Colleen Gleason

Lady Darling. Trouble is thy middle name!

Delightful Victorian cozy mystery romp starring the eccentric and lively Lady Darling, Irene Colchester, Dowager Marchioness of Darling has reluctantly returned to society to sponsor a friend’s daughter for the season. It’s nine years after the death of her beloved husband Edward,
The unusual Lady Darling feels that now she’s fifty others will make allowances for her idiosyncrasies. Mind you her French modiste Claude keeps designing her dresses show more with a low décolletage—the discussion about this is hilarious.
As Lady Darling is not in her dotage no-one believes her. She’s as sharp as she ever has been.
Lady Irene had an unusual childhood having been the daughter of a ship’s captain. This accounts for her straight thinking, and no nonsense approach to things, and a few other odd characteristics, like uncouth expressions.
Lady Darling’s re-entry to the social scene is noted by all. She had conveniently retired to the country after seeing that all her offspring had been married (for love). She’s reluctant to re-engage. But a close friend has asked Irene to sponsor her daughter’s come out into society.
Her charge’s introduction will be at the Enfield Ball. It’s been four years since the event was held. Then shockingly, the death of the hostess’ husband occurred.
There’s a host of delightful characters. I’m much taken by Barth, her new carriage driver who provides the least comfortable rides in the kingdom. Then there’s the mysterious “Wall of Man”, and so many others.
Within the space of a few days, two of the men she meets at a select dinner are murdered. One at the dinner and one at the theatre,
Lady Darling decides to take up detecting, like Sherlock Holmes. After all she is a friend of Conon Doyle’s. The games afoot!
A witty and amusing read!

An Xpresso Book Tours ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher. show less

Agatha’s homespun sleuth!

Fascinating beginning of a Cozy Mystery series where the sleuth is Agatha Christie’s housekeeper.
Weaving in and of aspects of Christie’s personal life, her literary characters and books, this quirky use of Agatha Christie the person as the backdrop for a new suite of cozy mysteries is rather brilliant.
A body is found in the Christie’s library, stabbed with a fountain pen. The house is fill of recently arrived guests and their various staff members for a house show more party at Mallowan Hall.
The murderer could be anyone. When a second death occurs things are really shaken up.
Phyllida Bright, Mallowan Hall’s housekeeper, realises she will have to take charge of finding the murderer, particularly as her friend and employer Agatha has asked it of her. (And the whys and wherefores of that friendship will be interesting!)
Of course there’s the requisite Inspector who’s maybe a tad like Pirot’s Inspector Japp.Phyllida has a touch of Jane Marple combined with Pirot’s love of using our little grey matter.
Then there’s the mysterious chauffeur. I keep seeing the chauffeur from Upstairs Downstairs.
A cast of characters that I’m sure will bloom, all stereotypes with ingenious twists.
First rate action, some comical twists and interestingly modern thoughts, all combine to make this a series I’m looking forward to reading more of.

A Kensington ARC via NetGalley show less

This is a murder mystery set at Agatha Christie's house, and while I thought Christie would be more of a character in the story, the fact she wasn't really didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. The heroine, Phyllida, is the housekeeper of Mallowan Hall and friends with "Mrs. Agatha." When an unexpected guest turns up murdered in the library, the house teeters on uproar, but Phyllida not only keeps things under control but also begins to try to solve the mystery. Phyllida is show more no-nonsense but also caring, and I warmed to her almost immediately. I enjoyed following her as she gathered clues (especially ones the detectives on the case thought were immaterial), ran the household, and tried to keep the various servants under her out of trouble. There is also the hint of a romance bubbling for her, and I loved watching that just start to warm up. I caught a number of references to Christie works (that was fun), and I expect there were many that passed me by as well. Recommended. show less

Colleen Cambridge is probably my biggest discovery among new authors this year. With this book, I've now read all three of the books in her Phyllida Bright series, along with the first American in Paris series book. I've absolutely adored all of them, among my favorite mysteries of the year. Each one seems better than what came before.

In this one, Mrs. Bright, Agatha Christie's head housekeeper, accepts an invitation to a murder drama at a new neighbor's home and, of course, becomes show more embroiled in solving a real murder.

I love the characters, especially Mrs. Bright, as well as the chauffeur, Bradford, and his dog. Great characters, great plot (especially as to how Mrs Bright talks about the case with Agatha and gives her plot ideas).

It's a fun historical series. I hope there are many, many more to come (and, at the end of this one, there's a big clue at what might be next).

Highly recommended to fans of cozies and/or historical mysteries!!

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.) show less