Verity Bright

May Day mayhem as Lady Eleanor Swift finds herself caught up in yet more murder! When the local undertaker dies during the annual raft race it is declared an accident, but Ellie is persuaded by the man's widow to investigate - especially when an obituary in the local paper announces that it was indeed murder. A second death and obituary follows, and as Ellie and her trusted butler Clifford delve into the murky financial dealings of those involved it comes closer to home than is comfortable. show more Can Ellie solve the case and save her dear late Uncle's memory? Or does the appearance of her obituary in the paper mean that it's one case too far for our sleuth....?

Just a pure delight from start to finish. Ellie is a feisty, independent woman in a stuffy pre-war England, and her constant efforts to improve the lives of those around her are admirable and compelling. Throw in Clifford, Gladstone the dog, and a household staff battling with the arrival of their first ever vacuum cleaner (with the inevitable results!) - all of this and it's the perfect way to while away a lazy afternoon. 4.5 stars. show less

1920s, Christmas, England, murder-investigation, law-enforcement, cosy-mystery, family-dynamics, friendship, situational-humor, amateur-sleuth*****

What fun! The series begins as a farce: presumed orphan from South Africa comes to rural England and finds that she has inherited the title and all that from uncle who is recently deceased. She has little idea of how people are expected to behave in this milieu and is a klutz, to boot. The best part of it all is the Butler who knows everything, show more helps her with anything, and never treats her like a ninny. Now it is Christmastide and she works with her staff to provide the estate and the village with the kind of celebrations that her uncle had always done. Everything and everyone is quite happy until a crabby middle-aged man drops dead at the first community event. Eleanor and her butler are certain that it is murder, but the friendly law enforcement do not, and are very annoyed when she keeps on snooping as the snow gets deeper and deeper. Loved it! A nice, low key cosy for these fraught times.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Bookouture via NetGalley. Thank you! show less

Another entertaining installment in one of my favorite cozy historical mystery series.

Lady Eleanor Swift is taking in Wembley's British Empire Exhibition while aloft in a hot air balloon and sees a murder from above. By the time she gets back to ground, the shooter and the victim are gone. All she finds is a piece of a jewelry clasp almost hidden in the dirt. Of course, she's intrigued and frustrated by the situation. Meanwhile, she's been asked by Lady Philomena Chadwick to help her with show more locating a stolen pearl necklace. Lady Philomena believes that a member of her staff has taken it, and Eleanor agrees to go undercover at her home pretending to be governess to the Chadwick children. Are these two cases related and can Eleanor and her butler, Cliffor, along with her fiance, Detective Hugh Seldon, find out what is happening?

It's hard to keep coming up with great new plots in a long running series, so I appreciate that I still find these so enjoyable and look forward to them. I like the characters and always relish coming back to see what they get up to next. Love the period details about the clothes, food, homes, society, etc. and the historical references. I can't imagine reading these out of order, so be sure to start at the beginning.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.
BLOG STOP TOUR on July 1, 2024
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The client was dead before they even arrived!

This delightful cozy, set in England in 1925, finds Lady Eleanor Swift and husband Hugh Seldon ready to celebrate their first Christmas together at Henley Hall. When an unexpected telegram arrives on Christmas Eve with a curt and mysterious message asking them to travel to a remote hamlet by midnight to earn their fees, they decide that their fledgling detective agency needs some income, so they drive off with Gladstone in tow. Upon tardy arrival show more to the client's estate, they find an empty office and a recording that starts to give them a few details before being abruptly cut off. Hearing music from the local church, they pass a graveyard where a dead man rests across a tombstone. Alas, it's the body of Inigo Osmund Unwin, their client.

This immediately turns the investigation into a game of retroactive deduction, forcing the Byron Detective Agency to solve a case that they were technically too late for. The inhabitants of the village didn't know or care much for Unwin and they seem to have a lot of secrets. As the snow falls and temperatures drop, Eleanor, Hugh, and Clifford begin a heated interrogation of the locals. Christmas this year will be nothing like they expected.

This was complex and fun with lots of wonderful historical details that the author is known for. I love the time period and the setting with the Christmas theme. The characters are what drives this series, however, and I always enjoy returning to catch their latest whodunit. From Lady Eleanor and Hugh to Clifford, their butler, who is a walking encyclopedia, to the "aprons" who cook and clean, everyone is part of the crew. Their camaraderie and witty repartee are part of each book's charm. Although there is always a mystery to solve, it's really the sense of team and family that carries this beyond the typical cozy.

After 24 books, I still very much enjoy this series and recommend any interested readers start with the first installment for maximum enjoyment.

Book Blog Tour for Bookouture 12-9-25
ARC provided for review. show less