Publisher: Bookouture
Format: Print, e-book and audio
Series: A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery #16
Genre: Historical Mystery, Cosy Mystery
Synopsis
A festive invitation from an old family friend, the promise of gingerbread at the village inn, snowy walks on the Cornish coast with Gladstone the bulldog… But wait, is that a body on the beach?
Winter, 1923. It’s nearly Christmas and Lady Eleanor Swift has received a rather strange letter from an old friend of her uncle. Mr Godfrey Cunliffe has asked her to stay in Cornwall for the holidays – but only because he believes his gardener is trying to poison him! With not a moment to waste Eleanor hurries down to his picturesque manor house with her butler Clifford and handsome beau Detective Hugh Seldon. But they arrive too late to stop the crime…
Lying dead at the bottom of the steep cliffs, however, is not Mr Cunliffe, but the gardener himself. And his plans for restoring the gardens to their former glory are missing. Jerome St Clair has gone from suspect to victim. This certainly puts a twist in the tinsel!
As snow begins to fall, Eleanor quizzes the family. Mr Cunliffe’s alibi is as fragile as the glass baubles hanging from his towering Christmas tree. Eleanor quickly realises everyone from the handyman to the housekeeper is keeping secrets, and she’s convinced that Mr Cunliffe is still scared for his life.
When Gladstone the bulldog pulls a charred corner of the missing garden plans from a fireplace festooned with a gold-ribboned garland, Eleanor thinks the clue she needs is hiding out in the grounds. But when someone tries to run her over with the huge lawnmower, she knows she must wrap up the mystery fast before her Christmas is cancelled for good…
Murder on the Cornish Cliffs is a fun, twisty and absolutely gripping historical English cozy mystery, perfect for fans of T.E. Kinsey, Catherine Coles and Agatha Christie.
My Thoughts
Once again I've been thoroughly entertained by Lady Eleanor (Ellie) Swift and her butler, Clifford, as they investigate another murder, this time in Cornwall.
A few days out from Christmas, Ellie and Clifford are invited to Gwel an Mor, the estate of Godfrey Cunliffe, a friend of Ellie's late Uncle Byron, to investigate the attempts on his life. They arrive to find the local police in attendance lead by an Inspector Trevilick, who informs them a body has been found at the base of the cliffs. Relieved to hear it is not their host but someone who resembled him, his gardener, gives credence to the threats.
The eccentricity of Cunliffe and his family, the reluctance of the staff to be questioned, the suggestion of devil worship, the suspicious activities of the under-gardeners and the knowledge that the local police inspector knows what they are about, hampers Ellie and Clifford's investigation. However, our duo never refuse a challenge. They gradually uncover the secrets of the garden and of those who live at Gwel an Mor – with the help of Hugh Seldon, of course, who goes under cover as an estate agent. Who the murderer turned out to be was a surprise.
Skilfully woven into the investigation are attempts on Ellie and Clifford's lives; snatched meetings with Hugh; the delightful presence of the inseparable Gladstone and Tomkins, the canine and feline stars; and the festive traditions and food of Cornwall and how the village of Lostenev celebrates Christmas. Stargazy pie and limpets are on the menu for Ellie to sample. She's even game to eat a horse's leg which she assumes is traditional fare until informed that it is a musical intrument.
Adding to the festive spirit is a lovely description of the Christmas Day luncheon table decked out in its finery, not to mention the huge decorated Christmas tree in the hall of Gwel an Mor, which takes Ellie by surprise.
Sadly, the other members of the Henley Hall staff have been left at home this time but are not forgotten, with references made to them.
This is a great festive read and, as well as the highlights already mentioned, includes snowy landscapes, some lovely romantic moments between Ellie and Hugh and the amusing banter that followers of this series have come to expect from the main characters.
As always, after having finished the latest Lady Swift mystery, I'm looking forward to the next one, which takes Ellie and her entourage to Venice.
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Where to Purchase
Amazon
Audio: UK : US : Sample
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Everytime I see one of this author's books I inevitably am mesmerised by the cover! They are always fab!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your review with the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge!
The simplicity of them is eye catching. Thanks, Marg.
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