#1 In the Miss Underhay mystery series, set in 1933 Dartmouth.

Kitty Underlay’s grandmother own The Dolphin Hotel in Dartmouth. When a relative has a fall, her grandmother leaves to look after her in Scotland, leaving Kitty in charge.

But, she employs a security officer, ex-Captain Matt Bryant, to keep an eye on Kitty and the hotel as she is concerned about recent events locally.

Kitty is looking forward to her Jazz event she has organised, she even has a jazz singer from Chicago taking part. 

Then there’s breaking in the hotel, some rooms broken into…..but why? Were they looking for something in particular? The local Inspector begins an investigation and Kitty and Matt help too. There are deaths and things turn more sinister.

This is a beautifully written cosy mystery whodunnit in the vein of Agatha Christie and Josephine Tey. Charming, atmospheric and thoroughly entertaining. 

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a free copy of the ebook.  This is my honest, unbiased review.

I have to say I do love a historical novel set in the interwar years, the 1930’s have long held a fascination for me. I always gravitate towards this type of novel, especially when they’re in my favourite mystery/thriller genre!
 
Murder At The Dolphin Hotel is a cosy historical whodunnit which is a subtle nod to classic crime fiction while still seeming fresh and new. 
 
Our main characters, Kitty and Matthew were likeable and realistic. Matthew is a first world war veteran who is still suffering from the aftermath of the war and the loss of someone close to him. Kitty on the other hand has her own issues, her mother vanished when she was just a child and she’s never known her father. They come together nicely, with a hint of romance there but it’s not over done.
 
Now usually find with this type of novel, there’s one, maybe two murders but my goodness there was so much murder and mayhem (not graphic though so if that’s not your thing you don’t need to worry) which I found thoroughly enjoyable. 
 
I did feel the ending was a little drawn out, I felt I was kept waiting a little too long for the killer reveal but of course that’s just my opinion.
 
Murder At The Dolphin Hotel is a little gem of a cosy novel and I can’t wait to read more adventures featuring Kitty and Matthew!

A lovely, historical cozy mystery set in Dartmouth, 1933. 

It's summer and the start of the tourist season in riverside Dartmouth at the Dolphin Hotel. The fashionable place is owned and managed by Mrs. Treadwell and her granddaughter, Miss Kitty Underhay. As the story opens, a dead body has been fetched out of the river -- the man was a Dutch foreigner -- and the police are involved. Murder is not common in Dartmouth and this news has everyone a bit on edge. So, when Mrs. Treadwell has to leave to attend a relative, Kitty learns that Captain Matthew Bryant has been retained to provide security in her grandmother's absence. At the same time, Kitty finds out that Grams has been receiving threatening letters that hint of an item of great value that the sender wants back. Kitty has been in the care of Grams since she was 6 years old when her mother, Elowed, disappeared during the war. Kitty has no memories of her father. It's a mystery that gets more involved after an assault on the former mayoress and a couple more murders. Everything is complicated by a nosy reporter and the scheduled visit by an entertainer from the US. With plenty of intrigue and a surfeit of suspects, can Kitty and Captain Bryant figure out what the treasure is, find it, and make sure it is secured? NO SPOILERS. 

As the first in a new series, this installment introduces us to the two main characters. I really enjoyed getting to know Kitty and Matthew and am eager to see what new adventures and mysteries await. I absolutely loved the time period and the setting and couldn't get enough of the period details of a time long gone. The narrative is well-written and the words flew by as I devoured this in a couple of hours. Lots of action and fun trying to guess which were the bad guys. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. I definitely want to read the next book in this series.

When Kitty Underhay’s grandmother left to attend to a sick relative, she had hired ex-Army Captain, Matthew Bryant as security for the Dolphin Hotel, and to make sure Kitty herself was safe. Grams knew more than she had let on to Matt; she was worried for Kitty, wishing she hadn’t had to leave. But needs must, and Kitty was an independent young woman, happy to oversee the hotel that had been her home for as long as she could remember. Kitty had acquired the services of a Chicago jazz singer who was in London and had some spare time before heading back to the United States. Kitty’s preparation for the upcoming two weeks, plus keeping the guests happy and accommodated would certainly keep her busy.

