If you think I am becoming Eleanor Swift's groupie, you might be right. Moreover, I think Eleanor can become Miss Phryne Fisher's friend across the ocean. And that's saying a lot...

I love Swift's adventures. I love everything about them: setting, characters, plots and sub-plots, atmosphere, relationships between characters, little things that say a lot and... Gladstone. Who can not love old bulldog and his addiction to leather sleepers. 

Murder in the Snow events take place during holiday season. Lady Swift is hosting lunch for the villagers and... someone dies. Even though she promised herself, her friends and even Police Inspector that she will not do any more sleuthing, Eleanor can't help but gets involved. Together with her trusty and well-mannered sidekick/butler/friend/bodyguard/babysitter Clifford they do their best and... worst to uncover the truth behind the murder in the snow during fun run...

Verity Bright has done great job creating cozy-mystery land of Lady Swift. I can't wait for the next installment to see, if nothing else, whom Lady Swift will give her heart too... if she ever makes up her mind.

I’m a big fan of Christmas murder mysteries, and this was a proper dose of old fashioned English Christmas charm with a murder and attempted murder, mixed with a mild love interest. 
Although this is part of a series, I was able to read and understand the characters without having read any previous novels. A feisty heroine with the support of her highly organised butler successfully work out the murderer, in the midst of heavy snow and Christmas parties. 
Very enjoyable and perfect Christmas reading.

4.5 Stars

It’s always such a delight to spend time with the stylish, effervescent and glamourous Lady Eleanor Swift who is back for a brand new festive adventure that is a joy to read from beginning to end: Murder in the Snow.

Christmas is fast approaching and Lady Eleanor has come up with the perfect way of raising the entire village’s spirits and give them all a Christmas to remember. Eleanor has invited everyone up to Henley Hall for a day full of good food, fun games and plenty of mischief and merry-making. Seeing everybody gathered at her home fills Eleanor’s heart with such joy and she thinks nothing and nobody can spoil this magical day. But where Lady Eleanor Swift goes, trouble is always sure to follow as she discovers when, whilst cheering on the contestants in the traditional Christmas fun run on the grounds, one of the runners drops dead at the finish line. Is this just an unfortunate accident or is there something far more sinister going on here?

Everybody is convinced that the victim died of a heart attack, but Eleanor simply cannot shake off this feeling in the pit of her stomach that foul play is involved. Determined to get to the bottom of this case, Eleanor dons her sleuthing cap back on because there is a murderer in their midst and she is going to be the one to unmask this heartless killer. When a key is found right where the man dropped dead, Eleanor is sure that she is edging ever closer to the truth. But when other people in the village begin to fall ill and she finds poisoned berries in her kitchen, it becomes abundantly clear that Eleanor needs to move fast and that time is of the essence. She cannot afford to dally because one false move is all it takes for the killer to strike again.

Only, who could this murderer possibly be? With the entire village having been at Henley Hall on Christmas Day, Eleanor’s list of suspects gets longer and longer with every passing day. Can she solve this case? Before it’s simply too late?

Verity Bright’s immensely enjoyable historical cosy mysteries never family to amuse and entertain and she is on top form with Murder in the Snow. A gripping and intriguing thriller packed with nerve-twisting tension, ingenious red herrings and surprising twists and turns, Murder in the Snow is another captivating adventure for the fabulous Lady Eleanor Swift, a brilliant sleuth who could give the likes of Phyrne Fisher and Daisy Dalrymple a good run for their money.

As terrific as ever, Verity Bright has got another winner on her hands with Murder in the Snow.

Rating: 4.5/5*

 

My Review:

This is another superb cosy murder mystery featuring Lady Eleanor Swift and her intrepid butler and supporter, Clifford. The repartee between these two had me laughing out loud despite the somber nature of their investigations, and Gladstone is as stoic as ever!

