I love the Miss Underhay Mysteries and Murder in the Belltower did not disappoint! Kitty and Matt are spending the holidays with her family at Enderley Hall, looking forward to relaxing and seeing where their relationship will go when a murderer strikes a recent guest. The characters are interesting and the story is very well done. Fans of the series get to know more about Matt's history and see where their romantic relationship is heading while they solve another mystery. Thank you to #Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of #MurderintheBelltower.

Kitty Underhay is spending Christmas at her relatives home Enderley Hall, hopefully without the dead bodies that littered the place the last time she was there for a visit. 

Alongside Kitty is her dependable maid Alice, taken from the Dolphin Hotel that Kitty runs alongside her grandmother in Dartmouth. 

Now that Kitty is officially stepping out with Captain Matthew Bryant, she is delighted that an invitation has been extended to him as well. To make up the eclectic house party along with Kitty's Aunt, Uncle and cousin; there is Hattie, a distant relation of Kitty's Uncle, Lord Medford. Simon Frobisher; a botanist, The Cornwells; two Americans wanting to experience an English Christmas and Victor and Juliet Vanderstrafen who it turns out know Matthew Bryant from his previous work. 

It seems this mix of people and the transudations in the house are going to make for an interesting Christmas. 

When some village disputes make there way to a cocktail party given at Enderley Hall it isn't long before a dead body turns up. 

Enter Inspector Greville, it seems there is much to this death and when rooms are mysteriously searched and it appears someone might be watching Kitty, it only seems inevitable that another body is going to be found. 


But this time it looks like suicide and it seems that Kitty cannot resist all the intrigue and questions she has and when she thinks Matthew is keeping something from her, she turns to sleuthing, ably assisted by Alice who innocently with her downstairs gossip possibly hits on a clue or two herself. 

This really is a wonderful example of a murder mystery set in a country house. Who are all these people thrown together? What secrets are they holding? And is their behaviour a true reflection of who they really are? 

Helena Dixon carefully weaves the tale and the mystery to it's denouement in true Christie style and you could briefly imagine that Poirot was sitting in a corner nodding sagely at Kitty. All the characters are there to be liked and loathed in equal measure and you get a real sense of setting and place as the story progresses. 

Whilst each of these books can be read as standalone, there is a common thread running through them all, of course there is the burgeoning relationship between Kitty and Matthew but also the disappearance of Kitty's mother. I implore you to start at the beginning they are an absolute joy to read. 

I cannot wait to see what Kitty gets up to next.

Murder in the belktower by Helena Dixon.
Miss underhay mysteries #5.
Winter, 1933. Kitty Underhay is visiting family at Enderley Hall. How long will it be before a body is found? Who will it be?
A very  good read. Even though I haven't read the first four I still enjoyed this book. Kitty and Matt were my favourite.  I didn't like Victor. I didn't trust him.  Looking forward to reading more from this series.  4*.

With snow on the ground, and the UK in lockdown once again, this is the perfect time for the 5th outing in the ever-reliable Kitty Underhay series. This time, Kitty and Matthew are invited to spend Christmas at Enderley Hall with Kitty's cousin Lucy and a cast of suitably shifty characters. Unknown to Kitty, Matthew has been instructed by his former bosses in the diplomatic service to keep an eye out for strange goings on, and when two of the guests are from Matthew's own secretive past events get a little difficult for Kitty. Matters are complicated even more when it transpires that the man suspected of killing Kitty's mother is a local, whose family have been living in the area for many years. With the strange feeling that someone is watching the house, the body count starts to mount up...

I confess to really enjoying this series, and with each book we delve deeper into both Kitty's and Matthew's past lives. The cast of characters is exactly what you would expect from a country-house murder mystery set in the 1930s, and the plot rattles along. Excellent stuff. A strong 4 stars.

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

Its not much of a surprise that what should have been a relaxing sojourn in the country with family and the romantic interest turns into another cosy, murder mystery. 

Once again things are just not what they seem. And Matt and Kitty... well circumstances determine that they cannot work together as they have in the past. The ambiguity of the situation brings out a little of the green-eyed monster in Kitty. How interesting

Once again, the characters are thoughtfully written. Some are highly likeable while others are quite the opposite, Once again, I really struggled to have any sympathy for the 'bad guys". 

