Helena Dixon’s "Murder at the Dolphin Hotel" is an atmospheric introduction to a cozy mystery series set against the picturesque backdrop of 1930s Dartmouth, England. With a spirited heroine, Kitty Underhay, and a complex supporting cast, this novel blends historical intrigue, murder, and a touch of romance. Kitty, a modern and independent woman for her time, is tasked with managing her family’s historic hotel while dealing with the shadowy disappearance of her mother years ago—a thread that promises deeper revelations in future installments.

One aspect that strikes me about cozy mysteries in general is the curious balance they attempt to maintain. On one hand, they shy away from overt violence, coarse language, or overtly romantic moments. Yet, they still feature a series of gruesome murders, often treated with a disarming nonchalance. It’s a genre quirk that can make you wonder how characters don’t seem to buckle under the psychological toll. This contradiction can work beautifully when the characters and atmosphere pull you in, though in this case, I found it challenging to fully connect with Kitty and her world at first.

The plot is rich with twists—missing jewels, mysterious letters, and long-buried family secrets all intertwine to create an engaging, albeit sometimes convoluted, story. Kitty’s partnership with the enigmatic Captain Matthew Bryant adds a compelling dynamic to the narrative, hinting at deeper layers of both characters as the series progresses. The slow-building camaraderie and mutual respect between them show promise, and I’m curious to see how their relationship will evolve.

While the book captures the charm of its seaside setting and offers an intriguing premise, I did feel like I was being dropped into the middle of events, which made it harder to immerse myself fully at the outset. Perhaps this was a deliberate choice to reflect Kitty’s own sense of being overwhelmed, but it left me feeling slightly adrift until the story settled into its stride.

Ultimately, *Murder at the Dolphin Hotel* is an enjoyable, if not flawless, read that holds promise for the rest of the series. Its blend of mystery, historical flavor, and character-driven storytelling will appeal to fans of Agatha Christie and other cozy mystery authors. Despite my initial difficulty connecting with the characters, I’d be willing to continue with the series to see how Kitty and Matthew’s story unfolds, and to explore the mysteries surrounding Kitty’s family.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a digital ARC for the purpose of an unbiased review.

I had a little trouble getting into this book, because it felt like I was dropped into a plot mid-story, despite this being book 1 in a series. But it worked out in the end and I liked it a lot.

Dartmouth 1933, in a generations-old family hotel, where our protagonist Kitty lives with her Grandmother, following the disappearance of her mother, alongside the absence of her father, believed to be somewhere in America.

With a background like that, who needs a murder to solve along the way? Why we do of course, and this is an engrossing read for a quiet Sunday afternoon. With some lovely little threads left hanging this marks the beginning of what promises to be a great series.

Book 1 in a fun cozy mystery set in 1933 England. Kitty works at her grandmother's hotel, and meets handsome ex-soldier Matt. Together they form a partnership and work together to solve a series of murders. Liked this one a lot, and it is a good start to the series. Highly recommend.

This was a very quick easy read. It was hard to connect with the characters. They still seem to have to trust each other. I found the mystery to be a bit predictable. Also, I thought the synopsis gave away too many spoilers that it became less suspenseful. Still, I recommend this for fans of cozy mysteries and look forward to the next installments!

This is an excellent mystery with a surprising end. It is filled with many twists and turns throughout.
The characters were well developed.
Highly recommend this book

I loved this book. It was a great, fast-paced read that captured you from the first page to the last. I highly recommend.

I couldn't get interested in this one at all and did not enjoy the writing style. I found both the plot and the main character boring.

Atmospheric and entertaining, this one inspired me to book a holiday in Dartmouth! It's the first in a series and I'm really looking forward to reading the next one.

I enjoyed this historical cozy! Set in a scenic location, The Dolphin Resort sounded like a delightful place (well besides the murder and thievery)! Kitty was a very likable character. I highly recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.

Really enjoyed this book. Took a little time to get used to the pace of it but once I did it pulled me in. Good, well-written characters that I look forward to seeing again.

This was a well written cosy mystery with a strong protagonist and a well-evoked setting.

The plot was quite fast paced and the relationships between the characters were well built.

Tension ratcheted up and it came to a good conclusion.

This one wasn't so much my style I had a harder time getting into the story line the writing wasn't bad at all I think it was just the style and time period I would try this author again though!

