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Murder at Merry Beggars Hall: The first in a BRAND NEW series with a jaw-dropping opening and a killer twist
December 1922, and society dressmaker Jemima Flowerday receives a letter from Lady Hamlash of Merry Beggars Hall, requesting three new gowns for the Christmas season. Lady Hamlash does not travel, so Jemima will need to visit the Hall in deepest Suffolk to work in situ.
The commission appeals to Jemima for more than one reason. It will bring her some much-needed income. More interestingly, the remote manor house was the scene of a grisly murder earlier that year, when Lady Hamlash, inspecting her plants in the walled garden, found a man's severed head beneath a terracotta asparagus cloche. The murder was never solved.
Jemima, addicted to mystery novels and with a proud history of solving crimes in her own world, is sure she can crack the case. That ambition becomes a little more complicated when, within hours of her arrival at Merry Beggars Hall, the household cook dies in front of her…
The commission appeals to Jemima for more than one reason. It will bring her some much-needed income. More interestingly, the remote manor house was the scene of a grisly murder earlier that year, when Lady Hamlash, inspecting her plants in the walled garden, found a man's severed head beneath a terracotta asparagus cloche. The murder was never solved.
Jemima, addicted to mystery novels and with a proud history of solving crimes in her own world, is sure she can crack the case. That ambition becomes a little more complicated when, within hours of her arrival at Merry Beggars Hall, the household cook dies in front of her…
- GenresFiction
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 27, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 6, 2025
Here is my review for Murder At Merry Beggars Hall by Kay Blythe
This was a book that I found to be an intriguing read and I really enjoyed it. I think the author caught the era just right in this story. I believe she got Lady Hamlash’s servants' attitudes and duties to be how she thought they should be as it put me in mind of Upstairs, Downstairs. I was intrigued by the killings and about Jemima Flowerday’s thoughts on them. I liked how she inserted herself into The Hall and managed to ask questions especially once the police were on the scene. I liked how the author wrote this story and I thought it was well written. The story was very easy to read and easy to get into. I liked the character Jemima Flowerday as she was very inquisitive and stood for no nonsense. She stood up for herself and would fight for what is right and wrong. She has very strong views. She loves being able to detect a story and working with proper cops is one of her dreams. I loved this story which is the start of a new series so I’m looking forward to the next book.
Blurb :
Jemima Flowerday combines her skills as a dressmaker and sleuth to solve crime in the crumbling stately homes of 1920s Britain.
December 1922, and society dressmaker Jemima Flowerday receives a letter from Lady Hamlash of Merry Beggars Hall, requesting three new gowns for the Christmas season. Lady Hamlash does not travel, so Jemima will need to visit the Hall in deepest Suffolk to work in situ.
The commission appeals to Jemima for more than one reason. It will bring her some much-needed income. More interestingly, the remote manor house was the scene of a grisly murder earlier that year, when Lady Hamlash, inspecting her plants in the walled garden, found a man's severed head beneath a terracotta asparagus cloche.
The murder was never solved.
Jemima, addicted to mystery novels and with a proud history of solving crimes in her own world, is sure she can crack the case. That ambition becomes a little more complicated when, within hours of her arrival at Merry Beggars Hall, the household cook dies in front of her…
This was a book that I found to be an intriguing read and I really enjoyed it. I think the author caught the era just right in this story. I believe she got Lady Hamlash’s servants' attitudes and duties to be how she thought they should be as it put me in mind of Upstairs, Downstairs. I was intrigued by the killings and about Jemima Flowerday’s thoughts on them. I liked how she inserted herself into The Hall and managed to ask questions especially once the police were on the scene. I liked how the author wrote this story and I thought it was well written. The story was very easy to read and easy to get into. I liked the character Jemima Flowerday as she was very inquisitive and stood for no nonsense. She stood up for herself and would fight for what is right and wrong. She has very strong views. She loves being able to detect a story and working with proper cops is one of her dreams. I loved this story which is the start of a new series so I’m looking forward to the next book.
Blurb :
Jemima Flowerday combines her skills as a dressmaker and sleuth to solve crime in the crumbling stately homes of 1920s Britain.
December 1922, and society dressmaker Jemima Flowerday receives a letter from Lady Hamlash of Merry Beggars Hall, requesting three new gowns for the Christmas season. Lady Hamlash does not travel, so Jemima will need to visit the Hall in deepest Suffolk to work in situ.
The commission appeals to Jemima for more than one reason. It will bring her some much-needed income. More interestingly, the remote manor house was the scene of a grisly murder earlier that year, when Lady Hamlash, inspecting her plants in the walled garden, found a man's severed head beneath a terracotta asparagus cloche.
The murder was never solved.
