A murder doesn't occur until page 208; before that there's a centuries-old body that was most likely murdered.
This series was new to me, and I admit fully that I did not read the previous three books before jumping into this one. Although it can be read as a standalone for the mystery, it really is best if the other books are read first, so that you can get the backstory for all of the characters relationships -- both friendly and not.

In Hannah Dennison’s Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall, Iris Stanford’s novel manuscript has gone missing from the local post office. In response, she commissions her daughter, Kat, to recover it along with her mother’s anonymity. Iris insists that her identity as an author should remain a secret. Kat suspects the local postmistress, who is also the local gossip. But when the postmistress ends up dead, everyone in town becomes a suspect. Will Kat find out who the culprit is? Or will she become the next victim?

Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall is the fourth installment of the Honeychurch Hall Series. The novel has a delightful setting in a quaint little English village. It has the perfect start to a cozy murder mystery, and the climax has a surprising twist, which makes the end satisfactory. However, I found the plot confusing and uninteresting, the characters annoyingly shallow and the book far too long. I wanted to like Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall, but I cannot recommend it.



I was given a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review

Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall
A Honeychurch Hall Mystery #4
Hannah Dennison
Minotaur Books, May 2017
ISBN 978-1-250-06549-0
Hardcover

From the publisher—

When the only copy of Ravished, Iris Stanford’s new manuscript, never arrives at her London publisher’s office, her daughter Kat investigates the tiny local village post office, where it appears the package never left the building. Iris is on tenterhooks―not only is her novel gone with the wind, but she’s deathly afraid that Muriel Jarvis, the postmistress and notorious busybody, will expose her secret identity as the bestselling romance writer Krystalle Storm. Meanwhile, Muriel has her own problems with the sudden death of her husband Fred, which has left her heavily in debt. In the spine-tingling climax, both past and present collide as Kat fights for her life and those she holds most dear, dancing once again with the dark forces lurking behind the grandeur of Honeychurch Hall.

I think I’ve found my new one-of-my-favorites British cozy/traditional series (although I’m apparently the last in my local book club circle of cozy readers to get around to trying it). I’m not bothered by reading out of order and, while I expect my purist friends would disagree with me, I really think this is a good starter. The author does a nice job of dropping in those little tidbits you need to understand prior activities and her characterizations of the people are as full as I could ask them to be. These people are just downright funny and a little bit crazy.

However, murder has been done and somebody has to pay attention. Since Kat is one of the very few levelheaded folks around, the task naturally falls to her. There’s a local copper (named Cropper), of course, but he’s overrun by Lord Rupert as well as Kat and her mum, Iris, when it comes to looking into the death of the centuries-old skeleton found in a sewer line trench. It’s all curiously coincidental considering the upcoming English Civil War re-enactment and, before long, Kat finds herself in the midst of a plethora of mysteries including Iris’ missing manuscript, a suspiciously behaving man in possession (momentarily) of a vastly expensive doll, a prison escapee, and, oh, another body.

There’s a good deal of silliness here—how can there not be with such wacky villagers—but I truly loved this book. Kat’s a great sleuth, although there are no easy denouements, and she has mastered the art of dealing with all these people. I can just imagine driving through the countryside and coming across this lovely little place. What fun!

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, June 2017.

Hannah Dennison continues her Honeychurch Hall series with Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall. Kat has to rescue the manuscript of a novel for her mother, Iris Stanford, from the clutches of the postmistress who has just lost her husband. As the village prepares for a Civil War reenactment, they discover a skeleton from the 1600's and the postmistress becomes a corpse. Whodunit and why? Was it the gentry from Honeychurch Hall or the villagers?

Kat hosted a famous antiquing television show, but now she owns a small antique store off the estate of Honeychurch Hall. A string of crimes begin to occur, including robbery, a missing manuscript, and murder, and Kat must solve the mysteries while settling into her new life and the possibility of romance.

This was a fun, clever mystery. The characters are all really unique. Kat especially is likeable and easy to relate to.

The mystery is also a good one, full of lots of layers and twists and turns. All the little mysteries add up to one big one in a way that makes sense, but is still surprising.


