In her acknowledgements, Katy Watson writes “There wasn’t supposed to be a second hardback in the Three Dahlias Mysteries series released in 2024 … But I really, really wanted to write a Christmas book.”

Her love of the festive mystery novel shines through every page, as she toys with many of the tropes of the sub-genre.

Now I want to know whether the next instalment will come in July or we’ll have to wait until next Christmas …

4.5/5 ⭐️
The fourth Three Dahlias mystery finds Posy, Caro, and Rosalind in Scotland for their friend Libby's wedding. She had written them saying strange things were happening so they are already on edge. Things become deadly when first, a mysterious body washes up on shore near the castle. Then, someone there for the wedding is murdered. Stranded at the castle by a storm, the Three Dahlias set out to find out who is the culprit.

Another enjoyable entry in the series! I enjoyed that the three significant others (Jack, Kit, and Annie) were there as well as I find them fun supporting characters. I really didn't see the whodunit coming either! It was a good mystery (in terms of investigating and clues), something this series has been really good at. I think I can see where the next book might go in terms of murder, but I can't wait to see! I always look forward to reading these when I see another one has been released.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Three Dahlias are all in Scotland for the wedding of the year. Their friend Libby is marrying Duncan, laird of a large estate but when they arrive there is an odd around the place. The body of stranger has been found on the beach below the castle and there are mysterious goings on. Now the weather is closing in and when one of the guests is found murdered, the three (and their partners) have to solve the crime.
Watson is creating a wonderful series and, despite the fact that this was written in a rush, this is possibly the best yet. Pulling on the novels of a fictitious Golden Age writer, the plots are both modern and rooted in classic detective fiction. Here, it is the 'locked room' theme and it works brilliantly. Watson is self-deprecating in her acknowledgements but I agree with her editor - this is a delight.

A Christmas Eve wedding in a remote Scottish castle. What could be more romantic? Shame that the bride has pre wedding jitters that have nothing to do with the groom but with the feeling that the castle is, well, haunted and the ghost in question seems to have it in for her. It's also a shame that a once in a generation storm has snowed the family and first guests in and the rest of the world out with no phone signal, hardly any food except mince pies and canapes and one creaky generator. And it's a real shame that one of the guests has been murdered. On the other hand it's a very good thing the three Dahlias, Rosalind, Caro and Posy are there, along with Rosalind's retired policeman boyfriend and Caro's steady wife who can wrangle both a kitchen and a generator. But with the snowfall increasing, tensions racheting and danger increasing can they find the murderer in time to stop any more murders and save the wedding?
A delightfully Christmassy take on a classic locked in mystery with my three favourite detectives. Highly recommended.

What could be better than a cosy murder mystery? A cosy Christmas murder mystery! Katy Watson delivers yet another delightful instalment in the Three Dahlias series, this time with a festive twist. Set in a remote castle in the Scottish Highlands, the story draws you in with its intriguing plot, starting with what should have been a charming Christmas wedding. But when a body washes up on the shore and the bride, their old friend Libby, hints at something more sinister, the Dahlias are drawn into another thrilling investigation.

The wintry, gothic atmosphere is a refreshing change from the usual summer countryside settings. Ghost stories, a centuries-old feud, and an ominous snowstorm create a wonderfully eerie backdrop for this classic closed-circle mystery. It feels like a perfect blend of Golden Age murder mystery traditions—complete with high society glamour—and the haunting charm of traditional Christmas tales.

I particularly enjoyed seeing the Three Dahlias with their partners this time around—it added more depth to their characters and dynamics. Kit and Annie were a delightful addition as honorary Dahlias, and I loved the development of Posy and Kit’s relationship, which has come a long way since the first book. Similarly, Rosalind and Jack’s relationship has matured beautifully. Watson captures not just the highs but also the complexities of their connection in the brief glimpses we get through Rosalind’s perspective.

The balance of romance as a subplot alongside the murder mystery is handled masterfully, making all three relationships feel authentic and compelling. Katy Watson has once again delivered a festive, engaging mystery with characters you can’t help but root for.

