What to Read This Winter

 ​What to Read This Winter

Murder on a  Frosty Night by Verity Bright-- 1920s Cozy Mystery

Thank you Bookoture, Verity Bright and NetGalley for an e-ARC. All opinions in this review are my own and not affected by the giveaway.

Ellie and Hugh are looking forward to celebrating their first Christmas as a married couple at Henley Hall with Clifford, the ladies, the furry terrible twosome and all the villagers. The halls are decked and Mrs. Trotman is preparing a delicious feast. However, Hugh is busy working, trying to tie up loose ends for Scotland Yard and fretting about money since the Byron Detective Agency has not had any valuable clients so far. It seems like a Christmas miracle is within reach when a telegram arrives offering 300 pounds now, 300 more on acceptance of case and a further 300 once the case is concluded. The catch? It's Christmas Eve and they have to arrive by midnight and the telegram has no phone number to call and ask for a delay. So the sleuths bundle up in the Rolls, drive 400 miles in the snow to get lost in the smallest hamlet in Britain. Along the way they nearly hit a women dressed all in black, encounter a curmudgeonly landlady who is less than thrilled to greet them but provides directions to Waketon Court, a medieval style castle outside the village. They arrive close to the deadline only to learn the master is not within but has been dead for five years! Then who sent the telegram? Ah, his nephew who has been squatting at Waketon Court but is currently not at home. Inigo Osmond Unwin (I.O.U.), their client, has left them a gramophone recording but no real information to go on. Back to the village, after midnight, Ellie, Hugh and Clifford seek information about I.O.U when Ellie stumbles across their client's dead body lying over his uncle's grave. NOW they have a murder investigation on their hands! Aided by the local constable and the new vicar, the Byron Detective Agency has their work cut out for them. Can they solve the mystery before the Inspector arrives the day after Boxing Day?

This is a long and twisty mystery. I was very confused after skimming the last third and had to go back and reread most of the book. The mystery was very complicated and I never guessed what was going on. I took what we were told at face value just as the sleuths did and didn't realize there was more than meets the eye. The introduction of gramophone records was interesting and used by Agatha Christie in one of her most famous mysteries. Thankfully this mystery is not as dark and creepy but the gramophone recording is a big clue. Thank you to Mark for the fascinating historical notes. This is one of the few times I didn't know any of that! The cozy Christmas cheer was a lot of fun and added some lightness to this otherwise somewhat grim mystery.

As always, the characters are the real draw for this story. I was a little disappointed Ellie had to cancel a visit from a new friend she met in a previous story because there was another mystery there and perhaps a potential new... friendship ... for Clifford. I missed the ladies at first but Ellie, Hugh and Clifford did too and Gladstone missed his partner in crime so they come along later to celebrate the season with their family. The ladies were under-used though. I'd love to be a fly on the wall watching them dance around in their frilly ___ (bloomers? knickers? UNMENTIONABLES!) and teasing the vicar. Kofi gets in on the fun for his first Christmas with his adopted family. Ellie is so delightful with her sense of humor and her big heart. She's drawn to help women in need, I think and she forms a connection with a potential suspect whom everyone believes is a witch. In the past Ellie has had some sort of guardian angel looking out for her and I think this time it's her turn to be guardian angel. I love her cheeky sense of humor and how she enjoys puns and riling up Clifford with unladylike behavior and language. Hugh wouldn't want her to be anyone but herself and he makes it clear he loves her devotedly as she is. There weren't enough swoony moments between them for my taste but the few times they have to be alone together are lovely. Hugh has come a long way. He recognizes he can't wrap his wife up in cotton wool but he does want her to be safe and he does want to shield her from seeing more of the horrible things she's already been exposed to. Hugh can't help himself. He's still a policeman even if he quit the force. Now Clifford is a partner in the business, he has to learn to unbend and relax the rules a bit. The horror! I love his encyclopedic knowledge of everything. Who needs the internet when you have Clifford? 

The inhabitants of the hamlet Yorlow are not a friendly, welcoming sort. They're not used to strangers, being in the most out of the way location in the country. Their hamlet is a "devil's punchbowl" location and they don't get many strangers. I.O.U. is a stranger though and a newcomer. He's come to stay in order to assess the property to sell the castle and the contents. He was an odd sort. His uncle, Augustus Pritchard, eschewed all things modern - an in anything  after Tudor times! He enjoyed reading, riddles and mainly keeping to himself. I.O.U. on the other hand, was the exact opposite. He loved mechanical gadgets- the more the merrier and made good use of the new home recording machine. Unwin was rather obnoxious about it- using the gramophone to dictate what he wanted for supper and whatever else he needed the butler/valet and cook/housekeeper to do for him. He did not endear himself to the servants or the villagers. What was he doing poking around the graveyard at midnight on Christmas Eve? Did he just happen to be strolling past skipping Midnight Mass or ducking out early? Or was there another reason- a reason connected to his urgent telegram to the Agency? Who else was out and about and killed Unwin? Figure out the motive and then find the killer. Well, that's not exactly easy with a newcomer for more than one reason. 

First on the suspect list is Ned Yearth. Ned is one of those nasty guys who likes to smirk and make "knowing" comments. He thinks he can do whatever he wants and does things to rile people up. He threatened Unwin and was not at Midnight Mass. Well ideally he should be the killer but that's too obvious. Yet, Gladstone doesn't like Ned so I think he must be the killer. Who else is there? The butler/valet Mr. Babcock is certainly a prime suspect. He hated the newcomer, the nephew who invited himself to stay and wouldn't leave until the legalities of Mr. Pritchard's will were sorted out. The nephew seemed to think everything would work in his favor and if it did, Mr. Babcock would be out of a job. In many respects Mr. Babcock is from the same old school as Clifford but he's also odd. He's fiercely loyal to a dead employer and acts as if his employer is on vacation and will return soon. He knows a lot about what's going on in the village but is not so forthcoming. He, too, is an obvious suspect! Miss Dora is the only only servant. She's Mr. Pritchard's cleaner and also cooks meals for the household - mostly Mr. Babcock. She seems like a timid sort of woman who wouldn't harm her employer even if she was worried about losing her job.

Mathilde Frisham runs the local pub with her sister Blythe. The two could not be more opposite. Mathilde is all business. She's tough and strong and suspicious of strangers. She doesn't trust anyone or like anyone. Mathilde is tough on her sister who is more of a free spirit and more lively. Blythe stepped out around the time of the murder, according to her sister. Yeesh really? Mathilde is quick to throw her sister under the bus and my guess is, her sister loved not wisely but maybe too well and she loved Unwin? She seems to be the only one mourning his death so I think that's a safe assumption to make. Maybe her older sister did the man in. I sure hope it's not "Loony" Luna. Why is everyone Luna believed to be "loony"? This Luna is eccentric in a different way than Luna Lovegood but she's an adult and chooses to be odd. Luna was the young lady of the manor until her parents lost their money and perished in a fire. She got blamed and now lives in the woods in a cabin, dresses all in black and flits around mysteriously. I rather like the sound of her and I hope she's not the murderer. She does have a strong motive though. 

