Winter, 1921. Lady Eleanor Swift, amateur sleuth and reluctant lady of the manor, has been invited to spend Christmas in Scotland, at the beautiful castle of her dear friends Baron and Baroness Ashley. Even her favorite companion, master of mischief Gladstone the bulldog, is coming along to share a slice of turkey. As the snow begins to fall outside, the rather mismatched group is cozy by the roaring fire, sharing a tipple over a plate of Mrs. Trotman’s famous mince pies.

But after what was supposed to be a fun party game, Mr. Eugene Randall is found dead at the feast. A somewhat unpopular business associate of the Baron’s from across the pond, it seems Mr. Randall has certainly upset somebody. Was it what he said about Scottish whisky?

The killer must be in the castle… and when the Baron is arrested, Baroness Ashley begs Eleanor to investigate. Determined not to let her friend down, Eleanor sets about questioning the remaining partygoers.

All too swiftly, someone else is found dead, having apparently fallen from a high balcony. As if one murder wasn’t enough to put a twist in the tinsel! Eleanor knows she’s skating on thin ice now. And when she discovers a hidden document that points the finger of suspicion at the unlikeliest of suspects, she realizes there’s more to the story. Can Eleanor catch the killer before it’s time for Christmas dinner?

The perfect cozy mystery to curl up with this winter! Fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey, and Lee Strauss are in for a festive treat.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

The truth was, she had still yet to hold so much as a formal tea at Henley Hall, even though she’d inherited it well over a year ago. Not that she was antisocial; she often attended events at other estates, after all. It was just that having spent a lifetime abroad, she may have been perfectly comfortable tackling dangerous animals, and equally dangerous locals in far-flung places, but tackling the social niceties of England in her own home was a far more daunting prospect.

I hope sleep manages to creep under yer door before the dawn…

‘I did bring the ultimate make-everything-bearable-if-only-for-a-few-delicious-moments medicine.’ She tipped the tray, making the plate bearing an impressive display of chocolates nestled on an ivory napkin clink against the bottle of sherry and the two crystal glasses.

Exhaustion is fatigue’s elder brother, sickness be their parents.

My Review:

The engaging and amusing storylines are original and easy to follow yet unpredictable with a nuanced network of twists and turns while the gentle pair of an adventurous titled lady and her every prepared and brilliantly acquitted butler make their observations, ponder the possible suspects, and fine-tune their theories. This tale took the pair to the land of my forebearers in the clear and frosty air of Scotland during the holidays – oh, I do loves me a Scottish burr. The narrative also included a spot of whimsy with the inclusion of a selkie, a mythical creature I was compelled to consult Mr. Google for further edification.   What fun!

About the Author

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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 humor, 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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