Helena Dixon introduces the reader to Murder in New York in 1936 as Kitty Bryant, nee Underhay, accompanies her husband to New York when she receives word her slightly dodgy father is very ill. When she arrives she finds him in suspiciously good health hanging out in an upscale apartment. They are invited to a fund raising party whose hostess they find strangled in Central Park. Suspects abound as the hostess was having a very public affair with a man whose wife slaps her at the fundraiser. Jewels are missing and the servants and the lady's heirs are suspects. Kitty can't keep her nose out of investigation which lands her in trouble with the police. Read to find out more.

Totally unputdownable, just about says it all about this, the latest adventure for Kitty and her Partner in sleuthing, Matt. Lured to New York the duo find themselves embroiled in multiple murders in the apartment building they're staying in, with her wayward father mixed up in anything.
This is one of the best series of books I've come across, period, never mind the genre. Beautifully drawn characters, wonderful locations and murders which kept me guessing right to the last.
My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the reading copy.

ARC provided by Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.

Murder in New York by Helena Dixon is another delightful installment in the Miss Underhay Mystery series, bringing charm, suspense, and sharp wit to a thrilling whodunit set in the bustling heart of 1930s New York. Fans of historical mysteries will find this latest adventure irresistible.

This time, Kitty Underhay and her dashing fiancé, Captain Matt Bryant, have traveled across the Atlantic for what promises to be a celebratory occasion. However, their plans quickly take a darker turn when a glamorous party at a Manhattan high-rise ends in murder. Amid the glittering lights of the city that never sleeps, Kitty and Matt are thrust into a deadly mystery involving betrayal, secrets, and danger at every turn.

Helena Dixon masterfully brings 1930s New York to life, painting vivid scenes of the city's grandeur and grit. From the roaring jazz clubs to the shadowy alleys, the setting becomes a character in its own right, providing the perfect backdrop for Kitty's sleuthing adventures.

Kitty Underhay continues to shine as a protagonist—clever, courageous, and endlessly resourceful. Her dynamic with Matt is as engaging as ever, blending romance and partnership in a way that feels genuine and heartwarming. The supporting cast, both familiar faces and new ones, add depth and intrigue to the story, keeping readers guessing as the suspects pile up.

The mystery itself is impeccably crafted, with red herrings and twists that will keep you hooked until the final reveal. Dixon’s attention to detail and her ability to weave historical elements into the narrative add authenticity and richness to the plot, making the stakes feel all the more real.

Murder in New York is everything fans of the series could hope for—charming, suspenseful, and utterly captivating. Helena Dixon continues to deliver top-notch historical mysteries, and this latest book is no exception. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer to Miss Underhay’s adventures, this is a must-read for cozy mystery enthusiasts.

Thanks to Bookouture and Net Galley for this ARC. This series is still going strong even after 18 books. It was really good to be away from the main location with new characters and the plot was quite twisty.

1936. It’s Christmas time and Kitty and Matt Bryant’s plans have been disrupted when they receive a telegram informing them that her father is seriously ill in New York. Of course, they quickly book a passage on a ship, but, deep down, Kitty knows that she is probably worrying about nothing and it’s confirmed when she finds her father not at all on his deathbed, but actually quite well. His close friend Nora seems to have overreacted to his slightly faked illness and sent the telegram and now Kitty and Matt are spending their Christmas in New York with him, having also been invited to Nora’s costume party. The party includes some awkward encounters and a bit of drama between the guests, so is it really a surprise when the hostess is found murdered in the snow the next morning? The police investigates, but because of their job as private investigators in England and Kitty’s innate curiosity, Matt and Kitty can’t stay away from the case, especially when someone else is found murdered.

Murder in New York is an entertaining and immersive read. It’s the 18th book in the Miss Underhay series and I enjoyed it very much. It features Christmas in a snowed in New York (which is always a plus), murder, secrets, deceit, and a long list of suspects. Kitty and Matt are wonderful protagonists as they enjoy a different Christmas – and their anniversary – with her father, while also managing a bit of sleuth and being surprised by the differences in habits and lifestyle in America and in England. A fantastic Christmas murder to enjoy this season and with an unexpected cliffhanger that left me ready for the next book!

