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Kitt Hartley Yorkshire Mysteries #4
Death Awaits in Durham
When librarian and budding private investigator Kitt Hartley visits her ex-assistant Grace Edwards in Durham, she soon learns of an unsolved murder.
A year ago Jodie Perkins, a Mechanics student, disappeared after her student-radio broadcast was cut short with a deafening scream. The police suspect Jodie was murdered although her body was never found.
Keen to be on the front line of one of Kitt's investigations, Grace convinces Kit to use her recent private investigator training to solve the mystery. Can Kitt and Grace uncover the truth?
A year ago Jodie Perkins, a Mechanics student, disappeared after her student-radio broadcast was cut short with a deafening scream. The police suspect Jodie was murdered although her body was never found.
Keen to be on the front line of one of Kitt's investigations, Grace convinces Kit to use her recent private investigator training to solve the mystery. Can Kitt and Grace uncover the truth?
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 28, 2020
47 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
About the author
Helen Cox
55 books138 followersHelen Cox is a Yorkshire-born novelist and poet. After completing her MA in creative writing at the University of York St. John Helen wrote for a range of publications, edited her own independent film magazine for five years and penned three non-fiction books. Her first two novels were published by HarperCollins in 2016. She currently lives by the sea in Sunderland where she writes poetry, romance novellas, craft non-fiction and The Kitt Hartley series alongside hosting The Poetrygram podcast.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
February 27, 2021
Death Awaits in Durham is an entertaining read, and somewhat grittier than your average "cosy" mystery.
Librarian-sleuth Kitt Hartley is called from York to Durham by her former student, Grace Edwards, who has just commenced her own postgraduate study at Kitt's alma mater, the prestigious Venerable Bede Vocational Academy. The enthusiastic Grace has become aware of an unsolved missing persons case involving a student, which she thinks would be perfect for Kitt's attention, what with her newly-acquired P.I. qualification.
Kitt and Grace start looking into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of scholarship student Jodie Perkins a year earlier, ruffling the feathers of the powers-that-be at Vulnerable Bede. They're assisted by Jodie's boyfriend and fellow student, Patrick Howard, who's been devastated by Jodie's sudden vanishing, just as she was about to expose an important secret on Durham's student radio station.
On their way to uncovering the truth, Kitt and Grace take several risks in trailing and attempting to interrogate various suspects. Grace's none-too-subtle antics and teasing of the older and more staid Kitt bring many moments of levity to the narrative.
I found Helen Cox's characters endearing and suitably sinister, as the case may be, but felt that some of the dialogue was a little unconvincing, reading more like written than spoken communication. However, once I'd gotten into the "vibe" of the book, I found it an engaging and undemanding read. Cox's use of setting - the university town of Durham, in the north-east of England - was excellent, and skilfully interwoven into the mystery plot.
Death Awaits in Durham is an enjoyable read, and I would recommend it to readers who like a little darkness in amongst the cosiness.
My thanks to the author, Helen Cox, publisher Quercus Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
Librarian-sleuth Kitt Hartley is called from York to Durham by her former student, Grace Edwards, who has just commenced her own postgraduate study at Kitt's alma mater, the prestigious Venerable Bede Vocational Academy. The enthusiastic Grace has become aware of an unsolved missing persons case involving a student, which she thinks would be perfect for Kitt's attention, what with her newly-acquired P.I. qualification.
Kitt and Grace start looking into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of scholarship student Jodie Perkins a year earlier, ruffling the feathers of the powers-that-be at Vulnerable Bede. They're assisted by Jodie's boyfriend and fellow student, Patrick Howard, who's been devastated by Jodie's sudden vanishing, just as she was about to expose an important secret on Durham's student radio station.
On their way to uncovering the truth, Kitt and Grace take several risks in trailing and attempting to interrogate various suspects. Grace's none-too-subtle antics and teasing of the older and more staid Kitt bring many moments of levity to the narrative.
I found Helen Cox's characters endearing and suitably sinister, as the case may be, but felt that some of the dialogue was a little unconvincing, reading more like written than spoken communication. However, once I'd gotten into the "vibe" of the book, I found it an engaging and undemanding read. Cox's use of setting - the university town of Durham, in the north-east of England - was excellent, and skilfully interwoven into the mystery plot.
Death Awaits in Durham is an enjoyable read, and I would recommend it to readers who like a little darkness in amongst the cosiness.
My thanks to the author, Helen Cox, publisher Quercus Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
February 16, 2021
Death Awaits in Durham is the fourth instalment in The Kitt Hartley Yorkshire Mysteries series and is a cosy crime thriller set in and around Durham, England. It isn't necessary to have read the preceding three books before this as each of the stories are self-contained and enough backstory is provided to bring new readers up to speed. Ex-librarian and amateur sleuth Kitt is back on the investigative trail after going to visit ex-assistant Grace Edwards who is attending Venerable Bede Vocational Academy in the picture-postcard city of Durham in the North East of England. When she learns about the unsolved "cool" case of student Jodie Perkins, she discovers the very public nature in which she was last heard — taking part in a student broadcast via radio the last those listening heard was a terrifying scream and Jodie was never seen again. Now time has passed, a year according to her devastated fiance, with most believing she was brutally murdered... can Kitt and Grace discover the evidence needed to bring closure to the Perkins family or is the case destined to remain unsolved?
