I enjoyed getting to know Inspector Grasby and his bumbling mishaps are quite amusing at times, I loved the setting and the village scene and folks but I found the plot a bit slow and not to my taste. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this early copy.

I am afraid this turned out not to be my cup of tea at all.

I am an avid reader of Golden Age Detective Fiction and am always on the lookout for modern “takes” on the classic tropes. I was also interested in the period and setting of this novel as I was born in 1952 and, since my mother’s family was from Yorkshire,I spent a lot of time there.

However I found Inspector Frank Grasby entirely annoying and his behaviour grated on me. I worked out what was going on at a very early stage and reading on after about a third of the way through became a bit of a chore.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for the digital review copy.

It’s December 1952 and, as punishment for a mishap too many in the line of duty, Inspector Frank Grasby is sent to the remote village of Elderly in the North York Moors. Barely has he had time to unpack his suitcase before the discovery of a body up the chimney of the local ‘big house’ sets him to work and he discovers that not everything in the village is as it seems.

The first thing to say is that this book was not what I expected. I went into it thinking it would be a cosy murder mystery set in a big old country house – but in fact it’s so much more than that. I don’t want to give too much away because the surprise is part of the fun but Meyrick has crafted a brilliantly plotted tale of conspiracy and lies, with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing to the end.

The other thing I was pleasantly surprised by is how funny the book was. I laughed out loud on more than one occasion and every page seemed to have something that brought a smile to my face. Also, despite being set over 70 years ago, Meyrick manages to weave in some biting satire about the state of the country today which I really appreciated.

Another thing Meyrick does really well is characterisation – everyone in the book, no matter how minor or incidental, felt like a real believable person. With just a few well chosen words he manages to convey a real sense of exactly who that person is. For example, Grasby’s father is “tall, thin and grey – almost as though he is in the process of fading away”, whereas Grasby’s boss is a “true corporeal reality wrought in blood, bone, pipe tobacco and real ale”.

If you’re looking for an entertaining, well crafter and witty thriller, with a cosy country Christmas setting then I’d recommend seeking this out.

This was such an enjoyable read. Who doesn’t love a Christmas murder mystery. Dead bodies are appearing in a very snowy North Yorkshire Moors village and Detective Inspector Grasby is on hand to investigate.
Set in post war Britain, this has several funny moments and lots of twists and turns before the book is over. Definitely one that I recommend for reading on dark winter evenings this year.

What an enjoyable story set in 1952 in a small Yorkshire Village in winter DI Grasby is sent to Elderby temporarily to help out with some thefts but he becomes involved in murders as well as conspiracies, remembering the war hasn't been over that long and it was a different world to now .The characters were interesting lots of twists and turns I liked Grasby's quirky character ,a good ending I would like to read more about this detective .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC `

Murder at Holly House by Denzil Meyrick


Oh-Ho-Ho-No! It’s December 1952 and there’s a body stuck up a chimney at Holly House (don’t worry, it’s not Santa)!

Then, as the house and nearby village on the North York Moors get cut off by snow, the local doctor's husband is found dead too.

Inspector Frank Grasby is on the case (begrudgingly) and soon he realises that there’s more at stake than meets the eye.

This not-so-cosy crime book takes you down some unexpectedly twisty-turny Moors roads. With its entertaining cast of characters, insights into post-war England, and humorous nods to today, it’s a cracker!

So, pour a dash of Baileys into your hot chocolate, break out the mince pies, and curl up to enjoy a little Christmas crime!

Out in the UK 9 Nov 23 Thanks to @NetgalleyUK for the arc to review in my own words.

Denzil Meyrick enters different territory with his latest offering, a period historical mystery set in Yorkshire in the 1950s, although it carries many of his trademark elements, a collection of offbeat characters, bags of humour, and a sprinkling of the bonkers. It is December 1952, in a country that is still feeling the after affects of the war, and the inept Inspector Frank Grasby, a man who likes cricket, betting, women and drink, is in trouble after an incident in which racehorses break free and escape. His boss, Superintendent Juggers packs him off temporarily to a remote Yorkshire village, Elderby, to solve a series of farm thefts. This is not the worst punishment he could have received, at least he will not have to spend Christmas with his heavy drinking father who lets slip that he is familiar with Elderby.