Jemima, addicted to mystery novels and with a proud history of solving crimes in her own world, is sure she can crack the case. That ambition becomes a little more complicated when, within hours of her arrival at Merry Beggars Hall, the household cook dies in front of her…
February 17, 2025
I really enjoyed this one! Set in the 1920s at the home of Lady Hamlish, it’s the perfect place for a murder mystery to unfold.
Jemima Flowerday, an accomplished dressmaker, finds herself at the scene of a second murder while she is visiting Merry Beggars Hall to make dresses for the lady of the house.
Jemima cannot resist trying to solve mysteries and begins immediately. I did enjoy reading how her mind was working as she found different clues and started following a trail which she hoped would lead to the culprit.
The servants of the house are a quirky bunch - some likeable, others not. There’s a bossy cook and butler which seems to be synonymous with cosy crimes set in a countryside stately residence like this. Add to that a country doctor, a runaway gardener, a DCI and his team, and you have a very interesting story as events unfold and past events come to light.
I do enjoy the classic way mysteries like this are solved! Everyone is gathered in the library as various characters, including Jemima, relate what they know to have happened until all the pieces of the jigsaw are put together and the murderer is revealed. I loved the little twist at the end but … I didn’t manage to work out who the guilty party was!
This book was gifted by No Exit Press and Random Things Tours in exchange for an honest review.
March 7, 2025
This book was very easy to get into and I immediately warmed to Jemima. She is a sympathetic and down to Earth character, never taking advantage of her elevated status. She's also pretty smart and it seemed that she figured some things out quite quickly, so I wasn't sure why she didn't tell the police her suspicions earlier on! The descriptions of the places and the other characters were great too, I could picture their expressions, sitting around the dinner table.
I particularly enjoyed seeing the growing respect between Jemima and the inspector and I think there could be another story there in future. It would be very cool if she continued helping the police, or even became a civilian assistant.
I will definitely be looking forward to the next book in the Jemima Flowerday Mystery series!
https://sabrinasbooktails.blogspot.co...
I particularly enjoyed seeing the growing respect between Jemima and the inspector and I think there could be another story there in future. It would be very cool if she continued helping the police, or even became a civilian assistant.
I will definitely be looking forward to the next book in the Jemima Flowerday Mystery series!
https://sabrinasbooktails.blogspot.co...
March 5, 2025
Jemima is a quirky dressmaker embracing her inner Miss Marple it seems. She has an exceptionally curious nature and a need to follow her instincts and ask the questions she feels need asking.
She's very headstrong and did give me anxiety at times as I thought she'd end up walking into a situation that she'd not get out of. Close but she manages to escape harm.
I liked how this was set post war and Beggars Hall sounds an amazing place to visit. The sort of place that the National Trust would preserve. The description gives a great insight into the look and feel of the home.
The characters are also intriguing and I wondered how such a motley crue can together. They can be quite feisty in their approach so this 'whodunnit' does keep you guessing.
She's very headstrong and did give me anxiety at times as I thought she'd end up walking into a situation that she'd not get out of. Close but she manages to escape harm.
I liked how this was set post war and Beggars Hall sounds an amazing place to visit. The sort of place that the National Trust would preserve. The description gives a great insight into the look and feel of the home.
The characters are also intriguing and I wondered how such a motley crue can together. They can be quite feisty in their approach so this 'whodunnit' does keep you guessing.
January 24, 2025
Cosy historical mystery set in a hall where amateur sleuth and dress designer Jemima Flowerday tries to solve the murder of the butler’s brother. Before long another death occurs leading to even more mystery and sleuthing. But there is more to come…
It’s the kind of genre I like, and yet I can’t quite put my finger on why this one didn’t grab me as much as I was expecting. It’s decent enough though, and I’m sure other fans of cosy historical mysteries will enjoy this a great deal.
I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.
It’s the kind of genre I like, and yet I can’t quite put my finger on why this one didn’t grab me as much as I was expecting. It’s decent enough though, and I’m sure other fans of cosy historical mysteries will enjoy this a great deal.
I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.
March 11, 2025
The writing was engaging and descriptive. There were lots of little details that added a lovely texture to the overall story. I was easily transported back in time and enjoyed how everything unfolded. There was a lot to keep up with; different characters being added into the mix, the actions of those characters and all the hidden agendas, but it was entertaining.
The chapters were short, yet managed to deliver a lot of detail. You always felt that you were making progress, yet at the same time there were twists and turns to slow you back down. Bits were explained throughout so that when fresh information was given you had a sort of understanding of what had gone on before. I was still surprised at the end!
There was a good flow between the chapters and a good pace to the book. My attention was captured from the beginning right through to the end.
All the characters were excellent. There were so many different personalities and I kept changing my mind as to who had done what. It was interesting to see how the social conventions of the time had an affect on each of the characters. It added something extra to the story. There was certainly no love lost between most of the characters.
