A Lively Midwinter Murder: Three Dahlias, a wedding and a funeral... (A Three Dahlias Mystery) (Hardback) - Katy Watson

The three Dahlias face their next mystery at a castle in the Scottish Highlands which is cut off by the snow . .

'An absolute treat of a read!' Janice Hallett, author of The Appeal

'Once again Katy Watson delivers the perfect cosy: atmospheric, ingenious and fun!' Ian Moore

'The perfect mix of cosy, festive, and twisty, A Lively Midwinter Murder is the best kind of book to curl up with on a cold night by a roaring fire. A fantastically entertaining read no matter the season' Kristen Perrin

'An unputdownable read' Woman's Own

'Cosy crime with a glitzy, glamorous, seasonal glow!' Lancashire Post

'It's about as fun as a murder can get. With humour, beloved characters and a Scottish Castle at Christmas, A Lively Midwinter Murder ticks all the boxes for a perfect festive mystery' Jo Jakeman

'A cracking Christmas mystery with all the spine tingling trappings of a Scottish castle by the sea. What more can you ask for?' S J Bennett

'This great story glitters and shines like the most beguiling Christmas ornament' J M Hall

'Writing as crisp and gorgeous as the snow' Alex Hay

FIRST COMES LOVE . . . THEN COMES MURDER

A high society Christmas Eve wedding at a remote Scottish castle sounds like the perfect winter getaway for the three Dahlias and their partners - until a snowstorm hits, cutting them off from the mainland, and civilisation. Which, of course, is when the dead body of one of the other guests turns up in the snow outside the family chapel. A dead body wearing a wedding dress and a stolen diamond necklace...

The Dahlias were ready for mulled wine, roaring fires, and romance this Christmas. Now, they're on the hunt for another murderer. And if their suspicions are right, it looks like the wedding may be off ...

Praise for Katy Watson

'Dame Agatha would approve' Daily Mail

'A truly entertaining crime novel in the Three Dahlias series, very much in the Agatha Christie tradition, and I hope this series will continue' Shots Magazine

'A Lively Midwinter Murder is pure festive fun, perfectly set in the midst of a snowstorm in remote Scottish castle with guests gathered for a Christmas wedding - and a murderer on the lose. I couldn't put this latest instalment of the Dahlias series down and I can't wait for book 5!' C L Miller

'A glorious winter read, perfect for snowy afternoons by the fire with a mulled wine and a couple of mince pies. The three Dahlias are enchanting' Liza North

'Fiendeshly clever' Bucks Herald

'Celebrates and gently satirises Golden Age crime novels in a hugely entertaining country house mystery' The Times

'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 airmiles, 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.