What do you think?
Rate this book
Miss Underhay #12
Murder at the Beauty Pageant
Kitty Underhay is awarding first place… to murder.
Spring, 1935 . Newlywed Kitty Underhay has been enlisted by her old nemesis Mrs Craven to help organise the Miss Dartmouth Jubilee pageant at the Dolphin Hotel. Being bossed around by her arch enemy is not quite what Kitty had in mind for the start of her married life, but she’s excited to launch the glamorous show. Sparkling smiles are quickly replaced by audible gasps however, when one of the girls goes missing during the interval…
When pretty Peggy Blaine is discovered dead, Kitty can’t help but notice that none of the other contestants seem particularly shocked. Can jealousy over a sash and a diamante tiara be a motive for murder?
But when she discovers the threatening notes the young women have received, Kitty enlists her husband Matt to figure out who’s scaring the competitors. However, before Matt can speak to them, another entrant turns up dead after an apparently accidental overdose. Taking part in a beauty pageant seems to have turned into a fatal occupation!
The daring duo are sure that someone close to the girls is responsible. But can they sort the harmless face powders from the fatal poisons before it’s too late? Or will Kitty and Matt find they are next to be crowned… with death?
An utter joy! Fans of Agatha Christie, T E Kinsey and Lee Strauss will fall head over heels for this utterly compelling and totally charming historical cozy mystery!
Readers love the Miss Underhay
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘I could not put this down!! I read this in one sitting . I need more than 5 stars for this book! I absolutely loved it! ’ NetGalley reviewer
‘I cannot put it down … I tore through this book! ’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘I read it in one sitting , a page-turner I couldn’t put down .’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘ What can I say? I loved it .’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘I love this… It kept me guessing right until the final scene .’ Roberta Reads
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘ This murder mystery is perfect … This story has it all. An absolute page-turner with characters to care about.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘A page-turner that will keep you guessing.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘After the first chapter I wasn’t able to stop reading and turning pages as fast as I could .’ Scrapping and Playing
Spring, 1935 . Newlywed Kitty Underhay has been enlisted by her old nemesis Mrs Craven to help organise the Miss Dartmouth Jubilee pageant at the Dolphin Hotel. Being bossed around by her arch enemy is not quite what Kitty had in mind for the start of her married life, but she’s excited to launch the glamorous show. Sparkling smiles are quickly replaced by audible gasps however, when one of the girls goes missing during the interval…
When pretty Peggy Blaine is discovered dead, Kitty can’t help but notice that none of the other contestants seem particularly shocked. Can jealousy over a sash and a diamante tiara be a motive for murder?
But when she discovers the threatening notes the young women have received, Kitty enlists her husband Matt to figure out who’s scaring the competitors. However, before Matt can speak to them, another entrant turns up dead after an apparently accidental overdose. Taking part in a beauty pageant seems to have turned into a fatal occupation!
The daring duo are sure that someone close to the girls is responsible. But can they sort the harmless face powders from the fatal poisons before it’s too late? Or will Kitty and Matt find they are next to be crowned… with death?
An utter joy! Fans of Agatha Christie, T E Kinsey and Lee Strauss will fall head over heels for this utterly compelling and totally charming historical cozy mystery!
Readers love the Miss Underhay
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘I could not put this down!! I read this in one sitting . I need more than 5 stars for this book! I absolutely loved it! ’ NetGalley reviewer
‘I cannot put it down … I tore through this book! ’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘I read it in one sitting , a page-turner I couldn’t put down .’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘ What can I say? I loved it .’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘I love this… It kept me guessing right until the final scene .’ Roberta Reads
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘ This murder mystery is perfect … This story has it all. An absolute page-turner with characters to care about.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘A page-turner that will keep you guessing.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘After the first chapter I wasn’t able to stop reading and turning pages as fast as I could .’ Scrapping and Playing
256 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2023
1043 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
Helena Dixon
32 books307 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
For other authors of this name, see also:
see: Helena Dixon - Erotica
This author also writes as:
Nell Dixon - Contemporary Womens Fiction
Nell is an multi-award winning author who splits her time between Devon and the Black Country. She lives with her husband, daughters, a tank of tropical fish, and a crazy Cockerpoo called Teddy. She writes contemporary romance as Nell Dixon and historical cozy crime set in 1930's Dartmouth as Helena Dixon. She is represented by the Kate Nash Literary Agency.
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
For other authors of this name, see also:
see: Helena Dixon - Erotica
This author also writes as:
Nell Dixon - Contemporary Womens Fiction
Nell is an multi-award winning author who splits her time between Devon and the Black Country. She lives with her husband, daughters, a tank of tropical fish, and a crazy Cockerpoo called Teddy. She writes contemporary romance as Nell Dixon and historical cozy crime set in 1930's Dartmouth as Helena Dixon. She is represented by the Kate Nash Literary Agency.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
May 4, 2023
Number 12 in this extremely enjoyable historical mystery series, set in beautiful Dartmouth in Devon, England.
At last Kitty and Matt are married, living in their own house, and working jointly as private investigators. Kitty is still obliged to carry out some activities helping her grandmother and her friends in various women's groups. One of these activities is to organise the Miss Dartmouth Jubilee Pageant at the Dolphin Hotel, and when one of the contestants is murdered, Kitty and Matt are immediately on the case.
I liked the extra freedom Kitty has to help Matt now that they are married. I also very much enjoyed the antics of Bertie when they leave him at home (I have a dog who is a bit the same) and I like the addition of Rascal the kitten to the family. All good and I look forward to the next book.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
At last Kitty and Matt are married, living in their own house, and working jointly as private investigators. Kitty is still obliged to carry out some activities helping her grandmother and her friends in various women's groups. One of these activities is to organise the Miss Dartmouth Jubilee Pageant at the Dolphin Hotel, and when one of the contestants is murdered, Kitty and Matt are immediately on the case.
I liked the extra freedom Kitty has to help Matt now that they are married. I also very much enjoyed the antics of Bertie when they leave him at home (I have a dog who is a bit the same) and I like the addition of Rascal the kitten to the family. All good and I look forward to the next book.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 2, 2023
The Dolphin Hotel was hosting the beauty pageant and Mrs Craven was in charge of organising it all. She had Kitty Underhay (now Bryant) running around after her and Kitty's Grams was sympathetic to Kitty. With the change rooms organised for the young women, she was shocked to open the locked door to find a nasty, threatening note. It wasn't long before everyone connected to the pageant had received the letters, but the new police inspector wasn't interested. It wasn't until one of the contestants was found stabbed to death that he decided to investigate, but told Matt and Kitty to stay out of it - it was police business.
Kitty and Matt continued to interview people of interest and it wasn't long before they discovered a few secrets which would give motive to a select few. But would they discover who the killer was?
Murder at the Beauty Pageant in the 12th in the Miss Underhay series by Helena Dixon and once again it was fun and entertaining. I love mischievous Bertie, and his new friend Rascal. Life is a little different for Kitty now she's not living at the Dolphin, but her new life with husband Matt is an exciting one. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Kitty and Matt continued to interview people of interest and it wasn't long before they discovered a few secrets which would give motive to a select few. But would they discover who the killer was?
Murder at the Beauty Pageant in the 12th in the Miss Underhay series by Helena Dixon and once again it was fun and entertaining. I love mischievous Bertie, and his new friend Rascal. Life is a little different for Kitty now she's not living at the Dolphin, but her new life with husband Matt is an exciting one. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
May 5, 2023
Kitty Bryant is now a newlywed. She and her husband Matt now have their own private investigation agency. Kitty has been instrumental countless times when it came to solving murders, often working along with the police. Kitty and Matt have a new client who has raised concerns about his stepdaughter.