3.5/5.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

The three Dahlia’s are at it again with another murder mystery to solve (honestly, how do these ladies find themselves surrounded by death so much?) and the scene is Christmas!

This was a fun winter murder mystery and gave cozy Christmassy, Agatha Cristie vibes. The Scottish setting was picturesque and the narrative was engaging with it flicking between Caro, Posy and Rosalind’s POV. I did find the story felt slightly slow at times and the reveal a little lack lustre (hence the 3*) but if you’re looking for a fluffy murder mystery this Christmas then look no further!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!

A Christmas wedding, a snow storm, a centuries old feud and murders.
A Lively Midwinter Murder is the fourth in The Three Dahlia's Mysteries. It's a cosy murder mystery set in a castle in a remote part of Scotland.
All of the roads are blocked by snow, and there is no phone signal, so the three Dahlias and their partners set about solving the murders.

This is the first book that I have read by this author. It's an entertaining read, full of twists and turns, and for the most part, is fast paced.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for giving me the opportunity to read this book

A joy to read from start to finish, Katy Watson hooks you in and keeps you engaged throughout. A fantastic cosy winter mystery.

Boy was I looking forward to this one!

I really enjoyed this story and I am a lover of the closed circle mystery. I love the chemistry of the dahlias and how they work together. They complement each other so much in their mystery solving ways. I enjoyed the more in-depth look at the dahlias relationships with their significant others. It was nice to see and made the emotional moments in the book more powerful due to the depth of the relationships were written about previously.
The plot of this instalment had me intrigued from every page, the turns the story took and when we finally uncover who the murderer is I was shocked, as the reader we weren’t given the clue that tipped the dahlias off to the murderer but the reveal was enjoyable. I never guessed it could have been that character. It was a medium-to-fast paced story that I HAD to finish or I would be wondering and wondering what the next page held.

I loved this book, it is such a cosy mystery that you can read cosied up during the holiday season with a belly full of any other Christmas treat other than mince pies.

A fun a cosy festive crime story. The setting is great. I could practically hear the wind whirling round the turrets of the isolated Scottish castle. The three main characters are well established now and it’s enjoyable to watch their relationship develop.

In some ways the murder comes second place to the setting and the atmosphere here. I almost didn’t care who the killer was. I was slightly grumpy that the reader wasn’t given all of the clues to figure it out, though. The reveal depended on a piece of evidence we hadn’t been shown. Very much against the rules set by Agatha Christie!

This is an enjoyable story, nonetheless and would be great to read in the run up to Christmas or in the gap between Christmas and New Year. Ideally next to a roaring fire!

I really enjoyed the first book in the series which prompted me to request an arc for this one. While I did not find it as entertaining as my previous read, it was a decent mystery. I liked the sleuths a lot and enjoyed their chemistry.

A Lively Midwinter Murder finds the three Dahlias in Scotland for the Christmas Eve wedding of their friend Libby. Then of course murder occurs. I have to admit, I enjoyed the story but at times wasn’t overly entertained, the story dragged somewhat and I zoned out.

A Lively Midwinter Murder finds our three Dahlias in Scotland for the Christmas Eve wedding of their friend Libby (who they, and the reader, first met in The Three Dahlias). I enjoyed the festive Highland setting and the cast of characters, but found that the story dragged somewhat, with a lot of telling instead of showing, which resulted in long passages of description through which I zoned out a bit.

A really enjoyable Christmas read. As guests assemble for their friend 's wedding at a romantic Scottish castle, a gathering snowstorm adds to the already uneasy atmosphere. An un- identified body was discovered on the day of their arrival but the three amateur sleuths aka the Dahlias, are soon convinced he is connected to some of the castle 's occupants. As the storm intensifies, cutting them off from the outside world, they discover the body of if a fellow guest on the same beach where the previous body was found. This guest however is dressed in the wedding dress of their friend Libby. She is also wearing the heirloom diamond necklace that had been stolen a few days before. The friends soon discover the castle holds many secrets and nothing is as it seems. With the help of retired policeman,Jack, they unmask the murderer in an exposé worthy of Christie's Poirot. Lots of red herrings, atmospheric setting and an eclectic cast of suspects all make for a most entertaining read

I just want to start off by saying thank you to NetGalley and Publishers for sending me this arc as I really do enjoy this Agatha Christie like murder mystery.