But things began going wrong – a murder occurred; some of the guests’ rooms were broken into, including Kitty’s own room. No one could work out what was happening and why. Between Matt, Kitty and Inspector Greville, progress was made, albeit slowly. Kitty’s bafflement at what certain people were after brought sad memories of her mother who had gone missing when Kitty was six. She only had mementos left of the mother she barely remembered and couldn’t comprehend the motive. But it was obvious Kitty was in danger when more murders occurred…

Murder at the Dolphin Hotel is the 1st in A Miss Underhay Mystery series, a historical mystery novel set in 1933 England. The pace was fast, my interest nonstop and there was plenty of action – an excellent whodunit that I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend highly.

With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun read!  I love a good mystery but even more so a good period piece mystery.  Murder At the Dophin Hotel offers intrigue, mystery in spades and a budding romance, all set to the backdrop of the blustery English coast.  From mysterious letters, to multiple murders and a search for a valuable jewel, I loved the descriptive setting of the 1930s.  As I turned the pages I was drawn into the glitz and glamour of the Dophin Hotel and finding out whodunnit.   I look forward to seeing Kitty and Matt meet again in future adventures and discovering how these characters will continue to develop in the books to come. 

A big thank you to the Bookouture for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. 
#NetGalley #MurderatheDolphinHotel #Goodreads

This is the first in a new cozy mystery series featuring Kitty Underhay, a twenty-something year old woman in the flapper era. She has been raised by her grandmother in the hotel she owns and Kitty is currently co-managing the hotel with her grandmother in preparation for her assuming responsibility of it’s running. Kitty has been left in charge of the hotel while her grandmother travels to take care of an ailing aunt.
Before leaving, Kitty’s grandmother hires Matthew Bryant, a former captain in the army to oversee hotel security with a special emphasis on ensuring Kitty’s safety. Unknown to Kitty, her grandmother has been receiving anonymous threatening letters referencing someone returning for something she has that doesn’t belong to her. Her grandmother has no idea what the anonymous writer is talking about, but she fears it has to do with Kitty’s mother who disappeared when Kitty was a little girl.
There has already been one murder, although no one knows how it relates to Kitty, the hotel or the missing object. As threats increase, along with additional bodies, Kitty learns there is a missing ruby about which she knows nothing, her father is alive and has been spotted in town although she doesn’t know who he is, and the threat to her is growing. She and Matthew work together to solve the mystery of the ruby as well as to unmask the murderer.
The book really seemed like an opportunity to introduce characters who will be featured in future books within the series. I would like to learn more about the character’s personalities. In this book they seem a bit shallow and not developed as fully as I would like to pull me into the book and pique my interest in following the series. It was well written, and future books may show an increase in personalities that create more three dimensional characters in my mind.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with an Advanced Digital Read copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

June 1933. Kitty Underhay is a modern, independent woman who prides herself on the reputation of her family’s hotel on the blustery English coast in Dartmouth. But then a body is found, rooms are ransacked and rumours begin to circulate that someone is on the hunt for a valuable stolen ruby – a ruby that Kitty’s mother may have possessed when she herself went missing during the Great War. 
Kitty's Grandmother has employed ex-army captain Matthew Bryant as her new hotel security officer. Together the pair of them join forces to solve the case.
A new author to me, I thoroughly enjoyed the book which totally captivated me & made a long train journey pass very quickly. It was well written & flowed extremely well. The characters had depth & I loved Kitty & Matt, who I hope go on to solve many cases together as there's also an attraction there too. There were plenty of red herrings thrown into the mix, which kept me guessing as to who the villain was. If you love cozy mysteries then I'd definitely recommend that you give this a try
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Another in the fairly crowded market of Golden Age-inspired crime books set in the 1920s and 1930s, this novel from Helena Dixon is a worthy entrant into the genre. 

The year is 1933, and Kitty Underhay helps run the Dolphin Hotel in Dartmouth with her grandmother, Mrs Treadwell. When the latter is called away to ‘Scotland’ (never actually specified where, I think!) to care for a sick relative, Kitty is left in charge to run the hotel for the start of the busy summer season. A series of threatening letters has been received, so Mrs Treadwell has employed an ex-military man to oversee security at the hotel. Captain Matthew Bryant is, of course, dashingly handsome, but also harbours some secrets of his own, including claustrophobia and shell shock from his time during the war. Another, darker event from his past also haunts him, and whilst there are hints the truth is never fully revealed. Kitty’s past life, too, is shrouded in mystery as her mother vanished without a trace in 1916, and her father hasn’t been seen since he stayed behind in America before the outbreak of war. 