This book has been on my to read list for a couple months and I'm not sure why it took me so long to read it!

Kitty and her grandmother run a popular hotel called the Dolphin. After their quiet town is rattled by a murder and Kitty's grandmother is called away to tend to her injured aunt, Kitty finds herself surrounded mysterious accidents and more dead bodies. Before she left, Kitty's grandmother called in a favor and hired Matthew to provide extra security. Watching Matthew and Kitty work together to solve the deaths was a great read.

Can't wait for the next one.

We are introduced to a holiday spot in 1933s England and the Dolphin Hotel. The proprietress of the hotel is the Grandmother of our leading lady, Kitty Underhay. She has a sad and mysterious past with her mother going missing unexpectedly and her father away, the latter a person Kitty has never seen or heard much (or anything at all) about. In this mix come threatening letters and a forced trip for the Grandmother, meaning additional security requirements to protect Kitty. Captain Matthew Bryant is just the man for the job, he is roped in due to filial obligations, but he is set to appear in every future story. 

There are a lot of deaths, misadventures and investigations to figure out who the perpetrator(s) is but the most enticing prospect continues to be the mystery of the missing mother. The plot was so convoluted that it was tough for me to come to the accurate conclusion of the narrative. I was not even close. Despite all the plus points, I felt like the storytelling style was a little laborious- for me. This is a personal reaction, and I did read this and the next book in multiple sittings over two days, but I should have been able to read it faster given the type of storyline. 
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based only on my reading experience.

4.5 Stars

It's been seventeen years since Kitty Underhay's mother vanished without a trace. Kitty, now twenty-three years old, lives and works at her grandmother's hotel in Dartmouth, England. When her grandmother travels to look after her sister, Kitty is left in charge of the hotel. Unbeknownst to her, her grandmother has been receiving mysterious letters and has hired a new security officer to look after the hotel in her absence. Kitty doesn't think too much of the additional security until a body is found, rooms are ransacked and a rumor began to circulate that Kitty's mother may have been in possession of a valuable ruby when she went missing. When two more bodies are discovered, Kitty, with the help of the new security officer, decides to investigate.

I found this book to be a delightful and easy read. The writing style is engaging, the mystery intriguing and the setting picturesque and atmospheric. The author's excellent research instantly transported me back to 1930s England, a country slowly recovering and forever changed by the war. The main character, Kitty is likable, smart, and independent. Matt, her sleuth partner, is a complex character with a haunting past. There's definitely chemistry between them and I look forward to seeing what's in store for their characters. The mystery or should I say mysteries kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The author did a great job of building the tension throughout the story and the reveal was action-packed. I will definitely be reading the second book and hope we won't have to wait too long to find out what really happened to Kitty's mother.

I received an ARC from Bookouture through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In June 1933, Kitty Underhay is a modern, independent woman. A body is found in the river near the hotel being managed by Kitty and her grandmother. When the local police inspector shows no sign of solving the crimes near the hotel, Kitty steps in to solve it herself. Grandmother had to go to Scotland and was worried that Kitty wouldn’t be able to run the hotel without her. In addition, someone is threatening to take over the hotel. Things add up to multiple dead bodies, dishonest guests, threats to life and limb and a fire. Kitty had hired Matthew to be security until the mystery is solved. Fans of historical fiction would like this novel, set in the 1930’s. Good cast of characters and well written. Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced reader’s copy.

I loved this his whodunit and the setting was perfect. I connected with the characters and hope to read more about them. There were many twists and turns and an ending that I didn’t expect.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Miss Underhay is troubled by Murder at the Dolphin Hotel. Helena Dixon introduces us to a 1930's cozy in rural England. Miss Underhay is managing their hotel in the absence of her grandmother and under the protective eyes of a gallant Captain. Clues start turning up involving her mother and father's mysterious past and bodies start dropping. Was there a treasure? Were her parents still alive? Read this intriguing period piece and find out.

I was fortunate to receive a proof copy of this from Net Galley in return for an unbiased review. This was a new author to me, selected based on the description and cover. And I’m happy I did - you got to know the characters quickly, nice pace to the story, and a hint of romance. Engrossing finish, I really enjoyed this and would recommend it.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48210703-murder-at-the-dolphin-hotel