Frank is far from happy to learn that news of his racehorse disaster has travelled to Elderby, where nothing and no-one is as they appear. It is not long before Frank is to discover it is the most dangerous place in England, a village of murder, mysteries, and death. He has difficulties establishing himself as the man in charge at the police station, Sergeant Elphinstone Bleakly, a veteran and war hero has a tendency to fall asleep, he suffers from narcolepsy. Surprisingly, there is an American graduate criminology student, intern Daisy Dean, aka Deedee, who works closely with Frank. At Holly House, the home of Lord Damnish, a dead body is discovered in the chimney, assumed to be a burglar, but then there is another murder, the victim a well known American journalist. Frank is ordered to give only the semblance of an investigation, but to leave well alone, but he just can't do that.

Meyrick writes a darkly atmospheric festive tale with snow blizzards, inhabited by the likes of Mrs Hetty Gaunt, with her prescient gifts, Frank lodges in her sorrowful guest house, and she is often accompanied by her raven. Frank finds himself in grave danger, attending farcical parish council meetings, and where lies and deception come at him from every direction. This is a fun and entertaining read, not your usual festive fare, but definitely a real treat for fans of the author and those who love well written character driven, humorous historical mysteries. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Sometimes it's best to get away from you normal haunts for a while and in Inspector Frank Grasby's case this is definitely a good idea! After an unfortunate incident at a local stable yard, Frank finds himself reassigned from the hustle and bustle of York to the quiet, dull, and isolated village of Elderby.  With only a spate of farm burglaries to investigate he isn't expecting very much in terms of excitement, until he finds a dead body in a chimney at the home of the local Lord of the Manor!

When a second body is discovered York seems a very long way away and, as the weather closes in, Frank Grasby finds himself in the crossfire of someone who would rather he didn't discover whodunnit! Not knowing who to trust leaves Frank at a disadvantage but no one could have prepared him for what he is reluctantly about to become a part of or the sacrifice he might have to make.

Frank Grasby isn't your everyday hero but author Denzil Meyrick makes him likeable if a little delusional about some of his abilities! There are a lot of characters involved here but that is the only negative in what is an intriguing and fast moving storyline and although the action happens just before Christmas, 1952, this isn't a festive mystery it just happens to be set in December. Written as part of Grasby's memoirs the reader is privy to all his internal musings some of which are laugh out loud funny whilst other explain a great deal about his priorities and opinions.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Random House UK, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is extremely well written and I enjoyed it very much.

Not your standard police procedural as this one takes a darker turn into post war espionage. I loved the main character and the era of this story. The village setting is almost its own character as it’s so complete. I look forward to reading more in this series.

An enjoyable book despite starting very slowly with lots of scene setting and irrelevant information. This, I assume, is because the book is to be the first of a series.
Inspector Gasby, a walking disaster, is sent to the small Yorkshire village of Elderby to catch some thieves. Dead bodies start appearing. This is an oddball book full of eccentric characters in an amusing if implausible plot.
I look forward to the next one.

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It’s December 1952, and after a bit of a mixup at Ardmere House whilst arresting a groom, some confusion over a stable door resulting in 20 escaping fine thoroughbred horses (seven still missing, follow the progress in the Yorkshire Post), DI Frank Grasby is “punished“ by being dispatched to Elderby on the North York Moors. At least it isn’t Hull and he comforts himself with the fact it’s only a secondment from York CID. He hopes. He’s not long arrived after an arduous journey in a recalcitrant car when a call comes in from Holly House. There’s an intruder at the home of Lord Damnish. Frank’s heart is well and truly sinking until American intern. Miss Daisy Dean (a.k.a. Deedee ) appears. Things are suddenly looking up, that is until they discover the body up the chimney at Holly House. Frank ends up busier than he ever imagines.

