THIS IS EPIC!! The Three Dahlias is everything you want from a cozy crime novel - engaging main characters, an English country house, creepy doll's houses, poison and murder! This is a true love letter to the likes of Agatha Christie. Utterly enjoyable!

A gripping book that I struggled to put down. Brilliant plot with a host of interesting characters, I will definitely read more by this author.

You can’t beat a house party in the country for entertainment and if it comes with murder mystery then all the better.

The home is Aldermere, staying are the occupants of the house of the Davenports. Hugh, his wife Isobel and their granddaughter. High is the nephew of the famous crime writer Lettice Davenport, long since passed.

Also present are three Dahlia Lively’s, Lettice Davenport’s most famous creation, Of course fictious, but having been played on the screen big by aging actress Rosalind King. Caro Hopper the small screen version for numerous series and then Posy Starling, ex wild child about to start the latest film version.

The murder that happens is meant to be staged as part of the weekend convention for all the fans of the books and screen adaptations. However it seems that someone else has real crime on their mind and when items go missing and strange notes keep being left it doesn’t seem to far fetched to think a body will turn up next. But surely it must have been a heart attack…….

Pooling their knowledge, the book is told from the perspective of the Three Dahlias (hence the title). They use the skills they simply learnt by rote or in the case of the newest Dahlia, by learning fast from the available books that Lettice Davenport wrote. A strange concept, but one that seemingly works and makes for a fun novel.

Is the answer obvious, are the clues real or just copied from the books and can they prevent any more bodies turning up ?

Definitely a book and plot which is a homage to Agatha Christie, sneaky little elements here and there that you can pick up if you know your Christie well enough. It moves along with a meandering pace at times, but stick with it as I think we are forming the three main characters in this book which is clearly the start of a series.

Perfect for fans of characterful mysteries with a nod to some of the great crime writers of the past. I enjoyed the escapism and the humour of the book.

An absolutely delightful read!
A love letter to Agatha Christie & golden age crime with an ingenious modern twist.
I cannot wait for book two.

Hello to our modern-day Agatha!

Katy definitely has the Agatha knack for writing, I had to remind myself several times during reading that I wasn't reading AC. I love how we have now been brought into the modern day with all the classic style!

I loved how you didn't have the biggest cast of characters, so it was easy to keep track! I loved the twists and turns as the book goes on. I just loved the three dahlias' together, what a team!

I am so excited for Katy's next book!!

The story is told over a long weekend at a convention of Lettice Davenport enthusiasts, a now dead prolific writer of whodunnits. Centre stage are the 3 actors that have - or are about to - played the main character Dahlia Lively, the detective. As the a real life mystery unfolds, during the reenactment of a fictitious crime, the 3 Dahlias must work together to solve it.

As many have said, the book is an enjoyable romp of a cosy crime novel in the vain of Agatha Christie with the extra dimension of a ‘real’ and a fictitious crime unfolding. It made a refreshing change to the more modern style of thriller whodunnit. There are a whole host of believable characters - the family, the conventions attendees and the cast and crew of the film, as well as a brilliant country house setting. The conclusion was unpredictable and the best bit is it looks like it will be a series !

Excellent set-up, but I felt it was very slow probably due to the 3 main characters (3 is a crowd and all that). It also had too much repetition and I was muttering to myself a lot: “oh god, we know that already.” A good start to what I believe will be a series, though.

I adore the cover and title of this novel and so was thrilled to get an opportunity to read The Three Dahlias. It's a wholly enjoyable cosy crime mystery set in a country house with a vintage feel and Golden Age of crime vibes. I love a novel set in a country house and the author did a great job with her creation of The Three Dahlias- three actresses who played the fictional detective Dahlia Lively , the creation of crime novelist Lettice Davenport. The novel moves along at a good pace and it was a fun and engaging read that I'd recommend. I hope there is a follow up !
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Lettice Davenport was a beloved writer of Golden Age mysteries adapted for large and small screen and about to be rebooted. An annual fan conference is being held at her family home, Aldermere, and the three actresses associated with the role of Dahlia Lively are all appearing. They all have secrets and someone appears to be trying to blackmail them but when the prime suspect is murdered the three Dahlias band together to solve the mystery.
This is a great little book. It combines the current trend of cosy crime with knowing flashbacks to the Golden Age and a modern sensibility of where women of different ages fit in the world. The writing is spry and the plot suitably complicated without being impenetrable.