Kitty and Matt Bryant receive news that Kitty's father is seriously ill in New York and they had better rush to his side. After arriving in New York, it quickly turns out that the charming but petty criminal Edgar is fine and the excitement was in vain. Now that Kitty and Matt are there, they try to make the best of the situation. Edgar's eccentric neighbor is hosting a charity party that evening, to which the three of them are of course cordially invited. Unpleasant events occur during the celebration, but when Kitty and Matt find the murdered hostess, they are already in the middle of their next case.
For me it was the second book in the series and I really enjoyed reading it. The protagonists are pleasantly down-to-earth and yet bring a fair amount of cleverness and courage. Kitty's engaging, if shady, father provides a good counterbalance. Until the very end, you keep building theories, wavering, rejecting and then coming up with the next guess. Exactly what I appreciate in a successful story in the genre. The novel is exciting, entertaining and will delight fans of cozy crime stories.

In the 18th book of the series, Kitty and Matt head off to New York after Kitty receives a telegram telling her that her father is critically ill. After a hurriedly-booked crossing, they arrive in the city to find Edgar Underhay fit as a fiddle. As relief turns into an unexpected winter break in a snowy New York, Edgar's neighbour (or should that be neighbor?) turns up dead. Would you believe it?? And then another person dies, and with the local police baffled it is up to Kitty and Matt to find the killer - putting themselves in danger, of course.

The perfect time of year for a wintry whodunnit, and this series never fails to deliver a cosy dose of exactly what you want from the books. Another excellent book in the series, and already by the end book 19 is set up and ready to go!

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)

Kitty Bryant is summoned to NewYork in response to an urgent telegram stating that her father, Edgar Underhay, was seriously ill. Accompanied by her private investigator husband, Matt, she arrives in New York after a five day sea journey to find her father fit and well. Edgar is described in the introductory chapter as ne’er-do-well and known for engaging in activities that were not always entirely legal. Kitty quickly realises that her father’s illness was a convenient excuse to avoid some financial difficulties which she suspects were from some shady deals. The story that unfolds is set in New York in the Christmas period of 1936. They attend a charity ball hosted by rich widow Nora; friend and neighbour to Edgar. Murder is not far away from this sleuthing duo and the morning after the ball they discover Nora’s body in the snow.

New York at Christmas time is beautifully described with snow storms, glamorous parties, restaurants and opulent department stores. The main characters are nicely developed and the dialogue between Kitty, Matt and Edgar contains some nice elements of humour. The story has good pace with lots of detail and interesting plot twists. The ending felt a bit rushed and for me it left some unanswered questions regarding the fate of several of the other characters involved. Would definitely read more of Kitty and Matt’s adventures.

The Miss Underhay Mystery series is now on book eighteen! Murder in New York sees Kitty and Matt receiving a telegram to say Kittys' father in New York is seriously ill. They hot foot it back to New York to discover her father seems to have recovered well. They attend a costume party hosted by Mrs Dangerfield, her fathers' friend.

What they don't know yet is that they will discover Mrs Dangerfield dead. This gives the duo something to investigate (as they tend to do rather a lot). Will they be able to solve this mystery, or will the killer get to them first?

I have read some of the books in this series and have always enjoyed them. It's a large series of books, and although I haven't read them all, I bet it's fabulous when read concurrently and from the start. Helena Dixon does write characters so well. I always love returning to Kitty. She gets into some situations, that's for sure.

The setting of New York made this an even more entertaining read. The glitz and glam that comes with this city during the christmas period especially made me feel all festive too!  There are plenty of suspects along the way to give Kitty and Matt plenty to do. It was refreshing to see the duo work together with none of their usual backup.

Another book and series I would recommend to anyone who enjoys reading cosy crime with great characters and a plot that keeps you turning the pages. Thanks to Bookouture Books and NetGalley.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Murder In New York' by Helena Dixon.

This book was very well written and as always the fact that Helena has done her research is clearly evidenced in the storyline so a MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS to Helena!!! There is not much worse than an author who has not researched much or at all about his chosen topic which means the book is unnecessarily littered with mistakes which can ruin a storyline!! However, Helena has completely avoided this by doing her research on the era she has set this amazing series in. This is the eighteenth book in Helena's 'A Miss Underhay Mystery' series it can be read as a standalone as can the rest of the books in this series.

