Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall

Honeychurch Hall Mystery #4

by Hannah Dennison

When the only copy of Ravished, Iris Stanford's new manuscript, never arrives at her London publisher's office, her daughter Kat investigates the tiny local village post office, where it appears the package never left the building. Iris is on tenterhooks--not only is her novel gone with the wind, but she's deathly afraid that Muriel Jarvis, the postmistress and notorious busybody, will expose her secret identity as the bestselling romance writer Krystalle Storm. Meanwhile, Muriel has her own problems with the sudden death of her husband Fred, which has left her heavily in debt. In the spine-tingling climax, both past and present collide as Kat fights for her life and those she holds most dear, dancing once again with the dark forces lurking behind the grandeur of Honeychurch Hall.

This nail-biting addition to Hannah Dennison's Honey Church Hall mystery series, Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall is not to be missed.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Contemporary, British Literature, Audiobook

305 pages, Hardcover

First published May 2, 2017

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

[Jessica Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book four in the Honeychurch Hall Mystery series. This may be my favorite book of the series yet. A battle reenactment is set to happen in the area and Iris is freaking out because her publisher claims her newest manuscript never arrived even though she shipped it weeks ago. Since she insists on using an old typewriter of course she does not have a copy (which Kat harasses her about to no end saying she could at least photocopy it) so Kat has to help her hunt it down. Tracking says it never left the local post office so she goes to check. Muriel gets really upset (especially since her husband recently died) and pretty much kicks her out. The next things they known the manuscript shows up with the publisher in terrible condition and with missing pages. While their investigation continues Muriel is found dead making Kat and Iris the prime suspects though there are lots of other things coming up missing as well. Yet again the two make some of the funny decisions ever when it comes to finding out what happened and the blend of all the different characters makes for quite a fascinating story to say the least. I just love the writing style of this series and now my only regret is that I am out of more books until she writes another one. I give this one 4/5 stars.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome back to Honeychurch Hall
located outside of Little Dipperton Devon.
" Skirmish Day " is in the planning there.
It is a reenactment celebrating a battle
fought in the English Civil War held annually
While preparing for the event, a skeleton
that is centuries old is found along with
a helmet and dagger. She had been
murdered.
Whose skeleton could it be? Why was she
buried on Honeychurch Hall grounds in an
unmarked grave?
What could happen next ??
How about a missing manuscript, a missing
tin with money for the reenactment, stolen
cars, a nosy postmistress, a frumpy tea shop
owner, new suspicious women to the area,
a doll, escaped convicts, affairs, secrets from
the past and present, a current murder,
mischievous young boys, a crypt, a graveyard,
a flamboyant lothario, a posh restaurant plus
a centuries old ghost for starters!!!
Feisty, colorful, well described characters
involved in a well written plot. There are many
twists and turns which peak the readers
interest. Add humor, romance along with the
historical setting for an enjoyable read.
This is the fourth book in the Honeychurch
Hall Mystery series. The book can be read as a
stand alone.
Great read!!!
I volunteered to read this book. Thanks to the author
via Facebook’s Cozy Mystery Review for the book.
My opinion is my own.

[Donna Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s so good to be revisiting Little Dipperton and Honeychurch Hall! Back among my favorite Brits and the mischief and mayhem they so often find themselves involved in. Kat Stanford, former TV host of Fakes and Treasures, is probably the only “normal” one in this zany cast of characters. She’s left broadcasting to open her own shop on the grounds of Honeychurch Hall, where her Mum, who secretly pens racy novels, also lives. Mum’s brother, recently out of prison, assists her in her intrigues, real or imagined. After Mum, my favorite character is the young son of Lord Honeychurch, Harry, whose alter ego is Squadron Leader James Bigglesworth and who, complete with goggles and a commanding tone, leads his troops (and Kat) into action.
The historical setting and modern tone of the story are nicely meshed. The village is planning “Skirmish Day” celebrating a long ago English Civil War battle. A centuries-old body is discovered on the estate, the victim of a long-ago murder. While unraveling this murder, another occurs. Toss in stolen Skirmish funds, a missing manuscript, a sexy playboy, an escaped prisoner, an affair or two and strawberry jam and you have a fun, engaging chapter in the lives of Dippertonians!
This is not your usual cozy. The story is intricately woven and unpredictable. I love that this setting and the characters enchant me; the mystery is well crafted, for sure. But it’s the various scalawags and silliness that keep me wanting more! I received this book from the author for an honest review and I so look forward to the next installation!

