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Honeychurch Hall Mystery #7
Le chant du cygne
Spring is in the air ... and so, too, is the sound of music as the residents of Honeychurch Hall are stunned to learn that the Dowager Countess Lady Edith Honeychurch has agreed to the staging of a production of The Merry Widow in the dilapidated grand ballroom.
Fears that the fiercely private octogenarian must be going senile are soon dismissed when our heroine, Kat Stanford, learns that the favour is a result of a desperate request from Countess Olga Golodkin. As one of Edith's oldest friends Olga is the director of the amateur Devon Operatic Dramatic Organization.
Just a week before, D.O.D.O's original venue was destroyed in a mysterious fire but since tickets have been sold, costumes made and lucrative local sponsorships secured, Olga is determined that the show must go on. After decades at the helm of D.O.D.O., The Merry Widow will be Olga's swansong and she wants to go out with a bang . . .
Fears that the fiercely private octogenarian must be going senile are soon dismissed when our heroine, Kat Stanford, learns that the favour is a result of a desperate request from Countess Olga Golodkin. As one of Edith's oldest friends Olga is the director of the amateur Devon Operatic Dramatic Organization.
Just a week before, D.O.D.O's original venue was destroyed in a mysterious fire but since tickets have been sold, costumes made and lucrative local sponsorships secured, Olga is determined that the show must go on. After decades at the helm of D.O.D.O., The Merry Widow will be Olga's swansong and she wants to go out with a bang . . .
320 pages, ebook
First published November 5, 2020
23 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
Hannah Dennison
43 books508 followersBritish 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 22, 2022
Irritating nonsense! The main character made me grind my teeth in frustration.
August 6, 2022
It was my first time reading one of these books. I borrowed this from my local library, thought it might be a good choice for my book club's theme of humorous crime novels. I'm a big fan of cosy crime, and someone suggested these books to me.
I did find it very funny and entertaining, and it was a very light, easy read. The mother and daughter relationship made me think of characters in a sitcom, and the story did seem a little far-fetched at times, but that was what I expected.
I have another one of these books that I checked out from the library too, so I look forward to reading that.
I did find it very funny and entertaining, and it was a very light, easy read. The mother and daughter relationship made me think of characters in a sitcom, and the story did seem a little far-fetched at times, but that was what I expected.
I have another one of these books that I checked out from the library too, so I look forward to reading that.
April 21, 2022
A quick, entertaining read. The mother/daughter relationship, interaction, and dialogue were quick-witted, but I thought: how many mothers and daughters would speak to each other like that? Then there are boyfriend/girlfriend issues popping up...does he want her? Does she want him? And all resolved with a few red herrings thrown in for good measure. This is the type of murder mystery that might show up on W Network, if they made it into a movie, starring Candace Cameron Bure.
January 2, 2022
Death of a Diva at Honeychurch Hall is the latest installment of one of my favorite cozy series. Hannah Dennison writes with great humor and affection of country house life, and-- as much as I enjoy the mysteries, the humor, and the camaraderie-- I always find myself learning something when I read about Kat Stanford's latest adventure. In Death of a Diva, I learned some interesting facts about opera, horseshoe bats, and the Spanish Armada and Agatha Christie's Greenway House.
There are relationship woes aplenty. Kat's relationship with the local detective inspector has hit a stretch of bumpy road, and her mother's beau has dumped her for the opera star coming to sing at the Hall.
One of the reasons why I like the lighthearted humor of this series so much is that readers are often "in the know" about what's going on, and we get to anticipate and appreciate the characters' reactions. But we're also treated to how people deal with life in an ancient building with very low beams. (If I ever relocate to the UK, it's Georgian all the way for me. Tall ceilings, tall doors, tall windows. I refuse to be under constant threat of concussion in my own home.)
I think it's time that I come clean about something. Kat's mother drives me nuts. Others probably find her hilarious, but I've found that a little of this woman goes a long way. She's a bestselling author of bodice-ripping romances, but she keeps her identity secret. (Now I like this bit because it's fun to watch her trying to dodge discovery.) Fittingly, she writes in a converted piggery. Why fittingly? Because she "suffered from migraines" for years, leaving her husband and daughter tiptoeing about the house in fear of her health, all so she could write. Then... she's squirreled away all her money in secret, tax-evading accounts on faraway islands. It's all about her, all the time. If there's a diva in this book-- make that this series-- it's Kat's mother. (Now that I've vented my spleen, I do have to admit that this is one well-written character to get such a strong reaction from me!)
Now that I've survived That Woman yet again, I have to smile because I have the next book in the series waiting for me. I always look forward to seeing what mystery Kat has to solve... and I can always hope that her selfish mother finally gets her comeuppance. Well, I can, can't I?
