A Darn Good Read: Death on a Winter's Day by Verity Bright Book Review

Publication Date: November 19, 2021
Publisher: Bookouture
Series: A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery #8
Format: ebook, print and audio
Genre: Historical Fiction/Cosy Mystery

Synopsis

Christmas at the castle with holly, handmade gifts, snowflakes and… is that a body under the tree? Someone call Lady Swift!

Winter, 1921. Lady Eleanor Swift, amateur sleuth and reluctant lady of the manor, has been invited to spend Christmas in Scotland, at the beautiful castle of her dear friends Baron and Baroness Ashley. Even her favourite companion, master of mischief Gladstone the bulldog, is coming along to share a slice of turkey. As snow begins to fall outside, the rather mismatched group are cozy by the roaring fire, sharing a tipple over a plate of Mrs Trotman’s famous mince pies.

But after what was supposed to be a fun party game, Mr Eugene Randall is found dead at the feast. A somewhat unpopular business associate of the Baron’s from across the pond, it seems Mr Randall has certainly upset somebody. Was it what he said about Scottish whisky?

The killer must be in the castle… and when the Baron is arrested, Baroness Ashley begs Eleanor to investigate. Determined not to let her friend down, Eleanor sets about questioning the remaining partygoers.

All too swiftly, someone else is found dead, having apparently fallen from a high balcony. As if one murder wasn’t enough to put a twist in the tinsel! Eleanor knows she’s skating on thin ice now. And when she discovers a hidden document that points the finger of suspicion at the unlikeliest of suspects, she realises there’s more to the story. Can Eleanor catch the killer before it’s time for Christmas dinner?

The perfect cozy mystery to curl up with this winter! Fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Lee Strauss are in for a festive treat.

My Thoughts

Lady Eleanor (Ellie) Swift is dismayed when Christmas is about to be cancelled. Over a bad telephone connection, she learns from her friend Baron Ashley in Scotland that his wife's plans are in disarray due to staffing difficulties. Rather than have Baroness Ashley disappointed, Ellie jumps in to offer the services of the Henley Hall staff, unwittingly placing them in a difficult situation. So for the festive season, Ellie heads north to a freezing Scottish castle on an island, accompanied by Clifford, the butler; Mrs. Butters, the housekeeper; Mrs. Trotters, the cook; Polly, the maid; and Gladstone, the bulldog.

Apart from Ellie, the other guests include the local laird, his son, an American businessman, the local doctor and two self-invited relatives of the baron: a very disparate group. Already Ellie notices that there is a strained atmosphere. Christmas is not shaping up to be the happy celebration Ellie expected and worsens when a party game on Christmas Eve ends in Eugene Randall's murder.

The inspector sent over from the mainland performs a perfunctory investigation, which leaves Ellie and Clifford no choice but to investigate the murder themselves. With everyone a suspect, Ellie and Clifford discover they all have a motive to kill Eugene Randall. Even Baron Ashley, who is under arrest for the murder. They decide they need help and who better to turn to than Detective Inspector Hugh Seldon.

Throughout, Mrs. Trotters, ably assisted by Mrs. Butters and Polly, continues to serve up mouthwatering Christmas fare, much to the satisfaction of Ellie's insatiable appetite. Clifford ensures everything runs like clockwork. As usual, he anticipates Ellie's every move and whim while protecting her from her impatience, the weather and the dangers of the investigation. Gladstone is content to spend as much time as possible in the warm kitchen, but when he does appear is as mischievous and endearing as ever.

On a more personal note, Ellie learns more about her parents. In particular that an exploit of her mother has since become part of the area's folklore. While visiting the atmospheric location, Ellie has an uncanny experience that touches her deeply. Her romance with Hugh, slow-burning as it is, reaches another phase, much to the delight of the Henley Hall staff.

Death on a Winter's Day is another entertaining instalment of a series I enjoy. The smiles and chuckles begin from the very first page and, despite the body count rising, the dramatic confrontation with the killer and a mad dash to save a life, ends in the same way. Catching up with Ellie and her staff is always a pleasure. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Meet 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.