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite cozy series. I have read all four books and looked forward to this book being published. In Murderous Mayhem, a mysterious female skeleton from years past is found. Who is she and why did she have a scold's bridle on her skull? There was a Honeychurch dagger with the skeleton. It was murder.

There is a missing manuscript that was mailed from Little Dipperton's post office to London. However, Iris's editor never received it and there is only one copy. There are many thefts such as cars, a doll and many small items. The town is preparing for a event called a skirmish when many new people will come to town to participate or observe.

I like this series mainly for the zany characters and humor. I always liked Kat and Iris (Kat's mother) relationship. Iris seemed a little too over the top in this book. Also, there was a paranormal element briefly added. I like paranormal in some cozies but felt if this series was going somewhat paranormal, it isn't needed. It is almost too much. The series stands strong on its own. I am looking forward to reading the next adventure in Little Dipperton.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

This installment was darker than previous ones. I guess it's the subject matter. Plenty of smalltown shenanigans that are familiar, even if it's small town England and not the United States. Enjoyable, intricate mystery.

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

[Kayt18 · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall” is the 4th book in the Honeychurch Hall Mystery series by Hannah Dennison. It is the first one in the series that I have read. I think I would have been able to give this book 5 stars had I read the others in the series. It can be read as a standalone or out of series, but I feel from how reading it was to me that it would be better enjoyed if read in order so you can get all the back stories. That said I really did enjoy the storyline and mystery. I just felt a bit disjointed from some of the characters. I will have to go back and read the other books so I can truly relate to them. This is a fun book and has enjoyable characters and I think any reader who enjoys books in this genre will be entertained.

The protagonist is Kat Stanford who is opening an antique shop and is the former host of televised Fakes and Treasures. She lives near her mother Iris Stanford who writes a wildly successful romance series under a pen name. Only a few people know this tidbit. In this novel their small town is preparing for the annual Skirmish, which is based on the siege of Honeychurch Hall during the English Civil War. Maybe Kat will get more traffic with the visitors for this event. Before it can happen though several things occur. One is a body is found on the historical property. It may have a historical bearing on the families of the hall. There are a lot of characters in this book and it overwhelmed me a bit since I did not have the back stories of them. Not so much that I was not able to follow though. I have to say that I really enjoyed the historical body storyline. It had so many aspects.

Now not only are the characters in this novel dealing with the skirmish and the centuries old body, but Iris’ manuscript is missing, the funds for the event are missing, strange sightings in the graveyard are reported and a few other things as well. Iris is suspicious of a few citizens including the gossipy mail lady. Lucky for Iris her “brother” is home from prison (another secret) and he is going to do some investigating. Unfortunately for all of them, he finds said gossip dead. Things really ratchet up at that point. Missteps, mishaps and of course mayhem ensue.

“Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall” is a wonderful cozy in the vein of some of the wonderful English based novels of this genre. I wish I had read them in order so this one would have been more comfortable and familiar. I think that would definitely have brought this to a 5 star read for me. Even so I was able to thoroughly enjoy the characters (a lot of them to get to know), the mysteries (a few thrown in for good measure) and the writing style (flowing and enjoyable). The protagonist is smart, but seemed to need something more, a confidant, partner, dear friend, something. I am going to go back and read the others in this series because it is most assuredly worth the read and I want to know more and more about the stories and characters. Iris is a hoot and I would love to get to know her better. If you enjoy English cozies you will like this one for sure.

I was provided a copy to read.

[Michelle Fidler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an English village cozy mystery where everyone knows everyone else's business! For example, the postmistress, Muriel, is suspected of reading the mail. I think my favorite part of the book was concerning the missing manuscript. This isn't a regular murder mystery. A murder doesn't occur until page 208; before that there's a centuries-old body that was most likely murdered.

Lots of descriptions in the book, maybe too much for me (I find dialogue easier to read). Quirky characters made it interesting. There was a dog, Mr. Chips, in the book who didn't figure in too prominently, but he made it onto the book cover. I liked the English village setting.