Meanwhile, Kitty is one of the organizers of a small beauty pageant with several young ladies vying for first prize. There have been a few problems, starting with a threatening note, and ultimately one of the girls turns up missing during the middle of the pageant. Sadly, the young woman is soon found dead, and Kitty and Matt are fairly certain that the murder has to do with their current case.
With a new Inspector at the police, Kitty and Matt soon learn that their previous alliance has been broken. Yet, they want answers and nothing will stop them. With great characters and wit, Helena Dixon has kept this series alive and enjoyable. I enjoy Kitty and Matt’s exploits and look forward to seeing a lot more of them in the future. In fact, in a few short months, I look forward to the release of Murder at the Village Fair.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Meanwhile, Kitty is one of the organizers of a small beauty pageant with several young ladies vying for first prize. There have been a few problems, starting with a threatening note, and ultimately one of the girls turns up missing during the middle of the pageant. Sadly, the young woman is soon found dead, and Kitty and Matt are fairly certain that the murder has to do with their current case.
With a new Inspector at the police, Kitty and Matt soon learn that their previous alliance has been broken. Yet, they want answers and nothing will stop them. With great characters and wit, Helena Dixon has kept this series alive and enjoyable. I enjoy Kitty and Matt’s exploits and look forward to seeing a lot more of them in the future. In fact, in a few short months, I look forward to the release of Murder at the Village Fair.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
August 26, 2023
Murder at the Beauty Pageant is book two in the Miss Underhay series by Helena Dixon. Newly married Kitty Bryant felt slightly left out of her husband's private investigating business by joining the committee hosting the 1935 Miss Dartmouth Jubilee beauty pageant. However, on the day of the Pageant, one of the contests was murder, and she became involved in the investigation with her husband, Matt. At first, they cannot see the motive for Peggy's murder until they uncover her blackmailing activities around Dartmouth. The readers of Murder at the Beauty Pageant will continue to follow Kitty and Matt Bryant to discover what happens.
It's another intriguing, cozy murder mystery by an author I have never read. It is a nice change that the main characters are not amateur investigators and must be accepted by the local law enforcement. I had trouble engaging with this book's story from the beginning. I love Helena's description of her characters and how they interact with each other. Murder at the Beauty Pageant is well-written and researched by Helena Dixon. I like Helena Dixon's description of the settings of Murder at the Beauty Pageant, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of Murder at the Beauty Pageant will learn about organising a beauty pageant in prewar England. Also, the readers of Murder at the Beauty Pageant will understand the consequences of greed.
I recommend this book.
It's another intriguing, cozy murder mystery by an author I have never read. It is a nice change that the main characters are not amateur investigators and must be accepted by the local law enforcement. I had trouble engaging with this book's story from the beginning. I love Helena's description of her characters and how they interact with each other. Murder at the Beauty Pageant is well-written and researched by Helena Dixon. I like Helena Dixon's description of the settings of Murder at the Beauty Pageant, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of Murder at the Beauty Pageant will learn about organising a beauty pageant in prewar England. Also, the readers of Murder at the Beauty Pageant will understand the consequences of greed.
I recommend this book.
May 5, 2023
Murder At The Beauty Pageant is the first book in the series after Kitty and Matt’s wedding. It was inevitable the whole dynamics of the series would change after it, so this was a game changer, and I’m glad to say that the new situation works as well as the previous one. Same old faces. New beginnings.
The Dolphin Hotel is hosting the Miss Dartmouth Jubilee beauty pageant. A series of anonymous letters threatening everyone involved in the pageant have everyone on guard so, when one of the contestants is found dead the night of the event, everything points to the mysterious letter writer. But soon it will be discovered that the victim wasn’t as innocent as she looked. Could someone else be behind her death?
Kitty and Matt are still learning to navigate their new life as a married couple. Their love affair with the police force seems to be coming to an end after DI Greville’s promotion and the arrival of an old acquaintance that doesn’t appreciate their sleuthing skills too much. All these changes could have affected in part the charm of the series, but it is still intact.
We may not get to witness as much hotel life as in the previous books, but we get to finally see how Kitty and Matt get on while living under the same roof, and with a nice addition to their family! What is better than a book with a dog in it? A book with a dog AND a cat acting as best pals. Bernie and Rascal were so cute together!
It was also nice to see how Kitty’s relationship with Alice has turned into a true friendship.
I enjoyed the mystery quite a lot. The beauty queens had all a good amount of secrets, so that gave rise to lots of chances for the author to throw the reader of the scent and misdirect suspicions. Matt and Kitty make a wonderful team and I’m anxious to see if they’ll be able to win over their new nemesis, DI Lewis.
Another great installment in this phenomenal series of historical cozy mysteries, that is not afraid to introduce some changes in something that had previously worked so well, for the sake of the story, their characters and the fans that have accompanied Kitty and Matt since book 1 and have been waiting for this moment forever!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Dolphin Hotel is hosting the Miss Dartmouth Jubilee beauty pageant. A series of anonymous letters threatening everyone involved in the pageant have everyone on guard so, when one of the contestants is found dead the night of the event, everything points to the mysterious letter writer. But soon it will be discovered that the victim wasn’t as innocent as she looked. Could someone else be behind her death?
Kitty and Matt are still learning to navigate their new life as a married couple. Their love affair with the police force seems to be coming to an end after DI Greville’s promotion and the arrival of an old acquaintance that doesn’t appreciate their sleuthing skills too much. All these changes could have affected in part the charm of the series, but it is still intact.
We may not get to witness as much hotel life as in the previous books, but we get to finally see how Kitty and Matt get on while living under the same roof, and with a nice addition to their family! What is better than a book with a dog in it? A book with a dog AND a cat acting as best pals. Bernie and Rascal were so cute together!
It was also nice to see how Kitty’s relationship with Alice has turned into a true friendship.
I enjoyed the mystery quite a lot. The beauty queens had all a good amount of secrets, so that gave rise to lots of chances for the author to throw the reader of the scent and misdirect suspicions. Matt and Kitty make a wonderful team and I’m anxious to see if they’ll be able to win over their new nemesis, DI Lewis.
Another great installment in this phenomenal series of historical cozy mysteries, that is not afraid to introduce some changes in something that had previously worked so well, for the sake of the story, their characters and the fans that have accompanied Kitty and Matt since book 1 and have been waiting for this moment forever!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2023
This was another fun entry in the Miss Underhay (now Mrs. Bryant) historical mystery series. Yes, Kitty and Matt are now married. They haven't yet managed to take their honeymoon, but are settling into married life. However, while Kitty is now her husband Matt's partner in his detective agency, and no longer works at the hotel, she's finding her time more occupied by tasks assigned by Mrs. Craven (a busy-body woman in the town). This time, Kitty is stuck helping out with a beauty pageant. But of course, the beauty pageant doesn't go smoothly, and we soon have several murders connected to a case Kitty and Matt have acquired.
This was an interesting entry, as things have definitely changed. Only a bit of the action took place at the Dolphin Hotel, and Kitty's grandmother made only a minor appearance or two. We also didn't see as much of Alice and her sister as we normally do. Their friend the police inspector has been promoted, and the man brought in to replace him does not like citizens interfering in his cases, meaning Kitty and Matt have a whole new dynamic with the police.
I enjoyed the mystery, and liked seeing the continued character development. I'd love to see more of Alice and her sister in the next book, but remain a fan of the series.
This was an interesting entry, as things have definitely changed. Only a bit of the action took place at the Dolphin Hotel, and Kitty's grandmother made only a minor appearance or two. We also didn't see as much of Alice and her sister as we normally do. Their friend the police inspector has been promoted, and the man brought in to replace him does not like citizens interfering in his cases, meaning Kitty and Matt have a whole new dynamic with the police.
I enjoyed the mystery, and liked seeing the continued character development. I'd love to see more of Alice and her sister in the next book, but remain a fan of the series.
