Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of <i>Skelton's Guide to Domestic Poisons</i> in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

<h4 style="margin-top: 84px;">The Gist</h4>

Set in 1930s England, the novel follows the exploits of barrister Arthur Skelton, who is drawn into a perplexing case involving suspected poisoning. When Harriet Bugler is accused of murdering her husband, Skelton takes on the challenge of defending her. The story unfolds with a series of twists and turns as Skelton navigates the complexities of the case, uncovering hidden secrets and confronting a range of eccentric characters.

<h4>The Details</h4>

Stafford's characters are richly drawn and memorable. Arthur Skelton, with his sharp mind and dry wit, makes for a compelling protagonist. His interactions with his quirky legal team add depth and humor to the narrative. Harriet Bugler, the accused, is portrayed with a blend of vulnerability and resilience, making her plight engaging and sympathetic.

Stafford's writing is both clever and engaging. He masterfully balances the darker elements of the story with humor, creating a tone that is reminiscent of classic British mysteries. The dialogue is sharp and often laced with irony, reflecting the period's sensibilities. Stafford's attention to historical detail enriches the setting, immersing readers in the world of 1930s England.

The novel explores themes of justice, truth, and societal norms. It delves into the intricacies of the legal system and the moral ambiguities faced by those seeking to uncover the truth. The theme of domestic life and its hidden dangers is central to the story, providing a backdrop for examining the characters' motives and actions. Additionally, the book touches on issues of class and gender, reflecting the social dynamics of the time.

<h4>The Verdict</h4>

Overall, <i>Skelton's Guide to Domestic Poisons</i> is a delightful start to the Arthur Skelton series, offering a well-crafted mystery that is both thought-provoking and entertaining. David Stafford's ability to blend humor with suspense sets this novel apart, making it a standout in the genre. Fans of historical mysteries and legal dramas will find much to enjoy in this engaging tale.

I truly enjoyed this book. It was interesting, unique and quirky. The blurb doesn't exactly sell the book correctly but I guess it doesn't matter.

The writing in this is phenomenal. It’s moving and so funny
The plot is so good.
A fantastic read

Apologies for the extraordinarily delayed feedback; technicaldifficultiesand unexpectedlife circumstances intervened.

This tale was fun and witty; it reminded me of a 20th century rendition of Sherlock Holmes. If you enjoy historical mysteries, gloomy weather, and a good cup of tea then this should be right up your alley.

An amusing mystery set just after the First World War, starring an absent-minded barrister who rose to national fame almost by accident by getting his client acquitted with the simple use of a few common sense questions. When a second high-profile case involves him, Skelton, in addition to his common sense, deploys some unconventional means, such as a pair of sympathetic cousins suffering from religious mania and, even, his own jealousy towards his wife, a free and unconventional woman. As I said, a very entertaining book, which, under the guise of solving a case of murder by poisoning, argues convincingly about the condition of women, against war and the intrigues of certain politicians.

Typical spin on a Sherlock Holmes esque novel.

Nothing really stood out to me but it was a good book to read on a cold day and take in the scenery that was getting described

My thanks to Allison & Busby for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Skelton’s Guide to Domestic Poisons’ by David Stafford. It was originally published in September 2020. My apologies for the late feedback.

This is the first in a series of legal mysteries set in late 1920s London. Its lead is Arthur Skelton, a fairly unremarkable barrister who has recently been propelled to front-page fame after winning an important case.

In January 1929 another high profile case comes his way. Mary Dutton has been accused of murdering her abusive husband with poison. Even though there are people who are questioning her guilt, the case is considered unwinnable. Yet Skelton takes it anyway.

There is also a political aspect to the case as a general election is on the horizon and politicians on both sides are keen to secure the support of the army of women poised to cast their inaugural votes. This leads to further pressure on Skelton to uncover the truth. He is assisted in his investigation by his clerk, Edgar Hobbs.

Following the narrative David Stafford writes about how he came to create Arthur Skelton and reveals that he is based on a real life barrister, who had been highly celebrated in his day.

Overall, I found this an entertaining, well plotted historical mystery that was rich in period detail and contained plenty of dry humour.

Book 3 in the series is due to be published soon and I plan to read the second in the series before then.

'Skelton's Guide to Domestic Poisons' by David Stafford is a fun who-done-it that mixes witty humor with Victorian pomp. Enjoyable read.

Typical cozy mystery, Skelton's Guide to Domestic Poisons was an enjoyable read interesting plot and great characters

Another delightful installment in the Skelton series. A classic whodunnit that leaves you guessing until the end. I look forward to reading the next adventure!

