Murder at the English Manor is the 20th Miss Underhay Mystery and another entertaining read/listen. Mrs. Craven, Kitty's grandmother's friend asks for her and Matt's help. A distant relative's maid has disappeared and Mrs. Craven's maid is worried about her cousin. The family is hosting an upcoming engagement party at their home, Markham Hall, and want nothing to go wrong. Kitty and Matt get invited to the celebration as guests as well as security. The family is terribly in debt, and need the marriage to go through to bring in the income needed to keep their home afloat. The party goes well, but the next morning, Kitty finds the body of Agnes while out walking her dog, Bertie. They call in help from the local police, and their nemesis, Inspector Lewis, is the constable sent out. He never wants their help, but they give it anyway. As the investigation continues, some jewelry is almost stolen from the safe and another body is found in the lake on the property. It seems everyone has secrets and it takes some shrewd questioning to get some answers. Will they figure our who the killer is before another body turns up.

This was another fun mystery with characters that I enjoy. Matt and Kitty work very well together with him gathering information and following the rules, and Kitty using intuition and problem solving to put the clues together. I always laugh wen Millicent Craven is around. She is a bit of a narcissist, thinking she is doing everything, and sticking her nose in where she isn't needed or wanted, but this time, she actually helps. Bertie also adds humor to a story, and has quite the appetite. Kitty ends up in the kitchens helping when all the staff either quit or are taken from service by their families. It is quite the way to get information though. The bumbling Inspector Lewis once again uses what Matt and Kitty find out to take credit for solving the case. I never seem to figure out who commits the crimes until just before it is revealed, which I love. Murder at the English Manor is another fun, interesting, twisty, cozy, historical mystery which I definitely recommend. I did a read/listen enjoying both formats. Karen Cass does a good job with this story, the voices, accents and tone. I have listened to other books she has narrated and I always enjoy her performance.

This is my first Kitty Underhay mystery and it met my mystery book mark.

The story was intriguing, with enough twists and turns to keep the reader entertained. An arranged engagement, a dead maid and scratches along the safe serves as the background for Kitty and her husband to unravel.

Narration was done well, although, I did not find it exceptional.

#MurderAtTheEnglishManor

Helena Dixon’s *Murder at the English Manor* is a charming and suspenseful cozy mystery featuring amateur sleuth Kitty Underhay, who finds herself entangled in a murder investigation at a grand country estate. When a maid is found dead after a glamorous engagement celebration, Kitty and her partner Matt must unravel a web of secrets, shifting motives, and hidden agendas among the guests. With its atmospheric setting, engaging characters, and classic whodunit intrigue, this installment in the Miss Underhay series is a delightful read for fans of Agatha Christie-style mysteries

received an advanced reader copy of this book in audio format from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

The narration is excellent and each character is well voiced.
The story itself is brilliant and well written. I love Kitty and her husband as well as their dear little dog.

If you love Agatha Christie and cozy mysteries this is the perfect read ! I have enjoyed it very much. And it doesn't even matter that you haven't read the previous books. You can fall into the story and not feel like you've missed anything.

I thoroughly enjoyed this 20th entry in a series I am unfamiliar with. This one takes place at a country estate sometime after WWI and before there's talk of Germany when Kitty and Max are asked to do a favor. The Favershams are going to hold an engagement party for the heir to the title, Sebastian and his wealthy American fiancé to be, Ruby. While someone mentions along the way that they thought the time of matching an impoverished member of the aristocracy to a wealthy American woman of no pedigree, that is the situation here. The Favershams are so in debt, originally due to death taxes but also due to mismanagement.

So what is the favor?? Kitty's aunt's maid, Dora is terribly worried about her sister Agnes, who went missing from Faversham. The Aunt feels guilty because she recommended Agnes for the post. Although the publisher's blurb oddly tells more of the facts than I think they should have done and gets some wrong (Did AI write this blurb?) I will not give away the show. There is a whole lot of story before Kitty and Max begin to unravel who might know where Agnes is and whether she ran off or is dead. We do know, she packed no things. Max is simultaneously investigating a man who he remembers burying during the war. He saw him on the street and speaks to the man's widow, who also believed she saw him. It leads us to a hint about the next entry in the series.

The audio book is well narrated by Karen Cass with believable voices and accents. Overall, this is a classic style mystery that was pleasing and well plotted but I will never understand and am glad I did not read the publisher's blurb. I picked it because I get a kick out of English aristocracy historical fiction as a treat between more intense or complex stories. It is very good of its type and I might read more of the series.

Kitty Underhay and her husband Matt are asked by their friend Mrs. Craven to attend a lavish ball with the intent of discovering what happened to one of the maids. They will definitely be using their skills as private investigators.