May 3, 2023
Murder at the Beauty Pageant is the 12th Miss Underhay mystery and as far as I'm concerned, it the best one yet. Can you read this book without reading the previous books? Yes, but they are all so good, I recommend you read them from the beginning. Kitty and Matt have finally married and Kitty is bored. She doesn't have enough at their PI business to keep her busy, so Mrs. Craven has enlisted her to help with the committee planning events for the King's Silver Jubilee. She is working on the Beauty Pageant that is being held at her family's Dolphin Hotel. When the organizers and participants receive threatening notes, they visit the police station only to find out that there is a new Detective Inspector as, DI Greville has been promoted to Chief Inspector. The new Inspector is DI Lewis, a man they encountered at a murder in another area. He is now working in Torquay and he is not very flexible. He wants nothing to do with Matt and Kitty and ignores their concerns. When one of the contestants is found dead, he tries to backpedal about his lack of concern. Can they find the killer before anyone else ends up dead?
This was a wonderful Historical Cozy Mystery. I read this in one sitting, only stopping when I needed to eat or answer the phone. With Matt and Kitty working on their own case for Egyptologist Sir Vivian Hardcastle, they kept crossing over into the murder investigation that Lewis warned them to stay out of. Because Matt and Kitty live in the area and are friends with everyone, they will talk to them, but not the constables that Lewis keeps sending out. Uh oh. As more became known about the victim, the pool of suspects kept growing. This was a convoluted case that had more going on than meets the eye. Helena Dixon has written a well developed and plotted mystery with lots of great characters, some more likable than others. Did I guess who the culprit was? Not until close to the end when more clues were revealed. Matt and Kitty are a wonderful team working together to solve crimes and I am looking forward to see what they do next. Of course, I always enjoy Bertie, their little dog who is always up to mischief and now the addition to their home, a kitten they named Rascal. If you enjoy a good cozy mystery, especially one set during the 1930s, then I recommend you pick up any of the Miss Underhay books.
This was a wonderful Historical Cozy Mystery. I read this in one sitting, only stopping when I needed to eat or answer the phone. With Matt and Kitty working on their own case for Egyptologist Sir Vivian Hardcastle, they kept crossing over into the murder investigation that Lewis warned them to stay out of. Because Matt and Kitty live in the area and are friends with everyone, they will talk to them, but not the constables that Lewis keeps sending out. Uh oh. As more became known about the victim, the pool of suspects kept growing. This was a convoluted case that had more going on than meets the eye. Helena Dixon has written a well developed and plotted mystery with lots of great characters, some more likable than others. Did I guess who the culprit was? Not until close to the end when more clues were revealed. Matt and Kitty are a wonderful team working together to solve crimes and I am looking forward to see what they do next. Of course, I always enjoy Bertie, their little dog who is always up to mischief and now the addition to their home, a kitten they named Rascal. If you enjoy a good cozy mystery, especially one set during the 1930s, then I recommend you pick up any of the Miss Underhay books.
March 31, 2023
It is 1935, which, as a silver jubilee year, means celebrations, parties, and competitions in Dartmouth and the surrounding area. It also means Mrs Craven is in her element, recruiting anyone she can to help organise everything, including newly married Kitty Bryant, much to her dismay.
With the town needing to raise money for the children's party, Kitty finds herself helping to arrange a beauty contest at The Dolphin Hotel rather than spending time with her new husband. As Matt works to find clients for their private investigations business, Kitty is concerned about a spate of poison pen letters sent to the organisers of the pageant. Then, a body is discovered, and they begin to investigate, much to the annoyance of the recently appointed police inspector. With newly promoted Chief Inspector Grenville no longer as readily available to them will Kitty and Matt be able to count on the local constabulary, as they have in the past or, as the stakes are raised, are they on their own?
Book 12 begins a new chapter in Kitty and Matt's lives as well as other familiar characters, and it did have a slightly different feel to it. I thoroughly enjoyed the changes that have been made, and as there is the promise of more to come mentioned in the author's notes, I have no doubt this series will continue to go from strength to strength.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a great addition to the series, and I thoroughly enjoyed all the period details. Highly recommended.
With the town needing to raise money for the children's party, Kitty finds herself helping to arrange a beauty contest at The Dolphin Hotel rather than spending time with her new husband. As Matt works to find clients for their private investigations business, Kitty is concerned about a spate of poison pen letters sent to the organisers of the pageant. Then, a body is discovered, and they begin to investigate, much to the annoyance of the recently appointed police inspector. With newly promoted Chief Inspector Grenville no longer as readily available to them will Kitty and Matt be able to count on the local constabulary, as they have in the past or, as the stakes are raised, are they on their own?
Book 12 begins a new chapter in Kitty and Matt's lives as well as other familiar characters, and it did have a slightly different feel to it. I thoroughly enjoyed the changes that have been made, and as there is the promise of more to come mentioned in the author's notes, I have no doubt this series will continue to go from strength to strength.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a great addition to the series, and I thoroughly enjoyed all the period details. Highly recommended.
May 8, 2023
This 12th book in the Miss Underhay series is my favourite so far! Kitty and Matt are settling into married life, but this didn't change the dynamics between them that I learned to love in the previous books. Inspector Greville has been promoted to Chief Inspector, and the new inspector isn't keen on working with private detectives. I'm interested to see how this will develop in future books.
I enjoyed the plot, it was well-written and a real page-turner.
4.5 stars, definitely recommended!
Thank you to the publisher who provided me with an e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the plot, it was well-written and a real page-turner.
4.5 stars, definitely recommended!
Thank you to the publisher who provided me with an e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 26, 2023
I found this one too distressing for me, I don’t do well with young vulnerable deaths and the lead characters don’t seem to be as interesting any more as the tension is gone. I so enjoyed the previous ones so I was disappointed!
May 2, 2023
My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Murder at the Beauty Pageant ’ by Helena Dixon. I was also invited to take part in the publication week blog tour.
This is Book 12 in the Miss Kitty Underhay series of historical cosy mysteries set in 1930s Devon. As each book deals with a central mystery they can be read as stand-alones, though reading in order does allow for an appreciation of the characters’ development. However, Helena Dixon does well in providing enough background at the start for new readers. The titles in this series clearly indicate the venue for the central murder mystery.
Spring, 1935. Newlywed Kitty is settling into married life. The Dolphin Hotel is now being run by its new manager and while Kitty is listed as Matt’s partner in his private detective agency, she’s rather frustrated with the more mundane aspects of the job.
Yet Kitty has been asked by former Dartmouth Mayoress, Mrs. Craven, to join the committee organising the Miss Dartmouth Jubilee pageant at the Dolphin Hotel. While Kitty is not that keen on being bossed around by Mrs. Craven, she is excited about the glamorous show being held in honour of the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary.
However, threatening notes have been sent to members of the committee and later the contestants also receive them. Then one of the contestants goes missing during an interval and shortly after her body is discovered. Kitty and Matt are naturally keen to discover if there is a link between the notes and the murder. No further details to avoid spoilers.
There certainly are many changes taking place in Kitty’s world. Along with her marriage she has adopted a sweet new pet. I have to admit that it may take me a little while to get used to Kitty being addressed as Mrs Bryant.
In addition, their ally in the local police force has been promoted and a new Inspector appointed. He’
is rather full of himself, believes in strictly following procedure, and strongly disapproves of private investigators and more so lady detectives. Oh dear! I foresee plenty of clashes ahead though I was confident that Kitty and Matt would run rings about him.
As always Helena Dixon has produced a lighthearted historical cosy mystery that sparkled with wit and proved an intriguing whodunnit.
Overall, I consider ‘Murder at the Beauty Pageant’ a perfect light read for the Coronation weekend (and beyond) and an excellent addition to the series.
