Prompt: A book that has the same title as a song

Only managed 36 out if 50 prompts on the 2021 challenge so I’m determined to do better this year. Kicking off with a book that has the same titlemof the song. Murder in the Dance floor is a dance classic by the quite wonderful kitchen disco queen, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and is also the fourth book in the Kitty Underhay murder mystery series by Helena Dixon.

What it’s about?

Kitty Underhay’s dance card is full… of death.

November 1933. Amateur sleuth-cum-dutiful granddaughter Kitty Underhay stifles a sigh of boredom as she attends the annual Hotelier’s Association Dinner and Dance on behalf of her grandmother, the proprietress of the Dolphin Hotel. She hopes the company of ex-army captain Matthew Bryant will enliven the otherwise dull evening. That is, until bullish and overbearing local councillor Harold Everton drops dead into his bowl of consommé.

While the local police are still scrambling for their whistles, Kitty and Matt waste no time leaping into action. Soon they find themselves caught up a dangerous search to uncover who amongst the distinguished guests used cyanide for seasoning?

When their digging throws light on a corruption scandal brewing in the local council involving Everton’s assistant Thomas King, they are sure they’ve cracked the case. But before he can be questioned further, King’s body is found in a smouldering car wreck. Meanwhile, the murderer has made a sinister plan to avoid detection or punishment, and it will lead Kitty and Matt into a dangerous dance with death…

What I think:

The Kitty Underhay series are really fun cosy mysteries.

Kitty is a great character – she’s feisty and brave but also friendly and observant. People trust her and she is well liked which mean she finds out information that othet people miss.

In true amateur detective fashion she also finds herself in the right place at the right time – or wrong place depending on how you look at it.

This is an intriguing and multi-layered mystery that emerges slowly and takes Kitty and Matt down some twisted paths as all of the secrets are revealed.

It’s an enjoyable read. And the characters, particularly the relationship between Kitty and Matt is developing nicely as we get to know them and they learn more about each other.

The next book in the series is out soon and I’ll definitely be continuing with their adventures.