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The Three Dahlias

A gripping, cosy country-house mystery full of twists

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The Three Dahlias

By: Katy Watson
Narrated by: Jilly Bond
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About this listen

 It wouldn't be a country house weekend without a little murder. . .

Three rival actresses team up to solve a murder at the stately home of Lettice Davenport, the author whose sleuthing creation of the 1930s, Dahlia Lively, had made each of them famous to a new generation. A contemporary mystery with a Golden Age feel, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Jessica Fellowes - and Janice Hallett and Richard Osman, of course!

In attendance at Aldermere: the VIP fans, staying at house; the fan club president turned convention organiser; the team behind the newest movie adaptation of Davenport's books; the Davenport family themselves; and the three actresses famous for portraying Dahlia Lively through the decades.

There is national treasure Rosalind King, from the original movies, who's feeling sensitive that she's past her prime, TV Dahlia for thirteen seasons, Caro Hooper, who believes she really IS Dahlia Lively, and ex-child star Posy Starling, fresh out of the fame wilderness (and rehab) to take on the Dahlia mantle for the new movie - but feeling outclassed by her predecessors.

Each actress has her own interpretation of the character and her own secrets to hide - but this English summer weekend they will have to put aside their differences as the crimes at Aldermere turn anything but cosy.

When fictional death turns into real bodies, can the three Dahlias find the answers to the murders among the fans, the film crew and the family - or even in Lettice's books themselves?

Praise for The Three Dahlias

'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©2022 Katy Watson Amateur Sleuths Cosy Crime Crime Fiction Detective Fiction Mystery Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Murder Celebrity
All stars
Most relevant
I was riveted from the start. love the characters and how they come alive within the book. cannot wait to listen to the next one that I have just downloaded. love this writers insight and imagination. A true classic old time murder mystery. I also thought the narrator was perfect.

Absolutely loved it

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I have to admit it took me a while to get into this, but I definitely got hooked! It’s not startlingly different to other stories in this genre but is very enjoyable nonetheless. Would certainly read/listen to another from this author.

Traditional Country house mystery

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It is a nice idea. However, I found myself drifting off. It didn't grip me and hold my attention. It sort of just meandered along quite slowly and the ending felt sort of ... meh! It wasn't bad... but I don't understand the hype and I wouldn't recommend it,

Just a bit... meh

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I listened with a sort of horrified fascination. Still can’t believed I listened to the whole story as it was muddled and just weird. Only listened as a way of falling asleep.

Jumbled story line

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This has all the elements of a wonderfully daft murder mystery making it a great listen. The writing is lively with a great pace, and the portrayal of the place & people well presented & evocative of the crime genre in the golden age, and the great fun genre of the present day (think Midsomer Murders but much better storyline & much better writing.)

Great fun & a good listen.

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