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Honeychurch Hall Mystery #9
Un Noël mortel: Les mystères de Honeychurch T8
Les fêtes de Noël qui approchent à Honeychurch sentent un peu le sapin. Le majordome a été assassiné quelques mois plus tôt et le cuisinier vient de prendre sa retraite. Lady Lavinia n'a pas le choix : elle doit trouver du sang neuf pour s'occuper du domaine en cette période festive. La comtesse recrute un jeune couple dynamique. Un peu trop. À contrecoeur, elle accepte de les laisser organiser un grand gala de Noël et une vente aux enchères avec une célébrité en invité d'honneur. Mais, imposer autant de nouveautés, voilà qui ne plaît pas à tout le monde. Et quand un premier cadavre est découvert, puis un second et qu'un objet de valeur est dérobé, tout part en vrille ! Kat Stanford, l'ancienne présentatrice télé reconvertie en détective amateur, n'a pas une minute à perdre pour démasquer le coupable et sauver Noël...
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 10, 2022
29 people are currently reading
184 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 60 reviews
December 26, 2022
This was an OK book! It took a WHILE before something actually happened (like - 100 pages) so I had some trouble really getting into the story. The last 200-ish pages were pretty good tho!
November 17, 2022
In A Killer Christmas At Honeychurch Hall by Hanna Dennison, Kat is having a rather stressful holiday season. Her Emerald Barbie is stolen, her mother’s secret is about to be exposed, and she becomes embroiled in a couple of murders.
The protagonist, Kat, is a likable character and you can’t help but love her mother who never gets too excited about anything. I was not a fan of Kat’s boyfriend, Shawn; he needs to grow up and quit being so rigid in his opinions. Mallory, a local cop, has great chemistry with Kat, and I hope the author explores that coupling in future books.
In some ways, the plot reminded me of an Agatha Christie mystery, just modernized. The author was able to keep the reader on their toes as they tried to put the pieces of the mysteries together. The authors writing style is an easy flow that keeps the reader reading long past bedtime.
Overall, this book had great characters, an intriguing plot with surprises along the way, and a wonderful wrap up.
Even though this is the first book in the Honeychurch Hall Mysteries that I have read, I was able to follow the events and characters in this book quite easily. I enjoyed it so much, I’m going back to read the rest of the series.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are
my own.
The protagonist, Kat, is a likable character and you can’t help but love her mother who never gets too excited about anything. I was not a fan of Kat’s boyfriend, Shawn; he needs to grow up and quit being so rigid in his opinions. Mallory, a local cop, has great chemistry with Kat, and I hope the author explores that coupling in future books.
In some ways, the plot reminded me of an Agatha Christie mystery, just modernized. The author was able to keep the reader on their toes as they tried to put the pieces of the mysteries together. The authors writing style is an easy flow that keeps the reader reading long past bedtime.
Overall, this book had great characters, an intriguing plot with surprises along the way, and a wonderful wrap up.
Even though this is the first book in the Honeychurch Hall Mysteries that I have read, I was able to follow the events and characters in this book quite easily. I enjoyed it so much, I’m going back to read the rest of the series.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are
my own.
November 28, 2022
We are back at to Honeychurch Hall
located outside of Little Dipperton Devon.
A Christmas Gala is being planned at
which time there will be an auction.
The biggest attraction for this is an
Emerald Barbie, one of the original Barbie
dolls from 1959. The doll was donated by
Cathie White a TV celebrity. It has been
reported to be worth thousands of pounds.
Then the guest of honor is a a mystery celebrity.
You will meet many vivid, well-described,
feisty, colorful and zany characters. Each
character seems to have their own
agendas. There are more twists and
turns peaking the readers interest plus
a lot of humor amongst this historical setting.
There are two murders. Are they related?
Plus there is theft, anonymous gifts laced
with arsenic, the chance of a writers real
identify becoming known, car accidents,
donkeys along with orange eyebrows to
entertain the reader.
This is the ninth book in the Honeychurch
Hall Mystery series. The book can be read
as a stand alone.
I volunteered to read this book. Thanks to the author
via Cozy Mystery Review for the opportunity to read.
My opinion is my voluntary and my own.
located outside of Little Dipperton Devon.
A Christmas Gala is being planned at
which time there will be an auction.
The biggest attraction for this is an
Emerald Barbie, one of the original Barbie
dolls from 1959. The doll was donated by
Cathie White a TV celebrity. It has been
reported to be worth thousands of pounds.
Then the guest of honor is a a mystery celebrity.
You will meet many vivid, well-described,
feisty, colorful and zany characters. Each
character seems to have their own
agendas. There are more twists and
turns peaking the readers interest plus
a lot of humor amongst this historical setting.
There are two murders. Are they related?
Plus there is theft, anonymous gifts laced
with arsenic, the chance of a writers real
identify becoming known, car accidents,
donkeys along with orange eyebrows to
entertain the reader.
This is the ninth book in the Honeychurch
Hall Mystery series. The book can be read
as a stand alone.
I volunteered to read this book. Thanks to the author
via Cozy Mystery Review for the opportunity to read.
My opinion is my voluntary and my own.
August 2, 2024
A very enjoyable series.
December 16, 2022
It hasn't been all that long since I read one of Hannah Dennison's Honeychurch Hall mysteries, but I couldn't resist this holiday-themed one. A Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall certainly sated my appetite for some festive mayhem.
