Publisher: Bookouture
Format: Print, e-book and audio
Series: A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery #21
Genre: Historical Mystery, Cosy Mystery Book Description Cream cakes, cucumber sandwiches, apple tarts and… poison? Lady Swift is trying to plan the menu for her wedding, until murder strikes in kitchens across the village! Lady Eleanor Swift’s marriage to dashing Chief Inspector Hugh Seldon is just days away. There’s a lot to organise from the dress to the catering, including, of course, the all-important wedding cake. But Eleanor is heartbroken when their chef, apple-cheeked Annie Tibetts, dies of poisoning. And as the doctor confirms her death wasn’t an accident, accusations fly around the whole community. With more of the village struck down by the poison, Eleanor must unmask a killer who seems intent on spreading chaos amongst her nearest and dearest. Everyone is accusing their neighbour… and Eleanor is in a pickle as the seating plans for the wedding fall apart. But she soon has bigger fish to fry when the source of the poison is traced to a trusted establishment in town. Eleanor is certain they are being framed and that sabotage is afoot… And when a sample of poisoned wedding cake is delivered anonymously to Hugh working at his station miles away in Oxford, Eleanor realises that while she has been planning for the future, her past has been catching up with her. Eleanor must race across the countryside to save her love from certain death. Can Eleanor find the proof in the pudding and save Hugh in time? And will the poisoner finally get their just desserts? A gripping and totally twisty historical cozy mystery set in an English village. Fans of T.E. Kinsey, Catherine Coles and L.B. Hathaway won’t be able to put this down. My Thoughts This is the 21st novel in the series and probably the most anticipated by fans as Lady Eleanor (Ellie) Swift and Chief Inspector Hugh Seldon finally walk down the aisle. While the ending is lovely, the run up to the nuptials is a whirl of preparations, village politics and murder. Four days out from the wedding disaster strikes when the traditional Spring Supper results in food poisoning running rife through the village and the death of Annie Tibetts, the caterer for the wedding reception. After the doctor confirms that Annie's death is suspicious, the local constabulary request Ellie's help to investigate. Juggling the investigation and wedding preparations, Ellie has more reasons to mix with the villagers and becomes aware of the hostility between the old and new inhabitants of Little Buckford. Not welcome in the village are the “new”, those who work and live in the flint mill complex over the bridge where living conditions are poor. Each community blames the other for the poisonings, especially when another body is found on the mill side of the bridge. Even Ellie's loyalties are questioned and she is forced to be very diplomatic in her dealings with all the residents of Little Buckford, which extends to keeping Hugh's presence as a Scotland Yard detective low key. When Hugh's life is endangered, a vital clue surfaces linking events to Ellie's past. The race is then on to unmask a murderer before Ellie and Hugh's big day. This novel is an interesting mix. Not only is it filled with the usual banter and uplifting presence of the core characters, but it also reconnects with the inhabitants of Little Buckford and introduces a darker side of the community by way of the mill over the bridge, where conditions are decidedly Victorian. Prejudices abound on both sides, with Ellie caught in the middle, feeling guilty that she has neglected her duty as Lady of the Manor and allowed this situation to develop virtually on her doorstep. How it is resolved provides one of the many touching moments in the novel. The mystery was complex and kept me guessing. A pared down list of suspects and an explanation of that vital clue I mentioned before gave me a hint, but even then I wasn't sure until the reveal confirmed my suspicions. And now to the grand finale. The wedding was everything I expected it to be: beautifully described, a few surprises and happiness bursting off the page; a wonderful outcome for two of my favourite characters. I only have one more thing to add. I love that Hugh, much to Ellie's amusement, is still oblivious to the effect he has on her female staff: setting their hearts aflutter with accompanied blushes and girlish giggles. Methinks there will be some very entertaining moments once Hugh moves into Henley Hall. I'm so looking forward to the next novel, where we join the honeymooners in Paris! Meet the Author
Thank you for the review, Yvonne. Glad you liked this one - and yes, there will be lots of fun with Hugh at Henley Hall with the ladies in future books :)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait. I'm smiling already!
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