A Very Lively Murder

One murder mystery movie. Three Dahlias. And a whole cast of suspects...

Ex-child star Posy Starling is finally filming her dream role - Dahlia Lively in The Lady Detective movie. 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. There's something very wrong on the set of The Lady Detective - which means it's time to call in Caro Hooper, so the three Dahlias can investigate.

In between filming scenes, signing autographs for locals, photoshoots in London, talk show appearances and jetting off to France for an impromptu party, the three Dahlias do what they do best - surrupticiously sleuth. And very soon the evidence starts to point towards one particular co-star...

But before they can prove it, another murder rocks the production. And this time, with a storm raging, the river flooded and the bridge washed out, there are no police to rely on so it's up to the three Dahlias to stop a murderer in their tracks... before another victim is claimed.

Praise for Katy Watson

'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


About the Author
Growing up in a family of murder mystery addicts, Katy Watson learned early to look for means, motive and opportunity.

After studying English Literature - with a sideline in crime fiction - at Lancaster University, she set about teaching herself to write her own stories, while also experiencing enough of the world to have things to write about.

Two careers, a lot of air miles, one husband, two children, three houses and forty five published books for children and adults later, lockdown finally gave her the means, motive and opportunity to create her own murder mystery - with the aid of her scientist husband's knowledge of poisons. Three Dahlias is the result.