A Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall

Honeychurch Hall Mystery #3

by Hannah Dennison

When antique dealer Kat Stanford stumbles upon the partially mummified body of a young woman in an abandoned wing at Honeychurch Hall, suspicion falls on those who had been living there many years ago. And it appears that the deceased had been murdered. Given her mother Iris’s checkered past, Kat is not surprised to learn that Iris knew the victim.

Meanwhile, the unexpected appearance of former lothario Bryan Laney sets female hearts aflutter. Despite the passing years, time has not dampened his ardor for Iris, but the feeling is not reciprocated.

With stories of hidden treasure and secret chambers, past and present collide. As Kat becomes embroiled once more in her mother’s mysterious and tumultuous bygone days, she comes to realize that life is never black and white, and sometimes it is necessary to risk your own life to protect the lives of the ones you love.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Humor, Mystery Thriller, British Literature

286 pages, Hardcover

First published May 3, 2016

About the author

British born, Hannah originally moved to Los Angeles to pursue screenwriting. She has been an obituary reporter, antique dealer, private jet flight attendant and Hollywood story analyst. After twenty-five years living on the West Coast, Hannah returned to the UK where she shares her life with two high-spirited Hungarian Vizslas. She enjoys all country pursuits, movies, and theatre, reading and seriously good chocolate.

Hannah writes the Honeychurch Hall Mysteries (Constable) the Island Sisters Mysteries (Minotaur) and the Vicky Hill Mysteries (Constable)

Fun Fact: Hannah is part of the BookTalk author group on social media with pals Kate Carlisle, Jenn McKinlay and Paige Shelton.

Reviews

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy mystery that Anglophiles who find "Downton Abbey" a guilty pleasure will enjoy. The characters are zany and will keep the readers laughing. The mystery is surprisingly dark. I'd definitely read more of these.

Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.

[Jessica Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book three in the Honeychurch Hall Mystery series. After a ceiling collapses in one of the room at the main house Kat is asked to come in to evaluate and take to auction a set of really old drawings. While trying to remove them from the wall she finds a hidden double blind that just happens to contain a mummified body. When her identity is discovered Iris becomes the main suspect due to her wild past and the fact that she was at the ball the woman was last seen at. Iris's old flame shows up as well which just makes things even more complicated. Having decided to stay in the country with her mother is trying to open her own antique shop only to find herself trying to help her mother. The secrets and wild schemes had me laughing as the story progressed. The little details really tie in the story, and I am completely in love with the main characters by this point as we have learned so many sides of their personalities by this point in the series. This is a must read for all fans of cozy mysteries and I give it 4/5 stars since I enjoyed it so much.

[Donna Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

A body hidden for decades in a secret room, a mysterious Lothario, missing coins of the realm, a mother raised in a traveling carnival who feels no need to be honest, a kidnapped reporter, missing art, stolen cars: such is life at Honeychurch Hall. This charming tale set in an English village is a delight: a clever plot colored with silliness, mystery and English manners in a twenty-first century setting.
Kat is a down-to-earth woman who must deal with her secretive, romance-writer mother and her mysterious uncle with a shady past. Her family lives in the shadow of Honeychurch Hall with its own cast of characters, or “toffs.” It seems class lines are a bit slow to break down in this village.
“I felt I was part of a Victorian farce,” thinks Kat. Exactly! The action never stops. The plot is involved and the characters are quirky. In a farce, things are never what they seem and there is tons of misdirection and flat out fun. I give this book a rating of 5 smiles and so look forward to reading the rest of the series.

I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Damaskcat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed with this third book in the Honeychurch Hall mystery series as I had enjoyed the first two and was looking forward to this one. I like Kat as a character but found I really could not accept how secrets from her mother's early life keep appearing out of the woodwork. The start of the book was good - Kat finding a skeleton in a hidden room in a disused wing of the Hall. But the book doesn't fulfil its early promise and the rest of the plot seems just muddled to me.

That said, it could have just been I wasn't in the right mood to read this book at this time so if you have enjoyed the first two books don't let me put you off this one. I just felt it was a bit dull and muddled. I also didn't like the Americanisms because this is a book set wholly in England and with English characters and published by a British publisher. Altogether a disappointing read.

