BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'A Witness To Murder' by Verity Bright

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 14th September 2020

This is the first book that I have read by this author. It is the third book in the 'Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery' series.

I was originally drawn to this book by its intriguing cover and interesting sounding blurb. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue and 34 chapters which are short to medium in length so ideal to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Lady Eleanor Smith. I enjoy books written in third person as it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters.

This book is based in in the UK. I love books set in the UK as I live in Wales, UK and sometimes I have been to the places so can picture them better.

I was a bit dubious at a quick glance that I may struggle with the language used but I thought it was brilliantly written. I became completely absorbed in the storyline and enjoyed going through the suspects with Lady Eleanor.

I absolutely loved the characters, not what I was expecting at all. Fantastic personalities. Clifford's wit made me laugh and Eleanor is a fantastic character full of personality, a breathe of fresh air!!! They were all very realistic and I look forward to meeting them all again.

The storyline itself had me hooked from page one and I thought it was fun to try and work out who the killer was along with Eleanor. I never did work it out which is always a bonus when it comes to crime novels as there's nothing worse than figuring it out when your not even half way through the book!!

Overall a fun and easy to read cozy murder mystery with just the tight amount of humour that will keep you turning the pages.

Genres covered include Cozy Mystery, Murder and Crime.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as anyone looking for an easy read.

289 pages.

This book is £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I loved it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews

#AWitnessToMurder #VerityBright #Bookouture #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@VerityBright @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86

https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86

https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?ref=bookmarks

https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__tn__=%2As-R

Thank you Netgalley & Bookouture for my gifted copy of this cozy mystery!

Eleanor Swift finds herself in a bit of pickle in this charming story! When a local politician is found dead from poisoned fudge and an innocent cook is being blamed, Eleanor has no choice but to step in and solve this mystery! With Gladstone by her side, Eleanor finds herself not only plunged back into the world of solving murders, but also into the world of politics, and what a wild ride it is!
A Witness to Murder takes place in the 1920s, and is a fantastic atmospheric mystery with lovable characters and a gripping storyline.
What I loved most about this story was how strong and sure Eleanor is, and how she took on her political role with gusto. I truly love a story with a strong female protagonist, and this book didn’t disappoint at all! Plus I really love Gladstone the bulldog.
I haven’t read the first two Eleanor Swift mysteries in this series, but after reading this one I’m going to have to!
Verity Bright is a brilliant storyteller- this book is what would happen if Downton Abbey and Agatha Christie had a baby.
Fun, fast paced read with lots of charm!

A Witness to Murder is the third book in a charming A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series by Verity Bright.

In this installment Eleanor is determined to stay away from murders and live a peaceful life. However when she hears that the local politician ends up dead with his dead in a poisoned fudge and an innocent cook is blamed for it, she really has no choice but to get involved.
To make matters even more complicated she is asked to step in his shoes as a representative for a Women's League.
She will be hard pressed to find time for both endeavors and as the time is running out for the poor cook to salvage her reputation and not end up in jail, Ellie will have to use the help of her faithful butler to solve the mystery.

I have been following this series from the beginning and these books are consistently such a pleasure to read. They transport readers to some bygone times where life seemed so much simpler. At least on the surface.
Main protagonist is a charming, young lady with beautiful soul and great spirit who is almost always ahead of her time. I really like her enthusiasm for life and her generosity.
Recurring side characters are all lovely and so likeable, and a great support to the Ellie.
Mysteries are well presented and there are no hidden clues, making it easier for readers to engage in solving the mystery themselves should they choose to do so.
My opinion that she has chosen the wrong guy is especially confirmed in this book as Lancelot behaves as a court jester. Never takes anything serious, everything is just fun and games for him, and even though he means well and wants to help, he usually creates even more problems. I really hope that she will transfer her attention to another side.
As I dislike politics on the whole, this book was not as engrossing for me as previous ones have been, but it is still a very good read.

With the dignified Farringtons hosting a dinner party at their Manor in the small village of Chiltern, no one expected one of the guests to pass away just as the speeches were about to start. But when the police determined the man had been murdered, and the Farrington’s cook, Mrs Pitkin, was suspected of his murder and subsequently fired from her position, Lady Eleanor Swift and her butler and fellow sleuth Clifford, knew they had to prove her innocence before she was sent to the workhouse – or worse.