This was a good story, the plot was fun and it was clearly well researched. As a historic novel it nailed everything from the snacks to the slang of the era which I thought was delightful. It also had a lovely feminist element to it which I appreciated. I loved the main character's wife and the way she viewed the world. However I will admit that the book was slow going and a bit plodding. It felt a bit cerebral for a murder mystery.

Enjoying the fame that a recent courtroom win has brought him, previously unremarkable barrister Arthur Skelton is on something of a high when he agrees to defend Mary Dutton, a woman accused of poisoning her husband. Although the police and general public are convinced of Mary’s guilt, Skelton determines that she might just be innocent, possibly influenced by the fact that she resembles a famous Hollywood starlet of whom he is a fan. While Skelton and his loyal clerk face an apparently unwinnable case, the rest of Great Britain is facing the most momentous political change in decades: women over the age of twenty-one now have the right to vote. For a murder mystery that initially appears rather dark and hopeless, there is actually plenty of humour in Skelton’s Guide to Domestic Poisons. The characters are engaging and their actions, discussions and motivations ring true for the period. David Stafford has done a great job of recreating the hopes and concerns of the late 1920s and weaving in an intriguing murder mystery.

Thanks to the publishers, author and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book an absolutely delightful read. it read a bit like a Noel Coward play, Each sentence seems to have a hidden gem. I would love to see it performed somewhere - actors would have a blast as these characters. The story is woven intricately - it's not all about any one thing. Arthur Skelton, a celebrated barrister (off the back of one high profile case) is hired to defend a woman accused of murdering her husband,

Politicians & activists all have something to say about how to defend the woman. There's small town secrets and small-minded people complicated matters and some wonderful correspondence from Arthur's cousin who becomes an unwitting undercover operative of sorts.

Don't read this expecting to find out who the killer is. Read it because the conversation and the characters are rich in detail and utterly captivating.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I loved this book the plot kept me entertained and I liked the way the characters were written.

David Stafford’s Skelton’s Guide to Domestic Poisons is what you get when you cross a Golden-Age mystery with P. G. Wodehouse, which would be high praise indeed if not for caveats.

Set in a 1929 England ignorant of the economic cataclysm to come, Stafford’s mystery centres on a loveable, of-working-class-stock barrister and his efforts to exonerate Mary Dutton, accused of poisoning her abusive husband; the novel’s blurb offers some further details:

Before propelled to front-page fame by winning the case of the century, Arthur Skelton was a fairly unremarkable barrister. Now, he is enjoying the attention that being dubbed a hero by the press brings – namely practising his distinguished pose and his autograph – much to the amusement of his wife.

But January 1929 brings another high-profile case. Mary Dutton is accused of murdering her husband, although there are few people who dispute her guilt. The case is considered unwinnable; however, despite the odds, Skelton agrees to defend her – a decision that has absolutely nothing to do with her resemblance to a beautiful Hollywood actress …

With an army of flappers set to cast their inaugural votes in the looming general election, both sides of the political divide are keen to secure their support by turning the case to their advantage and begin to lean on Skelton. Aided by his trusty clerk Edgar, Skelton faces mounting pressure to find the truth. But will that be enough to save a young woman’s life?

Stafford’s quasi-comic, quasi-tragic mystery may be divided into disparate parts: the marvelously comic characterization and dubious mystery.

Arthur Skelton is adorable; his wife, Mila, hilariously, sharply forthright. (He is sooo in love with Mila that I resented the blurb’s suggestion Arthur is susceptible to Mary’s Lillian-Gish looks.) We are introduced to them as Mila ruffles through newspaper articles lauding Arthur:

‘Look at this one. You’re posing,’ she’d said, brandishing the News of the World.

‘I am not posing.’

‘You’ve got your distinguished face on.’

‘Is it my fault if my face, in repose, can sometimes appear distinguished?’ It wouldn’t have been so bad if he hadn’t been so conspicuous, but he was six foot three, with a face like a horse and round glasses with lenses so thick that his eyes filled them like moons. And he had a limp.

Arthur is of that wonderful ilk of detective: bumbling, a tad slow, and yet, he figures out how to save his client, win his case, bring justice every time. There is an endearing quality to Arthur’s naïveté (but his intelligence and persistence should not be underestimated). Arthur’s research into the case that made him famous represents his lovable “innocence” and Stafford’s ability to reduce me to snorting guffaws: “Although he was a thirty-six-year-old married man with two children, the witness statements frequently alluded to sexual practices of which he was entirely ignorant. His Latin — fello, lingua and so on — led him to make some educated guesses, but French — never his strong subject at school — led him to translate Maitresse de la Douleur as ‘Our Lady of the Sorrows’, a misapprehension that was thankfully cleared up before the trial began.”