This is a superb cosy mystery with more bite and grit than usual but still maintaining the cosy feeling and despite Durham being a city, it is very much reminiscent of a small town. It's simply the perfect book to escape from the troubles of the world and inhabit someone else's even for a few hours. Kitt is a great character who is a force for good and she illustrates just how much of an effective sleuthing brain she has too. As Kitt and her sleuthing sidekicks become ever more involved in investigating they are soon discovering huge secrets and revelations regarding Jodie's untimely disappearance. This is a fun, fast-paced, easy read with an enjoyable and entertaining plot, humour and plenty of twists and surprises; Cox is one of the most accomplished cosy authors writing in the genre today, so if you enjoy taut plotting, stunning scenery and a cast of quirky characters, this is a must-read series. A charming and simply delightful tale. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
This is a superb cosy mystery with more bite and grit than usual but still maintaining the cosy feeling and despite Durham being a city, it is very much reminiscent of a small town. It's simply the perfect book to escape from the troubles of the world and inhabit someone else's even for a few hours. Kitt is a great character who is a force for good and she illustrates just how much of an effective sleuthing brain she has too. As Kitt and her sleuthing sidekicks become ever more involved in investigating they are soon discovering huge secrets and revelations regarding Jodie's untimely disappearance. This is a fun, fast-paced, easy read with an enjoyable and entertaining plot, humour and plenty of twists and surprises; Cox is one of the most accomplished cosy authors writing in the genre today, so if you enjoy taut plotting, stunning scenery and a cast of quirky characters, this is a must-read series. A charming and simply delightful tale. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
January 25, 2021
Kitt Hartley is back in this fourth instalment of the series by Helen Cox. In
Death Awaits in Durham
whilst visiting ex-colleague Grace, librarian and PI trained Kitt learns that murder was possibly committed a year ago but is still, as yet, unsolved. Grace started studying at the Venerable Bede's Vocational Academy and four months into a mechanics course, Jodie Perkins disappeared. Jodie had called a live radio show and was about to make an announcement on air when listeners heard her scream. Jodie has never been seen since, nor was her body ever found...
Death Awaits in Durham kept me on my toes throughout as I devoured each chapter. I adored being in the company of Kitt again who is smart and funny. Kitt's boyfriend, DI Mal Halloran is on the periphery of Kitt's investigation but he has to work in York so Kitt and a very keen Grace are on their own with Kitt putting to good use the newly acquired skills she's learned on the private investigator course she has recently completed. With a handy supply of colourful supporting characters, the mystery itself was sound and there was always something going on to keep my attention focused. The clues, twists and red herrings were cleverly placed and with nothing as it seemed, the story was super exciting. This has left me wanting to read the first two books of the series, as well as eagerly anticipating the next instalment.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Quercus via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Death Awaits in Durham kept me on my toes throughout as I devoured each chapter. I adored being in the company of Kitt again who is smart and funny. Kitt's boyfriend, DI Mal Halloran is on the periphery of Kitt's investigation but he has to work in York so Kitt and a very keen Grace are on their own with Kitt putting to good use the newly acquired skills she's learned on the private investigator course she has recently completed. With a handy supply of colourful supporting characters, the mystery itself was sound and there was always something going on to keep my attention focused. The clues, twists and red herrings were cleverly placed and with nothing as it seemed, the story was super exciting. This has left me wanting to read the first two books of the series, as well as eagerly anticipating the next instalment.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Quercus via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
January 30, 2022
“A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other.” – Charles Dickens
In the opening pages of the story, we read of a conversation between ex-librarian and amateur detective Kitt Hartley, aged 37 and her former library assistant Grace Edwards, 22 years old.
The setting is the school Grace is enrolled in, the Venerable Bede Vocational Academy in Durham, England.
As the pages turn, we read that Grace is attempting to convince Kitt to help her solve a mystery that happened a year ago involving a student named Jodie Perkins. Apparently, Perkins was a student at the school herself, and last anyone heard, she was involved in a school radio broadcast, when suddenly the listeners all heard a terrible scream. After that, Jodie Perkins was never seen again.
And the horror of that scream was still echoing in the hearts of people one year later, most prominently with Patrick Howard, a student at the school and fiancée of Perkins whose understandably devastated the loss of the love of his life. But second to Howard, this case seems to be affecting Grace herself, which we learn of early on when we’re told that the Perkins case caused Grace to, “feel a hard tug somewhere inside.”
Well, as would not surprise to readers of the Kitt Hartley Yorkshire Mystery series, Grace proves persistent and soon convinces Kitt to become involved in the investigation, or at least try her best in the few days she’s visiting. Grace and Kitt team up with Howard and we suddenly find ourselves with a little team of sleuths.
It was a very promising start, and for me personally the confluence of two things I enjoy very much in combination, college campuses and mysteries. I think this particular enjoyment first started for me when I was 12 years old and saw the “Campus Terror” episode of my favorite TV show, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mystery Series. I continued to have a liking for these themes in the movies and on TV, including, “The Brockton College Killer” episode of Blacklist and the Cold Case episode named “Justice.”
