Had a very enjoyable time with all the characters in this cosy murderous tale. I do love a strong irreverent old broad, unafraid to break taboos and flip the bird to the societal expectations related to age.

I like this cozy mystery series. The historical setting of WW I is presented well. It was a horrible war and some who witnessed devastation were overwhelmed, as is one of the characters in this novel. Shell shock was just beginning to be recognized and Davison gives a good account of one troubled by it. Others were so intimidated by the casualty reports they would do anything to keep from being conscripted.

The characters are what make this cozy mystery so entertaining. Aunt Violet is quite the woman, especially when she is speedily driving her car. I could just see Hannah hanging on for dear life. The relatives they visit are much more of the stately upper society style. It is interesting to see how Hannah's wealthy relatives relate to their servants and their friends. There is even an incompetent policeman trying to solve the murder.

This novel reads well on its own even though it is part of a series. There are a number of characters, however, and understanding who all of them are may require reading the previous books in the series. This is a good novel for readers who love historical cozy mysteries.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

As Hannah heads to her sister’s estate in the countryside for the Christmas holiday, she never anticipates getting caught up in not one, but two mysteries: a murder and the theft of a valuable ruby. With an inept local police officer leading the investigation and a house party filled with potential suspects, an intriguing story unfolds.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC of this novel for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

A festive family get together
Uninhibited by snowy weather
A time for celebrating the festive season
But not when there's murder, mystery and treason!

Hannah Merrill and her Aunt Violet are going to stay
With Hannah's sister leading up to Christmas day.
Even Bartleby the cat will be going, too,
Looking forward to merry making and things to do.

What none was expecting is the untimely death of a guest
Or a rural police officer doing his truculent best.
There's a missing jewel, too, are the cases related?
With the rude officer making accusations, can the guests be placated?

With Hannah and Aunt Violet also determined to discover
Just who is the thief and the jewel to recover.
They're also looking for clues to discover just who is the killer
In this fantastic, historical cosy crime thriller.

There's family drama and characters making a brilliant cast
There's mystery, murder and romance at last.
Can this intrepid duo with the help of their beaus
Determine what happened and what everyone knows.

For my copy of this brilliant book, I say thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

I received this ARC and didn’t realize it was part of a series so of course I had to go and read the first two books before I even attempted this one. I am so glad this series found me! I LOVE a good early 1900’s cozy mystery! I love this series even more because it doesn’t just have the typical FMC and love interest. I mean there is that BUT this series has an eccentric aunt in the mix!

A bit about the series as a whole:

First, Aunt Violet and Hannah own and run a bookstore during WWI. Absolute perfection!

Second, there is not only a love interest for Hannah but also for her aunt!

Lastly, there is always a murder and in book three a missing family heirloom! I really enjoyed that there was more than just a murder happening.

If you love a good cozy historical holiday mystery then you’ll love this book. Think Agatha Christie meets Downtown Abby. Anita Davidson does an amazing job of bringing each character to life as well as focusing on some of the major issues during this time period. PTSD during that time being called shell shock and how families and the military handled that. There are the upper-class verses the servants of the house and how the servants are viewed by others who feel themselves above them. And of course, how men feel woman should behave and act. I particularly love the banter between characters! Several times I found myself grinning like a fool at something someone said or thought.

Murder at Midwinter Manor has Hannah and her Aunt Violet off to visit family for Christmas to escape the war-torn London and murders that seem to follow them. Alas they wake up to find someone has died. Was it murder? Accident? What about the missing family heirloom!? Are these two possible crimes connected or are there two criminals on the loose in the house. There are several twists and turns throughout this book that you will constantly change your mind on who you believe the criminal might be.

I will say, this book has a lot of characters and at times I had to go back and find who was who and who was related to whom. Other than that I adored this book and cannot wait for the next one to release in February 1, 2025.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author Anita Davison for my ARC of Murder at Midwinter Manor in exchange for an honest review.

‘Well, we did it again.’

Off to spend the Christmas holiday at her sister’s manor in the country the last thing Hannah expects is to be embroiled in not one, but two mysteries: a murder and the theft of a priceless ruby. Throw in a hapless local police officer in charge of the investigation and a house party full of suspects and you’re treated to an intriguing tale.

Today it is my turn on the blog tour for Murder at Midwinter Manor by Anita Davison

📚 Book Review 📚

Murder at Midwinter Manor by Anita Davison

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Escaping the city doesn’t mean escaping the criminals…

1916, Midwinter Manor: Desperate for a Christmas weekend break from war-torn London, Hannah Merrill and her Aunt Violet take Bartleby the cat and themselves off to visit Hannah’s sister, in her beautiful country estate, deep in the English countryside.
The huge house is full of relatives, friends and merrymakers, and everyone’s excited to have a Christmas to remember.

But then, when a fellow-guest’s body is found in the library – apparently bludgeoned to death – and a precious ruby is stolen from another guest, it appears that it’s going to be memorable for all the wrong reasons.

With the house snowed in, and the rural police force completely incapable of finding a single credible suspect, Hannah and Aunt Violet realise that once again it’s going to be down to them to get to the bottom of it.

Because whoever’s behind the crimes must be at Midwinter Manor… And if they’re not found, who knows what their next ‘gift’ will be?

My Opinion

I have actually read this series order, although each book can be read as a standalone. Aunt Violet and Hannah are visiting a manor house for Christmas. This was such a cosy festive mystery. At less than 300 pages this was a quick read and easy to finish in one evening. With plenty of twists this was an entertaining read.

Rating 4/5

I have only just discovered this author, but really enjoyed this, I do need to read the previous books in the series though. Likeable characters, warm writing and intriguing mysteries - perfect read with a cup of tea and chocolate biscuit! I will look forward to more in the series. Many thanks

I would like to thank netgalley and Boldwood Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I find this a little boring, with not a lot going on.

