A Very Lively Murder

A thrilling cosy murder mystery

By: Katy Watson

Narrated by: Jilly Bond

One murder mystery movie. Three Dahlias. And a whole cast of suspects...

Ex child star Posy Starling is finally filming her dream role - Dahlia Lively in The Lady Detective movie. But things take a nightmare turn when a prop weapon is replaced with the real thing - with almost fatal consequences for her fellow Dahlia, Rosalind King. There's something very wrong on the set of The Lady Detective - which means it's time to call in Caro Hooper, so the three Dahlias can investigate.

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. And very soon the evidence starts to point towards one particular co-star...

But before they can prove it, a murder rocks the production. And this time, with a storm raging, the river flooded and the bridge washed out, there are no police to rely on so it's up to the three Dahlias to stop a murderer in their tracks... before another victim is claimed.

Praise for A Very Lively Murder

'A truly entertaining crime novel in the Three Dahlias series, very much in the Agatha Christie tradition, and I hope this series will continue' Shots Magazine

'Will please those who liked the opening book' The Critic

'Fiendeshly clever' Bucks Herald

Praise for Katy Watson

'An absolute treat of a read with all the ingredients of a vintage murder mystery: a country house, mysterious dead bodies and three actresses all keen to catch the killer. Perfect weekend reading!' Janice Hallett, author of The Appeal

'Celebrates and gently satirises Golden Age crime novels in a hugely entertaining country house mystery' The Times

'Dame Agatha would approve' Daily Mail

'A wonderful celebration of Golden Age crime. . . a read you can sink into, just like the perfect country house weekend. You will definitely love Dahlia in all her guises by the end' S.J. Bennett, author of The Windsor Knot

'I loved it - witty, engaging and hugely enjoyable. A must for fans of classic mysteries' Frances Brody

'An affectionate homage to the Golden Age of Detective Fiction and a wry nod to our continuing fascination with it. Great fun. Warm, ingenious and. . . lively!' L C Tyler

'A sprightly offering. . . a pleasant summer read' The Critic

'A pleasure to read from beginning to end' Shots

'A fun, 1930s style murder-mystery, which makes for perfect holiday reading' Woman's Weekly

'Perfect Holiday Read' Woman and Home

'Smartly executed with wit and a cunning plot' Peterborough Telegraph

'A cosy whodunnit told with modern flair' Yours©2023 Katy Watson

Lively & Clever

I enjoyed The Three Dahlias quite a bit but A Very Lively Murder is fabulous. The mystery is tight and the combination of the small town and historic home is charming but the characters sell this book. All three of the Dahlias are living and breathing in my head now. The combination of their personalities and their unusual friendship adds to every part of this story. If you love mysteries, A Very Lively Mystery is for you. Oh! Also, Jilly Bond is amazing in this. Every character is distinctive. She’s the perfect actor to voice this book.

Truly entertaining series

This series is better than the traditional cozy formula. There is nothing silly about the three Dahlias, as characters in the series they are thoughtful, serious in their approach, and quite likable. The story is adequately described in the editors notes, but it really is a good mystery.