near-fatal accident and some threats.
After their arrival, there is a snowstorm resulting in a wonderful closed room mystery!
I had guessed the culprit this time but there were still some surprises in the plot for me!
I enjoy reading about Kitty’s adventures a lot and cannot wait for the next instalment in this historical cozy mystery series.
Book 14 in the popular Kitty Underhay mystery series is set in 1935, when Kitty and her husband, Matt Bryant, of Torbay Private Investigative Services in Devon, receive a desperate letter from Lord Stephen Barlas, Earl of Finnglach. He has received threats, and fears for his life. Gathered for the Hogmanay celebrations at Castle Finnglach, deep in the Highlands of Scotland, is a diverse group of friends, all there since before Christmas, with the exception of Kitty and Matt, who arrive just before New Year. Before long they are drawn into underlying tensions not apparent at first glance. Keeping their role as private investigators under wraps, Lord Barlas introduces them as distant relatives. As a blizzard sets in, blanketing the castle and its surrounds in snow and ice, and cutting off road access, electricity and phone lines, the story plays out as a locked-room mystery. The undercurrents are many and flowing fast, and the narrative jogs along at a good clip.
This is an atmospheric mystery made more so by the power of the author to conjure the old castle, its ancient hallways, heavy oak doors, and dark furnishings, and its remoteness with the weather closing in on all sides. It’s all quite claustrophobic and spooky, especially with an eccentric medium armed with her occasional dire predictions. Although the murder itself is expected, this reviewer didn’t guess the identity of the perpetrator. Kitty can be frustratingly naive as she strides off towards danger without the dependable Matt at her side, and the latter part of the novel feels slightly rushed, but overall, this is a very well written mystery in a series enticing enough to want to read more.
Kitty and Matt Bryant have swapped ends of the country when they find themselves in the Highlands.
Having been recommended by Kitty’s aunt to come north of the border, to investigate the possibility of a threat to life. Add into this a castle, Hogmanay, snow, a power cut and eventually a dead body. It seems the perfect way to start their second year of married life together.
In a nod to the classic locked room mystery, it has to be one of the castle guests,. surely? There is much to question, inheritance, old family friends, rivals and even spiritualist. It will take a gutsy Kitty to face the murderer and get to the truth.
Somehow when Kitty and Matt Bryant move from their beloved Devon, it works. Bringing the delightful Bertie, the dog with them always seems to help!
Another great cosy mystery from this author, that goes from strength to strength.
A slow burn. The dead guy didn't enter until 37%, but with that said, the story kept me engaged to that point. As with an Agatha Christie novel, this book necessitated the author to introduce the reader to a cast of characters.
Kitty and her husband, Matt, are requested in Scotland by a Lord who was referred to them by Kitty's aunt. Lord Barlas feels his safety is in danger after a couple of failed attempts on his life. When Kitty and Matt arrive, they can further understand his fear as it is amped up by a spirit medium who randomly bursts out his life is in danger.
While not many present at the castle hold the medium in much esteem, she is there as a friend of the Lord's wife and daughter. With other friends and their significant others gathered to celebrate a new year tradition, it's hard to pick one suspect among them. Who, after all, would hate the Lord enough and have motive to kill him?
As Kitty and Matt familiarize themselves with the guests, it's starting to seem that all of them would benefit by his death in some way. But who acted on it? You'll need to read the book to find out. Once the murder hits the page and there's another unfortunate event, the pace of the book really speeds up. The ending certainly isn't rushed with this one. Another solid installment in the Kitty Underhay Series.
Murder at the Highland Castle is a charming historical cozy mystery with a husband-and-wife murder-solving duo.
The mystery kept me guessing. I do love visiting with the characters in this series.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Another fabulous book in this cozy mystery series sees our husband and wife partnership in the Scottish Highlands for Hogmanay.
While performing the first footing ritual their host is murdered and his gun stashed in a snowman near the fallen stones. Can the medium in the party help find the killer as the phone lines and electricity have been cut off?
Another great feel good read and a worthy addition to this great series.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
An invitation to a Highland Castle is an unexpected surprise
Though there's danger there, both Kitty and Matt soon realise!
Lord Barlas is having warnings, his life could be in danger,
So he's asked the two to investigate events that are getting stranger.
A Hogmanay party in Finnglach Castle should be secure
As only friends and family will be there, he's sure.
However, happenings leave him feeling anxious, too,
So he hopes Kitty and Matt will soon sort everything through.
When snow blankets the land, there's added mystery,
Which is mingled with tradition, myths and history.
Another intriguing story, with someone committing crimes
Can Kitty and Matt identify the culprit in time?
Another great historical cosy crime thriller,
This time set in a HIghland winter chiller.
With a host of suspects and possibilities, too,
To puzzle Kitty and Matt, this intrepid duo!
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.
Murder at the Highland Castle is the 14th book in the Miss Underhay series by Helena Dixon and she is still going strong. Matt and Kitty are now married and working together in the Private Investigation business. They receive a letter from Lord Barlas about a threat on his life and inviting them to come to his manor house in the Scottish Highlands. After verifying with her aunt that he is upright and honest, they accept and off they go to find out what is happening and spend Hogmanay with him, his family and guests. There are several suspicious things going on, but even Matt and Kitty can't prevent a murder. Who was responsible for the death of Lord Barlas?
