I received this ARC via Netgalley and the publisher in return for an honest review. I enjoyed this book. It is the third in a series and can be read as a stand-alone. Emily is a 50s-something(?) woman who inherited a huge Victorian house and a fortune from her aunt. Emily is a professor, on a leave of absence from her college. Since her aunt's death, Emily decided to modify the house so it could serve as a writer's retreat, as well as her home. This first retreat includes several difficult guests, some invited and some forced upon the host by terrible winter weather. On Christmas night, after dinner (and several days of preceding personality clashes), one of the difficult guests guzzles amaretto during a game of charades (English style) and subsequently dies of poisoning. Emily's significant other, the local sheriff lieutenant, is pressuring Emily to accept his repeated marriage proposals when the murder interrupts everyone's plans. They combine their sleuthing efforts (with some difficulty because of their personal situation) to solve the problem before more deaths (like Emily's!) occur.
I found the characters well-written and loved the Christie references that sprinkle throughout the book (and tie in the title). The only 'negative' I found was that Emily uses little to no modern technology; in this day and age, is that realistic? Particularly since she'd been teaching at a university for an extended period of time. Move her into the relatively modern era in the next in the series (a computer and/or a personal phone) would be my only improvement suggestion. Otherwise, I look forward to the next in this series.

There seems to be many writers retreat cozy mysteries on the market right now. This book covered many of the hallmarks of a cozy including stuck in a house because of bad weather, and a not well liked guest gets murdered. It did not wow me but will appeal to cozy fans.

Crime With The Classics Book 3

Emily and the gorgeous Victorian mansion, Windy Corner, which she inherited from her Great Aunt, are ready to open their doors to the first of hopefully many Writer's Retreats.

Still on sabbatical from Reed, the literature professor and widow, is hoping to get into some of her own research and writing. With the beautiful surroundings and the holiday spirit, she may come up with some magic of her own.

The guests are all writers, some more prolific than others, but all working on the same goal of publishing books. Emily even has a new tenant in one of her smaller properties and everything is ready. Even though something about this tenant gives her pause.

As they are just getting settled one uninvited guest shows up and Emily can't send her back out into this winter storm as much as she and the guests would like to. Cruella Crime, no of course that isn't her real name, writes 'true' crime that isn't true and is no friend to any of them.

When they find her dead of poisoning in her room, they are going to have to share space with a killer, as the weather holds them all hostage. 

Emily takes a page out of Agatha Christie's book and starts a bit of snooping on her own and what she finds out may get her killed this time.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. All of the Christie references and the characters were very well done. This was my first time reading a book in this series but it won't be the last.

Well Done!

Netgalley/  March 1st 2019 by Severn House Publishers

Cyanide with Christie by Katherine Bolger Hyde is an amazing addition to this series.

In this story, a quiet writer's retreat at the holidays is taking place. When a surprise visitor shows up, things become heated and the visitor, aptly named Cruella Crime, is murdered! Things take a nasty twist when it is revealed that Cruella may not have been the target.
Who is the target and will the murderer succeed?
Join Emily, Katie, Jamie and Luke in this exciting addition to the cozy mystery family.

The author wove an excellent tale that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I was so excited with the ending, but sad that I had to say goodbye to my friends.

I volunteered to read and view an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.