Review - A Silence in Belgrave Square

Title:   A Silence in Belgrave Square

Author:   Jennifer Ashley

Series:  Kat Holloway Mysteries #5
Publisher:  Berkley

Genre:   Cozy Mystery 

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   320

Date of Publication:   August 12, 2025

My Rating:   5 Stars 

DESCRIPTION:

Valiant cook and amateur sleuth Kat Holloway must uncover the secrets of Victorian London’s most elite noblemen to save the man she loves, from the New York Times bestselling author of Speculations in Sin.

Kat Holloway knows that her beau and confidante Daniel McAdam has a talent for dangerous work as a Scotland Yard agent. At long last though, Daniel’s coldhearted boss has promised that after a final mission, his debt will be repaid, and he’ll finally be free. However, Daniel must risk his life one last time, masquerading as a secretary to an elderly viscount who could be the mastermind behind the recent plots against the Queen and her government.

Using her contacts throughout London, Kat discovers several of her friends and colleagues have been victims of vicious blackmail. They’ll do anything to protect their scandalous secrets, even conform to the blackmailer’s political agenda. If Kat and Daniel wish to save each other and the Crown, they must prove the blackmailer’s identity and evade those who will stop at nothing to eliminate them. 

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

Kat Holloway, a talented cook in this Victorian era series, also dabbles in amateur sleuthing and has proven herself adept at solving murders. However, her current situation is quite different. Her beau, Daniel, has been assigned a dangerous mission in his role as an agent for Scotland Yard, and Kat is deeply concerned about his safety, especially since he will be out of touch for several weeks.

Daniel’s assignment is to pose as a secretary to an older viscount, as a dangerous plot against the Queen is suspected. This in a way parallels to what Kat is currently working on. More than one of the people in her close circle have fallen victim to blackmailing, so Kat juggles her cooking responsibilities with investigating whoever it is that could be behind the blackmail scheme. 

Kat’s worries for Daniel’s well-being are justified as those close to Daniel make every effort to keep her informed. Hopefully, Kat and Daniel’s inquiries will converge before any threat to their lives escalates.

This Below Stairs cozy mystery series has been a delight book after book. With Kat’s intelligence, likability, and diverse roles as a loving mother, Daniel’s perfect partner, an exceptional cook, and an amateur sleuth, she has been captivating readers Daniel might be done with Scotland Yard, and with the exciting conclusion to this book in mind, I can’t wait to see where Jennifer Ashley goes next with this series.

Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this book for review. This is my honest opinion. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jennifer Ashley is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Below Stairs Mysteries, the Shifters Unbound paranormal romances, and the Mackenzies historical romances. She also writes as USA Today bestselling mystery author Ashley Gardner.

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BLOG TOUR - Murder By Invitation

    

DESCRIPTION:

Lady Swift has been cordially invited to a huge royal celebration in Little Buckford to toast the King’s birthday… but wait, is that a body in the village hall?

Lady Eleanor Swift and her loyal butler Clifford are busy lending a hand with preparations for the big day. The grand dining room at Henley Hall is overflowing with home-sewn flags, paint and royal rosettes. Even Gladstone the bulldog and his new friend Tomkins the ginger cat are invited!

But just days before the event Mr Prestwick-Peterson, the chairman of the celebrations committee, is found dead in the village hall: strangled with handmade red, white and royal blue bunting.

With the village hall in total disarray and a key part of the decorations missing, Eleanor wonders if someone dastardly is sabotaging the King’s birthday celebrations? Teaming up with her handsome beau Detective Hugh Seldon to question the local butcher, baker, and pub landlord it becomes clear that the meddlesome busybody Mr Prestwick-Peterson was not universally liked in charming Little Buckford. Indeed, the only mystery is why he wasn’t murdered before…

Searching Mr Prestwick-Peterson’s pristinely organised rooms, Eleanor is surprised to find a faded photograph of a beautiful young woman hidden within the pages of a novel. Could this be the key to untangling this very village murder? And can Eleanor catch the killer before the party is over for her, too?

A totally charming, unputdownable Golden Age murder mystery with characters readers will adore. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Lee Strauss.