Highly recommended.
This is Book 12 in the Miss Kitty Underhay series of historical cosy mysteries set in 1930s Devon. As each book deals with a central mystery they can be read as stand-alones, though reading in order does allow for an appreciation of the characters’ development. However, Helena Dixon does well in providing enough background at the start for new readers. The titles in this series clearly indicate the venue for the central murder mystery.
Spring, 1935. Newlywed Kitty is settling into married life. The Dolphin Hotel is now being run by its new manager and while Kitty is listed as Matt’s partner in his private detective agency, she’s rather frustrated with the more mundane aspects of the job.
Yet Kitty has been asked by former Dartmouth Mayoress, Mrs. Craven, to join the committee organising the Miss Dartmouth Jubilee pageant at the Dolphin Hotel. While Kitty is not that keen on being bossed around by Mrs. Craven, she is excited about the glamorous show being held in honour of the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary.
However, threatening notes have been sent to members of the committee and later the contestants also receive them. Then one of the contestants goes missing during an interval and shortly after her body is discovered. Kitty and Matt are naturally keen to discover if there is a link between the notes and the murder. No further details to avoid spoilers.
There certainly are many changes taking place in Kitty’s world. Along with her marriage she has adopted a sweet new pet. I have to admit that it may take me a little while to get used to Kitty being addressed as Mrs Bryant.
In addition, their ally in the local police force has been promoted and a new Inspector appointed. He’
is rather full of himself, believes in strictly following procedure, and strongly disapproves of private investigators and more so lady detectives. Oh dear! I foresee plenty of clashes ahead though I was confident that Kitty and Matt would run rings about him.
As always Helena Dixon has produced a lighthearted historical cosy mystery that sparkled with wit and proved an intriguing whodunnit.
Overall, I consider ‘Murder at the Beauty Pageant’ a perfect light read for the Coronation weekend (and beyond) and an excellent addition to the series.
Highly recommended.
March 29, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of "Murder at the Beauty Pageant" in exchange for my honest review.
This is book 12 in the Miss Underhay series and a fabulous read filled with suspense and excitement. It starts as always with an article from the Torbay Herald - this time dated April 1935, regarding the Silver Jubilee Celebrations for King George V. Another article is about a Bonny Baby Contest that was organized by Mrs. Millicent Craven. Along with an article about Sir Vivian Hardcastle holding a lecture about Egyptian artifacts.
Kitty Bryant is now happily married to Captain Matt Bryant. Mr. Lutterworth runs the Dolphin Hotel since Kitty's marriage at Christmas. Mrs. Smith manages Matt's house as their housekeeper. Kitty while a full partner at Torbay Investigative Services find she is at loose ends with not much to do. She ends up being commanded by Mrs. Craven to do committee work with her for the Jubilee Celebrations. A Beauty Pageant will be held at the Dolphin Hotel. The daughter and step-daughter of Sir Vivian the Egyptologist are entered. He has hired Matt and Kitty to investigate his step-daughter Victoria Carstairs who he feels is in with bad company and possibly with a drugs habit.
Matt and Kitty's old friend Inspector Greville is now a Chief Inspector and his replacement doesn't fill them with joy as it's Inspector Lewis whom they met at Lady Woodcombe's wedding in Yorkshire and he was not impressed with private detectives working alongside the police.
The girls of the pageant have been receiving threatening notes asking them to withdraw from the competition. When one of the girls goes missing Inspector Lewis doesn't take it seriously. Then there is another death - are they related? Matt and Kitty seem to be the only ones gathering clues. In this book they come the closest to coming to real harm than they have in any previous book. Alice once again proves what a great friend she is to Kitty.
A great new addition to Matt and Kitty's household is a kitten that Kitty rescues from an alleyway. Bertie and Rascal quickly become great friends. Very much looking forward to seeing where the next story takes Matt and Kitty!
This is book 12 in the Miss Underhay series and a fabulous read filled with suspense and excitement. It starts as always with an article from the Torbay Herald - this time dated April 1935, regarding the Silver Jubilee Celebrations for King George V. Another article is about a Bonny Baby Contest that was organized by Mrs. Millicent Craven. Along with an article about Sir Vivian Hardcastle holding a lecture about Egyptian artifacts.
Kitty Bryant is now happily married to Captain Matt Bryant. Mr. Lutterworth runs the Dolphin Hotel since Kitty's marriage at Christmas. Mrs. Smith manages Matt's house as their housekeeper. Kitty while a full partner at Torbay Investigative Services find she is at loose ends with not much to do. She ends up being commanded by Mrs. Craven to do committee work with her for the Jubilee Celebrations. A Beauty Pageant will be held at the Dolphin Hotel. The daughter and step-daughter of Sir Vivian the Egyptologist are entered. He has hired Matt and Kitty to investigate his step-daughter Victoria Carstairs who he feels is in with bad company and possibly with a drugs habit.
Matt and Kitty's old friend Inspector Greville is now a Chief Inspector and his replacement doesn't fill them with joy as it's Inspector Lewis whom they met at Lady Woodcombe's wedding in Yorkshire and he was not impressed with private detectives working alongside the police.
The girls of the pageant have been receiving threatening notes asking them to withdraw from the competition. When one of the girls goes missing Inspector Lewis doesn't take it seriously. Then there is another death - are they related? Matt and Kitty seem to be the only ones gathering clues. In this book they come the closest to coming to real harm than they have in any previous book. Alice once again proves what a great friend she is to Kitty.
A great new addition to Matt and Kitty's household is a kitten that Kitty rescues from an alleyway. Bertie and Rascal quickly become great friends. Very much looking forward to seeing where the next story takes Matt and Kitty!
May 3, 2023
Murder at the Beauty Pageant by Helena Dixon takes place in 1935, just about the time of the King’s Jubilee. Since Miss Underhay is now Mrs. Bryant and no longer the manager of the Dolphin, but a partner in the private investigative business, she finds herself at loose ends as there have not been many new cases. She finds herself drafted by Mrs. Craven to be on the Jubilee committee for Dartmouth, particularly the beauty pageant as it is being held at the Dolphin. Of course, Mrs. Craven will not allow bathing suits so it is evening gowns, talent, and question and answer only. Things are going relatively smoothly until the disapproving, then, threatening letters start arriving. At first, they were just to committee members, but shortly moved on to the contestants. They kind of put everyone on edge. The new inspector isn’t taking them seriously and doesn’t like private investigators, so their previous excellent relationship with the constabulary is in jeopardy. Then, the evening of the pageant, one of the girls goes missing. After a search, they find her … dead. Then investigations really ramp up.
Miss Kitty Underhay and Captain Matthew Bryant married at the end of the last book, but they have been partners for years. Kitty is clever and people talk to her because she is not intimidating in the least and she has been part of the community for years. Matt can be intimidating but also sympathetic and easy to talk to. All the folks at the Dolphin are aware of their surroundings and pay attention to detail so they often have clues to pass along. This was a heartbreaking crime, especially when everything came to light. They followed the clues closely and would have solved it if they suspect hadn’t shown his hand in a particularly gruesome manner. All’s well that ends well and although the paying client didn’t pay up, the duo managed to help the police catch a murderer.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Murder at the Beauty Pageant by Bookoutre, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #HelenaDixon #MurderAtTheBeautyPageant
Miss Kitty Underhay and Captain Matthew Bryant married at the end of the last book, but they have been partners for years. Kitty is clever and people talk to her because she is not intimidating in the least and she has been part of the community for years. Matt can be intimidating but also sympathetic and easy to talk to. All the folks at the Dolphin are aware of their surroundings and pay attention to detail so they often have clues to pass along. This was a heartbreaking crime, especially when everything came to light. They followed the clues closely and would have solved it if they suspect hadn’t shown his hand in a particularly gruesome manner. All’s well that ends well and although the paying client didn’t pay up, the duo managed to help the police catch a murderer.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Murder at the Beauty Pageant by Bookoutre, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #HelenaDixon #MurderAtTheBeautyPageant
April 13, 2023
Putting up full review soon.
