I received a copy of this title from the publisher; all thoughts expressed are my own. A Death in Venice finds Lady Eleanor, Clifford, and the ladies of her staff on holiday in Venice during Carnivale. Eleanor and Clifford are touring Venice via a gondola when Eleanor views a murder! Soon, she finds herself in a race to prove that the death was murder and not an accident, decipher a motive for the death, and prevent further deaths. Add into that mix, the murder victim is a member of one of two leading Venice families who have a history of feuding even though there has been a fragile truce in place for several years. Venice features as a character in the book and the author does a good job of giving the reader the feeling of being in Venice. The mystery in this one is enjoyable as always and the change in setting provides a breath of freshness. I am looking forward to many more titles in the series.

The latest in Verity Bright’s Lady Eleanor Swift series, A Death in Venice, has our heroine outside the UK again. (No prizes for guessing where, given the title!) The setting works well, as the Italians understand the concept of a Baroness, which happens to be one of Ellie’s titles. That means the narrative takes place within an ordered and hierarchical society, just like the novels in the series that are set in the UK.

As always, there is a death – in Chapter Three this time – and Ellie decides to investigate when it is obvious that the police regard it as an open and shut case. On page two, a character states “Everyone wears a mask in this city whether it is carnival time or not.” As the plot unfolds, we see the truth of that statement and start to wonder whether the people that Ellie befriends are genuinely friendly or just acting. I thought the ambiguity was handled very well and we identify with Ellie’s uncertainty and discomfort about how to behave with people and how much she can trust them.

It would not be unreasonable to describe the series as somewhat formulaic: someone dies when Ellie is around; the official police investigation yields little or nothing; Ellie feels the murderer may get away with it and decides to investigate; she and her butler, Clifford, uncover the murderer while being in a fair amount of jeopardy; Ellie’s female staff provide a comic counterpoint to the action. This novel is the seventeenth in the series, yet I still enjoyed it. The dialogue is pitch-perfect and there is enough tension to keep me interested throughout. I really resented having to put the book down before finishing it – Bright’s books are of a length and pace that makes it feasible to read in one long sitting.

I dislike the adjective “cosy” when applied to murder mysteries because murder is not a cosy act. In real life, it is brutal, cruel and devastating for the family left behind. However, I recognise the convention that a novel like this shows a well-ordered, peaceful, fictional situation where society is structured; and the existing order is understood and acknowledged by everyone, whether they agree with it or not. The crime (nearly always murder) upsets that harmony and sows antagonism, jeopardising friendships and threatening anarchy. The heroine acts as detective, unmasking the anarchist; and restoring harmony and friendships. Order is restored and everyone settles back to the old ways. Verity Bright’s books exemplify this “cosy” convention and are a joy to read, if that is the type of book you want. There are many occasions where escapism like that precisely suits my mood – and Verity Bright is one of the first authors I turn to, with this novel being perfect.

#ADeathinVenice #NetGalley.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read "A Death in Venice" in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the 17th book in the wonderful Lady Eleanor Swift series and the stories just get better and better. This is a complex case of two families who are descendants of a long-standing feud that is threatening to erupt again, unless Ellie and Clifford help.

Ellie, Clifford, Master Gladstone, Master Tomkins, Mrs. Butters, Mrs. Trotman, Lizzie and Polly are all in Venice on a holiday but readers know that a Lady Swift holiday is never complete without danger and dead bodies. It all starts with Ellie bumping into a young lady in the crowd and after her purse spills Ellie finds a glass heart that she's unable to return because the young lady has disappeared.

While in a gondola Ellie and Clifford witness an argument and then a speeding barge throws the two men together and one of them falls overboard into the canal. This could be the beginning of a centuries old feud between the Vendelini's and the Marcello's reigniting. Benetto Vendelini was a government official on the Venice Council and he was pushing for progress which was not popular. Was that the reason he was killed or the feud?

Ellie feels that someone is always watching her from the shadows - a man with close-cropped hark hair. Ellie is invited to a ball at Contessa Contarini's home. The gondolier that was arrested is related to her. Everyone is related to one side or the other, with a few exceptions. One really fun character is Casper Theodore Allegro Fitzmorton Kipling or simply Kip. He's in Venice emulating Lord Byron.

Catarina - the young lady who owned the heart - wants to marry Leonardo but they are from opposite families in this feud and someone is trying to stop their marriage.

Ellie's room is broken into and searched, as always she puts herself in danger to help others. The story concludes with a thrilling race to get stolen figurines back to the families and what promises to be a very happy ending.

As always I'm looking forward to seeing where Ellie and her staff end up next for another one of their exciting adventures.

Lady Eleanor Swift has been holidaying in Italy with her butler, staff and pets. Finally, after a month, they have arrived in Venice. Eleanor is entranced by the spellbinding architecture and historic canals but the trip takes a disturbing turn when she and Clifford witness a fatal attack as they enjoy a gondola ride.

Finding themselves being drawn into an investigation they want no part of, in a city they don't know, Eleanor and Clifford find their every move being closely followed or anticipated. When Eleanor discovers that a recent theft could be linked to the death at the canal as well as threatening a city wide truce relating to long held family traditions she knows she has to call on all her experience to prevent the unthinkable happening.

Book 18 in this wonderful series takes the Swift household into the heart of Venetian aristocracy where she mixes sightseeing, shopping, and socialising at the highest level with murder! Unfortunately, although I love the Lady Swift books this one just didn't do it for me. There was far too much description and unnecessary scenes including a stereotypical Romeo and Juliet romance which I don't think added to the investigation or the secondary storyline but realise these could well be the reason other readers love it. I will be on the lookout for book 19, as this is still a must read series for me.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Bookouture, but the opinions expressed are my own. As part of a great series I'm glad I read it but it probably won't stay long in the memory.

Another fun read in the series. This one has Eleanor heading to Venice with her trusty butler, her dog and her household staff. Enjoyed this one, with a side Romeo and Juliet story line between two feuding families. Must admit to getting confused at times on who is who, but this was minor. Good read and one I would highly recommend. Sadly very little with her fiance Hugh is this one, but otherwise a good read.

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!

Stunning views across the Grand Canal and a hotel suite fit for royalty… Lady Eleanor Swift is having a jolly good time on her Italian vacation, until a gondola ride is cut murderously short!
A rattling good tale with twists and turns aplenty. If you enjoy a well plotted murder procedural with realistic characters and thrills galore then this is for you!