This is a lively and engaging read as Frank is our narrator for most of it and he is witty and amusing. He is an immensely likeable central protagonist, though perhaps a tad unfortunate and unwary if those bashes on the bonce are anything to go by. He’s maybe a bit slow on the uptake too, especially in sussing out what afoot in not so sleepy Elderby. I absolutely love the back and forth dialogue between him and his vicar father who gives a whole new meaning to the word curmudgeonly. Deedee is very likeable too and there are some very good cameo snapshots of other police officers, both in York and Elderby as well as the inhabitants of the area. His landlady Mrs Gaunt and her bird deserve a special mention as this gives some scope for great images.

There are some excellent descriptions of the location, which comes to life, though I do know it well! The author captures the spirit of the postwar times not just in attitudes but in the “rum coves“ that show “jolly bad form“ thus giving it an old school feel which I really like. You feel as if you have been transported back to the early 1950s.

Now, if you are expecting a cozy mystery to a degree you are certainly right as there is certainly some dirty deeds and shenanigans going on. Things however, get darker and murkier as there is a conspiracy element which perhaps Frank might’ve clued into sooner as for a small place there sure are a number of Americans present! There are plenty of twists and turns as strange happenings get stranger and Frank ends up with way more than meat and two veg on his plate. So, there are plenty of ingredients to keep your reading on as let’s chuck in a potential romance, an abundance of humour, quirkiness and a bit of chaos. Okay, maybe a lot of chaos.

I love the authors DCI Daly series set in Kintyre, Scotland, so was keen to read this and it doesn’t disappoint though it’s fair to say it’s a distinct departure from those mystery thrillers. It’s easy to read, highly entertaining, is evocative of the times and is told with a twinkle in the authors eye as at times I’m pleased to say it does stray into excellent bonkers territory. This would make a really good Christmas purchase/read with accompanying snow.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK, Transworld, for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Enter Frank Grasby, a brand new character from the pen of the author of the DCI Daley Kinloch series, Denzil Meyrick. Grasby is a Yorkshireman and a fine figure of a detective; as he modestly portrays himself in his unpublished memoir which is now being prepared for publication by a younger relative.

This tale, from Grasby’s memoirs, is set in the winter of 1952 in Elderby, North Yorkshire. Queen Elizabeth is in the first year of her reign, the Cold War is setting in and Grasby isn’t the most popular man with his bosses.

In fact, Grasby’s superiors are sending him him off to the wilds of North Yorkshire after the latest in a series of unfortunate events has attracted the ire of local dignitaries and the attention of the newspapers. So he’s sent to oversee a spate of robberies –the latest of which is the theft of farm equipment from the state of Lord Damnish on the North Yorkshire Moors.

Grasby is an ex-soldier. He has a difficult relationship with his taciturn ex-clergyman father, which may have something to do with Frank’s fondness for wine, women and a spot of gambling. Or it might be the result of Frank’s ability to be completely oblivious to what’s actually going on round about him. Yet his war background suggests that he’s not weak minded and that there’s more to Frank than meets the eye.

Raring to go, the intrepid Frank arrives at Lord Damnish’s Holly House to begin his investigation only to become immediately embroiled in the discovery of a dead body. Frank has hardly had time to draw breath on his theories of who dunnit when the doctor’s husband bites the dust. Sleepy Elderby is turning out to be much livelier than Grasby’s superiors had anticipated.

Meyrick’s magic touch with characters is brought beautifully to life here with Frank and his new compariots at Elderby nick. These include the splendidly named Sergeant Elphinstone Bleakly, with a tricky medical problem and the attractive American intern, Daisy ‘DeeDee’ Dean, who is studying Criminology and has attached herself to the Yorkshire Police force to gain practical experience. The interactions between these three are priceless and Frank’s own sense of status mixed with a disingenuous self-deprecation shines through. It’s that mixture of idiosyncratic characters, with lots of warmth and humanity that draws us into this story, making us laugh even as the darkness grows. Meyrick also gives the reader a real sense of the place and hits the right notes with his period detail, all adding to the charm and fascination of this mystery.

For all that he can be both funny and pompous, there is something endearing about the luckless Frank even as he stumbles from interview to interview not quite seeing the whole picture but determined to find all the pieces of the puzzle to help him to do so.

There’s a great cast of characters in Murder at Holly House but behind some of the humour and warmth that Meyrick instils there are all too dark deeds brewing in Elderby and many secrets festering which must be uncovered if the murders are to be solved and a catastrophe is to be avoided.