So, I went into Helen Cox’s campus mystery with great enthusiasm, and by the end, I must say I was not disappointed. After all, how could such a thing be possible when a story contains charming locations, (i.e., a brick walled “snickelway” type of land named, “Moatside.”).
This story contains its fair share of noted characters, some who reveal some of Kitt’s past that’s never come to light yet, (Professor Lowenthal) and some that are promised, but as the novel progresses, seem to slip into obscurity, (Elvis McCabe the elusive caretaker).
Over the course of this story we encounter a secret society, a daredevil computer empire heiress, a custodian (not McCabe), who can help if you have something in your eye, the ghost of an ancient royal piper, “Roxy,” a most delightful and adorable girl, a Powderpuff duvet that no dorm room should be without, the Sniffing Distance bar where investigative debriefings took place and a certain Mr. Marks the name of which immediately brought to mind the lyrics of Sir Paul McCartney’s, “Temporary Secretary.”
My favorite mood moment happened when Kitt and Grace sat near the Durham Train Station. I’m please to say that there were more than one of these wonderful scenes that placed this story very firmly in the Cozy Mystery category.
All of this was delightful, not that I didn’t go through this story without being annoyed. This little section definitely rubbed me the wrong way, it was a description of some passengers at the Northumberland Airport:
“There were several men in suits, likely flying back home after some kind of business meeting, and given that it was Saturday night, Grace could only assume they were workaholics. Who’s flying around having business meeting on the weekend?”
This statement seemed to indicate an apparent naivete on the part of this character, after all, many people in the workforce no longer take their “weekend” on the traditional Saturday and Sunday. Many work in businesses that require weekend operation in order to meet the needs of customers, and as such, these workers will take their “weekend” on other weekdays.
Also, I was even more disappointed with this character’s assumption of “weekend working workaholics” in light of the fact that this book was published in 2020 and in March of that year, the serious Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions began, the immediate fallout was mass layoffs as the revenue from businesses was severely impacted, and in very short order. In many cases, those workers who were “kept on,” were, in the early days, asked to work extra shifts and were definitely putting in hours on weekend. Most did so with a sense of understanding that this was what had to be done for them to continue providing for their families. And for these people, branding them as “workaholics,” seems less than fair. If the author missed this fact, then certainly the editor, or the publisher should’ve caught it.
Anyway, I thought that one came across as dishonoring to the amazing people, both men and women, (as should have been mentioned in the novel), who made sacrifices in order to keep working through this period.
But for me, that proved to be the only blip in what was an excellent mystery.
I look forward to reading more of this series.
In the opening pages of the story, we read of a conversation between ex-librarian and amateur detective Kitt Hartley, aged 37 and her former library assistant Grace Edwards, 22 years old.
The setting is the school Grace is enrolled in, the Venerable Bede Vocational Academy in Durham, England.
As the pages turn, we read that Grace is attempting to convince Kitt to help her solve a mystery that happened a year ago involving a student named Jodie Perkins. Apparently, Perkins was a student at the school herself, and last anyone heard, she was involved in a school radio broadcast, when suddenly the listeners all heard a terrible scream. After that, Jodie Perkins was never seen again.
And the horror of that scream was still echoing in the hearts of people one year later, most prominently with Patrick Howard, a student at the school and fiancée of Perkins whose understandably devastated the loss of the love of his life. But second to Howard, this case seems to be affecting Grace herself, which we learn of early on when we’re told that the Perkins case caused Grace to, “feel a hard tug somewhere inside.”
Well, as would not surprise to readers of the Kitt Hartley Yorkshire Mystery series, Grace proves persistent and soon convinces Kitt to become involved in the investigation, or at least try her best in the few days she’s visiting. Grace and Kitt team up with Howard and we suddenly find ourselves with a little team of sleuths.
It was a very promising start, and for me personally the confluence of two things I enjoy very much in combination, college campuses and mysteries. I think this particular enjoyment first started for me when I was 12 years old and saw the “Campus Terror” episode of my favorite TV show, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mystery Series. I continued to have a liking for these themes in the movies and on TV, including, “The Brockton College Killer” episode of Blacklist and the Cold Case episode named “Justice.”
So, I went into Helen Cox’s campus mystery with great enthusiasm, and by the end, I must say I was not disappointed. After all, how could such a thing be possible when a story contains charming locations, (i.e., a brick walled “snickelway” type of land named, “Moatside.”).
This story contains its fair share of noted characters, some who reveal some of Kitt’s past that’s never come to light yet, (Professor Lowenthal) and some that are promised, but as the novel progresses, seem to slip into obscurity, (Elvis McCabe the elusive caretaker).
Over the course of this story we encounter a secret society, a daredevil computer empire heiress, a custodian (not McCabe), who can help if you have something in your eye, the ghost of an ancient royal piper, “Roxy,” a most delightful and adorable girl, a Powderpuff duvet that no dorm room should be without, the Sniffing Distance bar where investigative debriefings took place and a certain Mr. Marks the name of which immediately brought to mind the lyrics of Sir Paul McCartney’s, “Temporary Secretary.”
My favorite mood moment happened when Kitt and Grace sat near the Durham Train Station. I’m please to say that there were more than one of these wonderful scenes that placed this story very firmly in the Cozy Mystery category.