Some of the characters were not likable, at least to me, but that definitely seemed like it was on purpose. Kat had to have some foils and some people to suspect right off the bat.

Not going to lie, there is something about a cute little dog on the cover of a book that just makes me want to read it all the more!

When this book came across my desk for review, I was knee deep in cozy mysteries (Lady Darby series) and was totally on a cozy kick. So when I saw this cozy with an adorable little terrier on the cover, I was 100% sold!

Typically I hate starting a series in the middle, however I just couldn’t pass this one up….I’m a sucker for animal cozies!

When the only copy of Ravished, Iris Stanford’s new manuscript, never arrives at her London publisher’s office, her daughter Kat investigates the tiny local village post office, where it appears the package never left the building.

Iris is on tenterhooks—not only is her novel gone with the wind, but she’s deathly afraid that Muriel Jarvis, the postmistress and notorious busybody, will expose her secret identity as the bestselling romance writer Krystalle Storm.


Meanwhile, Muriel has her own problems with the sudden death of her husband Fred, which has left her heavily in debt. In the spine-tingling climax, both past and present collide as Kat fights for her life and those she holds most dear, dancing once again with the dark forces lurking behind the grandeur of Honeychurch Hall (summary from Goodreads).

So, my first thought is….yes this can be read as a standalone, but I think I would have liked it more had I read at least one of the other books. Everyone and the setting was completely new to me and sometimes I found myself feeling like a bit of an outsider. I didn’t fully appreciate the relationships between the characters and sometimes I just felt like I wish I had some of the backstory so I could better understand the dynamics.

What I did like was the small town–quaint–feel and all the charm that comes with an English country town. While the ‘Skirmish’ that was so predominantly featured in the story, was really just something for the characters to talk about, I found it to be a fun little bit of charm that made me feel at home in the village. For me, I loved the simple, daily life of the British and while some might argue that it’s ‘been done’ I would say that Dennison makes it feel fresh! I feel like I could live there and be forever happy with it’s familiarity and charm!

The characters themselves are stereotypical but I found that to be perfectly fine. They were recognizable characters and archetypes and I found that refreshing and familiar. Personally, I loved Kat. She was smart and has an inquisitive mind which is obviously necessary for an amateur detective but it’s her presentation that I liked. She was relate-able and I could see myself being her friend if I lived in the village.

While I really liked this book, I gave it a 3.5 star rating. It was good and I would likely read the other books in the series….but the problem for me was that I hadn’t read the other books in the series. As I said before, it could read as a standalone but I just felt like I was missing out on the greater story and I couldn’t give it more than a 3.5 star rating. Personally I would recommend reading the first book at the very least so that you can get your barrings. There were also lulls in the story where there was a lot of explanation about family history etc and that was a little much for me and bogged down the story in my opinion.

I would recommend this book for fans of books like the Aunt Dimity series or Sneaky Pie Brown or other series that focus more on daily village life with a dash of murder thrown in. It was a good read and a nice escape!

Challenge/Book Summary:

Book: Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall (Honeychurch Hall Mystery #4) by Hannah Dennison

Kindle Edition, 320 pages
Published May 2nd 2017 by Minotaur Books
ASIN
B01M3NPS5U
Review copy provided by: Author/Publisher in exchange for an honest review
This book counts toward: NA

Hosted by: NA
Books for Challenge Completed: NA
Recommendation: 3.5 out of 5

Genre: cozy mystery, mystery

Disclaimer - I received an advance reader copy from the publisher. This was my introduction to the Honeychurch Hall series by Hannah Dennison and I am hooked! I had a rollicking good time in Devon with a former TV host and her antiques business, her mother who writes torrid romances, the local gentry, some shady people and all the quirky characters of the small town. There's a very old skeleton found, a English Civil War reenactment in the works, mysteries lights at the almost abandoned church, a dead body or two, love affairs and a couple of adventurous young boys. If you're looking for an excellent cozy to read, I highly recommend it. I've already read #1 in the series, with two to go....

I enjoyed the setting of this book as well as the story line. The humor provided from mother/daughter relationship and the onset of a possible romance as well as the mystery plot keep the reader's constant attention.
This can be read as a stand alone but is part of the Honeychurch Hall series.

Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison is the fourth book in A Honeychurch Hall Mystery series. In Little Dipperton, in the Devonshire countryside, the town is getting ready for the annual “Skirmish” which is the re-enactment of battles around Honeychurch Hall during the English Civil War (between the Roundheads and the Cavaliers). Kat is readying the West Gatehouse for Kat’s Collectibles and Valuation Services when Muriel Jarvis pays a call. She is having money troubles since the recent death of her husband and needs a loan. Muriel is the local postmistress and the nosiest woman in town. After dealing with Muriel, Kat is called away by her mother, Iris. Eric Pugsley discovered a skull in the ground while demolishing his old caravan (which was an eyesore). A dagger with the Honeychurch crest is found stabbed in the victim’s ribs and a torture device on her head. It is a very old crime, but D.I. Shawn Cropper shoos everyone away from the scene. Iris is busy creating costumes for the Honeychurch family for the Skirmish when she receives a call from her editor. Her latest manuscript for the Star-Crossed Lover series has failed to arrive at her publisher. Iris creates her novels on a typewriter and that was the only copy (she failed to make a copy). Iris mailed the package from Little Dipperton (you can see where this is heading) and tracking shows the item never left the post office. If Muriel opened the package, Iris’ secret life as Krystalle Storm will be revealed. The manuscript is not the only item missing from around town. Several objects have turned up missing. Just when Kat believes things cannot get worse, Muriel is found dead in her home after Albert did a reconnaissance mission for the manuscript. It looks like Albert and Iris are once again murder suspects. Then there is the little matter of Piers Carew and his sudden interest in Kat. Mayhem does not begin to describe matters in Little Dipperton.

Murderous Mayhem in Honeychurch Hall is jam packed. There is one wacky incident after another. Gossip and meddling are the main sources of entertainment in the village. There are several quirky characters (Iris being the main one) and readers are introduced to some new ones (including Piers Carew who I am sure we will see more of in the next book). The setting sounds just lovely. Murderous Mayhem in Honeychurch Hall is easy to read and has a quick pace. It is a humorous type of cozy mystery that focuses more on the characters and their antics. My mother loves these types of novels (with zany capers and hilarity). I do not recommend starting the series with Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall. If you have not read any of the other novels in the series, you will be a little lost (you need to start with Murder at Honeychurch Hall). I give Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall 3 out of 5 stars. The mystery of Muriel’s murder and the string of thefts around town is easily solved. I was hoping it would be a little more complex. Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall is a madcap story that will appeal many readers.

I fell in love with this series right from the beginning. Honeychurch Hall and the surrounding village is a fantastic setting and Kat is an interesting an intelligent protagonist though her choices are not always good ones. As well the side characters are always entertaining with eccentric Honeychurch family, Kay's secretive mother Iris, Iris' secretive and sometimes criminal step-brother Alfred, and the rest of the village residents. Unfortunately, the third book - A Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall - wasn't my favorite and I was a little nervous going into this mystery because I was afraid it would be a disappointment.
This proved to be a thoroughly entertaining mystery. I loved the mystery from the English Civil War and all the family history that was discussed. As well the more modern day mystery was quite complex with all kinds of red herrings and false leads. The actual modern day murder takes awhile to show up but it is very clear that something is terribly wrong in the village as thing are going missing with an astonishing regularity from the very valuable to the unimportant. Is it mischievous children or something far more ominous?
This proved to be a fast read and one I thoroughly enjoyed. My primary compliant is that Kat makes some very odd decisions at times. Most are related to her personal life and I question her sanity when it comes to her romantic choices. The dishonesty of Alfred and Iris would normally drive me crazy but it fits so well with their personalities and back stories that it would feel weird if they were up front. While this is the 4th in the series you could jump in here though reading the first book would probably make the characters make a little more sense. Both the first boo and this one are delightful so it will be time well spent!

MURDEROUS MAYHEM AT HONEYCHURCH HALL, the fourth book in the Honeychurch Hall Mystery series, is delightful reading fun, striking a nice balance between silliness, mischief, and murder.

