Thanks to the publishers, Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was everything it promised it would be. A mystery to solve, a plucky heroine who, despite living a life of privilege, has empathy for those around her, a cast of characters who have many secrets and a brooding, clever detective who simultaneously is exasperated by and adores the heroine.

It's a classic 1920's mystery in the style of Agatha Christie (while reading it I could not help but think of the Orient Express) but with a bit of a feminist, modern flair.

I can't wait to see what Kitty gets up to next ... and as for Inspector Crawford ... yes please!

All in all, quite a nice, light cozy mystery and a quick light read.

First installment in the series set in the 1930s Europe and involves a bunch of characters whose relationships and interactions are fun to see unfold. Add the murder and you get yourself an entertaining adventure.

A nice addition to those of us who love Miss Fisher and Co.

Murder on the Golden Arrow by Magda Alexander is the first installment in what will be a Kitty Worthington Mystery series.

This is a story of a young debutante whose brother finds himself in a precarious position when his former paramour is poisoned. After it is revealed that she has been blackmailing him, not just his standing in society but hers as well is at stake.
So Kitty sets out to find out the truth and clear her brother of all accusations.

It is set in London, in 1920's which is the magical time and place for murder mysteries for me. It has that A. Christie vibe that is always a winning combination for me.
The story is well presented and quite interesting. Chapters are pretty short and fast paced. Each chapter is dedicated to one particular suspect and the story is very easy to follow.
It is quite fascinating to read how our heroine goes about her investigation as she has to follow social norms and restrictions of society of that time, and all the obstacles she has to overcome.
There is a bit of possible romantic interest which will prove very interesting to read about.
At times I thought that everyone's willingness to help out was a bit of a stretch but as this is supposed to be a light and entertaining read I was more than willing to suspend my belief and just enjoy.

I will be looking forward to the next installment and am eager to see how it will progress from here.

England. 1923. After a year away at finishing school where she learned etiquette, deportment, and the difference between a salad fork and a fish one, Kitty Worthington is eager to return home. But minutes after she and her brother Ned board the Golden Arrow, the unthinkable happens. A woman with a mysterious connection to her brother is poisoned, and the murderer can only be someone aboard the train. Loved this story and love this main character, Kitty! A great mystery, tight plotting and the perfect ending made this a very enjoyable read. I am really looking forward to more in this new series. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

When I see a historical cozy mystery I want to give it a try. Murder on the Golden Arrow is a fun read and I hope there will be more. Set in 1923, Kitty Worthington, her mother and brother are likable characters, the puzzle is a locked room mystery and it entertained me to the very end.
Kitty's mother would love to find a wealthy match for her daughter and Kitty has now completed finishing school, ready to make her debut. Those plans become derailed when, on a trip from London to Paris and back a woman on the train is poisoned and suspicion focuses on her brother. He and the victim had a connection but did it result in murder? Enter the Scotland Yard DI and a cast of interesting characters and you have the perfect reading escape. Kitty is a clever young woman and will use all of her intelligence to figure out who the real killer is.
My thanks to the publisher Hearts Afire Publishing and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Agatha Christie x Sherlock Holmes x Bridgerton vibe in the 1920s

Page 93, I have picked up on the scent of the murderer, and whilst one of my suspects was correct, I didn't get the case files completed. Alas, I won't be employed by Scotland Yard anytime soon.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hearts Afire Publishing for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review “Murder on the Golden Arrow.” All opinions are my own.

Kitty Worthington’s brother is a suspect in a murder – what’s a young girl to do? Find the real killer, of course. In between readying herself for her debut and fending off a flatulent hound, Kitty does just that in this, the first book in what is expected to be an ongoing series.

It’s somewhat formulaic. There are plenty of rich young things, over-protective relatives, a nosy parker of a young woman, the stuffy police inspector who resents her interference (and who happens to be good looking), but the author, Magda Alexander, has a soft touch with it all and Kitty is a bright, determined heroine, one of the “modern girls” of the 20s that wants more than a husband and children.

There are lots of suspects besides the brother – our murdered woman was busy doing bad things to a lot of people, including blackmail. The author finds ways to put Kitty into places and situations where she can utilize the clues in a logical fashion – helpful for solving murders!

Kitty does conduct a though investigative campaign, that’s for sure. She spots something and with a bit of confirmation from Inspector Crawford, gets a murderer to confess.