[Jessica Secrest · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall
by Hannah Dennison
Review by Jessica Secrest

I received a copy of A Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison from Minotaur Books for my honest review. I do not know the author.

What could be better than a treasure hunt story with a little murder mixed into the hunt. This one has more than one murder with Katherine Stanford tumbling onto a cold case murder. Her mother, Iris, knew the deceased and keeps a lot of information to herself. Katherine, an antiques dealer, questions whether she really knows her mother at all.

The characters are all endearing, making the reader hope that none of them are the killer. There are others snooping around the edges of the story adding more intrigue and questions in the readers mind. These other characters are slipped in so smoothly leaving the reader wondering, but also thinking this is a natural part of life giving the settings a more natural feel.

Katherine, or Kat as she is often referred to, is dealing with issues from her own past. Her ex is also in antiques and has remarried his wife. Even this part of the story helps to move the main plot along.

Hannah Dennison has done amazing research on the history of the Earl of Grenville. Doing my own research I discovered that Boye was actually Prince Rupert's dog. He has his own Wikipedia page.

If you enjoy history (part of the story deals with the English Civil War) old and new, beautiful places, interesting characters, murder and treasure hunting, you may enjoy A Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison. By the way, who did tip off Ginny Riley reporter for the Dipperton Deal? Yes, there are plenty of scandalous stories to sort through as well. Enjoy your reading time!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall is located in the
countryside outside of Little Dipperton Devon. Once
this stately mansion had been in the best of shape but
now it is falling into disrepair. In order to get the money
For repairs, His lordship is allowing Kat Stanford ,an
antique dealer to remove art work to sell at auction.
While she was removing the first artwork, Kat trips a
knob which opened a secret panel leading into secret
room. Then Kat falls into a bookcase inside the room
which dumps her down into another secret room. It is
here Kat discovers a mummified body from decades ago.
And thus the story takes off at a galloping pace…….
Mummified body, secret rooms and entrances throughout
the mansion, secrets among the staff from the past and
present, a murdered mysterious Lothario, a kidnapped
reporter, a stolen car, stolen and fraudulent artwork,
Kat’s mother who is a secret, romance writer with a
notorious past, an uncle who is fresh from prison,
Missing coins made at the mansion during war time,
findings while horseback riding, mansion dogs and a
handsome police detective.
Beside having vivid, well-described, feisty and zany
characters, there are more twists and turns to peak
the readers interest plus a lot of humor!!!!!
This is the third book in the Honeychurch Hall Mystery
Series but the first I read. The book can be read as a
stand alone.
Great read!!!
Thanks to the author via Facebook’s Cozy Mystery
Review for the book. My opinion is my own.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Little Dipperton, I love Honeychurch Hall, and I love Kat and Iris Stanford! A Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall is the 3rd installment in the series, and it did not disappoint. After devouring the first two books in the series, I anxiously awaited its release (I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest review, and to be truthful the series is so charming that I would have purchased it anyway!!!), and it was everything I'd hoped it would be! Once again, the reader is transported to the town of Little Dipperton in rural England, where the village's residents are involved in yet another murder and the mystery surrounding it, and thrown back in time to a long ago ball held at the Hall. Hannah Dennison is simply brilliant in her writing and descriptions, and I must highly recommend this book to one and all - especially those who are fans of the cozy mystery genre, or those just looking for a well-written, old-fashioned mystery. A+

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first introduction to this author and series. While I never fully embraced the characters in this book I did find they entertaining. This is a fun, charming, fast, cozy mystery. The back drop location for this story had a good whit about it as well and added to the story. This is a good read for those readers who like cozy mysteries as there is no blood or gore. The story line has a few twists which again the characters keep entertaining. Although as a reader of tons of mysteries I was able to pick up on the clues and how the story would end. Yet I still kept reading to the end. I will probably check out the past books in this series as well as other books written by this author. Plus, the title of this book is a fun one to say "A Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall".

[Foxyj · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book, book 3, I read in the Honeychurch Hall series by Hannah Dennison. It was a delightful read about the mystery an antique dealer, Kat Stanford, comes across. The characters were well developed and the book moved right along. The author described the scenes in a way that I enjoyed and could picture. I loved the English setting and the play on antiques. I would recommend this book to readers of more than just mysteries and why they are at it grab book 1 and 2 and read them as well. I will be picking them both up to catch up on the series.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lolaetsaplume · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toujours aussi sympa à lire.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally published on my blog, Musings of a Bookish Kitty: http://www.literaryfeline.com/2017/06...



