Book Review & Giveaway | Hattie Goes to Hollywood by Caroline James

Book Description

A Cumbrian Village…
Three suicides…
A red-hot summer…

Join super-sleuth Hattie as tempers and temperatures rise in the Cumbrian village of Hollywood. With mischief and shenanigans aplenty, will Hattie discover the truth?

A funny and intriguing mystery – the first in a new series by Caroline James

When recently bereaved Hattie Mulberry inherits her aunt’s dilapidated cottage in the village of Hollywood in Cumbria, she envisages a quiet life. But retired hotelier Hattie is bored and when her neighbour asks her to investigate a suspicious suicide, Hattie’s career takes a new direction and H&H Investigations is born. During the hottest summer for years, Hattie discovers there have been three recent suicides in Hollywood and she determines to find out why. Temperatures rise as she throws herself into village life and, with mischief and shenanigans aplenty, Hattie has her work cut out. But
will she establish the truth?

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Book Review | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Favorite Character: Hattie Mulberry

She is young at heart, hates to be reminded of her age, and welcomes a “livener” any time of day. She has a pet duck named Drake – a Mallard duck who adopts her and loves to walk with her into the village. Recently finding herself a widow, she has to find something to occupy her time and what better than solving mysteries. A modern Ms. Marple? Perhaps, but don’t tell her that.

What I Loved about Hattie Goes to Hollywood

Where do I start – I loved everything about this book! To begin with – the title. It just sounds fun. Hattie goes to Hollywood – and she does – Hollywood, England, which is a small village in the Cumbria area that was once farmland. Her recently deceased Aunt left her a little cottage, and she decides to move in, renovate, and start an Investigation Service. The depth and quality of the description quickly enveloped me, welcoming me to Holly Cottage.

The characters are incredibly well-developed – the major and the minor. I have never been to a small English village, but I now feel like I have. I loved mixing with the locals at Holly Bush, the village pub, and joining in the festivities of the village fete. I know to stay away from Joan’s fancies and to watch out for the Vicar’s roving eye. I want to see a woman and her duck walking down Lover’s Lane more than you know!

The local bobbies are helpful and not in any way annoying. Hattie calls on her old friend and policeman, Harry the Helmet, and he willingly helps. It is refreshing to have the comradery among people working towards the same end.

I loved the mystery and Hattie’s approach to it. It was a tough one to be sure, and I didn’t even begin to suspect the outcome though the clues were all there. It is fun that Hattie calls everyone with a secret out at the end. It gave me a good chuckle to see justice dispensed. And at her housewarming party nonetheless. I was wondering why she invited certain people and loved that she did.

Hattie’s romance with Reggie is so unexpectedly real. It’s a whirlwind romance but not without its challenges. The biggest being Hattie’s seeming lack of desire for anything committed or long-term. She is very in-the-moment, and the couples’ individual goals do not always coincide.

What I Wish

I wish for more Hattie Mulberry mysteries!!! A preview of the next one is at the end of this novel, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the story.

To Read or Not to Read

This is a book you want to buy and enjoy as soon as it comes out!

Thank you to Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources and the author for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

About the Author

Best-selling author of women’s fiction, Caroline James has owned and run businesses encompassing all aspects of the hospitality industry, a subject that often features in her novels. She is based in the UK but has a great fondness for travel and escapes whenever she can. A public speaker, which includes talks and lectures on cruise ships world-wide, Caroline is also a consultant and food writer. She is a member of the Romantic Novelist’s Association, the Society of Women’s Writer’s & Journalists and the Society of Authors and writes articles and short stories, contributing to many publications. In her spare time, Caroline can be found trekking up a mountain or relaxing with her head in a book and hand in a box of chocolates.

Giveaway

Giveaway to Win a cuddly Drake toy! (Open INT)

Be in with a chance to win Drake, Hattie’s faithful pet duck! Tall Drake & Handsome

 – A gorgeous soft toy who will be your friend for life.

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*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter link below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

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