Yet another hugely successful addition in this fantastic series by the very talented Helena!! I have read many, in fact almost all, of the books in this amazing series and have loved each and every one. The fact that Helena manages to come up with a unique storyline for each of her EIGHTEEN books in this series really does show what an incredibly talented author she is, I could not even come up with one story plot let alone this many individual and unique ones so well done yet again Helena!! I am not usually a fan of reading books out of order but if you have never read any of Helena's books before there is nothing to fear!! You can start with this one and the silver lining of reading books out of order is that after you have finished this book (and got addicted which I can guarantee you will!) you can go back to read the previous books in the series while you are impatiently waiting for the next book to be released!!! Speaking of which, the next book in this series is called 'Murder On The Cornish Coast' and you can preorder it now ready for its release date n the 20th February which cannot come soon enough! Not only do each of the books in this series have unique storylines but each and every one are just as gripping, addictive and successful as the last!! The storyline was extremely interesting and very fast paced. Helena completely emerges the reader into the storyline and as always her vivid and evocative writing skills brings the atmosphere, sights sounds and characters to life ensuring the reader is completely sucked into the storyline seeing and feeling everything the characters are. I really enjoy the fact that this series is set in the past and the storyline really suited that. It really is a nice, easy to read and fun cosy mystery that will keep you guessing throughout. In this brilliant storyline we travel back to 1936 and land in New York with Kitty and Matt Bryant (previously Kitty Underhay before she married Matt and became Kitty Bryant, to clear up any confusion with the series name). It is December 12th 1936 (only 3 weeks from when I am typing this) and Kitty has received a telegram from a close friend and neighbour of Kitty's father Edgar, Mrs Nora Dangerfield advising her to come to New York as soon as possible as her Edgar is seriously ill. Kitty and Matt travel on the SS Manhattan to New York and after a dreadful journey they finally arrive. However, when they get to Edgar worrying about him it is to discover that he is quite well and that the telegram may have been a ruse to get them there. Kitty and Matt are determined to make the most of their visit and use it to celebrate their anniversary. Nora arrives at Edgar's home and invites them to her Christmas fundraising charity ball that she is hosting in her apartment. Kitty and Matty attend the ball where they meet and socialise with the other guests including Nora's husband and daughter along with her staff. The morning after Matt and Kitty decide to enjoy a breakfast at Central Park but on the way they come across the body of Nora who has been murdered! Nora is still wearing the clothes from the night before but her jewellery is missing. The police are called and start investigating but Kitty is determined to find out who killed her fathers friend. Will Kitty and Matt succeed when they are so far from home? Will they discover the truth so they are able to clear the case before Christmas? Well, grab your copy of this absolutely brilliant page turner to find out for yourselves and I promise that you will not regret it!! With a storyline ram packed with crime, history, love, murder, family, Christmas, romance, America, twists and everything you can ask for and more in a festive cosy crime what on Earth are you waiting for? this book truly is an absolutely fantastic addition to this amazing series and a festive one at that with yet another brilliant location that Helena transports the reader too!! I have loved going traveling with Kitty and Matt from their hometown in Dartmouth to Yorkshire, The Highlands to France, now in New York and next stop Cornwall!! even the murder settings are varied and the storylines have included investigating murders in a country house to a boat, on a train to at a wedding, at a beauty pageant to a fair, in a castle to an Island!! Helena comes up with somewhere different each and every time and I cannot wait to travel to Cornwall with her in Kitty and Matt's next adventure!!! At no point did I suspect who was doing what or why so a huge well done there Helena!!! That cliff hanger at the end i would have never seen coming and my jaw literally dropped to the floor!! I have read many a mystery and find that I am working out the killer/perp quicker every time and there's nothing worse than working out who did what when your need even half way through a book. Not only is this quite a suspense and action filled mystery but there was just the right amount of quirkiness, laughter and romance to give it a nice mix!!! It is one of those books that once I started it I just could not put it down and devoured it in several hours, flying through each and every chapter!! A fun, addictive, unputdownable cosy crime mystery. Helena's brilliant evocative and emotive descriptions and writing skills really do bring the characters, atmosphere and locations to life and I felt as if i was walking around seeing and feeling the New York surroundings myself. i was so absorbed in the storyline that on the rare occasion that I actually did look up it took me a few moments to realise where and when I actually was!! I was devastated to come to the end and leave festive New York for gloomy and rainy Wales but know it wont be too long before I head to Cornwall with Helena so at least there is that silver lining!! As always with Helena's books there never is any point telling myself I will read a few chapters and then get some work done as I never manage to and this book is no exception!! I ended up devouring it in one sitting of several hours and was absolutely hooked throughout! This is a fantastic series and if you have never read any of Helena's previous books then you are definitely missing out. I, personally, would like to add that I think each storyline has got better and better which is a very rare thing for a series.

Although this is the eighteenth book in Helena's 'A Miss Underhay Mystery' series I would have had absolutely no problems reading it without any of the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.

