‘The three Dahlias face their next mystery at a castle in the Scottish Highlands
which is cut off by the snow . .’
– A Lively Midwinter Murder
[ About A Lively Midwinter Murder ]
FIRST COMES LOVE . . . THEN COMES MURDER
A high society Christmas Eve wedding at a remote Scottish castle sounds like the perfect winter getaway for the three Dahlias and their partners – until a snowstorm hits, cutting them off from the mainland, and civilisation. Which, of course, is when the dead body of one of the other guests turns up in the snow outside the family chapel. A dead body wearing a wedding dress and a stolen diamond necklace…
The Dahlias were ready for mulled wine, roaring fires, and romance this Christmas. Now, they’re on the hunt for another murderer. And if their suspicions are right, it looks like the wedding may be off …
[ My Review ]
A Lively Midwinter Murder by Katy Watson published November 5th with Constable (Little Brown Books) and is the fourth mystery in the Three Dahlias series. It can be read as a standalone but I do think it would be beneficial to read the previous novels in the series, in order to get a more complete picture of the cast and their backstory.
Rosalind King, Caro Hooper and Posy Starling, aka The Three Dahlias, are at Dunwick Castle in a remote part of the Scottish Highlands for the wedding of their friend Libby McKinley to Duncan Alexander. Dunwick Castle has been owned by the same family for generations and now Libby is due to marry into the fold. The wedding has all the trademarks of an elaborate event and Rosalind, Caro and Posy are all looking forward to enjoying the celebrations in this stunning part of the world.
On arrival, they witness a serious incident involving a drowning but, as it apparently has nothing to do with Libby’s upcoming nuptials, they initially shelve their innate curiosity. The Dahlias’ observations and ability to communicate with each other, through years of investigating and acting, soon become central to this novel when another tragedy takes place. As the weather turns increasingly hostile, the body of a fellow guest is discovered in the snow and it soon becomes very clear that something sinister is afoot. Inclement weather leads to road closures and loss of communication to the outside world, leaving the residents and guests of Dunwick Castle isolated. The Three Dahlias immediately get to work and, using their individual skills and investigative analysis, they begin to untangle a web of deceit, greed and toxic relationships but can they catch a killer?
The Three Dahlias series is a throwback to the Golden Age of Detective fiction when the amateur sleuth was all the rage. The inclusion of an original Dahlia Lively series of mysteries, written by a fictional author, Lettice Davenport, is an interesting concept, with each chapter opening with a snippet from one of her books. Rosalind, Caro and Posy now know the role they each need to play in order to uncover the truth. They work in tandem, taking notes and examining clues as they subtly investigate the crime. Katy Watson has completely embraced the whole cosy crime genre, capturing the very essence of the classic novels of that era. Although a murder has taken place, there is a light-hearted element to the series which makes this the perfect read for anyone who prefers less grit and violence in their crime fiction.
A Lively Midwinter Murder is a well-crafted mystery, entertaining and charming. With it’s rugged and wild atmospheric setting, the visuals are very strong throughout allowing all to easily imagine the scene depicted on the page. With accessible entry into the plot, the reader feels included in the investigation, solving the puzzle alongside the protagonists. Although set in modern day, there is a timeless feel to Katy Watson’s writing that should appeal to all Agatha Christie fans and readers who enjoy a classic cosy crime novel with a more contemporary flair.
*Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of A Lively Midwinter Murder in exchange for my honest review
[ Bio ]
Katy Watson grew up in North Wales, as part of a family of folk singers, storytellers and murder mystery addicts. An avid reader and notebook collector, her dream was to combine the two hobbies by becoming an author and, after spending her teenage years reading paperback Christies on rainy Welsh caravan holidays, it seemed inevitable that one day she’d try writing her own crime novel.
It took her eight years of writing professionally – and over forty-five non-murderous books for children, teens and adults – to write her first murder mystery, The Three Dahlias, and now she’s started she never wants to stop!
X ~ @KWatsonAuthor
