Publisher: Bookouture
Format: ebook
Series: Lady Eleanor Swift Mysteries, Book 4
Genre: Historical Fiction, Cozy Mystery
Synopsis
An English Christmas has mince pies, cheerful carols, a twinkling tree… and a murder? Thank goodness Lady Swift is on the scene!
Winter, 1920. Amateur sleuth Lady Eleanor Swift is feeling festive. She is playing host to the entire village at Henley Hall for gifts, games and gingerbread. She’s also purchased perfect presents for each of her household – not forgetting the biggest bone in the butcher’s shop for her partner in crime, Gladstone the bulldog – and is looking forward to celebrating her first English country Christmas.
As snowflakes fall, Eleanor is cheering on contestants in the traditional Christmas fun run in the grounds of the Hall. But tragedy strikes when one of the runners drops dead at the finish line. Dashing Detective Seldon is convinced it’s just a heart attack, but Eleanor isn’t so sure. When she finds a rather distinctive key where the man fell, Eleanor knows she’ll never rest until she finds out the truth about what happened in her own home.
Next the vicar is taken ill with what looks like poison and Eleanor starts to wonder if the two cases are linked. When someone tries to frame her by planting poisoned berries in her own kitchen, she knows speed is of the essence. But the entire village was at Henley Hall for the festivities and Eleanor has enough suspects to stuff a town full of turkeys. Can she nail the true killer and clear her name in time for Christmas?
Christmas won’t be complete without it! A festive treat for fans of Agatha Christie, TE Kinsey and Lee Strauss.
My Thoughts
Eleanor Swift gives up her globetrotting adventures when she inherits Henley Hall from her late Uncle Byron. Unaccustomed to the ways of society after an absence of 16 years, she is easing into life as lady of the manor with the help of her uncle's loyal family retainers, especially Clifford, the ageless butler, who acts like a pseudo father. Another member of the household is a spoiled canine. Gladstone or, as the butler refers to him, Master Gladstone steals the show whenever he appears.
Eleanor is nervous and excited at hosting her first Christmas party for the villagers, which includes a fun run in the grounds of the Hall. Of all the things that could go wrong, she doesn't expect the death of a competitor at the finish line to mar the day. A heart attack is the obvious cause, but Eleanor has her doubts and becomes embroiled in a murder investigation ably assisted by Clifford. With the victim not well liked in the village, everyone is a suspect, even the vicar.
I really enjoyed Murder in the Snow despite it being the fourth book in the series. The jaunty writing style of the author is as captivating as the characters themselves. Their relationships to one another are adequately explained, as is Eleanor's past, to make this a satisfying standalone. The repartee between Eleanor and Clifford is very entertaining. How they pare down the list of suspects to eventually unmask the murderer is cleverly done. To add further interest, there is a love triangle of sorts involving Eleanor, DCI Seldon and the aristocratic Langham, and the secretive nature of Uncle Byron's work. Two unresolved issues that have me eagerly awaiting book five.
Murder in the Snow is a delightful mystery, filled with endearing characters, that will keep you guessing until the end. A great Christmas whodunnit!
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Where to Purchase
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