A Very Lively Murder (Three Dahlias Mysteries Book 2)

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But things take a nightmare turn when a prop weapon is replaced with the real thing – with almost fatal consequences for her fellow Dahlia, Rosalind King. This book is the second in the series with the promise of the third instalment just around the corner so fans of the first book can enjoy this book knowing there’s even more to come.

Before the three friends can solve the mystery, a death occurs leading the Dahlias to also start their own murder investigation. I knew I would be in safe hands with Katy Watson and A Very Lively Murder was everything I hoped it would be! The book has an underlying brooding feeling, aided and abetted by stormy weather and the setting in a country house in the Welsh landscape. A Very Lively Murder is the second novel in the series and though it would work perfectly well as a standalone, where are many references to the events of the previous novel and I think it takes from the enjoyment somewhat if you are not aware of the whole history. You will need to have read the first in this series to understand what lead them to Wales for filming.The premise of actresses who have played a 'Golden Age' detective solving crimes seems a little far fetched but works so well. With all that being said, I will read the next in the series, although I'm not as excited about it as I was with this one.

Though the author, Kath Watson, is careful to provide sufficient details without giving away the entire plot.The story picks up slightly after the first book finished and follows the characters whilst they are actually filming the film from the first book. This would make an excellent holiday read - it took me longer than an average crime novel as it has a lot more depth to it than I expected, but that was all to the good! In this latest addition to the Dahlia Lively series, A Very Lively Murder, the three Dahlias, Caro, Rosalind, and Posy, are reunited once again and back sleuthing on the set of The Lady Detective when it quickly becomes apparent that there’s a murderer amongst the cast when threats, victims, accidents, and dead bodies all start piling up. She knew about what her husband did all those years ago and it became clear that justice will never be served. I loved the little touches that showed the bond between the three Dahlias and that they genuinely care for each other.

There wasn't a whole lot of character development with the Three Dahlias, although we learned a bit more about Rosalind.The ending wasn't a surprise; we knew it had to be one of a fairly small group of people, most of them not all that likable.

Following on from last year's "The Three Dahlias" (an absolutely outstanding introduction to the world of our three heroines Rosalind, Caro and Posy), the sophomore entry "A Very Lively Murder" picks things up on the set of the new Dahlia Lively film, the events of the previous novel still hanging over proceedings.Each of the three leads is given narrative focus at different points in the novel and Watson moves between these with ease, really building a remarkable amount of intrigue and tension. I enjoyed the first book in the series and loved coming back to some of my favorite characters… I will be waiting with bated breath for the third installment.