Mr. Dunstan O'Brien, the church warden, whatever that is, is a newcomer to the village. He's kind of odd and cranky. Dunstan asked for the job the day after Rev. Ansel arrived and says he's helped out at churches before. He went through a tough time and just wants to be left alone and not asked a million questions that remind him of who he used to be. Or maybe he's just suspicious because he has something to hide? He's not in the story much and he was at Mass but not the whole time! He had means and opportunity but what about motive? Douglas "Digger" Dilkes, a mysterious man, is the grave digger. A-ha! He had means and opportunity to kill Unwin but again, what motive? He had more motive to kill the second person who turns up dead but not Unwin. Jarrett Maystone, the stone mason, is a little creepy. He's fascinated by Ellie's green eyes, so like the stones he tumbles and polishes. He's hoping to find a real gem some day. Ah... a jewel heist was referenced in the first chapter... could he have found real gems after all and sold them to shady characters? Could he then have gotten involved in stealing jewels? But he lives so far and out of the way from civilization so I doubt it. He was friendly enough until the sleuths mentioned Pritchard's grave and he seemed to be issuing a veiled threat about not sticking their noses in things that are none of their business. 

Constable Farnaby Quilter is a good man. He is respected in the village and can handle local petty crimes but he's never had a murder case before. He wants to solve this one and retire but needs the Byron Detective Agency's help. Constable Quilter is bashful around Ellie but comfortable celebrating Christmas with the ladies and Kofi. Yet, the sleuths feel he is not as forthcoming as he should be and withholding information that could be pertinent to the case. I don't know why they suspect that though. I think he's being open with them as much as he can. Rev. Thaddeus Ansel is the new, young vicar in the hamlet. He's a bachelor and as a young man, has difficulty convincing the parishioners he is as good as an elderly vicar. Sure his Christmas Eve Midnight Mass sermon is in Latin and way too long but he's kind and really wants to help people. He starts by helping the sleuths by providing information. He observed strange lights in the graveyard but was unable to identify the people. He also knows who was at Mass and who was not which helps narrow down the suspect pool. Most importantly, he does a real good deed for the sleuths on Christmas when they're homesick and missing family. He's a sweet man and I think Blythe should marry him. 

Professor Pike is not the murderer as he was in jail, drunk at the time but he's a delightful character. A professor of "phony English" I knew just what Quilter meant! Professor Pike is Henry Higgins and that's made clear late in the novel with a reference to George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion. Unlike the staid Henry Higgins, Professor Pike is perpetually drunk and can't hold down a job. They need him to not be drunk to help them out. Can he do it?

This was one twisty mystery! I'm still a little confused as to how they figured it out! 

Check out the other stops on the blog tour and Happy Christmas to all who celebrate!

What to Read This Fall

​What to Read This Fall

Murder at the Royal Palace by Verity Bright-- 1920s Cozy Mystery

Thank you Bookoture, Verity Bright and NetGalley for an e-ARC. All opinions in this review are my own and not affected by the giveaway.

A month after her marriage to Scotland Yard's finest detective, Ellie is thrilled her new husband will finally get the recognition he deserves from the Crown. She can hardly contain her excitement while she waits for Hugh to be knighted! Before Hugh can receive the honors, a man nearly collapses in Ellie's lap. Her natural compassion and nurse's training jump in to help but she's roughly dismissed and on the verge of breaking protocol. After Hugh's big honor, they attend the garden party at Buckingham Palace where the man who seemed ill previously collapses again. He's carted off to the hospital still alive but doesn't survive. Ellie and Hugh, about to start their own detective agency, invite the head of the Royal Police, Sir Leonard Dalrymple to dine with them in hopes of making a useful contact for their new agency but he turns the tables on them and imperiously asks them to investigate the ill man's death- unofficially. Hugh is uninterested but Ellie's compassion is roused. It turns out the dead man, Dillon "Dilly" Dalrymple, was Sir Leonard's brother. This case has Ellie posing as a journalist and Clifford as a photographer to infiltrate the secret community within the Tower of London where something suspicious is going on and people are seeing ghosts. Will they be able to solve the case in one week's time and see the murderer brought to justice? With the help of The Ladies, the might just do it but Sir Leonard is not an easy client and the investigation doesn't go as planned. Will this first case also be the last for the new detective agency?

First, I want to say, this book is dedicated to Laura, who was the heart and soul of Verity Bright. Laura's heart and soul is what makes this series special. I keep coming back for the characters BECAUSE they have so much heart. It has been delightful to watch Ellie go from insecure, immature, terrified young woman to mature, confident and caring adult. Her heart is what sets her apart from other sleuths of this time. She may have lost her parents when she was young but her heart has room for more love and she finally has the family she always wanted. I'm happy the Ladies are included as an official part of the sleuthing team now and sweet young Polly has really grown and found her voice. Hugh is a little grumpy but he's still officially working for Scotland Yard and has a huge load of case files to go through. He's walking a fine line doing double duty as both an official copper and a PI. He's frustrated because Sir Leonard is playing his wife and not being honest. Hugh is also grumpy because he's a newlywed separated from his wife. Clifford as a riot! He may be a prim and proper butler but incognito as a Cockney photographer, he can really let his fondness for his mentor's niece show. His banter with Ellie is always delightful but here he lets his hair down a bit (so to speak). He really seems to enjoy acting more than he would admit. He's still some sort of super spy secret agent who can pick locks and a proper butler who keeps Ellie in line. Kofi is away at school and not present in this novel but the Terrible Two are along for the ride but not involved in the investigation. Gladstone is there to provide comfort to his humans when needed - or is he merely begging for more sausages? How is this dog still ALIVE? LOL! 

The plot of this book was excellent too. It did seem to bear a resemblance to an episode of Murder She Wrote that I watched the DAY I started reading this novel so I wasn't surprised by WHY but WHO was a shock. I didn't think it was that person at all. I did figure out HOW it was done right away when the clue was revealed, long before Ellie and Clifford got it. Even though I've been to the Tower of London, I had no idea about the secret community within for the staff. That was fascinating! (My dad, who is not a big reader, recommends [book:The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise|7745326] to learn all about the Yeoman Warders). The information is presented as part of the story as told to Ellie and Clifford so it works naturally and isn't just dumped in there for the sake of relaying information to the reader. I really hate it when authors do that. Here it could have been too much but it was all part of the investigation and Ellie and Clifford learning what they needed to know that it worked. This one also lacked the repetitive going over the suspect list too many times. There were a couple of phrases and words that sounded too modern American and kind of took me out of the story momentarily. I think the term should be "stepped out with" and not "gone out with" but I'm not an expert in early 20th century slang. Also "brass knuckles" is American slang. Other than that, I felt like I was there with Ellie and Clifford. 

Sir Leonard is a tough customer. He keeps his cards close to his vest. Of course he's a policeman and  that's his job but he's not a very forthcoming client. The sleuths have to keep him in the loop and he can stop the investigation at any time. This is different from what they're used to and of course Ellie's impetuosity and compassion often clash with authority figures. Sir Leonard was once close with his brother but they fought a lot and didn't speak often but when one needed the other, they'd drop everything and rush to the other's side. That's very sweet and sad. Sir Leonard must be grieving inside because he doesn't seem to be outwardly. He believes his brother's death was suspicious but officially, his brother died of natural causes. Therefore, Sir Leonard needs experienced problem solvers to investigate and let him know if there's enough evidence to bring to Scotland Yard to investigate a murder. I don't fully trust him. Is he lying? Did he do away with his brother himself and the investigation is a smokescreen? He seems a little too nice at first, too accepting to Ellie's sleuthing skills but he has the power to end Hugh's career early and probably toss Ellie in jail. He exudes power and influence. 

The victim, Dilly, sounds like a nice man and didn't deserve to die. He may have been involved in a few things he shouldn't have been doing but overall, it sounds like he was a man of good character. It looks like he was either killed for one of those things or may have stumbled across something he wasn't supposed to see/hear. The killer was truly unhinged and arrogant to think they could get away with it. 