As winter bites and the blizzards begin, Meyrick racks up the tension and as he does so, Grasby seems to come more into his own, with a little help here and there. As the dark forces of treachery converge on Eldersby, Frank has to work out just who he can trust, for both his life and the future of his country is at stake.

Verdict: Murder at Holly House has fabulous characters, some great laugh out loud moments, lots of fun and an endearing idiosyncrasy to the tale. With deadly secrets, surprises and some neat twists, this is everything you could hope for when choosing a gift for Christmas. I do hope that Frank Grasby’s memoir is a rich seam to be mined for more stories from this part of the world.

I quite enjoyed this, although I think the title and cover might be slightly misleading. I have read quite a few of Denzil Meyricks books set in Scotland and the change in location was refreshing. Its a good story with enough suspense to keep you reading if this is the start of a new series, I would probably read the next one.

This post WWII cosy murder mystery makes the ideal read for December. Inspector Frank Grasby is sent from York to a small North Yorkshire village to solve some break-ins, however he soon finds himself investigating a murder or two. If you like you murder mysteries packed with entertaining characters, a bit of tongue in cheek humour and a couple of twists and turns then this is for you.

What from the outset appears as a cosy mystery soon becomes much more and rather darker in tone than expected as Denzil Meyrick introduces what appears to be a new wartime set series featuring the charming Inspector Frank Grasby.

Grasby is a quirky fellow, a police officer who seems to have a touch of the calamity. So when he finally exasperates his seniors one last time, he is packed off to a rural Yorkshire village to investigate sone thefts from the local Lord of the Manor.

What follows is both entertaining, superbly written, full of japes and jokes and a story that takes a rather surprising twist from where you expect it to head.

The era and the settings is all really well done and I enjoyed the style in which the book is written.

Meyrick is a superb author. His DCI Daley series is excellent and he has a formula that works. A writer who knows how to hook and engage his reader.

An excellent read

A police story set after the end of WW2 in Yorkshire at Christmas written by one of my favourite authors, Denzil Meyrick, what's not to like? In a change of scene and tempo from his usual books 'Murder at Holly House' is a rip roaring murder mystery adventure with a cast of likeable characters. An enjoyable read and hopefully there will be more to come from Inspector Frank Grasby.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an arc.

I do love a Denzil Meyrick novel and, although Murder At Holly House, is a very different style of Detective fiction to his well know and loved DCI Daley series, it just goes to show what a skilled and versatile author he really is. Here he delves into the world of Golden Age crime fiction with a 'historical' crime caper set in 1950s Yorkshire, not long after the end of the war. I refuse to call this cosy crime as that gives completely the wrong impression and whilst the tone is not as gritty or as dark as some of the author's other work, it's not cats solving murders twee either. It's a beautiful blend of the complexities of his Daley series, with the warmth and humour, and confounding mystery of the Tales from Kinloch trilogy. Just with an abundance of Yorkshire tea and real ale, rather than a dram of whisky or two.

I really like Frank Grasby, our hapless Detective for this sorry tale of murder. Packed off to Elderby, in the wilds of North Yorkshire after a blunder leaves him persona non-grata around York, Grasby expects to spend his Christmas looking into a series of thefts around the town. It's not long before things take an errant turn and he finds himself presiding over a possible murder investigation. That is presiding over in the loosest possible sense as it's fair to say that there are many people who would prefer he doesn't look too far or hard for a suspect. And that's just the start of his woes because, in spite of the fact that he is not the most naturally adept of investigators, he has a strong moral core, and with his refusal to let sleeping dogs lie you know it's not going to be long before he gets into a spot of bother. His witty, sometimes droll observations really did make me chuckle, and his ineptitude ensured a kind of Fargo-esque calamity that kept the story from becoming as dark as it could otherwise have been.

