This was a light-hearted and quirky read that I really enjoyed. Suits the festive season well and is the perfect cosy read.

A really quirky festive read that really leans into the well loved tropes of the golden age of crime. Perfect for the cold weather

Taking place in 1950s, this old-fashioned murder mystery introduces reader to the new sleight, one Frank Grasby. He is a likeable enough chap, with some dubious record of putting himself in sticky situations (last one involving horses), but when he is sent to investigate rather straightforward mystery in a sleepy village of Elderby, he should not really have any problems, right? Well, wrong. Right away Grasby is confronted with a tricky case, nosey villagers, half-competent staff and scary landlady. The sleepy village is not what it appears, people start being killed, and someone tells him to make it all go away quietly. But Grasby has also a stubborn streak, so he will investigate, no matter what. He soon realises the stakes are higher than he realised, and all he can do is to plough through the falling snow, cobwebs of lies and hope that he is on the right side.
A slightly outdated, despite the efforts to make it more inclusive and less sexist, but enjoyable romp. The plot stopped interesting me fully after half mark, but I enjoyed Frank Grasby as a character. I hope the series will continue.

A lighthearted read about dark deeds. A wide cast of quirky characters, although I couldn’t quite get to grips with the central figure Inspector Grasby - the humour didn’t quite come off for me so he ended up just being a bit irritating.

I was saving this one for my Christmas holiday read, and it hit all the boxes I needed it to. Absolutely hapless inspector, lots of snow, village mentality, and murder.

This wasn’t the normal holiday murder story though, and I was very surprised where it went, really wasn’t expecting it - in a good way. I honestly didn’t know what was going on anymore- everything I thought I knew was wrong. It’s a bit of a ride!

My thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was expecting a Christmas mystery, but there is nothing festive about this story, except that it is set in December. Also, I couldn’t quite immerse myself in the mystery and I would often get distracted. However, I really liked the main character, Inspector Frank Grasby. Very likable, he is witty, a bit naive, and often unfortunate. He is the main narrator of the story, which reads like a memoir, so we are privy to his inner thoughts that, together with his conversations with his father, make for quite an entertaining read. All in all, an enjoyable non-Christmas read!

A well-written story. The character of Frank Grasby is full of humour and well-fleshed out, Hetty Gaunt the landlady is also an interesting character with her mysterious past, The subject matter however was not to my personal taste as I prefer murders that are due to blackmail, secrets and money.

This is a perfect, feel-good, cosy up with the fire and Christmas tree lit behind you kind of book. Perfect Christmas read, simple and easy.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

In Denzil Meyrick‘s Murder at Holly House, readers are transported to the remote town of Elderby in December 1952, where Inspector Frank Grasby becomes entangled in a web of murder, mystery and misadventure. The historical whodunnit, related in the first person through Grasby’s unpublished memoirs, unfolds with a delightful blend of humour, suspense and a touch of Christmas spirit. Grasby’s bumbling yet endearing character leads an entertaining investigation as the quaint village faces seclusion, blizzards and unexpected murders. Meyrick’s vivid and eccentric cast of characters, rich dialogue and comedic charm create a lively narrative. The story seamlessly combines mystery, melodrama and national intrigue, making Murder at Holly House a jolly good romp through a bygone era, perfect for readers seeking a light-hearted yet suspenseful historical mystery.

Oh this was wonderful. Laugh out loud funny with an intriguing mystery at its heart. Five stars, can highly recommend.

When a distant cousin of Frank Grasby gets sent some crates from the home of his late parents. When clearing out the paperwork, he finds the unpublished ‘Memoirs of Inspector Frank Grasby’ along with several police reports, telexes and memos. From this material the author manages to piece together the tale we are about to read.

It is 1952 and a dead man has been found lodged up the chimney of Holly House in the very remote town of Elderby, in the North York Moors. Is he a bundling thief, or is there something more going on here? Inspector Frank Grasby is sent to investigate. He hopes this will be the case to clear his name. But as is often in Grasby’s life, things don’t go to plan. Blizzards hit and cut the village off, and the local doctor's husband is found murdered. Grasby soon realises that his investigation is much more than that of a simple theft gone wrong.

