Hattie Goes to Hollywood

Mystery, romance, shenanigans & intrigue in a new series!

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Pub Date 14 Feb 2020 | Archive Date 9 Sep 2020

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Description

Fans of Agatha Raisin will love this new mystery series from best-selling author Caroline James.

A Cumbrian Village... 

Three suicides...

A red-hot summer...

Join super-sleuth Hattie as tempers and temperatures rise in the Cumbrian village of Hollywood. With mischief, romance and shenanigans aplenty, will Hattie discover the truth? 

A funny and intriguing mystery – the first in a new series by Caroline James 

When recently bereaved Hattie Mulberry inherits her aunt’s dilapidated cottage in the village of Hollywood in Cumbria, she envisages a quiet life. But retired hotelier Hattie is bored and when her neighbour asks her to investigate a suspicious suicide, Hattie’s career takes a new direction and H&H Investigations is born. During the hottest summer for years, Hattie discovers there have been three recent suicides in Hollywood and she determines to find out why. Temperatures rise as she throws herself into village life and, with mischief, romance and shenanigans aplenty, Hattie has her work cut out. But will she establish the truth?

Fans of Agatha Raisin will love this new mystery series from best-selling author Caroline James.

A Cumbrian Village... 

Three suicides...

A red-hot summer...

Join super-sleuth Hattie as tempers...


Advance Praise

"‘I loved everything about this book!’ Tessa Talks Books

‘A really enjoyable story and it is definitely one that I will be recommending.’ Donnas Book Blog

‘A truly fantastic read, well written, highly recommended.’ Cathy’s Book Reviews

"

"‘I loved everything about this book!’ Tessa Talks Books

‘A really enjoyable story and it is definitely one that I will be recommending.’ Donnas Book Blog

‘A truly fantastic read, well written, highly...


Available Editions

ISBN 9781916338517
PRICE US$2.99 (USD)

Available on NetGalley

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Average rating from 27 members


Featured Reviews

I found this book to be funny, fun, enjoyable, cozy murder mystery that is filled with characters that were well detailed and well imagined.This book is set in Hollywood, England, which is a small village in the Cumbria area. Hattie has been bequeathed a little cottage from her deceased aunt, which she needs to renovate it and then she plans to turn it into an investigation service. I loved the descriptions. I felt that the plot was excellent and that It was an entertaining cozy mystery.Hattie is a fantastic main character. She is a young 50 some year-old and acquires an awesome pet duck, that non stop follows her around, she names him Drake. I found that part of the novel to be adorable. It just adds an elements of warmth, humor and lightheadedness to the story..The mystery itself was great I honestly didn't solve the mystery until almost the end, which I found to be enjoyable. I felt that this part of the novel especially was extremely well written. Color me a fan of Caroline James!! It won't be the only book I read by her. Overall I felt this to be a fun, funny, cozy and I really, really enjoyed it. I definitely recommend it.

I would like to think Caroline James, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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An interesting read and it was good how the clues were slowly revealed to work out whodunit without it being a complete curve ball at the end. My only complaint if you want to call it that is that all the characters are completely sex mad and it just seemed really out of place. If you'd chosen to read a mills and boon novel you'd expect it but people in their late 50s/60s carrying on like randy teen-agers, it was really distracting and unnecessary and it has put me off reading and further books by this author. They say sex sells, but in this instance if really doesn't

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Hattie Mulberry recently widowed comes back to the Cumbrian Village of Hollywood. Her late aunt has left her the Cottage at Lovers Lane. With a Deceased Spouse, a Dilapidated Cottage and a Dead Neighbor, Hattie had thought of a serene life here. But little did she know that wasn't happening.

A retired hotelier, Hattie has never been known to sit quiet. Her cottage needs a face lift and Alf, her good friend and a Handyman takes on this project. Hattie has been known to posses sleuthing skills and when her neighbor - Marjorie asks her to take on the case of her dead spouse, it's a no refuse offer.

Thus, Hattie dons on her Sleuthing Cap & starts her work like our very beloved Miss Marple. And there is born her H&H Detective company. From one suicide of Barry, Marjorie's husband, she finds out there have been two more suicides. Three deaths in a small town and something definitely amiss seems very unbelievable to Hattie. The dots need to connect and Hattie won't rest till all the pieces fit into this mysterious puzzle in front of her.

As temperature rises in the village, so does Hattie's spirits.

-What would have happened to Barry?
-A suicide or a murder?
-Who is the connection?
-Who are the suspects?
-Does Hattie solve this case?

