While I enjoyed the setting on the island and coziness of the book, there wasn't anything that really stuck out to me. The characters muddled together at times and I found jumping from the island to the mainland a bit boring. Overall it was cute, a quick read, and I would definitely read another when in the mood for something cozy.

I enjoyed this cozy murder mystery set in the spring of 1936 off the coast of England. So Kitty and her friend Alice are invited to attend a gathering at a new hotel off the coast of England. Marie, an actress, and Sir Norman, her fiancee, and the owners of the hotel, as well as some of their friends and actors in a play she’s putting on, are there to enjoy the hotel before it officially opens to the public. As they wander around exploring the hotel, Kitty and Alice overhear a heated argument between the owner on the guests. Later on that night, they are gathering for dinner, when a storm rolls in. It’s soon discovered that Norman, the owner of the hotel is found dead under mysterious circumstances. Cut off from help on the mainland due to the storm, Kitty and Alice start investigating and gathering evidence so that they can figure out what might have happened. The next day, the doctor, some police investigators, and Kitty’s husband arrive at the island to investigate what might happened. Was it murder or suicide?


This was a good, cozy mystery set in the 30’s. It gave me Agatha Christie vibes.
This was my first in the series, even though this was number 15 I felt that it was fine as a stand-alone story. I enjoyed Kitty and Alice and their friendship as they tried to investigate and gain information without tipping their hat The fellow guests to the suspect. Soon, they found another body that turned up. The fellow guests were an eclectic group and even though they got along well they all had motives for the killing. There were some twists and turns in this story until the end. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.


Thanks to Bookouture, NetGalley, and the author for this ARC

1936 Bird Island of the English coast.

Am addicted to historical mysteries and Kitty Underhay is always a delight! She and her friend Alice are invited to the opening of a grand hotel. But soon afterwards the owner is found dead..

Is it murder? Yes and Kitty is determined to find the murderer! With a lot of glamorous guest, some she knows, they all become suspects.

A delightful, fun cozy mystery, well worth the read!

Murder at the Island Hotel was a delightful cozy mystery! I'd not read any of the other Miss Underhay Mystery books before and I'm happy to report that a prior knowledge of the characters is not needed to enjoy the mystery! Although I feel a reader could easily jump into this book without reading the whole series, I'm now determined to read all the prior books as I find Kitty a charming character and I want to get to know her better!
Murder at the Island Hotel was intriguing and had a well rounded cast of characters. The mystery itself had a nice twist at the end and readers will find themselves with answers to questions they didn't think to ask! The author did a fantastic job of weaving a story that had good pacing and interesting characters whom you weren't sure if you could like or trust! Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy and for introducing me to such a delightful book series!

Another highly entertaining book in this delightful series. This time the murder investigation takes place on an island cut off by a storm. I love the 1930s period setting, with the descriptions of food and the isolated land. I’m eagerly waiting for the next book!

It's always exciting for me to get a copy of the latest Kitty Underhay mystery and even though this is the fifteenth mystery in the series, I'm still enjoying them immensely!

Kitty is invited to the remote Bird Island off the Torbay coast to visit an exclusive hotel. A last-minute change of plans means she invites her friend Alice. They've not been there long when they find the body of the owner, Sir Norman, dead in his study from supposed suicide. Kitty knows that it's murder, but with a storm drawing in and she and Alice are trapped on an island with a murderer.

I absolutely loved the remote island setting for this novel, especially as the storm rolls in, cutting them off from the outside world. I mean Kitty has been in some scrapes over the years, but I think this is one of the most tense mysteries out of the series.

Married life has been pretty smooth sailing for Kitty and Matt, but there's a bit of strain between the pair in this novel, which I'm eager to see how it works out.

There is also a bit of intrigue at the end of the novel that has me wondering what is next for the pair and their sleuthing ways.

I cannot recommend this series enough if you enjoy a classic style murder mystery while still feeling fresh and fun.

Murder at the Island Hotel is your average whodunit. On an island where no one can come and go, someone amongst them is the killer. The characters were interesting, but I think I would have liked the book more if I had read the others in the series. I didn’t realize it was part of a series and thus I think there was less character development for new readers. While I wasn’t certain who did it, the big reveal wasn’t entirely surprising. The story is well written, but not necessarily outstanding or memorable. I love the cover and that is what drew me to this book. I received an ARC copy and these opinions are my own.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher; all thoughts expressed are my own. Murder at the Island Hotel is the latest in the now long-running series featuring Kitty and her husband Matt, although this title is focused more on Kitty than Matt. Kitty's grandmother is part of the local hotel association; she asks Kitty to visit a hotel on a nearby island that is soon to open and screen/evaluate it as the owner has applied for admission into the association. Kitty asks her friend and employee of her family's hotel Alice to visit. They are able to take a boat to the island during a lull in bad weather and soon find themselves stuck on the island. The next day, the owner of the hotel is found dead and everyone on the island is a suspect. Kitty and Alice are trapped with a killer and are in a race to figure out who the killer is before they can kill again.

