It seemed an open and shut case. A dismembered body found in a suitcase, traces of blood on a rug in the accused's house, the wife having an affair and above all in 1929 England the accused was a foreigner, so naturally he was the main suspect. The victim was an Englishwoman!

Arthur Skelton was called in to defend the accused. Noted for his quiet and clever defences, Skelton realises very early on that Aziz is being framed by someone and the Police for convenience would prefer to convict the Egyptian than look for any other clues pointing to anyone else. Uncovering clues and a detection skill that is understated and to be admired Skelton puts together pieces of evidence, seemingly not important at all to defend Dr Aziz perfectly.

It was my first foray into David Stafford's writings and I liked it very much. A quieter pace and a very laid back style of detection.

1920s, England, the golden age of crime fiction and the lull between the wars. What more could a reader want? I loved the book. I liked everything about the story, the settings, the characters.

Skelton is a barrister, but has a limp. His assistant is super-smart but has problem with feet and is lonely. Skelton's wife wants to fly a plane but gets sick and stays in bed for weeks... They are human. They are faulty humans and because of these weaknesses they are even more human, interesting and likeable.

Second book in the series is as much a murder-mystery as it is a sort of Skelton's diary. Reader gets glimpses at Skelton's many cases, his relationship with his parents, wife, kids and help. Reader gets to sit quietly at Skelton's lunches and in his office. We get introduced to many of his colleagues..

I enjoyed this book for the 'diary' part even more than for 'whodunit'. This is not a suspense, not a fast-paced mystery. It's a quiet 'lunch in the club', comfortable, cozy and orderly.

Thanks to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for this free digital copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is available now!

Skelton’s Guide to Suitcase Murders is the second in David Stafford’s Skelton series and as always, it is hard to discuss the sequels in a series! It’s 1929 in England and barrister Arthur Skelton is back and once again is asked to defend someone who seems guilty in every way. A body has been found in a suitcase and Skelton, thanks to his instincts and some larvae discovered in the suitcase, is soon convinced that all is not what it seems.

I absolutely enjoyed this book and truly, I thought it was better than the first. In the first, it took me a bit to warm to the characters, but reading this book felt like returning to a comfortable place. The banter is GREAT. It is understated and could be easily dismissed…except it is so witty and entertaining. The characters have really come into their own and I do hope there are more books! I liked them all, but particularly enjoy Edgar and Alan. I’ve been diving into a lot of historical mysteries lately and I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of entomological evidence in this story. As far as the mystery goes, it was interesting and twisty without being too far-fetched. I don’t want to give too much away, but there are also some moments of emotional depth that help to ground this story.

I will say, I finally had to look up the difference between a barrister and a solicitor! I let myself remain confused while I read the first book but I could not continue in ignorance for this one! 🙂 Based on my not-so-extensive Google research, a solicitor primarily deals with the public, advises clients, can draft legal documents…etc. A barrister can take on and receives details of a case from a solicitor and wears the wig and robe and can argue the case in court. I’m sure there are many more specific details, but I think that’s the gist! If you know more about this than me, please share your info! 🙂

If you are feeling like a cozy British mystery filled with witty banter and a clever plot, this is for you! As usual, I will always advise to read series books in order. The first book is called Skelton’s Guide to Domestic Poisons.

This is such a fun series! I love Skelton, in all his goofy, sincere, hapless, brilliant glory... The time period is an interesting one. I love that each book is loosely based on actual events, with real people, places, and occurrences sprinkled throughout. The writing is crisp and engaging. The characters are lovely. The mysteries are unusual and interesting, and the resolutions are always arrived at through a delightful mix of mishaps, circuitry, deduction, and plain old fashioned good luck. The series is a marvel and very entertaining!

Skelton’s Guide to Suitcase Murders follows barrister Arthur Skelton and his clerk Edgar as they follow the case and prepare to defend the suspected murderer, Dr Ibrahim Aziz. Aziz is being accused of murdering his Scottish wife, Edna Aziz, yet all evidence is speculative and Skelton believes there is no way Aziz could have carried out what he is being blamed for.