I have read four Kitty Underhay novels and enjoyed how each of the individual stories develop. This one doesn't see Kitty's personal story move along as much as I would like. I'm feeling just a little thwarted. This is a fascinating thread involving her relationships with her grandmother (who owns the hotel they both live in),  Matt ( her now boyfriend) and the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of her mother (many, many years previously)

With thanks to #NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for my free advanced reader copy to review in exchange for an honest opinion

Kitty Returns....
The fifth book in this series of cosy mysteries featuring Kitty Underhay finds Kitty needing to take a break from sleuthing to visit the ancestral home of Enderley Hall. Her family awaits! What Kitty doesn’t expect to find, however, is murder most foul. Will Kitty be able to find a killer before she becomes the next victim in line? Enjoyable, relaxing reading with a likeable protagonist and a colourful cast of supporting characters providing some much needed escapism.

Kitty Underhay, boyfriend Captain Matt Bryant, and ladies maid, Alice, have been invited to spend Christmas at Enderley Hall. Having only known her aunt, uncle, and new best friend, cousin Lucy, for about six months Kitty is excited to take the chance to get to know them all better. With the prospect of interesting company and a white Christmas in the offing the three of them are looking forward to some rest and relaxation away from the traumatic events of their recent investigations. 

With a varied guest list including two people from Matt’s past and Lucy's slightly strange aunt things aren't quite as relaxed as they'd hoped. After a guest at their first festive gathering of the season is found murdered the convivial atmosphere is shattered and once again Kitty and Matt find themselves in the middle of another police investigation. 

Trying to stay positive, even when Matt seems to be busy reconnecting with the young woman he had been acquainted with when working in Egypt, Kitty concentrates on the murder case and her mother's disappearance. Danger hovers close by however, and it soon becomes clear that the killer hasn't finished yet. 

This is the fifth installment of the Kitty Underhay series and it is like reconnecting with old friends. The relationship between Kitty and Matt is gradually changing and Alice is as lovely as ever. There is a similarity to the works of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers but only ever in a positive way. This is a country house murder story that works on every level and gives a few hints of what is to come. I am already looking forward to book six. 

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a lovely, nostalgic, read and I highly recommend it.

In December 1933 the remains of Elowed Underhay were discovered in the cellar of the Glass Bottle Public House. Ezekiel Hamett was sought in connection with the murder of Elowed and his half-brother, Denzil Hammett, whose body was also discovered. Kitty Underhay's long search for her mother, who disappeared in June 1916 was over. Now she's determined that the man responsible for her murder will be brought to justice.

Just before Christmas Kitty sets off for Enderley Hall to visit her aunt and uncle, Lord and Lady Medford and her cousin Lucy for Christmas. She's delighted that she'll be accompanied by Alice, on temporary promotion to lady's maid and that Captain Matt Bryant will be joining her at Endeley Hall. She hasn't quite come to terms with the fact that she and Matt are officially walking out together. There's quite a house party at Enderley Hall: cousin Hattie will be there, along with Lady Medford's companion, Miss Hart, plus two Americans, Delilah and Cornelius Cornwell and Austrians Count Victor Vanderstafen and his sister, Juliet. Simon Frobisher, a botanist, is using Lady Medford's library and joins the party.

Kitty's disturbed to find that Victor and Juliet Vanderstrafen clearly know Matt Bryant. Juliet seems drawn to Matt - and he to her - but Victor clearly dislikes Matt. Kitty's uncertain if this is because of prior history - they were all in Alexandria at the same time - or because he would treat anyone who got close to Juliet in the same way. Then there's the fact that Matt's obviously hiding something.

However, Kitty is here for a rest. She's been involved in far too many murders of late and she's determined to enjoy herself. It isn't to last, though. After a minor altercation at the first evening's party, two of the guests leave early and one of them, Miss Plenderleith, is found murdered the next morning.

I found myself just a little disappointed as I started to read this book. I've had the misfortune of missing two books in the series, so the last one I read was Murder at Enderley Hall, set in June 1933. Murder in the Belltower looked set to be essentially the same story with a few different characters and added snow. I never really managed to get rid of this feeling. If you've read the two intervening books, or if you're new to the series you probably won't have this reaction - and can definitely add half a star to my rating. The book would read reasonably well as a stand-alone.

The characterisation is good: I loved Alice, the maid. She really sparkles! I want to hear more about her. The location - both the place and the time of year - are good. You get a real feel of a Christmas house party in the early thirties. The plot was neat and well written. It's cosy crime - and none the worse for that. I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.

Set in 1933 this is a fun murder mystery set in the delightful Enderley Hall. When an accident happened Kitty believes it's  murder and its down to Kitty to solve it. 