Who else could have done it? How about Chief Yeoman Warder Rufus Irving. This man is a FUSSpot! He is a stickler for rules and regulations - no exceptions. He doesn't have a fun bone in his body. Of course he is military like all the other men. These men are all walking around with PTSD, toxic masculinity issues and empire obsession. Most of that is not addressed, this novel being set in the 1920s, but it means I try to make allowances for the characters. However, I'm certain Rufus Irving is up to something! He locks "Elaine" and "Birdie" in each night but lets other men wander around. is this for their own safety or to keep them from seeing something they shouldn't? Todd Mace is the new Ravenmaster. He's cheeky, arrogant and young. He doesn't understand the ravens the way Dilly did or seem to care for them, only the money the job brings him. Todd is upset two ravens took off and one returned to die, the other presumed dead. Old Joe was poisoned! Did someone poison the old Ravenmaster, Dilly and the bird got into it? Todd just shrugs it off as lead poisoning. Todd doesn't seem too upset about Dilly's death either. He's too busy trying to flirt with "Elaine" (Ellie) who is much too old for him! Is he really that callous, inexperienced or lying? Did he kill Dilly to get the job?

Mrs. Hilda Erskine is a lively wife of a beefeater. She is attracted to "Birdie" (Clifford) and enjoys winding him up trying to flirt. She's also a big gossip and prattles on about everything. She seems upset about Dilly's death. Hilda has a reason to be. She was either the murderer or perhaps suspects her husband! Arthur fits the profile. He's quiet, moody and antisocial. He tried to block Dilly's appointment as a Beefeater for...? no good reason? I'm sure he had a reason but he wasn't willing to say. He made no secret of his hatred for the other man and isn't happy about this article Ellie's alter ego is supposed to be writing. He's an old timer, Dilly was a newcomer who didn't know his place. But Arthur doesn't even LIKE his job! My money is on the doctor, Norman Orton. He has a medical garden with poisonous plants! He could have easily killed Dilly with something and he did seem shifty at the knighting ceremony. What is his motive though? Did Dilly know a secret about the doctor he threatened to expose? 

Another new character is Francis Caudle, current barman and the executioner. I can't imagine he has to do his regular job at all these days! Or even his job as jailer. I hope. He's forthcoming with information in a matter of fact way and seems to do his job as bartender and beef server well. Yet he's a little suspicious of "Elaine" and the jist of her article. Of course no one wants a tabloid story written about them, especially former military men. The Chaplin, Cyril Royce, can't be the murderer! He's a man of God! But does he know who is the murderer but won't say because he can't? Does he value his profession over justice? Dilly's friend, Corporal Whitgift, was hired by Sir Leonard to keep an eye on Dilly. Dilly confided something to Whitgrift but not specifics. Even so, Whitgrift ends up dead too! Does the murderer fear Whitgrift knows who he is and willing to rat him out? 

My very favorite new character is Rune, a chatty, mischievous raven. He's so funny and charming! "Bloody Murder!" He teams up with the Terrible Two to make a Terrible Threesome! The three pets are charming and adorable, especially Rune who is based on the Raven in Poe's poem, making this story a good Halloween season read. My second favorite new character is Miss "Bibby" Peach, a librarian at the British Library. She is eager to help research for both Ellie's personal mission and the case. She's a lot of fun and doesn't seem to act her age at all! Bibby is not proper and stuffy like Clifford, but she loves to read and learn the way he does. Ellie is trying to play matchmaker! Will it work? 

This was such a great story and I am thankful to the Bookouture team for making it happen!

Check out the other stops on the blog tour!

What to Read This Summer

​What to Read This Summer

Death at a Paris Hotel by Verity Bright-- 1920s Cozy Mystery

Thank you Bookoture, Verity Bright and NetGalley for an e-ARC. All opinions in this review are my own and not affected by the giveaway.

Ellie and her beloved Hugh have finally tied the knot and are looking forward to a romantic honeymoon in Paris. Hugh has invited Clifford and Gladstone along as well. Sadly, Tomkins has to stay home nursing a sore paw. Aw! There's so much to see and do in Paris and Ellie can't wait to see it all but first, a champagne toast to their marriage at the hotel restaurant. Unfortunately just as they're about to toast to happy ever after, a man comes crashing through the glass roof of the hotel restaurant right in front of Ellie! She has some compassion for the poor man but the hotel manager is curiously reluctant to call a doctor. Ellie does all she can to save the man's life but as his life fades before her eyes, he presses something into her hand. Ellie isn't sure why but she has an odd feeling of familiarity. The French police suspect the man was a thief and Ellie his accomplice! No one seems too interested in investigating the real crime- murder. It's up to Ellie, Hugh and Clifford to follow the trail of clues throughout Paris. Along the way they discover Impressionist art, the Eiffel Tower, possibly corrupt police, a mysterious nobleman and another dead body! 

An excellent adventure for Ellie, her love, Clifford and Gladstone. It's very twisty and the most fraught adventure yet. My subconscious actually put it together but there was so much going on, I forgot about my earlier thought and couldn't put the book down. This book was tinged with some sadness. As Ellie begins her married life, hopefully forever is a very long time, I learned Laura Tong, half of the husband and wife duo writing the books, died unexpectedly. 

Paris of the 1920s plays a huge role in the story, almost a major character. Can you imagine a time when the Impressionist painters were not well known and their art was only just beginning to sell for a lot of money? Can you imagine when the Eiffel Tower was the tallest building in the world and when elevators were so new, just taking one up the tower was scary enough without thinking about how high up you were. The rooftop party was interesting and really helped created the 1920s setting. I can't imagine NOT going to Paris and geeking out in Montmatre! the windmill! ! EEEEE!!! I'd go EEEE it's Le Moulin de la Galette! You know, Renoir? I love Impressionist art and I loved seeing the familiar scenes from the paintings come to life with the characters. Ellie is not an art connoisseur and even Clifford seems to be unfamiliar with the Impressionists. I want to jump into the book and hang out with Ellie and show her all of my favorite paintings and tell her about the artists.  SIGH. DO buy a painting! I think she would like the colors and the light of a Monet Water Lily painting. I'm not a fan of post-Impressionism as much and that's what she's seeing in this adventure but I'd still recognize a famous painting if I saw one. It was fun to time travel and see everything fresh and new. If you don't know much about French art of the early 20th-century, this book has just enough information to send readers looking for pictures but not too much to be boring. 

Watching the development of these characters has been wonderful. Ellie arrived with a chip on her shoulder, ready to sell Henley Hall, convinced Clifford was trying to kill her and now look at her! She banters with Clifford like the brother she never had and he adores her. Even if he acts like a devoted servant, they're family. Ellie took awhile to figure out what she wanted and how she wanted to live her life and now she's self-assured and mature. Hugh arrived on the scene grumpy and tried to arrest Ellie. Now they're madly in love and he's so very sweet! Who knew Hugh was a romantic? Ellie does have some trepidations about marriage after her first ended in a spectacular failure but doesn't dwell on it too long. She knows that wasn't her fault and she knows in her heart Hugh loves her and won't let her down and she loves him and would never hurt him. They are the real deal - happily ever after! And Hugh inviting Clifford on the honeymoon signifies Hugh's awareness of how important Ellie's found family is to her. It's too bad she didn't get to reconcile with her uncle but I think somehow he knows how much she loves him. Ellie's endless compassion and empathy make her one of the most appealing cozy mystery sleuths I've ever read. 