I enjoyed following the main character around. Her bravery and curiosity was something to behold!
Lastly the settings. I enjoyed being taken to a large Country House Estate. There are so many secrets waiting to be unearthed in such a setting, and this was especially true in that household!
The settings played a big part in the mystery and the the descriptions of them, together with the actions of the characters were well balanced.
Overall an enjoyable mystery and one that kept me on my toes!
The chapters were short, yet managed to deliver a lot of detail. You always felt that you were making progress, yet at the same time there were twists and turns to slow you back down. Bits were explained throughout so that when fresh information was given you had a sort of understanding of what had gone on before. I was still surprised at the end!
There was a good flow between the chapters and a good pace to the book. My attention was captured from the beginning right through to the end.
All the characters were excellent. There were so many different personalities and I kept changing my mind as to who had done what. It was interesting to see how the social conventions of the time had an affect on each of the characters. It added something extra to the story. There was certainly no love lost between most of the characters.
I enjoyed following the main character around. Her bravery and curiosity was something to behold!
Lastly the settings. I enjoyed being taken to a large Country House Estate. There are so many secrets waiting to be unearthed in such a setting, and this was especially true in that household!
The settings played a big part in the mystery and the the descriptions of them, together with the actions of the characters were well balanced.
Overall an enjoyable mystery and one that kept me on my toes!
February 28, 2025
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
A fantastically written mystery witch kept me guessing the whole time, and surprised me with the ending.
I enjoyed this book so much. It was thrilling read and I recommend it if you're looking for cozy mystery wibe book.
A fantastically written mystery witch kept me guessing the whole time, and surprised me with the ending.
I enjoyed this book so much. It was thrilling read and I recommend it if you're looking for cozy mystery wibe book.
March 1, 2025
Wonderful
A very entertaining book.
I wanted to know what happened next but at the same time didn't want to finish the book.
This I hope will be the start of a great new series.
Looking forward to the next book.
A very entertaining book.
I wanted to know what happened next but at the same time didn't want to finish the book.
This I hope will be the start of a great new series.
Looking forward to the next book.
July 16, 2025
SUPERB!
August 19, 2025
Wanted this to be so much better than it was. Bones of a good plot, quirky characters, interesting protagonist. Just felt over-written in a very frustrating way.
November 19, 2025
OK but not ground breaking. Not sure if I will return to this series as I didnt really like Jemima as a character or as a narrator.
April 5, 2025
Book Review*
I was kindly invited to be on the Random Things Tour of Murder at Merry Beggars Hall by Kay Blythe.
The dressmaker come sleuth Jemima Flowerday combines her skills to solve the crime in the crumbling stately homes of Britain. Jemima is addicted to mystery novels and with a proud history of solving crimes within her own world, can she crack the case at Merry Beggars Hall.
I found the book to be quite commical on occasions, with some profound undertones that created a colourful 1920’s setting. It was intriguing to read about, how Jemima’s mind worked. Slowly revealing how she managed to discover and unpick all the clues. Which then lead onto revealing the right suspect and villian of the tale.
I enjoyed these quirky characters within the book some of them you developed strong hatered for but some you became quite fond of. They were well developed and compelling, making them easy to picture. The setting was intricately crafted. The descriptions technique was very well done and I was able to imagine everything perfectly. I feel this book gave me Cluedo come Downtown Abbey vibes.
The only thing I struggled with was the writing style with it being old English. I found it difficult to connect with the language style as it’s not something I normally read; I’m more of a modern-day English girl.
Thank you to @randomthingstours @noexitpress @natalie.meg.evans for kindly sending me this proof to read in exchange for an honest review.
I was kindly invited to be on the Random Things Tour of Murder at Merry Beggars Hall by Kay Blythe.
The dressmaker come sleuth Jemima Flowerday combines her skills to solve the crime in the crumbling stately homes of Britain. Jemima is addicted to mystery novels and with a proud history of solving crimes within her own world, can she crack the case at Merry Beggars Hall.
I found the book to be quite commical on occasions, with some profound undertones that created a colourful 1920’s setting. It was intriguing to read about, how Jemima’s mind worked. Slowly revealing how she managed to discover and unpick all the clues. Which then lead onto revealing the right suspect and villian of the tale.
I enjoyed these quirky characters within the book some of them you developed strong hatered for but some you became quite fond of. They were well developed and compelling, making them easy to picture. The setting was intricately crafted. The descriptions technique was very well done and I was able to imagine everything perfectly. I feel this book gave me Cluedo come Downtown Abbey vibes.
The only thing I struggled with was the writing style with it being old English. I found it difficult to connect with the language style as it’s not something I normally read; I’m more of a modern-day English girl.
Thank you to @randomthingstours @noexitpress @natalie.meg.evans for kindly sending me this proof to read in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews