Mistletoe and Murder

Daisy Dalrymple #11

by Carola Dunn

Daisy Dalrymple, now wed to DCI Alec Fletcher, spends 1923 Christmas at Cornwall with distant relatives the Nevilles. Missionary Mr Calloway disapproves of the celebration and the family, and dies Xmas Eve at an isolated chapel. The elder daughter wanders the grounds nightly, the younger has fits of rage. Who is the killer?

Genres: Mystery, Christmas, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery

239 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Carola Dunn is the author of more than 30 Regency romances, as well as 16 mysteries (the Daisy Dalrymple mystery series is set in England in the 1920s). Ms. Dunn was born and grew up in England, where she got a B.A. in Russian and French from Manchester University. She travelled as far as Fiji before returning to settle in California. After 30 years in the US, she says she still sounds as if she arrived a month ago.

Prior to writing, Ms. Dunn’s various jobs included market research, child-care, construction--from foundation trenches to roofing--and writing definitions for a dictionary of science and technology. She wrote her first novel in 1979, a Regency which she sold to Warner Books.

Now living in Eugene, Oregon, Ms. Dunn has a son in California who has just made her a grandmother, and a large black dog named Willow who takes her for a walk by the Willamette River each morning. (www.belgravehouse.com)

Reviews

[Karen ⊰✿ · Rating 3 out of 5]

In our 11th instalment, Daisy spends Christmas at Cornwall with some distant relatives, who are all, essentially, quite horrible people. We also get to meet her mother who is likewise a fairly dreadful person to be around.

Although Daisy and Alec are on holidays, he is inevitably pulled into the case, and with Daisy's help able to solve the mystery.

This is a very easy series to read, and well suited on audio. Recommended for cozy mystery fans who like the time period (1920s)

[Anna Catharina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 Sterne

Nach dem wirklich miserablen letzten Band konnte mich der 11. Band der Miss Daisy-Serie wieder richtig überzeugen. Die Geschichte hat viel Charme: ein abgelegenes Herrenhaus, schrullige Bewohne, Gespenstergeschichten, eine Schatzsuche und zahlreiche Geheimnisse. Dazu kommt das gemütliche Weihnachtssetting. Der Mord und die Ermittlung nimmt zwar nicht so viel Raum ein, ist aber gut gemacht und schlüssig. Ein Wohlfühlkrimi für den Winter, ich hatte eine schöne Lesezeit.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting much out of this after the last book & a bad review by a friend, but I liked it. Daisy & Alec are back in England without any Americans which helps the narrator out a lot. The story itself was pretty twisty, good setting, & generally typical of the series up to the previous 2 books.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rated 3 stars. Always enjoy reading more adventures in this cozy historical mystery series set in 1920's England. Lovely narration by Lucy Rayner.

[Julie (JuJu) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ mystery...not really my cup of tea.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want some light escapism this is the book for you. Set in the 20s Daisy, her husband and extended family investigate a murder in deepest Cornwall. Ms Dunn does the period very well and her writing style is light and frothy so this is an ideal way to pass a few hours.

[Olga Godim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cozy English mystery is a ‘pure’ Daisy Dalrymple, cute and predictable (in a good way), one of the best in the series. The action takes place over Christmas in a crumbling mansion of an earl. He is Daisy’s distant relative and he invited Daisy (or rather her mother needled the invitation out of him) and her family for the holidays, but for Daisy, it is also a working vacation – she has an assignment to write an article about the mansion and its centuries-old history.
In accordance with the tradition of this series, the first few chapters describe the life of the mansion, familiarizing Daisy as well as the readers with the place’s shabby, decaying splendor, the quirky set of its denizens, and their convoluted family dynamics. Then a tragedy interrupts the jolly festivities, or should I say their pale approximations – one of the guests gets murdered.
Contrary to most other novels of the series, Daisy doesn’t discover the body. Her husband Alec, Detective Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard, does, so he has to interrupt his own vacation for a spot of detection, but Daisy definitely helps her beloved.
For most of the tale, the readers are as baffled as the police about who the culprit of this drama is, although it’s largely a process of elimination. When we disregard all those who can’t be murderers, the only person left on the list of suspects is the guilty party, however unlikely.
The characters are divided into two clans. The series newcomers, the members of the family under suspicion, all have their distinct personalities. Some are depicted deeper than others, but on the whole, the group is believable. Like in any family, there are various currents swirling among them: affection and dissatisfaction, vulnerability and stupidity, shame, envy, and passion.
The recurring stars – Daisy, Alec, and his team of detectives – make this book a welcome addition to the series. Everyone has his or her accustomed role to play, a slot to fill, to the readers’ continuous delight. The children – Daisy’s stepdaughter Belinda, her friend, and her puppy – provide some humorous interludes.
Like all the books in this series, this charming story also had new words for me:

Etiolated – pale and limp, feeble looking, effete. Nice to know.
Canard – 1) a malicious rumor; 2) something to do with airplanes.

Recommended for all the fans of the series as well as the lovers of cozy mysteries.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read any of the other Daisy Dalrymple mysteries before, but this one could stand alone. Daisy is married to Alec Fletcher, a DCI with Scotland Yard. She has a sweet, little step-daughter, Belinda (Bel). They get invited to Brockdene, a country estate, for Christmas. Of course, once they show up, there is a murder and Alec's holiday and everyone else's is ruined. The big question is why the Rev. Calloway was so brutally murdered while saying prayers at the estate's chapel, a bit separated from the main house. I liked the characters and the plot. My only problem was keeping track of who was who, and the succession of various Norvilles to the earldom held by Lord Westmoor. It also was a bit confusing to everyone why Lord Westmoor invited the Fletchers to stay when he was not going to be present. And why the house is inhabited by poor relations, who are virtually ignored by the staff. My favorite characters were Bel, her cousin, Derek, and the little puppy, Nana, a real scene-stealer.

[C.J. Daley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much like my last read by Lee Harris, this was included with audible for free, and is also in the middle of a series (Daisy Dalrymple) that I’ve never read.

The novel sets itself up well, without the feeling of needing to read the others. The family has an opportunity to spend Christmas in Cornwall and they decide to do it. But unlike my latest read, some of the additional background information was definitely lacking as I got deeper into the read. Daisy’s husband, much like Christine Bennett’s, is a police officer. But in actuality he seems to be doing most of the investigating, only asking her to take notes. There’s also several parts of the story where he tells her she’s not allowed to come along. So I was a little confused about her sitting back and figuring the whole thing out, something that I’m quite sure is part of the larger series.

This is a 1920’s era series that could also be marketed as cozy. The family speaks of good/ill breeding and the separated roles of men and women (not such a cozy conversation for today’s world). It has the old time feel of an Agatha Christie-esque story, which is more or less what I think of when people say “cozy.” Or basically, mysteries where the murder isn’t gory and not ‘on camera’. It was enjoyable though, and even though it isn’t from that time period, I couldn’t really tell, so that was well done.

Personally a 3/5*. A twisting mystery.

[Rbucci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun Daisy Dalrymple mystery. I love that this was in a different social setting - with poor relations. Also fun that it took me a while to figure out who the murderer was.

[Brandon B · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were more characters in this book than in the entire Bible.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a grand 1923 murder mystery. The story is set in brockdene mansion Which is in reality, Cotehele mansion in Cornwall. This is well worth a visit as I have done and the main reason that I found the book so enjoyable, maybe it is not a world class novel but nothing beats a good book when you know the place it is set in. Follwing the story from room to room and knowing exactly what is happening is such a thrill.

Well that's me refreshed, time for a cup of tea I do believe.

TOODLEHOO CHUMS.

[Grey853 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of my favorite things to read in a mystery are solid main characters, a Christmastime setting, a remote mansion cut off by stormy weather, and lots of interesting, quirky secondary characters. This one has all of those and then some. I liked this book so much that apparently I read it twice. I read it when it first came out, but had forgotten the title. Once I started reading, I realized that it was all too familiar, but I still read it again. It's a lovely holiday cozy.

[Kaitlyn Dunnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit slower than some in this series, but it picked up after the murder. I had entirely the wrong person picked as the killer!! I particularly enjoyed the role Daisy's stepdaughter and nephew played in advancing the plot (and the subplot).

[Nancy Haddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite Daisy books so far! Her daughter, nephew, new hubby, of course, and even her mother are in this one along with the special cast. Remote location, ancient pile of a house, and family intrigue! There was one piece of business left hanging - something the children found that they never showed the adults. I got this book via the library, so maybe the text had been updated along with the cover art. It wasn't critical to the story, but a piece of thread that I wish had been resolved.

I hope I can find all the rest of these books. Daisy and crew are fun!

[Sarah AF · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely one of the better stories in the series! It was such a solid mystery, with layers of both the past and present in the motives and dynamics, and all set against the perfect backdrop of a country house at Christmas. I feel this series is always at it's most enjoyable when it finds that Famous Five-Christie crossover sweet spot and this book was very much in that sweet spot, allowing Daisy and Alec to do their thing while the children played a bigger role in the mystery than they have in previous books.

[Shanene Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

After quitting the last book in this series because I couldn't spend another minute wasting time from my life, this book not only redeemed the author but also my faith to finish the rest of this series! Skip the prior book and go straight to this one, You won't miss ANYTHING and this one was great!!

[CatBookMom · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is pretty much the least-liked of all the Daisy Dalrymple books I've read. Unlikeable characters, very disorganized, lots of time going here/going there. Despite several tries at getting into the story, I found myself skipping, skimming, and finally I just jumped to the end.

[Karen Potts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daisy does it again. Another entertaining adventure for Daisy & Alec at a country estate with, of course, a body discovered & the culprit eventually found. Some different sorts of characters & interactions with various family members.

[Nip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Desperation escapist reading to avoid hear any news about Donald (Bloody) T.

[Bobbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun mystery. Love the characters.

[Taylor - Muse Ignited Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Helma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deutlich besser als der vorherige Band. Es war spannend und passt gut in die Weihnachtszeit.

[Miriam Simut · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Debbe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daisy has returned to England and their historic homes. A much better venue for her. Let’s hope she doesn’t travel much in the future. Entertaining but will never be considered much more.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, but also a bit boring 😁

[Katharyn Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holiday family drama at it's finest

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mistletoe and Murder: A Daisy Dalrymple Mystery by Carola Dunn was published in 2004 and is number 11 in the series. It is set in the 1920s, hence the attraction, I love films, books, fashion, etc that are pre 1965 and in particular love the novels of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers. I'm always cautious of books that recreate an era but Miss Dunn did not disappoint me. The book is neither swamped in historical references nor ignored after a brief mention. There is just enough description for the reader to believe that the year is indeed 1923 without needing to have any qualification in history, which is a huge relief as I took Geography! Published by Robinson 2011 Briefly the plot of the book is as follows; Daisy's mother, the formidable Dowager Viscountess Dalrymple (aren't they always formidable!) has decided that for the Christmas period the family will all gather at Brockdene in Cornwall at the invitation of Lord Westmoor. Daisy arrives ahead of the rest of the party as she will be working on an article for Town and Country magazine (now that is a job I would like, in 1923 or today). Brockdene, is occupied by the Norvilles poor relations of Lord Westmoor, and much to the chagrin of the Dowager, Westmoor himself won't be joining them. Daisy spends the first few days making notes for her article, exploring Brockdene and meeting the family. Not long after the arrival of Daisy's husband, Detective Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher of Scotland Yard, the family façade starts to shatter and the secrets of the ancestral estate begin to surface, especially after one of the Christmas guests is the victim of a rather ghastly murder. I really loved the character of Daisy, she is feisty, feminine and clever. I have always found female detectives fascinating, they all seem to have a different driving force and a very different view of the world to men, and those set in the era where it was unheard of females to be in the police force I find even more appealing. Of course, Alec is the 'real' detective but it's Daisy's piecing together of little snippets of information that helps to identify the murderer. For me, it really was a superb read with just the right dose of festive frivolity, red herrings, and intriguing characters.

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Das ist mein erster Miss-Daisy-Krimi und ich vermute, es wird auch mein letzter sein. Keine Angst, wenn ihr das Buch bereits gekauft habt und es jemandem unter den Weihnachtsbaum legen wollt. Man stirbt nicht an der Lektüre. Man kann es lesen. Hin und wieder muss man vielleicht ein paar Kapitel zurückblättern, um dann doch festzustellen, dass man nichts überlesen hat – die Schatzkarte, die die Kinder haben, taucht wirklich aus dem Nichts auf, der Beweis für die Schuld des Täters ist vielleicht etwas konstruiert, reicht aber trotzdem aus, um ihn zu einem Geständnis zu zwingen und die Dialoge klingen eher als wären sie geschrieben als gesprochen, aber alles in allem ist das Buch recht unterhaltsam. Trotzdem fällt es bei mir durch. Abgesehen von den vielen Gedankensprüngen, der oberflächlichen Denkweise der Autorin und ihrer Protagonistin (nun gut man mag das als atmosphärisch abtun, es soll ja schließlich Downtown Abby Atmosphäre heraufbeschworen werden), ist einfach nicht Miss Daisy die Ermittlerin, sondern sie ist – wenn überhaupt – die rechte Hand ihres Angetrauten, praktischerweise ein Polizeibeamter, der alle Verhöre führt, die Ermittlungen durchführt und sie netterweise Protokoll führen lässt. Ihr Beitrag zur Aufdeckung des Verbrechens bleibt gering und so müsste das Buch auch „Mr. Fletcher und der Mord unterm Mistelzweig“ heißen. „Frau“ kümmert sich nämlich vornehmlich um die Kindererziehung und darum, dass die beiden Rangen, die ebenfalls mehr zur Aufdeckung beitragen als sie, saubere Hände haben, wenn sie zum Essen gehen.
Das Buch strotzt vor TELL, SHOW kommt dafür an vielen Stellen zu kurz, oftmals sind nicht nachvollziehbare Gedanken in den Text eingestreut. Nein, kein Buch, das es bei mir auf die Bestenliste schafft.

Fazit:
Ein Frauenbild aus dem vorvorigen Jahrhundert, die Ermittlungsarbeit wird von allen nur nicht von Miss Daisy geleistet (die übrigens keine Miss ist, sondern eine verheiratete Frau). Oberflächlichkeit, Gedankensprünge und lieblose Beweisführung machen dieses Buch aus.

[Todayiamadaisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not great literature by any means, but it's a lot of fun. This is a cosy murder mystery set in 1923. Daisy Dalrymple is the daughter of a Viscount, who has shocked her mother by marrying a widowed policeman, becoming step-mother to his young daughter, and working as a journalist. And solving murders, obviously. This Christmas, Daisy is writing a story about a country house owned by her distant cousin, Lord Westmoor. Daisy's mother gets him to invite the whole family down for Christmas, which he does, neglecting to mention that he won't be there. He spends Christmas at his other manor, just across the river, and doesn't invite his guests. Daisy and Co. aren't alone, though, oh no. They spend Christmas with the family who live in the house all the time: the Indian-born wife (or not) of Lord Westmoor's youngest brother and her possibly illegitimate sons. What follows is a splendid piece of nonsense about who really is Lord Westmoor's heir.

The following exchange between Daisy and her husband, about the wife of one of the sons, made me laugh:

"You know, I'm a bit surprised he let his daughter marry a man whose legitimacy was in doubt."
"I daresay he despaired of getting her off his hands."
"Don't be beastly, darling. She can't help her teeth."

There is an author's note explaining that the house is based on Cotehele in Cornwall, so you can visit and recreate your favourite scenes from the book if you like.

On the down side, there are several attempts at rendering regional accents phonetically, which is confusing and hard to read.