A Killer Ball at the Honeychurch Hall (Honeychurch Hall Mystery #3) by Hannah Dennison
Minotuar Books, 2016
Crime Fiction (Cozy); 286 pgs
Source: Review copy provided by publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

Trying to get her business off the ground, antique dealer Kat Standford is hoping she can convince Rupert and his mother to sell some of their family's artwork. The family is in dire need of money for repairs, and this seems the perfect solution to Kat. But while visiting an abandoned wing of the family's estate, Honeychurch Hall, Kat falls into a hidden room, a double hide, and finds the body of a young woman who appears to have died under suspicious circumstances. Kat's own mother, Iris, seems to have known the victim. And with the reappearance of someone from Iris's past, red flags are going up for Kat at an astounding rate. Could her mother have been involved in the woman's murder? What is her mother hiding? Any why does everyone seem to want to keep the police in the dark?

This is my first visit to Honeychurch Hall and what an entertaining time I had! Honeychurch Hall seems to be a hotbed of scandal, secrets and cover-up with some rather eccentric characters that add to the charm of this series. I had no problem falling right into the small community of Little Dipperton, despite this being the third book in the series. It stands well on its own, although I imagine there are some threads mentioned in this one that likely got their start in an earlier book.

I rather like Kat, who is smart and funny. She's still recovering from her break up with her ex -boyfriend from the sounds of it, but there were small hints of another possible romantic prospect. I wasn't sure what to make of Iris, Kat's mother. The two seem to have a complex relationship. It's clear they love each other, but Iris's evasiveness, especially about her past, bordered on being annoying at times. Still, I quite liked her character and found her more amusing than anything else. Iris and her brother, a parolee recently out of prison, make a comedic pair to be sure.

The mystery itself was intriguing, tied closely to the Hall's past. I had no idea what direction author Hannah Dennison was going with it, although I had my suspicions. A Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall had me laughing and kept me guessing all the way to the end. This was such a fun book to read. I can't wait to read more of this series.

[Fontelle Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

when i picked up this book at the library, i didn’t realize it was part of a series nor did i realize this was not the first book. both of these things caused me to want to give this three stars rather than four. i would likely still give it 3.5 because i was confused for about half of the book about the main characters’ backgrounds. i appreciate when authors give a little bit of time to give context when it’s not the first book (just in case). i didn’t really get to a point of loving or siding with the main characters because a) i couldn’t picture them and b) didn’t understand their personality fully.
overall, this was a fun intro into the murder mystery genre, and i am excited to venture further into mysteries!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good mystery from Hannah Dennison.

The writing is professional, and the plot is interesting.

There are a lot of the usual suspects, and gratefully not much of David and Trudy.

Albert remains a mystery with many talents.

I borrowed a copy from the public library.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Killer Ball in Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison is the third book in the Honeychurch Hall Mystery series. Katherine “Kat” Stanford is starting out her new business Kat’s Collectibles and Valuation Services. Kat has been called up to the hall to evaluate and crate up a William Dobson painting (they need the money). The ceiling in the King’s Parlor has suffered severe water damage and is in desperate need of repair (it is Elizabethan and will need a specialist to fix it). While looking around Kat discovers a priest hole (a hidden room). Upon entering Kat stumbles and discovers another hidey hole (it is called a double hide) and a dead body. The body is that of a woman and it looks like she has been there for some time. Who is this woman and how did she end up the double hide? The priest hole is usually only told to the owner of the house who then passes it along to his heir. Detective Inspector Shawn Cropper is called out. Upon investigation it is discovered that this woman disappeared in June of 1958. This leads the investigation towards Kat’s mum, Iris. Iris is known for her secrets and not telling the truth. Iris needs to be more forthcoming this time or she could end up in jail. Kat will have her work cut out for her finding the real killer.

