Here is another treat for you! If you know me and/or have been following my blog, you know that I love a good murder mystery. When it comes to historical fiction murder mysteries, however, new books released have big shoes to fit since I have pretty great expectations. While I shouldn't, I often compare those books to books by Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. As you can see, the bar is high.
With that being said, I will tell you about a book that ranks quite high up in my list of books that deserve my personal "Agatha and Arthur Book Award." But first, a brief synopsis of the book, so you know what I'm talking about when I tell you my thoughts:
With that being said, I will tell you about a book that ranks quite high up in my list of books that deserve my personal "Agatha and Arthur Book Award." But first, a brief synopsis of the book, so you know what I'm talking about when I tell you my thoughts:
 | Winter, 1920. Amateur sleuth Lady Eleanor Swift is feeling festive. She is playing host to the entire village at Henley Hall for gifts, games and gingerbread. She’s also purchased perfect presents for each of her household – not forgetting the biggest bone in the butcher’s shop for her partner in crime, Gladstone the bulldog – and is looking forward to celebrating her first English country Christmas. As snowflakes fall, Eleanor is cheering on contestants in the traditional Christmas fun run in the grounds of the Hall. But tragedy strikes when one of the runners drops dead at the finish line. Dashing Detective Seldon is convinced it’s just a heart attack, but Eleanor isn’t so sure. When she finds a rather distinctive key where the man fell, Eleanor knows she’ll never rest until she finds out the truth about what happened in her own home. Next the vicar is taken ill with what looks like poison and Eleanor starts to wonder if the two cases are linked. When someone tries to frame her by planting poisoned berries in her own kitchen, she knows speed is of the essence. But the entire village was at Henley Hall for the festivities and Eleanor has enough suspects to stuff a town full of turkeys. Can she nail the true killer and clear her name in time for Christmas? |
This is book #4 in the "A Lady Eleanor Swift Murder Mystery" series. I have not read the first three books, but can tell you that that is perfectly fine! Based on this book, I can say that you do not have to read the books in order. However, as with many series, it does help to read them in order in particular when it comes to some of the characters and their relationship. I'm intrigued by Eleanor and her bond with Detective Seldon! So much so, that I will read the first three books too. I just have to know how this special relationship developed over time. Eleanor is not your typical 1920s English lady. She reminded me a lot of a book I recently read about the Flappers of the 1920s. Female sleuth is a job title that was not very common during those years, but I love, love, love it when women escape their "golden cages of femininity" and wow us with skills that render even the toughest and smartest male detectives speechless. Lady Swift is one of those! She is a lady, yet she is blunt, not scared to voice her opinion, and she is certainly smart. She has the wit of a Miss Marple and the noble attitude of a Hercule Poirot!
In this book, you find a lot of suspects and lots of motives. I have to admit that I found out in the end that the person I suspected in the last few chapters before the murderer was revealed was in fact the one behind the murder. HOWEVER, and that is a big however, there was a twist for me since my reasoning deviated quite a bit from what actually happened and why. This book was fun to read!
In this book, you find a lot of suspects and lots of motives. I have to admit that I found out in the end that the person I suspected in the last few chapters before the murderer was revealed was in fact the one behind the murder. HOWEVER, and that is a big however, there was a twist for me since my reasoning deviated quite a bit from what actually happened and why. This book was fun to read!
| About the author(s): Verity Bright is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing partnership that has spanned a quarter of a century. Starting out writing high-end travel articles and books, they published everything from self-improvement to humor, before embarking on their first historical mystery. Click on the image on the right for the Amazon link to the series! |  |
Disclaimer:
I am not affiliated with Amazon and do not receive any kind of compensation for linking to this book on their website!
This book is part of a Bookouture Blog Tour! Thank you, Bookouture, for a complimentary copy of this novel!
I am not affiliated with Amazon and do not receive any kind of compensation for linking to this book on their website!
This book is part of a Bookouture Blog Tour! Thank you, Bookouture, for a complimentary copy of this novel!
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