I liked the supplemental items at the beginning of the book: the family tree and the coat-of-arms. The print was a good size (loved that). I will probably only read one more in the series.

I received a copy to review and voluntarily did so.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm gonna go with a solid 3.5 stars for this fourth edition to the cozy mystery series featuring Kat and her mother Iris Stanford. This series was new to me, and I admit fully that I did not read the previous three books before jumping into this one. Although it can be read as a standalone for the mystery, it really is best if the other books are read first, so that you can get the backstory for all of the characters relationships -- both friendly and not. So any lack of connection to the characters or confusion I'll put the square fully on me, not the book. That being said there were a few instances of plot points I wasn't too interested in, but I'll get there.

Kat Stanford works in antiques and is a former host of Fakes and Treasures. Her mother, Iris, also has a secret -- that she's really a writer of a very popular romance series and goes by the pseudonym Krystalle Storm. Iris bought a place on an English manor in the village of Little Dipperton with Kat following her, and although Kat longed to live in London, she is working on setting up her business and making this new path in her life work. Kat has been unlucky in love and her mother unlucky in getting herself into predicaments that attract police attention. The villagers and acquaintances are a mixed bag. We have the nosy, gossipy postmistress Muriel, the Lord Rupert Honeychurch and his wife Lavinia, brothers, new wives, adventure seeking children, former friends and possibly new love matches. There are questions of fidelity, theft, family history and feuds, and even maybe some ghosts.

I loved Kat and her wit, her personality, and her charm. They mystery threads kept me interested and they clues were subtle enough. Iris is sending off her latest manuscript when she discovers it never made it out of town, cars and other items go missing, antiques stolen, and a woman’s corpse is found long buried with a family dagger in her. I thoroughly enjoyed many of the side characters as well, specifically Lavinia and Alfred. Also, the romance pieces never overshadowed the rest of the story and I enjoyed that Kat left her options, even if there was a murder and thief on the loose (ha). Overall, the pace felt solid.

A few bits that I didn't find interesting was the Honeychurch family history or really, this book's setting "backdrop." Every year the town puts on a local reenactment of the "series of skirmishes before the siege of Honeychurch Hall during the English Civil War." While it gave the characters something to talk about or Iris costumes to make, nothing really happenedat the Skirmish to have the book really revolve around that andthe missing manuscript, the dead body on the grounds, and the theft of other items. It just felt a bit cluttered at times. I’m also not sure how I feel about the small paranormal element thrown in. Had it been something that I felt building throughout the story, maybe I’d have felt it fit in, but it seemed a bit odd. As for the family history, that made up a huge part of this book, and I imagine it's a consistent thread throughout the series. I'm sure many love it, and had I been interested in it, the information would have worked.

Really cute series and I'm sure I'll go back and read the first three.

[Daniele · Rating 4 out of 5]

MURDEROUS MAYHEM AT HONEYCHURCH HALL, the fourth book in the Honeychurch Hall Mystery series, is delightful reading fun, striking a nice balance between silliness, mischief, and murder.

Kate Stanford, a former TV show antique appraiser, has opened her own business in the gatehouse of Honeychurch Estate and hopes the village’s upcoming “Skirmish” reenactment of the English Civil War will draw some badly needed traffic. The whole tiny village of Little Dipperton in Devon traditionally gets involved, and this event provides a nice backdrop that ties the whole story together. Kate’s mother Iris, who is secretly a wildly successful romance author, mailed her latest manuscript to her publisher but is beside herself when she discovers it never arrived; the only copy of the book is missing. Add to this drama the discovery of a centuries old murder victim, small items gone missing, money stolen, a car theft ring, a family feud that dates back to said Civil War, infidelity, the postmistress’s murder, and a ghost, and readers can indeed see how easy it is for the mayhem to ensue. Author Hannah Denison does a great job of weaving these numerous plot threads together. In less skilled hands, this whole book could have been a royal mess, but everything comes together in a dramatic climax, and all threads are neatly resolved to provide an exceptionally satisfying read.