This book is a very cosy read. The way it is written alongside the story is just soothing and a nice, comfortable read if you’re interested in crime or mystery and want something not too gory.

Stafford is honestly brilliant at writing dialogue. Everything felt natural but also extremely funny. The back and forth between characters (especially Skelton and Edgar) is so amusing and the little quips and characters make the book.

The plot is based on a real murder case that used one of the first instances of forensic entomology as main evidence in the case. I loved the little details about this as I love a four hour procrastination to read about forensics on Wikipedia or whatever. The world that has been built by Stafford is also really nice. There are strong family ties and I love the references that have clearly been researched to place the setting in 1929. If you love a period crime piece, or are looking for a crime book that doesn’t focus too much on gory or grisly details, this is for you.

This is the second in this new series by David Stafford. Being completely honest i enjoyed the second one far more than the first. I think perhaps i'd got to know the characters a bit more so could relax into the story quicker.
One of my favourite genres, a Historical Murder Mystery, this one set in 1929 and follows the main character Arthur Skelton, a Barrister who is to defend the murder suspect.
Another fascinating look into life in 1920's Britain, an enjoyable book throughout, and a series i will definitely be continuing with.
If you like Historial Fiction in general, this is definitely one to pick up.
Many thanks to Allison & Busby and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this.

This book put a huge smile on my face. It's the kind of book that lifts your spirits and keeps you entertained all at the same time. Based in 1929 it follows the story of a dismembered corpse found in a suitcase. Arthur Skelton (a barrister) and his assistant Edgar Hobbes begin an investigation into this grizzly discover.

Skelton and Edgar's friendship is definitely the main draw of this book. They have a deep affection and respect for each other that jumps off the page. Their humour and sharp witticisms were a joy to read and I especially loved the random chance encounter they have with Laurence Olivier over afternoon tea. The characters take centre stage in this book and as the author writes in his acknowledgements, Skelton is the real hero of the piece, however the other characters are written with just as much verve. I especially loved Mila, Skelton's wife, their relationship was so dear and I felt real affection for their funny mannerisms and familial habits.

The plot is based loosely on a true story and had me guessing to the end and even though the crime itself was dark and twisty the solving of this particular puzzle was punchy and full of sparkling humour.

If you are a fan of cosy crime, then this book should definitely be on your TBR. It captures the comradary of Poirot and Hastings mixed with the fun and humour of P.G. Wodehouse. I can't wait to see what other adventures Arthur Skelton gets up to in future stories. I've found a new favourite, that's for sure.

Thank you to @allisonandbusby and @netgalley for the arc and for inviting me on the blog tour.

Skelton's Guide to Suitcase Murders by David Stafford is an extremely humorous, very English murder mystery with the protagonist being a barrister, Arthur Skelton, who takes him job and his life very seriously and fears for injustice. He has a wife, Mila, and a couple of children, whom he loves, and a very interesting sidekick called Edgar Hobbs. Edgar is overweight, which puts stress on his genetically deformed feet, causing a great deal of pain. He thinks he needs to lose weight to help his pain, but also so her can find a wife. He sorely misses having a home. A lot happens in this story, many cases, and many personal things. Sometimes they intertwine. The main case is that of Dr Aziz, an Egyptian who had settled in England many years before. He is accused of murdering his wife, cutting her into pieces before placing her into a suitcase and depositing it into a small body of water where it was later found by three young boys. It's a conundrum. Skelton and Hobbs believe him to be innocent but have no proof. Aziz would rather hand than be returned to his family in Egypt. Pretty much everyone disagrees with both of these facts.

Arthur Skelton has a harrowing life, between all the trains he has to take, an adventurous wife, listening to Hobbs various tales of woe and attempting to defend accused criminals. He and Hobbs both have a way of viewing life, which brings a smile to the reader's face, if not outright laughter. It was a confusing mystery but with help from the oddest places attempted to solve it. I loved every minute of this witty, engaging novel. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Skelton's Guide to Suitcase Murders by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #skeltonsguidetosuitcasemurders

I am a huge fan of historical mysteries, and so I was really happy to receive an advance review copy of Skelton's Guide to Suitcase Murders, which is set in England in 1929-1930. Suitcase Murders (as I’m going to call it, because the title is too long to type all the time!) is a wonderfully witty and charming book, which I would have enjoyed just for the dry British humor (shades of PG Wodehouse), all by itself.

