A Very Lively Murder is a wonderful murder mystery with a real “Christie” feel to it. I enjoyed the Three Dahlias and this successfully lives up to the standard set with a cleverly plotted and gripping follow up. There were the usual twists and turns but I felt in safe hands with this author and was confident that all questions raised would be answered and there wouldn’t be any annoying plot holes at the end.

The characters that were introduced in the first book are established now and watching their relationship develop was another enjoyable aspect to this book.

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot or publisher's blurb...instead I would recommend that you read this for yourself!

I've literally just finished reading this novel, and very much enjoyed it. The book is the second in a series. I hadn't read the previous novel (though plan to now) but this one works just fine as a standalone as there are references to the events of the last book, and plenty of background to the characters.

I enjoyed the writing style - the book is a classic "whodunnit", featuring a locked room, hidden staircase and a shoal of red herrings! 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 book has an underlying brooding feeling, aided and abetted by stormy weather and the setting in a country house in the Welsh landscape. The relationship between the three leading ladies (The Three Dahlias) is well observed, each bringing their different strengths to the investigation.

This would make an excellent holiday read - it took me longer than an average crime novel as it has a lot more depth to it than I expected, but that was all to the good!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

I loved reading this cozy mystery the second book in The Three Dahlias series. I have not read the first book but it didn’t matter and I can’t wait to read it. This book was so enjoyable I certainly didn’t see the ending and the plot twists were so well written.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the copy of the ebook

Loved this second in the Three Dahlia’s series book. Twisty right up until the end, with a final most won’t see coming. Enjoyed spending time with the three main ladies again and getting to know them a bit better. Can’t wait to see what the next book in the series has in store.

Following the events of the first book & their unmasking of a killer, the three Dahlias reunite on the set of 'The Lady Detective' film which is being shot on location in Wales. 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. Rosalind seems a little preoccupied though & several strange occurrences happen onset: a member of the crew disappears from a locked room, whilst Rosalind is nearly hit by a moving camera arm. When a second 'error' in a murder scene almost ends with Rosalind being stabbed for real, she & Posy contact the third Dahlia, Caro Hooper for help. Rosalind has been receiving death threats & it looks as if it wasn't an idle threat. Then a murder takes place & the evidence seems to point at Posy's co-star (& possibly more), Kit. Surely he can't be a killer?

This is a nice little follow-up to the first book. It's refreshing to read about three generations of women working together & developing a real friendship. There are one or two little asides about the double standards in the film industry when it comes to age & sex, & it seems as if both Posy & Rosalind may have love interests ahead, but the narrative concentrates on the main plot. The story line itself is just the right combination of red herrings & possibilities before the killer is finally revealed, but I must admit that I felt a bit underwhelmed by the reason for it all. Verdict: An entertaining mystery with three wonderful main characters, & yet again I was left wishing the Dahlia Lively books were actually real! 4.5 stars (rounded down)

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Little, Brown Book Group UK/Constable, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

A murder mystery with a nod to the golden era, three strong female lead characters and a locked room scenario. Well if that doesn’t tick all the boxes nothing will! The multi-generational ladies return in a storyline that touches on some difficult topics. With all three ‘leading ladies’ assessing their lives, making the latest Dahlia Lively movie and of course solving a list of potentially related crimes, this is a fun and action packed read. I for one am wearing my ‘What would Dahlia Do?’ badge with pride.

This book is the second in the series with the promise of the third instalment just around the corner so fans of the first book can enjoy this book knowing there’s even more to come. I read the first book and so understood the references to it but if you haven’t and just want to dive right in here then no problem either.

"Rosalind stared out of the front windows of Tŷ Gwyn, frowning, and Posy knew she wasn't seeing the wet, Welsh weather raging. She was seeing paths and plots and possible acts. Caro, too, had her arms folded tightly across her chest, her eyebrows furrowed, as she tried to make sense of it. And as for Posy...she only had more questions."

Book two of the Three Dahlias crime fiction series, sees our three heroes, Rosalind, Caro and Posy on a film set in North Wales. Rosalind receiving death threats, a missing Casting Director and a hit-and-run death of one of the film's stars prompts another Three Dahlias investigation, to discover whether the events are connected and who is to blame.

I loved the first book in the series, 'The Three Dahlias', so was pleased to be given access to an advanced copy of the second, so I could discover what the Three Dahlias were up to next. Reminiscent of Golden Age whodunits, as with the first novel, it manages to feel like a traditional mystery yet modern and fresh. The relationships between the three women is one of the best elements of this series and it was great seeing Posy coming into her own as the latest Dahlia. There's, literally, a cast of supporting characters and potential suspects for the Dahlias to get to know and form opinions about. There's celebrity drama, discussion of discrimination and abuse of women in the film industry and it culminates in a locked room murder mystery in atmospheric Tŷ Gwyn (the White House) during a storm.