Kitty is a good character, intelligent and full of common sense, and she fits well within the bounds of credibility. If you like your mysteries with a budding romance thrown in, then “Murder on the Golden Arrow” will fit the bill nicely.

A good mystery that takes place on a train, a murder takes place and Kitty set out to prove who did it.
Drama,humor,family,twists,intrigue and suspense.
Characters were great really like Kitty.
Just a really good mystery.
Voluntarily reviewed.

I was hoping for more. It all just felt a little incredible. Perhaps too many coincidences? They were all in the same train carriage, most of them directly interacting with the victim and having motives. Perhaps too many red herrings? The 20-year-old Kitty also just didn't cut it as the protagonist, I just couldn't get into this cosy mystery, so have to acknowledge that perhaps this one is not my cup of tea.

My thanks to #Netgalley, Hearts Afire Publishing and the author for my Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

My review of Murder on the Golden Arrow appeared on Ricochet.com at https://ricochet.com/1048421/a-return-to-the-golden-age-british-mystery/ and Lobsterforest.com at https://lobsterforest.com/this-weeks-book-review-murder-on-the-golden-arrow/

I love these cozy historical mysteries. This was no exception. It was a fun read and, of course, it had a satisfactory outcome.

The first in a new cozy mystery series sees Kitty Worthington freshly home from boarding school when the death of her brother's former mistress interrupts her plans for a successful London season. Worried the police will hang her brother for the murder, she has no choice but to investigate herself.

This started as a fun read and ended up really engaging. I'm already looking forward to the second in the series. The mystery unfolded nicely, with a progression of clues and red herrings that made the actual reveal neither too obvious nor too out there. Alexander even pulled off what is usually one of my least favourite tropes--having the main character exclaim in the narrative that she knew who the killer was, but withholding that information from the reader until the killer could be confronted.

What she did less well was character development--while Kitty herself was three-dimensional, the secondary characters weren't given enough time to blossom into fully realized people. With any luck, this will get fixed in later books of the series. While it wasn't enough to detract from my enjoyment of this book, I can see it wearing me down in the future.

With thanks to NetGalley and Hearts Afire Publishing for providing me with a copy of the book.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. Murder on the Golden Arrow is a promising first title in a new series set in 1920's England. Although aristocracy adjacent, Miss Kitty Worthington's family is wealthy but not titled. Kitty is returning to London from finishing school accompanied by her brother Ned via Paris. While spending the night at the Ritz in Paris before catching the train back to London, Kitty overhears Rose Trevelyn and her husband arguing at about a blackmain scheme. Rose clearly has a connection to Kitty's brother Ned that Ned won't disclose. They find themselves aboard the same train, The Golden Arrow, with the Trevelyn's when Rose becomes ill and dies. It is quickly apparent that the cause of death is some kind of poison, and Kitty's brother is a prime suspect.

Kitty decides it is up to her to help find the murder and clear her brother's name. The supporting characters in this book are very promising including a couple of young lords, Kitty's maid, her mother, and Inspector Crawford of Scotland Yard (clearly a romantic interest). The mystery was interesting even though I was able to figure out the killer before the reveal. I'm very interested to get to know more about Kitty and her world. Toward the end of the book, Kitty's older sister and one of her friends make an appearance - it appears that they will feature prominently in the next title and I can't wait to see more of them

What a delightful book this is. The characters are well drawn and likeable. Kitty is intelligent relatable. The mystery is entertaining with just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. I really appreciated how warm and loving Kitty's family was. I get tired of books with terrible parents who want to marry their daughters off to the highest bidder. Instead, her parents are supportive and understanding...to a point. Her brother, Ned, is a bit of a wet blanket, but not a caricature. All in all, an entertaining read. I hope to see many more installments in this series.

I just love books set in the 1920s with sassy heroines so it is hard for me to be objective, but I do think this novel is exceptional.

Kitty is tiptoeing through her debut year in 1923, trying to avoid a dreaded marriage while not dashing her mother's hopes completely. When she happens on a deceased damsel and learns that her own brother may be implicated in the poor woman's murder, she puts her sleuthing skills to the test.

Add in a beloved basset hound with a wonky tummy and you have all the makings for a great historical cozy so grab your cocoa and your fuzzy socks and curl up in your comfiest chair. You have a date with a book you won't put down for the whole weekend.

Kitty has me wanting more. She's a fun, sassy character. The pacing and clue-building are just right. I truly hope there are more Kitty Worthington mysteries.