As they plotted their course, and planned their method of attack, Eleanor and Clifford along with faithful bulldog Gladstone, peeled back the layers of deceit and skullduggery. And when a second person was murdered, and more evidence discovered, Eleanor knew they were on the right track. But would they discover the killer before it was too late?

A Witness to Murder is the 3rd in the A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series by Verity Bright and it was lots of fun. It was a quick read, with plenty of twists – I didn’t guess the murderer at all! An entertaining cosy mystery which I recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5
Thanks to Bookoutour and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This is number 3 in the series featuring Lady Eleanor Swift, but it's the first I had read. It worked well as a standalone.

Autumn, 1920. Lady Eleanor Swift, accidental amateur detective and retired explorer, is determined to take a break from investigating murders. So when a local politician dies suddenly at an elegant dinner party at Farrington Manor, she tries her hardest not to listen to the raft of rumours around the village that he might have been poisoned by the fudge. It’s the anniversary of the disappearance of her beloved parents and she’s promised herself not to get mixed up with any more mysteries. She isn’t sure they’d have approved.
But when she arrives home to discover that Mrs Pitkin, the kindly cook from Farrington Manor, has been dismissed without wage or reference because the police consider her a suspect, Eleanor knows she needs to act. If there was a murder, then she needs to track down the culprit and clear Mrs Pitkin’s name.
Accompanied by her faithful partner in crime, Gladstone the bulldog, who has the best nose for sniffing out bones in the country, Eleanor sets out to find the killer. And when another body turns up and she finds poisoned fudge in the victim’s house, Eleanor knows she’s on the right track.

I was excited to read this book, but it turned out to not really be for me. While the writing is energetic and engaging at times, I had trouble investing in the main character, though the mystery was fun and kept me guessing. This is a nice, enjoyable, easy read. The writing is great.

A delightful cozy mystery set in the English countryside in the 1920's. It kept my interest and I thought the writing was well done.

This is number 3 in the series featuring Lady Eleanor (Ellie) Swift but the first I had read. It worked well as a standalone-I had no trouble following along and felt enough was explained about Elle's past, and the other characters where I felt comfortable.

Ellie swears she won't get involved in another murder investigation but when the cook at a neighboring estate is dismissed without a reference because a guest has a fatal peanut allergy reaction, her staff persuade her to help look into what happened. She is ably aided by her butler Clifton.

There is also a subplot where Ellie is asked to stand for the House of Commons representing Women's rights. The MP who held that seat was the guest who died from the peanut allergy. Since many of the men who attended the dinner where the MP died, this worked well to advance the plot as they were also vying for the seat.
But Ellie is also attracted to the idea as a way of giving back to the town that took her in and in homage to her parents who always tried to help others.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley but the opinion expressed is my own.

I am really enjoying this cosy series and look forward to each book as it comes out. Thank goodness the author is writing them quickly!

In A Witness to Murder Lady Eleanor finds herself sleuthing again with the aid of her wonderful butler, Clifford. First one and then a second murder require her attention whilst at the same time she is standing for election as the local M.P. Even the redoubtable Eleanor finds herself overstretched for a time.

I love the characters in these books and the happy family Eleanor is making for herself with her staff and her delightful dog. When it comes to romance I think Lancelot will need to grow up if he wishes to compete with DCI Seldon but I may be wrong. I look forward to finding out in future books.

The third book in the Lady Eleanor Swift mystery series, this book once again features Ellie (Lady Swift) almost immediately being embroiled in a murder. The victim was poisoned by peanuts in the dessert fudge and the cook has been accused of either murder or manslaugter, depending on whether or not the peanuts were deliberate or an oversight. She is a friend of Ellie’s cook who asks Elie to help her.
In addition to the murder, Ellie gets involved in politics as a candidate for the Women’s League. While she knows little about politics, she is an avid supporter of women’s rights as well as developing concerns regarding people’s need for affordable healthcare. She uses these issues to springboard her message that she cares about the community and wants to be of service to the people.
There are some regular secondary characters who are also part of the book, most noticeably Clifton, Ellie’s butler and partner in sleuthing. Clifford. We also get glimpses of the house staff, both the cook and Polly, Ellie’s very young maid who has yet to develop an ease in the position or in herself. There is also a very brief inclusion of Lancelot, Ellie’s love interest from the previous novel as well as Detective Inspector Seldon who was briefly in the running for Ellie’s affections in a previous book but lost out to Lancelot.
The novel takes place during the 1920's and there is some flavor of the period, particularly as it relates to the general opinion of women. Ellie is an unconventional woman of the time, and yet runs into almost no resistance to her attitudes. Her staff are a combination of employees and family, as Ellie’s parents have been missing for over twenty years. The household is warm and welcoming and most readers will likely feel a desire to sit in the snug or in the kitchen and have a cup of tea or, better yet, sit with the staff and enjoy a flute of champagne at one of their celebrations. All of this is overseen by Gladstone, the bulldog that Ellie inherited along with the mansion from her wealthy uncle.
This is an exceptionally light cozy mystery and would make an excellent airplane read. It can easily be picked up and read for a paragraph or two, a page or two, or a chapter or two, without the reader losing the thread of the story. I knew, almost from the beginning, the identity of the guilty party. The book is best suited for any reader who wants to relax with a light fiction, not having any read tension or much intense activity; just an easy read featuring characters who are basically nice people.
My thanks to Bookoutour and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital read copy of this novel. This is an unbiased review that reflects entirely my own opinion.