BUY LINK:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0C85XKDNVsocial

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

MY THOUGHTS:

 

Title:   Murder By Invitation

Author:  Verity Bright

Series:  Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery #15
Publisher:  Bookouture    

Genre:   Cozy Mystery

Format:  Kindle ARC 

No. of Pages:  363

Date of Publication:  

My Rating:   4 Stars

When a Mr. Prestwick-Peterson is found dead at a celebration to which lady Eleanor Swift has been invited, she teams with her beau, Detective Hugh Seldon, along with her faithful butler Clifford and loyal dog Gladstone, and another investigation is underway. 

Readers are definitely in for a treat as this current investigation brings back delightful characters in this successful cozy mystery series. Eleanor is up to the task as she always is, and the ever-proper Clifford never misses a beat. 

As the celebration they are attending is surrounding the King’s birthday, Hugh’s assistance to Eleanor comes right in on time. Verity Bright has done it again with this engaging read. Danger is never far behind as the group plans on solving the murder and this charming read kept me entertained. 

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.

https://twitter.com/BrightVerity

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BLOG TOUR - Murder in the Scottish Hills

 

DESCRIPTION:

Edinburgh, 1911: When Maud McIntyre receives a letter from a maid called Rose, sharing her suspicions that something strange is happening in the house where she works, she and her assistant Daisy immediately travel to the Highlands to investigate.

But as they are changing trains, the body of a man falls from the carriage right in front of them, a bullet in his head. Maud and Daisy can’t believe it – they’ve waited ages for a new case, and now one has literally landed in front of them! And when the local police rule the death as a tragic accident, the pair have no choice but to investigate what they believe is a murder…

Arriving in the Scottish village, Maud and Daisy go undercover to begin their hunt for the murderer, while also investigating the strange behaviour of Rose’s employer, a local art dealer. As they begin to piece together the chain of events, Maud and Daisy wonder whether the cases might be linked. Is it possible the man on the train was killed to cover up something in the village? And, if so, who would do such a thing?

When a local artist is found murdered, Maud and Daisy become convinced the two cases are connected. Searching for the link between the deaths, will Maud and Daisy solve the case before another mysterious murder takes place?

A page-turning historical whodunnit, perfect for fans of the mysteries of Helena Dixon, Verity Bright, T.E. Kinsey and Catherine Coles.

BUY LINK:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0BWNHR79Nsocial

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

MY THOUGHTS:

 

Title:   Murder in the Scottish Hills

Author:  Lydia Travers

Series:  The Scottish Ladies’ Detective Agency #2
Publisher:  Bookouture    

Genre:   Cozy Mystery

Format:  Kindle ARC 

Narrator:  Helen McAlpine

No. of Pages:  289

Date of Publication:   May 26, 2023

My Rating:   5 Stars

A train ride with her former lady’s maid Daisy affords Maud McIntyre the opportunity to solve yet another murder. As it happens, they shockingly find the body of a man who apparently was shot in the head. In all actuality, he pretty much falls right in front of them.This really works out for Maud and Daisy as they are trying to get their private detective agency as much business as they can. What has just happened gives them the opportunity to investigate the murder.

Maud is certain that it is murder, but the police are in stark disagreement with her as they do not plan on ruling the death as a murder. Meanwhile, Maud and Daisy were actually on their way to investigate a case of art forgery, and it doesn’t take long for Maud to imagine that these cases just might be connected. 

Even though this is only the second book in a new series, I can already tell that this is going to be one of my favorite historical cozy mystery series. I love how both Maud and Daisy don different attire and alter their appearance in order to work their cases. It gives this series a light feel. I also love the mention and comparisons to Sherlock Holmes, especially considering the timeframe and location of the Scottish setting in this series. I am eager to continue the series with book three, Mystery in the Highlands, set for release in July. 

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lydia Travers was born in London.  She moved progressively north until settling with her husband in a village on the edge of the Scottish Highlands. She has raised children, bred dogs and kept chickens; and for as long as she can remember has written for pleasure. A former legal academic and practitioner with a PhD in criminology, she now runs self-catering holiday accommodation, sings in a local choir and is walked daily by the family dog.