All of this was delightful, not that I didn’t go through this story without being annoyed. This little section definitely rubbed me the wrong way, it was a description of some passengers at the Northumberland Airport:
“There were several men in suits, likely flying back home after some kind of business meeting, and given that it was Saturday night, Grace could only assume they were workaholics. Who’s flying around having business meeting on the weekend?”
This statement seemed to indicate an apparent naivete on the part of this character, after all, many people in the workforce no longer take their “weekend” on the traditional Saturday and Sunday. Many work in businesses that require weekend operation in order to meet the needs of customers, and as such, these workers will take their “weekend” on other weekdays.
Also, I was even more disappointed with this character’s assumption of “weekend working workaholics” in light of the fact that this book was published in 2020 and in March of that year, the serious Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions began, the immediate fallout was mass layoffs as the revenue from businesses was severely impacted, and in very short order. In many cases, those workers who were “kept on,” were, in the early days, asked to work extra shifts and were definitely putting in hours on weekend. Most did so with a sense of understanding that this was what had to be done for them to continue providing for their families. And for these people, branding them as “workaholics,” seems less than fair. If the author missed this fact, then certainly the editor, or the publisher should’ve caught it.
Anyway, I thought that one came across as dishonoring to the amazing people, both men and women, (as should have been mentioned in the novel), who made sacrifices in order to keep working through this period.
But for me, that proved to be the only blip in what was an excellent mystery.
I look forward to reading more of this series.
February 25, 2021
Visit the locations in the novel
Recommended cosy mystery set in Durham. And Durham is a great setting for this book = mystery, history and plenty of cobbled streets.
August 8, 2021
As evinced by the length of time it took me to finish this book, I didn’t find it as entertaining as the earlier books in the series.
Some of this is down to the focus being on Kitt’s former assistant, Grace, who has always struck me as a bit tedious. I have no interest in her love life. Also, I have no idea why library school was portrayed in such an unrealistic and trivialising manner. We don’t learn to be Librarians in tiny little private institutions. Masters in LIS are taught at some of the biggest and best universities in the country. (Perspective: a decade as tenured faculty at one, and currently an examiner at another). I found it really irksome.
Of course, what really annoyed me was that only 4 books into this series the author is making up weird tangential reasons for Kitt and Grace to be involved in the investigation of a crime. I know it’s a trope from Miss Marple onwards, and a challenge for authors to justify how non-police lead characters get involved in investigations. But 4 books in? Just make Jodie an actual friend of Grace’s and Grace so upset she calls Kitt. None of this having Kitt hired as a private investigator (please - she’s a Subject Librarian, when would she have either the annual leave entitlement or the time?) hired by the rich boyfriend of the murdered woman (Jodie).
I really hope the next book in the series is back to focusing on Kitt. I’ve had enough of spoilt, head-in-the-clouds Grace.
3 stars. If you’re not a librarian you’re unlikely to be bothered by the Mickey Mouse Library school, and if you don’t mind spoiled little rich kids you won’t mind Grace’s new love Patrick, her awful friend Selina, or the whole Venerable Bede’s private university set up. You will still have to contend with spotting the obvious murderer from the start but having to wait till the end to know why and how they did it.
Some of this is down to the focus being on Kitt’s former assistant, Grace, who has always struck me as a bit tedious. I have no interest in her love life. Also, I have no idea why library school was portrayed in such an unrealistic and trivialising manner. We don’t learn to be Librarians in tiny little private institutions. Masters in LIS are taught at some of the biggest and best universities in the country. (Perspective: a decade as tenured faculty at one, and currently an examiner at another). I found it really irksome.
Of course, what really annoyed me was that only 4 books into this series the author is making up weird tangential reasons for Kitt and Grace to be involved in the investigation of a crime. I know it’s a trope from Miss Marple onwards, and a challenge for authors to justify how non-police lead characters get involved in investigations. But 4 books in? Just make Jodie an actual friend of Grace’s and Grace so upset she calls Kitt. None of this having Kitt hired as a private investigator (please - she’s a Subject Librarian, when would she have either the annual leave entitlement or the time?) hired by the rich boyfriend of the murdered woman (Jodie).
I really hope the next book in the series is back to focusing on Kitt. I’ve had enough of spoilt, head-in-the-clouds Grace.
3 stars. If you’re not a librarian you’re unlikely to be bothered by the Mickey Mouse Library school, and if you don’t mind spoiled little rich kids you won’t mind Grace’s new love Patrick, her awful friend Selina, or the whole Venerable Bede’s private university set up. You will still have to contend with spotting the obvious murderer from the start but having to wait till the end to know why and how they did it.
February 6, 2026
een van de leukere tot nu toe. gezapige zondag ochtend bbc feeling.
October 7, 2020
I am a reader from Sunderland and it was a pleasure to read, so familiar are all the areas set out in this book. That I often visit.
Grace Edwards and Kitt Hartley attend the Venerable Bede Vocational Academy in Durham, this is book four but I got straight into the story straight away.
Jodie Perkins was attacked and the attacker was never caught so who's next? after been ready to speak on the radio station, Jodie after a moment pause they never saw her again, no witnesses and no evidence nothing.
it's been now one whole year and now Kitt and Grace want their turn, Kitt was trained in private investigation and solving a cold case would definitely put her on the map.