There are relationship woes aplenty. Kat's relationship with the local detective inspector has hit a stretch of bumpy road, and her mother's beau has dumped her for the opera star coming to sing at the Hall.
One of the reasons why I like the lighthearted humor of this series so much is that readers are often "in the know" about what's going on, and we get to anticipate and appreciate the characters' reactions. But we're also treated to how people deal with life in an ancient building with very low beams. (If I ever relocate to the UK, it's Georgian all the way for me. Tall ceilings, tall doors, tall windows. I refuse to be under constant threat of concussion in my own home.)
I think it's time that I come clean about something. Kat's mother drives me nuts. Others probably find her hilarious, but I've found that a little of this woman goes a long way. She's a bestselling author of bodice-ripping romances, but she keeps her identity secret. (Now I like this bit because it's fun to watch her trying to dodge discovery.) Fittingly, she writes in a converted piggery. Why fittingly? Because she "suffered from migraines" for years, leaving her husband and daughter tiptoeing about the house in fear of her health, all so she could write. Then... she's squirreled away all her money in secret, tax-evading accounts on faraway islands. It's all about her, all the time. If there's a diva in this book-- make that this series-- it's Kat's mother. (Now that I've vented my spleen, I do have to admit that this is one well-written character to get such a strong reaction from me!)
Now that I've survived That Woman yet again, I have to smile because I have the next book in the series waiting for me. I always look forward to seeing what mystery Kat has to solve... and I can always hope that her selfish mother finally gets her comeuppance. Well, I can, can't I?
February 17, 2021
Great fun with enough misdirection to keep the final reveal a surprise. Poison, secret novelists, Russian dolls, bootleg gin, mountain climbing, and opera are but a few of the plot twists in this book, and that doesn't include Iris's interesting forays down Google rabbit holes.
Romance doesn't run smoothly in the country around Honeychurch Hall and the occasional dead bodies don't help. We see more of Lady Edith in this book and she isn't anyone you want to mess with, though she does reveal some interesting facts from her past, including her take on marriage, that make her more approachable as a person.
Can't wait to read what happens in the next Honeychurch Hall book. There will be one, right?
Romance doesn't run smoothly in the country around Honeychurch Hall and the occasional dead bodies don't help. We see more of Lady Edith in this book and she isn't anyone you want to mess with, though she does reveal some interesting facts from her past, including her take on marriage, that make her more approachable as a person.
I glanced over at Edith. She really was an extraordinary woman.
'When you get to my age you discover that love affairs can be so tiresome, but you're still young.'
Can't wait to read what happens in the next Honeychurch Hall book. There will be one, right?
November 15, 2020
Another wonderful Honeychurch tale
There are plenty of mysteries to solve, but this time out things are a bit less dark and the focus is more on romantic entanglements. It is great to see the ball move forward- for good and bad- in Shawn and Kat's relationship. Another strong entry in a wonderful series. Can't wait for the next one!
There are plenty of mysteries to solve, but this time out things are a bit less dark and the focus is more on romantic entanglements. It is great to see the ball move forward- for good and bad- in Shawn and Kat's relationship. Another strong entry in a wonderful series. Can't wait for the next one!
February 14, 2021
I always enjoy the Honeychruch Hall mysteries. However, I must say that Kat and her mom can be annoying in their habit of hiding information that, ultimately, helps no one.
November 25, 2025
This is the best one yet!
I was raised in the arts, music and history. I do have talent, but I'm stuck in football Nebraska. I looked up Dartmouth and Devonshire. There are Norman churches in the area named St Mary's. Sorry, I am a Steerage, Tourist Third Class working man. I like trains and ocean lines. I was also in the Navy. Not planning any trips to England. I'm too Slavic. I have Czech Easter eggs, but no nesting dolls. Shh! My Dad was adopted by a Czech couple. He's actually Russian and a little German. Not planning on a trip to Europe. I'm from Omaha and only live 60 miles from Kansas. "Toto, there's no place like home and a good book! Bravo!
I was raised in the arts, music and history. I do have talent, but I'm stuck in football Nebraska. I looked up Dartmouth and Devonshire. There are Norman churches in the area named St Mary's. Sorry, I am a Steerage, Tourist Third Class working man. I like trains and ocean lines. I was also in the Navy. Not planning any trips to England. I'm too Slavic. I have Czech Easter eggs, but no nesting dolls. Shh! My Dad was adopted by a Czech couple. He's actually Russian and a little German. Not planning on a trip to Europe. I'm from Omaha and only live 60 miles from Kansas. "Toto, there's no place like home and a good book! Bravo!