The Three Dahlias is everything you want from a cozy crime novel - fabulous main characters, a quintessentially English country house, creepy doll's houses, poison and murder! I loved the fact that the story was told from each of the three Dahlia's perspectives; each character was so well developed and relatable, even the prickly Caro. The mystery also kept me guessing. Utterly enjoyable!

The bold character of Dahlia Lively has a lot of devoted fans and they can get a bit precious about how the famed fictional sleuth is portrayed. And not just the readers, the actors are just as defensive about their ownership of the characters. With a new film forthcoming, this is the perfect opportunity for a VIP event at the home of the author. But secrets and murder are at the heart of Lettice Davenport’s books, and life is about to imitate art as all three Dahlia’s are thrown together in a real life mystery weekend.

So many delightful moments, every homage to Agatha Christie or fan culture made me grin with glee. The mystery was quite satisfying and the characters of Rosalind King, Caro Hooper and Posy Starling all had curious secrets that kept me hooked. I loved how the author used the idea of their hesitancy about one & other to direct the story, and how they had to trust one another to succeed. The relationship dynamic was as important as the clues they were trying to follow. It was a joy to behold.

The golden age of crime has been resurrected and it's in safe hand with Katy Watson.

I also wanted to praise the choice of cover design, as it’s stunning and will be very eye-catching in displays in bookshops.

I saw that @katywatsonauthor was going to be a guest at the July Manchester Library #CrimeCentral event and was lucky enough to bag a copy of The Three Dahlias on @netgalley

The book has the most gorgeous cover and the opening pages are filled with an invitation to a Lettice Davenport convention and maps of the the house and gardens of Aldermere the convention venue.

The book features three actors who have played Lettice’s fictional detective Dahlia Lively on TV and film and provides the perfect backdrop for a weekend of mystery and murder.

Full of twists and turns with everyone under suspicion, the three Daliahs, each with their own secret become a force to be reckoned with as they attempt to solve the weekend’s crimes.

May Watson is a prolific author but this is her first foray into crime and I can’t wait to read her next. This is my kind of cosy crime.

Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group U.K. Constable for this eARC via NetGalley.

I'm not a huge murder mystery reader, but I really enjoyed this one. The set-up was so clever: three actresses who played the same murder detective over decades come together to solve a crime. I loved how the three main characters learned to respect one another, enjoyed their banter, and mostly, loved the strength of the three of them together and their individual growth. If you like cozy mysteries, this one is for you.

Whirlwind of a thriller! I loved it. This author has a knack for writing the perfect thriller mystery and delivering it at the perfect pacing. I am immediately identified with the main characters.

What an absolute delight...if one can say that about a book filled with murder, secrets and lies! Oh, but it was! As a lover of Agatha Christie, Jessica Fletcher, Midsummer Murders...you get my drift...I fell in love with this book at first sight — I mean, just look at that cover! And from the very first moment, it didn't disappoint.

To have a book starring three female protagonists, from tarnished at twenty, to feisty at forty and sophisticated at sixty, you have a right mix of women that leap from the page with their little quirks and vibrant personalities. Budding Miss Marple's through and through.

I loved the bond that built between these very different characters as they worked together to solve the case. The twists and turns of the plot kept you on your toes, the creepy dollhouse was an absolute gem of an idea, the backstory to each and every character (including all those secondary characters) was so well thought out and sprinkled through the pages. The location was fully drawn and stunning to boot. There really aren't enough words to express how much I loved this book and I am so looking forward to the next.