I loved each chapter being proceeded by a relevant Dahlia Lively quote and the fictional North Wales setting (I grew up in North Wales). The 'What Would Dahlia Do?' badges that one of the characters creates are inspired and I hope will soon be available in really life?! Perfect for fans of cosy crime, golden age whodunit homages and strong female protagonists.

The three Dahlias - Posy, Rosalind and Caro - are reunited on the set of the new Dahlia Lively movie, but under terrible circumstances. When someone is murdered they take up the task of investigating before anyone else gets hurt.

As I picked up this book I realised that it was my most anticipated read of 2023. Ever since reading The Three Dahlias last year I have been eager to read the next instalment in the series. I knew I would be in safe hands with Katy Watson and A Very Lively Murder was everything I hoped it would be!

The story felt like a delicious puzzle to get stuck into and I found myself getting my notebook out to jot down ideas, very much like one of the characters in the book. I loved all of the twists and turns because I couldn't possibly predict where the plot was heading.

The characters were easily my favourite part of the book. I loved the little touches that showed the bond between the three Dahlias and that they genuinely care for each other. They are superbly written and made the book such a brilliant read.

If you haven't read The Three Dahlias I recommend that you do and then immediately follow it with A Very Lively Murder.

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

The perfect summer read and another great mystery featuring the three actresses. I’m always a little weary of the second book in a cosy mystery series …. Will it live up to the first? However, I enjoyed this book as much as the first one and hope to catch up with the three dahlias again.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK, Constable for the opportunity to read this advanced copy, it was a pleasure to read.

Delicious And Devious..
The second entry in the Three Dahlias Mysteries arrives hot on the heels of the very wonderful first outing and is yet another delicious, devious and delightful mystery reminiscent of the Golden Age of Crime. A wonderfully entertaining homage to the vintage mystery but certainly no pastiche - this is a perfectly formed puzzler with a tangled plot populated with a credible and well drawn cast of characters, a fitting backdrop and with a solid mystery at heart. Something is rotten on the set of The Lady Detective - can these three Dahlias catch another cunning killer? They’re certain to have enormous fun finding out, as no doubt will the reader.

I loved The Three Dahlias and only read it recently, so the characters and plot were fresh in my mind as the next instalment began.
Once again Katy Watson has delivered a good old fashioned whodunnit, with plenty of red herrings, twists and turns to keep you guessing.
I feel like the characters are becoming more fleshed out now and each of the Dahlias is bringing an important ingredient to the story. This time the movie is being filmed and I enjoyed the snippets of that process too. The structure of the book is also a winner as it keeps the story moving at a good pace, a real ‘just one more chapter’ book.
If you’re a fan of cosy crime and Agatha Christie then this is a book for you. Highly recommend.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series and this.was another great read. The writing is fun and fast paced and really well written. A joy to read. I can’t wait for novel; number 3. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early copy of this book.

The three actresses of different generations who play the formidable Dahlia Lively are back after teaming up to solve the murders at Aldermere. Rosalind, the original Dahlia, Caro whose Dahlia was the star of the successful TV series, and Posy who is set to bring Dahlia to a new generation.

Rosalind and Posy are filming 'The Lady Detective' at Ty Gwn in Wales. This is Posy’s big chance to finally become the new modern face of Dahlia Lively. But the film set soon turns sinister when Rosalind receives death threats and is nearly killed when the prop knife on set is swapped for a real knife.

The two Dahlia’s call in Caro to reunite the trio to discover who was behind the attempted murder. But before they can crack the case tragedy strikes as a cast member is killed in a hit and run. As the body count rises a storm cuts off Ty Gwn leaving the cast stranded with a murderer amongst them. With the film in danger of being shut down the three Dahlia’s are forced to take charge to find the murderer and save the film.

I loved been back with the Dahlias. 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. It was lovely to see Posy really coming into her own and being the leading Dahlia in the story. I was totally immersed in this cosy crime story and read it in two days. Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK for gifting me this arc via NetGalley. Go grab a copy when it is released on 6 July!

This was a great second novel in the Dahlia Lively series, I love the relationship between the three actresses that play Dahlia and I really enjoyed the behind the scenes look at making a movie. I’m really hoping that this is going to be a long running series and who knows, it might get an adaptation of it’s own.

It was lovely to be back in the world of the three Dahlias and A VERY LIVELY MURDER did not disappoint!

