I thought the story was clever, the characters were great and the whole thing was a really good read. There is so much going on that there has to be a book 2 very soon so we can find out what happens next.

Glamourous, classy and so much fun!!
All right confession time; I haven't read this author's books before this, so when I had the opportunity to discover a brand new to me, author, plus start a series from book one (which that in itself is a rarity) I couldn't wait to get stuck in and I am so pleased that I did I thoroughly enjoyed this book!!
It's a very easy book to read, the mystery is intriguing and engaging, I was hooked with the story it had red herrings and twists which kept me glued, It makes me think of Agatha Christie's Tommy and Tuppence mysteries, you sort of know where the story is going but then makes surprise turns.
A good old-fashioned whodunnit and I look forward to reading more from the Lady Eleanor Swift Mysteries.

There are a few books I like in the Eleanor Swift mysteries. However, this did not appeal to me. It was not until halfway that the murder occurred. Therefore, this novel seemed to drag, and I would have liked it if it was shorter. I did find Eleanor to be a fun spunky heroine! I recommend this for fans of Rhys Bowen, Tessa Arlen, and Kerry Greenwood!

I have always been intrigued by cosy mysteries. When I saw "Move over Miss Marple, there’s a new sleuth in town!" in the blurb, I was really excited. This was super fun!
Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy!

The opening salvo in a fun and hugely underrated historical mystery series.

It’s odd to go back and read this book for the first time having already read what comes after it in the series. It’s clear that Eleanor and company have been a delight from the start, though the series has only gotten better as it has progressed. The later books are funnier, more ambitious, and incorporate more history, though the first book too is a delight to read.

Eleanor and Clifford enthrall the reader from the start, and as has been the case in each book of the series, the mystery is well-constructed, well-paced, and thoroughly enjoyable to solve alongside Ellie and the gang.

And of course, every moment spent with the incomparable Gladstone is sheer delight.

It's been ages since I last read a cozy mystery and I'm glad to have found this new series. It took me a while to get into the story as I found the start slow and had to get used to the setting and time period as well. But once I get the hang of it, I breezed through the pages. Eleanor and Clifford, plus some others, are such delightful characters and I can't wait to follow more of their adventures. The mystery of who's the culprit isn't that hard to guess, though, but it is still an enjoyable sleuthing from Eleonor and Clifford. Will dive in immediately on to the next book!

A very stylish "Whodunnit."

What's a woman to do when she witnesses a crime....whose evidence seems to disappear into thin air? Solve it herself!

Dive into this period mystery with a very fun leading lady.

I was drawn to this because it reminded me of "Miss Fisher's murder mysteries". Unfortunately for me, it was a bit too close in vibe and didn't stand out on its own.

A very good start to a new mystery series. I enjoyed Eleanor swift and found the mystery intriguing and it kept me guessing I can't wait to read more.

Globe-trotting Lady Eleanor Swift reluctantly returns to England to assume a title, an estate, and an inheritance she isn't sure she wants. Returning to Chipstone unearths memories she would rather not confront, and in her restlessness, she decides on an evening stroll. Unfortunately, said stroll turns into a sprint through a torrential downfall and witnessing a murder. Only, when she summons the police and returns to the scene, there is no body to be found. Frustrated that the police don't take her word, Eleanor sets off on her own investigation.

I really wanted to like this book - the Miss Fisher mini-genre is one of my most reliable comfort reads - but I really struggled to get through this one. The biggest hurdle was that I just found Eleanor a very difficult character to enjoy. I found her rude and condescending, and while we are told that she is responding to provocations, I didn't feel the writing adequately conveyed the level of insult she was presumably reacting to. I think I would have been more sympathetic to her (justifiable) frustration with the inequality of time if she had seemed equally attentive to the predicament of those in service and without her wealth.

I did enjoy some of the side characters and flourishes (I'll never say no to a trusty dog sidekick), so would consider picking up the next book in this series to see if it finds its footing, but I didn't much enjoy this installment.

Thanks very much to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC.

A really good historical, cosy style murder mystery in the vein of Agatha Christie. The heroine is fun and a great character. This mystery Is great for readers who enjoy a whodunnit with flair, written in a fun and enjoyable style, and not not full of nasty and bloodthirsty scenes. More a mystery drama with a adventurous tone, that is witty and is set in a more glamorous era. I loved it.

This is a lively historical cosy mystery and makes a promising start to a series.
Lady Eleanor makes for a breezy, independent heroine, but I have to say I prefer her two sidekicks - Gladstone the dog and Clifford the butler. Lady E just seems a bit too forced at times for me and she's certainly mouthy!.
She encounters interesting characters and a perplexing mystery that's certainly entertaining and fun to read once it gets going. As the first in the series there's groundwork to lay which is a little cumbersome at the outset.
So slightly mixed feelings from this reviewer! A decent enough story but nothing exceptional, and if I'm honest I'm a little disappointed, especially given who the publisher is.

