Murder in Mayfair
(Lady Eleanor Swift #18)
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!

Favorite Quotes:

I know how things usually pan out when I try and do the romantic thing. I’d probably more likely than not crack your head on a door frame on the way out and then discover my noble steed was a wretched donkey.

My pyjamas are calling me!

I don’t want to hear that level of honesty.

But it might help if you understand I was at the very end of the line when patience was given out.

My Review:

This series has been such fun, I remain totally enamored with Lady Swift and her ever-prepared butler, Clifford, who is usually two steps ahead of her. Team Verity Bright continues to hit their mark with a writing style that is polished, easy to follow, delightfully entertaining, humorous, and witty. This installment was particularly heartwarming as they continue to collect vulnerable people to care about and care for, and made a significant difference in their lives.