Murder at the English Manor Audiobook – A Miss Underhay Mystery, Book 20

Rain was gently tapping on my window the morning I pressed play on Murder at the English Manor, and within minutes, I felt transported from my cozy Portland apartment straight into a world of velvet curtains, glittering jewels, and very proper danger. As someone who has always had a soft spot for both classic mysteries and stories set in grand old manors (I grew up watching Agatha Christie adaptations with my grandmother), Helena Dixon’s twentieth Miss Underhay book proved to be pure comfort—and delightfully clever company.

Kitty Underhay is everything I adore in a sleuth: composed but approachable, more likely to outwit you over tea than chase suspects through hedges. What really charmed me this time was her ability to remain perfectly unruffled even when faced with an untimely death before breakfast—there’s something so reassuring about a heroine whose greatest tool is her curiosity rather than reckless bravado. Kitty’s relationship with Matt, her fiancé (and investigative partner-in-crime-solving), hit all the right notes for me; their dynamic is supportive and witty without ever tipping into melodrama or cliché romance subplots. And let’s not forget Bertie the dog! Every cozy mystery needs its loyal four-legged companion.

The setting of Markham Hall deserves a round of applause too. Dixon paints it as simultaneously beautiful and brimming with secrets: gliding servants flit along whispering corridors while guests exchange icy smiles under sparkling chandeliers. It conjured such vivid Downton Abbey energy that I half-expected Lady Mary herself to stride through at any moment.

What truly sets Murder at the English Manor apart is how meticulously plotted it feels—even twenty books in! The story opens with Agnes, a maid, found murdered after what should have been an elegant engagement celebration. Before long we’re swimming (almost literally) in further intrigue: secret romances behind gilded doors, alibis that don’t quite add up, missing jewelry hinting at deeper motives… The mystery unfolded exactly as I’d hoped—with red herrings galore—but never got so tangled that I lost sight of our sleuths’ logic.

Perhaps most refreshing was the tone—a kind of “murder but make it manners.” There are no grisly autopsy scenes or shocking twists purely for shock value; instead there’s intelligence woven throughout every clue and conversation. This isn’t just easy listening—it’s actively engaging if you like puzzling things out alongside your protagonists (which I definitely do).

Now let me gush about Karen Cass’s narration! She nails Kitty’s crisp intelligence while giving each character—from shifty footmen to high-society suspects—a unique spark that made them instantly recognizable in my mind’s eye. Her pacing kept tension simmering without ever feeling rushed; she brings out just enough wry humor that I caught myself grinning several times amid otherwise dire circumstances.

If there were anything lacking? Perhaps only that Markham Hall itself seemed almost too charming—I longed for just one dust bunny or creaky floorboard! But honestly, when you want pure cozy escapism wrapped around a satisfyingly intricate whodunnit puzzle…this audiobook delivers beautifully.

Murder at the English Manor left me feeling like I’d spent an afternoon curled up by a fire—warmly entertained yet also intellectually tickled by every twisty little clue. Fans of golden-age crime fiction will find much to love here; newcomers can jump right in and experience all the wit, warmth, and very British suspense Helena Dixon serves up so well.