Deadly Desires at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison is the second book in the “Honeychurch Hall” mystery series. Publisher: Minotaur, May 2015

Deadly Desires at Honeychurch Hall is the second charming and witty whodunit in Hannah Dennison’s amazing cozy series. Set at an English manor house, fans of British mysteries and Downton Abbey are sure to enjoy this contemporary take on murder at the manor house.

When the body of a transport minister is discovered in the grounds on Honeychurch Hall, suspicion about his unusual demise naturally falls on the folks in the village. After all, who could possibly want a high-speed train line built in their front yard?

News of the murder soon reaches our heroine Kat Stanford’s nemesis Trudy Wynne. A ruthless tabloid journalist and the ex-wife of Kat’s discarded lover, Trudy is out for revenge. She is also interested in exposing–and humiliating–Kat’s mother Iris, who is secretly the international bestselling romance writer Krystalle Storm.

As the body count begins to build, Kat becomes inextricably embroiled in the ensuing scandal. Is the minister’s death the result of a local vendetta, or could it be connected to her mother’s unusual (to say the least) past?

This was quite enjoyable with an eccentrically quirky cast of characters that amused me from the start. I like the comfortable tone and how easily it flowed from chapter to chapter. The author did a great job in the presentation of this mystery that kept me glued to the pages and when the pacing picked up speed, I was flipping the pages as fast as I could to see how it all will end. Kat, Iris and her Uncle Alfred interactions created a warm and friendly read. With a mystery that was engaging and dialogue that was entertaining, this was a wonderfully charming read and I look forward to more adventures with Kat and her friends.