Kate Stanford, a former TV show antique appraiser, has opened her own business in the gatehouse of Honeychurch Estate and hopes the village’s upcoming “Skirmish” reenactment of the English Civil War will draw some badly needed traffic. The whole tiny village of Little Dipperton in Devon traditionally gets involved, and this event provides a nice backdrop that ties the whole story together. Kate’s mother Iris, who is secretly a wildly successful romance author, mailed her latest manuscript to her publisher but is beside herself when she discovers it never arrived; the only copy of the book is missing. Add to this drama the discovery of a centuries old murder victim, small items gone missing, money stolen, a car theft ring, a family feud that dates back to said Civil War, infidelity, the postmistress’s murder, and a ghost, and readers can indeed see how easy it is for the mayhem to ensue. Author Hannah Denison does a great job of weaving these numerous plot threads together. In less skilled hands, this whole book could have been a royal mess, but everything comes together in a dramatic climax, and all threads are neatly resolved to provide an exceptionally satisfying read.

Each of the various mysteries is compelling on its own, but the story surrounding the unearthed skeleton is my favorite. The rich local history and the plethora of records dating back hundreds of years are fascinating and awe inspiring to me in contrast to my own “young” American history. Everything to do with the Honeychurch lineage and the family’s far reaching responsibility to the village is intriguing. There are frequent laugh-out-loud moments, and some of the situations are frivolous, but I reveled in every moment. Of note is a scene involving buttoned up Lady Lavenia unencumbered by Vicodin.

I think Kate and I could be good friends. She is intelligent, inquisitive, and pragmatic, all of which make her a fine amateur sleuth. I do feel like she needs a sidekick, though, to help her in her investigations. I realize she has her mother and DI Shawn Cooper, but Iris is far too unreliable. The supporting cast of characters is charming, every one of them quirky, and even those who are unpleasant are still likable. I especially enjoy young Master Harry, Lord and Lady Honeychurch’s son. His enthusiasm and imagination, combined with his innate sense of aristocratic entitlement, makes him quite endearing. Muriel is the quintessential nosy gossip, and it is unfortunate that she is one of the victims. I confess that I do not care for Iris. Lying comes far too easy to her, and she makes poor choices.

Hannah Dennison has created an enchanting world in the Honeychurch Estate and adjacent tiny Devonshire village. The historically rich setting is a nice foil for the contemporary narrative, and the wacky characters are engaging. I look forward to reading many further adventures featuring Kate and company. I highly recommend this complexly plotted and well written lighthearted mystery to Anglophiles and any cozy fan.

Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall” is the 4th book in the Honeychurch Hall Mystery series written by Hannah Dennison. This book is the only one that I have read in this series but I will definitely go back and read the other ones!
I loved the storyline along with the mystery. I feel that I would have enjoyed the characters alot more had I read the previous books in this series. This is a wonderful cozy mystery with some delightful characters that I feel other readers will enjoy as well. Kat Stanford, the protagonist is opening an antique shop is also the former host of televised Fakes and Treasures. She lives near her mother, Iris Stanford, who writes a successful romance series under a pen name. Only a few people know about this. Kat's small town is preparing for the annual Skirmish, which is based on the siege of Honeychurch Hall during the English Civil War. Kat is hoping she will get more traffic with the visitors for this event. But before her hopes are realized things begin to happen, a body is found on the historical property. Now to make matters worse Iris’ manuscript is missing, the funds for the event have disappeared, and strange sightings in the graveyard are reported Iris is suspicious of a few citizens especially the gossipy postmaster.
“Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall” is a cozy mystery that definitely should be enjoyed by everyone who enjoys reading about small English villages and all the wonderful people and situations that occur in them. This author is one of my favorites and I highly recommend this book as well as her other books. I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley for review purposes.

This is a quirky series with delightful characters.
Murder and mayhem rear their ugly heads in this well told story by Hannah Dennison.
These books will grow on you. Each one I read makes me laugh.
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

This fourth installment of Hannah Dennison's Honeychurch Hall series is every bit as delightful as the other three. These mysteries have all the hallmarks of a writer who's loving every minute of her work.