Terrific beginning of a new series cozy mystery historical fiction. Blended together.zA wonderful read for me read in one sitting.Very enjoyable Highky recommend,#netgalley #bookouture

I received a reviewer copy of A Very English Murder (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Book 1) by Verity Bright from Bookouture from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Lady Eleanor Swift is a world traveler desperate for a home and has now inherited an estate with the passing of her estranged uncle. However, she's not quite the high society woman and feels torn about being considered a Lady. Feeling alone, she takes a late night walk and witnesses a murder in the quarry. She tries to report it but by the time the police arrive there's no body! With no one taking her seriously, Lady Swift is forced to solve the murder.

What I Loved: I liked the character of Clifford (the butler) and the dog Gladstone who was a delight. I also ended up liking the resolution of the mystery, while I predicted parts, some aspects were surprising to me something I appreciate it.

What I didn’t like so much: Guys, I didn't like the main character and was so disappointed. I am a huge fan of Miss. Fisher's Murder Mysteries (on TV, haven't read the books yet) and I thought Eleanor Swift was supposed to be like Miss. Fisher, a real feminist and ahead of her time. But that's not who Lady Swift was, though it was who the author wants her to be, most of Lady Swift's personality is told to the reader but when she speaks she reads like a lady of society more than the free spirit the author tells us she is.

Who Should Read It: People who love British country side and cozy mysteries.

General Summary: A lady of society must solve a murder when no one believes her.

Eleanor Swift has suddenly become Lady Eleanor Swift after the death of her uncle. She has not only inherited a title, but a large countryside manor too. When Eleanor witnesses, what she believes to be, a murder she is instantly dismissed by the local authorities. However with her butler by her side they become the perfect sleuthing duo.

This reminded me very much of The Phryne Fisher Mystery series, which I love. Give me a female heroine, and set the book in the 1920’s and I’m right there!

I love cozy mysteries and I love historical fiction - so this is a great marriage of the two! Lady Eleanor's character is wonderfully anti-establishment, and a fun character to read.

I loved this cosy historical murder mystery. It's well written, the characters are spot on, and it kept me guessing. Read in one sitting. I'll be looking out for the next in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It's book 1 in the Lady Eleanor Swift series and I've already got book 2, Death at the Dance on my TBR stack. Eleanor returns to her Uncle's estate that she inherited because she was bored and tired of her life of travel. The staff is the same as when she was a young girl and returned from boarding school. Set in 1920's England you get a glimpse of the class differences. When she is out walking with Gladstone, her Uncle's dog she witnesses a murder but police can find no body and think she is confused. A good story with wonderful characters. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

So, I’m an Agatha Christie fanatic, and when I hear that a new book is being compared to her works, I get a little bristly. I’m always intrigued yet suspicious, and I’m usually disappointed. Not this time. In fact, I think comparing this novel to a Christie novel might be unfair. Sure, with the character of Eleanor Swift, readers are given an amateur female sleuth in the vein of Miss Marple, but Ellie is her own woman. She is a unique addition to the category of female literary “detectives.” She doesn’t just show up to save the day; she brings her own brand of intelligence, world-weariness, competency, and humor.

The story is a simple one: Eleanor inherits her uncle’s estate and bad things are afoot. However, Verity Bright transforms this basic plot into something fresh and new. It has an unforgettable cast of supporting characters and a jaunty plot that will keep those pages a-turning. It even offers a healthy dash of feminism just to spice things up: “She didn’t claim to be the first, as she was following in the wake of her heroines: the few brave female trailblazers who had dared to defy conventions and the odds and stand toe to toe with their more famous male counterparts. But still, doing it as a woman was doubly hard.” Plus, there’s even a dog to round out this book’s charm!!

Overall, A Very English Murder is witty, suspenseful, atmospheric, twisty, tremendously delightful, buckets of fun, and even a bit romantic, and I highly recommend it.

Bravo, Verity Bright!!

I’m a big fan of classic British murder mysteries, and of historical murder mysteries, so I was happy to get a chance to read this “modern” version of a classic British murder mystery, A Very English Murder.

Although written today, A Very English Murder is set in the time between the Wars, and has lots of details that seem appropriate for the period, such as when Ellie buys a bicycle to ride around Chipstone, and then has to deal (with the help of the bicycle shop) with how to keep her skirts away from the wheels. Or the early open-cockpit airplane, which necessitates the wearing of goggles by the pilot. I enjoyed these details a lot.
I also liked the plot, even though I was pretty sure I had guessed who-dunnit quite a while before the end. But the story was amusing and kept me reading, just to find out if I had figured it out or not.

The only downside I found was that the writing could have been a little sharper – a bit more editing might have helped. But, there weren’t big grammar mistakes or anything, just a little lack of crispness, and I was perfectly happy reading it for the story and for the historical elements.

I’m giving it four stars, and am interested enough to look forward to the next title in the series, coming out soon. Please keep in mind that for me, four stars is a pretty good rating. I try to avoid star-flation, and keep five stars for a very very few books that I like enough that I imagine I will read and re-read and re-read them – maybe one in twenty or thirty books that I read. Again, my thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, who provided me with the review copy, in exchange for my honest review.