PS This NEEDS to be converted into a TV series or movie blockbuster. It's perfect for the big screen!

‘It wouldn’t be a country house weekend without a little murder…’ cover tag line.

My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group U.K. Constable for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Three Dahlias’ by Katy Watson.

This is the opening book for a new cosy mystery series. Given the quality of the writing, storytelling, and characterisations, I expect that it will have a wide appeal for crime fiction readers, especially those that enjoy a touch of satire in their mysteries.

‘The Three Dahlias’ gives homage to golden age detective fiction and explores how the makers of film and television, as well as fandom, responds to the source material. Oh and there is a murder investigated by a small group of unlikely sleuths: the Three Dahlias.

Three rival actresses have been invited as Guests of Honour for The Aldermere House Convention, a fan club event celebrating the life and work of Lettice Davenport, the creator of the 1930s sleuth Dahlia Lively.

These are: veteran actress Rosalind King, who portrayed Dahlia in the original movies, Caro Hooper, who was the TV Dahlia for thirteen seasons, and former child star Posy Starling, who is about to take on the Dahlia mantle for a new film adaptation. Add to the mix are the convention organisers, super fans, the team behind the new film, and the Davenports, whose family home, Aldermere House, is where Lettice wrote her novels.

Over the course of this English summer weekend various conflicts and rivalries come to the surface and then surprise there is a murder! The actresses put aside their differences and draw on the sleuthing skills of Dahlia Lively that they believe they have absorbed from their portrayals of the lady detective. As traditional in these type of mysteries there are plenty of suspects and red herrings to tease the reader before the final reveal.

I applaud Katy Watson for opening the novel with a comprehensive cast of characters and maps of the house and grounds. In addition, she begins each chapter with a witty quote from one of the Dahlia Lively novels. I love such attention to detail.

This was such a treat. Katy Watson honours the tropes of the Golden Age mysteries while poking fun at both the entertainment industry and fandom, including the inevitable responses to the ‘revisioning’ of beloved books and characters.

I adored this book. It was charming and witty and certainly kept me guessing as to whodunnit. I found it an impressive debut and definitely will be looking forward to future cases for the Three Dahlias.

Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed this impressive debut, a little deeper than your usual cosy crime. I can see this would make a great drama for tv.

A murder mystery weekend of a 1930s author is held at a stately home, Two actresses have been who have played the lead part and the latest up and coming actress have been invited as the stars. When the organiser drops dead during dinner one evening, the police are quick to dismiss it as he had heart problems. However at least two of the actresses who have read the script of the latest film can see coincidences that indicate his death could’ve been murder. Also it appears that each of the actresses is being blackmailed - who is behind this?

The ending was really clever in that it hints of further stories yet to come. I do hope so!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc copy. This is my honest unpaid review.

First of all, thank you Little Brown Book Group and NetGalley for this ARC! This review was voluntarily written by me.

In general , I really like the premise of this story where the live-action actors (actresses in this story) of a famous detective are working together to solve a real-life mystery. In this book, it is told from all actresses POV’s, making readers know more about their background and its significance in solving the crime. For me, the reading is quite slow and long, maybe because of the details of the mystery-solving by these actresses. The plot and writing is nice for me. Lastly, I think these actresses should become detectives of their own after this. Congratulations to the author for this debut and I’m hoping for your new stories in the future!

This book truly transported me into the lives of The Three Dahlia’s, the stately home and gardens of Aldermere, and the time of Lettice Davenport’s books. The mystery was carefully crafted in a very traditional-felt way that completely added to the charm of the story telling. I loved the Agatha Christie type vibes from this story, and can’t wait for next adventure!