Patrick Howard was engaged to Jodie so is the first one they set out to question.
is she dead or is she alive.
questions needed answers, so what can Kitt unfold in her investigation?
I found it so easy to get into this story, this is my first read by this author, the authors research is spot on, they set out and find lost of twists and it will grip you, with added humour, a fantastic read that has left me hungry to read more in The Hartley Yorkshire Mysteries.
LOVED IT.
Grace Edwards and Kitt Hartley attend the Venerable Bede Vocational Academy in Durham, this is book four but I got straight into the story straight away.
Jodie Perkins was attacked and the attacker was never caught so who's next? after been ready to speak on the radio station, Jodie after a moment pause they never saw her again, no witnesses and no evidence nothing.
it's been now one whole year and now Kitt and Grace want their turn, Kitt was trained in private investigation and solving a cold case would definitely put her on the map.
Patrick Howard was engaged to Jodie so is the first one they set out to question.
is she dead or is she alive.
questions needed answers, so what can Kitt unfold in her investigation?
I found it so easy to get into this story, this is my first read by this author, the authors research is spot on, they set out and find lost of twists and it will grip you, with added humour, a fantastic read that has left me hungry to read more in The Hartley Yorkshire Mysteries.
LOVED IT.
April 10, 2022
Getting more bizarre as the series progresses. Plausibility regarding police procedures is becoming decidedly suspect.
September 3, 2022
This book is an absolute masterpiece in my opinion, and the twists and turns are so unexpected and with the quantity of them,i couldn't put the book down and I finished it within 4days! This is the first book I've read by Helen Cox and I will certainly be buying the rest of her books!
June 5, 2025
Mainly an Easy read mystery murder with touches of romance. A little too modern day for me, both in language and setting, but I still enjoyed reading. I do have the other titles in the series and will definitely get back to them.
July 21, 2022
Would you believe it? I think I am getting to enjoy Kitt Hartley & co.
February 17, 2021
This is the fourth book in the Kitt Hartley series and I was again sent this by @quercusbooks to read and review. I enjoyed the first three as they were easy to read and a good crime thriller is always welcome! This one felt a bit less exciting than the previous ones, I also felt that the writing was different, it made me feel like everything was written as an explanation and it made it hard to get excited for. I also had an inkling who dunnit quite early on but was pleasantly surprised by the ending, it was well done. I am intrigued by the next book to see what happens in the next stage of the adventures! I love the characters too which always helps!
October 15, 2020
When librarian and budding private investigator Kitt Hartley visits her ex-assistant Grace Edwards in Durham, she soon learns of an unsolved murder. A year ago Jodie Perkins, a Mechanics student, disappeared after her student-radio broadcast was cut short with a deafening scream. The police suspect Jodie was murdered although her body was never found. Keen to be on the front line of one of Kitt's investigations, Grace convinces Kit to use her recent private investigator training to solve the mystery.
This is the fourth book in the series & is easily read on its own. As I live in Durham this was ideal for me as I could visualise the places & loved the author’s descriptions. Strong characters with depth added to my enjoyment. I have grown to really like Kitt. The story flowed very well, there were plenty of twists & turns that kept me guessing, I’m loving these cosy mysteries set in the North of England & eagerly await more
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
This is the fourth book in the series & is easily read on its own. As I live in Durham this was ideal for me as I could visualise the places & loved the author’s descriptions. Strong characters with depth added to my enjoyment. I have grown to really like Kitt. The story flowed very well, there were plenty of twists & turns that kept me guessing, I’m loving these cosy mysteries set in the North of England & eagerly await more
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
June 26, 2021
I'd not read anything by the author but was looking forward to reading a story set in beautiful Durham.
i found it fairly trite, it could have been set in any universiy town. Her (Kitt's) love interest seem to work in York, yet kept popping up to take over the case in Durham. Not believable.
It should have been exciting, but instead I felt it was unsatisfactory and trite. The reasons for the murders were so farcical and unbelievable, which is why I didn't spot the culprits.
The explanation at the end seemed very drawn out and plodding.
I wouldn't bother reading another story by the author.
BTW, a Geordie is someone from Tyneside, not Co Durham.
i found it fairly trite, it could have been set in any universiy town. Her (Kitt's) love interest seem to work in York, yet kept popping up to take over the case in Durham. Not believable.
It should have been exciting, but instead I felt it was unsatisfactory and trite. The reasons for the murders were so farcical and unbelievable, which is why I didn't spot the culprits.
The explanation at the end seemed very drawn out and plodding.
I wouldn't bother reading another story by the author.
BTW, a Geordie is someone from Tyneside, not Co Durham.
February 17, 2025
I bought this books as its title promised " Death awaits in Durham, where I live ( well, just outside Durham ) so I was hoping for Durham city to feature more prominently in this book. But it turned out to be a rather mediocre run of the mill mystery with a lot of one dimensional characters sadly. Couldn't warm to any of them, Durham University does feature but "Northumberland Airport " - really ? It could have been a lot better.
June 3, 2023
"Death Awaits In Durham" is book #4 in the "Kitt Harley Yorkshire Mysteries" by Helen Cox.
"When librarian and budding private investigator Kitt Hartley visits her ex-assistant Grace Edwards in Durham, she soon learns of an unsolved murder.
A year ago Jodie Perkins, a Mechanics student, disappeared after her student-radio broadcast was cut short with a deafening scream. The police suspect Jodie was murdered although her body was never found.
Keen to be on the front line of one of Kitt's investigations, Grace convinces Kit to use her recent private investigator training to solve the mystery. Can Kitt and Grace uncover the truth?"
My thoughts:
Things have changed a bit since the last book. Kitt has taken a PI course and only working part time at the library at the university in York. Grace is now attending a librarian course at a school in Durham.
Grace fills Kitt in on the mysterious disappearance of Jodie Perkins and convinces her that they should solve the case. Since it happened a year earlier, the odds of finding any clues is doubtful but Kitt agrees. The ensuing investigation takes several unexpected twists and turns before a shocking reveal and take down.
This story kept me turning the pages to see just how this all played out. It wasn't what I expected but it was well done.
The possibilities for future storylines with Kitt, Grace and other characters have me looking forward to continuing with this series!
"When librarian and budding private investigator Kitt Hartley visits her ex-assistant Grace Edwards in Durham, she soon learns of an unsolved murder.
A year ago Jodie Perkins, a Mechanics student, disappeared after her student-radio broadcast was cut short with a deafening scream. The police suspect Jodie was murdered although her body was never found.
Keen to be on the front line of one of Kitt's investigations, Grace convinces Kit to use her recent private investigator training to solve the mystery. Can Kitt and Grace uncover the truth?"
My thoughts:
Things have changed a bit since the last book. Kitt has taken a PI course and only working part time at the library at the university in York. Grace is now attending a librarian course at a school in Durham.
Grace fills Kitt in on the mysterious disappearance of Jodie Perkins and convinces her that they should solve the case. Since it happened a year earlier, the odds of finding any clues is doubtful but Kitt agrees. The ensuing investigation takes several unexpected twists and turns before a shocking reveal and take down.
This story kept me turning the pages to see just how this all played out. It wasn't what I expected but it was well done.
The possibilities for future storylines with Kitt, Grace and other characters have me looking forward to continuing with this series!
August 14, 2021
I would actually give this book 4.5 stars. It was so close to being absolutely brilliant! I just felt like the beginning was a little slow but that was the only thing that let it down for me.
The characterisation was brilliant and I'm so looking forward to seeing more of Kitt and Grace in future books. Mal was more on the sidelines in this book than the previous ones which but a slightly different slant on the way the story unfolded, which I enjoyed. We see Kitt really heading out to solve a mystery more or less on her own without police support in this book. I did miss Evie and Banks in this novel - I loved their developing relationship in the previous books, but hopefully this will come back into play in the next book.
It's an unsolved murder mystery without a body, so they cannot be sure that the victim is in fact dead. There are lots of twists and turns to follow and I gasped out loud a few times, unable to put it down as the story edged towards its conclusion. I stayed up late to finish it because I couldn't wait until the next day to find out how it ended.
This is the kind of book I love to read, that just sucks you in and makes you want to read more. I need to get the next book in this series because I want to read more about Kitt, Grace, Mal, Banks, and Evie.
The characterisation was brilliant and I'm so looking forward to seeing more of Kitt and Grace in future books. Mal was more on the sidelines in this book than the previous ones which but a slightly different slant on the way the story unfolded, which I enjoyed. We see Kitt really heading out to solve a mystery more or less on her own without police support in this book. I did miss Evie and Banks in this novel - I loved their developing relationship in the previous books, but hopefully this will come back into play in the next book.
It's an unsolved murder mystery without a body, so they cannot be sure that the victim is in fact dead. There are lots of twists and turns to follow and I gasped out loud a few times, unable to put it down as the story edged towards its conclusion. I stayed up late to finish it because I couldn't wait until the next day to find out how it ended.
This is the kind of book I love to read, that just sucks you in and makes you want to read more. I need to get the next book in this series because I want to read more about Kitt, Grace, Mal, Banks, and Evie.
February 12, 2024
In this fourth book of the series, the plot has taken a more grounded and realistic approach. The story revolves around Kitt, who has begun working as a private investigator, rather than conducting her own investigations as she did in the previous books. This change has made the plot more believable and has added a touch of authenticity to the story.
One of the highlights of the book is the development of Grace, Kitt's colleague, who has just enrolled at university. Grace has always been one of my favourite characters in the series, and I was pleased to see her being given a more prominent role. Her strong character and humour shone through.
The only downside to the book was that it was a bit predictable, and I managed to guess who might be involved fairly early on. I was hoping for a big twist that would surprise me, but unfortunately, it never came. That being said, the book was still an enjoyable read, and it's a cosy mystery that you can enjoy without putting too much thought into it.
Overall, I think this is a great addition to the series and a must for anyone who is a fan. However, I also feel that is a good idea that I take a break from the series for a while before some of the characters begin to become a bit repetitive and annoying.
One of the highlights of the book is the development of Grace, Kitt's colleague, who has just enrolled at university. Grace has always been one of my favourite characters in the series, and I was pleased to see her being given a more prominent role. Her strong character and humour shone through.