Denzil Meyrick has a knack for creating memorable and engaging supporting characters and this book is no different. Alongside Grasby we have Sergeant Elphinstone Bleakly, a veteran with a medical condition almost as unfortunate as his name, and Daisy Dean, aka Deedee, an American student working as an intern with the Yorkshire Police as part of her Criminology degree. Both add colour and humour to the story, and are brilliantly observed characters. I really liked Deedee, liked the way the author played with her character and her friendship with Grasby, and how I was never quite certain of her motives but still completely engrossed in her story. And beyond them, from the Lord of the Manor, Lord Damnish, to his extended family, the Elderby natives. or even Grasby's own contrary father, every single person added texture to the novel.

It's clear that Denzil Meyrick has as much love and respect for the area as he does 'Kinloch', and in his description of setting he really made me want to go back to North Yorkshire. I know the area a little and could picture it perfectly, put in mind of Goathland, a small town made famous by the series, Heartbeat. I enjoyed the way that he has framed the story too, with the story set as a re-telling of Grasby's own story as derived from a self penned and unpublished memoir. It allows for a whole world of possibilities as to what other stories he may have to tell from what you know will have been a very varied and interesting career.

This is a beautifully crafted mystery that speaks to the politics and prejudices of the time. It entertained from the very first page, kept me guessing throughout, and had me rooting for our hero. There were times it seemed his fate was sealed, and if it hadn't been for the opening of the book you'd be forgiven for wondering if this case might not be his last. Look carefully for the clues - they are all there - but be prepared for a few surprises. Nothing is ever quite what it seems, and although far from being packed with festive cheer, this is one book I'd recommend be added to any crime fiction lover's Christmas wish list.

A very well written and thought out Christmas adventure. I was going to say murder mystery but that really sells this book short as it is so much more! I was thoroughly entertained all the way through, really enjoyed the characters and their development, and the fact that we never 100% know who we can and can't trust. It's twisty, different and definitely didn't turn out how I expected which is definitely a positive, and sets this apart from other Christmas themed mysteries. I would definitely recommend this book in general and not just at Christmas, and am looking forward to more of Denzil's books in the future.

I love Meyrick’s Kinloch novels featuring DCI Daley so I was looking forward to reading this new venture introducing Inspector Grasby and I wasn’t disappointed. In this book Meyrick has stepped back to the 1950s and the Cold War . Inspector Grasby has been sent from York to the village of Elderby to look into a spate of thefts from farms but he is soon involved in searching for the murderer of an unidentified man whose body he discovers in a landowner’s chimney.

Grasby can’t get straight answers from the village’s inhabitants and he isn’t helped by having a Sergeant who suffers from narcolepsy. As further strange things occur Grasby finds he can trust nobody and he gets himself into several awkward situations requiring others to rescue him.

This is a story which, on first appearance, is quite light-hearted. Grasby narrates and often makes humorous quips but the story evolves into something more sinister to keep the reader guessing who is on Grasby’s side.

Thank you to the publishers for the ARC.

In disgrace after an incident involving escapee horses, Inspector Frank Grasby is sent to investigate a series of horse thefts in the small village of Elderby on the North Yorkshire moors. However, this seemingly sleepy village conceals a far more sinister and dangerous side. When two dead bodies turn up, Grasby finds himself embroiled in something much bigger than he anticipated. But will he survive long enough to unravel the truth?
Set against the backdrop of the Cold War and the fight against communism, this is a gripping story of espionage and treachery, with Grasby never knowing who to trust in a situation that he quickly realised affects national security and goes right up to the highest levels of society.. The story builds in intensity until the spine-chilling, edge-of-your-seat denouement.
I loved the slightly erstwhile character of Inspector Grasby. Appearing to be somewhat a liability to the police force, and with an unsuccessful gambling issue, he seems the last person likely to succeed in solving a perilous case of National betrayal. However, he often alludes to an act of heroism during the war that intrigues and suggests that there is much more to Frank Grasby than he wants us to believe.
Grasby’s dry humour and witty self-deprecation saves this novel from becoming a heavy depiction of post-war conspiracy. The balance between tension and entertainment is expertly struck. Some of the scenes involving Grasby and his clergyman father provide some wonderful light relief. Only a closely bonded father and son could openly share such disapproval of each other!
This was my first Denzil Meyrick novel, but it will definitely not be my last. Murder at Holly House was, for me, the perfect read.