Occupation: New housekeeper at Honeychurch Hall
Domestic Status: Wife of retired military hero
Best Friend: Iris Stanford
Goal: To oust Peggy Cropper (cook) and Seth Cropper (butler). They need to retire!
Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I’m complaining about the free cottage that the Dowager Countess has given us in the grounds of Honeychurch Hall, but we really should have had the end of terrace. It’s got a very useful basement.
Of course, I’d rather live in the Carriage House but my best friend Iris lives there.
As I said to Iris, the Croppers should have retired a decade ago. Peggy’s cooking leaves a lot to be desired—who eats tripe and onions these days—and I know that Seth drinks on the side despite what everyone else around here might say. My Lenny (soon to be awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal) would do a much better job of butlering. Is that a real word? And besides, I need to make sure he doesn’t get up to any more mischief. This is his last chance.
But I’ve got my work cut out for me. Not only am I assisting Iris in making our homemade gin for Christmas (at a very good price) but his lordship suddenly decided to open the Museum Room to the general public. All well and good but the room has not been touched for decades and it’s full of weird collectibles—a mummified hawk being just one.
Speaking of gin, Iris’s daughter Kat is a real killjoy. She’s convinced we’re going to run foul of Detective Inspector Shawn Cropper for selling the stuff without a license. He’s the Cropper’s grandson and a right stuffed shirt. At one time I thought he and Kat might make a go of things but Iris said they fell out.
I’m on the fence about Kat. Sometimes I think she’d make the perfect wife for my Guy. I mean, he’s such a catch. He’s a helicopter pilot in the navy and he’s just finished converting a lovely barn around the corner. I just don’t understand why Kat’s dragging her feet. If you ask me, she’s looking a gift horse in the mouth. Let’s face it, she’s got to be forty now.
Having Kat as our daughter-in-law would be quite nice I suppose. We might even get in Hello magazine although she’s not as famous as she used to be. She does a bit of dealing on the side in the antique trade. I expect Guy might let her keep that going if they got married. She can be a bit mouthy though. If she was my daughter, I would keep her in line but then that’s Iris for you. She seems more concerned with handling the Honeychurch archives in that converted piggery. I don’t understand why she locks the piggery door though.
Well, I’d better get on. I’ve had my tea break and now I’ve got to go and check that old bag Peggy hasn’t set the kitchen on fire.
As I keep saying to Iris, they really need to retire!
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win one (1) print copy of Tidings of Death at Honeychurch Hall, open to everyone. Giveaway ends October 23, 2020.
Tidings of Death at Honeychurch Hall is the sixth book in the “Honeychurch Hall” cozy mystery series, released October 20, 2020.
Mistletoe and murder at Honeychurch Hall. . .
It’s ten days before Christmas at Honeychurch Hall and Kat Stanford has persuaded the Earl of Grenville to open the Museum Room to the villagers in an effort to raise money for rooftop repairs. For the price of a ticket visitors will be able to view an unusual display of antiques – including the legendary Bleeding Hawk of Honeychurch Hall.
When an obnoxious young couple drive 200 miles from London to view the treasures it’s not just Kate who is suspicious of their intentions; Mr Chips, the estate’s feisty Jack Russell makes his feelings plain by taking a bite out of the man’s trousers.
But then a suit of armour inexplicably falls on the ancient butler, killing him, and when a second body is found near a quarry nearby Kat becomes entangled in a world of feuds and jealousies, finally encountering a cold-blooded killer who will stop at nothing to keep the past at bay.
About the author
Hannah Dennison was born and raised in Hampshire but spent twenty-five years living in the USA. She has been an obituary reporter, antique dealer, private jet flight attendant and Hollywood story analyst. For many years Hannah taught mystery writing workshops at the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program in Los Angeles, California.
Hannah writes the Island Sisters Mysteries, the Honeychurch Hall Mysteries and the Vicky Hill Mysteries all set in south west England where she now lives with her two high-spirited Hungarian Vizslas.
For more information on Hannah, please visit her website at hannahdennison.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
All comments are welcomed.
This is a very favorite series of mine! I absolutely love Honeychurch Hall! Looking forward to reading this awesome new book! 📚 And I really like the awesome cover too!!! Thank you so much dear Dru and Hannah for the chance to win! 😊
Hi Beverly – I love the Honeychurch covers – always with Mr Chips. So happy you are enjoying the series.
I enjoyed this and am looking forward to reading this! Thanks for the chance to win!
So glad you like the series!
This sounds like an intriguing cozy mystery that I’d enjoy reading. Thank you.
The first book is Murder at Honeychurch Hall but you can jump in with any of the sequels. I hope you will give it a go!
