Murder at the Playhouse: A Miss Underhay Mystery

Murder at the Playhouse was another great mystery featuring Kitty and Matt. I am happy to see that there are romance is blossoming, but it does not overshadow the story itself. Also, I like that she is getting more information about what may have happened to her mother.

When Matt is arrested for the murder of a young actress wannabe, Kitty steps up to exonerate him. A party at the Davenports, Matt’s neighbors, brought in many people, including a number of guests staying with the dysfunctional Davenports. Another young woman is murdered before Kitty herself seems to be targeted as the next victim. In the background, the search for more information about Kitty’s missing mother continues. And the relationship between Kitty and Matt inches along. Another good read, with a number of possible suspects.

I must warn you, the books in this series should be read in order…if not, you’ll be loosing some of the elements of surprise. So to find out their proper order, Google “Orderofbooks.com”.Now, as you can see from me giving this particular offering 5 stars that I really enjoyed reading it. Kitty is persuaded by Mrs. Cravens to help the “Davenport” family with a charity event being put on by the boy’s orphanage. Rather reluctantly, she agrees.However, in the meantime, there’s been a murder of a young aspiring actress, and Matt (her would be boyfriend) has been arrested for the murder. Now, we all know that Matt didn’t do it, but Inspector Greville arrested him all the same, if for nothing more than appearances sake.Dare I say too much more, and ultimately give the plot away, I’ll stop here. Good read. Simply enjoyable.

I recommend the series highly. The characters are well-written and not at all obvious. The plot was very involved and exciting. I thoroughly enjoyed my new “friends” in their adventure.

The characters and storyline are quite good. The text, though, is in need of editing. There are many errors, both textual and factual. Since it would be so easy to fix them, I wonder why it was not done. It was an enjoyable book to read in spite of these annoying faults.

This is the third in the series and the underlying story continues with Kitty and Matt, with a few twists. The murder was filled with lots of twists and turns. Can't wait to read the next one.

I hate to say this, but having had high hopes after reading the first book in this series, the subsequent entries have been a bit disappointing, and this was my least favorite so far.Kitty is still a lovable heroine. I really feel she is miles above most literary heroines these days. She is smart and pretty but also feminine, vulnerable, and imperfect. She has a good heart but she sometimes makes mistakes. She is not always sure of herself and sometimes makes wrong decisions (with the best of intentions). She is much more relatable and likable than most heroines created by modern authors.I also still love the fact that the backdrop for this series is the hotel which Kitty and her grandmother own and where Kitty works. It makes for an interesting setting, not the usual manor house or upper-crust environment that most British mysteries are set in.The story itself in this installment left something to be desired, though. (And I felt the same about the previous book, Murder at Enderley Hall.) The murder mystery plotline is okay. It's not "unputdownable". I had no trouble putting it down and picking it up a few days later. As others have mentioned, both the mystery and the overarching storylines that connect the books in the series are a bit slow-paced. And, I hope this isn't a spoiler, but despite the title, the murders in this book don't actually take place at a playhouse, although a live theatrical production is an important part of the story. (The characters, though, are still mostly upper-crust socialites, not typical actors or theatre people, which was disappointing to me.)I do appreciate a romance that builds over time. In fact, "love at first sight" romances really irk me. However, I feel the pace of Kitty and Matt's relationship is getting to be a bit grating. Their "eyes lock" and "frissons of electricity" pass through them about a zillion times in each book in this series without either one of them acknowledging their feelings for each other or seemingly advancing their relationship at all. When they've spent this much time together, caring about each other, hugging, kissing, walking arm-in-arm, etc, it seems to me that they have an established relationship. Why are they both seemingly unaware of this? And, as others have said, the subplot involving the mystery of Kitty's mother's disappearance is moving along at a snail's pace. I am curious to know what happened to her mother, but with only one clue per book (and I can't remember the clue from the previous book, because it was so long ago that I read it), it's hard to follow that plotline.I am so grateful for authors who can create a story without graphic violence, sex, or gore, and I love that the primary characters have good values. I just wish the storyline was a little more gripping and less repetitive from book to book.Having read the first three books, I'm going to take a little break from the series now, but I would not rule out picking up the fourth book at some point.

This is the best yet of Kitty and the Captain. I can’t wait to read Murder on the Dance Floor.

Si vous aimez leurs mystères à la 1930 alors c'est pour vous la série Kitty Underlay . Très relaxant et agréable je recommande .

Sehr einfach geschrieben und trotzdem spannend

I really enjoyed this story, I'm so glad Kitty was willing to help clear Matt of some false accusations in spite of their disagreement. He in turn helped her discover new informations about her mother. Can't wait to see where the next story takes them. The ending was quite exciting with Kitty of course becoming bait for the killer. It could have turned out badly, the killer had set a trap for her, but she realized who the killer was in the nick of time. All a bit too close for comfort if we were to ask Matt.

If you are the owner of and sole operative in a new private investigation company getting arrested for murder is never going to be good for business! That is the position Captain Matthew Bryant finds himself in after a young woman he gave a leather bootlace to as a clue in a treasure hunt is found murdered.Matt's friend, and partner in two successful murder investigations, Kitty Underhay, knows it is down to her to find out what happened. The dead girl had been a guest at a party held at the beautiful home of theatre impresario Stanley Davenport and his family who, conveniently, live next door to Captain Bryant, and soon Kitty finds herself involved with the daughter Genny and her charity work. Determined to clear Matt's name Kitty also wants to show she is able to handle difficult and dangerous situations as well as he can.This is the third book in this series and once again I really enjoyed it and wasn't at all ready for it to end. This was because, alongside the main case in each book, a budding romance and family mystery have been gathering pace and this was even more apparent in this story and then it finished! So I really need book four now, please!I love the historical details in each of these books, which are set between the wars, and show a time when there was still an accepted class structure which is apparent throughout without taking over. As the co-owner of the Dolphin Hotel, Kitty is a thoroughly modern young woman and very likeable as is Matt Bryant whose frailties add an extra dynamic to the personal side of these stories.I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good cosy crime with a hint of romance. This is a great series and one I hope will continue for a good while yet.

Was a good read.Thank you,Ash