But it also has a really nice, almost police procedural feel to it. And I like police procedurals too, although in Suitcase Murders, we have barrister Arthur Skelton; his clerk, Edgar; and his wife, Mila, as the protagonists, rather than a squad of detectives. In fact, although the time and setting are completely different (!!!), Suitcase Murders really reminded me of some of Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct novels – the ones where there is a main case, but also several smaller cases woven in and around the main case, and as a reader, you’re never quite sure until the end whether the cases are going to end up linked together, or be resolved independently. I loved following along on those, and I loved following along on Suitcase Murders too.

As far as the story itself, the main case involves the dismembered body of a woman, found (as you can probably guess) in a suitcase. She was married to an Egyptian doctor, Dr Ibrahim Aziz, and he is quickly arrested. Tensions run high, things are confusing (is Aziz's wife really dead, and if not, why was she visiting a long-dead aunt), and issues of race and xenophobia come into play as well, but Aziz is lucky enough to have his solicitor bring in Arthur Skelton, and the plot takes off from there. And of course, there are some nice secondary cases, including the one right at the start of the book, which set the stage nicely for those of us who hadn’t read the first book in the series, and was also pretty darn funny.

All-in-all, I really liked this book, and as a bonus (!) there is a short but nice historical note hidden in the Acknowledgements at the end, talking about author David Stafford’s sources for the early field of forensics, Egyptian diplomatic incidents, early aviation, and so on. I’m a little embarrassed because I gave a five-star rating to the last book I read, and I try to fight star-flation a little bit, and not give too many five-star ratings. But I couldn’t find any way around giving Suitcase Murders five stars as well, so that is just the way it will have to be. I’m now going to go read the first book in the series, and also hope that Stafford will write more in this series as well. And my thanks to publishers Allison & Busby, and to NetGalley for the advance review copy.

Wish there were more to read as I have now finished no. 2. This is a lovely treat to settle down with a good cup of coffee. Skelton's Guides read like the classic crimes written in the 20s/early 30s. You would not know that these books are being written now. I really enjoy the partnership between Skelton and his Clerk, Edgar. They both have a role to play in solving these crimes. The flow of the plot is regularly interrupted (in a good way) by the chatty and informative letters written by Skelton's cousin, Alan. Towards the end of the book, he always manages to include some random knowledge that helps to solve the crime. Skelton, unlike other 'detectives' seems to have a decent family life. Love the inclusion of real figures like Spilsbury. Looking forward to no. 3 and hope there will be many more. Thanks to Allison & Busby and Netgalley for an early read.

My love affair with Skelton continues with yet another winner from David Stafford. Arthur Skelton stumbles headlong into another murder investigation while attempting to defend a client and he and his ubiquitous clerk Edgar inadvertently solve the case while ostensibly attempting to get onto a line of defence for their client. A bit more rough-and-tumble for our mild-mannered barrister this time, but he comes out of it with his dignity (and everything else besides) intact.

David Stafford has created some of the best fictional characters that I have ever read. Skelton, Edgar, his roving missionary cousins and now Ma and Pa Skelton are all thoroughly absorbing and extremely likeable characters of the sort that keep one reading throughout, and begging for more at the finish. The only discordant note is Skelton's wife Mila. I took against her in the first book due to her being clearly more of a modern woman than one from the 1930s, and she unfortunately grated against my nerves yet again in this book, although her illness throughout most of the book ultimately made her more of a figure for sympathy than censure.

In some respects, however, one cannot help but envy Mila as she appears to have the ideal man as a husband. Arthur Skelton has to be the kindest, most empathic and understanding man in the universe, and could there be a more poignant moment written than the one in which Mila unwraps the Christmas present Skelton agonised over choosing for her? Under the circumstances nothing could have been more perfect, and tears pricked at my eyes as I read.