Dahlia Lively is the redoubtable heroine of a long series of books by crime author Lettuce Davenport. Over the years she has been portrayed on the big and small screen by two actresses Rosalind and Caro, both of whom were well loved. The novel takes place at a Dahlia Lively convention held at a stately home called Aldermere, the home of the Davenport family for generations. In fact, Lettuce wrote some of her novels in the study. Now it is home to her nephew Hugh Davenport, his wife Isobel and his stepdaughter Juliette. This is the first time the convention has taken place at Aldemere and VIP attendees have paid to stay in the house for the weekend. In an amazing coup for the convention, organiser Marcus has secured all the Dahlias including Hollywood actress Posy Starling who is about to start filming a 21st Century version of the books. Posy was a child star who became the wild child of the tabloids as she grew up in the glare of publicity. With addiction and criminal convictions behind her, she wouldn’t be everyone’s choice for Dahlia - rather like casting Lindsey Lohan in a young Miss Marple series. Posy is hoping this movie will erase her previous bad girl status and industry insiders will start to take her seriously. With Aldemere House needing repair and money running out, Posy isn’t the only person depending on this film, many people here are dependent on it’s success for their livelihood and the Davenport family are getting so desperate they’re selling heirlooms to stay afloat. Staying at Lettuce Davenport’s home is an immersive experience, so when murder becomes part of their eleven course dinner many people aren’t surprised, but this is no act and that means one of them is a real—life murderer.

There are so many secrets flying around at Aldemere, you’d need a Dahlia Lively to keep track. Luckily we have three. I enjoyed all three characters and we see the action in three separate sections through their eyes. I felt for Posy who has really been thrown in at the deep end this weekend. Dahlia fans are obsessive and know every detail about their favourite literary character and her creator. Posy is coming into this completely blind and has only just starting reading the books. The film makers have given this adaptation a reboot, casting Posy against type and casting Kit, a young Black British actor as her police sidekick Johnnie. Traditionalist are complaining, but Rosalind and Caro can see that perhaps each generation needs it’s own Dahlia. Besides, keeping the character in the limelight keeps the royalties coming in for them. I thought Posy really thrived as these two strong women believed in her and she almost became Dahlia in front of their eyes as they embark on some amateur sleuthing of their own. Each woman has received a blackmail note, because each woman has their own secrets. Rosalind was older and wiser than the other two, really able to sit back and sift through the evidence in her mind until a solution presents itself. Rosalind also has the strongest links with the Davenport family, having dated Hugh before he married Isobel. I felt Rosalind’s sadness and loneliness, but also her confusion that he chose to marry someone else after what they felt for each other. It’s a question she’s never been able to ask, but now she might have to. She regrets staying quiet and wishes she’d been more like Caro who set fire to her ex-husband’s tie - while he was still wearing it. Caro is the firecracker and the driving force behind the Dahlia’s investigative efforts. She likes the attention and relishes the role of interrogator so that she can take centre stage at the end as she unmasks a murderer. I did feel like she was playing a role though, and aside from knowing she was married to Annie I didn’t feel we got fully under her skin.

The mystery itself is clever and labyrinthine, at times I started to lose my way with who was where and when. That possibly says more about my brain than the plot. There wasn’t just the murder to solve but lots of smaller mysteries like who the blackmailer was, who had stolen Lettuce’s jewelled loupe from the study and who was making the creepy little dolls left behind to signal the next victim. I loved the dolls, but other than that I never felt this was a creepy or violent murder mystery. It’s more of a cosy puzzle and potentially good Sunday evening viewing on TV. I loved the odd couple who had come to the convention for their 25th wedding anniversary and knew everything there was to know about Dahlia. There was something sweet, but slightly obsessive about them that was fun. I loved the quirky elements of the house too - Posy’s room being the ‘China Room’ with very famous blue and white patterned wall paper that featured in one of the books. We never find out exactly what the wall paper does, but that makes it more scary. I also thought the Murder Spiral was incredible, a garden planted with poisonous specimens featured in Lettuce’s writings and giving her the title ‘Princess of Poison’. It feels wrong to say a murder mystery is fun, but this one was. With nostalgia, vintage fashion, a quirky old house and three formidable heroines this was a clever and well-constructed read, with an affectionate nod to the golden era of detective fiction.