Couple sleuths are my favorite type of cozy mysteries. And Kitty Underhay and Matt Bryant are a great couple. Add to it that the book is set during one of my favorite time periods - the 1930s, and I can't wait for the next book. Helena Dixon's Murder in the Belltower is a fun Christmas time mystery that is full of characters with secrets.

I'm kind of surprised that this book wasn't published in December since the story is set during Christmas. It picks up right after book 4 ended. While Murder in the Belltower is book 5, I've only read book 4, Murder on the Dance Floor. A reader won't have any problem jumping right into the series with this book. The mystery surrounding Kitty's mother is an ongoing mystery that I presume started in book 1, but enough details are shared in this book that you won't be lost. Also, this book has its own stand-alone mystery and it is front and center, while Kitty's mother storyline is more of a minor plot thread.

Kitty and Matt are visiting Kitty's aunt and uncle at their country estate for Christmas. A motley crew of guests has been invited to celebrate the season. But it is just random that all these guests have been invited. There's a spy in their midst, and Matt has been enlisted by his former employer at the foreign office to determine who is leaking state secrets. As all of the guests have secrets it could be any one of them, and Matt isn't allowed to let Kitty know so she can't help him. The death of a local woman though gives the couple plenty of opportunities to play detective.

I really enjoyed the mystery and the unraveling of the many secrets. Some of the secrets I figured out before they were revealed and others I discovered right along with the characters. 

While I liked the characters immediately in Murder on the Dance Floor. I enjoyed them even more in Murder in the Belltower. Really only Kitty, Matt, Alice (the chambermaid that serves as Kitty's lady's maid when she travels), and the Inspector are the characters from the previous book, though if you have been reading this series from the beginning you will be familiar with Kitty's aunt and uncle Lord and Lady Medford and cousin Lucy. 

This installment reminded me of Rhys Bowen's Her Royal Spyness series. Though Matt is much more present in the story than Darcy is in Bowen's series. But if love Her Royal Spyness series, I highly recommend giving Dixon's Miss Underhay Mystery series a try.

If you are looking at the Goodreads or Amazon summary for the book, note that it isn't very accurate.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Tuesday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2021/02/murder-in-belltower-by-helena-dixon.html

Kitty Underhay had hoped for a quiet Christmas with her relatives and their guests at Enderley Hall. Her young man and private detective, Matt is going to be a special guest.
But death. seduction, international espionage and intrigue seems to follow Kitty wherever she goes, and with a killer on the run there is no escape.
Helena Dixon has taken the classical remote country house murder mystery and given it a fresh twist with characters to care about in this page-turning cozy mystery.

Christmas 1933 at Enderley Hall and Kitty and  Matt have more murders to solve. I love everything about this series. The book is well crafted and the characters are realistic. With 2 murders and some glimpses into Matt's past this is a must read mystery. Bring on book 6!

It's so fun to be back with Kitty and Matthew! I absolutely love this series and I can't believe we're already on book five! It can be read as a standalone but I would recommend at least reading the previous book in the series, Murder On The Dance Floor first as there's a little of the storyline that runs over.
 
It's Christmas and Kitty has decided to spend it with her cousin Lucy and the rest of her family at Enderley hall, along with of course Captain Matthew Bryant as they are now officially 'walking out together'. She's hoping for a nice relaxing but unfortunately for her things don't quite go to plan as Juliet Vanderstafen, a mysterious woman from Matthew's past, is also a guest at Enderley hall. Things get worse, Miss Plenderleith, the local Parish clerk is found dead and Kitty gets herself wrapped up in the mystery.
 
Murder In The Bell Tower is such an additive read, I always get caught up in the story, feeling like I've actually been taken back in time to the 1930s.
 
What I always love about these stories is the attention to detail that Helena Dixon always puts into them. From the fashions, to the language, to the Christmas traditions and even there's even a mention of tensions within Europe with a bit of foreshadowing for the Second World War.
 
I will say it took a bit longer than I remember from the previous books for someone to actually show up dead but I didn't mind too much as I loved watching Matthew and Kitty navigating their new relationship whilst being surrounded by the tension in the air of Enderley hall.
 
Murder In The Bell Tower is a great addition to this wonderful series and I for one can't wait for more!

Christmas 1933 & Kitty Underhay is enjoying a restorative break from sleuthing on a visit to her family at Enderley Hall. The only thing marring her peace aside from the uncomfortable sensation she has of being watched is the obvious history between her beau, ex-army captain Matthew Bryant and another guest, the beautiful Juliet Vanderstafen. So, when the parish clerk is found dead on her front doorstep, Kitty leaps at the chance of distraction. The police are happy to conclude that Miss Plenderleith met her unfortunate end on a patch of ice, but Kitty isn’t convinced this was a case of bad weather and worse luck. And then the Reverend Crabtree is found hanging from the bell rope.
This is the fifth book in the series & whilst it could easily be read on its own there is the thread about Kitty’s mother running through the books also the romance between Matt & Kitty, which has its ups & downs. Another very well written book, which drew me in from the start & kept me turning the pages until it was finished. There were plenty of suspects as well as red herrings & twists & turns. The characters are well portrayed & have plenty of depth plus they fit into the era beautifully. I look forward to more books in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Another fabulous tale starring our heroine Kitty Underhay! In this the 5th book in this fabulous cozy crime series set in the 1930’s we see Kitty join her cousin Lucy and her family for a traditional Christmas at Enderley Hall. 
Kitty’s family have as usual invited friends and acquaintances to celebrate with and among them Matt Bryant who is now more paramour than friend to Kitty, sharing a love of crime solving.
In usual fashion there is soon a death and then another abs Kitty discovers that Matt may be keeping his own investigation away from her. Using her skills and her friend and maid Alice, Kitty is soon getting stuck into her own investigation.
The characters are becoming well rounded and familiar and although each could be read as a standalone they make a charming series. As others have commented the artist who created the covers is to be complimented as these are delightful and truly evoke the style and atmosphere of the story.
I can’t wait for the next endeavours from Kitty and would highly recommend all the series.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Murder at the Belltower’ by Helena Dixon in exchange for an honest review.

This is Book 5 in the Miss Underhay series of historical cosy mysteries. Christmas, 1933 and Kitty Underhay is hoping for a break from sleuthing. She is spending the holidays with her family at Enderley Hall. She is accompanied by ex-army captain Matthew Bryant, who she is now stepping out with (hurrah!). 

Of course, along with mince pies and glasses of bubbly there is intrigue going on at the Hall. Kitty is sure that she is being watched and she’s also pretty certain that there is history between Mathew and another guest, the beautiful Juliet Vanderstafen. Oh, careful Kitty. 

When a body is discovered Kitty leaps at the opportunity to investigate. The police may think that the unfortunate person slipped on some ice but Kitty isn’t convinced. Plus, there’s nothing like a spot of sleuthing to distract from those niggling doubts courtesy of the green-eyed monster.

This proved an engaging mystery and as with all the books in this series, a delight. It is a cosy mystery in the traditional sense and is light-hearted with an impeccable sense of its period setting. A total pleasure to read. I look forward to many more cases for Miss Underhay. 

On a side note congratulations to the design team at Bookouture for such charming covers. They are very inviting. 

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Matthew and Kitty solve a series of murders at Christmas, where Matthew's past comes back to haunt the couple. I love the dual mysteries in this series, the current crime and the underlying mystery of what happened to Kitty's mother. Very much looking forward to the next one!

It is always a pleasure to return to the world of Kitty Underhay. In Murder in the Belltower, Kitty continues to try and solve her mother’s murder, as well as the mystery (or possibly mysteries) that crop up whilst she is staying with her aunt and uncle for Christmas.

I really enjoyed the wintry, Christmassy atmosphere of this book. It was fun to see more of Lucy (Kitty’s cousin) and her other relatives. I also enjoyed the development of her relationship with Matt - they are beginning to trust each other a little more. 

The plot was great - there was a lot going on in this one, with three different (though potentially related) main threads. I thought it was handled well, as it would be easy for it to become confusing.