Eleanor inherited her title following the tragic death of her uncle and the disappearance of her parents. She’s spent her years on adventures around the world and hasn’t been brought up to be Lady of the manor but she’s endeavouring to fulfil the role with the guidance and protection of Clifford. This isn’t the first time this pair have investigated a murder but they’d certainly never expected one to be committed during the first Christmas Eve party hosted by Eleanor for the local villagers. The police don’t seem to be too interested in what happened though Detective Seldon isn’t totally ruling out foul play. However, the victim doesn’t seem to have anyone who’ll miss him but just who killed him – and why? As more people are poisoned and incriminating evidence planted, can this duo identify the killer and bring them to justice?

This is such a fun read with great characters, plenty of suspects to confuse you, red herrings to distract you and a touch of romance to sweeten it all. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Agatha Christie and Vivian Conroy mysteries also set in this era.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

This mystery didn't quite capture my attention. I figured out what happened right away. The villain was super obvious to anyone paying attention to who was where when. The motive, however, was a shock. I was surprised when Ellie didn't figure it out sooner. What I loved about this book is the charming Christmas celebration activities. I'm not sure about a fun run in 1920 but maybe? The internet says they started much later- in the 1970s and 80s. I also really loved the character development over the series and learning more about Uncle Byron and Clifford's secret past. I am not crazy about love triangles and I hope this one doesn't go on too long.

I have truly grown to know and love Ellie as the series has progressed. She's grown up a lot and come into her own. At first she had a chip on her shoulder and wanted to be anywhere except at the Manor. She was angry, fearful and ready to run but when she discovered a murder, she was persistent. Now Ellie has a home and a family she loves. She's endeared herself to many of the villagers in the area by her kindhearted and open approach to being lady of the manor. She's managed to understand their needs and institute some much needed reforms. What is really touching is Ellie's relationship with Clifford. He's more than a servant and more than a friend. Really, Clifford is a stand-in for the uncle she lost before she got to know him. Clifford sees Ellie as his to protect, picking up where her uncle left off, but I believe their relationship has grown in his heart as well and she's like a niece to him and not just someone to protect on behalf of her uncle. Clifford seems to care for Ellie for her own sake. I love his wry sense of humor and his devotion to Ellie's uncle. Ellie and Polly also have a special relationship. I love how Ellie educates the girl subtly, helping Polly grow in confidence. What happens to Polly here is terrible. It's obvious she's very young and not too bright. Ellie knows this and is sympathetic. She's willing to stand up for her friend. Trotters and Butters are charming but I get them confused. Hands-down, my very most favorite character is Gladstone! I kept squealing "He's SO CUUTTTEEE!!!!" throughout this whole novel. Yes he's naughty, but he's a spoiled dog. I like the naughty ones the best. Gladstone is more animated and shows more personality than he has ever before. I just want to sit next to him and rub his belly while he snores!

Mr. Canning is a curmudgeon, he's mean, nasty, selfish and doesn't give a care about anyone or what anyone else thinks. His actions in the past have been horrendous, yet he didn't deserve to be murdered. He's not quite a two-dimensional character. Something Ellie said resonated with him and made him pause to think. It also gave me an idea of what happened.

Constable Fry is a really nice man. He's kind and caring and does his job. Unlike the Inspector, he seems more open to possibilities. I also really liked Solemn Jon, the undertaker. He's just the opposite of his name and nothing bad affects him or his jolly mood. DCI Seldon is not the man for Ellie any more than Lancelot is. Seldon seems to care about her but he doesn't think outside the box, which is why she solves more murders than he does. He looks at the evidence but doesn't consider alternative solutions. He's too rigid and unbending for Ellie. Another character who appears in the story but isn't a suspect, is Mrs. Fontaine, Rev. Gaskell's housekeeper. She's hardworking and helpful. I think she seems dedicated to her employer. I think she knows more about Canning's past than she lets on though.