I absolutely love cosy murder mystery books and this is another series to add to my list. I found it fast paced and enjoyable. I loved the characters and the storyline. Lots of twists and turns and a few red herrings. I am terrible at guessing whodunit and I didn't guess this one. Loved it

It's Christmas time in the Miss Underhay Mysteries series, so I couldn't have read this at a more perfect time!

In this new installment Kitty's back to Enderley Hall with Matthew (great to finally see them dating) to spend Christmas with her family on her father's side. When the parish clerk is found dead, and with Matthew engaged in a secret side job, Kitty must solve the case on her own.

Although it's always a pleasure to meet back these characters, and Kitty and Matt are so cute together, I have to say this one was my least favorite one in the series.

For once, the story moves way too slow, with the first body not making its appearance till halfway through. Kitty doesn't sleuth that much this time. Instead there seems to be an endless stream of dinners and after drinks that weren't quite as nice as seeing her investigate. Also there were some side plots that, imo, didn't add much to the story and their resolution felt a bit lacking.

The murderer's unveiling was quite Poirotesque, and was nice seeing Kitty lead, although the actual villain felt a bit trite. The fact that it was not made completely clear the reason behind the murders was a bit disappointing too.

Although not my favorite one I'm still coming back for book 6 as I really wanna know what happened to Kitty's mom, and hoping to see Kitty and Matthew back to form.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A charming cozy mystery set in post WWI England.  Enjoyable read with great characters.

Murder in the Belltower has Miss Kitty Underhay returning to her aunt and uncle's estate, Enderly Hall,  for a Christmas house party.  Accompanying Kitty is her beau, Matthew Bryant and her maid Alice.  There are a few other guests at the house party-Kitty's dear cousin Lucy, her aunt's new companion and her uncles cousin Hattie, as well as a botanist who is using the library for research, an American couple and an Austrian count and his sister.

Before he leaves for Enderly Hall, Matthew gets a telephone call from his former superior officer who alerts him that he and his host to be, suspect that some of his guests may be  dangerous enemies.  He is asked to be observant and is also told that he is bound by the Official Secrets Act and can not discuss the case with anyone.

We get an interesting and sometimes charming view of life-the feuding church ladies, issues with the vicar, the other members of the house party etc.   And Matthew not being able to discuss things with Kitty causes tension between them. especially once the deaths/murders start happening.

There are twists and turns that will  keep you guessing.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Very enjoyable, written at a beautiful pace the story unfolds wonderfully. Fantastic characters. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 5th Miss Underhay story and it's as entertaining, fast-paced and cosy as the previous four books. I enjoyed being back at Enderley Hall for a typical "country Christmas" and seeing Kitty' family. There are a few storylines (the mystery around Kitty's mother, murder, spy...) that mix well together. I only regret that one villain was a bit too obvious and that Matt's dimple was mentioned a bit too often.

I recommend this book to any fan of cosy mystery.

Thank you to the publisher who provided me with an e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another great Miss Underhay Mystery Book1
Matt and Kitty go to her aunt and uncle's house to celebrate Christmas with them . As they plan to have a small gathering, it proves to be a festive week.  Unfortunately things take a turn for the worse when one of the guests is found dead in her home after leaving the party the night before.   Kitty notices Matt looks like he is keeping things from her, definitely his past with one of the guests, Juliet.  Then there is another murder and Kitty is determined that she knows what is going on.  The question is, will anyone ,listen to her?  
Love the characters and the plots.  Looking forward to the next book in the series. 
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

It was fun getting to knowing a slew of characters, and I do enjoy historical cozies. This one included. First book I've read in this series, and it was a delight. Definitely a fun read at Christmastime.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of "Murder in the Belltower" in exchange for my honest opinion. This is the 5th book in the Miss Underhay Mystery series.

I am always eagerly awaiting the next book from Ms. Dixon. The characters in this series are so well developed that with each book you feel that you know them better and better. Returning of course, is Kitty Underhay. This time she is not at the Dolphin Hotel but rather she travels once again to visit her aunt and uncle - Lord and Lady Medford, and her cousin Lucy at Enderley Hall. We first traveled to Enderley Hall in Book 2 of the series. Once again Kitty manages to get caught up in murder and mayhem. The cover for this book is perfect and sets the tone for the reader. 

Traveling with her is Alice Miller who is a chambermaid at the Dolphin Hotel but often gets temporarily promoted to Lady's Maid when she travels with Kitty. Captain Matthew Bryant has also been invited - he and Kitty are now officially 'walking out'.

Brigadier Remmington Blythe, Matt's former employer asks him to keep his eyes and ears open while he is at Enderley. Lord Medford has assembled a house party of guests - one of whom they fear is a potential enemy. Complicating matters is the fact that Matt can't say anything to Kitty as she is known to meddle. 

The guests include Simon Frobisher a botanist. Hattie Merriweather, a poet and magpie - if it's bright and shiny, she will pinch it. The last time she visited, they ran out of teaspoons. She is a cousin of Lord Medford's and possible the most annoying character in the book. Count Victor Vanderstrafen and his sister Juliet - both of them know Matt. Delilah and Cornelius Cornwell are Americans that have been keen to experience an English Country Christmas. Also at the house is Miss Hart who is companion to Lady Medford since the death of Nanny Thoms. She has a tendency to hysterics.

Kitty has a feeling that someone is watching them in the woods. She has been looking for information regarding Ezekiel Hammett, the former Landlord of the Glass Bottle Public House in Exeter. They believe that he killed his half-brother Denzil before setting fire to the Glass Bottle. The body of Elowed Underhay was found behind a false wall in the cellar of the Glass Bottle. 

At a drinks and nibbles party we meet the Reverend Crabtree, whom no one seems to like. Miss Plenderleith, the parish council secretary. Mrs. Baker and Mrs. Vernon round out the guests. Later we learn that someone from the party died and later another suspicious death occurs. This means a visit from Inspector Greville - who has been invited to stay over at Enderley during the holidays and Doctor Carter. Are the two deaths related? Does a lady who answers Kitty's ad know anything about the disappearance of her mother?

Matt has a very special Christmas present for Kitty and as the New Year of 1934 dawns there are so many new possibilities awaiting our favourite characters. I'm very much looking forward to Book #6.

This is one of my favorite historical cozy series so it gets harder to write a meaningful review as I can only repeat what I already wrote.
It's a highly entertaining and well written series and I read this instalment in an afternoon.
I'm a fan of Christmas mystery and this novel features all the tropes I love in this kind of novel.
This series improves with each instalment, this one was a slow burning mystery as the first part was introducing the setting and the new characters.
It's a mix of spy story and mystery and I loved the plot full of twists and turns.
The characters are interesting and I was happy to catch up with Kittiy and Matt. The character development is excellent and they are all interesting.
Even if it can be read as a stand alone it's better to read the book in order as there's some backstory.
I strongly recommend it and can't wait to read the next one.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I received a free ARC of this via NetGalley and Bookouture in return for an unbiased review. This was another excellent instalment in the Underhay series, with Kitty and Matt spending Christmas at Enderley. Kitty wasn’t sleuthing as much in this one, as the first murder happened a ways into the book, but it was still an interesting plot with varied characters - and Kitty was the one to solve the two murders. Lovely to see her and Matt become a little closer now they are officially dating - I look forward to them becoming even close and maybe an engagement soon...

A murder mystery set during Christmas in a country house in an English village is absolutely wonderful book to read during Christmas holidays.

In this, Kitty’s mother’s fate was known but her killers are still at large. Amateur sleuth Kitty Underhay is back at Enderley Hall to spend Christmas with cousin Lucy and aunt and uncle - Lord and Lady Medford. Her beau Matt is also a guest with an important mission to observe the eclectic guests. 

It took a little while for the murder to happen as Dixon takes time to introduce quite a few guests and establish their backstories. There are a lot of characters including guests, villagers, and servants. I was rather restless for the murder to happen quickly. Once the murder happens, it picked up pace, piqued my curiosity and held my attention until the last page. Another murder also thrown in to keep Kitty and Matt hands full.

Loved Lucy for her laid back and she is funny. I wish there would be a book where Lucy and Kitty team up to solve murders. There are few more characters who provided laughs with their behavior.

The winter setting added an eerie atmosphere. Thoroughly entertained with the characters and their bickering in this along with the charming mystery. You have to read to find out whether Kitty is able to solve the mystery before the killer gets the upper hand. 

Overall, this is a charming cozy mystery with delightful twists and turns and kept me guessing throughout. 

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my review.

This is a very light cozy historical novel. At times it read a bit too young adult for me, but I still enjoyed it. It’s very well written with likable characters and an interesting and entertaining story. The mystery itself had some twists and turns and kept me guessing whodunit. I recommend for anyone looking for a solid good mystery!