Love the series and look forward to reading this one soon.
Hi Marlene – I am about to start writing book 8! So there are more out there. Thanks for your support.
This sounds like a fun read!
What a treat! After such a rollercoaster of a year a new Honeychurch Hall to look forward to!
I had a lot of fun writing this one … probably because it involved making homemade gin!
Oooo! I would so lobe to win this one!
Delia sure has a lot to say, doesn’t she? I love this series and can’t wait to read Tidings of Death at Honeychurch Hall!
I liked writing Delia … based on someone I know … of course. But I will never tell who it is!!
Good luck!! 🙂
Good luck!!
Love this series and I have purchased them all. It’s like catching up with old friends when you read one!
Hi Margaret – that’s a wonderful compliment – yes, old friends! Thank you for stopping by.
This, among many others, is a favorite series of mine. I always look forward to the next book to see what adventures are occuring. Thanks for the opportunity to enter this giveaway.
I really enjoyed the description of the book. This is a new series to me. Would really like to read.
Oh excellent! I am so happy you haven’t read Honeychurch yet. I hope you will give them a try!
I am so happy you enjoy this series. As a heads up – Death of a Diva will be out in March 2021 in the USA but if you live in the UK – you won’t have long to wait … it’ll be next month!
Interesting cover, I think I need to read this book. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
wfnren at aol dot com
The Honeychurch covers are all so bright and cheerful! I like this one too – Mr. Chips (the Jack Russell) appears on every one and usually has a role — albeit a tiny one.
I love this author, although coming up with something nice to say about Delia is quite a challenge. Looking forward to reading all about the antiques, especially the bleeding hawk.
Ha ha … yes Delia is a bit of a trip! I admit I based her on someone I used to know …
Love this series and the author. Thanks for your great giveaway.
Chuffed to bits that you love Honeychurch … and even better, me! 🙂
I love your books and this one sounds really good. I would love to win it.
Hi Kathleen – thank you for stopping by. I’m so thrilled you are enjoying my books!
Love this series and can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for the giveaway!
I love hearing that you enjoy Honeychurch. Thanks for supporting my books!
This looks good. I’d love to read more about the things in the museums and the characters.
True fact … the stuffed hawk on the cover is based on a REAL stuffed hawk called the “bleeding hawk of Hillersdon” that an old friend of mine’s ancestor brought back from the Crimea. It’s very creepy.
I need to get caught up on what’s happening at Honeychurch Hall!
Hi Pat – good to see your name here — yes … quite a lot of adventures at Honeychurch Hall. Happily the series continued with a UK publisher which I am thrilled about.
Sounds like an enjoyable read.
I hope it is!!
I love this series. So happy there’s a new one.
On my WishList..
Thank you for the giveaway..
Thanks for stopping by! Wishes are good!
Thank you Daryl!
Hello! New to you. Would love to win and try your books!
Hi Melissa – I love being “discovered” — thanks for stopping by!
Sounds like a good read.
… it’s definitely a quick read! (And hopefully a fun one too).
Having met Hannah, I’d just like to say that she is as delightful as her books! (not entering the contest, just commenting. Great cover, Hannah! 🙂
Thank you Cindy — that is such a lovely thing to say!! Hope you are doing well.
Love this series, but my library doesn’t always get the books! I’m excited about this one! Thanks for the chance to win!
Hi Lori – It’s encouraging to know that some libraries are carrying the series — so fingers crossed!!
Sounds very good! I love Christmas theme books! I love the book cover too! The cover would definitely make me read what’s it’s about if I saw it on the shelf. I love learning about new authors and there books!
Thank you for the giveaway!
Hi Sherry – it was fun writing a Christmas book. The little Jack Russell seems to appear on every cover which is also fun too!
I can’t wait to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thanks for posting a comment – Tidings is the 6th book – at the moment there will be at least 2 more!
Thanks for the chance to win this book. This is a new series to me!
Good luck!!
I have been a fan of Honeychurch Hall since book one.When I saw the new series I worried too would end i, so glad for a new addition
Hi Ruth – it’s nice to see your name here! Yes … more Honeychurch to come! Thanks for always supporting my books.
I bet living in a Carriage House would be fun.
I based the carriage house on an actual carriage house a friend of mine lives in. It still retains all the original features from the 19th century – even the horse nameplates!
I love this series! My library has ordered three copies and I am second in line, Which means I am really first!
Great news that your library has ordered them. I always love supporting libraries!
This sounds like a really fun read. Cute cover too.
Hello! It’s a quick read too 🙂
Nice cover. It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
I love the cover too! Thanks for stopping by.
**** WINNER ****
Tidings of Death at Honeychurch Hall is Kristie
Congratulations!