Grasby has been sent to Elderby from York after one of his latest mishaps, and his Superintendent, Arthur Juggers, decides that it is safer for all if Grasby is sent somewhere quieter with less to mess up for a while. Grasby is relieved he is not being sent to the dreaded Hull, so makes the most of it, and talks the move up to his elderly father, as a positive thing. He soon starts to change his mind when he gets to Elderby and meets his new colleagues who seem to be even more inept than him, his guest house with rations of baths (one a week) and an eccentric landlady with a pet crow, and one pub with terrible food. There is a positive in the beautiful intern (once he can figure out what an intern is), the American Daisy Dean, but please, call her Dee Dee.

The cast of characters is broad and colourful. The dialogue is full of ‘of the time’ expressions, along with the North Moors expressions which one raises an eyebrow trying to figure out. The case that Grasby hopes will be open and shut takes on legs, and runs, then sprints out of control. Nobody is who he thinks any more, and nothing is as it seems. The story takes on a Hardy Boys meets James Bond, all manned by a slightly more proficient than usual Mr. Bean. It starts off slow, but once it gets going is a fun read, with a good mix of humour, exciting plot twists and drama. I did find it hard to connect with some of the characters, with some feeling a bit flat and one dimensional, as there were so many in the story. But overall an interesting story, and a great delve into an unpublished memoir, will we see more?!

*I received this book from NetGalley for review, but all opinions are my own.

The novel of found manuscripts and associated papers can give a pleasant frisson of anticipation to the reader of historical and mystery fiction and this entertaining tale does not disappoint, though the memoirs are a little unconventional. It is 1952, police Inspector Frank Grasby based in York is transferred to work in the small bleak village of Elderby in the North Yorkshire moors, as Christmas approaches. He has made an egregious error and is despatched to an obscure bucolic locality as a punishment and to get him out of the spotlight. In his autobiographical ramblings, Frank is a likeable sort of chap, honest in his self-appraisal as to his personal limitations. But he is decidedly accident-prone and very often of limited perception and awareness in detecting and in his daily interactions. The style of his first-person narration reminded me a little of the discursive inanities of Bertie Wooster. Grasby comes across a body in an unlikely location at the home of the local gentry Lord Damnish, and he then finds that Elderby is indeed an isolated and secretive village. When another murdered corpse is found, Grasby knows he has a major incident upon his buffoonish hands and matters get terribly complicated and even lurches into matters of national security
The historical context is light but comes across as reasonably authentic, and it’s all quite crazily melodramatic at times. It is entertaining as the plot rumbles along in one complication after another for the hapless Grasby. His ruminations at the close of proceedings suggests that sequel(s) may well be on the way!

I am a fan of Denzil Meyrick’s DCI Daley series and was eagerly anticipating his venture into a new genre. Regrettably, it fell short of my expectations and I couldn’t even complete the book. it hard for me to connect with the characters. The writing style felt more farcical than witty, making it hard for me to connect with the characters, and the mystery didn’t grab me. Perhaps it got better later in the story but I gave up at 30%.

The story only came to light when a distant cousin of Frank Grasby was sent some crates from the home of his late parents. In searching through all the paperwork enclosed he discovers the unpublished Memoirs of Inspector Frank Grasby along with several police reports, telexes and memorandum. From this the author has managed to piece together this tale…

Frank Grasby is a bit of a bumbling buffoon of a policeman working in York. He is prone to mishaps and lapses of judgement for which he has something of a reputation. After one too many cock up Superintendent Arthur Juggers decides it is time for Frank to be moved away for a short while for the benefit of everyone. Frank is chilled, he dreads being posted to Hull, and more importantly the beat down Hessle Road tackling ‘three day millionaires’ the drunken trawlermen briefly ashore between voyages. To Frank’s relief it’s not Hull but Elderby in rural North Yorkshire where he is to investigate a series of thefts from farms. Now what could possibly go wrong here? Well, he does find a body stuck up a chimney, but thankfully it’s not Santa Claus…

So, we have the spoof journal of a hapless fool who manages to get himself into The Yorkshire Post for all the wrong reasons. The start of the novel is very funny as we discover his errors and terrible attempts at excuses, not to mention the strange foibles of his character. Here is a middle-class snob who doesn’t pay respect to his seniors but expects it from subordinates. A man who is ‘all piss and wind’ at times hopelessly ineffectual but still not without some charm. A complete embarrassment but also an accidental hero we can warm to.
The characters are wonderfully drawn, as eclectic as they are colourful. Towards the end of the story, we discover that some of these characters are not who they appear to be, which results in a beautifully chaotic finale.