Monsieur Provonost, the hotel manager, is a shady guy. He is reluctant to call a doctor when a man needs urgent medical care and instead calls the police. The police arrive very quickly and are eager to accuse Ellie of being an accomplice to a theft! The piece stolen from the modern art museum was so minor and unimportant but the police make it out to be a huge deal. Gardien Thierry Haqueville of the police municipale thinks he has all the answers right away. He doesn't even investigate or ask questions. It's all finger pointing and blaming the foreign strangers. Gardien Luc Bernier is a little nicer but kind of wimpy. He's the good cop in the good cop/bad cop scenario but that's not saying much. He does his job but nothing more and is reluctant to speak out when he sees something not quite right. Inspector Grippernel of the Police Nationale is scary. He's eager to lock up our dear friends and pin the blame on them. He's tough and very by the book. French laws are strict and he won't break them. Ellie thinks there's holes in his story and Grippernel must be lying. Yet, there may be a heart inside him after all. I don't think Haqueville has a heart. He's the most self-serving, conniving man and set in motion a chain of events that led to the man falling through the hotel restaurant roof. 

Years ago Christophe Ury was a little known painter who died in obscurity and poverty about 26 years ago. He is now, in the time of the story, considered one of the great Post-Impressionist painters and his works are highly sought after and command high prices. Emile, the victim, was a troubled young man who had a tragic childhood. He blamed others for his misfortunes and while some of that was true, the man didn't seem to have a lot of common sense or practical know-how. Emile had a chip on his shoulder and I don't think it endeared him to many people. I don't blame him for his feelings but his actions were not right. 

Mr. Eustance Omroy, director of the Musée d'art Contemporain is only too happy to exhibit Christophe Ury's paintings AND his studio. No one can get enough! Omroy is not friendly and doesn't understand intelligent women. He falls for Ellie's ditzy socialite act and allows her to wander the museum searching for clues. Omroy seems weasley to me and probably not on the up and up. He claims nothing was stolen and then later changes his tune. Security in this museum is a little lax for holding such expensive, important art. He works closely with noted art expert, Monsieur Delorme, owner of his own gallery. Delorme is arrogant, egotistical and insincere. He thinks he's going to make a huge commission selling a painting to Ellie so he's nice to her - fake charming. He's a dandy and a smooth talker. He has a story ready for every question Ellie throws at him. Whether the story is true or not, I can't tell you. He's quick to invite Ellie and Hugh to a party he can't attend. Um OK. Is he just sucking up to what he thinks is a wealthy socialite dilettante art collector or is there more to him than that? 

Security guard Alain Rion sounded the alarm but something about him seems off. Was he involved with the theft? What does he know about who was in the museum when and where? He must know who the thief was, what the thief took and why. I'm sure Rion even let the thief in! He even admits to getting a good look at the thief and recognizing the man.  Sabine, a sculptress, knew Emile. She's created a beautiful and lifelike sculpture of a man Ellie recognizes as Emile. Yet Sabine lies and says she didn't know him well. She doesn't know much of anything and is uncooperative when Ellie questions her. I get the impression she knows more than she's sharing and is lying to save herself. She obviously knew Emile well. Did she know what he was up to that night? Did she know he was dead before Ellie told her? This woman is knee-deep in the thick of things- whatever was going on. They're all lying! The full story is rather tragic and heartbreaking. 

Comte Victor Yves Archambeault is very friendly and invites the travelers to come stay with him. They've only just met and Ellie and Hugh are on their honeymoon. That's kind of odd. He's friendly at the party, introducing Ellie to his niece, Odette. Odette claims they never entertain but she seems to be of marriageable age. The Comte is brooding and mysterious. Does he have a role in this mystery or is there some other reason he is the way he is? Can they trust him? Can they trust anyone? Emile's grandmother is a lovely woman but elderly, blind and feeble. She couldn't do much to stop the tragedy in motion. How heartbreaking for her! 

This is the most hair-raising adventure yet and I hope the rest of the trip is uneventful! 

There are more books yet to be published so we haven't seen the last of Ellie and co. yet but it sure is a terrible tragedy to have such a talent leave us so soon.

Read more about the book on the blog tour!

What To Read This Spring

  What to Read This Spring

A Recipe For Murder  by Verity Bright-- 1920s Cozy Mystery

Thank you Bookoture, Verity Bright and NetGalley for an e-ARC. All opinions in this review are my own and not affected by the giveaway.

It's only days before Ellie is set to walk down the aisle with her beloved Hugh (WOOO! FINALLY!) and there's much to do at Henley Hall to prepare a celebration for the villagers. Before the big day, Ellie must make herself available as the lady of the manor and attend the Spring Supper in the village, a pot luck event to celebrate spring and ensure good luck for the coming growing season. While visiting the homes of the villagers and mingling with them, Ellie devours the local foods and drinks and partakes a little too much. That night she is sick to her stomach and soon discovers the ladies were as well. Clifford, not having eaten anything in the presence of his lady, was fine and has a remedy ready to hand. It wasn't just Henley Hall affected, the milkman brings news of a widespread outbreak of food poisoning in the village. Ellie's wedding caterer, Annie Tibbets, is so gravely ill, she is in the hospital. Even Constable Fry is down with food poisoning and can't begin to investigate the source. When Annie Tibbets dies, the village is in an uproar. While Ellie and co. were absent traveling, a new mill opened up on the other side of the village. The mill has a self-contained mill village and the mill villagers are not welcome in Little Buckford. A full scale war is about to break out with both sides blaming the other. Ellie feels responsible for the rift, after all, as Lady Eleanor Swift, she's the lady of the manor and should have made the mill workers feel welcome upon their arrival. Without Constable Fry and with Hugh busy working right up until the wedding, it's up to Ellie, with the help of Clifford to solve the mystery. Meanwhile, wedding preparations can't seem to go right. Is someone trying to sabotage the wedding? Who on earth could it be? Can Ellie figure out the answers to the two mysteries before anyone else dies and in time for her big day?

This is another great mystery! We're back in Little Buckford and Ellie and Hugh are FINALLY going to tie the knot! wooohoo! It's been 5 years since their first dance in Brighton! The mystery is a little slow and confusing at first but then it gets going once Ellie begins her investigation. Then Hugh joins in, in a surprise visit to Henley Hall, to assist Ellie. The furry "terrible twosome" add some levity and humor to the story. Gladstone gets his moment to assist in the action though and I never knew the old fellow had it in him. The murderer turned out not to be who I expected nor was the motive. It turns out Ellie had the answer the whole time, she just didn't know she had it. I wasn't crazy about that twist because I really didn't think it was that character and liked that character. 

The history is much better in this one than some of the previous books. However, the timeline of the 1920s does NOT equal the Edwardian era as the author's note keeps stating. The Edwardian era was Ellie's childhood,1901-1910 (sometimes scholars push it to 1912 or 1914). I work WITH industrial collections and am well aware of the mill system and the way the workers were treated. I would have expected a better system already after WWI with more worker protections and unions but I know some mill owners ignored the laws and the workers were too poor and desperate to do anything. The mill owner also owns the workers, paying in tokens rather than cash. The workers redeem the tokens for food in the mill village store. I can see how Little Buckford, an agrarian economy, would look down on these rough industrial types. It made me upset how little empathy anyone had for the unfortunate mill workers who are so desperate for food they'd come and join the festivities of the Spring Supper.

