Occupation: antique dealer, and mother wrangler extraordinaire
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that the new power couple who has descended on Honeychurch Hall isn’t ruffling a lot of feathers—especially mine.
The 15th Earl of Grenville has appointed the handsome Ryan Cartwright—who is more Californian than a Californian—and his glamorous English wife Marion as estate manager and head of house to thrust the ailing fortunes of the six-hundred-year-old estate into the twenty-first century. Rumour has it the pair used to take care of celebrities in Bel-Air and Monaco. They have organized huge events and they’ve even worked on superyachts for heaven’s sakes. So why come to Little Dipperton? Why come here?
The Cartwrights insist they have the fortunes of the Honeychurch dynasty at heart (at least I hope they do) – and true, the upcoming Christmas Gala and silent auction is going to be a lot of fun (at least I hope it is) – but there is something that is really bothering me about how this all came to pass. Something doesn’t ring true.
And why does this affect me you ask? Shouldn’t I—as Ryan likes to say—“stay in my own lane?” As the owner of Kat’s Collectibles and Valuation Services, I will not only be the M.C. for this star-studded event but I’m responsible for the safekeeping of the grand auction prize—an extremely rare doll. To say I am a tad stressed is putting it mildly.
I’m not getting a lot of support from my boyfriend Detective Inspector Shawn Cropper either. He says I’m over-thinking things. I hope he doesn’t read this. I adore him, of course I do, but his promotion has sent him thirty miles away and things seem different between us. He works all the time. He did promise to come to the Gala however and he’d better show up! Of course, my mother has never been keen on Shawn for me. She says he’s too stuffy and that anyone with such a terrible taste in ties should be kicked to the curb. Instead Mum hopes I’ll fall for the charms of Shawn’s replacement, Detective Inspector Greg Mallory who she fantasizes about putting on the front cover of her latest Star-Crossed Lovers series. Don’t get me wrong, I’d be blind if I didn’t say Mallory (as he prefers to be known) wasn’t attractive but I’ve always been a one-man woman and that’s how I intend to remain.
I am worried though. It’s the build-up to Christmas and the busiest time of year at Dartmouth Antique Emporium where I have a space and of course, there is my regular valuation clients. And then there is my mother.
Mum has been particularly full of herself over the amount of fan mail and gifts she’s getting from her readers—all sent to my PO box in the village. I tell the postmistress that it’s all for me but one day, my mother’s secret identity as romance writer Krystalle Storm, will come out. I just know it. But this is when Ryan’s words of wisdom spring to mind, I must “stay in my own lane.” But, as we all know, that’s easier said than done.
A Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall, A Honeychurch Hall Mystery #9
Genre: Cozy
Release: November 2022
Purchase Link
International Purchase Link
Following the butler’s death and the cook’s retirement, the ever-gullible Lady Lavinia replaces them with a power couple who are determined to thrust the crumbling estate into the 21st century. The Dowager Countess reluctantly agrees to hold a big-ticket Christmas gala and silent auction with a mystery celebrity flying in from Monaco as the guest of honour.
Needless to say the newcomers’ make a few enemies in their quest to change the status quo and when one body is discovered in the Victorian stumpery and a second, in the ha-ha, it seems that their high-flying past is catching up with them.
Meanwhile, Kat is dealing with the theft of a valuable doll that had been earmarked for the auction. When it turns out that all the ticket money has vanished and there never was a celebrity guest, it’s up to Kat to save the day and bring the cold-blooded killer to justice.
Please note that the print version in the USA won’t be available until November 2023. However – happily, Blackwells.co.uk has free shipping worldwide so for my USA readers, if you want the print version, you don’t have to wait.
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)
All comments are welcomed.
GIVEAWAY: Hannah has generously offered to give away a digital version of A Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall. To enter, please leave a comment below. One entry per person. Giveaway ends November 18, 2022. Good luck everyone!
New author for me! Thanks for the giveaway!
Oh I love the chance to tempt a new reader 🙂 Thx for stopping by.
I absolutely love 💕 this awesome series….the Honeychurch Hall Mysteries” and am so excited to read this newest book 📕! I also love the fabulous cover of the book! Thank you dear Dru and Hannah for the chance to win! However, I only read paperback books 📚 so guess I will have to wait a bit to get it! Congratulations 🎈 on your new book Hannah! 👍📚💜🙏🌈👏
Hi Beverly – I am just like you – I prefer paperback. The timing was off on the print version with the UK publisher … however, if you AREN’T lucky to win the paperback giveaway, Blackwells.co.uk do free shipping worldwide so you won’t have to wait. 🙂
I have read both Island sisters books and love them and have been thinking that I should read the Honeychurch Hall books. I also enjoyed Hannah Dennison’s interview via the Texas bookstore (I am in Maine and they are gracious with online guests).
Hi Maren – I LOVE Murder by the Book in Houston! They hosted one of my very first signings when I was a newbie and they were (and still are) so amazing. I hope you give the Honeychurch series a try. Thanks for stopping by.
I love your books and can’t wait to read this one!
I am so happy you enjoy them! Sometimes I feel like I am writing into the void 🙂
This is the best series – I love the characters, the setting, the mystery. Everything is perfection!
Mary Ellen – thank you! You have made my day 🙂
Beautiful cover!
I really like it too! Of course I had nothing to do with it … LOL … I love the blues and violets …
I’m not familiar with this series but it sounds like a fun read.
Hi Sharon – I do hope you are tempted to try it (if you don’t win the giveaway of course) – the mother character – Iris – is based on my own mother who is 93 and still a bit wild.
Looking forward to reading this. Love Christmas mysteries.
Hi Barbara – I enjoy reading Christmas mysteries too … it gets me in the festive mood.
Kat is one of my very favorite cozy mystery characters. Thank you Hannah for writing her into being!
Aw Judy – that’s a lovely thing to say. Kat is so down-to-earth … she’s nothing like me at all!
This sounds like such a good story. Thanks for the chance.
Thanks for stopping by — I had fun writing it – especially when I located my old Sindy doll circa 1963 …
I know the inside is going to be lush – I’ve read HAnnah’s books before – but I have to say: that jacket is to die for!
I love the colors too 🙂 And of course good old Mr. Chips the Jack Russell has to appear somewhere.
This sounds like a fun addition to the series! Congrats on this new book!
Thank you Lori — I actually (for a change) really enjoyed writing it. It put me in the festive mood months and months ago!
Thank you for the review the book sounds so interesting
Fingers crossed the plot worked!!
I love the Honeychurch series. I’d like to live there.
Sounds like a fun addition to the series. Haven’t read any of the series yet. But am going to try to get caught up on the books. Good luck on the new book.
Thanks for the info on this book. New author for me.
**** WINNER ****
A Killer Christmas at Honeychurch Hall is Mary Ellen Bliss
Congratulations!