Murder at the Beauty Pageant by Helena Dixon (Miss Underhay #12) ⭐⭐⭐
Murder at the Beauty Pageant by Helena Dixon is title #12 in Miss Underhay Series. The story dates back to the spring of 1935 where our lead, Kitty Bryant, has just married Matt Bryant. Kitty and Matt make up a daring duo and also work as private investigators.
Kitty is excited to be hosting the Miss Dartmouth Jubilee pageant at the Penguin hotel. However, things do not go as planned when all participants and organisers start receiving threatening letters. Later, a body is found during the competition and a series of chaotic revelations begins. In this chaos, Matt and Kitty are given one private investigation task by a client that seems very suspicious.
Kitty and Matt set out to find the killer as well as solve the mystery behind all the ruckus. The story takes its own time to build up initially but it keeps pacing as the story progresses. The book is short with less than 300 pages and doesn’t bore you out. Engaging storyline with too many characters gives it a nice murder mystery experience where everyone is a suspect. Character establishment is quite well done.
Writing style is very easy and anyone can easily go through the book. However, I don’t like the fact that there is too much information given out in the blurb on Goodreads. PS: Don’t check it and you are good to go for a read. It did not really give me chills as Matt and Kitty’s personal navigation in their married life balances the darkness of the story.
I did expect a little bit more in the terms of writing, and thrill but overall, it was an enjoyable read. I recommend it to the beginners who are interested in a captivating murder mystery.
The book releases on 2nd May 2023 but pre-order it right now.
Thank you to Helena Dixon, Bookouture and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Murder at the Beauty Pageant, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Murder at the Beauty Pageant by Helena Dixon (Miss Underhay #12) ⭐⭐⭐
Murder at the Beauty Pageant by Helena Dixon is title #12 in Miss Underhay Series. The story dates back to the spring of 1935 where our lead, Kitty Bryant, has just married Matt Bryant. Kitty and Matt make up a daring duo and also work as private investigators.
Kitty is excited to be hosting the Miss Dartmouth Jubilee pageant at the Penguin hotel. However, things do not go as planned when all participants and organisers start receiving threatening letters. Later, a body is found during the competition and a series of chaotic revelations begins. In this chaos, Matt and Kitty are given one private investigation task by a client that seems very suspicious.
Kitty and Matt set out to find the killer as well as solve the mystery behind all the ruckus. The story takes its own time to build up initially but it keeps pacing as the story progresses. The book is short with less than 300 pages and doesn’t bore you out. Engaging storyline with too many characters gives it a nice murder mystery experience where everyone is a suspect. Character establishment is quite well done.
Writing style is very easy and anyone can easily go through the book. However, I don’t like the fact that there is too much information given out in the blurb on Goodreads. PS: Don’t check it and you are good to go for a read. It did not really give me chills as Matt and Kitty’s personal navigation in their married life balances the darkness of the story.
I did expect a little bit more in the terms of writing, and thrill but overall, it was an enjoyable read. I recommend it to the beginners who are interested in a captivating murder mystery.
The book releases on 2nd May 2023 but pre-order it right now.
Thank you to Helena Dixon, Bookouture and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Murder at the Beauty Pageant, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
May 30, 2023
Couldn’t Stop Thinking About This Book!
Helena Dixon has a way of writing that makes the reader feel as though she is sitting in their living room and telling them a personally crafted story; a gift to the host who has just regaled her with a fine multi-course meal. Within minutes, Dixon has delivered such a delicious mystery that even her host has forgotten the meal because it pales in comparison. This is exactly how I felt after reading Murder at the Beauty Pageant: A Miss Underhay Mystery. For years the series has been on my TBR list and I’m kicking myself that I didn’t read any of the books sooner. I suppose it’s because I felt I needed to start at the beginning in order to fully appreciate the series. Not true. Dixon has a deft hand at familiarizing the reader, at whatever point they start in the series, without spoiling previous entries or making them feel lost. In fact, I was so captivated by the amateur sleuth, Kitty Underhay Bryant and her husband Matt, that I couldn’t stop thinking about the book when I wasn’t reading it; they are such an exceptional pairing! Both characters are charismatic but realistic and contribute to the story in an equitable fashion. I could easily imagine stumbling on just such a couple in a quaint English village; discussing their amateur sleuth findings while sharing a cuppa and a slice of pork pie. Dixon has such a delicious way of writing that all the characters, even the less desirable ones and the red herrings, were well developed and added to the plot supplying a good amount of twists and turns. So, do as I have and take this off your TBR list now! Start with this installment in the series and work your way backwards. You will not be sorry! My thanks to #HelenaDixon, #Bookouture, and #NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Helena Dixon has a way of writing that makes the reader feel as though she is sitting in their living room and telling them a personally crafted story; a gift to the host who has just regaled her with a fine multi-course meal. Within minutes, Dixon has delivered such a delicious mystery that even her host has forgotten the meal because it pales in comparison. This is exactly how I felt after reading Murder at the Beauty Pageant: A Miss Underhay Mystery. For years the series has been on my TBR list and I’m kicking myself that I didn’t read any of the books sooner. I suppose it’s because I felt I needed to start at the beginning in order to fully appreciate the series. Not true. Dixon has a deft hand at familiarizing the reader, at whatever point they start in the series, without spoiling previous entries or making them feel lost. In fact, I was so captivated by the amateur sleuth, Kitty Underhay Bryant and her husband Matt, that I couldn’t stop thinking about the book when I wasn’t reading it; they are such an exceptional pairing! Both characters are charismatic but realistic and contribute to the story in an equitable fashion. I could easily imagine stumbling on just such a couple in a quaint English village; discussing their amateur sleuth findings while sharing a cuppa and a slice of pork pie. Dixon has such a delicious way of writing that all the characters, even the less desirable ones and the red herrings, were well developed and added to the plot supplying a good amount of twists and turns. So, do as I have and take this off your TBR list now! Start with this installment in the series and work your way backwards. You will not be sorry! My thanks to #HelenaDixon, #Bookouture, and #NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 28, 2023
Book 12 in The Miss Underhay Mystery series, all of which read well as stand-alone’s, and this time Kitty Bryant (née Underhay) is helping arrange a beauty pageant to raise money for a children’s party to celebrate the silver jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary. Kitty and her husband Matt are partners in Torbay Investigation Services, as well as living in, and being involved in, running The Dolphin hotel. A well written and engaging historical cosy mystery set in Dartmouth in May 1935.
Briefly, when the organisers of the pageant and then the contestants all receive threatening letters, all with biblical citations, security is increased at the hotel, where the event is taking place. Meanwhile, Egyptologist Sir Vivian has hired the PI’s to investigate his stepdaughter and her friends who he believes are a bad lot. On the night of the pageant contestant Peggy Blaine goes missing and her body is discovered in the park. Following Inspector Greville promotion to Chief Inspector his replacement Inspector Lewis is in charge of the case and he is not amenable to Kitty and Matt being involved, in fact he isn’t amenable at all!
Another very pleasurable read in the mould of Agatha Christie, although it’s certainly not trying to emulate her writing, just a similar vibe. As a massive animal lover I’ve always enjoyed Bernie’s part in the books and now we have cats and dogs as Kitty rescues a kitten and Rascal joins the Bryant family. A few red herrings gave me a few false leads in my search for the killer and Kitty and Matt were similarly wrong footed. An enjoyable and entertaining cosy read.