Poor Ellie is wracked with guilt she hasn't been able to be lady of the manor recently. I feel bad she feels guilty. She's so sweet and caring. It's been lovely to watch her blossom and find family with Clifford and the ladies. They could not be more dear to her than if they were related by blood. Little Polly has grown up so much she even has a young man who is interested in her! Having Lizzie there has helped Polly grow a lot and of course Ellie's empathy, because she's clumsy and awkward at times herself. Polly's mind has grown as well and now she's figuring out clues Ellie and Hugh hadn't thought of. Go Polly! Mrs. Trotters and Mrs. Butters are a hoot and excited to have Hugh move in. Poor Hugh LOL! They'll do anything for Ellie, even if it means more work and less recreation time. How old IS Mrs. Trotters supposed to be? She learned to cook in the Victorian era which ended a good 25 years earlier. I guess she could be in her 50s? What can I say about Clifford? He loves Ellie like the daughter he never had. He loved Uncle Byron for giving him a second chance and helping him become the man he is today and that love and loyalty has extended to Ellie. Now he loves her for herself and has young Kofi to love as a son. Kofi is highly intelligent and perceptive. When he enters the story, things start to click into place for our sleuths. Hugh is a romantic at heart! When he's not working, he's not a curmudgeon. He eats well at Henley Hall, relaxes playing ball with Gladstone and watching Gladstone and Tompkins's antics. He's SOOOO swoony and romantic! He says he has a surprise for Ellie but he really has more than one and I would be so moved and touched. One thing he does is very sweet and unexpected. We never did get to hear their discussion about what they wanted from married life but they seem to have worked it out or Hugh knows what Ellie wants and needs. Realistically, there's not much she can compromise on since she IS Lady Swift. She can't abandon Henley Hall and her family there or the villagers nor would she want to. Hugh knows this and he doesn't even think about asking her to move to Oxford. I don't know how they're going to work out his work schedule and commute but they'll figure it out.   

I was so happy to be back in Little Buckford. The villagers are so quirky and fun. The Spring Supper sounds like a madhouse but fun.

Annie Tibbets is the estranged wife of the pub owner. She's a talented cook and happy to cater such a large affair as a wedding. Everyone loves Annie - or so Ellie thinks. Who would want to kill this lovely woman? Well, for starters, there's Hester Hopcroft who is another local cook. She turned down the chance to cater the wedding fearing it was too big for her to manage by herself. Is she having regrets now? Did she kill Annie to get the catering contract back? It seems like a plausible motive. That or revenge. Maybe she expected Annie to demure or to ask her for help. 

Then there's "Milky" Wilkes, the milkman. He claims he was seeing Annie but she was interested in other men! He's quick to bring news of the good poisoning and he isn't affected himself. I don't think he's the poisoner because his business is affected. Well, yeah... that makes sense to me! Bad milk may not be his fault but it does happen. Wilkes blames Giggs, the fishmonger. Yes that makes sense TOO but again his business is affected. Turns out Giggs was the other man Annie was seeing and the milkman and fishmonger have always had a friendly rivalry and fighting over Annie ended up NOT so friendly for any of them. Did one of the men kill her? Annie was once married to Mr. Stokes, the publican. She left him a few years ago and they've been estranged ever since. Mr. Stokes claimed they had a huge fight right before the Spring Supper and Annie was greedy and trying to get money from him. That doesn't sound like the Annie everyone else knew. Was there another reason they fought? 

I feel uneasy about Annie's neighbor, Phyllis Ingleby. She's super nosy and loves to gossip. She's quick to share anything she knows about Annie, which is quite a lot, and claims to have nursed Annie through her illness. Did she ingratiate herself with her neighbor to get something in return? She seems to have a serious case of envy and I think she wants Annie's house- fully furnished. I get the impression the spinster doesn't have much money and isn't clever or talented like Annie was. I feel bad for her but she's such an annoying person that I don't! She has motive, means and opportunity!

Sergeant Brice from the Chipstone Constabulary fills in for Constable Fry. Sgt. Brice is overzealous, not very bright and isn't part of the fabric of village life in Little Buckford. He's an outsider and that should be an asset in solving the poisoning case but it's actually a liability. Brice is unable to deal with the locals easily and they resent him as an outsider. He even gets Ellie into trouble with her own villagers. Brice accuses Mr. Shackley, the baker, of having poisoned the village with his flour. That doesn't make ANY sense whatsoever. He's losing business because people are suspicious. Why would he poison the entire village on purpose? If not for what the police found, I'd say maybe the flour was adulterated or not cooked enough and people got sick. Mr. Shackley is furious and so is his wife. They're both usually so lovely, he's affable and peaceable, whenever Ellie is around anyway. I don't see a strong motive here for Mr. Shackley. 

Miss Joyce Dunne is Hester's new friend. Miss Dunn lives in the mill village and is the schoolteacher for those youngsters able to attend. She is no nonsense, sensible, practical and rather hard. A spinster who probably rose above circumstances, she seems to want to befriend a more educated class of people and eager for female friendship. Miss Dunne attends the spring supper with Hester. Could they be behind the poisonings? Maybe Miss Dunne poisoned Annie out of misguided friendship loyalty or knows Hester did it and is covering for her? Maybe it was something that got out of a hand, an attempt to get the two sides of the village to come together against a common enemy? Miss Dunne seems too practical for that sort of thing. I like her a lot. She was very ill too and in the hospital. 

The wedding florist, Lucetta Moore is also under suspicion. The poison that killed Annie was a plant and where can you find dried plants in the village? Hmm. I'm beginning to think the murderer might be jealous of single career women! Mrs. Moore seems nice and knowledgeable about plants. I believe her when she claims she would never have any poisonous plants lying around. Her son Alvan is a hothead known for getting into trouble. He's disrespectful to his mother when she's conducting business with the lady of the manor. Ellie believes he's a good hearted lad but I suspect he's spoiled and has a chip on his shoulder from growing up without a dad. I can't see him as a poisoner though. What motive would he have? 

On the other side of the bridge is the mill and mill village. They're not very friendly and the manager is a bully who doesn't treat his workers well. I guess they pick up on his attitude and do what he says or risk losing their jobs. However, Nathan Kemp and Lewis Villin attended the Spring Supper and started a fight with the Little Buckfordians. They don't seem remorseful or respectful of the deceased and are certainly not respectful of Lady Swift's position. I think they're up to no good and could have poisoned the village just to make trouble. Perhaps the fight was a diversion? Natty seems a little nicer and more willing to talk than his friend. They claim they simply wanted hot, tasty food which is unavailable in their store. Mr. Oxdale, the manager, is a giant bully. He's a tyrant who runs the mill with an iron fist and doesn't take opposition. He doesn't know Ellie or care to know her, doesn't believe in her friendly neighborliness and insists her day is done. The day of Little Buckford is coming to an end and they'll soon be redundant. Of that I have no doubt because that's "progress" in the Industrial era but it sounds like a direct threat that's going to happen if she keeps poking her nose where it's not wanted. 

Rosine Crory helps her dad, Jared, run the mill store. He, like Oxford, rules his family and store with an iron fist. He bullies his daughter. Ellie has more empathy for him than I do. I don't like him and feel bad for poor Rosine. She's just a girl and seems sweet and lovely. 

Jack Browne is a shy lad who is sweet on our Polly! He seems sensible and springs into action when Ellie needs him to. I missed a book and thus my introduction to Ellie's BFF, Constance, Lady Davenport. [book:Death Down the Aisle|61178235]. Constance seems fun but marriage is not what she expected. She's pregnant and feeling not herself. She feels neglected by her husband, especially now he's inherited. He's going away on business and needs her to come too. I say, that's pretty rotten of him! Ellie is a hopeless romantic and thinks there's a surprise for her friend in the works. Since I don't know this Peregrine, I'm inclined to doubt he has romantic intentions. Dr. Browning is gruff and doesn't seem to like Ellie but he's smart and an honorable doctor. He helps with the investigation, albeit reluctantly. I don't blame him for being grouchy. He just lost a patient and doesn't know who would have killed her or why. Elijah Edwards of the County Herald is a tabloid reporter of the worst sort. He's fanning the flames and adding fuel to the fire of the tinderbox that is the village. His story will pit neighbor against neighbor and nothing will be the same again. Luckily Ellie knows just how to deal with him. 