Posy’s about to get her close-up as Dahlia in The Lady Detective film that’s shooting in a small village in Wales. It’s all going well – that is, until someone tries to kill Rosalind. Summoning Caro, the three Dahlias are at their most lively (sorry) investigating why someone would want to kill her – and who’s sending her death threats? But when another cast member shows up dead, it becomes a question of What Would Dahlia Do? to both find the murderer and stop the film being cancelled…

I love a mystery set on a film set and this was the perfect combination of cosy mystery and celebrity drama, with some great character arcs. I can’t wait to see where the Dahlias end up next!

This was another brilliantly entertaining mystery featuring the three actresses, the three Dahlias.
This one is set in a big house in Wales where the filming of the new detective movie featuring 1930s detective Dahlia Lively is taking place. 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. However, I think that the author provides enough explanation that this one can be read as a stand alone. I would recommend that you read the earlier book though as it, like this one, is an excellent read.
I loved the echoes of Golden Age mysteries in this book. Dahlia Lively is a character in a set of books supposedly written from 1930 onwards and each of the chapters in this book begins with a quotation from one of the novels that has reference to something that will occur in the chapter.
The characters are fun and larger than life as you might expect from film stars. I enjoyed the development of each of the leading ladies. Rosalind is coming to terms with now being reduced to cameo roles and Caro is thinking about a future outside of acting. Posy is having to cope with the legacy of both the previous actresses and trying to make the role her own and I liked the way that this was a struggle for her.
The supporting characters are a mixed bag of film actors and locals at the local pub where the film stars are staying. As the murders happen, motives are unclear and the author lays plenty of false trails for the three dahlias as well as the reader to follow. The murkier side of films and celebrity is one of the themes of the book with a tragedy from years ago lying at the heart of the mystery.
I enjoyed this book every bit as much as the first one and hope that we see the three dahlias again soon. Thank you to Net Galley and Little Brown Book Group UK for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A Very Lively Murder blew me away. This is such a well-crafted and wonderful mystery, with plenty of twists and turns.

I recently raced through and adored The Three Dahlias, loving that blend of cosy Golden Age style of crime stories with a social commentary of the dark side of fame and fandom. It was just dynamite and I knew I needed more, so instantly went to continue my binge and requested the follow-up. This is an excellent continuation of the story, drawing on the huge cliffhanger from the first book. You are unsettled from the start and Adler keeps going from there.

I also really loved the character development here. We get more insights into their pasts, relationships and complicated relationships with the role of Dahlia. This offers so much depth and rich exploration of the central themes, while also keeping the pace racing through. All three of our Dahlias feel even more settled in their narrative voice. They are so distinctive, yet share common characteristics that mark them clearly as the Dahlia Lively.

Watson has concocted an excellent recipe for success here. It just builds from moments of danger to full blown paranoia and an intense, claustrophobic atmosphere that heightens everything. I enjoyed how Watson kept that dangling exploration of fame, legacy and learning to live within your own light. This has such a cutting edge with social relevance that I really appreciated, as well as some nuanced reflections on controversy from inclusive casting. There is an extreme danger to weaponised nostalgia, which is often used against marginalised people and Watson is keenly aware of this.

A Very Lively Murder is an incredible, crystallised moment of reflection and the Golden Age of Crime. As long as Watson keeps writing these, I will eat them up.

What a wonderful follow on from the first book. The story picks up slightly after the first book finished and follows the characters whilst they are actually filming the film from the first book. As you would imagine there is another murder or two that the three Dahlias take it upon themselves to solve. You will need to have read the first in this series to understand what lead them to Wales for filming. 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. This along with the first will be the must read books of this summer.

Three cheers for the return of the Three Dahlias!
I discovered this series about two weeks ago and since then I devoured the first book in the series (The Three Dahlias), the fun Christmas short story (Dahlias Decks the Halls), and now the second book, (A Very Lively Murder). A sure sign of a fun and entertaining read!
A Very Lively Murder is the second novel in the series and though it would work perfectly well as a standalone, where are many references to the events of the previous novel and I think it takes from the enjoyment somewhat if you are not aware of the whole history. Though the author, Kath Watson, is careful to provide sufficient details without giving away the entire plot.
This time around our plucky heroines are off to Wales to shoot The Lady Detective, the new movie based on the Dahlia Lively series of mysteries as written by Lettice Davenport from the 1930s to 1960s. 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. During the filming the pair realise that Rosalind is being targeted by a dangerous killer and contact Caro Hooper (the star of the tv series as Dahlia) to help them with their investigation.
As in the previous book, there are plenty of red herrings and our trip get upto plenty of mischief, but there is no doubt that only the 'Three Dahlias' can solve the mystery as the body count rises and their own lives are all put in peril!