Briefly, when the organisers of the pageant and then the contestants all receive threatening letters, all with biblical citations, security is increased at the hotel, where the event is taking place. Meanwhile, Egyptologist Sir Vivian has hired the PI’s to investigate his stepdaughter and her friends who he believes are a bad lot. On the night of the pageant contestant Peggy Blaine goes missing and her body is discovered in the park. Following Inspector Greville promotion to Chief Inspector his replacement Inspector Lewis is in charge of the case and he is not amenable to Kitty and Matt being involved, in fact he isn’t amenable at all!
Another very pleasurable read in the mould of Agatha Christie, although it’s certainly not trying to emulate her writing, just a similar vibe. As a massive animal lover I’ve always enjoyed Bernie’s part in the books and now we have cats and dogs as Kitty rescues a kitten and Rascal joins the Bryant family. A few red herrings gave me a few false leads in my search for the killer and Kitty and Matt were similarly wrong footed. An enjoyable and entertaining cosy read.
May 1, 2023
Spring, 1935. Newlywed Kitty Underhay has been enlisted by Mrs Craven to help organise the Miss Dartmouth Jubilee pageant at the Dolphin Hotel. But a threatening note is found in the dressing room, then the organisers each receive a note & finally just before the contest each competitor receives a note. Things are going well until one of the girls goes missing during the interval & Peggy Blaine is discovered dead in the nearby bandstand. Kitty & husband Matt set out to find who’s scaring the competitors & who killed Peggy.
This is the twelfth book in the series & it could be read on its own, however I've loved the series seeing how the characters have developed, how relationships have grown & changed. Matt & Kitty are now happily married with Bertie the spaniel & they welcome a new addition to their family – Rascal the kitten. Kitty has taken a step back from managing the Dolphin Hotel but is feeling a bit at a loose end so volunteers to help with the Jubilee celebrations. When there is a murder she comes alive & is eager to investigate but Inspector Grenville has been promoted & the new inspector is Lewis who Matt & Kitty met in Yorkshire the previous year & they lock horns again – it will be interesting seeing Kitty ‘tame’ the Inspector! There are plenty of suspects, red herrings plus twists & turns before everything is revealed & once again Matt & Kitty are in danger. Another well written, well paced book, which I thoroughly enjoyed & for the first time I guessed correctly as to who the villain was.
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
This is the twelfth book in the series & it could be read on its own, however I've loved the series seeing how the characters have developed, how relationships have grown & changed. Matt & Kitty are now happily married with Bertie the spaniel & they welcome a new addition to their family – Rascal the kitten. Kitty has taken a step back from managing the Dolphin Hotel but is feeling a bit at a loose end so volunteers to help with the Jubilee celebrations. When there is a murder she comes alive & is eager to investigate but Inspector Grenville has been promoted & the new inspector is Lewis who Matt & Kitty met in Yorkshire the previous year & they lock horns again – it will be interesting seeing Kitty ‘tame’ the Inspector! There are plenty of suspects, red herrings plus twists & turns before everything is revealed & once again Matt & Kitty are in danger. Another well written, well paced book, which I thoroughly enjoyed & for the first time I guessed correctly as to who the villain was.
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
August 10, 2023
Newlywed Kitty Bryant is feeling a little underwhelmed by married life. She is less involved with her grandmother's hotel but has a limited role in her husband's private investigato business. She is encouraged to help organise the town's beauty pageant to keep her busy. But someone doesn't want the pageant to go ahead and then one of the entrants is murdered...
Murder at the Beauty Pageant is the 12th book in the Kitty Underhay (now Bryant!) cosy murder mystery series.
Poor Kitty is feeling sorry for herself as she struggles to adapt to her new life as a married woman. I felt sorry for her too as we've been waiting a long time for this marriage to happen! She throws herself into the organisation of the beauty pageant in honour of George V's silver jubilee (hoping to avoid the disaster of a recent bonny baby competition...) I liked the inclusion of a big royal event as our own King's coronation is imminent.
Warning letters start arriving for the organisers, judges and contestants but the contest continues until one woman is found dead. Kitty and Matt have to contend with a former foe in the persona of a new police inspector. He is not keen on their involvement but luckily they have the support of other police officers. There are a limited number of suspects for the pair to investigate, and a mix of clues and red herrings along the way.
Murder at the Beauty Pageant is an enjoyable addition to the series and the usual momentum is maintained despite the change to the main characters' personal and professional lives.
Murder at the Beauty Pageant is the 12th book in the Kitty Underhay (now Bryant!) cosy murder mystery series.
Poor Kitty is feeling sorry for herself as she struggles to adapt to her new life as a married woman. I felt sorry for her too as we've been waiting a long time for this marriage to happen! She throws herself into the organisation of the beauty pageant in honour of George V's silver jubilee (hoping to avoid the disaster of a recent bonny baby competition...) I liked the inclusion of a big royal event as our own King's coronation is imminent.
Warning letters start arriving for the organisers, judges and contestants but the contest continues until one woman is found dead. Kitty and Matt have to contend with a former foe in the persona of a new police inspector. He is not keen on their involvement but luckily they have the support of other police officers. There are a limited number of suspects for the pair to investigate, and a mix of clues and red herrings along the way.
Murder at the Beauty Pageant is an enjoyable addition to the series and the usual momentum is maintained despite the change to the main characters' personal and professional lives.
May 2, 2023
Kitty Underhay is a Newlywed and is enjoying married life. She has been invited by Mrs Craven, her old nemesis, to help with the Miss Dartmouth Jubilee beauty pageant. The pageant is being held at the Dolphin Hotel. Kitty accepts the invitation and it isn’t exactly what she expected. Mrs Craven hasn’t changed a bit, she is still as condescending and bossy as ever. But when contestant Peggy Blaine is found dead, Kitty notices that the other constants are unaffected by the murder. Kitty decides to do some of her own investigating and when she discovers some threatening notes sent to Peggy, she needs husband Matt to help her solve the murder. The contestants don’t make it easy and seem to never be available to answer any questions. Kitty and Matt must hurry up and catch the murder before another contestant is eliminated.
Murder at the Beauty Pagent by Helena Dixon, is the twelfth installment of A Miss Underhay Mystery Series. I enjoyed this cozy mystery from beginning to end. The plot twists and turns in this story kept me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, there was a plot twist that kept me guessing. This rapid page turner will keep you guessing to the very last page. This can be read as a standalone, but don’t pass up this great series. I loved it and I definitely recommend it.
Murder at the Beauty Pagent by Helena Dixon, is the twelfth installment of A Miss Underhay Mystery Series. I enjoyed this cozy mystery from beginning to end. The plot twists and turns in this story kept me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, there was a plot twist that kept me guessing. This rapid page turner will keep you guessing to the very last page. This can be read as a standalone, but don’t pass up this great series. I loved it and I definitely recommend it.
May 1, 2023
Kitty Underhay is now a newlywed
So she's Mrs Bryant now instead!
She's been set on by Mrs Craven to aid
As plans for a Beauty Pageant are made.
This isn't the wedded bliss she'd thought ahead
As Mrs Craven bosses her around instead.
Kitty would rather work with husband Matt
Investigating mysteries and all that!
What none had anticipated were a letter
Suggesting those involved in the Pageant should know better.
There are hints of danger to come, too -
What should they all do?
A murder, mystery and an Inspector they knew,
All give Matt and Kitty lots to do.
The perpetrator they want to discover,
But secrets first they begin to uncover.
A story full of twists and danger
Is it someone they know or a total stranger?
Finding out more about the victim's life
Shows she's caused others lots of strife!
An enthralling read, with great characters and plot
A historical cosy crime series I like such a lot!
I have no hesitation highly recommending it to you
I say thanks for the book, hope you enjoy my honest review!