The author's note includes a recipe for a Victorian era wedding cake. It's not one I'd want to try and I'd be wary about eating a cake that lasts YEARS! This type of brandy-soaked cake was still all the rage for weddings in the 1920s and even into the 1980s.

I enjoyed catching up with everyone in Little Buckford and Henley Hall. I hope there are more adventures in store for Ellie and the gang AFTER her honeymoon! I'm sure there will be babies soon enough and then I'll be forced to break up with this series. *sigh*

Read more about the book on the blog tour!

What To Read This Winter

 What to Read This Winter

A Midwinter Murder  by Verity Bright-- 1920s Cozy Mystery

Thank you Bookoture, Verity Bright and NetGalley for an e-ARC. All opinions in this review are my own and not affected by the giveaway.

Ellie is eager to spend Christmas at home at Henley Hall with the ladies, Clifford, the pets - and HUGH, who will be taking a much-needed vacation. Yet here she is in the wilds of Scotland at the Duke of Auldwyk's estate attending a house party she never RSVPd yes to! She'll just bring the party with her, after all, her fiancé was included in the invitation as well. Shortly after her arrival, Ellie and Gladstone stumble across the dead body of the Duke's secretary, Mr. Porritt, in the study. Oh no! Not again! With only one police constable available and the reclusive Duke's insistence on not bringing in Scotland Yard, it will be up to Hugh- with help from Ellie and Clifford (and maybe Gladstone) to solve the murder. Ellie soon discovers this house party is a shooting party (glass pigeons) with a bunch of strangers. At least they claim to be strangers but Ellie soon discovers a connection between them all that dates back 10 years to when the Duke's wife was killed and he became a recluse. Are the events connected? The more they dig, the more Hugh and Ellie are convinced there's a killer among them and no one is telling the truth. Can they solve the mystery before someone else is killed?

Ooh! This is a twisty mystery! It was a little dark for a holiday story but also very charming. I never guessed who but in hindsight I DID pick up on the clue Ellie missed! This story also has much more romance than any of the previous stories! Ellie and Hugh manage to carve out time to spend alone together and discuss their future plans - or not. It's all very sweet and innocent even though they've both been married before. My big quibble is with the author's note where they refer to the 1920s as Edwardian when the Edwardian era ended before World War I/with WWI depending on who you ask. My minor quibble is some of the language sounds too modern. According to the internet, "Faffing" became common around the 1940s and 50s. Errors like that take me out of the story. My big pet peeve is that no one knows how to spell all right. All right. Two words, not one. Two ls not one. Please? Thank you.

As always, Ellie's warmth and heart make her an appealing heroine. The way she treats her staff as if they were family is very unusual for the time. She's not "to the manor born" and still, after all this time, not comfortable living that lifestyle. The ladies and Clifford are like family. She's like a proud mom to young Polly who is growing up and more self-aware. Lizzie is growing up too and there's a male friend in her life who makes her blush. Trotters and Butters are a hoot as they usually are but they tone it down a bit because there's a man staying in their cottage.

 Ellie and Clifford's easy banter and their close relationship is so touching. They've come a long way since she suspected him of trying to kill her! Clifford stands in for Uncle Byron but he seems to be getting younger and has more tricks up his sleeve in each passing book. Also growing younger and more spry is Gladstone. If memory serves, initially he was elderly and spent his time sleeping on the sofa and drooling on slippers. Now he's playing with Hugh and his feline buddy and acting like a puppy again. Maybe he just needed more stimulation. 

Hugh is sweet and romantic-finally. He's thawing out and has learned to trust Ellie's "intuition" (intelligence?) and trying not to freak out about her investigations. He knows they need to discuss their future but SHE is the one putting it off. Hugh finally has the courage to speak his dreams out loud. I wasn't crazy about him at first but he's grown and adapted to Ellie's way of life. This cast of characters is one of my favorites. There isn't a one I don't love and at this point they feel like MY family too!

The new characters, aside from two, are not at all likable. Mr. Pruitt, the Duke's secretary, is young. He's very kind and charming but he may not be the most efficient secretary because he swears Lady Eleanor Swift RSPVD to the invitation. I find it weird that he's the only one who ever sees the Duke. Mr. Pruitt may have had secrets - secrets he could have been killed for. Did he have a lady friend? Was she from a higher social class? A secret wife? An affair? How else to explain the jewelry he was clutching when he died? I think our young secretary had some hidden depths and dark secrets in the closet. I don't know why else anyone would kill him - unless ... maybe he saw something... Knew something... Learned something, that got him killed?

The Duke of Auldwyke is very weird. He's reportedly reclusive, no one sees him except his secretary and his orders are to be obeyed. Does this guy even exist? I'm thinking he doesn't. I think he died long ago and the staff are running the house according to his wishes. I think this guy doesn't exist in the first place. The whole situation is weird. The Duke - if he exists- is cranky, autocratic, demanding and rude. Who is he- Blackbeard? The Beast? I don't like the sound of him and if they weren't snowed in, if I were Ellie, I would turn around and go home! Clifford would find a way. What happened to Lancelot and his plane? SOS Lance! Get us out of here!

Mr. Lofthouse takes over secretarial duties when Mr. Pruitt is killed. He also has his regular duties as first (only) footman and chauffeur. He's lower class, less educated than Mr. Pruitt and seems kind of lazy too. He doesn't like doing the secretary's job, he seems gloomy and creepy too. I don't trust him. I hope Mr. Bowes, the gardener, didn't do it. He seems humble and proud but clues do point to him. What about the Duke's former secretary, Derek Taylor, turned off after an argument? Could he have returned for revenge?

The guests include Mr. Wilfred Willoughby Taylor "soon to be Sir". ick. Is this guy for real? Who introduces themself like that? He's sleazy and probably a womanizer. Julius Huish is an artist with a large, scary, untrained dog who terrorizes poor Gladstone. Barnabus Musgrave, ESQ. is a blowhard businessman. He's the type that always has to be right and always portrays himself as larger than life. His wife Viola is along for the shooting contest too. These two don't seem to have a happy, loving relationship. They seem to be hiding something including the cracks in their relationship. Maybe this party is making things worse but I think the richer this guy gets, the worse he's going to be. She's not so nice herself and they both want something. Pearl Whitwell, the only other single woman, is super competitive. She's the man eating type and the type who sees all other women as competition. She comes across as catty and witchy. Ellie doesn't seem to like Pearl very much either. None of these people are sincere, they're all lying and they all want something. Which one killed Mr. Pruitt? Maybe they all did it?

Constable Danby is young and untried but he's up for the challenge of assisting in the murder investigation. He has no qualms about Scotland Yard OR a woman doing the bulk of the investigating. In fact, he seems to be excited to be in the presence of real detectives. He's a lovely young man.

I really enjoying spending the holidays (early) with Ellie and the gang. I hope to visit with them again soon! This series has gotten better and better as it has gone along.

Read more about the book on the blog tour!

What to Read This Summer/Fall

 What to Read This Summer/Fall

Murder on the Nile by Verity Bright-- 1920s Cozy Mystery

Thank you Bookoture, Verity Bright and NetGalley for an e-ARC. All opinions in this review are my own and not affected by the giveaway.