One might question the scene early on in the book during which Skelton paces about in the court during a case, and is consequently labelled a 'pacer'. Not in any UK court would this be either possible or permitted, such perambulations being more a US 'thing', but one can grant the author a certain license. Nevertheless, the book successfully evokes the warm, cosy, Ovaltine comfort of England between the wars, the only jarring note being Mila Skelton's very 2021 female attitude.

These Skelton books seem to have their own unhurried style, which ordinarily would be frustratingly slow, but seems perfect for Skelton and his host of helpers. For a while it seemed as though even with the assistance of his correspondent cousins working the case from the 'foreign' end, Skelton would not prevail, then suddenly the whole thing came together from nowhere. This is mystery writing at its understated best. By all accounts it should not work, but it does and these books are a tour de force. I can see Skelton making an excellent transition to tv, but this would likely sound the death knell for these wonderfully conceived characters in a grossly mistaken bid by producers to make them appeal to the tv-watching masses.

SO this is technically part 2 of a series involving Mr. Skelton. I did not know that going into the book and was rather lost at times with references that I either didn't understand or came from the first book, I'm not sure which. However, it didn't really take away from the overall story. The story was interesting but lacked that "investigative" nature that most detective novels held. If you really like that sort of story, this would not be for you. But if you want a story you can put down and pick up periodically while not really losing your place, this might be a better fit.

Thank you to #NetGalley and publishers for the ARC of #SkeltonsGuidetoSuitcaseMurders in exchange for the review.

Another outing sees barrister Arthur Skelton diving headfirst into another adventure in this charming and enthralling slow burn escapist mystery. You can be guaranteed that every new instalment and reintroduction to our intrepid and delightfully charismatic protagonist will capture your attention from very early on and the action, drama and twists in the tale make this well-woven thriller a real treat for crime connoisseurs. Highly recommended.

Another Dose of Infectious, Delightful Dry Wit....
Beautifully drawn, character driven mystery with a Golden Age feel and the second in the Skelton’s Guides series. A dismembered corpse in a suitcase is about to give Skelton, aided by clerk Edgar, the runaround. Characters are painted with a tremendous lightness of touch and dance off the page. A cleverly drawn plot which incorporates an interesting social commentary, much atmosphere and is laced with an infectious and delightful dry wit. A first rate read.

Edna Aziz is found dismembered in a suitcase. Her husband, Ibrahim, a physician, is the prime suspect. Arthur Skelton and his clerk Edgar are hired to defend him and to find out the real culprit
while her husband declares his innocence.

Very delightful read with a Victorian feel. I like the characters and how we got to really know Arthur and his family life outside of the court while still pursuing solving the crime.

My thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to read and review.

1929, British, sly-humor, situational-humor, lawyers, family-dynamics, friendship, relationships, murder, multicultural, verbal-humor, investigation*****

I was a little slow to catch on in the beginning and wondered what I had gotten into. I was thinking that it was only a British historical murder mystery and wasn't expecting to suddenly laugh myself silly at something akin to a punch line. Rather like this one: *Life without gravy is no life at all* delivered by Skelton's wife after having been at death's door from pneumonia. Oh there's lots more, some overt and some very sly. Rather like the assortment of characters. That's not to say that the investigation undertaken to prove that despite a ton of evidence to the contrary, Dr Aziz was innocent. Loved it!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook from Allison & Busby via NetGalley. Thank you!

Arthur Skelton is back and defending the hopeless like the modern day Galahad he is. Some pesky kids find a manky suitcase in a quarry and it just happens to have a body in it. It’s a white woman married to a foreigner and they were heard arguing so obviously he done it. Case solved. Skeleton’s not convinced, there’s some hot house larvae where it shouldn’t be, how come? Skelton sets about finding out in his casually chatty way.
I love these books they are like detective novels with no real detective, Skelton, Edgar and his travelling cousins just chat to people an find stuff out. Meanwhile Skelton has a crisis of faith in the justice system, we learn about Egyptian politics, greenhouse larvae, rural poverty in Scotland, Mina comes close to death, Edgar threatens to get married to Mina’s arch rival and Laurence Olivier makes a cameo and is as much in love with Arthur as everyone else. All of that but all I really want is more of Arthur and Edgar discussing Edgar troublesome feet over tea and cake in an overly fancy tearoom.