The only downside to the book was that it was a bit predictable, and I managed to guess who might be involved fairly early on. I was hoping for a big twist that would surprise me, but unfortunately, it never came. That being said, the book was still an enjoyable read, and it's a cosy mystery that you can enjoy without putting too much thought into it.
Overall, I think this is a great addition to the series and a must for anyone who is a fan. However, I also feel that is a good idea that I take a break from the series for a while before some of the characters begin to become a bit repetitive and annoying.
August 4, 2024
The fourth book in the Kitt Hartley Yorkshire Mystery series written by Helen Cox. This book is based in Durham. And this book is also only 328 pages round a medium sized book in my opinion. Kitt screams is the fist immersion we have to the book and the story that this book is going to unfold as we read further. Kitt finsiehd a qualification and is now a private investigator!! The book is going to cover the disappearance of Jodie a school girl up in Durham. Surely trying to abduct someone from someone else's house in chapter 19 is illegal in general. Holland being a detective investigator surely this goes against his entire job aspect of him being in the police on page 190.. A letter from Jodie raised on page 239-240 stating how selina is to blame and how she may have someone waiting to finish what she started all those years ago back in 2009. Page 288, Patrick who has been involved with the case of this book since the very beginning. Turns out his own mother was a conspiracy to double murder! Omg! The ending about taking anothet step and breath ag a time is very good as it shows that we as a society and individuals should focus on the precent and not the future which we have little control over
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2021
The death of the ‘cozy’ crime story has been predicted time and again, only for the genre to prove to be remarkably resilient. Books like those written by Helen Cox go a long way towards explaining its continued good health.
This latest outing for Kitt Hartley and her ebullient sidekick Grace is no exception, it shows everything that is best about a branch of crime writing that seldom gets the respect it deserves.
Her plotting is meticulous, and she creates the closed world her chosen form requires in a way that is entirely believable in its tensions and petty rivalries. Cox creates characters who are engaging and unburdened by the faux angst that has gone from reality to cliché over the past couple of decades. Best of all the whole thing is shot through with a strain of humour that is both clever and good natured.
Despite claims to the contrary by their detractors, so called ‘cozy’ crime stories, are notoriously difficult to write well. Helen Cox is one of the current practitioners who does so brilliantly, long may she and her creation continue to go down streets that are no less mean for having a tearoom at their end.
This latest outing for Kitt Hartley and her ebullient sidekick Grace is no exception, it shows everything that is best about a branch of crime writing that seldom gets the respect it deserves.
Her plotting is meticulous, and she creates the closed world her chosen form requires in a way that is entirely believable in its tensions and petty rivalries. Cox creates characters who are engaging and unburdened by the faux angst that has gone from reality to cliché over the past couple of decades. Best of all the whole thing is shot through with a strain of humour that is both clever and good natured.
Despite claims to the contrary by their detractors, so called ‘cozy’ crime stories, are notoriously difficult to write well. Helen Cox is one of the current practitioners who does so brilliantly, long may she and her creation continue to go down streets that are no less mean for having a tearoom at their end.
June 28, 2025
Seep-krimka-naistekas, kus uurijaiks on kaks noort naist. Tundub, et sattusin mingi sarja keskele, kuid see pole väga oluline. Lihtsalt vahel on vihjeid paarile ebaolulisele seigale eelmistest kordadest. Inglisekeelseid toortõlkeid on häirivalt palju.
Kuigi üks peaosalistest küsib enamasti õigeid küsimusi ja loob seoseid, siis sellega paralleelselt käib suur tundlemine ning uurimises argumentidena võetakse kasutusele dramaatilised ohkamised stiilis "kas sa tõesti usud, et ta on selleks võimeline". Tahaks autorilt küsida, kas ta tõesti usub, et see on adekvaatne ratsionaalne argument? Autor võtab tihti aega maha ja aitab lugeja pika heietusega kahe peategelase vahel nö järje peale. Kohmakas kirjastiil.
Täiesti asjassepuutumatu seik, aga üks asi, mis selle teose vanaks teeb - keegi mammi teeb siin Skype kõne.
Osa minu isiklikust Delfi Tasku juuni kuu heliraamatute väljakutsest, mis pärit Digiread.ee-st.
Kuigi üks peaosalistest küsib enamasti õigeid küsimusi ja loob seoseid, siis sellega paralleelselt käib suur tundlemine ning uurimises argumentidena võetakse kasutusele dramaatilised ohkamised stiilis "kas sa tõesti usud, et ta on selleks võimeline". Tahaks autorilt küsida, kas ta tõesti usub, et see on adekvaatne ratsionaalne argument? Autor võtab tihti aega maha ja aitab lugeja pika heietusega kahe peategelase vahel nö järje peale. Kohmakas kirjastiil.
Täiesti asjassepuutumatu seik, aga üks asi, mis selle teose vanaks teeb - keegi mammi teeb siin Skype kõne.
Osa minu isiklikust Delfi Tasku juuni kuu heliraamatute väljakutsest, mis pärit Digiread.ee-st.