This was a convoluted mystery! I'm not quite sure what happened exactly. I read it twice but everything happened so quickly. I was annoyed that a villain got away and another didn't really have to pay for their crimes. At first I was worried about comparing the story and setting to my beloved Amelia Peabody but this one pays homage to Agatha Christie more than Elizabeth Peters. There was one character who reminded me of the MC in Amelia's books. It's not about archaeology although there is some history of that and the mystery is rooted in the recent past. The story relays the information about what a sensation the finding of King Tut's tomb was and how everyone wanted to get rich and famous. It addresses Egyptian independence and British military control, the looting of tombs (What is the purpose of archaeology? Is it a good thing or bad?) and the removal of artifacts from the country illegally. There's a little more recent history than in Amelia's books since this one takes place after the last Amelia book. I learned some new things about what happened after Amelia's journals leave off and that was great.

Never fear, there's still plenty of banter between Ellie and Clifford and a few scenes with the ladies and the pets. The ladies' new hobby made me almost laugh out loud! Can you imagine the cook belly dancing? LOL! The antics of the pets are adorable as always and make this qualify as a cozy mystery. 

Dear Ellie is so compassionate and has such a big heart. She's very sweet but she can be tough when she wants to be. I felt her confrontational method of solving the murder was just shooting in the dark and not effective. She also could have found herself in some serious trouble sneaking around on her own. Clifford is remarkable and it's amazing he always knows what Ellie is thinking. I missed having Hugh investigate with them and the quirky characters Clifford always seems to know. Hugh was very much in Ellie's thoughts though which is nice. What I really liked about this story is how complimentary people are about Ellie's intelligence and bravery. No one puts her down for having bicycled alone around the globe the way they do back home. That's how it should be but we all know when a woman does something even the least bit extraordinary, she gets pushback or all anyone wants to mention is her looks. Ellie is beautiful, strong, brave and intelligent. 

The new characters are not very likable. I only enjoyed one because they reminded me of a lovable character who is not what they seem in the Amelia Peabody mysteries. Deckhand Farah doesn't speak English. He's not too intelligent and gets caught up in things he doesn't understand. Captain Anders is sleazy, cheap, lazy and not very nice. He's never around when Ellie asks, not even to greet his passengers or dine with them. Is he even on board? If so, doesn't he have someone else to help pilot the ship? It's such an odd, old boat and the brochure technically doesn't lie but the photos are misleading. This guy is suspicious and probably up to no good. 

The passengers are not a jolly lot. Herr Ernest Piltz is German and obviously suspicious because it's just after WWI. He claims to be traveling for business but why is he on this old, creaky, leaky boat if he has to be somewhere for work? He's not friendly and seems suspicious beyond his nationality. Ludo and Frederika de Groot are supposedly married but I think she's way too quick to announce her surname and the fact they are a married couple. I think they are not married. Ellie won't care but for propriety's sake they must pretend. I think he's married to someone else. Frederika is more intelligent and dominant. She's sharp and seems to know who Ellie is somehow. Has the news of Ellie's murder solving exploits become widely known? Ellie seems worried about that. Ludo is a fussy man who can't agree with his "wife" on anything but he's aware when he hurts her and after a good sulk, apologizes. I appreciate that. However, one or both of them could be a murderer!

Wesley Merrick is also traveling on business. He's a pompous businessman of some sort and likes to brag about how it's not his first time in Egypt. He has followed his wealthy father into business by being the dutiful son. How far is he willing to go to protect his business interests - whatever they are? I'm guessing import/export (as in illegal exports)? Lieutenant Baxter acts like a total pompous, arrogant English military gentlemen. He has little use for women or foreigners. Then his behavior changes and he seems nervous almost and tries to hold cryptic conversations with Ellie. Is he suffering from shell shock (not battle fatigue, that's a WWII term) as Clifford suggests? I don't think so. I get the impression something happened in his past in the military he now regrets. He wants to make amends. He may have stolen something and/or killed someone. The clues seem to suggest it. The actual story is pretty complicated and tragic. 

Yakub Sharaf, from near Cairo, is traveling to Bawaaba. He's kind and Ellie is respectful of his beliefs. Of course the arrogant Europeans also traveling on the boat are less kind. They don't know who he really is and why he's on the boat! He's far more astute than anyone gives him credit for and a good man. He's the most likable of the passengers. Also likable is Felix Trott, a goofy herpetologist. He's a bit of an idiot and probably lying about his profession but not it being a passion. He's continually going on about crocodiles and making Merrick squeamish. Merrick loathes and fears reptiles of all kinds. Who doesn't fear crocs and snakes? No thank you! Arthur Barr, a cockney rogue, probably escaped prison a time or two, is a man on the make in Egypt. He'll do anything as long as the pay is good. He's quite an enjoyable character. At first I didn't like him or see the necessity of this type of person but he grew on me, especially at the end. Mahmoud Zaki is another one I didn't like at first. He runs a nightclub probably a brothel and is rumored to be a smuggler and gun runner. He's scary in a mob boss way. His revelations about himself are surprising and made me like him a little bit more. I don't trust him though. 

Overall, this was another great adventure. I think I will give it another look over before the release date. I was speed reading towards the end! I look forward to Ellie's arrival back at Henley Hall and hope she stays put for awhile. I don't know how many people in the area can be murdered but I do love it when she's home.

What to Read This Summer

 

What to Read This Summer

 Murder in Mayfair by Verity Bright-- 1920s Cozy Mystery

Thank you Bookoture, Verity Bright and NetGalley for an e-ARC. All opinions in this review are my own and not affected by the giveaway.

While visiting the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley Park, London is supposed to be a fun treat for all the residents of Henley Hall. The ladies and Clifford will examine modern improvements that could make their work easier while Ellie will get to see the sights of countries she has never been to. Right away she has her qualms about the portrayal of "natives" of certain countries and is curious about the closed off section that was supposed to portray the Gold Coast (Ghana). During a hot air balloon ride gone awry, Ellie spies a man shot in the closed off pavilion. She rushes to his aid, alerting the security team (headed up by her fiancé), but by the time they arrive, the body has disappeared and Ellie is seen as a hysterical female. Not even Clifford and Hugh believe her at first. Hugh makes a few discreet inquiries though and knows Ellie saw what she thinks she saw but his hands are tied by the higher-ups. 

Then Lady Philomena Chadwick, the wife of a wealthy banker, wants Ellie to find her missing pearl necklace before her husband returns home on Friday! She's a little cagy about what she wants Ellie to do, exactly, and when Ellie arrives at the lady's fine Mayfair home, she discovers the house is run by a martinet butler and she is expected to be the new governess! How on earth is she going to find a missing necklace if she's upstairs in the school room? If only Clifford were on hand to help sleuth. 

Murder at the Empire Exposition and a Society lady's missing pearl necklace. What do they have in common and how can Ellie solve the mysteries with the government being hush-hush about one and her employer lying to her about the other? Good thing she has Clifford and Hugh to bounce ideas off. 

 This story was so good! I couldn't put it down. I felt like I was there in 1920s London at the Exposition taking in the sights, traveling in a hot air balloon and learning about how the government wanted the British Empire to be portrayed vs. how it actually was. I studied these human zoos for a graduate school paper and this book doesn't even cover half of how demeaning and horrific these exhibitions actually were. I liked learning about the new household inventions that would make life easier for the ladies downstairs. That was a lot of fun but for some readers, it may be too much info dump. I liked how it was worked into the story though and not just a list of new inventions. 