Each of the various mysteries is compelling on its own, but the story surrounding the unearthed skeleton is my favorite. The rich local history and the plethora of records dating back hundreds of years are fascinating and awe inspiring to me in contrast to my own “young” American history. Everything to do with the Honeychurch lineage and the family’s far reaching responsibility to the village is intriguing. There are frequent laugh-out-loud moments, and some of the situations are frivolous, but I reveled in every moment. Of note is a scene involving buttoned up Lady Lavenia unencumbered by Vicodin.

I think Kate and I could be good friends. She is intelligent, inquisitive, and pragmatic, all of which make her a fine amateur sleuth. I do feel like she needs a sidekick, though, to help her in her investigations. I realize she has her mother and DI Shawn Cooper, but Iris is far too unreliable. The supporting cast of characters is charming, every one of them quirky, and even those who are unpleasant are still likable. I especially enjoy young Master Harry, Lord and Lady Honeychurch’s son. His enthusiasm and imagination, combined with his innate sense of aristocratic entitlement, makes him quite endearing. Muriel is the quintessential nosy gossip, and it is unfortunate that she is one of the victims. I confess that I do not care for Iris. Lying comes far too easy to her, and she makes poor choices.

Hannah Dennison has created an enchanting world in the Honeychurch Estate and adjacent tiny Devonshire village. The historically rich setting is a nice foil for the contemporary narrative, and the wacky characters are engaging. I look forward to reading many further adventures featuring Kate and company. I highly recommend this complexly plotted and well written lighthearted mystery to Anglophiles and any cozy fan.

I received and ARC of this title from the publisher and voluntarily shared my unbiased opinions here.

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cute easy read cozy. I had read book 1 and wanted to see where it went...good for an in between read!

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wouldn't say Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall is the strongest book in the series, but it was certainly an entertaining read, though I definitely would not recommend it for newcomers due to the lack of character introductions of recaps of the previous novels. That said, I really do love this series and cannot wait for the next!

For the full review and more, head over to The Pretty Good Gatsby!

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in North Devon, England we encounter Kat Stanford as she is trying to establish her new antique business. She is quickly pulled into the antics of her mother Iris and Uncle Alfred. What appears to be an initial mystery of an uncovered skeleton turns into a manuscript not being sent in to a robbery and then another murder. This all happens while the town is trying to prepare for the Skirmish festivities.

I thoroughly enjoyed the historical aspects of the book. This includes the research on the family history to the details on the family portraits as well as the church. I also appreciate the amount of work it takes to properly put on the Skirmish.

While a quick read, at times I was struggling with which plotline was the mystery that was being solved, or if one was being solved at all. The author did a nice job in the end to tie everything together, which was no small task with so many moving pieces.

This is the fourth book in the series, and the first one that I read. While I was able to read this book as a standalone, I think I would have picked up on some of the references much faster if I had read the others first.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murderous Mayhem At Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison is once again a fun, unique, quirky, fast paced cozy that has you laughing out loud at times and wondering what is coming next. From The peculiar quirky characters that are back for another adventure to the unusual circumstances they all find themselves in to the murders this is a book that you won't want to miss.

I enjoy this book because it takes you in and you find yourself getting caught up in the comings and goings of British life as well as the demographics of the Lord's and Lady's intermixed with the villagers of Little Dipperton

Each person in this book has their own peculiar personality and that just adds to the fun of the book. Kat is an antique appraiser who has a knack for getting right in the middle of everything that goes on at Honeychurch Hall. Her eccentric mother Iris and unconventional uncle Albert always add a quirky, unusual element to the plot with the stories they come up with to cover there mischievous exploits. I love these two they just make the book.

This story is two fold, one is the mystery when the body of a women, who seems to be an ancestor of either the Honeychurch's or the Carew's, is found accidentally and then the murders of Dipperton residents complicate the upcoming Skirmish planned at Honeychurch Hall. On top of all this Kat's mother Iris' missing manuscript pages need to be found and she is sure Muriel the postmistress has them. She sends Albert to retrieve them only to get mixed up in the murder of Muriel and becoming once again suspects in the investigation. On top of everything else someone has been stealing from the people of Little Dipperton, Lavinia thinks her husband Rupert Lord of Honeychurch is having an affair, Harry the son of Lavinia and Rupert along with his friend Max think they see a ghost in the churchyard and Kat thinks the ghost of Eleanor Honeychurch is trying to tell her something. It seems one thing after the other is happening and they all add up to a very interesting some what wacky but all together fascinating cozy mystery.