Roaring 20's Murder Mystery, a la 'Orient Express'
Synopsis:

1923:
Ned Worthington has traveled to Switzerland to retrieve his sister Kitty from a brief stint at finishing school. She will soon be launched into her season and her mother is desirous to see her married. At the tender age of 20 Kitty isn't keen to be retired before getting her chance to explore the world and rub elbows with fellow artists, and thus she has no desire yet to wed. And she doesn't have a pressing need to do so regardless, coming from an extremely wealthy family, her father a prominent financier.

On their way back to London, Ned & Kitty rest in Paris at the glitzy Ritz hotel where a mysterious smoke show, Rose, visibly rattles Ned, and thus the stage for the coming whodunit begins to unfold.

On the final leg abroad the London bound train, Rose falls suddenly ill, and everyone in the compartment rushes to her aid, but tis no use: She's drop dead- and not just gorgeous- like also literally dies.

Who'd cut down a Rose in her prime? Who would poison a young woman, newly wed, expecting a baby- or was she?

Beautiful Rose had thorns a plenty to prick, and several on board lay claim to a substantial motive to wish her gone. With Kitty's brother amongst the bevy of suspects, being predisposed to be as curious as a cat, and particularly observant, she inserts herself in the investigation.

Blackmail, hidden parentage, greed, broken engagements, affairs, and poison- oh my! Kitty will have to sift through much salacious goings on to solve the case.

What Pickled my Fancy:

♡Beautiful cover art. There was also this cute blackmail note in the intro, written in cursive, on parchment, and all the helpings. Very nice touch- the nicest blackmail note I've received thus far- or at the very least, the most aesthetically pleasing.

♡The premiss featured all the right notes: setting of the 1920's, trains, murder & intrigue, and a proactive protagonist.

What Ruffled my Feathers:
✗Dialogue was bland and nothing about it stood out. I believe this also contributed to my unfamiliarity with the characters and their personalities or lack thereof.

✗Poor character development. **spoiler** I never felt I knew who Kitty was as a character, she is picked up from finishing school and the next thing I know she is an eager Nancy Drew, I had a hard time crediting her role. Where did she get the gall to even go out and confront possible murderers? What sowed the seeds in her past?
As she was the lead, I should know her better, but I could not ferret much of a personality from her & I was underwhelmed by her. I did not read the individuality there, or the distinguishing charisma I seek in a character. Why she was our lead was not well established.
A lot of the book consists of her dialogue with the suspects, and it reads not like 'Kitty' asking in her particular 'flavor' a question, but rather as an uninvolved Q&A between an interchangeable interviewer and a suspect. The brunt of the interviews consists of characters rehashing facts and events we already know or witnessed. ***spoiler**

✗ Broke my suspension of disbelief. <spoiler>Kitty shows up to the homes of ppl she barely knows and starts cross examining them and they just allow it, it's very unnatural. I just kept waiting for them to be like, <i>'Who are you girl to be asking? Are you hired by Scotland yard? No? Then hit the road!'</i> I am confused why all these characters are so forthright with Kitty. I should like some resistance to their cooperation- for logic's sake.

I don't understand how her mother was cool with Kitty going off to play detective and with her breaking and entering, it just never rang plausible. And then her friend Lord Marlowe setting up all these appointments for a possible murderer and this slip of a girl..? Like without question? Make it make sense! </spoiler>

✗The mystery never manages to titillate me.<spoiler>
A lot of the set up was blatantly contrived, for instance I was laughing my sides off when Rose was sick and every single character in that train compartment came in contact with something she consumed and had a motive, regardless of the degree of extent- but had one- to off her. What are the odds? I get they are all in the same socio-economic bracket, and Paris to London was high trafficked, but they all know each other and end up traveling in the same train cart, and with a motive to hurt the other? I was laughing more than anything.

I guessed the perpetrator early on, it seemed really obvious, especially given the play on names, **<spoiler> I mean <i>Ivy</i>! How poetic a name for the plain, envious, poisonous weed as counterpart to the thorny, but beautiful, Rose.</spoiler>***

Kitty herself was never in any real danger, the stakes were abstract, her brother may be implicated, but it seemed the detective himself was several steps ahead and never thought to press charges on him, and had arrived at the same conclusion as to the true perpetrator though he did not have the evidence to carry out the charges, so really Kitty only accomplished clearing the family name which is not nothing, but they would have landed on their feet, they were hella flu$h.