Overall, this was a fun murder mystery, which kept my attention all the way through. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

I am enjoying this series (2nd one I've read). I like the characters and the setting. The MC is needs to work, but isn't  in a situation where you wonder how she has the time off to investigate murders. Things do seem to move forward as well in each book. 

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

This is the sixth in the Miss Underhay series and, is another, light, easy read in the historic mystery genre. Relationships among characters, particularly Kitty and Matt continue to grow and evolve. This series may be best for readers who prefer series books as there are several storylines that began in the first book of the series and are woven through subsequent books. While some of these ultimately resolve, they serve to spark new storylines which are then on-going.

In this book, Kitty and Matt accept an invitation to celebrate Christmas at the home of her aunt and family. There are a number of guests and Matt is advised that Kitty’s uncle, who is on the cusp of an important discovery, believes someone on the guest list is trying to steal his plans. He doesn’t know who specifically, so he asks Matt to help him figure out who is guilty of potential espionage against England, without telling Kitty.

There are two murders in the book, and as they happen Kitty begins to figure out on her own that there is something else going on that Matt and her uncle are keeping from her. True to her nature, she does her own bit of sleuthing and figures out much of what they are trying to keep from her.

Several of the characters in the book are recurring, and interactions with them help to provide atmosphere and depth to the period. The book is fairly predictable, and is a good airplane or beach read. It is probably best enjoyed by fans of the series.

cosy-mystery, law-enforcement, private-investigators, England, relationships, family-dynamics, friendship, amateur-sleuth, murder, murder-investigation, intrigue, 1930s*****

Having read others in this series, I stuck my nose into this one as soon as I got it. Despite being part of a series, you can't feel like you're out of the loop because the author keeps inserting useful tidbits. Kitty (who runs her grandmother's hotel) and her partner in solving crimes, Matthew (a private investigator), as well as her maid, Alice, are out in the country with family and friends for Christmas and there are two sets of mysteries this time. The interactions between ongoing characters holds my interest, but it's the development of the sleuthing that I really like. Devious plot twists and red herrings combined with exceptional characters make this a must read. Loved it!
I requested and received a free temporary copy from Bookouture via NetGalley. Thank you!

Compliments first of all on the continuing beauty of the covers in this series! Whoever the artist is keep them! No compliments however to the person who wrote the Goodreads blurb which has very little to do with the actual book at all.

That apart this fifth foray into the Miss Underhay Mysteries is as good as the first four. This one has a delightful old fashioned Christmas setting with lots of food and drink, presents under the tree, stockings, snow and, of course, Midnight Mass.

Less in keeping with the spirit of Christmas, quite a few people die and Kitty, Matt and the Inspector are kept busy trying to discover whodunnit. The characters are all engaging, from the lady of the manor to the servants and the local villagers.

After five good books I think I can count on this series to be entertaining and I look forward to the next one.

"Kitty Underhay’s hymn book is open...at murder.

Winter, 1933. Kitty Underhay is enjoying a restorative break from sleuthing on a visit to her family at Enderley Hall. The only thing marring her peace - aside from the uncomfortable sensation she has of being watched – is the obvious history between her beau, ex-army captain Matthew Bryant and another guest, the beautiful Juliet Vanderstafen. So, when the parish clerk is found dead on her front doorstep, Kitty leaps at the chance of distraction. 

The police are happy to conclude that Miss Plenderleith met her unfortunate end on a patch of ice, but Kitty isn’t convinced this was a case of bad weather and worse luck. And when the Reverend Crabtree fails to show for tea the next day, she heads to the church to speak to him. But she arrives to find the clergyman hanging from the bell rope, dead.

With Matt seemingly wrapped up with his alluring Austrian, Kitty must solve the case on her own. But as she snoops into parish affairs, she makes some less-than-saintly discoveries. Just who has broken the sixth commandment? Meanwhile the killer is preparing a churchyard grave for Kitty, and she’ll have to use all her wits to avoid falling in...

An addictive, absorbing and completely unputdownable Golden Age cozy murder mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Lee Strauss."

I love all mysteries evoking the Golden Age of detection!