I love British mysteries and this one is a mix of Downton Abby meets Midsomer Murders. You have the Dowager and her quirky family along with the village secrets and mysteries like in Midsummer Murders to be solved. Wow so much is happening and it is just plain fun and entertaining to read. I think this one was better than the last book in the series.

This is the fourth book in the series but it can be read as a standalone book too. I highly recommend this book it is one you will not want to miss.

I would give, in my rating system, this book 4 1/2 Bookmarks

I received this book from the author for my honest opinion and review.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author so I wasn't really sure what to expect going into it. Kat is an enjoyable character as well as her mother, Iris. The mystery behind everything that was going on was enough to keep me reading the book, but at times, I just felt a little confused and sometimes bored. It may have been because I haven't read the previous books in this series. There was just so much talk about the family history and talk of the reenactment that I just didn't get. The murder suspect kept me guessing until the end of the book, which is something that I love in a mystery. I don't want to be able to figure it out easily. I will definitely go back at some point and read the previous books in this series.

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

[Monica Gearhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed the first 3. It starts off by Eric finding skeletal remains. Only to find out the body had been buried for many, many, many years. It's sad the reason she died. It was good to read about Kat dating more even if she insists she won't date him again. And the excuses Shawn kept giving her for cancelling their dates. So sad for some of the characters who died in this book, and all because of secrets that were being found out. I really hope this isn't the end. I've enjoyed this series.

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

[Carla Joyner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received my copy of Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall in exchange for an honest review. My very good friend recommended the author and series when I expressed interest in the cozy mystery genre. I haven't read the 3 previous books in the series, so jumping into the 4 installment as an introduction to Kat, Iris, and the Little Dipperton gang was a bit jarring. For the first several chapters it was a bit confusing to keep the many characters straight, so I jotted down character names and relationships. There is at least one scene in the hall where the characters talk over each other and deliver so many witty asides that I had to re-read the scene to really grasp what they were talking about.

Once I figured out everyone's place and purpose, I settled in and enjoyed the engaging plot and witty dialogue. Kat Stanford and her mother Iris live on the grounds of Honeychurch Estate where everyone is busy preparing for the Skirmish, an historic re-enactment that floods the town with participants and tourists alike. The Skirmish provides the backdrop for a plethora of small village shenanigans: Iris's manuscript doesn't arrive at the publishers, vast sums of money (and other items) go missing, and the dead body of an ancestor is found in a grave with a knife in her chest and her head clamped in a horrific medieval device. When Kat and Iris involve themselves in finding Iris's manuscript, we meet the "regulars": Edith, Muriel, Rupert, Lavinia, Harry, Shawn, Violet, Eric, and Aubrey and become acquainted with their meet ups and put downs. The introduction of a few newcomers lends an air of suspicion and deceit. The dialogue flits easily between the false familiarity of fast friendships and the mother/daughter banter between Kat and Iris that's quite funny.
In the end, the mysteries are solved, identities are discovered, and all is well once again in Little Dipperton, but not without an otherworldly intervention and a seat-gripping climax that leaves Kat fighting for her life.

I was surprised by the inclusion of a spiritual element in this book and wonder if that is typical for this genre/author. The main character, Kat, comes off as much too pragmatic to believe in such things and her encounter seemed like an afterthought. At times, the speed at which the characters switched allegiances and backstabbed each other left me lukewarm. I often wondered, "Are they friends or not??"
Despite these small criticisms, I enjoyed the book very much and will most likely read first three, now that I've met everyone!

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iris is wracked with dread and worry when her manuscript never makes it to her publisher, which threatens to divulge her secret life as a famous romance novelist. To make things worse, it's the only copy of her manuscript and the package never left her local post office because it's the hands of one of the town gossipers. Meanwhile, Kat gets caught up in hilarious romantic shenanigans that lands her on the front pages yet again. Plus, she's wrapped up in a series of seemingly separate small town mysteries with the answers, and dangers, quickly catching up with her.