Main suspects include Dr. Browning, who is kind of cranky and reluctant to gossip. He has a past history with Canning that could have cost him his job. I'd say he's not the murderer. He's a doctor and he wasn't treating Mr. Canning at this point and if he was going to kill the man, why now? Rev. Gaskell, another nooo from me! Not the doctor or the reverend! I can't stand the idea of the most trusted people in the village being a murderer. Rev. Gaskell quotes from the Bible way too much for my liking. He seems kind but a bit absentminded. He isn't above losing his temper and it does seem like he could be guilty. Miss Moore, the florist, is a more likely suspect. A single mother, she's struggled her whole adult life since having her son Alvan. Her lover behaved abominably towards her and she's suffered for her actions. She has the motive and the means and was spotted around the victim at the time he would have ingested the poison. Her son Alvan is a more likely suspect. That man has a quick temper and spends a lot of time drinking. He seems kind of shady and up to something with the barmaid. Ellie's final suspect is a person unknown to her, a large, bearded man named Hubert Wraith who was seen arguing with Canning multiple times throughout the day he was killed. This man certainly could have been the murderer.

Returning characters include Lord and Lady Langham and Lancelot. I do not like Lancelot. He's still too childish for Ellie and as she notes, he doesn't understand why she was so offended by his behavior at the debate. His parents are nice but I think they wouldn't understand either. They spoil him. Their friends are also there at their New Year's party. The Dowager Countess is still nasty, Cora seems OK, Baron Ashley and his wife are sweet but the other couple are still sour. There wasn't much of them in this book. I liked seeing more of the villagers instead.

I look forward to another entry in this series. This series is perfect for Downton Abbey fans who also love cozy mysteries.

'She sighed. "Oh dash it, Clifford. It's Christmas and we're tangled in another mess."'

'Tis the season for murder. Lady Eleanor Swift is back, and her first Christmas as the lady of the manor means that she is going full festive spirit, hosting the annual Henley Hall Christmas Eve lunch for the locals, with a feast fit for royalty, drinks flowing and games for all. The only problem is, as the snow starts to fall and the men take part in the annual run, one of them only goes and drops down dead!! And, would you believe it, it looks like poisoning...

And so, once again, Ellie and her trusty butler Clifford take it upon themselves to investigate. No-one else seems particularly troubled by the demise of the much-disliked Conrad Canning, ex-merchant sailor and rumoured smuggler. His death bears a striking resemblance to the death of Ellie's uncle, and so the personal journey drives both her and Clifford on as much as anything. More poisonings occur, and soon the police make an arrest that is too close to home for our sleuths to bear. As the village is cut off by a blizzard, the race is on to unmask the culprit before it is too late.

This is just perfect Christmas reading. Lock the door, turn up the fire, grab yourself a mince pie and a stiff drink and just give in to the coziness. Look, it's not going to win the Booker, but who cares. It's a fun, breezy murder mystery that ticks all the boxes. And the added layers in this particular book in the series means that those who have followed Lady Swift from the beginning will find themselves even more emotionally involved, as she not only deals with the truth about her uncle's death, but has to face her romantic feelings for two different suitors. Throw in some social issues too and there is plenty here for everyone.

Go on, treat yourself to some escapism and a proper Christmas. I'm going to give this one 5 stars, just because it's 2020 and we all need some reason to cheer up!! Another eggnog if you please, Clifford.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)

Murder in the Snow is a fantastic cozy mystery with a Christmas theme.  I loved it!  It is my first in the Eleanor Swift series and I look forward to reading more.  The main character is smart and funny and has great chemistry with her butler Clifford.  They make a great team.  Throw in a French Bulldog sidekick and you have won me over.  The setting is perfect and the mystery is solid.  Cozy mystery fans will love this one.

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
When Christmas whimsy sees villagers tipsy
And Lady Eleanor finds a dead man in the snow.

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
With poison, skulduggery and fright
May your staff be relentlessly polite
As the snow keeps falling through the night.

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
And a locked door mystery
The man of coal has died, and he didn’t have a bride
Nor much settled domesticity.

