I think I’m in love! Unfortunately, I’m in love with the same man in the village who all the other spinsters and widows of a certain age seem to be in love with.
The man in question is the rather delicious, Call-me-Danny Pritchard – our new vicar (he likes to be informal). I’m not cradle snatching either. He’s only a few years younger than me and, although I say it myself, I think he’s taken a shine to yours truly and I don’t think it’s just because of my flower arranging skills.
Needless to say, my ever-sensible daughter Kat, likes to pour the proverbial bucket of cold water over my dreams. “Mum,” she says with a roll of her beautiful eyes, “Do you really want to be a vicar’s wife? Organising all those coffee mornings? Taking soup to the needy? Dealing with the Parish council?” to which I say, “Yes! Bring it on!”
Kat thinks I’m over-romanticizing my “friendship” with Danny. She insists that my imagination is galloping away from reality and that call-me-Danny is not a hero on the cover of my last romance novel. To be honest, he could easily have modelled for it with his long grey hair tumbling down to his shoulders that he tries to restrain in a man-bun. And when Danny cuts the grass in the cemetery and gets all hot … well … what can I say? And then, put him in the pulpit and see those eyes blazing with fervour – I know I’m not the only woman in the parish that needs a whiff of old-fashioned smelling salts during the morning service.
There is a snag though and the snag is his mother Ruby. I can’t quite make her out. She’s a bit of a mystery and keeps herself to herself. Personally, I think she has agoraphobia so I make a point of calling on her every day to make sure she’s okay even though she rarely answers the door and if she does, it’s just a crack and Ruby’s always too busy to invite me in. I only want to be friends. Actually, that’s not quite true. I really want to know where Danny goes on his shiny red Harley Davidson motorbike at odd hours of the day and night. At this point I must add that I’m not keen about riding in the sidecar. It’s not elegant at my age (who wants helmet hair?) but I’m sure that once we’re together I can persuade him to get rid of it.
Unfortunately Kat isn’t as enamoured with our vicar as I am but I think it’s because she’s too caught up in wondering what is wrong with her boring boyfriend, Detective Inspector Shawn Cropper. She says he’s been rather secretive recently. Shawn and I have never seen eye-to-eye (and she could definitely do better) but recently he’s been just a little bit too interested in my financial troubles. If I was writing about murder rather than love and I put him in a book, I’m afraid his character wouldn’t make it to The End.
Speaking of my writing. My daily routine has fallen by the wayside. Every morning I used to be in my writing room i.e. the former hen house outside in the courtyard, sitting at my old typewriter at nine on the dot. I’d write until lunchtime, take a little afternoon nap, and be back at the Olivetti at two-thirty to put in a few more hours. But now with helping Danny out with the flowers, cleaning the brass and what-not I just haven’t had the time! Perhaps I should give up my writing career. After all, who needs to write about it when I can have the real thing! Wish me luck.
Giveaway: Author has generously offered to give away one print copy of Dagger of Death at Honeychurch Hall. To enter, please leave a comment below. One entry per person and the giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only. Giveaway ends November 4, 2023. Good luck everyone!
Dagger of Death at Honeychurch Hall, A Honeychurch Hall Mystery Book #10
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: November 2023
Format: Digital (November 2, 2023), Print (February 13, 2024)
Purchase Link
Is it a question of turn the other cheek… or an eye for an eye?
At last St Mary’s church is going to have its own vicar! Not only that, the gorgeous Reverend Pritchard is sixty, single… and in need of a wife.
But when he spearheads a campaign to restore a derelict chapel – rumoured to be haunted by a German Luftwaffe pilot- in a far-flung corner of the Honeychurch estate, the Dowager Countess puts her foot down. But nobody quite understands why…
Meanwhile, a fierce bidding war at an auction of military memorabilia ends in Kat’s female adversary being murdered and Kat being held as the prime suspect. And then it turns out that several of the auctioned items are connected to Operation Tiger, a doomed rehearsal for the D-Day landings that took place in nearby Slapton Sands all those years ago. And Kat begins to realise that the vicar, the Luftwaffe ghost and all the World War II weaponry may all somehow be related…
About the author
British born; Hannah originally moved to Los Angeles to pursue screenwriting. She has been an obituary reporter, antique dealer, private jet flight attendant and Hollywood story analyst. After twenty-five years living on the West Coast, Hannah returned to the UK where she shares her life with two high-spirited Hungarian Vizslas. She enjoys all country pursuits, movies, and theatre, reading and seriously good chocolate.
Hannah writes the Honeychurch Hall Mysteries (Constable) the Island Sisters Mysteries (Minotaur) and the Vicky Hill Mysteries (Constable).
Visit Hannah at her website, hannahdennison.com, on Facebook, and on Instagram.
I like the Island Sisters mysteries a lot, so I may try this one.
Hi Maren – I’m so happy to hear you enjoy the Island Sisters. Fingers crossed you like Honeychurch too!
I will happily give it a try!!!
I haven’t started this series yet. Would really like to read.
Book 10!! Congrats, but I may be a couple behind! Loved the post with Iris, looking forward to catching up with all the characters! Thanks for the chance to win!
A new author for me. Sounds like an intriguing mystery.
Hi Sharon. Thanks for leaving a comment. I’m always happy to know I’m “discovered” – a big thank you for Dru Ann for that 🙂
Congratulations on the new book! It sounds really good.
Thank you!! I had fun writing this one …
This series is delightful and unique. Hannah’s mysteries are greatly enjoyed.
Ellie! So happy you are enjoying them!
I absolutely love 💕 this fabulous series by the very awesome beautiful Hannah Dennison…..love visiting Honeychurch! Really looking forward to reading this new book 📕! And what a cute cover on the book! Thank you so much dear Dru Ann and Hannah for a chance to win! 😊💜📚
Beverly … what a lovely message to read. Thank you so much! I love the cover too (of course I didn’t design it LOL)
Love this series. No need to include me in the giveaway, I’m already ordered it! Congrats!
Mary! That’s great. Thank you so much!
I love these books! Congratulations on this new one! Can’t wait to read it! Thanks for the chance for a copy!
I’m so glad you enjoy Honeychurch Lori!
I love Iris’s optimism! Go for it, Iris!
Lovely to see your name here Pat. I’m fond of Iris too — she’s nothing like me (in case you wondered!)
A series which is so enjoyable and special. Congratulations!
Thank you Sharon!
Love this series! Never disappoints.
Thank you so much Kathleen! That makes me very happy indeed!
Congratulations on the new release. It sounds great!
Thank you Cherie J!
I love this series! I’m looking forward to this one, and I will be reading your other series.
This contest is closed.
Congratulations to Madeline Lipinski who won a print copy of Dagger of Death at Honeychurch Hall