I am sure even had her brother done it, they could have paid some hush money and swept the affair under the rug. Kitty had such a safety net, I did not feel she was challenged or that her chips were all in precariously. For a Murder Mystery there is so little conflict, most detectives would zero in on the individual inserting themselves into an ongoing investigation, cause that is hella suspect, but I guess the detective thinks she is cute, so no aspersions thrown on her for her very suspicious behavior! She seemed to always get her way in the end. </spoiler>

The Brass Tacks:
Everything is so lightly drawn, it never engaged my emotions, interest, or nerves. It is well written in a clinical manner, but it never grabbed me. No dialogue stood out, the characters are barely fleshed out, the plot/ mystery is underwhelming, the lead is plain- at times dense- and clearly has plot amour. The 'attraction' that kept being alluded to between the detective and Kitty came out of nowhere and left me puzzled as it is so randomly thrown in at times and it seemed to me but a wisp of a thing. There were a lot of characters Kitty confided or spoke to and the stage was much too crowded for any character, including the lead, to enjoy any sort of development. Which by the by Kitty's beliefs were never tested, she undergoes no growth or change, no emotional highs or lows.

As for the murder itself, of course regardless of who Rose was, it was wrong for her to be murdered- however, that being said I did not super care! She was blackmailing everyone and their mother!

I don't want to victim blame even a fictional character, but…. play stupid games, win stupid prizes, as they say.
Rose:Blackmails and maliciously antagonizes a bunch of powerful people.
*Gets murdered*
Also Rose: *surprised pikachu*

I see the reviews are glowing, so I posit this is simply not my cuppa and recommend you visit other reviews before letting my specific experience turn you off. I was disappointed I did not enjoy this as the premiss had me so excited, as did the beautiful cover art; I was in a tizzy when I scored this ARC, I was sure it would be a home run.
But alas, it was not to be. I struggled to finish this and kept checking out the other reviews hoping that at some point I would see what everyone else did.

I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley for an honest review

A wonderful start to a new cozy mystery series. I liked the main character and her family. I would have liked a little more romance, but there were strong hints that there will be more in future books.

3.5 stars

This is a light-hearted and fun romp set in London during the 1920s. Heiress Kitty Worthington is turning 21 and has just come from her Swiss finishing school in time to make her debut to London society. Kitty is smart, sassy and eager to begin leading an interesting life rather than become a constrained matron. She figures she can go through the motions of finding a titled husband but then dodge her mother so she can enjoy a bit of freedom.

But everyone's plans get upended when a death by poison occurs on the Golden Arrow train. Kitty is a passenger, along with the victim, several acquaintances -- and Kitty's brother Ned who was a lover (and blackmail victim) of the murdered woman. Kitty feels she must investigate to clear Ned.

This is more confection than history but Kitty is an appealing character. Sparks fly when she runs into hunky Inspector Crawford and neither will back down. If you're looking for frothy entertainment in the mystery vein, check it out. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Hearts Afire Publishing, in return for an honest review. I LOVED this book! It’s the first in a new series and I’m already looking forward to the next one. This is 1923 and Kitty Worthington is returning home from her year at her European finishing school. Escorted by her brother, Ned, they board the Golden Arrow train for their return to England. There’s quite the interesting mix of passengers in the first-class compartment. When one of them dies by poisoning in the dining car, everyone is under suspicion. Kitty realizes that many of them have relationships with victim, including her brother. Determined to clear him, while navigating her debut season and managing her mother’s expectations, Kitty has quite the agenda to clear!
This is a great new start to a series with an interesting and fun heroine. The period allows realistic engagement for a female sleuth while paying wonderful homage to Agatha Chrisite’s classic detective stories. Fun, fun, fun!

Kitty Worthington is so much fun! I loved this first entry in Maggie Alexander's new series. Great for fans of Beth Byers' Violet Carlyle, Ann Sutton's Dodo Dorchester, and Verity Bright's Lady Eleanor. The story isn't maybe the most original - a debutante on her way back from finishing school witnesses a murder. Unfortunately, her brother who is escorting her home "knew" the victim and becomes a suspect. So Kitty decides she needs to find the real murderer. But the characters are interesting, Kitty doesn't take herself too seriously, and the plot has enough twists to keep things interesting. I am looking forward to the next Kitty Worthington mystery! Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of #MurderontheGoldenArrow.