The ball was to be a busy event, and Kitty and Matt had planned on watching over the entire event, as that was their original purpose for attending. What started off as a favor to their friend, Mrs. Craven, ends up becoming much more.

Sadly, Agnes just didn't go missing. She was found dead, and it definitely was a case of murder. With the staff at the residence and all of the guests, Kitty and Matt don’t have a shortage of suspects, as just about anyone could have been responsible for Agnes’ murder.

Mrs. Craven made a fine companion to Kitty and Matt on this case, and was actually quite entertaining. Their experience working together solving Agnes’ murder will no doubt be of benefit to them. Will the trio discover what happened? Also, will Matt’s attention on yet another case prevent him from working to find answers with Kitty and Mrs. Craven?

Murder at the English Manor celebrates its twentieth book in the Miss Underhay series by Helena Dixon. As always, she has written an entertaining story and has pleasantly managed to keep this series fresh and enjoyable. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I enjoyed the setting, time period, characters, and story surprises. Sometimes the pacing took a little too long for my taste. But overall, it was enjoyable to listen to this book with this narrator.

dnf at 40%

I'm sorry to say that I couldn't listen to more than 40% of this audiobook. Unfortunately, I couldn't connect with the narrator's voice, even though I found the story interesting. This audiobook is going to get a huge audience, but unfortunately, it wasn't for me.

This book was addicting. I couldn't stop listening to this book, I will be reading the other books in the series.

This is the first book in the (so far) 20-book Miss Underhay Mystery series that I have read, and I listened to the audiobook.
It is a cosy murder mystery story, set in an English country house during the Golden Age era of detective stories, and captures the “country house” atmosphere well, sensitive to the social mores of that era.
The book finishes with a tantalising hint of the next in the series, and I shall be looking out for that.
The narration of dialogue is excellent, with good differentiation between the various characters, but I thought that the delivery of the book’s narrative was somewhat uneven.

This is an awesome historical mystery. I've read them in order and have enjoyed them all. Matt and Kitty make a great team. There is a couple of mysteries going on, enough to keep you hooked. Looking forward to more. The narrator did a great job.

"Murder at the English Manor" is an absolute delight on audio! Helena Dixon's charming mystery is brought to life beautifully by the narrator, making it an engaging and cozy listen. The characters are wonderfully vivid, the plot delightfully twisty, and the performance truly captures the spirit of the English countryside and its quirky inhabitants. Perfect for anyone looking for a comforting and clever whodunit to enjoy on their commute or while unwinding. Highly recommended!

Murder at the English Manor is the 20th book in the A Miss Underhay Mystery series, but the first for me. I have to admit that this was a wonderful light cozy mystery, that I devoured in one day. The story was straight forward, the continuation from other books wasn't overwhelming, or made me feel lost as having not read them. The mystery was straight forward with all the facts laid out, and the ending had a satisfying conclusion.

I liked that the next book was already hinted at, and that the overarching story was not solved but just added to. A great series for someone wanting something light, while still satisfying that cozy mystery niche.

Kitty and Matt are at Markham Hall to find out where Agnes, the maid has gone and why. When walking her dog Kitty discovers a dead body. They will help the police investigate what has occurred and who may be responsible. There are so many suspects including Lord and Lady Faversham.

Well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Good characters in this cosy crime novel. Well paced, lots of meals and a family desperate for the son to marry a rich American. Markham Hall must be saved at any cost.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A Delightful Start to a Cozy Mystery Series

Murder at the English Manor by Helena Dixon is a charming and engaging cozy mystery set in 1930s England. The setting is wonderfully atmospheric, full of period detail that transports the reader right into a world of tea, polite society, and hidden secrets.

Kitty Underhay, the heroine, is likable and smart, with just the right blend of curiosity and determination. Her partnership with the mysterious Captain Matthew Bryant adds a nice dynamic and sets the stage for future intrigue. The plot unfolds at a comfortable pace, with enough twists to keep things interesting without ever becoming overly complicated.

While the mystery itself isn’t the most complex, and some of the secondary characters could use a bit more depth, the writing is clean and enjoyable, and the story holds your attention throughout.