I really liked this installment into the series as we get more of a focus on Alice and Kitty's friendship than in the last few books. The mystery is very well constructed and has some very nice twists and turns to keep the reader engaged throughout. Kitty really shines in this one with Matt playing a more limited, supporting role. I continue to enjoy this series and look forward to future installments as we see Matt and Kitty's relationship continue to grow.

! love this series and this instalment is as good as ever. We see a little more of best friend Alice as she joins Kitty in reviewing a new hotel on an island. Of course things don't go as planned as a storm trap them with a murderer of course it does. There are twists and turns as you would expect but also unexpected secrets and surprises which lead to a dramatic climax. I look forward to the next instalment as babies were touched on here. Can they cant they should they. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Kitty Underhay, now Kitty Bryant, accompanied by Alice, her good friend from the Dolphin Hotel in Torquay, headed off for the Bird Island hotel, where the two of them were to be honoured guests, along with several others, before the hotel officially opened its doors to the public. It was 1936 and the weather was often violent, with storms lashing the coast, and the island. The rough seas threatened upcoming bad weather, but being tucked inside the opulent hotel kept them safe and dry. That was, until one of the group was discovered, dead. Kitty and Alice immediately took over; with the phones out to call the mainland, they knew the scene had to be kept pristine. Kitty was suspicious as to the nature of the death and began asking questions of the other guests.

Once the storm had abated and phone lines were working again, Chief Inspector Greville, Kitty's husband Matt, and Inspector Lewis, plus the doctor, arrived on the island. Immediately their investigations began, questioning everyone. But when a second person was murdered, they knew the killer was on the island with them, and they needed to discover who it was, quickly. Would they discover who the culprit was before someone else died?

Murder at the Island Hotel is the 15th in the Miss Underhay series by Helena Dixon and once again it was a delightful read. Kitty and Alice make a good team, intelligent, feisty and determined. Kitty and Matt have been married about a year now, and enjoy working together as PIs. I'm loving this series, and I hope it continues for a long time to come. Highly recommended.

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

I really enjoyed this fifteenth episode of the Miss Underhay series. Of course she is no longer Miss Underhay now she has married Matt. He joins her in this current adventure as does her maid and friend, Alice.

Murder at the Island Hotel is very much a nod to Agatha Christie in the setting and the fact that the island is cut off by bad weather so the culprit must be one of the small group of people in the hotel. Kitty, Matt and Alice do an excellent job of assisting the police and then Kitty performs a wonderful process of deduction, and gives us a surprise ending.

An excellent and very enjoyable cosy mystery.

I enjoyed the story and look forward to more. The books always leave me wanting to know what happens next in the MCs lives. The mystery kept me guessing. I like the characters as well as the England setting

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

I've been reading this series since the first instalment and I can say this was the one that kept me reading and thinking about it.
A hotel on a island during a storm, murder, Kitty and Alice on the island.
There's suspense, there's fun and there's a cast of well developed and interesting characters. Most of them could be the killer has they have motives to kill.
Killy is the one to recognise it's a murder and not a suicide, Matt and the policemen will arrive later and they will reveal a lot of surprising secretss.
I was fascinated by the closed circle. It's not a locked room even if the room is locked but it would have been great to read an impossible crime if there was no way to enter or exit the murdered man room.
Ms Dixon delivers another entertaining story and a solid mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed and read it as fast as I could.
This is the best in this series till the next one.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A beautiful newly renovated hotel awaits the next adventure for Kitty and her friend Alice on Bird Island resulting in of course a murder.

When Sir Norman, owner of the hotel is found dead in his study, is it suicide or murder?

Who amongst the guests including his fiancé are suspects and what secrets and lies are uncovered?

Another wonderful read in this series!

Kitty goes to a bird island hotel to give feedback on whether the hotel owner should be given a specific status. Finding his body was not expected. Storm knocks out phone lines, and waves prevent escape from the island. Good cozy mystery and one I highly recommend.

Spring, 1936. Kitty has agreed to inspect a new hotel on Bird Island which is just off the Devon coast, she is joined by her friend Alice & a small collection of other guests of the owner Sir Norman Whittier. They have barely unpacked when the owner is found dead in his own study. Sir Norman’s death looks like suicide. But Kitty isn’t convinced as she cannot find a note, and he is left-handed but was shot on the right side of his head. Kitty manages to phone the police, but a violent storm engulfs the island and the power goes out. Leaving the guests trapped.
I can’t believe this is the fifteenth outing for Kitty as it still feels as fresh as the first. I love Kitty & have thoroughly enjoyed her adventures. There are limited number of suspects but everyone seems to has a secret or two, Kitty & Alice try to gather as much information as possible until Chief Inspector Grenville, Inspector Lewis & Matt arrive. Everything seems to point to one person but when they are found dead too the case is thrown wide open. There were twists, turns, secrets & surprises until Kitty pieces things together, which lead to a dramatic climax. I look forward to the next instalment, could it have to do with a letter awaiting Matt?
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Thank you #Netgalley and #Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

This is a classic whodunit as well as a cozy mystery! The cover caught my eye and this is the first book I read in the series. This book is great to read as a stand alone as well! The story takes place in the spring of 1936 where a murder occurs in a remote island. The main character, Mrs. Kitty Bryant, an amateur sleuth, attempts to solve the case.