So she's Mrs Bryant now instead!
She's been set on by Mrs Craven to aid
As plans for a Beauty Pageant are made.
This isn't the wedded bliss she'd thought ahead
As Mrs Craven bosses her around instead.
Kitty would rather work with husband Matt
Investigating mysteries and all that!
What none had anticipated were a letter
Suggesting those involved in the Pageant should know better.
There are hints of danger to come, too -
What should they all do?
A murder, mystery and an Inspector they knew,
All give Matt and Kitty lots to do.
The perpetrator they want to discover,
But secrets first they begin to uncover.
A story full of twists and danger
Is it someone they know or a total stranger?
Finding out more about the victim's life
Shows she's caused others lots of strife!
An enthralling read, with great characters and plot
A historical cosy crime series I like such a lot!
I have no hesitation highly recommending it to you
I say thanks for the book, hope you enjoy my honest review!
May 6, 2023
Rounded up from 4.5
Ah, it's so nice to be back with Kitty and Matt for the twelfth book in this fantastic series!
Kitty is struggling to adjust to married life with Matt, especially when it comes to their private investigator business. She's been stuck with missing pet cases or consoling upset relatives. She ends up helping with a beauty pageant being held at the Dolphin. Everything is going smoothly until one contestant, Peggy, goes missing. Later she's found dead. It's the perfect opportunity for Kitty to do some sleuthing and get to the bottom of the case.
As usual, murder at the beauty pageant is a wonderfully entertaining historical mystery!
I was a bit worried that the previous book in the series, murder at the charity ball, would be the last, as a secondary storyline which had been running through the books had been wrapped up, but I was happy that wasn't the case.
The story was also just as good as previous books with plenty of suspects, intrigue and red herrings along the way.
I look forward to lots more mysteries featuring Kitty and Matt!
Ah, it's so nice to be back with Kitty and Matt for the twelfth book in this fantastic series!
Kitty is struggling to adjust to married life with Matt, especially when it comes to their private investigator business. She's been stuck with missing pet cases or consoling upset relatives. She ends up helping with a beauty pageant being held at the Dolphin. Everything is going smoothly until one contestant, Peggy, goes missing. Later she's found dead. It's the perfect opportunity for Kitty to do some sleuthing and get to the bottom of the case.
As usual, murder at the beauty pageant is a wonderfully entertaining historical mystery!
I was a bit worried that the previous book in the series, murder at the charity ball, would be the last, as a secondary storyline which had been running through the books had been wrapped up, but I was happy that wasn't the case.
The story was also just as good as previous books with plenty of suspects, intrigue and red herrings along the way.
I look forward to lots more mysteries featuring Kitty and Matt!
June 17, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed reading about Kitty and Matts latest adventure. Now married and living in Matts house in a Churston along with Bertie the cocker spaniel this book has seen a slight shift in their relationship. Whilst clearly happy I miss the obvious affection between them that appeared in the previous books. Full of the usual atmospheric charm of the era and filled with the usual cast of characters it reintroduces the grumpy Inspector Lewis from Yorkshire as a new hurdle for Kitty and Matts investigations.
A beauty pageant being organised at The Dolphin by the redoubtable Mrs Craven takes a sinister turn and involves Kitty and Matt in another murder investigation much to Inspector Lewis’ chagrin.
Whilst it is never difficult to guess ‘whodunnit’. It is enjoyable as ever following the detective duo to the final conclusion.
One omission appears to be no mention of what happened to Esther Hammett after her arrest at Kitty and Matt’s wedding in the last book. I hope she went down for a long stretch:)
Looking forward to the next one when it comes out.
A beauty pageant being organised at The Dolphin by the redoubtable Mrs Craven takes a sinister turn and involves Kitty and Matt in another murder investigation much to Inspector Lewis’ chagrin.
Whilst it is never difficult to guess ‘whodunnit’. It is enjoyable as ever following the detective duo to the final conclusion.
One omission appears to be no mention of what happened to Esther Hammett after her arrest at Kitty and Matt’s wedding in the last book. I hope she went down for a long stretch:)
Looking forward to the next one when it comes out.
July 28, 2023
A Beauty Pageant and Murder as well!
Inspector Greville has been promoted to Chief Inspector so there’s a younger inspector taking his place. Kitty and Matt previously met the new inspector when they were attending Kitty’s cousins wedding.
Well, Inspector Lewis didn’t much care for Kitty’s and Matt’s involvement in that case, and now that he’s the new inspector in Torquay he isn’t at all interested in having them involved in any of his cards there either. That doesn’t stop them from getting involved this go round however.
But then Matt and Kitty are hired by Sir Vivian Hardcastle to find out who is supplying his stepdaughter with cocaine. Sir Vivian suggests a name to Matt and Kitty, someone he feels is involved, but wants the Bryant’s to prove it.
The case takes amidst surprising turn when a beautiful young lady who is participating in a local beauty contest is murdered.
Oh what fun, this is definitely at good read.
Inspector Greville has been promoted to Chief Inspector so there’s a younger inspector taking his place. Kitty and Matt previously met the new inspector when they were attending Kitty’s cousins wedding.
Well, Inspector Lewis didn’t much care for Kitty’s and Matt’s involvement in that case, and now that he’s the new inspector in Torquay he isn’t at all interested in having them involved in any of his cards there either. That doesn’t stop them from getting involved this go round however.
But then Matt and Kitty are hired by Sir Vivian Hardcastle to find out who is supplying his stepdaughter with cocaine. Sir Vivian suggests a name to Matt and Kitty, someone he feels is involved, but wants the Bryant’s to prove it.
The case takes amidst surprising turn when a beautiful young lady who is participating in a local beauty contest is murdered.
Oh what fun, this is definitely at good read.
August 5, 2023
I love these Murder Mystery books by Helena Dixon and have become quite attached to the heroine and hero of the series Daisy and Matt now Mr. and Mrs., and I hope they will be working and solving cases together for a good while yet. Each novel is well put together and easy to read and if you love Dartmouth and the surrounding area you will have an added interest as to what it was like between the two wars....and I can tell you now that it was pretty exciting. I think I enjoyed 'Murder at the Beauty Pageant' more than any of the previous novels, but I have probably said that about quite a few of this particular detective series. The plot was thorough, well put together and we got a chance to guess at the murderer as there are loads of clues as realisation dawns on the closing pages. Looking forward to the next in the series.. will it be a 'Honeymoon Murder Mystery' and take place on the continent Helena?
October 20, 2023
I do always enjoy this series, and number 12 continues that trend. Kitty and Matthew are settling into married life when at a beauty pageant being held at the Dolphin, one of the contestants is murdered.
What I enjoy about this series is that whilst it's undeniably cosy there is a little bit of a darker edge (for cosies that is!) and case in point here we have a victim who has a bit of a sordid life behind the veneer of respectibility portrayed to the town and I do like that touch.
I've rated this personally as 3.5-4* because whilst, as always, it's an enjoyable read, it takes a little while to get going and then wraps up very very quickly. I also hope that as the Bryants settle properly into their life together that we get more Alice involvement in the stories! She really is a lovely character touch to the series and was underutilised in this installment until the end.
Now onto book 13!
What I enjoy about this series is that whilst it's undeniably cosy there is a little bit of a darker edge (for cosies that is!) and case in point here we have a victim who has a bit of a sordid life behind the veneer of respectibility portrayed to the town and I do like that touch.
I've rated this personally as 3.5-4* because whilst, as always, it's an enjoyable read, it takes a little while to get going and then wraps up very very quickly. I also hope that as the Bryants settle properly into their life together that we get more Alice involvement in the stories! She really is a lovely character touch to the series and was underutilised in this installment until the end.
Now onto book 13!