The plot centres around a missing ruby that involves a lot of glamorous characters, some very shady characters, and a series of murders and assaults that centre on the hotel. The author clearly loves this period, and the descriptions are vivid enough to bring the era to life, with bright young things aplenty, a masked ball, a secret tunnel, a thrilling dénouement in a deserted church, and sturdy policemen giving it lots of whistle-blowing and chasing around.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable, well-written crime novel that rattles along at a canter. The two main characters will clearly end up together at some point in what is sure to be a series of books involving the pair, and future storylines are left in place by the end of the book. For fans of this genre this is an excellent addition, and I actively look forward to more in the series. A definitely recommended 4 stars.

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

A nice cosy that I spent some time with on a very rainy evening. At points, I wondered if it was meant to be at first a contemporary mystery and then later was changed to be set in 1930ies, because the 1930ies setting felt at times contrived and there were some odd too modern things in the book. Still, enjoyed the characters, decent plot. Perfect for a bit of an escape.

A murder mystery set in 1933, this was simply the perfect book for me. I grew up reading such books, scavenging them from my relatives' bookshelves... Most were first or second editions. You bet I was not allowed to touch them. Yet... I did.

Dolphin Hotel was the setting and its owner Mrs. Treadwell was receiving few threatening notes in the past few days. She hired Mathew to look into her and protect Kitty her granddaughter. In absentia of gran, Kitty and Matt started investigating, when murder occurred too close to home.

My first book by Helena Dixon, I loved the old world feeling I experienced while reading this book. I became a child hiding from the world, trying to solve the mystery. Body count increased, and both Kitty and Matthew rushed to get to the identity of the killer. Pages too turned fast trying to keep up with them.

I loved Helen's writing, she took me straight from my home to 1933 where the world moved at a slower pace and investigations were conducted using old fashioned methods. The book started with a strong beginning and ended with the right shocker. There was attraction between the main characters, but in a murder mystery, my focus was only on the who and why of the murder.

A brilliant whodunit where nostalgia and suspense gripped me.

It is 1933. Kitty Underhay is left in charge of the Dolphin hotel when her grandmother travels to Scotland to take care of her aunt. Although she is starting to feel trapped, Kitty has arranged an American jazz singer to start the tourist season and there is a lot at stake.
What Kitty does not know is that her grandmother has secretly hired a former army office to take care of the hotel security in the wake of threatening letters. Matt Bryant is struggling with his own loss and the effects of his war service but is shocked to discover that the threat to both the hotel and Kitty is very real indeed.
Who is the mysterious Mr Smith?
Why is someone breaking into the hotel and not taking anything?
Did Mrs Craven simply fall and hit her head or was she pushed?
How can Matt prevent Kitty from being the next victim in a deadly plot.
Who were Kitty's parents and where are they now?

The tension builds in this traditional but fast paced period mystery and I look forward to the next adventures of Kitty and Matt.

Murder at the Dolphin Hotel by Helena Dixon is the first book in A Miss Underhay Mystery series.

The first book really shows promise. 
Well rounded, relatable and realistic protagonists are the focal point of this book.
Attractive setting, such as a hotel provides ample opportunity for fascinating characters and many possible happenings. 
I am looking forward to seeing how it will  progress further as the main protagonist decides to continue her sleuthing career.

Miss Kitty Underhay is running the Dolphin hotel with her grandmother, who is the only family she has left after her mother's disappearance a long time ago and a father she doesn't even remember. They are getting ready for summer season when a series of very peculiar events are set in motion. Ransacked rooms, rumors of possible jewel theft, set of dead bodies become a part of hotel's every day life, so much so that her grandmother even hires a security person to look after Kitty.

Absorbing tale, full of twists and turns will keep readers engaged and glued to the pages of this 1920's time fiction story.
Beautiful fashion, long lost values and charming characters add the needed dynamism to the story.

Highly recommended.

(Also posted on my GR account!)

This wasn't the first cozy mystery I've read, but probably the most boring one. Maybe I'm just not suited to cozy mystery.

Pros: good writing (I swear the words flew like water and I didn't realize that I arrived at 50% mark just by reading it at work), easy to follow plot (much like other cozies), and cute setting.

Cons: too many characters, I didn't really like Kitty (and I guess this play a huge role on me not being able to enjoy the book 100%).

Overall, it was OK to me and lots love the book, so cozy lovers, go get your book.

Such a great mystery! I really enjoyed the characters and setting.  This was such a quick read and had me guessing until the end.

Historical fiction is usually not my cup of tea but I love cozy mysteries and my love for the genre and the gorgeous cover convinced me.