I absolutely love the latest installment of this series. Iris and Kat's shenanigans never fails to crack me up. Iris is such a lovely character with a huge personality. I always love learning new things about her as the series continues, as well as see how she will keep her secret life just that: a secret. Plus, Kat always ends up in hilarious situations no matter how hard she tries to avoid them. I love following the pair and their antics.

It's always interesting to learn more about the other characters who live in town as well. It's fun meeting new characters and seeing how they interact with existing ones as well as finding out new tidbits about everyone and watching how it continues to build the world as well as adding to the plot of each book. It really makes for such a entertaining series with characters that would be fun to become friends with. Plus, each installment unravels bits and pieces about everyone's past. It's such a feel good series that I always enjoy coming back to. I would honestly love to see this series become a television show one day. There isn't a single thing that wouldn't play out well on screen.

[Kimberlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall" is the delightful fourth installment in the Honeychurch Hall series. Once again, antiques dealer and former tv personality Kat finds herself embroiled in mystery. This time around, she has two situations to unravel: the identity and story of the skeleton found on the Hall's grounds, and what happened to her mother's missing manuscript (and an increasing number of other missing items in the area).

These twin mysteries provide plenty of opportunity for Kat to dig around in the area's past, as well as to interview various members of the community. Despite the sometimes stilted nature of some of the aristocracy she encounters, Kat's adventures have plenty of humor to mix in with the tension of the mysteries she needs to solve.

Dennison's writing style is truly a joy. She makes all of the characters come vividly alive for the reader, and also makes it easy to envision the beautiful country locales in which the story takes place. Her realistic and witty dialog makes the book even more enjoyable.

Although this is the first installment of this series that I have read, I was easily able to figure out who everyone was. The helpful genealogy chart at the beginning was quite useful in this regard! Now that I've read this one, I definitely plan to go back and read the first three in the series to learn more about the backstories of Kat and others, and to see what sort of adventures I've missed by starting with book four!

I highly recommend this series to all fans of cozy mysteries!

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall is my favorite of the series so far. I enjoy my visits back to Honeychurch Hall to see what kind of mischief befalls Kat Stanford and her mother, Iris, and this book does not disappoint. I was taken in from the very beginning and found this book very hard to put down. The characters are so well developed now, you feel like part of their family, and new characters are introduced as well, and it is left to us to find out if they are who they say they are, and what secrets they might be hiding.

This book takes place during the hectic planning stages of The Skirmish, which is an annual reenactment of the battle between Cromwell's Roundheads and the Royalists who backed King Charles I, that took place near Honeychurch Hall, with the Carew Family supporting the Roundheads, and the Grenville Family the Royalists. Both families take this reenactment very seriously, and tensions mount between the two of them. When Iris and Eric discover a body that appears to be from that time period, the book just takes off, with Kat definitely in her element. I really liked the mystery of Lady Eleanor and the bit of the supernatural it brings to the story, as well as the question of what happened to Iris' latest Krystalle Storm manuscript.

I have read all the books in this series, but this book could definitely stand on it's own -- you are not left in the dark about past goings on. I found myself laughing at Iris and Albert's hijinks, as well as those of the wonderful Harry and his friend Max.

I very highly recommend this book, and know you will love it as much as I did. I'm really looking forward to Kat's next adventure at Honeychurch Hall.

I voluntarily received a copy of this book, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first read by this author. Will it be my last? a definite, NO! This book had just about every element a good mystery could have in it. Yes, there was history about Honeychurch Hall and two families in conflict. Some say they found this part of the book to be boring but I say without the description of the estates or history on the family's involved the story may not of come together well. Muriel, the town gossip, gets the story off to a great start when she approaches Kat for a loan, shortly after Muriel was widowed. You just know something is not right with her request or explanation as to why she needs the money. Oh then to find out she works as a postmistress and is up to no good at the post office adds additional intrigue to her motives for deceit. Yes, she is the town gossip but there is much more to the story. Everyone of the characters or inhabitants of this town have little items stolen from them. At first I thought Muriel was the culprit but the story is much more involved in the whys and whos of those missing items. Throw in love, a dead body that was brutally murdered, deceit (already noted), shoplifting, a stolen manuscript, and much more. Now you have a good book. Kat and Iris are the main characters in the book. Both live in houses on the Honeychurch estate. I do believe Kat when she moved there thought life would be more settled and relaxing. Little did she realize she would be fighting to stay alive. I, highly recommend this book. Yes, I was given a copy to read to review. However, if this book fell short of being a good read I would definitely let it be known. Five star read!