The great comic strength of Stafford’s novel lies in Arthur’s partners-in-solving-cases, wife Mila and clerk, as well as his clerk Edgar Hobbes, Jeeves to Arthur’s Bertie. One of the most adorable moments of Arthur and Mila’s relationship is Arthur’s memory of their courtship: ” … she criticized the Labour Party’s policy on conscription while he ate chocolate creams. They took bus rides out to Holcombe Moor and up Worsley Woods. Eventually they held hands and went in for a bit of kissing. Neither of them was very good at that sort of thing but they’d always muddled through, well enough to have two children, anyway. ‘Are there any biscuits?’ Skelton said. ‘No.’ Mila disapproved of biscuits.” She also disapproves of singing (which made me love her forever and finger-cross we see more Mila in Stafford’s next Skelton’s Guides mystery): “There was a Girl Guide troop attached to the Lambourn Academy. Mila had been camping with them once and had been impressed by the girls’ resourcefulness, but, as an atheist republican, she was put off by the amount of God and King involved. Also, the singing. ‘They sang,’ she had complained, ‘endlessly and incomprehensibly.’ ” As someone who has endured many girls school choirs sounding like about-to-be-garotted cats, Mila is my girl. (Mila is so smart, she’s actually the one who finds the solution to Arthur’s Mary Dutton case!)

To Mila, add a Girl Guide leader named Rose who wants to be a solicitor, Arthur’s revival-circuit cousins who sleuth for him on the side, Edgar with his head out of vehicles to prevent car-sickness, and the funniest encounter with a recalcitrant horse I’ve ever read and you have the makings of a great comic novel. What of the caveats you opened with, you’re thinking. Amidst all my hilarity was a horrifying awareness of the seriousness surrounding Mary Dutton’s case: domestic abuse, family tragedy, the still-felt ravages of the Great War. Underlying Skelton’s Guide is a sense all is not right with the world and the way it treats women. In the ambiance and characterization of Stafford’s wonderful “people”, the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-anticipating Edgar; intrepid Girl Guide leader, Rose; Valkyrie-like Mila; foolishly bumbling, hearts-in-the-right-place cousins, I found a keeper of a mystery series, reminiscent of McCall Smith’s gentle, loving No 1 Ladies Detective Agency, except McCall Smith’s characters and atmosphere are matched with equally gentle “crimes”. In Stafford’s novel, the awfulness of the Mary Dutton revelations were dissonant given the Bertie-Wooster, Nick-and-Nora vibes of his main characters. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading Arthur and Mila, Edgar, Rose, and the world Stafford created and I want to know how they solve their next case. With Miss Austen, we would agree Skelton’s Guide to Domestic Poisons offers “real comfort,” Emma.

David Stafford’s Skelton’s Guide to Domestic Poisons was published by Allison and Busby. It was released in September 2020 and may be found at your preferred vendor. I received an e-galley from Allison and Busby via Netgalley.

An absolutely delightful book. Made me think, pay attention and even laugh at times. So different it really made a change . Definitely recommend.

*Many thanks to David Stafford, Allison&Busby, and NetGalley for arc in exchange fo rmy honest review.*
A mystery written in the style of good old classics which focus on characters and plot development rather than disturbing details of crime. Set in the 1920s, the book gives the feel of the time, especially the importance of women's voices in different aspects of social and political spheres. Witty, with some dose of humour, the book leads us through seemingly impossible task to prove one woman not guilty of murdering her husband. I read both Skelton's Guides books and looking forward to book three.

I was originally intrigued by the synopsis, but this proved to be difficult to me to work my way through. I found the writing too meandering and struggled to turn pages.

Again, I don't think this book is a bad one, as much as I think this book just doesn't suit my taste. Which is not the fault of the author or the book in any way. I recently realized that I am not so interested in ya fantasy anymore and I have been rediscovering my love for mystery thrillers and finding new genres to fall in love with. From the synopsis, I thought that this book could be right on my ally, but unfortunately it was not the case.

Loved, loved, loved this book!
It’s light hearted, fun to read and well written.
Excellent storytelling and character development, well researched and vivi historical background
I can’t wait to read the next book in this series
Highly recommended
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this arc, all opinions are mine