There's a lot going on in this fast-paced little jewel. Kat's romance with Shawn is more off than on. The detective inspector who replaced him is still handsome and still smashing his head on those low beams in local homes and pubs. The Dowager Countess is showing signs of senility, and it looks as though Kat's mother Iris may finally be unmasked as bestselling bodice-ripper novelist Krystalle Storm. In addition, the double threat of the stolen Barbie doll and a killer on the loose is enough to satisfy any armchair sleuth. There were elements of both that made me feel superior in my deductive powers, but there was still more than enough to keep my little grey cells happy.
Once again, I love how Dennison weaves in information about antiques and country house life. In this installment, readers learn tidbits about Barbie dolls, Scheele's Green, and champagne coupes as well as how the owners of these large old English estates are trying to make ends meet. Converting outbuildings into Airbnbs and glamping (a term that really makes me grind my teeth) seem to be the two most popular alternatives to keep the wolves from the doors of these old houses.
The icing on the cake of A Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall (as well as the entire series) is the humor. From the locations of the dead bodies-- the stumpery and the ha-ha-- to "All it took was a little prick," and all points in between, I was either smiling or laughing through the entire book. By the way, don't worry-- you will find out what a stumpery and a ha-ha are.
If you're in the mood for some lighthearted, intelligent fun, then I wholeheartedly recommend Hannah Dennison's Honeychurch Hall series. I've been a fan since the very first book.
There's a lot going on in this fast-paced little jewel. Kat's romance with Shawn is more off than on. The detective inspector who replaced him is still handsome and still smashing his head on those low beams in local homes and pubs. The Dowager Countess is showing signs of senility, and it looks as though Kat's mother Iris may finally be unmasked as bestselling bodice-ripper novelist Krystalle Storm. In addition, the double threat of the stolen Barbie doll and a killer on the loose is enough to satisfy any armchair sleuth. There were elements of both that made me feel superior in my deductive powers, but there was still more than enough to keep my little grey cells happy.
Once again, I love how Dennison weaves in information about antiques and country house life. In this installment, readers learn tidbits about Barbie dolls, Scheele's Green, and champagne coupes as well as how the owners of these large old English estates are trying to make ends meet. Converting outbuildings into Airbnbs and glamping (a term that really makes me grind my teeth) seem to be the two most popular alternatives to keep the wolves from the doors of these old houses.
The icing on the cake of A Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall (as well as the entire series) is the humor. From the locations of the dead bodies-- the stumpery and the ha-ha-- to "All it took was a little prick," and all points in between, I was either smiling or laughing through the entire book. By the way, don't worry-- you will find out what a stumpery and a ha-ha are.
If you're in the mood for some lighthearted, intelligent fun, then I wholeheartedly recommend Hannah Dennison's Honeychurch Hall series. I've been a fan since the very first book.
November 26, 2022
A Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall is the ninth book in the Honeychurch Hall Mysteries series by Hannah Dennison, but for those looking for a holiday novel to get you in the holiday spirit - look no further.
A Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall is packed with mystery from beginning to end. It all starts with a doll that goes missing. It's been stolen, but by whom? It's a pricey item that was intended for silent auction, but now? Said auction is in danger of not happening. Kat it would seem has more trouble looming and it's coming in a variety of forms. Can she solve these mysteries and save the holidays?
A Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall can be read as a stand-alone novel, but just understand that the relationships between the characters are well established by now. First, things kick off with a rare Barbie doll being stolen. Who took the doll? Was it for the doll itself? Or the beautiful emerald that the doll holds? Things only get more complex when a visitor to the town winds up dead. Accident or insidious murder? But there's more! LOL! It just doesn't stop and you're going to love every second of it.
I appreciate the various dynamics the author creates in this book. The characters come off as true to life and keep you engaged in their stories. I can't help but see "red flags" for Kat when it comes to her relationship with Shawn. I empathize with her when she tries to interject some humor into her conversations with him, but he always wants to get offended. Is it because he's overworked or something else?
The author lays out both red herrings and real clues as to what to expect next. I like that the author keeps me on my toes as to who is doing all the naughty deeds in this story. I kept thinking that one particular character was going to be the victim or the killer and it goes in a different direction. This book is a delightful read and sure to get you in the mood for the holidays.
I'm rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
A Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall is packed with mystery from beginning to end. It all starts with a doll that goes missing. It's been stolen, but by whom? It's a pricey item that was intended for silent auction, but now? Said auction is in danger of not happening. Kat it would seem has more trouble looming and it's coming in a variety of forms. Can she solve these mysteries and save the holidays?
A Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall can be read as a stand-alone novel, but just understand that the relationships between the characters are well established by now. First, things kick off with a rare Barbie doll being stolen. Who took the doll? Was it for the doll itself? Or the beautiful emerald that the doll holds? Things only get more complex when a visitor to the town winds up dead. Accident or insidious murder? But there's more! LOL! It just doesn't stop and you're going to love every second of it.
I appreciate the various dynamics the author creates in this book. The characters come off as true to life and keep you engaged in their stories. I can't help but see "red flags" for Kat when it comes to her relationship with Shawn. I empathize with her when she tries to interject some humor into her conversations with him, but he always wants to get offended. Is it because he's overworked or something else?
The author lays out both red herrings and real clues as to what to expect next. I like that the author keeps me on my toes as to who is doing all the naughty deeds in this story. I kept thinking that one particular character was going to be the victim or the killer and it goes in a different direction. This book is a delightful read and sure to get you in the mood for the holidays.
