Murder in Mayfair by Verity Bright
Tea and cake at The Ritz, a stolen pearl necklace and a missing dead body… Lady Swift is back on the case!
Lady Eleanor Swift has been eagerly awaiting her trip in a hot air balloon to take in London’s amazing sights. But what she witnesses instead is a murder! From way up high she sees a man in a dark coat shoot another man dead, but by the time she arrives back on the ground, Eleanor can find no trace of the body. Just the broken piece of a pearl necklace clasp, trodden into the dirt.
Back at The Ritz hotel, over afternoon tea, Eleanor’s old friend Lady Philomena Chadwick confides in her about a scandalous theft. Lady Chadwick is certain someone on her staff has stolen her priceless pink pearl necklace. Eleanor is immediately suspicious when the description matches the jewellery she spotted at the crime scene.
Much to her butler Clifford’s amusement, Eleanor goes undercover as a governess in the Chadwick’s sparkling Mayfair mansion. As she sets about questioning the disgruntled staff, she uncovers a treasure trove of gossip. But how do a secret love affair, a flirty footman with a fondness for spying, and a housemaid hiding a nightly visitor connect to the murder?
And when Eleanor’s beau, Detective Hugh Seldon, is brought in to investigate a string of further robberies in Park Lane, Eleanor is certain that Chadwick House is hiding the unlikeliest gang of jewel thieves below stairs…
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but will this necklace get Eleanor killed before she uncovers the hidden gem she needs to crack the case?
Murder in Mayfair is a totally gripping and twisty Golden Age whodunnit set in London, perfect for fans of T.E. Kinsey, Agatha Christie and Catherine Coles!
About the authors
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
‘Murder in Mayfair’ was a captivating read, packed full of action, historical details and was an intriguing and intoxicating mystery. This is the 18th book in the series but it can definitely be read as a standalone easily. I do recommend all the books though as they are tremendous reads and I truly think of the characters as friends rather than fictional! This is one of the best books in the series though, mainly due to always being fascinated by the Great Exhibition, but it was a devilish good mystery, heart-wrenching and death-defying. If that doesn't whet the appetites I don't know what will.
Lady Swift is enjoying the beguiling sights and sounds of the Great Exhibition with her steadfast butler, Clifford, when she witnesses a murder. Nothing new for Eleanor but to her chagrin she is in a runaway hot air balloon and the murder took place 90ft below her! She is soon embroiled in a government cover-up, the search for a stolen necklace and all this could cost Hugh, Eleanor’s fiance his job as a policeman. Not a lot on the line then!
I was pleased that this was a mystery in which we saw Eleanor develop slightly by being so warm and kind to the children under her care, a forebringer of what's to come to her life maybe… but even if not it was heartwarming to see! Plus, we got to see a reminder of why she and Hugh make such a great team as they solved the case and clues together. Of course, Clifford was never far from her side offering invaluable information and support. I just adore these characters and I would be bereft if this series was ever to end. I know instantly that when I pick up a book by Verity Bright that I will be transported to a vivid and authentic world, full of rich historical details and it will have a jolly good mystery! Roll on book 19!
Let me know if you pick this one up!