A Killer Ball in Honeychurch Hall is not a stand-alone book. You do need to read other books in the series, otherwise the story can be confusing. Some things are explained (from prior books), but not everything. The mother, Iris was not likeable to me. I think she is supposed to come across as humorous (and mysterious), but I just found Iris annoying. She was too over-the-top (and not in a good way). Secrets and lies are all Iris tells even to her daughter (and everyone else). The murder mystery was simple, and I solved it early in the book. There are quite a few characters in the book which can be befuddling and there is quite a bit going on. I just told you about the murder. There is a man sneaking about the property; Harry, the Earl’s son, is having trouble in school and everyone blames Kat because she convinced them to let Harry go to the local school; Alfred, Iris’ brother, is a thief and forger (and up to no good) are just a few things going on in A Killer Ball in Honeychurch Hall. I give A Killer Ball in Honeychurch Hall 3 out of 5 stars. It was okay (just not for me). The book is easy to read and has a good pace. I am just not a fan of this type of humor and the quirky, exaggerated characters (I have no problem with quirky but do they have to be so overstated). But many readers will enjoy it (especially if you are a fan of the series or if you like comedies).

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from NetGalley and the publisher (through the Cozy Mystery Review Crew) in exchange for an honest evaluation of the book.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Killer Ball in Honeychurch Hall is the third book in the Honeychurch Hall Mystery series by Hannah Dennison. A Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall is the first book I’ve read by Hannah Dennison. Even though this can be read as a stand-alone book, I believe if I had read the previous books in the series I would have had a better understanding of the character’s relationships and personalities and the history of Honeychurch Hall. I love British mysteries, particularly those of the Golden Age in aristocratic Europe. This book reminds me of a modern Downton Abbey or Upstairs Downstairs rolled into one tightly woven plot that that kept me in suspense. The cast of characters are eclectic, eccentric, quirky, over-the-top, zany, very British... and there are a lot of them! Ms. Dennison interjects humor which kept the story light with some laugh-out-loud moments.
Katherine “Kat” Stanford, an antique appraiser and former TV star, is starting a new business Kat’s Collectibles and Valuation Services. Kat. She resides at the Honeychurch Hall estate with her mother, Iris. This uniquely crafted plot includes a body hidden for decades in a priest hole, missing coins of the realm, learning Kat’s mother was raised in a traveling carnival and feels one doesn’t have to be honest, a missing/kidnapped reporter, missing art, stolen cars and too many secrets to count. Welcome to life at Honeychurch Hall.

This book wouldn’t be considered one of my favorite cozy mysteries, but I did enjoy it. I hope to read the earlier books in the series and I’m looking forward to seeing how Kat’s business develops. This book is perfect for those who enjoy history (including the English Civil War) old and new, charming buildings, interesting characters, murder and treasure hunting. With historical accuracy, Ms. Dennison provides insight into how the aristocracy protect their legacy including lords, ladies, and commoners as they relive the glory days of the estate while touching upon class distinctions. If you appreciate the cozy mystery genre, or you’re just looking for a well-written old-fashioned mystery you will enjoy A Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison.

Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed in this review are my own.

[Wilde Sky · Rating 3 out of 5]

The discovery of a body at an old country house leads to the uncovering of a number of secrets.

The story / writing / characters were all reasonable but this book didn't really grab me.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy a fun, fast paced, unique and quirky cozy mystery you won't want to miss A Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison.

Kat who is an appraiser and antique dealer has been summoned to look at some paintings to see about selling them to help with repairs at Honeychurch Hall. When Kat stumbles onto a body from many years before the suspicion seems to point at Iris her mother. Who killed this woman years ago, how did her mother fit into this mystery and what is she hiding from Kat? How can Kat help discover the story behind this murder and maybe clear her mother while trying to keep the suspicion off of her and trying to keep her mother Iris and Iris's brother Alfred out of trouble. Then when Bryan Laney, who mysteriously shows up at the estate just when the body is found, is murdered it looks like Iris or Alfred or even Kat could be the prime suspects. How can Kat keep herself and her mother out of jail and prove they didn't have anything to do with the murders before something else happens and can they find the silver that was suppose to have been minted at Honeychurch Hall years ago?