The mystery seemed to be predictable and a bit slow. I loved the old fashioned charm but I was expecting more to happen. I also was not totally satisfied with the ending.

This is cozy mystery was a fairly quick read but partly painful, almost a DNF but I wanted to write my review. Kitty tries to solve two murders while stuck on an island. The ending was quite lackluster.

Note: Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Helena Dixon for the advanced reader copy of the book. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.

When I saw this was book #15 in a series, I groaned inside. Usually, when I approach a series of books, I prefer to start at the beginning. However, I decided to do my best to see where this one would take me. I was happily surprised that I really didn’t need to read the books prior to this as the story stands well on its own.

In the year 1936, Kitty Underhay and her friend Alice travel to a new hotel about to open on Bird Island, off the coast of England. They represent the local hotel association and Sir Norman Whittier, the hotel’s owner. would like to get the approval of the association and to have the hotel included in their directory. Joining them is an acting troop under the direction of Sir Norman’s fiancée, Marie Monbiere. The hotel is beautiful and looks like Sir Norman spared no expense. A terrible storm was brewing as they traveled to the island by boat, and soon the guests find themselves unable to leave the hotel.

When Sir Norman doesn’t show up for dinner, they go looking for him and find him inside his locked office, dead. At first it seems like a suicide, but there is no note. There are other irregularities in the scene, and soon Kitty and several others believe someone staged the scene to look like a suicide and cover up a murder. With the police unable to get there due to the storm, Kitty secures the scene until they can investigate and come to their own conclusions.

I felt that Murder at the Island Hotel had a definite Agatha Christie feel to it. The setting and style really brought that back for me. The murderer can only be one of the people staying in the hotel. There are farmers on one end of the island, but even they would not have ventured out to the hotel in the storm. Kitty talks to people and tries to feel them out without submitting them to overt questioning; that is for the police to do. However, she can see certain personalities begin to come out the more time they are all cooped up together.

There was plenty of mystery to go around. I had a couple of different ideas and kept changing my mind as I was reading. Dixon did a terrific job keeping me guessing at who the killer was. At times, I did feel like the book was repetitious once the police were there to question the guests. It felt like the same thing was being gone over again and again. I understand that they have to ask questions like this to see if their stories would change, but it does cause the pace to slow down. How many times we hear about the Chief Inspector flipping through his notes, instead of just getting to the meat of the story.

I did enjoy it, however. I would be inclined to go back and see how Kitty and her husband, Matt, met and how she ended up falling into this line of work. Matt comes to the island with the police to act as a witness since a constable is not available. They normally work as a team of private investigators, and it is Kitty who puts it all together at the end. A woman was not expected to be involved in this type of work, so she is cast aside for much of the police investigation. I find the whole concept to be very interesting.

I did like Murder at the Island Hotel a lot. For a book that’s so far into the series, it’s completely accessible to new readers. If you like Agatha Christie-style murder mysteries I think you’ll enjoy this.

3.75* rounded up -

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital review copy of "Murder at the Island Hotel" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

First and foremost - Welcome back to the action Alice. I was so glad to have her back investigating and ably supporting Kitty on the case rather than being a minor figure in the story as she has been in the last few books.

In this installment of the Miss Underhay series we've gone from the wilds to Scotland to an island off the South Coast. Still a classic Christie-esque isolated/locked room setting with our core investigative team which sees Kitty and Alice assessing a new luxury hotel on Bird Island. The owner, Sir Norman, wants to join the local hoteliers association and Kitty will be the one to determine his suitability for membership. However, what should be a more restful trip is interrupted by the mysterious death of Sir Norman, and the storm whirling around the island is hindering investigations and keeping everyone trapped on the island, with the killer.

This series is reliably fun and fast paced and I love the core group of characters, they never let me down! The overall mystery was solid - twisting with secrets to uncover, but it felt a little thin on the ground resulting in some repetitive scenes which didn't always push the story forward. Usually this wouldn't bother me but this time I found that the supporting cast of characters/suspects didn't quite gel for me in the way they usually do and the story felt like it was missing something, especially in comparison to the last book which was one of the best in the series.

Irrespective of these niggles, I enjoyed the read as I always do and I eagerly await the next case to come Kitty's way and to find out how Alice and Robert's future is going to unfold!