Autumn, 1920. Lady Eleanor Swift, accidental amateur detective and retired explorer, is determined to take a break from investigating murders. So when a local politician dies suddenly at an elegant dinner party at Farrington Manor, she tries her hardest not to listen to the raft of rumours around the village saying, he might have been poisoned by the fudge. It’s the twenty years since the disappearance of her beloved parents so she’s feeling a tad emotional. But when she arrives home to discover that Mrs Pitkin, the kindly cook from Farrington Manor, has been dismissed without wage or reference because the police consider her a suspect, Eleanor knows she needs to act. If there was a murder, then she needs to track down the culprit and clear Mrs Pitkin’s name before Mrs Pitkin is thrown in the workhouse. Accompanied by her faithful partners in crime, Gladstone the bulldog, who has the best nose for sniffing out bones in the country & the ever present butler Clifford, Eleanor sets out to find the killer. Then another body turns up and she ‘s under suspicion
This is the third book featuring Ellie & it could easily be read on its own. Personally I have to read a series from the start & this series is no different & I've found that each book does reveal a bit more of Ellie’s past, there's also the love interest thread which features throughout the series & I know which way I would like that to go. Whilst this is a delightful cosy murder mystery it also does highlight the plight of women just one hundred years ago, getting across very succinctly how women were very much under the male thumb but it doesn’t labour the point. Well written with strong likeable characters & I can't wait for hopefully many more to come
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Eleanor Swift, who recently inherited her uncle's manor, finds herself intrigued by the murder of one of the candidate at the local elections - apparently killed accidentally by the chocolate and peanut fudge cooked by Mrs Pitkin, the Farringons' cook, despite everyone knowing the victim was allergic to peanuts. She starts investigating to clear the cook's name, and soon finds herself involved in local elections and another murder.

It was entertaining but ultimately quite forgettable. The author tries to make the heroine likable and funny but she remains a lady who likes to "help the poor" by getting involved in their lives. Something didn't ring true in that story and I think it is the whole class thing with the heroine a kind lady who doesn't see class... but is still a wealthy lady after all. It would have been a lovely novel to read by the beach, that said, and I did finish it because I was myself intrigued by the plot.

Lady Eleanor is finally becoming somewhat comfortable as the lady of the manor. Then,. the local MP is poisoned by fudge! She's sure that the cook, who has been fired, didn't put the nuts in the fudge but who did? It might have been an accident so Elle decides to sit back for a bit but then poisoned fudge kills another person! No spoilers from me as to who that might be. The charm of this series - and don't worry if you haven't read the earlier ones- is that Elle works with her household staff, most notably her butler Clifford, to solve crime. Set between the Wars, this is a fun look at changing attitudes toward not only women (Elle's working to get women the vote) but also those in service. And it's a fun read. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.

The third novel in this historical murder mystery series sees Eleanor, Clifford and, of course, bulldog Gladstone take on politics while solving the murder of a local Member of Parliament.

As usual, amateur detective Lady Eleanor finds herself with several suspects and motives. With the help of trusty butler Clifford, Eleanor soon finds that not everything is as it seems in the world of politics...

Think cozy, Agatha Christie elements, English country estates, 1920s setting -- I can think of so many mystery readers who are going to love this book, as I did. It is actually the third in a series, but I was able to jump right in without missing anything. Now I'd like to go back and start at the beginning. Great read!