Her stately home setting allows Dennison to enlighten readers about the very real problems faced by the owners of such properties, and her method of showing how an extremely eccentric family tries to stay afloat and save their home takes away any appearance of this being "a lesson." In addition, having a family who's lived in the house for centuries lets the author bring to light all sorts of family skeletons-- like the one uncovered in time for the Civil War reenactment being carried out on the property.

As always, the cast of characters shines. I really liked the fact that Kat is actually starting to get her antique business off the ground. Readers get to meet a family black sheep named Piers and a very young wife named Jess, and busybody Muriel plays her role to perfection. I have to admit that Kat's mother Iris still annoys the stuffing out of me (let me count the ways!), but Dennison has so much fun with her that I won't complain.

There's so much to like in this book-- and the entire series-- that I could go on forever. This Honeychurch Hall series is one of my favorite cozy series, and if you haven't tried it by now, I hope you will in the very near future. Due to character development, I suggest you start at the beginning with Murder at Honeychurch Hall. You have some wonderful reading ahead of you!

Take two murder victims—one from the past and the other from the present, missing money and other things that are gone--throw in a mother who was formerly a part of a traveling fair and boxing emporium along with her daughter, well-known for the TV show she used to host, and you have the makings for quite a story.

This book truly exemplifies everything I love about the top-of-the-line cozy mysteries. It has a well-written plot and well-developed characters—the good, the somewhat nutty and a few that you can’t just can’t tell what side they are really on. If that wasn’t enough, this book, like most cozy mysteries, isn’t filled with unnecessary, graphic sex scenes or bad language, and I am always delighted to read stories that involve a good mystery and none of the garbage that never adds to the plot anyway.

This is book four of the Honeychurch Hall Mysteries. I have read other books in the series, and I feel I’ve really gotten to know the characters who live in the English countryside. While it works well as a standalone book, you’ll be missing a lot of really great stories if you start with this one and don’t read the first three.

Once again, Kat Stanford is pulled into a murder investigation when the local postmistress turns up dead. Muriel Jarvis was also the local gossip. It was she who lost Hannah's mother's latest creation, another story written under her pseudonym, Krystalle Storm. It is also Muriel whose husband had recently died and left her deep in debt. Could it have been that Muriel was using her position to ferret out people's secrets and then making them pay for her to keep them?
This was an interesting book that had a nice mix of new and familiar characters. Harry is back as is his philandering father and slightly-dim-but-sweet mother. So is her brother who I didn't particularly like and I have a feeling we're going to see more of him. A lot of story shoved in to this book and I don't particularly love all of the side characters (the Iris/Alfred combo wears a bit) but other than that a nice addition to the series.

Three stars
This book comes out May 2
Follows A Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall

Another great addition to the series, I hope to see more of these in the future!

Kat & her nutty acquaintances encounter another dead body on the Honeychurch estate. Fans of the previous installments will most likely enjoy this fourth book but I was a tad disappointed.

First, Kat really needs a dependable sidekick or partner – her mother, Iris, and Uncle Alfred are completely unreliable. At times the brother & sister pair are adorable--I love Iris's torrid romance novels--but their antics are growing repetitive. The side characters are even more unpredictable. I think all the characters, including Kat, are constantly lying. The characters reappear in each novel but I'm not really sure they are developing...

Second, Kat's romantic interests are the worst. The WORST! I understand this is a mystery series but if the author insists on romance, help a girl out! Thankfully David is gone but the two men in this novel were blah and bleck. Give this reader a swoon-worthy man or let Kat be solitary and happy.

I feel invested in this series now and will definitely read book five but I really hope that the author tones down the goofiness--the line between charmingly whimsical and utter silliness has been crossed.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

I am getting obsessed with the Honeychurch stories! This new one is just as fascinating as the previous two and reveals even more of the rich backstories of the main characters. This series is a perfect blend of English countryside, ordinary and extraordinary characters, village scandals and everyday life, with a perplexing murder or two thrown in to spice things up. Love it!

The mother and daughter characters seemed a bit strident to me in the first book of this series. I am finding them much more appealing as I read subsequent volumes - and even starting to feel a part of Honeychurch and the village. An overall entertaining read!