Murder at Holly House

 

Set at Christmastime in 1952, Murder at Holly House drops us into the seemingly sleepy village of Elderby, where Inspector Frank Grasby has been quietly exiled after an earlier investigation went spectacularly sideways thanks to a mishap involving a stable full of very expensive thoroughbred horses and an irritated aristocrat. His new assignment should be harmless enough. Look into the theft of some farm equipment. Nothing to see here or so it seems.

That illusion doesn’t last long. When Grasby discovers a dead man stuffed into a chimney at the local manor house, the case turns sharply darker. As he digs deeper, it becomes clear that Elderby is brimming with secrets, half-truths, and residents who are very much not what they appear to be. What starts as a small village mystery escalates into something far more dangerous, with implications that may reach beyond Elderby and into matters of national security.

Grasby is a delight. He’s charming and smart. He has a wonderfully dry, wry British sense of humor. He’s the kind of detective you’re happy to spend time with, even as the stakes rise and the threats close in. The book balances classic whodunit vibes with post-war tension, exploring themes of class, secrecy, loyalty, and the lingering shadows of World War II.

Tom Turner’s narration is excellent. His performance brings Grasby’s personality to life and captures the shifting moods of the story, from cozy village scenes to moments of genuine menace. It’s an immersive listen and one I didn’t want to end.

This is a terrific choice for Agatha Christie fans, historical fiction readers, and anyone looking for an offbeat holiday mystery that’s cozy but not toothless. Many thanks to Sourcebooks Audio for the gifted audiobook. Murder at Holly House is available now and it’s well worth your time. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Happy Monday bookish pals! QOTD: Do you like your holiday reads cozy and classic, or dark with a little bite?

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#holidayreads #christmasmystery

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About the Author

Denzil Meyrick was from Campbeltown on the Kintyre Peninsula in Argyll. After studying politics, he enjoyed a varied career as a police officer, distillery manager, a director of several companies, and an executive producer of a major TV adaptation of his books. Regarded as 'One of Scotland's finest writers' (SWH), he was the No.1 New York Times bestselling author of the DCI Daley series, and the Detective Frank Grasby mysteries, including the Waterstones Thriller of the Month pick, Murder at Holly House. Denzil died peacefully at his home beside Loch Lomond in Scotland, in February 2025.