I love British mysteries so I was looking forward to reading this book. It is a very interesting take on the British mystery because it envelops the story of the Lords and Ladys with the servants and travelers which keeeps you wondering who really is the murderer and why. I just love Iris because she is fun, quirky as well as unique and spunky. She probably makes the story for me with her whimsical ways of looking at things and yet her toughness. The interaction between her and the Honeychurch Hall Lord's and Lady's sparks an added dimension to the story. This book is fun but more than that it is a good plot with enough twists and suspects that makes it interesting and unpredictable. It is a puzzle within a puzzle with a surprise ending. I really enjoyed this book.

If you are a fan of British mysteries or a fan of Downton Abby you probably will really like this book. It was a little slow at times but well worth reading.

I received this book for my honest opinion and review

[Allison Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first foray into the Honeychurch Hall Mystery series, and I fell head over heels for the story, the setting, and the delightfully eccentric characters. As an avid fan of all stories set in Great Britain, how could I not become a fan? The author, Hannah Dennison, truly brought the setting and characters to life in this book, and her voice sucked me right into this cozy mystery story. Since it’s the third in the series, I had to play catch-up on who everyone is, but it was really easy to do.

In the manor house there are secret rooms within secret rooms! Personally, I’d love to explore this old manor house. But our heroine Kat Stanford, an antique dealer and former TV host, stumbles over the partially mummified body of a woman in that double secret room, and the game is afoot.

As she and the local police start trying to figure out who the dead woman is, secrets begin coming to light, and they lead straight to Kat’s own mother, Iris. Not only does Iris keep her current secret (no one knows she’s really a very famous romance author!), but she doesn’t want anyone to know what happened when she was a teenager – the same year the woman was killed and stuffed in the secret room.

I totally fell in love with the young boy on the estate, Harry. He loves to pretend he’s a famous World War I flying ace. And Kat plays along with him, pretending to be one of his soldiers. While the grown-ups are trying to keep their secrets and solve a couple of murders, young Harry’s pretend world takes it all in stride, even revealing clues along the way as his alter ego is out on patrol.

The story flows along effortlessly, bringing the reader deeper and deeper into this fictional world. It would make a wonderful TV series shown on PBS.

I highly suggest reading this series and see if you don’t fall in love with this world Ms. Dennison has created. I’m ready for more stories!

I received a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Rosemary K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Antique dealer Kat Stanford can't keep out of trouble. When she goes to the Hall to value several paintings to be put up for auction, she accidentally finds a double-hide (a secret room behind a secret room) with a body inside. The police determine that the victim is Pandora Haslam-Grimley, an American heiress, who disappeared in 1958. Suddenly Kat's mother is the prime suspect since she knew the woman and disliked her. Now the tabloid press is printing salacious stories. Another murder and a kidnapping ramp up the tension. Kat needs to find the killer. Will she be successful? Honeychurch Hall and the English countryside are a perfect backdrop for this addictive cozy. I love historic houses so I was hooked by the setting. I quickly discovered an amazing story. I liked the characters and their determination. Kat has her hands full, but she won't stop. She needs to clear her mother who has always been mysterious about her past. Detective Inspector Shawn Cropper is on the job. He knows that Kat is up to something. He keeps her on her toes. I loved the hint of attraction between these two. He's a gallant hero but he's no fool. A Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall is my cup of tea. I like the characters, the dialogue and the story which had so many unexpected twists. I couldn't stop reading until I knew who the culprit was and their motive. My hat is off to Hannah Dennison. I loved this book!

[Glenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kat Stanford, a 40 something woman, didn't mean to get herself involved in a murder investigation, she simply "fell" into it. Kat and her mother, a former traveling sideshow performer, have simply come to Honeychurch Hall to collect a painting for an art auction that Kat hopes will get her fledgling antique business off the ground. But when they arrive, Edith, the dowager duchess, is adamantly refusing to sell the painting, even though a water leak has caused the ceiling in one of the rooms to collapse and is in dire need or repair. As a compromise, Edith offers a set of drawings to be sold at the art auction instead. In the course of trying to remove the drawings from the wall, Kat unknowingly pushes a lever that lands her in a priest hole, which is not uncommon for manor houses like Honeychurch Hall, but what is uncommon is the dead body of a woman in the priest hole. Through the course of the ensuing murder investigation, family secrets of both the Honeychurch family and Kat's own family are brought to light and someone is willing to kill to keep those secrets hidden. This was an engaging and easy to read story and the first British mystery I have read. I enjoyed it very much, especially the dynamic that is beginning to develop between Kat and Shawn, the police inspector. I plan on reading the first two books in the series now as well. I received this book from the author at no charge for a fair and honest review.

[Caryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

In some ways, this book reminded me of the Nancy Drew books I grew up reading. The protagonist Kate Stanford, who is an antiques dealer, is living in a huge English country estate. The main house has all sorts of unused areas complete with hidden rooms that in turn are hiding long buried secrets. One of these hidden rooms-a room actually hidden behind another hidden room, is where the mystery begins. Confusing? A bit maybe, but it also is spooky in a fun way. Kate is trying to remove a print from the wall when she triggers a hidden latch and suddenly the wall moves. Moments later, while investigating that hidden space, she ends up triggering another latch and tumbles several feet down into the second hidden room. When people come to rescue her, they find that Kate is sharing the space with a mummified body of a woman. It turns out there is a connection between the dead woman and Kate's mom resulting her mom being a suspect in the death. Her mother's past has long been a mystery to Kate, but as the investigation progresses, Kate learns some of her family's long buried past.
The mystery itself isn't all that complex but the protagonist is likeable and the supporting cast of characters are enough to keep a reader entertained and coming back for more. This is the third book in the Honeychurch Hall series, but the first that I have read. Having not read the previous books did not present any sort of problem for me, though I am likely to go back and read them now.

[Connie Stein · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Killer Ball in Honeychurch Hall is the third book in the Honeychurch Hall Mystery series by Hannah Dennison. A Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall is the first book in the series that I have read. This is great mystery that reads fast. Although it is part of a series, this book works as a standalone book.
I love the cast of characters. Kat is a so to be antique dealer who has recently moved onto the estate, Honeychurch Hall. Her mother, Iris (former traveling show performer), lives in the Carriage House. Her mother's step-brother, Albert, lives above the stables on the estate. Rupert, the present Earl, his mother, Lady Edith, his wife, Lady Lavinia, and his son, Harry all live in Honeychurch Hall.
This is a very old estate and needs repairs after the Great Hall’s special plaster ceiling falls down from water damage. Kat is asked to evaluate some drawings for a possible sale to use the monies to repair the ceiling. And finds a double-hide (a secret room behind a secret room) it is exciting until Kat finds a dead body.
This book has many twists and turns and lots of humor. As the story progress, we are given one clue after another. I didn’t realize the killer until the characters in the book did. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

[RO G'ma · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall is the first book I’ve read by Hannah Dennison. I wish I had read the other books in the series, so I would have had a better understanding of the character’s backgrounds and relationships. There is a great deal of humor and quirky characters in this book. The plot is well developed and there are many surprises.

Kat is an antique dealer who has recently moved to live on the Honeychurch Hall estate with her mother, Iris. Kat is there to appraise family treasures for possible sale. When she arrives at the Hall to begin her evaluation, she learns the ceiling in one of the rooms has collapsed due water damage. Kat discovers a priest hole with another hidden room that she falls into and she finds herself trapped in the hole with a decayed body. The authorities suspect some of Hall’s residents. The body has been there since the 1950’s and this discovery reveals many secrets. Iris was at the center of these events that took place during that time and Kat is not surprised to learn that she knew the victim but Kat begins to doubt everything Iris says about that time. A murder occurs and Iris becomes a possible suspect.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up a copy of Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall in the recent arrivals area of the library. I am a big fan of cozy mysteries and the hardcover book was beautiful. I didn't know it was the third in a series, but I didn't have a hard time keeping the characters straight.

This book starts out with a very old murder, it was a nice change of pace for me. There were questions, lots of old mysteries, but not a lot of immediate danger...not at first. Then everything changed. I was hooked. I sometimes get tired of the books that make the heroine "in danger" constantly, or the books that have the main character take stupid risks every time you turn around. This book has none of that.

If you are looking for a good cozy to read, I recommend you give this book a try. I loved it.

Edit: I have to disclose that I won a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Since the shipping takes time *and* I had just finished a book, I looked for it at the library with the intention of just looking at it. Well, I ended up checking it out and reading the entire thing before the free book came in the mail. It really is that good. :-)

[Michelle Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy for those who enjoy Downton Abbey.