September 6, 2025
I have to say I found this book such hard going that in the end I resorted to skip reading just to find out what happened. Librarian and amateur detective Kitt Hartley is visiting a young friend Grace, a student at a university in Durham. When Grace tells her about Jodie Perkins, another student who disappeared a year ago, Kitt agrees to investigate. The book is full of unnatural sounding conversations and improbable visits to potential witnesses. The local police don’t seem particularly bothered by Kitt and her boyfriend ( who just happens to be a police officer based in York ! ) investigating on their patch - I would think very unlikely in real life.
I don’t think this series is for me.
I don’t think this series is for me.
October 28, 2025
A librarian turned private investigator teams up with her former assistant to solve the mystery of a disappearing student in Durham. Plot twists are pretty interesting, although I might have liked more action. This is the first book from Helen Cox that I chanced upon at my college library, in Durham no less. It reminds me of LJ Ross' DCI Ryan series where a team of CID investigators go around busting crimes happening in various locations in Northumbria. Only for Cox this is taken over by non police (with a bit of help from a police officer boyfriend). Also unlike Ross' style of showing snippets of the criminal in thought and deed, for Cox's the perspective stays solely on Hartley and Edwards. Worth a read if you like detective fiction.
October 18, 2020
I received an ARC copy of this via NetGalley and Quercus in return for an unbiased review. I’d previously only read the third book in the series, and that had had a fairly preposterous plot where the victim leaves a cryptic code that Kitt just happens to be able to solve, leading to a Da Vinci type plot across the moors. Thankfully this book was more plausible and so more enjoyable. Kitt has since done some private eye training and agrees to help Grace investigate the disappearance of a young woman at the college where Grace has started studying. There are still a few moments of “suspend belief”, but overall a much better and more plausible book.
May 17, 2024
This is another instalment in the Kitt Hartley cosy crime series, and moves slightly further north to Durham, where Kitt's assistant, Grace, has just started a librarian's degree course, but she is soon side-tracked by a cold case - the disappearance the previous year of another young student Jodie, whose last known contact with the world was a phone call to a local radio station claiming that she knew something which could bring down people at the university, but when she called back later, the call was cut off abruptly, and there's been no trace of her since then. Her distraught fiance is still desperate to know what's happened to her, so Kitt and Grace take on the case. When someone from the university is found murdered, Kitt's boyfriend, DI Mal Halloran is brought in, but for the most part he takes a back seat. It was an OK read, not the best of the books in the series that I've read, but passed the time and was an easy read. 6.5/10
October 15, 2020
I love this series and I was happy to meet again Kit and the cast of characters.
I missed Evie and the York setting but I thoroughly enjoyed the story, full of twists and turns, that kept me hooked.
The plot is tightly knitted and the solid mystery kept me guessing till the end with an unexpected solution.
I liked the humour and I liked the characters even if Grace is not amongst my favorite.
It's a highly entertaining and fun read that made me smile.
It's recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I missed Evie and the York setting but I thoroughly enjoyed the story, full of twists and turns, that kept me hooked.
The plot is tightly knitted and the solid mystery kept me guessing till the end with an unexpected solution.
I liked the humour and I liked the characters even if Grace is not amongst my favorite.
It's a highly entertaining and fun read that made me smile.
It's recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
March 6, 2021
A very compulsive read.
I read this in almost a single sitting.
I enjoyed the earlier titles in the series and this did not disappoint.
Kitt and Grace are an endearing pair, with mostly well drawn support characters.
The settings are well described.
The hunt for Jodie and the ensuing red herrings were full of surprises and excitement.
The author writes in a style I appreciate with the bonus of not relying on either bad language or gore.
A calm, relaxing, (mostly!) read. Looking forward to the next title.
I read this in almost a single sitting.
I enjoyed the earlier titles in the series and this did not disappoint.
Kitt and Grace are an endearing pair, with mostly well drawn support characters.
The settings are well described.
The hunt for Jodie and the ensuing red herrings were full of surprises and excitement.
The author writes in a style I appreciate with the bonus of not relying on either bad language or gore.
A calm, relaxing, (mostly!) read. Looking forward to the next title.
March 28, 2024
A rather ordinary cosy crime mystery. Librarian and part-time private investigator, Kitt Hartley, is visiting a friend in Durham when she learns of a missing/murdered university student. She and her friend decide to investigate and are soon hired by the mother of the missing girl’s boyfriend, who wants to help him get over his loss. Although the plot is full of red herrings it's not exactly gripping and I'd describe this as “a gentle, before-you-go-to-sleep read”.
Review by Norfolk Gal, Oundle Crime
Review by Norfolk Gal, Oundle Crime
February 17, 2021
I loved this book!
I hadn't read any books by Helen before but she had been recommended to me a few times, and it didn't disappoint. I really enjoyed her style of writing and the fact it was the 4th book in the series didn't matter. It was a great stand alone book but the rest are on my to read list now for sure.
It was really enjoyable mystery book with some great twists but a well flowing story and a joy to read!
I hadn't read any books by Helen before but she had been recommended to me a few times, and it didn't disappoint. I really enjoyed her style of writing and the fact it was the 4th book in the series didn't matter. It was a great stand alone book but the rest are on my to read list now for sure.
It was really enjoyable mystery book with some great twists but a well flowing story and a joy to read!
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