A Very Lively Murder (Three Dahlias Mysteries Book 2)

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The development of Posy as she learns to be worthy of the mantle of their beloved Dahlia Lively is captivating. The present cast includes some famous male actors, Kit Lewis, a black actor who is cast as DI Johnnie Swain, and Tristan Haworth, an aristocratic type, who Dahlia's wealthy Uncle Sol would love her to marry, which Dahlia has no intention of doing. I loved the little touches that showed the bond between the three Dahlias and that they genuinely care for each other. Katy Watson is the most perfect scene setter, so much so that I felt like I was at Ty Gwyn solving these murders myself.

Whilst this follows on from the first book where we are introduced to the Three Dahlia’s this can be easily read as a standalone murder mystery novel.I loved each chapter being proceeded by a relevant Dahlia Lively quote and the fictional North Wales setting (I grew up in North Wales). Let it marinate, let it sit for a bit so all the quirks can be ironed out and you don't lose your newly acquired fandom. She will have to work with her now ex-husband again on the upcoming Dahlia Lively movie and when she accidentally discovers a secret passage and disappears, she takes this one-of-a-lifetime opportunity to roll out well-deserved justice. In between filming scenes, signing autographs for locals, photoshoots on set and jetting off to France for an impromptu party, the three Dahlias do what they do best – surreptitiously sleuth. I got into this one straight away, transported to a country house for an engaging homage to vintage golden age murder; full of 30’s flair and with a twisty modern vibe.

There's, literally, a cast of supporting characters and potential suspects for the Dahlias to get to know and form opinions about.

I am unsure what happened there, I might need to re-read the last part of 'The Three Dahlias' as for the life of me I can't tell why Anton hates her now and she is left out of the movie. This is a jolly romp of a murder mystery that looks at how generations can work together and draw strength from each other under the premise of one some might say weak connection – that they have all played a fictional detective. I knew I would be in safe hands with Katy Watson and A Very Lively Murder was everything I hoped it would be!

I get that they broke the relationship off now, but nonetheless, the last book described Hugh as the love of her life, not mentioning a husband. Filming in a remote house in the countryside, accessible only through one road and a small village setting, the cast are very much on top of each other.I really do hope that there will be more books featuring the Three Dahlias as I have found myself really enjoying not only the authors style of writing but the characters and the storylines. An avid reader and notebook collector, her dream was to combine the two hobbies by becoming an author and, after spending her teenage years reading paperback Christies on rainy Welsh caravan holidays, it seemed inevitable that one day she'd try writing her own crime novel. Things turn even darker when a crew member disappears suddenly and an actress working on the film is killed in a hit and run accident, and suspicion falls on Kit, Posy’s friend and costar, who was previously involved with her. A good 100 pages pass when we get a second death, this time murder for sure, as one of the old actors has been stabbed.