The premise of this one intrigued me – finding a body in a suitcase with all clues pointing to the husband, but the husband is adamant he didn’t do it. However I found the execution a little bit lacking, it was an ok read but it didn’t stimulate me. It is part of a series, but you don’t have to have read the first book to read this one.

I liked the main characters Arthur and Edgar, they worked well together and there were some comedy moments. I also enjoyed the fact that this story was loosely based on a real case and that it was one of the first to involve forensic entomology as evidence – which I didn’t find out until the end.

I found the pace very slow and there were lots of other story lines going on at the same time, some seemed to have no impact on the main case and others ending up giving a tiny clue far down the line. I personally felt it just didn’t have the excitement and the urge to discover the truth that many other mysteries have.

Overall so-so, in the end the time period it was set in and the main characters were the more enjoyable aspects for me than the actual plot.

It was a pleasure to be reunited with barrister Arthur Skelton and his trusty clerk - and friend - Edgar Hobbes. I loved the scenes where Arthur and Edgar discuss the briefs that have been sent to him. By the way, if you want to discover the inspiration for the character of Arthur, check out David's blog. I should say at this point that it's not necessary to have read the first book to enjoy this second one.

Skelton's Guide to Suitcase Murders sees the return of characters from the first book, including Arthur's cousin, Alan, and his sister, Norah, who travel the country with their caravan spreading the word of God at meetings, and often gathering useful nuggets of information for Arthur's cases along the way, relayed in Alan's chatty letters.

Another returning characters is Rose Critchlow who helped Arthur with his previous case and is now working as an articled clerk in the solicitors who provide most of Arthur's work. Once again, she makes a valuable contribution, one that leads to an important discovery and provides an insight into the emerging science of forensic entomology at the same time. Amongst her other attributes, the reader learns, are superb navigational skills. 'Rose knew the way. Of course she did. Five minutes with a map and Rose would be able to take you straight to the green-eyed yellow idol to the north of Kathmandu or the lost kingdom of She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed.'

As in the first book, the reader gets an insight into Skelton's domestic life with wife, Mila, and children, Lawrence and Elizabeth. I particularly enjoyed the episode in which Arthur is entrusted with the Christmas shopping list, including purchasing gifts for the children. 'He'd been told by many people that, if you value your health and sanity, you should never venture into a toyshop at Christmas time. Climb the Matterhorn by all means, take the waters in Moscow during a cholera epidemic, but stay away from toyshops.' Does Arthur return with exactly what was specified on the list? Come on, he's a man isn't he?

Arthur's wife, Mila, is a wonderful character and definitely nothing like the She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed of John Mortimer's Rumpole series. Mila is an avid reader of the newspapers, teaches archery to local girls and has lately developed a rather grand ambition. She and Arthur have a touching relationship such that I found it hard to forgive the author for putting Arthur through the mill at a sudden turn of events.

Alongside Arthur's attempts to find the evidence needed to achieve the acquittal of his client, Doctor Ibrahim Aziz, are entertaining interludes in which the reader witnesses Arthur's court appearances in other cases in which he has been instructed. He frequently ponders on the small things can turn a case and influence a jury.

The book is also enlivened by references to real life figures such as the renowned pathologist, Sir Bernard Spilsbury. I especially enjoyed Arthur and Edgar's memorable encounter with a star of stage and screen in their favourite eating place, Kembles. By the way, it's here that Edgar, seeking to reduce his portly stature, eschews the delights of veal and ham pie for an egg salad that Arthur describes as looking like  'the sort of thing that Mr Gandhi might have eaten as a form of protest'.

Do Arthur and Edgar get to the bottom of the (suit)case? What do you think...?

Skelton's Guide to Suitcase Murders is another delightful addition to the series. I loved its combination of period detail, ingenious mystery and amiable humour, and I'm already looking forward to Arthur's next guide to dastardly deeds.

Great fun, a well plotted, amusing, historically accurate and beautifully written pastiche that brings alive a fictionalised account of a famous murder from almost a century ago and introduces an understated hero in barrister Arthur Skelton.

This is the first of what I am sure will be a long series as a new unassuming hero emerges.