Murder at the Island Hotel by Helena Dixon ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

A gorgeous island off the English coast, a beautiful hotel perched on the cliffs, a group of glamourous friends… and a suspicious death? Kitty Underhay’s invitation didn’t mention murder!

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

March 2024; Bookouture; 978-1837900626
audio, ebook, print (258 pages); cozy mystery

Kitty Underhay Bryant is back with a new mystery to solve. While her husband Captian Bryant is busy with a trial, Kitty and her friend Alice agree to inspect a new hotel whose owner wants to join the Torquay Hotelier's Association. It's a soft opening with the only other guest being acquaintances of the owner and his fiancee. It should be a nice overnight trip that might only be marred by the uncertain weather. If only...

Murder at the Island Hotel is book 15 in the series and while I've been reading it for some time I don't think you necessarily have to start at the beginning to enjoy this one. The mystery is confined to this book and there is no mystery or big plot line that runs through the series. 

Kitty and Matt are one of my favorite sleuthing couples. But I've missed Alice since Kitty has moved out of the hotel she runs with her grandmother. It was great that she had such a big part in this book. It was like the "old days" when Alice traveled as a companion with Kitty. 

If you are a fan of locked-door mysteries, then you will enjoy this book. The island is barely inhabited and the only access is by boat but the weather is so bad that no boat can make the crossing once the guests are dropped off. Moreover, several of the guests are actors. So while many had a motive it is difficult to tell who is telling the truth and who is lying. The police (the likable Chief Inspector Greville and the less likable Inspector Lewis) have a difficult time deciding who did it. I never even had a good suspect. 

I prefer to have an inkling of who the culprit is and I'm not a fan of the "sleuth" doing the big reveal and how they deduced it at the end. But there wasn't really any way to quickly wrap up the story and all the clues laid out did make sense.

It was still fun to spend a few days with the characters and as always I look forward to the next book.

Buy Murder at the Island Hotel at Amazon

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

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