This was a locked door mystery complete with a snowstorm that keeps them isolated, no phone lines or electricity. There were several suspects from the guests, but there is also a host of servants that could have done the deed. I love the way Matt and Kitty work together, using intuition along with keen observation and excellent questioning techniques. Being able to bounce things off one another helps them to see clearly. The guests were a mishmash of Americans, UK citizens, people from the theatre, a medium, a racecar driver, a new wife, a well off daughter who is a widow and her fiancé who could be a gold digger. With a lot of motives, I was kept guessing until close to the end. I did figure out the killer before it was revealed, but there was other information including motive that I had not figured out. This was a well-written and plotted mystery, with great characters that were all well-developed. With just enough red herrings and twists to keep me guessing, I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy historical mystery. If the next book in this series is as good as this one, I have no doubt that there will be a lot more of Kitty Underhay.
Lord Barlas is in fear for his life. He calls upon Kitty and Matt Bryant to investigate, bringing them to his remote Scottish castle for Hogmanay. They cannot prevent his death but can they catch his killer...?
Murder at the Highland Castle is the 14th book in the Kitty Underhay series of cosy murder mysteries. There are no spoilers about previous cases.
Kitty and Matt are celebrating their first wedding anniversary when they get the unexpected request to travel to Scotland to prevent an injury or even death. When they arrive, they find a fearful lord and a houseful of guests (and therefore potential suspects). Sadly their presence and intial investigation isn't enough to top the killer's success.
There is plenty of build up to the murder which doesn't occur until over a third of the way through the book. This leaves significant time to establish the variety of characters staying at the castle and provides some motives. The remote location narrows down the suspects but I was still kept guessing until the reveal at the end.
I love Kitty and Matt's characters and am so pleased that their married life has not changed them. They respect each other's vulnerabilities and work together well, a very modern couple for the 1930s. I liked the historical and geographical specifics that underpinned the plot to add authenticity.
Murder at the Highland Castle is an enjoyable addition to this series.
What a way to escape everyday life for a few hours! Amazing read. Love the setting, characters and plot so much. I couldn't stop reading... Just the thing for a lazy afternoon.
I was unable to read this book on my mobile.
What,a pity!!!!
I was looking forward to reading it so much .
Good luck with the book.
Murder at the Highland Castle by Helena Dixon takes place after World War I but before World War II. Matt and Kitty have been married a year now and everything is working perfectly. Their detecting business is busy and the hotel is running fine with her grandmother, Alice, and the new manager all doing their parts. Kitty hears from her aunt who lives in Scotland to let her know a friend of hers is in need of their services and that they would be hearing from him. Lord Barlas was in touch shortly and, without telling them what the problem was, set them up with travel arrangements to his castle in the Highlands. After a night on the train and a bumpy ride in a cart, they arrived and were introduced as distant cousins. It seems that his wife’s medium was warning of his death and he had received a written death threat. He didn’t think much of it but decided to proceed with their investigation. They discovered his gun was gone, all the rest locked in the safe along with important papers. Before long they were all snowed in, this house party, and it was New Year’s Eve, Hogmanay for Scots. Lord Barlas left to prepare to enter through the front door: a dark headed man with whiskey and salt, traditionally. When he didn’t enter promptly, Matt went looking and found him shot dead inside the circle of stones off the side of the house.
This was an intriguing mystery for Matt and Kitty, and dangerous as there was at least one gun out there. There was the issue of Madame Nettie Fortina, the medium, who issued her proclamations and most other of her words, very dramatically. There were several young men, Maxwell and Donald, who didn’t seem to be as they appeared. Lord Barlas had known he was to die and yet continued to live his life as he always had. Lady Barlas had been an actress, apparently not a very good one, and continued to wish to be one, meeting with the disapproval of many. It was an interesting case, until it got dangerous for others there, as well. Mx and Denny took off on snowshoes to the village, but with the phone lines down there was no way to know if they got there. There were about-to-faint women in aplenty, and little real help as not everyone was forthcoming. When the police arrived, the inspector offered real help, the crime was solved, and Kitty and Matt returned home, sadder for the experience. Typical of this author, it was a good read.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Murder at the Highland Castle by Bookoutre, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #HelenaDixon #MurderAtTheHighlandCastle
Hogmanay in the Highlands of Scotland and, naturally, there's a murder to be solved for Kitty Underhay and her dashing husband, Captain Matthew Bryant. Now at book 14, this series shows no signs of losing its appeal and this is one reader who looks forward to each new case. Full of mystery and intrigue, a cast of characters that Miss A Christie would have been proud to construct, I absolutely loved this book. Treat yourself now! My thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the reading copy.
I have really been enjoying this historical cozy mystery series. I discovered it on KU, and proceeded to binge the whole series. It was great to revisit these characters.
I’ve followed Kitty and Matt since the first book and I always enjoy each adventure. This time they’re in Scotland, which is my absolute favourite setting, so this was a nice bonus.
The description of the old castle made me feel like I was attending Hogmanay there! :)
The plot was nicely written, there were some red herrings but I managed to guess the guilty person before the end. I enjoyed this cosy mystery very much, a perfect read for a rainy November day.
Thank you to the publisher who provided me with an e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Another wonderful outing for Kitty Underhay et al. Perfect timing for a winter wonderland of Chrismassy murder and mayhem, this deserves to be enjoyed sitting in front of a roaring fire. Fans of the series will get everything that they need and expect, exactly what you want in times of chaos and crisis.
(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)