[Lynette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison was a great first read for me. I had never heard of the Honeychurch Hall mysteries until I had read this book. I am not normally a reader of British mysteries, as they tend to bore me. However, I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this one as much as I did. The character personalities worked well with each other, and the story just seemed to work itself out. While I did have an inkling of who the culprit was before the book was over, I like how Dennison expertly wove all the details together to make it work.
There was a lot of stuff going on in this book, and I guess not having read the previous books in the series made it that much more challenging to figure everything out. I had a hard time figuring out the different characters and who belonged with whom, but eventually I figured it all out and just enjoyed the story. I couldn’t put it down after I started reading it. It was a very fast paced book and kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. I liked that the chapters flowed together and didn’t jump all over the place, like chapters from the past and then on to the future. Dennison has created a series of books that I will most definitely be going back to read.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Antiques dealer Kat is trying to get her new shop set up before the hordes descend on Honeychurch Hall for the reenactment of a Civil War battle--English civil war, that is. The postmistress is trying to borrow some money, depressed about the recent death of her husband. It appears that Lord Rupert is cheating on his wife--again. And Kat's mother, Iris, is frantic because a manuscript she sent to her publisher never arrived. It's not generally known, but Iris is a successful romance novelist who's been stowing her profits on the Channel Islands, with the help of her half-brother. If the Revenue service knew that she was making so much money, Iris would be in big trouble. In other words, things are normal at Honeychurch Hall, and the scene is set for another murder.

[The Lit Bitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Not going to lie, there is something about a cute little dog on the cover of a book that just makes me want to read it all the more!

When this book came across my desk for review, I was knee deep in cozy mysteries (Lady Darby series) and was totally on a cozy kick. So when I saw this cozy with an adorable little terrier on the cover, I was 100% sold!

Typically I hate starting a series in the middle, however I just couldn’t pass this one up….I’m a sucker for animal cozies!

So, my first thought is….yes this can be read as a standalone, but I think I would have liked it more had I read at least one of the other books. Everyone and the setting was completely new to me and sometimes I found myself feeling like a bit of an outsider. I didn’t fully appreciate the relationships between the characters and sometimes I just felt like I wish I had some of the backstory so I could better understand the dynamics.

What I did like was the small town–quaint–feel and all the charm that comes with an English country town. While the ‘Skirmish’ that was so predominantly featured in the story, was really just something for the characters to talk about, I found it to be a fun little bit of charm that made me feel at home in the village. For me, I loved the simple, daily life of the British and while some might argue that it’s ‘been done’ I would say that Dennison makes it feel fresh! I feel like I could live there and be forever happy with it’s familiarity and charm!

The characters themselves are stereotypical but I found that to be perfectly fine. They were recognizable characters and archetypes and I found that refreshing and familiar. Personally, I loved Kat. She was smart and has an inquisitive mind which is obviously necessary for an amateur detective but it’s her presentation that I liked. She was relate-able and I could see myself being her friend if I lived in the village.

While I really liked this book, I gave it a 3.5 star rating. It was good and I would likely read the other books in the series….but the problem for me was that I hadn’t read the other books in the series. As I said before, it could read as a standalone but I just felt like I was missing out on the greater story and I couldn’t give it more than a 3.5 star rating. Personally I would recommend reading the first book at the very least so that you can get your barrings. There were also lulls in the story where there was a lot of explanation about family history etc and that was a little much for me and bogged down the story in my opinion.