Another delightful tale in the Lady Eleanor Swift series, which is set in the 1920’s. Lady Eleanor and butler Clifford are super amateur sleuths and in this story they are looking to solve the murders of two local gentlemen, one poisoned by peanuts and one bludgeoned to death with a sporting trophy.
Lady Eleanor is also looking to stand at the local elections for the women’s rights party amongst the sleuthing and her in again off again romance with Lancelot seems to have cooled from the last two novels. Could there be romance with the policeman she can now count as a friend? Maybe this will be resolved in book 4.
An excellent cozy mystery with great writing and a fabulous plot.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

A most enjoyable lead character. Lady Swift is savvy but the culture of the time means that she is underestimated my many. She is definitely a woman of the world who has recently inherited her position, her home and oodles of cash.

I love how she is so grounded and connected with her staff and the local village, despite her short history with them. Her boyfriend,by contrast,takes nothing seriously. He is old school and quite irritating so I am hoping this lady will not put up with Lancelot for much longer but rather find romance elsewhere.

The intriguing cozy mystery runs in parallel with Elle entering into the world of politics. An interesting twist which gives insight into the role of women and the political landscape at that time.

Sadly I wasn't taken by the outcome. I soon realised it was highly unlikely to be one of the high profile characters and found myself questioning the credibility of the motivation of the murderer when all is finally revealed.

It was an enjoyable read and can definitely stand alone without the need to have read the previous books in the series.

With thanks to #NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for my free advanced reader copy to review in exchange for an honest opinion.

Lady Eleanor (Elle Swift has proved herself quite adept when playing the role of an amateur detective. She gets that opportunity yet again when a local politician dies. Elle is an interesting character, to say the least. She is a former explorer, and now the lady of a manor. She eschews that role whenever possible. For example, it was proper to have a card when paying a call. She found that rather pretentious. Or, when it came to certain household duties, or dealing with some of the staff, she went against convention. The fact that she is now prone to find herself solving murders just makes her all that more intriguing.

When she is at a dinner party and the man dies due to an apparent allergic reaction, Elle has a strong sense that his death was no accident. Meanwhile, she cannot stop thinking about her parents, who one day simply disappeared. No, Elle wants to settle into her new life with as little fanfare as possible, but that certainly will not happens. Things become very worrisome for her when a cook is dismissed after being considered a suspect. Elle wants to clear her name, and if it indeed was murder, catch the individual responsible.

At the same time, the issue of politics comes up, and before you know it, Elle is defying convention yet again. At that time, women barely had the vote, never mind running for office, which is exactly what she decides to do. As in the first two books of the series, A Very English Murder and Death at the Dance, she is often accompanied by her dog Gladstone and her butler, Clifford. I love both of them in this series.

Of course, trying to discover the killer places Elle in precarious situations more than once, and this makes this cozy mystery all that more enjoyable. One other thing I liked about this book is that Elle has a bit of a romantic interest, and I would like to see where that goes in this series.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

This was such a fun book. It was a very fast read. And it's set in the 1920's. I love books that are set in that time period. This is the third book in the series and I haven't read any of the other books in the series, but I didn't struggle at all with it because I haven't read the others. It definitely can be read as a stand alone. Although, after reading this book, I really want to go back and read the other books in the series!

A Book in the Series of Lady Swift Solingen müderer. As it is set in the time around 1900, you can experience how Life was in that time. Easy and fun to read. I like it

I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. A Witness to Murder is the third title in the Lady Eleanor series. The book picks up several months after the events of the second book and finds Eleanor beginning to settle into her life as lady of the manor. Doing her best to avoid murders, she instead finds herself investigating the death of a local politician who died when exposed to nuts at a dinner party. Was the death the result of carelessness on the part of the cook or was the fudge with nuts planted by someone familiar with Mr. Aris's deadly allergy? Eleanor finds herself juggling the murder investigation (if it was murder) with running for office herself and continuing to advance her budding relationship with Lancelot..

As with previous titles in the series, the mystery is interesting enough to keep my interest, but I really enjoy the characters that we have gotten to known in the first two books in the series. Eleanor is endearing in her pursuit of the murder and her attempts to act as a proper lady of the manner. Clifford continues to be an enigma who we get to see tiny glimpses of what lies underneath his butler exterior. We get a glimpse into Eleanor and Lancelot's slowly developing romance and I am looking forward to continuing to watch the relationship develop. I continue to look forward to titles in this series as they provided a wonderful way to pass a few hours.

I was excited to read this book, but it turned out to not really be for me. While the writing is energetic and engaging at times, I had trouble investing in the main character and her arc, though the mystery was fun and kept me guessing.