This cozy mystery is one that's part of a series but can also be read standalone. It's quirky and fun, and I found it easy to get into.
I enjoyed the setting and the way the story unravelled.

A family get together for the holidays leads to a death in the library. Aunt Violet and Hannah and of course, Bartleby, the bookshop cat are at work. The twists and turns in the plot to keep you in the story. An interesting story. Can't wait for the next in the series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher and leaving a review by my own accord.

If you love historical novels, the Christmas atmosphere, and cozy mysteries, then Murder at Midwinter Manor is the right read for you. The third novel in the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mystery series, I can assure it can easily be read as a stand-alone. The story is told from the perspective of Hannah Merril, bookstore owner and occasional detective, who, together with her aunt Violet, arrives at Midwinter Manor, her sister’s house, to celebrate Christmas with her family. Invited is also her brother-in-law’s enlarged family and she is excited to see that even her beau Darius is there. Amid a bit of family drama and talk of war and its effects on soldiers who suffer from PTSD, things seem to go fairly well, until one of the guests turns up dead and a valuable family jewel goes missing. With the inept local detective loose in the house, Hannah and her aunt Violet have no choice, but to investigate on their own.

Murder at Midwinter Manor is my first novel by Anita Davison and I couldn’t put it down. I loved the cozy Christmas atmosphere, the snowbound setting, the mystery with quite a few surprises, and there are also some romance and a fun (although a bit dangerous) chase in the snow. The characters are intriguing and well-developed. Especially, I liked the character of Hannah who, like her aunt Violet, is considered unconventional for her independence and her ability to solve murders, but she is determined to live life on her own terms.

I will definitely keep reading the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mystery series: it’s witty, entertaining, and immersive. Highly recommended!

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is the third book in the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet cosy mystery series. I've read the previous two books in the series, and I enjoyed them, so I was looking forward to this.

This had all the elements of a good historical cosy mystery, and it felt festive too. At the start, Hannah and her Aunt Violet go away to visit relatives over the festive period. I really like both Hannah and Aunt Violet as characters, and I like their relationship. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the manor house setting. I also enjoyed the presence of some of the other characters, including Darius, Bartleby the cat, and some of the other characters that I didn't recall from the previous books.

This was a fun, festive mystery and very entertaining. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a festive or wintry mystery to read, and if you like historical cosy mysteries, you might enjoy the rest of the series too.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

Hannah Merrill and Aunt Violet are at Hannah's sister's house for Christmas and there are quite a few guests. After a mysterious death occurs and suspicion has been cast on just about everyone it comes to surface the truth and the conclusion is surprising yet wholly satisfying. With a devine setting of a snowy Christmas I imagine curling up with a book in front of a warm fire while the snow falls outside. The wonderful characters of Hannah and Violet make the story warm and inviting. The addition of the cat is lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed reading his character.The plot is brilliant with some clever twists to keep you on your toes. Lovers of cosy mystery will rejoice in this book!

This is the latest thrilling installment in the historical cosy series featuring Hannah Merrill and her Aunt Violet., but could easily be read as a stand alone.
Set in late December 1916, a snowbound house party is devastated when a murder and robbery take place overnight. Someone already in the Manor must be responsible and the local rural policeman isn't quite as efficient as Hannah and Violet would like.. naturally they determine to solve the mystery themselves with the help of Darius and Inspector Farrell.
I really enjoyed the book and the insight into Christmas festivities at a time of food rationing, but also the realities of the impact of war on ordinary families.
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the review copy.
#MurderAtMidwinterManor
#NetGalley

It's 1916, Midwinter Manor and and Hannah and her Aunt Violet are desperate for a break from the war so go to her sister Iris' house for Christmas and then all sorts of things keep happening and a murder then occurs

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read "Murder at Midwinter Manor" in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the third book in the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mystery series and a very intriguing addition it is.

Hannah Merrill and her Aunt Violet Edwards are visiting Hannah's older sister Iris and her husband Mycroft Atherton at their home Midwinter Manor in Surrey at Christmas 1916. Everyone in their family is there - Madeleine and Hector Merrill - Hannah and Iris' parents, Mycroft's younger brother Selwyn and his wife Norah, along with their daughters Maura and Millie. Millie's fiance Captain Lynford Ellis is there with his parents Basil and Rose Ellis. Hannah's friend (whom her mother hopes to marry her off to) Darius Clifford has also been invited.

When one of the guests doesn't appear for breakfast, it starts a well plotted mystery by the author that involves many different secrets and plots. Along with the murder, there is also the theft of a ruby necklace that is the obsession of Norah - and she's quite an annoying character to be so worried about a necklace when someone has been murdered. Aunt Violet and Hannah can't resist helping Detective Sergeant Roper. Aunt Violet secretly phones DI Aidan Farrell to come to the manor and help investigate, even though it's far from his jurisdiction.

There are some very exciting scenes, and some surprises along the way. It will be interesting to see what everyone gets up to in upcoming books.

Loved the premier and the first few pages of the book, however it quickly lost its luster and was difficult to finish.

I'm very fond of cosy mysteries set around Christmastime. I liked the overall ambiance with this one, and the writing style was pleasant. And even though, it can be read as a standalone, it's book 3 in the series (which I should have checked beforehand), and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was missing some background info about the whole cast of characters. It's possible I'd enjoy this installment much more if I start from the beginning and work my way back to this one later on.

It reminded me of a new type of Sherlock homes. I had a hard time staying engaged in the book. The characters were well developed. The plot lines were good. It is just the hook to pull you in and continue to read. I was able listen and read the book which helped. I feel as though the book did well making you feel like you were in the book and visualize the surroundings.