Murder in an Irish Castle by Verity Bright Book Review - Blog Tour

Publication Date: 28 November, 2022
Publisher: Bookouture
Series: A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery #12
Format: ebook, print and audio
Genre: Historical Fiction/Cosy Mystery

Synopsis

Irish whiskey, rolling green hills, a traditional Christmas feast and… a murder? Lady Swift will need the luck of the Irish to survive this holiday season!

Christmas, 1923. Lady Eleanor Swift has received a rather unexpected invitation to the village Christmas party in the tiny, rural hamlet of Derrydee in the west of Ireland. Eleanor is thrilled about exploring her ancestral roots at her late uncle’s estate and spending the festive season in a castle. Packing Gladstone the bulldog’s coziest Christmas jumper, they set off to the Emerald Isle with her butler Clifford in tow.

Arriving late at night, Eleanor and Clifford are shocked when they find a body sprawled in the snow on the winding country lane outside the estate. The local constable is immediately suspicious and all but accuses the pair of murder. This isn’t the warm Irish welcome Eleanor imagined!

Clifford is certain he recognises the poor fellow from the funeral of Eleanor’s uncle – but what was their connection? Undeterred by the villagers’ lack of gossip on the matter, Eleanor is determined to get justice for the victim. The man’s pockets are suspiciously empty of personal effects, but closer inspection reveals an old key hidden in the heel of his boot. Could this unlock more than one mystery for Eleanor?

But when a fire breaks out at the castle on Christmas Eve, an even bigger question looms: is someone out to ensure the family line dies with Lady Swift? And will Eleanor’s first Irish Christmas be her last?

An utterly addictive festive whodunnit set in Ireland, brimming with mystery, intrigue and wit. Sure to delight fans of T E Kinsey, Agatha Christie and Rhys Bowen.

My Thoughts

Accepting an invitation to celebrate Christmas with the villagers of Derrydee, Ellie (Lady Swift), Clifford (her butler) and her faithful canine, Gladstone, travel to West Ireland. What is supposed to be a relaxing holiday and a chance for Ellie to learn more about the Irish branch of her family, takes a sinister turn when en-route to Hennelly Towers, the estate she has inherited, Clifford nearly runs over a man lying in the road. Help is sought at a nearby nunnery and although assistance is given, a doctor and the local constable sent for, the man dies. The atmosphere is unfriendly and Ellie and Clifford are viewed with suspicion. They, in turn, believe the Mother Superior, the doctor and the constable know more about the dead man than they are willing to share. Ellie, as usual, is unable to let matters rest and once again becomes involved in another murder mystery, bringing her and Clifford into contact with some unsavoury types and fearing for their lives.

This was another fun read involving Ellie, Clifford and Gladstone. Unfortunately, Chief Inspector Hugh Seldon and the female staff of Henley Hall are missing from this instalment. The inspector is involved in a high profile case and the girls are enjoying a quiet Christmas back in England, though I expect they will celebrate in their usual mischievous style. Despite these main characters being absent, the cast list is extensive with lots of quirky and endearing ones to take their place..

While Ellie and Clifford hunt for clues, village life goes on around them and Ellie learns about the laws, traditions, the hardships and the more pleasant aspects of life in a rural village. All is explained to Ellie (and the reader) thanks to the knowledgeable Clifford, whom Ellie, at one stage, refers to as her favourite encyclopaedia on two legs. The author's historical notes at the end of the novel also help to put into perspective life in Ireland at that time.

And not forgetting the primary reason for Ellie's visit to Derrydee – the village Christmas party. What a shindig that was! So beautifully described that I felt like I was actually there, savouring the food, joining in the reels and being amused at Clifford dodging the mistletoe.

Murder in an Irish Castle is another wonderful addition to the series. I enjoyed the mystery element, the banter between Ellie and Clifford and the antics of Gladstone (who by the way makes a new friend) as I always do, but the highlight was the Christmas party, making this a great festive read!

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.

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Where to Purchase

Amazon

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