I read the book in one go. I guess it's quite clear that the story is captivating. The writing style is very fluent and I really liked Miss Underhay. She is not only independent, but clever too. Although she does what a lot of girls in thrillers do and should not have done and has everybody yelling NOOO, she at least takes precautions. 

Often, at the start of a new series, the main character's background remains rather vague and in each book some details are revealed. In this case, we get to know Kitty pretty well, but I am sure a lot is still hidden and waiting for the readers to find out.

It was a rather complicated case with a lot of people who could have done it and I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. 

I am looking forward to part 2. 4 stars.

Thank you, Helena Dixon and Bookouture.

A great start to a fun series!  I loved the location, the main character, and the mystery! I'm also intrigued by what happened to the MC mother. Hopefully, the series will explore more into how/why her mother is missing.

What a great start for a new historical cozy series. I read it as fast as I could because I was engrossed in the plot and wanted to know what was going to happen.
I loved the fleshed out and likeable character, both Kit and Matt are interesting and well thought characters and I'm curious to learn more about them and the mysteries in their life.
The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns, and the solution came as a surprise.
I can't wait to read the next instalment because I want to know more about the MCs.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review.  Murder at the Dolphin is the first in a new series set in 1930s Dartmouth, England.  Miss Kitty Underhay and her grandmother run a well-known local hotel, the Dophin, that has been in the family for generations.  Kitty was raised by her grandmother after the mysterious disappearance of Kitty's mother when she was a young girl; Kitty knows nothing about her father and remembers little about her life before she and her mother went to live at the hotel.  

Kitty's grandmother has been called away to help care for her injured sister in Scotland leaving Kitty to run the hotel alone during the beginning of the summer season with a special series of events featuring well known signer Miss Delacourt.  What Kitty doesn't know is that her grandmother has been receiving threatening notes demanding the return of something the writer believes belongs to them; she decides to hire Matthew Bryant, a former solider, to help watch over both Kitty and the hotel.  

Although skeptical of the need for security at the hotel and not made aware of the threats, Kitty appreciates Matthew's presence when a series of events begin to plague her and the hotel.  After being pushed into traffic, and finding her room ransacked, Matt discloses the threats and he and Kitty work together to try and figure out what exactly someone thinks she has that belongs to them.  

The mystery is nicely done, but as with many cozy mysteries, the real draw is the characters.  Kitty is extremely likeable and smart.  Matthew is portrayed as somewhat mysterious as the reader is given hints of his military service and past are haunting him.  Kitty and Matthew work well together and there is a hint of future romance to unfold in future books.  I found this book to be a nice, relaxing way to spend a few hours and will be looking for the next title in the series.

This is a lovely read! I could visualise the hotel so well, the town, the hustle and bustle of life in the 1930's. And what a great heroine in Miss Underhay. I also developed quite a soft spot for Matt. I thoroughly enjoyed the story-telling, the little clues, the way the mysteries developed. It definitely got the little grey cells working!

Running a hotel is a time consuming profession even when it's in your blood and you are doing so during the heady days of the early 1930's. When you start getting threatening letters along with everything else it definitely adds an extra amount of stress to your day. Kitty Underhay lives with her grandmother at The Dolphin Hotel in Dartmouth which they own and manage between them. Kitty's mother, Elowed, disappeared in June 1916 on her way to London and hasn't been seen or heard from since. Her father returned to the USA before the war and it isn't known if he is even still alive. 

Left alone to run the hotel when her grandmother has to travel to Scotland unexpectedly Kitty is both annoyed and relieved that she had hired ex-army captain Matthew Bryant, as the new security manager before she left. As things begin to get increasingly dangerous with murders and robberies shattering the tranquillity of the small town it becomes clear all are somehow connected not only to each other but also to the hotel itself. Matt and Kitty have to work together to try and discover what is happening, hopefully without joining the casualty list themselves. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book which merges Miss Marple with Lord Peter Wimsey to make an engaging, sophisticated, and personable heroine who is ably assisted by the enigmatic and serious Captain Bryant. There were red herrings, great atmospheric content and a few weaselly locals to give added colour. The mystery itself was well suited to its historical location and was solved in a satisfyingly fitting manner. 

I was amazed to see it was this author's first published work and I am delighted that there are to be more of these books; I shall definitely be on the look out for them. Kitty and Matt work well together and there is the definite possibility of a romantic liason in the future.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a murderously mysterious element or a good cosy crime. This book delivers on all fronts and I can't wait to see what happens next.