I'm rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
November 16, 2022
The Honeychurch gala is fast approaching and Kat has her hand full. Nothing is going right! There is a murder or two, the theft of a very valuable doll and personal problems galore. I felt so sorry for her. This isn't what she expected . I was shocked at the length Harriet Bone, a dangerous stalker, would go to in her quest to out the romance writer, Krystalle Storm. Poor Kat! She can't catch a break. She promised to take care of her mother but this is a bit much. Her romance with Sean isn't going well either. He put conditions on their future. Kat is hurt. I understand how she felt. This isn't your typical English country Christmas! Thank goodness that Kat is resourceful. She is an intelligent and observant woman. She will follow the clues to find the truth. I hope she won't be the next victim. This killer is leaving no loose ends. Hannah Dennison has written a suspenseful mystery that combined multiple stories to keep me guessing as to who done it. The characters are well written and colorful. The setting is perfect and the dialogue sparkles. I'm looking forward to reading more Honeychurch Hall stories.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.
November 29, 2022
This was a highly enjoyable English village cozy mystery with a complicated plot. Kat is an antiques dealer who previously gained celebrity on tv. Her work is at first complicated by the theft of a very special Barbie doll with a real emerald which was to be auctioned off in a gala fundraiser event. But well before the theft can be investigated Kat’s hectic life has her dealing with an eccentric dowager countess, her secret bestselling romance novelist mother, anc a vacationing woman with a litany of personal complaints. The missing doll is eclipsed by Kat’s discovery of the dead visitor, who may well have been looking to expose her mother’s big secret.
This is an engaging tale with multiple mysteries threaded through. Readers may guess part of the mysteries, but the intricate plotting will still surprise them. This was my first experience reading a book in the Honeychurch Hall series. It reads as a stand-alone very well, save for the puzzling relationship between Kat and her policeman boyfriend Shawn, which seemed to have no reason for being. That apparently needs context from previous books. But overall, this one is a pleasant read and it seems catching up on more books may be in order.
This is an engaging tale with multiple mysteries threaded through. Readers may guess part of the mysteries, but the intricate plotting will still surprise them. This was my first experience reading a book in the Honeychurch Hall series. It reads as a stand-alone very well, save for the puzzling relationship between Kat and her policeman boyfriend Shawn, which seemed to have no reason for being. That apparently needs context from previous books. But overall, this one is a pleasant read and it seems catching up on more books may be in order.
December 13, 2022
Christmasy, and a developing love triangle.
November 28, 2022
This is the second book I have read in the Honeychurch Hall series. This one is set at Christmastime. Kat is having some stress this holiday season. First an Emerald Barbie on loan to her for display at her shop at the emporium has been stolen. Emerald Barbie is set to auctioned off at the Gala that is set at Honeychurch Hall. Second, Krystalle Storms identity is about to be revealed by a crazed fan who ends up murderd. On top of all this, Shawn decides he wants a break until Kat comes clean about her mother. This was a well written book, that once I started, I did not want to put down. There was a lot going on in this one that kept my attention. The Christmas setting was great with the descriptions of the decorations. The reveal in this one happened rather quickly and was not what I expected. I kind of had the mystery figured out, but not why. I will definitely read more in this series.
December 11, 2022
Loved this latest visit to Little Dipperton! A+
September 22, 2022
This is the latest book in the Honeychurch Hall series. I have not read any in the series, and I think this was probably a disadvantage. There are many characters and I had a hard time keeping everyone straight. The writing style seemed very erratic and the characters were not likable. A tax dodging mother, an overbearing and judgmental boyfriend, suspecting a “close” friend of stealing from you. I couldn’t warm up to the characters and found the whole plot too far fetched. Perhaps it’s all tongue in cheek and I was not reading with the spirit intended, but I’ll not pursue the rest of the series.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this advance copy.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this advance copy.
November 1, 2022
I haven't read all the Honeychurch Hall books but I thoroughly enjoyed a Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall. Kat's Holiday Season is off to a rocky start following a theft in her collectibles booth and murder swiftly follows. Now Kat must find the killer before something else terrible happens.
I really enjoy the recurring characters and seeing how things at the Hall have changed throughout the series. The descriptive writing puts the reader in the English countryside. The whodunnit always keeps me guessing and I love the humor throughout the story. I always enjoy my visits to Honeychurch Hall and recommend this series to all cozy mystery readers.
I really enjoy the recurring characters and seeing how things at the Hall have changed throughout the series. The descriptive writing puts the reader in the English countryside. The whodunnit always keeps me guessing and I love the humor throughout the story. I always enjoy my visits to Honeychurch Hall and recommend this series to all cozy mystery readers.
November 9, 2022
This is the ninth book in the Honeychurch Hall series, but it works as a standalone .
I enjoyed this book so much I am going to go back and read the other eight books!
It takes place in the English countryside on the Honeychurch Hall estate and is wonderfully described so you feel as if you are there. Most of the cast of characters including Kat are likeable.
the plot is well written, and I didn't know who did it until the end. But being from the States some of the terms and phrases were unfamiliar to me so I looked them up.
The only con to this book was Kat's boyfriend! But that is just my opinion.
I enjoyed this book so much I am going to go back and read the other eight books!
It takes place in the English countryside on the Honeychurch Hall estate and is wonderfully described so you feel as if you are there. Most of the cast of characters including Kat are likeable.
the plot is well written, and I didn't know who did it until the end. But being from the States some of the terms and phrases were unfamiliar to me so I looked them up.
The only con to this book was Kat's boyfriend! But that is just my opinion.
November 13, 2022
The latest installment at Honeychurch Hall is the ninth book in the Honeychurch Hall series, but it was fine as my first book in this series. I enjoyed this book so much that I ordered the first book in the series to send to a friend, who is also a fan of cozy mysteries. Looking forward to reading all books in this series over the winter. Kat and her friends are likable, intelligent characters. I enjoyed her search for the missing doll as well as the other subplots in the book. Definitely recommend for readers, who want a quick, enjoyable read.
November 11, 2022
This is the ninth book in this series; the series is new to me, but I really like the main character and setting, so I’d like to go back and read the whole series. This book stands alone very well, though, and I was immediately absorbed into the story. This cozy mystery has a lot of authenticity and is intricate enough that it was very fun to solve. I can definitely recommend this book; I was provided an arc, but these opinions are my own.
November 11, 2022
I haven't read any of the other instalments in the Honeychurch Hall series of which this is #9 but I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Kat Stanford in A Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall. Kat runs Kat's Collectibles and Mobile Valuation Sevices in Little Dipperton in the Devonshire countryside. Well written with some great characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Little, Brown via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Little, Brown via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
November 18, 2022
As an American who is a bit of an Anglophile, I always enjoy the Honeychurch Hall mysteries. This one is no exception. It's Christmas time at Honeychurch Hall and chaos is in the air. Kat and Iris find themselves embroiled in several mysteries and come across a couple of dead bodies. I love reading the details about the old English estate and visiting the eccentric characters that populate it. The mystery kept me guessing and all is solved in time for everyone to have a Merry Christmas!
November 28, 2022
A Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall is book #9 in the Honeychurch Hall series by Hannah Dennison .
The mysteries start right from the start with a missing doll and things get more complicated from there when there is a death. Is it related to the theft? The mysteries kept me guessing. The characters are wonderful and this was an entertaining story. I recommend this book and the entire series.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The mysteries start right from the start with a missing doll and things get more complicated from there when there is a death. Is it related to the theft? The mysteries kept me guessing. The characters are wonderful and this was an entertaining story. I recommend this book and the entire series.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
November 14, 2022
A Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall is a fun afternoon read with lots of fun characters, some twists and turns and just a touch of romance trouble. Kat has a lot at stake for the holiday gala and she gets help from her mum and friends. Filled with good descriptions of an English estate, A Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall is a good book to curl up with a cup of tea. Snuggle in and enjoy!
November 24, 2022
Alot has changed for Kat since I read book one years ago but revisiting Honeychurch Hall in book nine was a holiday treat! Featuring a cast of eccentric characters in a charming setting this holiday installment is definitely a must read for any cozy reader.
October 15, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a cozy crime and the characters were all likeable my thanks to #netgalley and the publishers for this arc I look forward to reading more in this series
November 20, 2024
Full disclosure, I was not given a free copy of the book, so I do not feel obligated to give a glowing "honest" review. My thoughts on the fictional book and it's fictional characters are my own.
I was pleased to discover that the latest Honeychurch Hall book is a cut above the last few in the series. I admit for the first quarter of the book I had a bit of trouble "getting into it" about a missing Barbie Doll with a few dreary suspects; the book just seemed to drag slowly along. Maybe if they had used a modicum of security for the uber-valuable doll then it wouldn't have vanished. I guess I couldn't rationalise putting a very valuable emerald on a plastic doll. I mean, what did they do with it? Hot-glue it onto Barbie's hair? Glue a massive ring onto her tiny little finger? Use a flimsy little necklace that would cover most of her torso? A very valuable emerald bling would look ridiculously large on a tiny doll.
But I suspended belief, went with the flow and then suddenly found I was genuinely "into it".
It would appear that they are setting Kat up for a romance with Mallory, the new handsome copper-about-town. Perhaps to justify this, Shawn is behaving like a negligent boyfriend with no time for Kat. This might conveniently justify Kat in seeking comfort in the arms of another copper.
Chastely, of course, as per usual.
However, the truth is Kat seems to fall for other men on a regular basis. Shawn, on the other hand, seems to be faithful to her, but I'm not always sure why. One thing I do know is that I do not think she is ready to settle down with Shawn and his family, so he probably should start barking up another tree if he wants his kids to have a new mother before they graduate from University. In the meantime I am kind of past hoping they make it as a couple. That ship seems to have sailed.
One of the best things about this book was that blessedly Iris was slightly less irritating than usual, but I did find myself crossing all my fingers that they would expose her heinous secret and throw her in prison. How lovely to have the next book without Iris' increasingly repetitive story.
Kat, as always, is the star of the book, and probably the only reason I continue to read them. The rest of the uncomfortably "closely-related" (to use a polite term) and usually truth-challenged villagers would not be enough to keep me coming back.
Does Britain really mass-obsess about exposing an author (of lurid bodice-rippers no less) for having a false pen name? Could anyone actually believe that Krystalle Storm was a genuine name of perhaps a retired exotic dancer? Why assume that the author must have some dirty dark secret for using a nomme de plume, and needs to be publicly named and shamed by scandal rags? We know why Iris wishes to be anonymous, but the rest of Britain doesn't know that.
It's 2024 not a Middle Age witch hunt, so I can't really see that it is inherently shameful to be a wealthy and fabulously successful female author.
Furthermore, is no one in the town (including the Honeychurch clan) bright enough to have noticed that Krystalle Storm's books exactly mirror their village and their own sordid lives? Does the Dowager Countess never put down her book and wonder why the story lines sound strangely familiar? In this sense, like the Stumpery, I am completely stumped.
As usual, when the Honeychurch clan snap their fingers, Kat and Iris hop to it like some strange unpaid servants. Drop everything and do as I command.
I never could figure out why Kat felt it was her responsibility to replace the stolen doll with a valuable antique doll from her own collection. Why should Kat pay for it? She didn't own the Barbie Doll, so it would be unlikely she would get the insurance money.
I found myself not wanting to put the book down, which is a good sign. Of course we know who the villain is; that was pretty obvious from the beginning. The solution of the crime is not the interesting part of this book; it is the journey through the book that is worthy of taking.
However, I can't promise that after waiting another full year for the next book that I will actually remember to check if there is a new book out.
We shall see!
I was pleased to discover that the latest Honeychurch Hall book is a cut above the last few in the series. I admit for the first quarter of the book I had a bit of trouble "getting into it" about a missing Barbie Doll with a few dreary suspects; the book just seemed to drag slowly along. Maybe if they had used a modicum of security for the uber-valuable doll then it wouldn't have vanished. I guess I couldn't rationalise putting a very valuable emerald on a plastic doll. I mean, what did they do with it? Hot-glue it onto Barbie's hair? Glue a massive ring onto her tiny little finger? Use a flimsy little necklace that would cover most of her torso? A very valuable emerald bling would look ridiculously large on a tiny doll.
But I suspended belief, went with the flow and then suddenly found I was genuinely "into it".
It would appear that they are setting Kat up for a romance with Mallory, the new handsome copper-about-town. Perhaps to justify this, Shawn is behaving like a negligent boyfriend with no time for Kat. This might conveniently justify Kat in seeking comfort in the arms of another copper.
Chastely, of course, as per usual.
However, the truth is Kat seems to fall for other men on a regular basis. Shawn, on the other hand, seems to be faithful to her, but I'm not always sure why. One thing I do know is that I do not think she is ready to settle down with Shawn and his family, so he probably should start barking up another tree if he wants his kids to have a new mother before they graduate from University. In the meantime I am kind of past hoping they make it as a couple. That ship seems to have sailed.
One of the best things about this book was that blessedly Iris was slightly less irritating than usual, but I did find myself crossing all my fingers that they would expose her heinous secret and throw her in prison. How lovely to have the next book without Iris' increasingly repetitive story.
Kat, as always, is the star of the book, and probably the only reason I continue to read them. The rest of the uncomfortably "closely-related" (to use a polite term) and usually truth-challenged villagers would not be enough to keep me coming back.
Does Britain really mass-obsess about exposing an author (of lurid bodice-rippers no less) for having a false pen name? Could anyone actually believe that Krystalle Storm was a genuine name of perhaps a retired exotic dancer? Why assume that the author must have some dirty dark secret for using a nomme de plume, and needs to be publicly named and shamed by scandal rags? We know why Iris wishes to be anonymous, but the rest of Britain doesn't know that.
It's 2024 not a Middle Age witch hunt, so I can't really see that it is inherently shameful to be a wealthy and fabulously successful female author.
Furthermore, is no one in the town (including the Honeychurch clan) bright enough to have noticed that Krystalle Storm's books exactly mirror their village and their own sordid lives? Does the Dowager Countess never put down her book and wonder why the story lines sound strangely familiar? In this sense, like the Stumpery, I am completely stumped.
As usual, when the Honeychurch clan snap their fingers, Kat and Iris hop to it like some strange unpaid servants. Drop everything and do as I command.
I never could figure out why Kat felt it was her responsibility to replace the stolen doll with a valuable antique doll from her own collection. Why should Kat pay for it? She didn't own the Barbie Doll, so it would be unlikely she would get the insurance money.
I found myself not wanting to put the book down, which is a good sign. Of course we know who the villain is; that was pretty obvious from the beginning. The solution of the crime is not the interesting part of this book; it is the journey through the book that is worthy of taking.
However, I can't promise that after waiting another full year for the next book that I will actually remember to check if there is a new book out.
We shall see!
December 29, 2023
**Les mystères de Honeychurch**
Un Noël mortel est le huitième opus de la série mais c’est par celui-ci que j’ai découvert Honeychurch, je ne connaissais donc pas les autres mystères vécus précédemment par les personnages. J’attendais un Cosy Mystery suivant la glorieuse définition aussi pittoresque qu’amusante, c’est à dire un genre de fiction qui a gagné en popularité au fil des années.
Ces romans sont connus pour leur ton léger et leurs intrigues captivantes. Cosy Mystery présente généralement un meurtre ou un crime résolu par un détective amateur. Ces personnages sont souvent des gens ordinaires qui tombent sur le crime et se chargent de le résoudre. Le genre se distingue également par l’accent mis sur le décor et l’atmosphère, avec de nombreux Cosy Mystery se déroulant dans de petites villes ou villages pittoresques. Dans l’ensemble, les romans Cozy Mystery offrent une lecture délicieuse et divertissante pour ceux qui recherchent un polar doux.
Cependant, la mise en place fut pour moi terriblement mortelle d’ennui avec la disparition d’une poupée Barbie dans un contexte totalement ahurissant et bien loin du doux polar espéré. Ce livre m’a été offert par Chéri-chéri, amusé par la couverture et surpris de me voir participer à un challenge en cette période de noël. Je vous avoue que c’est la raison pour laquelle je n’ai pas refermé ce bouquin avant la dernière page.
**Un premier cadavre…**
Promis par le résumé alléchant, je me suis demandée s’il n’y avait pas eu un bug entre la couverture et ma lecture. Des pages de dialogues répétitifs sur la fameuse Barbie, aucun suspens mais une atmosphère de potins mondains dignes de la gazette de mon village – sauf que notre douairière est toujours parfaitement documentée et surtout, vraiment drôle dans la catégorie « nécrologique ».
La police locale mène une enquête sans saveur à la recherche la Barbie disparue.
Les personnages sont plus hystériques qu’attachants, sauf peut-être pour les lecteurs de la première heure. J’ai été très étonnée de lire tant d’abondance flatteuse rédigée sur les réseaux spécialisés par les lectrices conquises. Serait-ce un livre que tout le monde aime, sauf moi ?
**Sauver Noël…**
C’est après les 200 pages tournées avec désolation que ma lecture a enfin pris un rythme un peu plus immersif. Exit la Barbie – enfin, pas tout à fait bien sûr, elle a son importance – et les chamailleries infantilisantes, je rentre dans ce mystère avec attention, même si je n’y croyais plus.
Les pièces du puzzle éparpillées jusqu’alors prennent une teinte inattendue, la magie de noël à Honeychurch sentira-t-elle le sapin ? Les festivités seront-elles à la hauteur des espoirs de Kat Stanford ? Ces dernières pages deviennent addictives et le suspense me coupe le souffle.
Aucun doute, ce roman terminé le 24 décembre a sauvé ma soirée de noël.
Un Noël mortel est le huitième opus de la série mais c’est par celui-ci que j’ai découvert Honeychurch, je ne connaissais donc pas les autres mystères vécus précédemment par les personnages. J’attendais un Cosy Mystery suivant la glorieuse définition aussi pittoresque qu’amusante, c’est à dire un genre de fiction qui a gagné en popularité au fil des années.
Ces romans sont connus pour leur ton léger et leurs intrigues captivantes. Cosy Mystery présente généralement un meurtre ou un crime résolu par un détective amateur. Ces personnages sont souvent des gens ordinaires qui tombent sur le crime et se chargent de le résoudre. Le genre se distingue également par l’accent mis sur le décor et l’atmosphère, avec de nombreux Cosy Mystery se déroulant dans de petites villes ou villages pittoresques. Dans l’ensemble, les romans Cozy Mystery offrent une lecture délicieuse et divertissante pour ceux qui recherchent un polar doux.
Cependant, la mise en place fut pour moi terriblement mortelle d’ennui avec la disparition d’une poupée Barbie dans un contexte totalement ahurissant et bien loin du doux polar espéré. Ce livre m’a été offert par Chéri-chéri, amusé par la couverture et surpris de me voir participer à un challenge en cette période de noël. Je vous avoue que c’est la raison pour laquelle je n’ai pas refermé ce bouquin avant la dernière page.
**Un premier cadavre…**
Promis par le résumé alléchant, je me suis demandée s’il n’y avait pas eu un bug entre la couverture et ma lecture. Des pages de dialogues répétitifs sur la fameuse Barbie, aucun suspens mais une atmosphère de potins mondains dignes de la gazette de mon village – sauf que notre douairière est toujours parfaitement documentée et surtout, vraiment drôle dans la catégorie « nécrologique ».
La police locale mène une enquête sans saveur à la recherche la Barbie disparue.
Les personnages sont plus hystériques qu’attachants, sauf peut-être pour les lecteurs de la première heure. J’ai été très étonnée de lire tant d’abondance flatteuse rédigée sur les réseaux spécialisés par les lectrices conquises. Serait-ce un livre que tout le monde aime, sauf moi ?
**Sauver Noël…**
C’est après les 200 pages tournées avec désolation que ma lecture a enfin pris un rythme un peu plus immersif. Exit la Barbie – enfin, pas tout à fait bien sûr, elle a son importance – et les chamailleries infantilisantes, je rentre dans ce mystère avec attention, même si je n’y croyais plus.
Les pièces du puzzle éparpillées jusqu’alors prennent une teinte inattendue, la magie de noël à Honeychurch sentira-t-elle le sapin ? Les festivités seront-elles à la hauteur des espoirs de Kat Stanford ? Ces dernières pages deviennent addictives et le suspense me coupe le souffle.
Aucun doute, ce roman terminé le 24 décembre a sauvé ma soirée de noël.
March 3, 2025
1.5 stars.
A Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall is book 9 of a series (i did not know this before buying it, evidently) centring around people just supposedly dropping off dead in Honeychurch Hall, i presume as i have not read the rest of the series. Dennison's writing style is fairly light, but that's the sole compliment i have for this book. to me, this is the stale croissant of books in the way that it's not particularly offensive but it's so boring that it just makes you angry because you could be reading something else that is much more engaging. and i live in the ferrero rocher caramel brownie euphoria rainbow tears-of-my-enemies cheesecake book world so i don't think i can be swayed so easily.
none of these characters are particularly engaging. you could swap Kat for a particularly average office plant (and most of the cast of this book) and i don't think i would've known the difference because there is no emotion in this book. none of these characters are developed, and their conversations is like being forced to sit with in with extended family members you don't particularly care for and they keep making comments like 'i suppose the weather was bad today', 'this chicken could be cooked better' and 'i just want to kill myself tomorrow, but i haven't the time.' to add on, the stakes were higher for the missing emerald Barbie than it was for the actual human being that ended up dead (which took half the book to set up meanwhile we're having gin and tonic constantly).
the problems that Kat has is not particularly interesting either. the fact that this auction was going ahead in spite of murder is laughable, and i don't know if me as the reader is meant to care about Kat losing the emerald Barbie or the auction, but i don't because it just seems to be #rich white people stakes, which is just not at all engaging. if the auction gets cancelled, Kat's life... is unchanged, and so is the rest of the white rich people that are in this book except Lord Whitehall didn't get a chance to get the fancy thing that he wanted. i'm not saying that it can't be done, even in an auction story sort of way, but the way that Dennison wrote it is just bizarre.
now, the actual mystery is full of plotholes, completely distinteresting, and there is nothing out there for the reader to really be engaged with. Kat finds out about the case over time, things are obvious and the killer just randomly decides to confess even though they didn't have to?
this book doesn't even arouse my anger, it's just that dull. and i feel bad because for this book, #9, i am literally the first person 1 starring this book, but i guess that's because most people that have read book 9 probably enjoyed the series thus far lmao.
A Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall is book 9 of a series (i did not know this before buying it, evidently) centring around people just supposedly dropping off dead in Honeychurch Hall, i presume as i have not read the rest of the series. Dennison's writing style is fairly light, but that's the sole compliment i have for this book. to me, this is the stale croissant of books in the way that it's not particularly offensive but it's so boring that it just makes you angry because you could be reading something else that is much more engaging. and i live in the ferrero rocher caramel brownie euphoria rainbow tears-of-my-enemies cheesecake book world so i don't think i can be swayed so easily.
none of these characters are particularly engaging. you could swap Kat for a particularly average office plant (and most of the cast of this book) and i don't think i would've known the difference because there is no emotion in this book. none of these characters are developed, and their conversations is like being forced to sit with in with extended family members you don't particularly care for and they keep making comments like 'i suppose the weather was bad today', 'this chicken could be cooked better' and 'i just want to kill myself tomorrow, but i haven't the time.' to add on, the stakes were higher for the missing emerald Barbie than it was for the actual human being that ended up dead (which took half the book to set up meanwhile we're having gin and tonic constantly).
the problems that Kat has is not particularly interesting either. the fact that this auction was going ahead in spite of murder is laughable, and i don't know if me as the reader is meant to care about Kat losing the emerald Barbie or the auction, but i don't because it just seems to be #rich white people stakes, which is just not at all engaging. if the auction gets cancelled, Kat's life... is unchanged, and so is the rest of the white rich people that are in this book except Lord Whitehall didn't get a chance to get the fancy thing that he wanted. i'm not saying that it can't be done, even in an auction story sort of way, but the way that Dennison wrote it is just bizarre.
now, the actual mystery is full of plotholes, completely distinteresting, and there is nothing out there for the reader to really be engaged with. Kat finds out about the case over time, things are obvious and the killer just randomly decides to confess even though they didn't have to?
this book doesn't even arouse my anger, it's just that dull. and i feel bad because for this book, #9, i am literally the first person 1 starring this book, but i guess that's because most people that have read book 9 probably enjoyed the series thus far lmao.
February 21, 2023
Run. Don’t walk to buy this book!
I hate reading a series out of order. You might even say I get really Grinch-like about it (pun intended). But, I knowingly tasked myself with reading A Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall, book 9 in the Honeychurch Hall series by Hannah Dennison because I found the description so compelling I didn’t want to wait to read it. It ticked all my cozy mystery boxes: English setting, historical manor house, the gentry, Christmas, a single amateur sleuth, a complicated mother-daughter relationship, and so much more! As I suspected though, it contained spoilers that hint at some of the themes in the other 8 books in the series; precisely why I don’t like reading out of order. But, the spoilers were so well placed that they do not fully “spoil” my desire to read books 1-8. In fact, I found the writing style of Ms. Dennison to be exceptional! Here writing flows with such ease and intelligence that I was devouring her words like a hungry urchin in Oliver Twist! “Please, sir, may I have some more?” I’d finish a chapter and then promise myself I’d break off and go to the bathroom. Yet I couldn’t stop. I’d keep reading and curse myself for having had the second cup of Earl Grey tea and beat myself up for not having bought more shortbread cookies. I’d get so hungry but didn’t want to stop to cook. I tried putting the book down but when I did I’d think about it and promise myself just a half hour more. So many well placed suspects; so many possible motives! Dialogue that flowed off a page as natural as a conversation I’d have with a friend or even my sister. But, the dialogue was just the tip of the iceberg. Ms. Dennison has a way of forming relationships on paper that are subtle yet as complex as any “real” relationship in life. The dynamic between Kat Stanford and her mother Iris is stellar with a capital S. The same could be said for the complex inner workings of her relationship with her friend Di Wilkins who factors heavily in the book, or even her boyfriend, Shawn. But, the true genius of Ms. Dennison’s writing was never more prominently on display then in her crafting of the victim. The victim was just repugnant enough in their behavior that I wanted to see them “offed” but realistic enough that I recognized so many of their qualities in people I know…yes I’m throwing my family under the bus. So, even though I was given an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book for my honest review, run, don’t walk to get this book! You’ll thank me later. Ok, why wait…you’re welcome!
I hate reading a series out of order. You might even say I get really Grinch-like about it (pun intended). But, I knowingly tasked myself with reading A Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall, book 9 in the Honeychurch Hall series by Hannah Dennison because I found the description so compelling I didn’t want to wait to read it. It ticked all my cozy mystery boxes: English setting, historical manor house, the gentry, Christmas, a single amateur sleuth, a complicated mother-daughter relationship, and so much more! As I suspected though, it contained spoilers that hint at some of the themes in the other 8 books in the series; precisely why I don’t like reading out of order. But, the spoilers were so well placed that they do not fully “spoil” my desire to read books 1-8. In fact, I found the writing style of Ms. Dennison to be exceptional! Here writing flows with such ease and intelligence that I was devouring her words like a hungry urchin in Oliver Twist! “Please, sir, may I have some more?” I’d finish a chapter and then promise myself I’d break off and go to the bathroom. Yet I couldn’t stop. I’d keep reading and curse myself for having had the second cup of Earl Grey tea and beat myself up for not having bought more shortbread cookies. I’d get so hungry but didn’t want to stop to cook. I tried putting the book down but when I did I’d think about it and promise myself just a half hour more. So many well placed suspects; so many possible motives! Dialogue that flowed off a page as natural as a conversation I’d have with a friend or even my sister. But, the dialogue was just the tip of the iceberg. Ms. Dennison has a way of forming relationships on paper that are subtle yet as complex as any “real” relationship in life. The dynamic between Kat Stanford and her mother Iris is stellar with a capital S. The same could be said for the complex inner workings of her relationship with her friend Di Wilkins who factors heavily in the book, or even her boyfriend, Shawn. But, the true genius of Ms. Dennison’s writing was never more prominently on display then in her crafting of the victim. The victim was just repugnant enough in their behavior that I wanted to see them “offed” but realistic enough that I recognized so many of their qualities in people I know…yes I’m throwing my family under the bus. So, even though I was given an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book for my honest review, run, don’t walk to get this book! You’ll thank me later. Ok, why wait…you’re welcome!
Read
December 27, 2024A Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Constable and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
Following the butler's death and the cook's retirement, the ever-gullible Lady Lavinia replaces them with a power couple who are determined to thrust the crumbling estate into the 21st century. The Dowager Countess reluctantly agrees to hold a big-ticket Christmas gala and silent auction with a mystery celebrity flying in from Monaco as the guest of honour.
Needless to say the newcomers' make a few enemies in their quest to change the status quo and when one body is discovered in the Victorian stumpery and a second, in the ha-ha, it seems that their high-flying past is catching up with them.
Meanwhile, Kat is dealing with the theft of a valuable doll that had been earmarked for the auction. When it turns out that all the ticket money has vanished and there never was a celebrity guest, it's up to Kat to save the day and bring the cold-blooded killer to justice.
My Opinion
I have read this book as a standalone but I don’t think it has spoilt my enjoyment. I thought that this was a relatively quick book to read. The main focus of the book is the missing doll, but there is so much more going on. An intriguing plot, with some great characters.
Rating 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Constable and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
Following the butler's death and the cook's retirement, the ever-gullible Lady Lavinia replaces them with a power couple who are determined to thrust the crumbling estate into the 21st century. The Dowager Countess reluctantly agrees to hold a big-ticket Christmas gala and silent auction with a mystery celebrity flying in from Monaco as the guest of honour.
Needless to say the newcomers' make a few enemies in their quest to change the status quo and when one body is discovered in the Victorian stumpery and a second, in the ha-ha, it seems that their high-flying past is catching up with them.
Meanwhile, Kat is dealing with the theft of a valuable doll that had been earmarked for the auction. When it turns out that all the ticket money has vanished and there never was a celebrity guest, it's up to Kat to save the day and bring the cold-blooded killer to justice.
My Opinion
I have read this book as a standalone but I don’t think it has spoilt my enjoyment. I thought that this was a relatively quick book to read. The main focus of the book is the missing doll, but there is so much more going on. An intriguing plot, with some great characters.
Rating 4/5
October 15, 2023
This is the first book that I have read by Hannah Dennison and I LOVED it! I adore Christmas and this book has helped me get into the Christmas spirit (in my opinion it is never too early) Kat was amazing and I felt so sorry for her, Shawn placed her in an impossible situation and didn't seem to care about her feelings at all.
The murders were in no way gory which is the way I like it and there were a lot of twists and turns that I wasn't expecting.
The murders were in no way gory which is the way I like it and there were a lot of twists and turns that I wasn't expecting.
February 15, 2025
A great little book. My first Honeychurch Hall novel.
I did not like Shawn and thank goodness he appears to be gone! Mallory is a better choice - Mum obviously knows & Kat needs to dump Shawn officially once and for all.
Lots of death before the killer & accomplice were identified.
Glad the ruby was found! And the gala went ahead,, I liked that Krystalle Storm still as an unknown identity and pseudonym was still intact.
I did not like Shawn and thank goodness he appears to be gone! Mallory is a better choice - Mum obviously knows & Kat needs to dump Shawn officially once and for all.
Lots of death before the killer & accomplice were identified.
Glad the ruby was found! And the gala went ahead,, I liked that Krystalle Storm still as an unknown identity and pseudonym was still intact.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2024
My first cozy mystery that I didn't toss after the first third! For me, this was a one-afternoon read. Paced and voiced really, really well. The mystery wasn't that difficult to sort out ahead of time but I suspect that doesn't really matter. Against all odds my literary soul is going to sign up for updates and new releases from Hannah Dennison. So fun!
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