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
And a tale told with warmth and a final twist
Lady Eleanor is back. She roots round Coalman’s shack
And finds some clues that others missed.

We’re dreading a covid Christmas
We need novels of good cheer and no bite
Get a mystery that’s cosy and light,
And spend your Christmas with Verity Bright.

Welcome to Christmas at Henley Hall! This is the 4th book in the series and the best to date. Lady Swift is once again embroiled in a murder, and this one strikes at home. The storyline is tightly knit and as always the characters are highly entertaining. Lady Swift's servants are my favorite characters, quirky as they are. With plenty of twists this very English cozy will keep you engrossed.

4th in the Lady Eleanor Swift series, this time sees Eleanor and Clifford investigating a death when a runner drops dead at Eleanor’s house after holding a dinner for the local village. At first it looks like a heart attack but evidence points to suspicious circumstances, especially when it appears the victim was rather unliked in the village.

When the local vicar falls ill from the same poison, the race is on to find the culprit before they kill anyone else.

As well as all this, there is an increased attraction between the local inspector and Eleanor and growing frustration over Lancelot.

A good easy read. If you have enjoyed previous books in the series you will enjoy this too, though for me it didn’t hold my attention as well as the previous stories.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

Favorite Quotes:

Indeed, the flames of fury do not necessarily diminish with time. Rather, time tends to feed them. Brooding over old injuries all too often leads to one result… Revenge…

I had no idea Christmas Day could be so exhausting… And I thought being a Lady of the Manor was all about languishing on chaise lounges and chiding the tradesmen!

Those eyes could melt a nun trapped in a glacier… I just meant that I can see why Canning did so well with the ladies, if all the stories are true. Not my type, but I can imagine in his day, Canning was quite the fox women would have howled at the moon over.


My Review:

I am continuing to enjoy this amusing series of historical cozy mysteries based in the early 1920s.  The new and ongoing mysteries have been intriguing and unpredictable with characters who are unfailingly compelling, likable, and quirky.  The storylines for Murder in the Snow were well-constructed and thoughtfully contrived with descriptive and wryly humorous insights and observations.  This was a holiday season tale and felt more complex than the previous books with less romance and more sleuthing with her enigmatic and curiously fascinating butler.

Eleanor Swift gives up her globetrotting adventures when she inherits Henley Hall from her late Uncle Byron. Unaccustomed to the ways of society after an an absence of 16 years, she is easing into life as lady of the manor with the help of her uncle's loyal family retainers, especially Clifford, the ageless butler, who acts like a pseudo father. Another member of the household is a spoiled canine. Gladstone or, as the butler refers to him, Master Gladstone steals the show whenever he appears.

Eleanor is nervous and excited at hosting her first Christmas party for the villagers, which includes a fun run in the grounds of the Hall. Of all the things that could go wrong, she doesn't expect the death of a competitor at the finish line to mar the day. A heart attack is the obvious cause, but Eleanor has her doubts and becomes embroiled in a murder investigation ably assisted by Clifford. With the victim not well liked in the village, everyone is a suspect, even the vicar.

I really enjoyed Murder in the Snow despite it being the fourth book in the series. The jaunty writing style of the author is as captivating as the characters themselves. Their relationships to one another are adequately explained, as is Eleanor's past, to make this a satisfying standalone. The repartee between Eleanor and Clifford is very entertaining. How they pare down the list of suspects to eventually unmask the murderer is cleverly done. To add further interest, there is a love triangle of sorts involving Eleanor, DCI Seldon and the aristocratic Langham, and the secretive nature of Uncle Byron's work. Two unresolved issues that have me eagerly awaiting book five.

Murder in the Snow is a delightful mystery, filled with endearing characters, that will keep you guessing until the end. A great Christmas whodunnit!