Rating - 4/5 Stars
Recommendation - High

Conclusion,
This book was such a fun read. Filled with mystery, fun, love and all the shenanigans that take place in Hattie's life, it bursts with amazing humor. Written so well, this book is a delight to dive into it. Amazing character and plot development with a drizzle of mellifluous humor, this book is a fun filled riot. I thoroughly enjoyed and can't wait to embark upon Hattie's next adventure.

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So charming! Will now have to go read the backlist of Caroline James'. This cozy story tells of Hattie's adventures moving to Hollywood - that's England - to a run down cottage home she is renovating. On move in day, her driveway is blocked by the mourners of her neighbor's husband's funeral, dead apparently of suicide. Did he commit suicide? Her neighbor asks Hattie to look into it.

Charming, fun, enjoyable! I enjoyed getting to know these characters and look forward to more in the series.

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A good cozy mystery, entertaining and engrossing.
I liked the style of writing, the setting and the fleshed out cast of characters. The mystery is solid and kept me guessing.
Can't wait to read another installment in this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

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I received this ARC via Netgalley and BooksGoSocial, in return for an honest review. This is the first book in a new series. Hattie Mulberry is recently widowed. While she’s financially well-off, she’s intrigued by the bequest of her late aunt’s cottage on Lovers Lane, Hollywood, Cumbria, and decides to move there. Overcome by the dilapidated cottage and garden, she hires her old co-worker and friend, Alf, as handyman and gardener. While he works magic outside, she’s completely disinclined to tackle the inside renovations as she’s very much at loose ends since her husband’s death. Her interest is piqued when she discovers that Barry, the husband in the big house next door, committed suicide in the local wood, leaving a feuding second wife and stepdaughter. Alf encourages Hattie to consider investigating the death as she’s long had a reputation as an inveterate amateur sleuth at the hotel where they both worked. When the new widow, Marjorie, engages Hattie to prove that it was murder, not suicide, H&H Investigations is in business. From there on out, events move quickly, everyone is under suspicion and Hattie is on the case. Joined by her able assistant, Drake the duck, she’s ready to solve the mystery.
There is much to like about this book. The book has fun, mystery, love (both requited and unrequited) and lots of interesting Hollywood inhabitants. It’s got more sexual activity than the traditional cozy but that doesn’t overpower the story. It took me a bit to get into the story because I wasn’t sure that I liked Hattie at first. She did grow on me and I look forward to her next adventure. Why was I hesitant? Hattie’s written as a 50- something-year-old woman, with a voluptuous figure – great! However, some of the author’s word choices aggravated me more than endeared me to her. For example – ‘…finding depths of energy that belied her years.’ Really? She’s only in her 50s and is great health; why describe her as enfeebled like that? But Hattie definitely grows on you and is very human. Marjorie is always picture perfect; Hattie is quite happy to be around her house in less than perfect clothing choices. Hattie is great fun and I’m rooting for what happens next to be just as fun as this book.

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Ive read all of MC Beaton's Agatha Raisin's cozys. This first in a series by Caroline James is a good start for Beaton fans to pick up. A widow-turned-investigator Hattie Mulberry has moved to the Cumbrian village of Hollywood, named after the Holly bushes. There is much to do to renovate her new home left to her by an odd Aunt and with the charming village come charming, quirky characters. 3 suicides are revealed-could they be related? I like this series and recommend this book to cozy lovers who are tired of the old -who poisoned-who formula .
I received this ARC via Netgalley and BooksGoSocial, in return for an honest review.

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I am a big fan of the Agatha Raisin series, so I wanted to read this because it sounded similar. It was a good start to the series and I will happily read more in the series if it continues - which it looks like it will. The only thing I will say is it looks like Hattie previously featured in a different novel by the same author. I felt like I was missing part of Hattie’s backstory. That was the downside of the story. Otherwise, it was a great quick light hearted read that I would recommend.