Lydia also writes as Linda Tyler and her first novel under that name, Revenge of the Spanish Princess, won a 2018 Romance Writers of America competition for the beginning of an historical romance. Her second novel The Laird's Secret was Commended in the 2021 Scottish Association of Writers' Pitlochry Quaich competition for the beginning of a romantic novel. Mischief in Midlothian won the 2022 Scottish Association of Writers' Constable Silver Stag trophy. She has had a number of short stories published in magazines, journals and anthologies in the UK, the USA and Australia.

https://www.facebook.com/LindaTylerAuthorScotland

https://twitter.com/LindaTyler100

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BLOG TOUR - The French for Murder

DESCRIPTION:

A grand villa, croissants for breakfast and a dead body in the wine cellar… Lady Swift can’t seem to take a vacation from murder!

Summer 1923. Lady Eleanor Swift is finally persuaded by her butler, Clifford, to take a villa in the south of France for the season. She plans to do what a glamorous lady abroad should: long lunches on the balcony followed by lazy afternoons lounging by the pool. Even Gladstone the bulldog is looking forward to a daily paddle in the ocean.

But when Clifford examines the wine cellar, he discovers there are no decent reds but there is a very dead body. The victim is famous American movie star Rex Armstrong. Poor Rex seems to have been stabbed with a sword from the film set. So how did he end up in Eleanor’s villa?

Before Eleanor even has time to change out of her travelling suit, her beloved butler is arrested for the crime. At sea without her right-hand man, Eleanor must gather her wits if she’s to outsmart a murderer and save Clifford.

Attending a glitzy party at the luxurious Hotel Azure with the film’s cast and crew so she can question her main suspects, Eleanor overhears the director having a most unsettling telephone call that throws all her theories out of the water. Can Eleanor unmask the true killer before her time abroad is cut murderously short?

A gripping historical murder mystery full of charm and intrigue, set in the beautiful French Riviera. Fans of Agatha Christie, T E Kinsey and Lee Strauss will adore The French for Murder.

BUY LINK:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B09SZSXT2Lsocial

MY THOUGHTS:

 

Title:   The French for Murder

Author:  Verity Bright

Series:  Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery #10
Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Cozy Mystery

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   287

Date of Publication:   May 30, 2022

My Rating:   4 Stars 

A season at a lovely French villa is anything but a vacation for Lady Eleanor Swift. Just as she is imagining being poolside with a nice glass of wine, her butler Clifford discovers a dead body in the wine cellar. The French authorities do not know much, if anything, about Eleanor and Clifford, so as he found the body, he proves their main suspect and he is immediately arrested.

Eleanor knows one thing for certain: Clifford is no killer. She must prove his innocence to get him released from jail as soon as possible. The victim was American actor Rex Armstrong, and Eleanor must rub shoulders with the cast and crew of the movie being filmed in France in order to look for clues and to try to find the identity of the murderer. She must act quickly, as she wants to get Clifford out of jail immediately.

As Eleanor pieces together clues about the murder, she finds herself further confused after overhearing the director. Who is the killer, and will she not only find said killer in time, but will she do so without finding herself in the killer's crosshairs?

What a delightful cozy mystery story that is part of the truly engaging ten-book series. Each and every book has been quite enjoyable. I love the historical aspect, as it takes place in the 1920s. I also enjoy the "professional" relationship between Eleanor and Clifford, as he was previously her uncle's butler, and his regard and respect for her as he is now her butler straddles on the lines of friendship. Another character that needs mentioning is Eleanor's bulldog Gladstone. He may not have much to offer in the way of advice, but he definitely proves quite a listening ear when it comes to Eleanor's skills of deduction being tested out.

I am thrilled that this series will be continuing at the end of August with Death Down the Aisle. Please check this blog for reviews for any or all of the previous books in this series.

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

Please also enjoy my YouTube video review - 

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.

https://twitter.com/BrightVerity

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Verity Bright here: https://www.bookouture.com/verity-bright/