A Very English Murder by Verity Bright

Move over Miss Marple, there’s a new sleuth in town! Meet Eleanor Swift: distinguished adventurer, dog lover, dignified lady… daring detective?

England, 1920. Eleanor Swift has spent the last few years travelling the world: taking tea in China, tasting alligators in Peru, escaping bandits in Persia and she has just arrived in England after a chaotic forty-five-day flight from South Africa. Chipstone is about the sleepiest town you could have the misfortune to meet. And to add to these indignities – she’s now a Lady.

Lady Eleanor, as she would prefer not to be known, reluctantly returns to her uncle’s home, Henley Hall. Now Lord Henley is gone, she is the owner of the cold and musty manor. What’s a girl to do? Well, befriend the household dog, Gladstone, for a start, and head straight out for a walk in the English countryside, even though a storm is brewing…

But then, from the edge of a quarry, through the driving rain, Eleanor is shocked to see a man shot and killed in the distance. Before she can climb down to the spot, the villain is gone and the body has vanished. With no victim and the local police convinced she’s stirring up trouble, Eleanor vows to solve this affair by herself. And when her brakes are mysteriously cut, one thing seems sure: someone in this quiet country town has Lady Eleanor Swift in their murderous sights…

Author Bio:

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. 

Review

Now I love what may be deemed ‘cozy crime’ set in between the wars - Carola Dunn, Nicola Upson, Frances Brody to name some of my favourites. Verity Bright is now among these. This was a funny, entertaining and well thought out crime book, although I wouldn’t suggest that Lady Swift is the brains of the operations. That goes to Clifford and maybe Gladstone!

I was a bit put off with the pace at the start as Lady Swift seemed to be bumbling around making a nuisance of herself and not even showing much intelligence behind her actions. BUT, it all made sense once the butler Clifford entered more into the story. As much as I like the character of Lady Swift I’m more drawn to the adventures of Clifford! There is many a tale to be told there I’m sure. In my head I’m imaging Lady Mary and Carson from Downton Abbey but a lot more fun and adventurous!

I enjoyed all the side characters that reside in Henley Hall and the surrounding area. I especially loved the unconventional staff at the Hall and Gladstone of course! The staff don’t bat an eyelid at anything. I even liked Lancelot - dashing, funny, has a plane! Although, I’m not sure there won’t be others vying for Lady Swift’s attention in further books to come.

I really did enjoy this book - I flew through it in a couple of sittings. It’s funny, has a clever plot, great characterisation, backstories I can’t wait to find out about and a loyal dog! What more could you ask for?! Roll on the next one.