I would recommend this book for fans of books like the Aunt Dimity series or Sneaky Pie Brown or other series that focus more on daily village life with a dash of murder thrown in. It was a good read and a nice escape!

see my full review here

[Pamela Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book so far in the Honeychurch Hall Mysteries. I was immediately drawn in by the excellently crafted plot that had me laughing out loud one minute and then turning the pages as fast as I could to see what happened next. I loved the English country setting as well as Kat Sanford and her interactions with the eclectic characters, especially her mother, Iris, and rakish Piers Carew. Hannah Dennison is a very talented author and this book is a must-read for mystery lovers. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kat’s mother fears her career as romance writer, Krystelle Storm, is in danger when the only copy of her latest manuscript fails to reach her publisher’s office in London. In an attempt to help out Kat visits the village post office as the tracking slip indicates the package never left the building. A quick search with the postmistress, newly widowed Muriel, does not prove fruitful. Muriel has troubles of her own. Her car has been stolen and she is deep in money troubles thanks to her husband. Iris and Kat worry that busybody Muriel may have opened the book and done something with the unpublished book. Also keeping Iris on her toes is the costume sewing she took on in preparation of a great re enactment to take place at Honeychurch Hall. It isn’t long before Kat and Iris find themselves knee deep in a murder investigation, again.

I enjoy this series a great deal and couldn’t wait for this book to be released. The characters are well developed and you want to know them and live among them. This story is filled with subplots that add to the story. I highly recommend this book and the entire series.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison

I admit that, when I first started this book, I didn’t think I was going to like it. Besides not being too familiar with British royal terms, it seemed that too many characters appeared in the first few pages. I’m glad that I kept going, though; as I got used to the titles I got to know the characters. They are a lot of fun; quirky and amusing.

The story was interesting, especially because the author kept me guessing about what the mystery was going to be. There were a lot of things happening and I kept trying to figure out how they all tied together. There are many different elements to this book – mystery, of course, a missing manuscript, a skeleton, death, ghosts (maybe) and hidden identities, with a couple of romantic interests thrown in.

The main character, Kat Stanford, a former TV host, has recently moved to town and quickly becomes everyone’s go-to person to fix their messes. Unlike a lot of whodunits, Kat doesn’t spend all of her time trying to solve the mysteries. The clues go to her as she tries to unravel everyone else’s problems.

The author does a good job of describing the setting. Set in a small English village, Little Dipperton, with a lot of the action taking place on the Honeychurch Hall estate, she conveys the atmosphere of English country life.

I would definitely read more books in this series and by this author.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall is the first book in this series that I've read and I really enjoyed it. From the country village setting to the interesting cast of characters, I was entertained from the beginning to the end. You'll want a cup of tea and an English biscuit while you sit down to read this one.

[LittleRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

This may be book four in the Honeychurch Hall Mystery series, but it was my introduction to this fun series. when I received an ARC to review. I certainly didn’t feel like not having read the first three ruined it for me either…though I’ll soon be reading the others in the series as well.

Kat Stanford, a former TV antique appraiser, has left the limelight of London for the English countryside and moved to a small home on Honeychurch Hall estate to start a new life and business. Kat and her Mother, Iris, the romance novelist with a nome de plume, along with her Uncle Alfred, and ex-con, make an interesting family, but they’re a lovable one at that.

Life in the country certainly isn’t quiet or uneventful when a body is discovered on the Honeychurch Hall estate, Iris’ latest manuscript goes missing only to be discovered, a slew of missing items from the villages of Little Dipperton, two missing little boys, and the local post mistress turns up dead.

Kat is a character that is easy to relate to, and Iris is the crazy Mum we all think we have at times, though she irks me a bit from time to time. All in all, the story was fun, kept moving and even taught me a few things about history that I hadn’t known before. I can’t wait to visit Little Dipperton and the Carew and Honeychurch

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in this series that I have read. I enjoyed it. A very entertaining read. The characters are great. I love the humor. The background descriptions make you feel like you are there. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Kacey/Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book of Hannah Dennison but the fourth in this series. I read the first book Murder at Honeychurch Hall and really enjoyed it. It was nice to get to read another book in the series and read about some familiar characters. Murderous Mayhem at Honeychurch Hall is a good whodunnit with twists and turns and new characters and suspects added to keep one interested. I especially liked learning new historical facts. I won't mention what they were, so you will need to read the book to find out what they are, but it made me do some research on the facts to know more about it and why it was necessary for book. I look forward in reading the second and third book of series. I highly recommend this series for a quick and enjoyable read.