Even though I've found myself moving away from cozy mysteries the past couple of years, there are still a few series that I enjoy too much to ever abandon. Hannah Dennison's Honeychurch Hall series is one of them, and when I learned of a new, Christmas-themed one, being released in November, I just had to pre-order it.
Dennison's combination of excellent characters, her wit and humor, the main character's antiques business, and the setting of a down-at-heels English country house checks too many boxes for me to ignore. Let me tell you more about it!
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| Available November 10, 2022! |
Synopsis:
"Following the butler's death and the cook's retirement, the
ever-gullible Lady Lavinia replaces them with a power couple who are
determined to thrust the crumbling estate into the 21st century. The
Dowager Countess reluctantly agrees to hold a big-ticket Christmas gala
and silent auction with a mystery celebrity flying in from Monaco as the
guest of honour.
Needless to say the newcomers' make a few enemies in their quest to change the status quo and when one body is discovered in the Victorian stumpery and a second, in the ha-ha, it seems that their high-flying past is catching up with them.
Meanwhile, Kat is dealing with the theft of a valuable doll that had been earmarked for the auction. When it turns out that all the ticket money has vanished and there never was a celebrity guest, it's up to Kat to save the day and bring the cold-blooded killer to justice."
Needless to say the newcomers' make a few enemies in their quest to change the status quo and when one body is discovered in the Victorian stumpery and a second, in the ha-ha, it seems that their high-flying past is catching up with them.
Meanwhile, Kat is dealing with the theft of a valuable doll that had been earmarked for the auction. When it turns out that all the ticket money has vanished and there never was a celebrity guest, it's up to Kat to save the day and bring the cold-blooded killer to justice."
I don't know about you, but the synopsis put a smile on my face. I'm really looking forward to reading A Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall. There's always something new to learn about life in a dilapidated English country house, and you may think Dennison is pulling your leg with mentions of stumperies and ha-has, but she's not; both were commonplace features of country estates in England in centuries past. As I read, I know I'm going to learn something interesting about antiques, and as I can't stand Kat Stanford's mother, I always read the newest book in the series in hopes that the woman will finally have her well-deserved comeuppance. (I know... shame on me!)
This is a fun series to read, and if you haven't already, I hope you'll give it a try.
Oh, I agree, Cathy! This is a fun series, and I like the way the characters have developed over time. And the Devon setting's done nicely, too, I think. There's a nice balance, too, between 'funny' and a good plot. Good to see that a new one's on the way!
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is, and I'm looking forward to seeing how Dennison weaves the Christmas season into her story.
DeleteThis does sound like a fun series. The first line of that blurb totally made me smile! And my library has several of Dennison's books. Is it a series where you should start with the first book, or do you think I can jump in pretty much anywhere?
ReplyDeleteYou could jump in anywhere, but-- after having a little think about it-- I believe it's best to start at the beginning. :-)
DeleteI haven't read the series but I am adding it to my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteOften, one of these Honeychurch Hall mysteries is just what the doctor ordered after reading heavier, darker fare.
DeleteI'm glad to see she is continuing on with this series even while writing a newer one. These are on my TBR. I have read both of the books so far in her Island Sisters series and really enjoyed them. This one sounds fun.
ReplyDeleteIt is fun, Gretchen. I really liked her 2nd Island Sisters mystery, too.
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