July 18, 2025
newlywed life
After retiring from managing the Dolphin, and no cases on the books, Kitty has been impressed by Mrs.Craven to work on the committee for the Beauty Pageant contest. Filling her hours with Mrs. C is not Kitty’s idea of a good time. But Matt gets offered an interesting case, vaguely threatening letters are received by the beauty contestants, Bertie still chews the hall rug - and one of the contestants goes missing, and is found dead after the event. Players and motives cross and interweave- do they have one case or two? Inspector Lewis (remember him from Yorkshire and Lucy’s wedding) is newly appointed inspector in Dartmouth and wants nothing to do with Matt and Kitty’s clues. Walking a delicate balance between the pageant contestants, their various secrets and Inspector Lewis’ sensibilities Matt, Kitty, and Alice, figure it all out, with not a moment to spare!
After retiring from managing the Dolphin, and no cases on the books, Kitty has been impressed by Mrs.Craven to work on the committee for the Beauty Pageant contest. Filling her hours with Mrs. C is not Kitty’s idea of a good time. But Matt gets offered an interesting case, vaguely threatening letters are received by the beauty contestants, Bertie still chews the hall rug - and one of the contestants goes missing, and is found dead after the event. Players and motives cross and interweave- do they have one case or two? Inspector Lewis (remember him from Yorkshire and Lucy’s wedding) is newly appointed inspector in Dartmouth and wants nothing to do with Matt and Kitty’s clues. Walking a delicate balance between the pageant contestants, their various secrets and Inspector Lewis’ sensibilities Matt, Kitty, and Alice, figure it all out, with not a moment to spare!
April 9, 2023
~~~ review contains slight spoilers for the previous books in the series, but not for this book ~~~
The Miss Underhay Mysteries are one of my favourite cosy crime series, and I was very excited to get my hands on Murder at the Beauty Pageant.
It was lovely to return to 1930s Devon, and catch up with how Kitty and Matt are getting on since their marriage. I always enjoy the mixture of mystery and personal life that is expertly blended in this series, and this book is no exception.
I very much enjoyed the mystery. There was a plethora of excellent suspects, all with their own secrets and motives. The story was well paced, and kept me guessing until the dramatic conclusion.
Overall, this was another excellent mystery in this great series. I’m so looking forward to the next one!
I was given a copy of this book, my opinions are my own.
The Miss Underhay Mysteries are one of my favourite cosy crime series, and I was very excited to get my hands on Murder at the Beauty Pageant.
It was lovely to return to 1930s Devon, and catch up with how Kitty and Matt are getting on since their marriage. I always enjoy the mixture of mystery and personal life that is expertly blended in this series, and this book is no exception.
I very much enjoyed the mystery. There was a plethora of excellent suspects, all with their own secrets and motives. The story was well paced, and kept me guessing until the dramatic conclusion.
Overall, this was another excellent mystery in this great series. I’m so looking forward to the next one!
I was given a copy of this book, my opinions are my own.
April 23, 2023
If like me you have been with Kitty since the beginning then it is a delight to see that she is embracing married life with Matt Bryant and getting more involved in the private investigations.
However that doesn’t stop her being involved with The Dolphin hotel now being run by a manager. To celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the King, it is up to the hotel to stage a Beauty Pageant, what could possibly go wrong?
Well poison pen letters, some strange looking characters and then a couple of dead bodies, it seems this is going to be a beauty pageant that Dartmouth will not forget for a while. But the new inspector, who Kitty and Matt have encountered from previous cases thinks there is nothing amiss and it is all straightforward and the culprit will be easy to catch. Especially if the amateurs do not assist.
But that is okay because Matt and Kitty have been hired to look into Victoria, stepdaughter of Sir Vivian, a well known Egyptologist. He thinks she has fallen in with a bad lot and there is mention of drugs which doesn’t seem to bode well for Victoria. Trouble is Victoria is down to be in the beauty pageant and it seems this private case and the one the police are working on are connected and they are going to have work together.
Although we are on book twelve of this series, as our main characters have now got married there is a shift in the tone of the book, as they enter the next part of their life. Plenty of familiar characters are still present and I hope we get to spend more time with the delightful Alice and members of her family whoa re we getting to know more about. Then of course there is Kitty’s grandmothers close friend; the formidable Mrs Craven who seems to remain Kitty’s thorn in her side and got her into this beauty pageant in the first place!
I look forward to seeing where Matt and Kitty end up next, and whether they can possibly solve a case without putting either of their lives at risk!
However that doesn’t stop her being involved with The Dolphin hotel now being run by a manager. To celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the King, it is up to the hotel to stage a Beauty Pageant, what could possibly go wrong?
Well poison pen letters, some strange looking characters and then a couple of dead bodies, it seems this is going to be a beauty pageant that Dartmouth will not forget for a while. But the new inspector, who Kitty and Matt have encountered from previous cases thinks there is nothing amiss and it is all straightforward and the culprit will be easy to catch. Especially if the amateurs do not assist.
But that is okay because Matt and Kitty have been hired to look into Victoria, stepdaughter of Sir Vivian, a well known Egyptologist. He thinks she has fallen in with a bad lot and there is mention of drugs which doesn’t seem to bode well for Victoria. Trouble is Victoria is down to be in the beauty pageant and it seems this private case and the one the police are working on are connected and they are going to have work together.
Although we are on book twelve of this series, as our main characters have now got married there is a shift in the tone of the book, as they enter the next part of their life. Plenty of familiar characters are still present and I hope we get to spend more time with the delightful Alice and members of her family whoa re we getting to know more about. Then of course there is Kitty’s grandmothers close friend; the formidable Mrs Craven who seems to remain Kitty’s thorn in her side and got her into this beauty pageant in the first place!
I look forward to seeing where Matt and Kitty end up next, and whether they can possibly solve a case without putting either of their lives at risk!
May 3, 2023
I was on all blog tours for Miss Underhay series sot it’s starting to be a bit complex to write something new as each story is better than the previous.
This is the best one: a complex and twisty mystery that I read in one sitting as I wanted to know who-did-it and how Kitty and Matt were going to beat an obnoxious new DI that we already met.
There’s a solid and gripping mystery but I also appreciated the historical details as the pageant is part of the celebrations King's Silver Jubilee.
Kitty and Matt are facing the changes of their new life and Kitty is discovering what it means not working at the Dolphin.
They’re a good couple of detectives and I love their strength and brain.
I could write a lot or simply write that this is one my favourite historical cozy and to go and enjoy these stories.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture for this arc, all opinions are mine
This is the best one: a complex and twisty mystery that I read in one sitting as I wanted to know who-did-it and how Kitty and Matt were going to beat an obnoxious new DI that we already met.
There’s a solid and gripping mystery but I also appreciated the historical details as the pageant is part of the celebrations King's Silver Jubilee.
Kitty and Matt are facing the changes of their new life and Kitty is discovering what it means not working at the Dolphin.
They’re a good couple of detectives and I love their strength and brain.
I could write a lot or simply write that this is one my favourite historical cozy and to go and enjoy these stories.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture for this arc, all opinions are mine
March 30, 2023
The town is hosting a beauty pageant to raise money for the local children in advance of a Royal Jubilee. Sounds boring? Maybe. But then an unknown begins sending threatening notes to the contestants with phrases like "leering eyes of respectable men". Not nice, but nothing like having one of the contestants found stabbed to death after she missed the competition. Turns out that she was hardly a model citizen and the new police detective doesn't like "amateurs mucking about in the case". That would hardly keep our intrepid newlyweds from doing their own type of sleuthing, and things get terribly interesting. Another great read from a more than capable author!
I requested and received an uncorrected advance review ebook copy from Bookouture via NetGalley. Thank you!
I requested and received an uncorrected advance review ebook copy from Bookouture via NetGalley. Thank you!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews