A Very Lively Murder (Three Dahlias Mysteries Book 2)

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The way she is described in the first book and until the page where they visit Brigitte in London, that lady never touched a biscuit - if anything, Caro would be the one hoping for biscuits with tea. It's always a little nervewracking heading into the second book of a series when the first book set the standard so high but I needn't have worrried, we are in safe hands here. The plot is well concieved, and has several layers - and there is a good cast of characters (literally, as the action is centred around the filming of a movie). The way in which the author has at the start of each chapter an extract from one of the Dahlia books is brilliant ( i would love to read them .

But things take a nightmare turn when a prop weapon is replaced with the real thing – with almost fatal consequences for her fellow Dahlia, Rosalind King. Rosalind King has previously starred as Dahlia in the original movie series and now, young Posy Starling is taking the character back to the silver screen. In between filming scenes, signing autographs for locals, photoshoots on set and jetting off to France for an impromptu party, the three Dahlias do what they do best – surreptitiously sleuth. I also love the way the plot echoes those classic golden age themes, here the isolated community with secrets. The book follows on from the first book in this series, The Three Dahlias and there are several references to the events in the previous book.Reminiscent of Golden Age whodunits, as with the first novel, it manages to feel like a traditional mystery yet modern and fresh. It's always a little nervewracking heading into the second book of a series when the first book set the standard so high but I needn't have worrried, we are. Posy feels she is finally ready to make the role of Dahlia Lively her own, appearing alongside fellow Dahlia from the original films, Rosalind King who is playing an elderly relative. The three Dahlias realise that the murderer has to be one of the cast, and are determined to solve the case.

She will have to work with her now ex-husband again on the upcoming Dahlia Lively movie and when she accidentally discovers a secret passage and disappears, she takes this one-of-a-lifetime opportunity to roll out well-deserved justice. He escaped and covered up all of the evidence of his wrongdoing, so out of guilt, Brigette picks up the mental of the judge.I get that they broke the relationship off now, but nonetheless, the last book described Hugh as the love of her life, not mentioning a husband. Although I am sure that she was invited to Aldemere in the last book to promote the movie, as she was also part of it. This follow-up to The Three Dahlias finds our trio of actresses—Rosalind, Caro, and Posy, all past or present portrayers of the Golden Age detective Dahlia Lively—on the trail of another murderer.

I do like the trio of narrators it's a good way to move the story along but this time it just didn't move on fast enough. A must for fans of classic mysteries' Frances Brody'An affectionate homage to the Golden Age of Detective Fiction and a wry nod to our continuing fascination with it. I really do hope that there will be more books featuring the Three Dahlias as I have found myself really enjoying not only the authors style of writing but the characters and the storylines. Just finished this book and I will need to rant - it will contain spoilers, so I'm hiding this post from existence. Katy Watson has written another classic country house murder mystery, set in glorious North Wales with a quick trip to France thrown in for good measure.

Janice Hallett, author of The Appeal'Celebrates and gently satirises Golden Age crime novels in a hugely entertaining country house mystery' The Times'Dame Agatha would approve' Daily Mail'A wonderful celebration of Golden Age crime. There are a couple of things missed in the editing, particularly towards the end but that doesn't spoil a wonderfully entertaining novel. This is a jolly romp of a murder mystery that looks at how generations can work together and draw strength from each other under the premise of one some might say weak connection – that they have all played a fictional detective.