The characters in this book are interesting. They provide for a lot of drama when they are together. The newcomer, Kat, is a former television personality who had an Antiques Roadshow type of show based in London. She is now trying to open an antique store of her own in small town England. She moved there to be near her mother, Iris, a woman who is full of secrets.

The family who owns the local manor house is rather eccentric. Dowager countess, current Earl and his wife and son all make for an entertaining upstairs. The longtime cook, her husband the butler, and Iris' stepbrother taking care of the stables make for a wild downstairs. Throw in a nosy young reporter, small town police, a long time Lothario, and several other characters and you have the makings of an interesting story.

The setting is typical modern day rural England. The mystery revolves around a forgotten priest hole in the manor house and a long dead body discovered in it. Old secrets are uncovered, new ones are shared.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall is the third book in the immensely enjoyable Honeychurch Hall Mysteries. It is a rollicking ride in the countryside around Little Dipperton Devon with Kat Stanford and her mother Iris, and of course the residents of Honeychurch Hall, with a few new characters added to the mix. Iris is still a woman of secrets -- will Kat ever really know her mother -- and my favorite character, Harry/Biggles is truly a delight. If you are a bit of an Anglophile like me, you will enjoy every word and description in this wonderful book as well as the foibles of the "toffs" at Honeychurch Hall and the people who live around them. This book can definitely stand alone, but I have read the first book in the series, which I would highly recommend just so you can have an introduction to Honeychurch and its characters.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Deborah Almada · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first time reading this author and I was lucky enough to get this book as an ARC. This is the third book in the series so I did occasionally feel a little lost or that I should have more info about a character or an event, but this did not stop me from enjoying this book. I enjoyed that it takes place at an old estate in England and that our heroine and her family have had ties to to the place and the family of the 15th Earl of Grenville, while try to restart her life after a major disappointment and relationship breakup Kat comes home to open her own antique shop and consulting business near where her mom and uncle live. While going to Honeychurch Hall to consult on some pictures Kat discover a double hide in the estate and also discovers a dead body that has been there since 1958!!! All kinds of craziness ensues and everyone's life past and present is reexamined and much old history revealed. this is a satisfying mystery!!

[Toni Nyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall by Hanna Dennison is a must read for those who have any interest in a good mystery and some funny goings on. The fact that it involves the upper and lower classes of England intermingled just adds to the story. While the main character Kat Stanford is trying to start up her antiques business and keep her mother out of trouble they stumble upon a dead woman. She happens to be behind a hidden panel found when Kat triggers it looking at a painting she is there to take to auction. Between helping with young Harry, who lives at the hall and discovering her mother's stint in a traveling show,she has her hands full. As more history comes out and more dead bodies pop up it becomes hard to put the book down. The author's mixture of historical facts and humor make this a must read for cozy mystery fans. Miss Dennison's little add on's are a hoot. He would imagine the Dowager Countess reading 50 Sades of Grey!

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

While each book in the series contains its own mystery and can be read as standalones, I highly recommend reading the series as a whole. Not only will there be a better understanding for the ins and outs of the Hall (along with some backstory) but Honeychurch Hall is such an excellent series fulls of twists and turns with great characters and mysteries that not only keep me entertained, but have me guessing right until the very end! Fans of Downton Abbey, P.G. Wodehouse, and Evelyn Waugh are sure to feel right at home with this series.

For the full review + a behind-the-scenes look with Hannah Dennison, head over to The Pretty Good Gatsby!

[Alisha Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Killer Ball at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison was received by me as an advanced review copy for a fair and honest review.
If you like a little old English history (as portrayed by this author) with a murder mystery mixed in then you will love this book. This is the 3rd in her Honeychurch Hall series and I absolutely loved it. Once I got to sit down and really get into the book it was finished in 1 day and I went looking for the other 2 in this series. Antique Dealer Kat Stanford is supposed to get some paintings for an auction to raise funds to help repair some damage to Honeychurch Hall, she accidentally falls into a double hide and discovers a partially mummified body of a young woman. While suspicion initially falls on to her mother, Kat must search and find the true killer even though it happened many years ago.