I have really become invested in all of these amazing characters since the first book I read in this fantastic series and I really enjoy meeting Kitty and her fantastic and quirky personality each and every time!!! In fact all of the characters have their own individual personalities which worked really well with each other. They have all become like a family to me and I always hate saying goodbye to them at the end of the book. It has been lovely seeing them all grow, develop and mature since I have started reading this series and in this book I really enjoyed finally meeting Kitty's father Edgar!! The relationship is between Kitty and Matt which has been an honour to see grow from friends to partners and finally husband and wife!! They are all like friends to me and as always I am looking forward to meeting them all again in the next 'episode' of Mrs Bryant's adventures which I'm sure will be just as exciting as this one!! The next book in the series is called 'Murder On the Cornish coast' which is available to preorder on Amazon now ready for its publication on the 20th February!! I am off to preorder my copy as soon as I have finished typing this up! A fantastic group of characters for yet another fantastic addition to an addictive series!!! Here's to meeting them all again in the next book 🥂!!!

Well done Helena on yet another fantastic success and here's to the next addition to an addictive page turning series 🥂!!!

Overall a perfect mix of mystery, crime, romance, laughter and quirkiness which kept me turning the pages late at night!!

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This is an amazing series and I have listened to most of them on audible. If you have not read, I encourage you to start at the beginning and be thoroughly entertained!

This one finds Kitty being called to New York due to hearing of her father's illness. She and Matt go across the pond and find out he is doing a little better.

So of course they decide to take advantage of being away and attend a gala given by one of her father's friends. After a fun night, when getting some fresh air, of course they find the dead body of their hostess

What's up? A thoroughly engaging mystery that will keep your attention until the end!

Another enjoyable entry in this great series. Kitty and Matt are such great characters and in this book we get to see more of Kitty's dad Edgar Underhay. The murder mystery was interesting, but not my favourite there was just something missing perhaps it was down to the different setting although the descriptions of New York at Christmas in the 1930s is great. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Murder in New York by Helena Dixon is another fabulous entry in the Miss Underhay series. This time Kitty and Matt are spending Christmas in the Big Apple, due ultimately to shenanigans by Kitty’s mischievous father, Edgar. Perfect for the current weather, New York is beautifully described, with freshly falling snow, department stores decorated for the season and lots of classy restaurants. Edgar appears to have landed on his feet in a luxurious city centre apartment.

Kitty and Matt are invited with Edgar to a society fundraising party in the building’s penthouse suite. The party is glamourous but not without incident as someone slaps the hostess! The next morning, Kitty and Matt are upset to discover the corpse of their charismatic hostess in the snow behind the building. Not confident in the local cops, they decide to investigate themselves.

Murder in New York is another cosy triumph, featuring many beautiful sights of New York, alongside a lot of amateur sleuthing among a good group of suspects, the city’s rich elite. This is despite being warned away by the local lieutenant. It is well-written and engaging and the descriptions of the cold weather are seasonally appropriate. Kitty is a fun character who cannot help getting herself involved.

I had no idea whodunit and was surprised by the outcome. It was a dramatic denouement and there was a further twist in the tale at the very end of the book. I hope this means there is more to come from Miss Underhay. With huge thanks to the publisher for my copy of Murder in New York and for my spot on the blog tour.

Murder in New York is book 18 in the Kitty Underhay series. You can start with this book if you haven't read the previous books.

I've been to New York City during Christmas time and it is pretty magical so I really enjoyed seeing 1930s Christmas in New York through Kitty's and Matt's eyes.

Kitty and Matt are urgently summoned to New York because her father is deathly ill. However, when they arrive in New York they find him healthy as can be. Was he just laying low to avoid his creditors? Whatever the reason, Kitty and Matt are determined to enjoy the season (and their anniversary). So they go shopping and sightseeing and attend parties organized by socialites.

Unfortunately, they stumble upon the body of one such socialite hostess. Kitty's curiosity gets the best of her and she can't let go of the mystery. Particularly when there is a second murder.

As I said, I love Christmas in New York so it is a great backdrop for this cozy mystery. We are with a whole new cast of characters so we don't know anyone well enough to easily rule anyone out as a suspect. As Kitty remarks things are different in New York and they aren't quite sure who to rule out either.

The mystery is fun and not easily solved.