Kitty is invited to tea with her Grams, also present is Mrs Craven who has a favour to ask of Kitty & Matt. Dora, Mrs Craven’s maid is worried about her sister Agnes who she hasn’t heard from in a month & she would like The Bryant’s to investigate. So Matt & Kitty find themselves attending a ball at the very grand but run down Markham Hall. But the next morning, the party feels well and truly over when Kitty stumbles across a body while out walking her dog, Bertie. The maid, Agnes, is dead. Kitty and Matt set about piecing together the puzzle, although Inspector Lewis would rather they went home.
The twentieth book in the series & another well written engrossing cosy mystery. I love Matt & Kitty who work so well together ably aided & abetted by Bertie their spaniel. There are a limited number of suspects but the author throws quite a few red herrings as well as twists & turns. I must admit I didn’t like the family especially the dowager who was clinging onto nineteenth century values. There is also the ongoing mystery of one of Matt’s army colleague’s who faked his death, the ending opens this up & I can’t wait to see what happens. I was also lucky enough to receive an audiobook as well & the narrator was amazing really brought the book to life
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

Audio book review - a light hearted whodunnit with a lovely feel about it - narrated by Karen Cass delightfully. Albeit a simple plot, the story flows and creates a lovely atmosphere, especially in a quiet picturesque village and Manor House setting.

The narration for this book was fabulous. Murder at the English Manor is the latest in the long running series. Kitty and Matt find themselves drawn into a mystery when Mrs. Craven convinces Kitty to look into the disappearance of the sister of one of Mrs Craven's servants. Kitty and Matt travel to Markham Hall for a home party where an engagement between the heir and an American
heiress is to be announced. They are ostensibly there to provide security as someone attempted to break into a safe in London. The mystery is well done as always as Kitty and Matt work overtime to determine if the missing maid was the subject of foul play or moved on on her own. There is some additional developments related to the new overarching mystery surrounding the fake death of a former solider who recovered in the same hospital as Matt during the war that regular readers will appreciate.

One of my favorite cozy historical mystery series!

I’m off to Markham Hall with Matt and Kitty! At the behest of her grandmother’s best friend, Mrs. Craven, they are looking into the disappearance of a maid. Agnes Jones worked for Lord and Lady Faversham near Dartmoor at Markham Hall but her sister, Dora who is Mrs. Craven’s maid and sister to Agnes, is concerned because she hasn’t heard from Agnes for almost a month. Where had the girl gone and why hadn’t she taken her things? It’s almost inevitable that she’s come to no good end. Matt and Kitty need to find out the truth before one of the Faversham sons weds a wealthy American heiress to save the estate and Markham Hall.

I really enjoy this series and love the main characters. Although I miss the original setting of the Dolphin Hotel now that Matt and Kitty have married and moved to manage their detective agency, they don’t spend a lot of time at home and so each book takes us to a new location and a new crime to solve, most often a murder or two. I love the period details and descriptions of 1930s South Devon. Looking forward to the next installment and the continuation of an unsolved mystery from Matt’s past.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publisher. The narrator, Karen Cass, did an excellent job of voicing all the characters and lending wonderful tone and appropriate dramatic flair to the novel. The production really enhanced my enjoyment of the book. I highly recommend this entire series!

Title: Murder at the English Manor
Series: A Miss Underhay Mystery #20
Author: Helena Dixon
Narrator: Karen Cass
Format: 🎧
Publisher: Bookouture Audio
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Audiobook Pub Date May 23, 2025
My Rating: 4.3 Stars
Pages: 309

When Kitty Underhay is summoned to afternoon tea by Mrs. Craven, she knows something is up!
Kitty and her husband Matt Bryant have packed for a weekend away they of course, include their dog Bertie.
Mrs. Craven needs their help in finding out what happened to Agnes her housekeeper's sister.

Kitty and Matt will be is attending an engagement party at the very grand Markham Hall.
Lord and Lady Faversham are having an engagement Ball for their eldest son Sebastian who is marrying Ruby, a wealthy American socialite.

Everyone is having a wonderful time at the party. Kitty and Matt are thinking about the missing maid. Kitty asks her husband- “Shall we dance and not think about investigating right now?”
The next morning, Kitty takes Bertie for a walk in the nearby woods as they have done previously only this time Birdie is more interested in a small building than in walking in the woods or even caching the ducks in the pond. Kitty sees that the building is a mausoleum. Birdie seems to want go in. Kitty tries the door and sure enough it isn’t locked, When they enters she sees why Bertie was so interested as he was trying to drawn her attention to a body - might this be the maid Agnes?
\Whodunit was a surprise as well as the ending!
I am looking forward to Kitty and Matt’s next adventure as we got a hint at the end of this story.

I really like these two.
I loved [author: Ashley Weaver]’s Amory and Milo Ames series but there has been any new stories in ages. So Kitty and Matt seem perfect for me!

Although this is book twenty in Helena Dixon’s Miss Underhay Mystery Series it was my first. I wasn’t sure if it would work but I found it easy to catch up with many of the recurring characters - I found it enjoyable and look forward to reading another.

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 23, 2025.