Tuesday, April 7, 2020

BLOG TOUR - A Very English Murder


Today is my stop on the Blog Tour for A Very English Murder by Verity Bright.

DESCRIPTION:

Move over Miss Marple, there’s a new sleuth in town! Meet Eleanor Swift: distinguished adventurer, dog lover, dignified lady… daring detective?

England, 1920. Eleanor Swift
has spent the last few years travelling the world: taking tea in China, tasting alligators in Peru, escaping bandits in Persia and she has just arrived in England after a chaotic forty-five-day flight from South Africa. Chipstone is about the sleepiest town you could have the misfortune to meet. And to add to these indignities – she’s now a Lady.

Lady Eleanor, as she would prefer not to be known, reluctantly returns to her uncle’s home, Henley Hall. Now Lord Henley is gone, she is the owner of the cold and musty manor. What’s a girl to do? Well, befriend the household dog, Gladstone, for a start, and head straight out for a walk in the English countryside, even though a storm is brewing…

But then, from the edge of a quarry, through the driving rain, Eleanor is shocked to see a man shot and killed in the distance. Before she can climb down to the spot, the villain is gone and the body has vanished. With no victim and the local police convinced she’s stirring up trouble, Eleanor vows to solve this affair by herself. And when her brakes are mysteriously cut, one thing seems sure: someone in this quiet country town has Lady Eleanor Swift in their murderous sights…

If you enjoy witty dialogue, glamorous intrigue and the very best of Golden Age mysteries, then you will adore Verity Bright’s unputdownable whodunnit, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Downton Abbey!

BUY LINK:
MY THOUGHTS:

Title A Very English Murder
Author:  Verity Bright
Series:  A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery #1
Publisher:  Bookouture
Genre:   Cozy Mystery
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   309 
Date of Publication:   April 7, 2020
My Rating:   4 Stars

This delightful cozy mystery is set in 1920 England. This story introduces Lady Eleanor Swift - however, she is anything but a Lady. She has lived a full life, one with no restrictions and has traveled the world over, and has had unique experiences. Suddenly, however, she finds her self in a town called Chipstone and is shocked to discover that she now has a title of Lady, along with a staff ready to wait on her hand and foot.

This is hardly something that Eleanor wanted or expected. She is now a woman with responsibilities and that means, at the very least, that her travels have come to an end. When Eleanor arrives at her uncle's home, she learn of his death and how this will affect her life. Eleanor has a lot to think about. After all, she has not seen her uncle in years, and to have this new life he left her is a cause for confusion and concern.

While taking a walk with a dog who is a part of the manor, Gladstone, she witnesses a murder. However, not only does the killer get away, but the body disappears. Who is going to believe her when she has no proof? So, Eleanor fearlessly decides to solve this mystery on her own. She has a bit of help, her late uncle's butler, Clifford - as she goes about the town seeking clues. So, Eleanor, Clifford and the trusty dog Gladstone leave no stone unturned to prove the murder and to find the killer.

A Very English Murder is a cute cozy mystery and is the first book in a new series. I love Eleanor, especially as she acts like anything but a Lady. I also enjoyed learning about her past. With Clifford acting as her sidekick gave a nice element to the story. Also the setting was nice as well, both the time period and the beauty of the town. The story was a quick read with enough twists to keep me riveted and I love how the conclusion wrapped things up. As someone who reads quite a few cozy mysteries, I am glad to add this to my collection of series to follow. 

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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 humour, before embarking on their first historical mystery. They are the authors of the fabulous Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series, set in the 1920s. 





9 comments:

  1. that cover and your review make me want to read this

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  2. I love cozy mysteries. And your review has convinced me to check this out.

    Gayathri @ Elgee Writes

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  3. This one sounds really interesting and who doesn't love a good mystery?

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  4. This looks fun - you find the cutest books!

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  5. I do love a great cozy mystery and this sounds right up my alley.

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  6. Great review Robin, I love cozy mystery as well and this book looks and sounds like my kind of book that I would so enjoy reading. I am really glad you fully enjoyed reading this book. Thank you so much for sharing your awesome post.

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  7. This cover is striking. Not big on cozy mysteries but I like the historical bend to it!!

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