The mysteries were both excellent. I figured out some of the mystery of the necklace but not much. There was a late twist to the plot I didn't see coming. I feel the ending veered off into fantasy territory a little too much for me. While I love some of the stories that may have inspired this one, the ending didn't fit the beginning. Ellie is such a great character. She's sweet, loyal, caring and holds very modern views on people from other nations. She's great with kids and her education plan is amazing and the way school SHOULD be taught. However, Ellie is also impetuous and heedless. She goes haring off without thinking and sticks her nose in where it doesn't belong. The murder was none of her business after Hugh explained it was government business. 

The mystery of the missing necklace should have been easy for Ellie but it ended up being fairly complicated. I appreciate how she went to Clifford and Hugh with her concerns and her clues and they pieced the mystery together and came up with a plan together. That made a nice change from Ellie going off alone with Clifford at her back. The last adventure in Venice was pretty hair raising so I think she learned her lesson. 

We learn a bit more about Uncle Byron and Clifford's past. Just a hint at something that happened, a hint of an inside joke and a new ally who knew Uncle Byron and Clifford back in the day. Uncle Byron's death affected a lot of people but Ellie seems to be doing a great job following in his footsteps. Clifford is clever and devious as usual. He's also Ellie's governess and bodyguard and always a true friend. He never fails to surprise me with what he knows and who he knows. He's overcome a lot and apparently owes Uncle Byron his loyalties even after death. Hugh is much improved. He's still overworked but that's not his fault. The Metropolitan Police force is understaffed and Hugh doesn't have the resources to investigate every crime that comes his way. At first it seems like he's just another government puppet, doing what he can to please his superiors but soon he realizes what is important. It's what draws him to Ellie. They both have huge hearts and want to see justice done. Hugh groans about Ellie's impetuousness but he trusts her and listens when she tells him things. They're on the way to becoming great partners. I did not appreciate Hugh's "great man!" comment. That was out of character for a policeman. 

As always Gladstone and Tompkins are on hand to charm and lighten the mood. They're oh so adorable! How can anyone not smile at their antics? 

 Lady Chadwick is a mere acquaintance of Ellie's. Not even that as they only met once at a charity luncheon. Lady Chadwick has heard of Ellie's unconventionality and how she's solved a couple of crimes. Lady Chadwick is not hoity-toity but rather distracted and flighty. She never quite comes out and states what she wants or means. She's evasive in her answers and may even be flat out lying. I think she's lying big time. Reading between the lines, I think her necklace got lost when she went up to her room with her lover and he took the necklace off and put it down somewhere. I also think her husband wants it reevaluated not for insurance purposes but to sell. They seem to be short of funds. He can't sell it if it's already fake and I suspect it is OR Lady Chadwick is about to pawn it or have it faked. She states her husband treats her like a child. She isn't allowed any independence. She fears the butler is spying on her on Sir Reginald Chadwick's behalf and she feels intense pressure to look a certain way and be a certain way for her husband. She ignores her children except to be tough on them when she does notice them. At least at first. Her husband sounds like a monster! Lady Chadwick describes his temper, being fearful of him, how controlling he is. Yikes lady! It's the 1920s. Is abuse still legal? I feel sorry for her because she can't really divorce him. She has no money and nowhere to go. Yet she isn't entirely honest with Ellie and may be hiding things even when a second murder occurs. 

 The children are charming. They're close in age and almost like twins. Octavia is almost 8 and she's very sweet. Herbert, at 7, is still a little boy trying to be a man. I'm not sure why he's not in school yet but there's a hint that he is struggling with multiplication so perhaps home schooling works better for him - if they can keep a governess. No one really knows why the previous governess left. 

 Sir Reginald Chadwick is confusing. When he shows up in the story, Ellie sees him as cold and is scared of him at first but when the second murder happens in his home, he doesn't seem guilty. He seems surprised and confused, even willing to call the police. I don't get the impression he killed the second person. He may just be a bully. He's a government man so he may have secrets and be a good actor. He's a complicated person. 

 The Chadwick servants are pretty awful. The butler, MISTER Withers acts all high in the instep. His formality is worse than Clifford's, yet, he snoops, spies and eavesdrops. Is he spying on Lady Chadwick for Sir Reginald, or is he up to no good? He's up to something I'd say, maybe both for Sir Reginald and for himself. Is he an accomplice in the rash of thefts in the neighborhood lately? What if he stole Lady Chadwick's necklace? Lady C's maid, Grace, was in the room when Lady C. locked the necklace in the drawer. Servants aren't dumb. I doubt she stole the necklace. It would not only be the end of her career, it would be the end of her life! Yet Ellie notes signs Grace has had a really hard life and is more careworn than a young woman her age should be. Perhaps she did steal the necklace because she was desperate. Mrs. Hawkins, the housekeeper, rules the servants with an iron fist. She is not friendly, warm or welcoming to Ellie or anyone else. She does seem to be fond of Withers. Cut from the same cloth, I expect. She may be a little mentally unstable and some signs point to her possibly having a darker side. (Cue subplot borrowed from Downton Abbey.) 

 Tateham, the footman, is cheeky and tries to flirt with Ellie. He's also flirting with a maid so I don't find him trustworthy. He hasn't been there very long yet he expects to advance in his career quickly. He may have dirt on Withers and plans to oust the butler so he can have the position. It doesn't quite work that way now does it? He has to work long and hard and earn the Chadwicks' trust first. He seems an impatient young man. He says he needs money quickly so possibly he's in trouble of some sort. I don't think he's ever going to make butler! 

 The stereotypes of the female servants bothered me. Of course the cook, Mrs. Rudge, is short and puddingish with round cheeks. Hannah, the head housemaid, has curves and acts saucy. She's self-aware and probably would sleep her way to the top if she had the opportunity. Alice, the other maid, has a sweet, round face to go with her sweet personality and big heart. She also has a "dumping-shaped" body so Verity Bright be prepared for accusations of fat shaming and some negative reviews. Alice doesn't sound educated at all and is probably quite young. She has a lot of duties as assigned and no one has any empathy for her situation. I like her a lot and I think Ellie likes her but Alice reveals something to Ellie that causes Ellie to make a snap judgment and act impetuously. She could have gotten Alice into a lot of trouble and gotten herself, Clifford and Hugh killed. 

 John Clemthorpe, the murder victim, didn't deserve to be murdered. He deserved another fate for sure but I don't want to spoil the plot by saying much. He was a government employee in the same department as Chadwick. The body disappeared and the government is hushing up the scandal. Is Clemthorpe's murder a government conspiracy? Was he a victim of political intrigue? Ellie runs afoul of a man in colorful robes early on at the fair. He also got Hugh into trouble with the ambassador and was chasing a child menacingly. The man is spotted lurking at the fair around the closed pavilion where Clemthorpe was shot. Is this man involved in some way? He's a nasty sort I wouldn't want to cross. I'm sure he's involved in the murder somehow. YET I do have some sympathy for him. 

The hard-nosed Englishman is also a villain. What is he up to and what does he want with Lady Chadwick? There's something shady going on in the Chadwick household and also at the closed pavilion at the Exhibition. All these men must be involved in something, somehow that links the two crimes. 

 One last new character late in the book is Kofi Oppong, a boy from the Gold Coast. He is educated and longs to further his education so he can help his people. Kofi is an orphan placed in the care of a guardian who doesn't care about Kofi and apprenticed the boy to a bad man. Kofi's story reminds me of David's in the Amelia Peabody series. Kofi takes the place of the urchins Ellie abandoned after the first book! He's funny and quite a charming little lad. Kofi proves Clifford loves children and is great with them. Ellie knew that but Clifford tries to pretend he's a stern, stuffy old man. 

 I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and can't wait to see what Ellie and Co. get up to next. Will she and Hugh ever walk down the aisle?