5th in the Miss Underhay Mysteries, Murder in the Belltower by Helena Dixon is another exciting historical mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed. Spending Christmas with her newly acquired relatives, Kitty Underhay was accompanied by her friend and (for the period of the holiday) maid Alice, at Enderley Hall. Kitty’s friend Matthew Bryant, ex-army captain and now PI, was also invited, along with guests from America and Austria.

Freezing conditions with snow and ice see the winter of 1933 and Christmas at Enderley Hall also facing murder, mayhem and mischief as Kitty searched for clues, while positive Matt was hiding something from her. Would Kitty discover who the murderer was? And would she also discover more about her mother’s murder?

I’m loving this series – the covers are enticing and the content always intriguing. Highly recommended.

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

**Just a warning – the blurb is almost all completely wrong in the way things are set out – part of it didn’t even happen!

Kitty Underhay is spending Christmas with her family at Enderley Hall,  joining her is Alice her maid, and her boyfriend Matthew who not only is a private detective but seems to be employed by the government on occasion, this visit turns out to be one of those times.

We meet a wide variety of eccentric guests including Delilah and Corny (we needed to know more about them, perhaps they are going to be featured in another story??)

The Christmas festivities are marred by the death of the parish clerk after she had left a party at Enderley Hall, was it an accident or is there something much more sinister going on.

I really enjoyed this book, and cannot believe that I have missed the first four in the series.  There is a side story about the death of Kitty's mother but it is explained and doesn't detract from the book or make you feelyou are playing 'catch up'. Highly recommended

Thanks to Bookouture and Net Galley for this ARC.  I love this author!  Another great mystery that keeps you guessing and great character development.  Can't wait for the next one!

Unputdownable British Country House Mystery
This is book 5 of a wonderful series of British mysteries. While these can be read in any order, the reader will get the best enjoyment if read in sequence. These mysteries take place in the early 1930s and are complete with fine autos, dressing for dinner, and country house parties. Our heroine is bright and appreciated by her family for her talents. The mysteries are great! In this episode, there is concern about possible espionage with secret formulas being stolen by England's European enemies. The intrigue is back-dropped by the Christmas season at the manor house. This is a totally engrossing story that makes your mind work while teasing you with the opulence of British Aristocracy. I found myself reading the book through dinner and staying up way too late to finish the story. I have read all of the books in this series and hope that the author writes twenty more! I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

t]
	
Another exciting installment in this series featuring archeologist curator Nora Kelly and FBI Special Agent Corrie Swanson of the Albuquerque Field Office.

There is talk of a hidden treasure high up in the mountains surrounding the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. This folk tale is thought to be mostly myth, but there are those who are desperate to find the riches gleaned from the exodus of a group of friars leaving the area after the Apaches try to take back their land. There are many who have sought these riches for years and, as the bodies pile up, the key protagonists in this tale try to stop the looting. NO SPOILERS.

This is the second book and I must confess, I liked it less than the first, but it was a page-turner nevertheless. Lots of action and interesting details about the release of nuclear weapons on the desert and the desire among those in the know to find a long hidden cache of gold and other gems. There's a lot going on in this story but it is very fast paced and extremely engrossing. the details that the authors are known for are ever present and it's a history lesson as well as a thriller. I must say that I really don't like the character of Corrie Swanson, but I do like Nora Kelly. I love this author duo and can't wait to read the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

Another fantastic read by Helena Dixon. In the fifth book of the Miss Underhay Mystery, Kitty is invited to visit her relatives at Enderley Hall for the Christmas season. Kitty's aunt and uncle have also invited several others to attend the festivities and stay at the hall, including Matt. Naturally, the holiday season can't be without a bit of mystery and death. When a neighbor is found dead outside of her home the morning after the big Christmas party at the hall, Kitty is intrigued and must find out what happened. She's also curious as to why Matt is really at the Hall and what his connection is with a couple of the house party members. 

This was such an enjoyable and light read. I loved that it was set in England, during Christmas time. Helena Dixon did a wonderful job of describing the hall and all the Christmas festivities. I had a clear picture of everything!