This series improves with each instalment and this is the best in this series.
It’s a light, festive, engrossing and highly entertaining read that made me smile and wish I could spend time in the lovely Christmas.
Ellie and Clifford are at their best and they share a lot of experiences and a shocking revelation.
The characters are quirky and well written and usual, I loved the relationship with the personnel of the mansion and how the different social classes are described.
The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns, and tightly knitted. The solution came as a surprise and I am sure there will be more to come.
I also appreciated the evolution in Ellie’s love life and cannot wait to read about a solution to the love triangle (I don’t love them to be honest).
I can’t wait to read the next instalment as I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Lady Eleanor is at her ancestral home after many years and celebrating a traditional Christmas with all the trimmings. That includes entertaining the whole village to a lunch, a run in the park, gifts for the children, card games for the ladies and plenty to eat and drink. It is meticulously planned by all the retainers at the Manor and everyone looks very much forward to the events.

No one thought that a murder could get in the way and though shushed up for the day so that everyone could have a good time, investigations have to start and suspects galore abound as the victim was an extremely unpopular man. The suspects start out with the timid parlour maid and then go on to Mrs. Trotman a more unlikely suspect who is anyway taken in by the local Police for questioning. It is upto Lady Eleanor and Clifford her faithful butler to take matters into their own hands and try to get to the bottom of this mystery.

Very much English, very old school  this was a lovely read and I thouroughly enjoyed it. 

I will be looking out for more books from this author.

This is my first exposure to the series. I don’t often read books I’d class as cosy mystery but this sounded like a good read and it was. There’s something very endearing about Lady Swift and Henley Hall. I enjoyed the time spent in their company. The book is well written and engaging and held my attention from start to finish. I loved the fact the book is set at Christmas without being overly sentimental or cheesy. Who doesn’t love a good murder mystery? Lady Swift feels responsible when a man dies practically on her doorstep during the Christmas lunch and race which the whole village have been invited to and is determined to find out exactly what happened. I might check out other books in the series because I really enjoyed this.

A fun mystery with an entertaining plot and fun characters. I haven't read any of others in the series, but I plan to after enjoying this one. The series seems to have a lot of fans, and I can see why. Keep up the good work Ms Bright.

Thanks very much for the review copy!!

4.5 stars

This is the fourth book in the Lady Eleanor Swift mystery series by Verity Bright.

It is Christmas and Lady Eleanor is very generous with her staff which doesn’t seem to be the norm with others of her ilk. And that is just a sad fact of the times.

During a fun run, one of the participants ends up dying. And Lady Eleanor is immediately on the case with her loyal driver Clifford who is always a hoot to watch. That guy just makes these books sing!

As I said in my last review for book three, I was looking for some falling in love time in this book and it just didn’t happen. I had been told by another reader that this would turn the page away from Lady Eleanor and toward Eleanor and our favorite detective inspector. But I just didn’t find that to be the case. Seldon does get pulled into her case but not to the extent I was hoping for.

Loved so much about this book. If you like historical cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

This was such a delightful read. Pure escapism! It is the first time I have read any of the Lady Eleanor Swift mysteries and I enjoyed every moment of it, so much that I was sad to see it end.

The writing sparkles and had me chuckling away whilst trying to work out who the dastardly murderer was. Set at the very beginning of what will become the roaring 20’s, Lady Eleanor Swift is Lady of the Manor (or should I say Henley Hall) since inheriting after her beloved uncles death earlier in the year. This is her first Christmas as hostess but she has the full support of her wonderful staff to help make sure that everything runs like clockwork. And everything is going swimmingly until a man dies during the fun run. The man in question just happens to be one of the least liked men in the community and it soon become obvious to Eleanor that his death is rather suspicious – now she just needs to convince the local police. Just like that Christmas is turned on it’s head as Eleanor and her rather brilliant butler, Clifford throw themselves into investigating the murder but can they solve the mystery before someone else dies?

This was jolly good fun and a highly enjoyable read. A perfect cosy crime novel to curl up with any time but especially at Christmas time.

My thanks must go to Sarah Hardy for inviting me to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with a review copy via Netgalley. I look forward to reading more from Verity Bright.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of "Murder in the Snow" by Verity Bright. This was the 4th book in the Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series. 

Once again Verity Bright has written a wonderful story with our favourite characters: Lady Eleanor Swift, Clifford - the Butler, Mrs Butters - the housekeeper, Mrs Trotman - the cook, Polly - the maid and the most important character in the series Master Gladstone - the elderly bulldog, who steals every paragraph that he appears in. 

This story is set during the Christmas holidays - Christmas Eve until New Year's Eve. Master Gladstone is quite excited and is stealing holiday decorations and burying them. The household is preparing for the Villager's Christmas Eve Lunch. A tradition started by Lady Swift's Uncle Byron Henley from whom she inherited Henley Hall less than a year ago. 

Of course, Lady Swift once again ends up in the middle of a murder mystery when Conrad Canning manages to collapse and die during the "fun run" at Henley Hall during the Luncheon. Clifford believes that he was poisoned, even though DCI Seldon doesn't agree with him. Clifford shares with Lady Swift that he feels that His Lordship died of a deliberate overdose of digitalis. Together they set off to solve the murder when the police don't appear interested. They have a short list of suspects with clear motives to harm Canning. Canning tried to have Doctor Browning struck off the medical register because he was convinced that he killed his mother. Miss Moore and her son Alvan who were abandoned by Canning. The Reverend Gaskell was enraged by the way Canning treated his parishioner Miss Moore. Later they add Hubert Wraith to the list after learning that he had a row with Canning. 

When the Reverend Gaskell and his housekeeper Mrs Fontaine are also poisoned in a similar manner, they are convinced that they are on the right track. Along the way several members of her staff are arrested by DCI Seldon. Convinced of their innocence Lady Swift once again places herself in harm's way to prove that they would not have tried to poison anyone. 

There is of course, a visit to the Fenwick-Langham Manor where Lancelot once again acts as the annoying clown at the Christmas Day Lunch. 

Clifford and Lady Swift will have another adventure in their future as they learned that someone had ordered her Uncle's death. Looking forward to their further adventures in the near future!

Lady Eleanor and her butler Clifford is back with another mystery to solve. Murder in the Snow is the fourth book in Verity Bright's Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series. As I've only read book 3 in the series, you can enjoy this Christmas story without having read the previous books.

I was particularly tired this past week as I tried to read this book and that may have played a role in my level of enjoyment of the story. I felt that it was missing some of the fun from the previous novel I read, A Witness to Murder (read my review). It felt a bit more plot heavy and that I didn't really get to see the character's personality as much.

The Christmas lunch at the Langdham's estate livened up the story by injecting some much needed levity to this holiday cozy mystery. I adore Harold. 

I enjoyed the mystery. A tradesman collapses during the fun run at Henley Hall's annual village Christmas party. Before help can arrive, the man dies. He had a bad heart, he shouldn't have ran in the race, claims the local doctor. It's isn't just the doctor who lacks any kind words for the deceased. But who hated him so much to poison him? That is what Lady Swift is determined to discover. In the process, she might learn more about her own late uncle.

As there are plenty of suspects, I was kept guessing as to who the killer was and why he was killed right up to the very end. 

There's plenty of Christmas festivities - from the village party at Henley Hall on Christmas Eve day, Christmas morning at the vicarage with friends, a lavish Christmas lunch at the Langdham's (I think it was a 10-course meal!), Boxing Day breakfast in pajama's at Henley Hall with Eleanor's staff, and then a New Year's Eve party. Even with all the party's, it was a massive snowstorm that made me ready for Christmas (though it is unlikely I will see snow for Christmas). 

Overall, Murder in the Snow is a solid entry in the series. I'm sure those who have followed the series from the beginning will love spending the holidays with this cast of characters and those just looking for a fun Christmasy story will equally find it enjoyable.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Monday, November 23 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2020/11/murder-in-snow-by-verity-bright-review.html (link will be live at 11:20 am EDT)