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August 22, 2022Once again, a random choice based on the title and the cover that I picked up at the library. It’s the seventh in a series, but I was still able to follow it as the author had filled in sufficient back story to make that possible. The interchanges between Kat and her mother are possibly the most amusing. I would have liked to have known more about her relationship with Shawn, which of course I would have done if I had read the previous book. The story had the feel of a rather frantic French farce.
March 31, 2023
Qu’est ce que j’aime cette saga ! Quand j’ai une petite baisse de moral, je me tourne toujours vers Honeychurch et ses habitants.
Cette fois-ci Honeychurch accueille un opéra, et certains locataires d’antan font leur retour.
Comme souvent, les morts s’enchaînent et Kat va essayer de démêler tout ça, en jonglant entre sa mère et son petit-ami.
J’ai beaucoup aimé ce tome, même si l’enquête n’était pas évidente à suivre.
Et la grande question : quel avenir pour Kat et Shawn alors que celui-ci part s’installer à Londres ?
Vivement le tome 8 !
Cette fois-ci Honeychurch accueille un opéra, et certains locataires d’antan font leur retour.
Comme souvent, les morts s’enchaînent et Kat va essayer de démêler tout ça, en jonglant entre sa mère et son petit-ami.
J’ai beaucoup aimé ce tome, même si l’enquête n’était pas évidente à suivre.
Et la grande question : quel avenir pour Kat et Shawn alors que celui-ci part s’installer à Londres ?
Vivement le tome 8 !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2024
A cozy murder mystery that uses the backdrop of a Devon countryside noble family with its caricatured characters, seemingly for a series of rocambolesque stories. In this one an opera is planned to be played in the manor after an unfortunate fire has taken the previous stage, and all the characters flock to the scene with their hidden agendas and miscommunicated truths and secrets.
Not very credible, not very deep, the suspense certainly doesn’t keep you on the edge of your seat. But an easy summertime read. I don’t think it has the prétentions to be more than that…
Not very credible, not very deep, the suspense certainly doesn’t keep you on the edge of your seat. But an easy summertime read. I don’t think it has the prétentions to be more than that…
March 24, 2023
2.5 stars rounded down for just how annoying Iris has become. She was a hard character to keep going the way she has, but she shows no change whatsoever. This time the mystery looked obvious and Kat does nothing but dither over the idiot Shawn (he's useless Kat, walk away). I did like Edith's involvement but I'd have rather followed her in the first place. I would've stopped reading this series after this book if there wasn't just one more book to it.
December 23, 2020
Fast and Furious Adventure
Hannah Dennison has created a story that is a whirlwind of “who done it“ which will keep you spinning until the final page. Poor Kat, the main character, doesn’t seem to know if she’s coming or going but she keeps barreling on trying to determine who’s the murderer and why.
Hannah Dennison has created a story that is a whirlwind of “who done it“ which will keep you spinning until the final page. Poor Kat, the main character, doesn’t seem to know if she’s coming or going but she keeps barreling on trying to determine who’s the murderer and why.
May 14, 2021
I love the Honeychurch Hall series. One of the greatest opera stars comes back to town. All kinds of strange things start to happen. Fires, poisonings, deaths, car accidents and Russian nesting dolls.
August 23, 2020
Very good hard to put down
February 8, 2021
A good cozy mystery book set in an english manor and part of a series
July 10, 2021
I love escaping to Honeychurch Hall, can't wait for the next one!
November 25, 2021
Enjoyable
Not the best in the series . But still an issue enjoyable read. Same characters and silly( in a good way) situations they get themselves into.
Not the best in the series . But still an issue enjoyable read. Same characters and silly( in a good way) situations they get themselves into.
January 4, 2022
Very entertaining.
January 17, 2022
The seventh Honeychurch Hall mystery is another cozy village thrillers seasoned with antiques and romance.
February 12, 2022
Good book
July 3, 2022
The best yet in the series!
September 7, 2022
Kat and Sean remind me of Bridget and Mark. This series is hysterical and always delivers.
February 21, 2023
A fun series.
June 17, 2023
This a a fun and quick read. Worth taking the time over. I enjoyed it so much I have the next one lined up and ready to go!
September 9, 2023
Enjoyable quick read- harmless fun! Good if you’re on your hols!
March 14, 2024
Une chanteuse lyrique originaire de la région revient pour un concert dans la salle de bal de honeychurch. De vieilles histoires remontent à la surface....et évolution de la relation de Kat et Shawn.
April 21, 2024
Fun read. On to the next in the series.
August 5, 2024
I just couldn't get into this one. I'm getting tired of Kat and Shawn's roller coaster relationship.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews