A Death in Venice by Verity Bright
Stunning views across the Grand Canal and a hotel suite fit for royalty… Lady Eleanor Swift is having a jolly good time on her Italian vacation, until a gondola ride is cut murderously short!
1924. Lady Eleanor Swift has been on a grand tour around Italy for a month with her butler Clifford. Finally arriving in Venice, she’s thrilled to be attending the famous carnival: all that’s needed is the perfect bejewelled costume for her faithful bulldog, Gladstone. But on her first gondola ride to take in the sights, a passenger collapses into the canal with a knife sticking out of his back.
Eleanor saw an argument break out between the gondolier and the victim, Councillor Benetto Vendelini, and it turns out they're rivals from the city's two great families. Vendelini’s murder is sure to reignite their centuries-long feud. While attending a glitzy ball that night, Eleanor learns of a plot to steal a precious family heirloom from the Vendelini household. Is the stolen item the key to solving this baffling murder?
In this floating city of tiny winding alleyways, Eleanor traces the missing heirloom to an antiques dealer in a far-flung corner of town. But when her handbag is snatched by a cloaked thief, she realises the murderer is dangerously close. Can Eleanor unmask this most cunning of killers, before she joins the other victim at the bottom of the Grand Canal?
An utterly gripping historical murder mystery set in Italy, full of intrigue and charming characters. Fans of T.E. Kinsey, Agatha Christie and Catherine Coles will be totally hooked by A Death in Venice!
About 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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Review
‘A Death in Venice’ is a brilliant fun mystery and I couldn't get enough of it! This is the 17th book in the series but it can easily be read as a stand-alone. I do recommend the whole series though as they are amazing books and have a very special place in my heart. I always know I am going to enjoy them when I pick a new one up and Lady Swift and Clifford her butler are a brilliant crime-fighting duo! They are auto-reads for me and always will be.
Lady Eleanor Swift is on holiday in Venice and has brought along all her staff and pets for the ride. Clifford, her amazing butler has everything planned so she gets to explore this fabulous city to the best of his ability! But alas, murder follows Elly everywhere she goes and whilst on a trip on a gondola she witnesses the death of a local councillor. He is also the member of a powerful local family the Vendelinis who have a long running feud with the Marcellos. Is this death going to reignite the feud and will Elly be able to figure out who the killer is?
As always the mystery is integral to the story and Elly and Clifford of course work it all out and save the day. But the beating heart of these books is the relationship between Elly and Clifford - their friendship and love for each other even though technically he is her servant. It's paternal nature is touching and it proves that family doesn't necessarily need to be our blood family. We get to choose who we love and Elly couldn't have found a better friend.
I flew through this in one day and found the mystery to be compelling and I was enthralled by the descriptions of Venice. It was such an enjoyable and fun read and I can't wait for the next adventure!
Let me know if you pick this one up!
