Verity Bright

Lady Eleanor, her butler Clifford, her bulldog Gladstone, her cat, and the ladies that make up her household staff are enjoying the sights of Venice in this latest installment of the Lady Eleanor cozy mystery series. This story was more than entertaining it was also informative. The descriptions were so interesting, that if I am not having delusions of grandeur, I was able to recognize many of the sights, hotels and districts of the magical city of Venice. There are also historical lessons of the origins and building of Venice, the history of the gondoliers and their craft.

“A gondola ride on the Grand Canal in the sunshine” Lady Eleanor wonders if there could be anything better. Spoken too soon, immediately in front of her there is a dead body in the canal, then a Romeo/Juliet romance enmeshed in a bitter family feud which gives Lady Eleanor plenty to keep her occupied. After all, what would a Lady Eleanor mystery be without a murder to solve, a family to reunite, a multitude of delicious meals to be consumed.

Each installment in this series delights and satisfies with clever dialog, beautiful and interesting settings with a plot that is complex and intriguing. Thanks to Bookoutre and NetGalley for a copy.… (meer)

A murder interrupts a vacation in this cozy mystery.

Lady Swift and her household are on a grand tour when they stop in Venice. While gliding along the canals in a gondola, Eleanor and her butler, Clifford, witness a murder. Of course, they get involved and uncover a longstanding family feud reminiscent of Romeo and Juliette. Can they save the day and let true love prevail.

I was a bit disappointed in this installment. It was quite like a tour guidebook about Venice, which is interesting enough, but the actual plot and the murders and their involvement seemed a bit too far-fetched. I missed the usual funny banter between Ellie and Clifford. For some reason, it all just seemed off from the usual stories in this series. Truth told; it was sort of boring.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. I really have enjoyed this series and have read all of the books and hope for a return to the usual in the next volume.… (meer)

witty, situational-humor, thriller, relationships, fiancé, friendship, friends, pets, unputdownable, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-research, history-and-culture, Italian-customs, Venice, class-consciousness, 1920s, amateur-sleuth, cozy-mystery, relatives, series, servants, inheritance, investigations, relationship-issues, murder, verbal-humor, rivalry*****

Venice is beautiful any time of year and so very different from England. Eleanor holidays there with all of her staff and pets but not with her police detective fiancé. She really could have used his help this time (in addition to Clifford's) because she starts finding bodies and an artifact at the very beginning. While there is fun to be had, there is danger and mor murder as well. Excellent mystery with a very detailed investigation (and a lot of laughs, too!).
This can't be an unbiased review because I love this series! It works as a stand alone, though.
This series has the very best and interesting characters (good, bad, and absolutely silly). The series began as a farce: Eleanor is widowed and is a presumed orphan and world traveler on the cheap who comes to rural England and finds that she has inherited the title and all that from uncle who was recently deceased. The best part of it all is The Butler Who Knows Everything who helps her with anything (and never treats her like a ninny), her trusty household staff, her tiny French bulldog, the family kitty, and her recent fiancé DCI Hugh Seldon of the Met who has been mightily tolerant of her sleuthing (but not of her wealth). I really enjoy all the ongoing (as well as new) characters, and the mysteries are so well done!
I requested and received a temporary EARC of this book from Bookouture via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!… (meer)