The Three Dahlias / A Very Lively Murder, by Katy Watson - Milly
Everyone is welcome to Aldermere, the country home of legendary crime novelist Lettice Davenport, creator of the famous detective Dahlia Lively. At a special weekend convention, fans meet the three actresses who have brought Dahlia to life in film and television: Rosalind King, Caro Hooper, and the latest Dahlia, Posy Starling.
However dark forces are gathering within Aldermere, among the obsessed fans who will do anything to protect the image and legacy of Dahlia. All too soon, secrets, mysteries, and blackmail lead to murder. With a house full of suspects, each with their own motives, it's time for the three Dahlias themselves to solve the mystery.
The Three Dahlias is an absolute triumph, invoking that feel of the golden age of crime perfectly, immediately capturing the reader in a wonderful mystery that will have you gripped from the very beginning, right to the last page.
In A Very Lively Murder, the three Dahlias are back in a mystery that sees Posy Starling making her debut as Dahlia Lively in the film, The Lady Detective, where she is joined by fellow Dahlia actress Rosalind King, and a cast of eccentric actors. Just as a murderer strikes, a storm leaves the cast stranded in rural Wales, and Rosalind starts to receive sinister threats, she and Posy decide to call upon fellow Dahlia, Caro Hooper for help.
Katy Watson has superbly built on the characters she created in the first book, and our heroines dive straight into a new mystery that is so addictive, I simply couldn't put it down. I loved every minute of it.
There is so much to enjoy in A Very Lively Murder, from its fantastic characters, to its outstanding plot, which draws you deep into the web of intrigue that has been weaved. Katy Watson takes the familiar setting of the isolated country house and catapults it into a whole new direction, with clever and highly imaginative plot twists, and stand out moments that are pure genius.
Watson deserves praise for the way she has crafted a brilliant new mystery, building on the magnificent creation and success of the Three Dahlias.
This duology is crime writing at its very best and I cannot wait for the next instalment. Without a doubt the best crime books I have read this year, I truly believe that Katy Watson is the natural successor to Agatha Christie.
Milly