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What a great story, unique, romantic, very good mystery, very well written. I am gobsmacked with Hollywood, Hattie, and Reggie is smokin! Love the other characters as well, Marjorie, Alf, Harry, and adore Drake, too precious! Moving back to where she grew up, Cumbria, Hattie has inherited an in need of repair cottage by an Aunt, Hattie sets out to do just that, she hires Alf, a great character, one of the stars of the show! He lets her know, she has too much energy and needs to get a job, not for money, that would be nice, but to keep her busy, she decides to do what she is best at, that is being nosy, so, she opens a detective agency! The story takes off, never lets up. I have very few books on my top twenty for twenty - twenty, this has made the list, and I cannot wait for the next adventure, which has a clever segue into Hattie's next adventure!
I highly recommend! Thank you Netgalley!
carolintallahassee.com

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Is Hollywood Ready For Hattie....?
Hattie Mulberry arrives in Hollywood, a small Cumbrian village, and that’s where her adventures begin. But, is Hollywood ready for Hattie? A fun filled, jolly romp of a book and the first in a series of cosy mysteries. Enjoyable, light escapism.

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I took a chance on this book and was richly rewarded! I loved it! Hattie, fifty-something and recently widowed, moves into the cottage she inherited from an estranged Aunt in Hollywood. The English village of Hollywood, is small - filled with curious, hilarious and quintessentially British characters who are quirky and lovable, wonderful pubs and a rash of suicides - or were they murder? Hattie takes on the mystery and nearly finds herself the next victim!

Hattie is one of my favorite cozy heroines - sexy, funny, blunt, a loyal friend, opinionated, kind and wicked clever! Age, to Hattie, is just a number and she has a big heart though she lets few people see.it. Her heart begins to show when she adopts her crime solving partner, the incredible Drake, the Mallard duck! The mystery kept me guessing and reading...it's one of those books I couldn't put down! There is more sexual references than in a traditional cozy mystery, but I was not offended and it didn't overwhelm the story.

I immediately checked to see if the next book was available and it will be soon! I can't wait to see what adventures Hattie finds next!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed, in this review, are my own.

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A lovely start to a new cozy mystery series featuring a 50 year old widow-turned-investigator Hattie who has a duck as a pet! A well written story with some romance and fun. The story kept my interest and I will definitely read her next adventure!

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Hattie is a thoroughly delightful character, a woman of a certain age who is sure of herself and enjoys life. Hattie is a recent widow who moves to the English Village of Holly Wood. She buys a house in the area and soon becomes a part of the community.
Her next-door neighbor Marjorie comes to introduce herself and they become friends. Marjorie is a decorator and Hattie has decided to become a private eye. Marjorie agrees to decorate the house if Hattie will help to prove her husband did not kill himself.
The book is rife with wonderful characters that leap off the pages. As Hattie works to solve the mysteries, she uncovers secrets of many of the other residents of the area and confronts all of the protagonists in an Agatha Christie kind of setting where she has gathered them all for a housewarming party. She solves the mysteries and along the way finds a duck and a romantic partner.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I look forward to the next in the series. It is a compelling read and is well crafted.

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This was the first cozy mystery novel I have ever read and I enjoyed it. It was funny and well-written, the characters were developed and interesting, and I loved the setting of the small village of Hollywood. Hattie is a bit prickly at times and that annoyed me for some reason but overall I liked this book.

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I have to admit that I struggled at the beginning of the book. There was a bit of British slang that I had to look up and lots of characters to keep straight as well as backstory.

I put the book down unfinished and went back to it a month or so later and it all seemed to click. And from that point on, I enjoyed the story and thought the mystery was well done. Hattie is a bit of a character!

When following up on the next book in the series (there is a teaser setting it up at the end) I discovered that Hattie is a developed character from earlier books from the author. That may have explained why I was a bit lost at the beginning.

I received an ARC via NetGalley but any opinions expressed are my own.

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i really enjoyed reading this book, the characters were great and I enjoyed going on this mystery. I enjoyed the humor and the atmosphere.

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Hattie is just such a loveable character and you can visualise every page as you read it. Just hope it won’t be too long before dear Hattie is back with another mystery to solve as I can’t wait. .

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I loved everything about this book.
The story line was well constructed and unique. The plot itself was gripping and kept me interested and intrigued from beginning to end.
I loved Hattie's character and all of her little quirks!.
An absolute page turner.

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Hattie moves to Hollywood and no it is not in California but across the pond. Life in a small, quiet English village is a little to quiet for the newly widowed Hattie so she decides to try her hand at running an investigation business. Her first big client is her neighbor who just lost her husband due to suicide. The trouble is that those closest to him think he was not depressed and do not believe he would kill himself.

Fans of M.C. Beaton will love this book. Hattie approaches life head on and knows how to have a good time. There is diverse cast of characters including a duck who adopted Hattie after she made the mistake of feeding him a scrap. Thanks to Publish Hub Ltd and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

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