If you are looking for a fun, festive read, pick up this cozy mystery.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Wednesday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2024/11/murder-in-new-york-by-helena-dixon.html

Murder in New York by Helena Dixon sees Matt and Kitty rushing (as fast as a steam liner can carry them) to the bedside of Kitty’s father who is deathly ill in New York City. When they arrive they discover that his friend, Nora Dangerfield, had overreacted and communication being what it was and the fact the ship couldn’t turn around anyway, they found themselves in New York City for Christmas. The first item on the agenda was a masked ball at Nora’s penthouse, right above the apartment in which Edgar was staying. It was a lovely evening, despite the fact some of the guests were a little less reserved that what Kitty and Matt were used to. One woman even slapped Nora across the face, although it turned out Nora had been having an affair with her husband. Still, it was out of the ordinary and the woman had been drunk. The evening was soon lost to memory when Kitty and Matt came across Nora’s body outside the building, dead, sans her expensive jewelry. They called the police and were treated to quite a different investigation than the ones they were used to in England.

Kitty and Matt are a very cute married couple. For most of the series they were not married and by American standards are still conservative in their public affection for one another. Edgar, was still Edgar, one step away from being a criminal. Sadly the police detective recognized him, although did not really consider him a suspect. The suspects were rife, as always, and each very odd, in their own ways. Then, Nora’s daughter fired both her mother’s butler and assistant and gave them until after Christmas to be gone. The butler was charged with packing up the penthouse as they would be redecorating before moving in while they escaped for a vacation in California. It seemed rather cold-hearted. The investigation did not run smoothly and when Kitty finally figured it out, she found herself in a spot of danger. What a great couple these two are: beautifully written and perfect for each other. The mystery was a good one but made sense when everything came to light, if murder ever makes sense. It is a cleverly written book, thoroughly an English mystery, reflective of the time.

I was invited to read Murder In New York by Bookoutre. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #HelenaDixon #MurderInNewYork

1936 Winter. Arriving in New York after receiving a telegram that her father was ill, the Bryants attend a party of neighbour, widow Mrs Nora Dangerfield. The next morning the Bryants find her dead, strangled, and her jewellery missing. But this will not be the last murder. But it is difficult to investigate when not in England and friendly with the police.
An entertaining cozy historical mystery with its likeable main characters. Another good addition to this enjoyable series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The book overall was great and I kept guessing and re-guessing who the killer was. It took me a little time to get into the book, because the chapters ended abruptly in the beginning, but as I moved ahead, I felt more comfortable with it.

The writing of the book is good and flows smoothly. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

I received an advance copy of the book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I enjoyed this mystery. I like the characters and the setting. I liked that it was set in New York just so we had a change in location. . The mystery kept me guessing I look forward to more.

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

“It’s so aggravating. It’s not like being at home where we would know everyone or there would be other people we could ask. Here, everything is against us; the weather, the city, the time of year”


It’s 1936 and Kitty Bryant and her husband Matt have received word that her errant father is desperately ill in New York, so in the lead up to Christmas, they take a trip over the Atlantic to be with him. When they arrive, however, they find him remarkably perky, and believe his illness was just a ruse to avoid some unsavoury people. Nora, the neighbour who telegrammed them about his predicament later invites them all to a fundraising party at her apartment, where Kitty and Matt meet other residents of the building, Nora’s daughter and husband, and Nora’s staff.
The next morning, Kitty and Matt find Nora dead, outside in the snow.

When an established series - this is Book 18 of the Miss Underhay series - goes outside of their usual environs, it can be hard to keep track of all the new characters, but Helena Dixon keeps things tight. We get the joy of Kitty and Matt’s first time in New York, seeing the city at Christmas through their eyes, although enjoyment is tempered by their innate need to find out what happened to Nora. It may be a holiday season but their private investigator instincts don’t take a break. This time, everything is against them as they are in a strange city, with only Edgar, Kitty’s father, being familiar, and everyone hiding secrets and motives.

I loved the new setting for this mystery, and the contrast of 1920s American society with small town England, with the novelty of the situation keeping Kitty and Matt - and the reader - on their toes. After 18 books, the series can still throw up surprises, and I can’t wait for the next book.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this novel.

Book 18 and another must read.

Kitty and Matt find that their plans for a quiet Christmas change dramatically when they receive a telegram from Kitty's fathers neighbour, Mrs. Dangerfield, advising them that he is seriously ill in New York, so they leave immediately to rush to his bedside. On their arrival they find that he seems to have recovered and decide to enjoy this time together seeing the sights of New York.

Deciding to take a stroll around Central Park, they stumble across a body lying in the snow just outside the apartment building and on inspection discover that it is Kitty's fathers neighbour Mrs. Dangerfield!

Will the murderer be someone close to her or an thief gone wrong? Will Kitty and Matt use their detective skills to help the police uncover the murderer?

You will not want to put this book down until you find out for yourself!