There is the widow Mrs Gaunt who runs the guest house which is dark and spooky (though it is spooks of another variety play a part in the tale) whose companion is Cecil, a crow who perches on her shoulder. Sergeant Bleakly is a war hero, he served in Burma with Orde Wingate in the Chindits, but he now has a condition which means he falls asleep at inopportune times. Also at the station is Daisy Dean (Dee Dee) an American intern who has the looks to turn heads. She may appear to be sweet and demure but there is steel under the surface, a woman not to be taken at face value.

The dialogue is peppered with beautifully dated language where men are good chaps or coves, and 'oh I say there old chap' would be considered a firm rebuke. The plot quickly transforms from simple robbery with the discovery of murder and then into a spiffing Boy’s Own story (keeping in the spirit of the novel there). All the while Frank is a couple of steps behind the action and getting hints at a mysterious past in Elderby. Why is there drawing on the wall in Frank’s room at Mrs Gaunt’s which includes a man who looks remarkably like his father the Reverend Grasby?

Overall, this novel is intended to be jolly good fun and that it certainly is. Packed with gentle humour, buffoonery, a bit of slapstick and the occasional flash of danger, it brings a sense of feel-good satisfaction. I could see this book having wide appeal and appearing in many Christmas stockings. I dare say a few copies will be intended as gifts but end up being kept once the buyer skims the first few chapters! It’s the sort of book I would come back to, and I feel sure the author will be able to piece together some more hair-raising tales from Frank’s memoirs.

I would like to thanks Net Galley, the author and publisher for access in exchange for a fair review

Inspector Frank Grasby’s memoirs go back to 1952 and the investigation of the body found in the chimney of Holly House.
Wonderful small English village with plenty of quirky characters. The investigation takes many unexpected turns, and the Inspector is not sure he will survive.
A great read of a by gone era. Wonderful characters that really stand out.
Any further stories with these characters is a must read.
Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

An okay read but I did struggle to stay engaged as the pace was slow and it just felt as though it was plodding. That said, the story was good.

I haven't read anything from this author previously but the premise of a Christmas murder was enough to draw me in! This is presumably the first in a new series and it did feel a little slow as the scene was set, but I think this is inevitable, and only makes to create expectations from the subsequent stories.
I liked the setting, and the characters played their role, but the denouement was unexpected when it came. Altogether, a welcome addition to winter's evening by the fire.

A bumbling Police inspector sent in disgrace for what should be a quiet village. The story is written as a memoir of Inspector Grasby. It felt like this was part of a series where I had missed the start. Overall I didn’t quite gel with the story.

‘Murder at Holly House’ is a new direction for Denzil as its set in the 1950s in a tiny village on the North Yorks Moors! Now I am a huge fan of Denzil’s and his DCI Daley books and I was very excited to hear about this book being released. It definitely met and exceeded all my expectations. I really am hoping that there will be a follow-up as I completely loved this beginning for DI Frank Grasby.

DI Frank Grasby makes a mess out everything - this time he has lost 17 thoroughbred horses! So he is packed off to the remote village of Elderby on the North York Moors in disgrace. But when a body is found stuffed up the chimney of the local Lords house, Grasby has to work out if it was an accident or murder? Soon blizzards kick in to isolate the village even more and when the body of the local Doctor’s husband is found Grasby is at his wits end. He soon begins to realise that everybody in Elderby has something to hide!

This was such a change in direction for Denzil and I thoroughly and utterly enjoyed it! I grew up in Scarborough and many a day trip was spent investigating the local villages and hiking the moorlands, so this was a nostalgic read for me location-wise. It meant I could visualise every scene in this book and it also gave me ‘Heartbeat’ vibes as well, which was one of my favourite programmes growing up.

This was a great cast of characters, with Grasby being a brilliant protagonist! I loved all his foibles, but he may come across as being inept at times but he actually is very shrewd and determined to do the right thing. His relationship with his father was one of the highlights for me. One of the most unique characters I have read this year has got to be Hetty Gaunt - a landlady, chef, and rationer of baths! I laughed out loud when it came to her scenes and that is very rare for me. All the characters well extremely well-formed and I look forward to learning more about them.

The story grabbed me from the start and I flew through this in one sitting! The plot was immersive and the pacing was superb. There are twists and turns, secrets and lies. All you really need for a romp in the snow!

Let me know if you pick this one up!

I liked the plot but I think the book was a little slow and boring throughout. There was a lot of twists and turns and an overall big reveal that I didn't expect. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with any of the characters and I found it hard to get through to the end.