I think there were just a few too many character to keep up with and found it was a little difficult to remember how they were all connected familiar wise.

I really liked the setting of the book, very isolated and alienated from the rest of the world so they didn’t have any back up from the police. I would have liked to see a bit more about Rosalind and Jacks relationship as we finally get to see them together however I do love Annie and Caro! Annie is such a contrast to Caro and balances each other out beautifully.

I feel like the big mystery came out the blue and there wasn’t any real clues to go back to so that you could slightly figure it out for yourself.

An entertaining fun read. A brilliant new edition to one of my favourite series. A cosy festive novel.

A Lively Midwinter Murder by Katy Watson is a delightful, festive addition to the Three Dahlias series that immerses readers in the eerie charm of a Scottish Highlands Christmas wedding. When Posy, Caro, and Rosalind arrive at the castle for their friend Libby's big day, they're greeted by an ominous note from the bride herself, warning that something unsettling is at play. The celebratory mood takes a dark turn when a body washes up on the shore, setting the stage for a classic closed-circle mystery filled with clever clues, red herrings, and surprising twists.

Watson’s skillful writing brings a gothic, almost haunting atmosphere to this wintery mystery, with ghost stories, a centuries-old feud, and a brewing snowstorm adding layers of suspense. The Scottish Highlands setting, complete with a remote castle and roaring hearth, perfectly captures the essence of a cozy, seasonal murder mystery with just enough festive touches to make it feel like a holiday treat.

The Three Dahlias are as engaging as ever, with their cross-generational friendship providing warmth and humor that balance the darker undertones of the plot. It was a pleasure to see the main characters’ relationships evolve, especially as their partners play more prominent roles, offering a new dynamic to the team and allowing readers to invest more deeply in their lives beyond sleuthing.

Fast-paced and full of unexpected reveals, A Lively Midwinter Murder is an entertaining and heartwarming mystery. With Watson's nod to Golden Age traditions and her own modern flair, this is a cozy seasonal read that doesn’t disappoint. Perfect for fans of atmospheric mysteries looking for a festive twist!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Books for providing this advanced copy!

A very Agatha Christie type of book. Isolated house in Scotland in the winter with a murder. A great read and this time I didn't guess who did the murder. I enjoyed the characters and the interaction between them. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

The three Dahlia's are invited to the Christmas wedding of Libby and Duncan in the Scottish Highlands and, like Miss Marple or Poirot who are walking magnets for mysteries, they inevitably discover the dead body of one of the guests.

It had many interesting mysteries that all appear to occur in isolation until it all comes together at the end and the mysteries are wrapped up in a nice Christmassy bow. Setting it in an isolated castle in the Scottish Highlands at Christmas is a nice contrast and creates a sense of foreboding.

I really like that we have returning characters from previous books as I find it's a shame when we grow to like characters in one book and they never appear again. I think it adds nice layers to future books as they become more developed and not one-dimensional.

Overall, another hit by Katy Watson and I hope to read more about the exploits of the three Dahlia's very soon!

The fourth in the series, but Katy catches you up enough so that you understand who the three Dahlias are and how they work together. (I'd recommend reading the series, though, because it's very enjoyable!)

A romantic winter wedding at a remote Scottish castle turns out to be nothing of the kind - especially as the bride-to-be sends a note with the invitations saying that something isn't quite right. Ghost stories told by firelight, tales of ancient family feuds... and then in the morning they find a corpse, wearing the bride's dress and stolen family jewels. Cut off by a snowstorm, and with electricity and phone lines down, the Dahlias need to solve the murder and save their friend...

Beautifully twisty plot, lots of good misdirection, great chemistry between the sleuths (and it's lovely to see them with their partners), and a thoroughly good read.