Another great installment in the Lady Eleanos Swift Mysteries.

Nice to seat down with a wonderful cozy-mystery, set in the early 1900. With all the glamour and protocols of high society Loondon.
Funny and charming, with a mischievous bulldog, a proper buttler and lady way ahead of her time.

I loved it! I've read all the adventures of Lady Eleanor Swift and enjoyed all of them but I think this is my favourite yet! I love all the characters especially the relationship between Eleanor and her butler Clifford and can't wait to see more of Eleanor and Seldon in the next book(s) :-)
Only tiny thing that I liked a bit less were Eleanor's inner monologues, they often stated the obvious and didn't bring much to the story. Other than that, I loved the story, the characters, the plot, everything!

Highly recommended to fans of cosy mysteries.

Thank you to the publisher who provided me with an e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Eleanor Swift is the Guest of Honor at the 1921 Little Buckford May Fair. Her job is the start the raft race, declare the winner, the best dressed raft, and the last raft. When the whistle given her doesn't work, she does a very professional whistle with her fingers and her mouth to start the race, and then manages to get to the finish line in time to name the winner and the best dressed, but one raft doesn't come. When she goes back along the river, she finds an empty raft and then finds Solemn Jon, the town undertaker, in the reeds. The next morning, there is a nasty obituary for the undertaker, signed by his assistant, which claims that Solemn John was murdered.

Ellie and her butler, Clifford begin their detective work. Ellie calls in her London friend Detective Chief Inspector Seldon. They are becoming close, but treat each other somewhat gingerly. He decides the undertaker's death is an accident and tells her to She is invited to go for a horse ride with Rankin, another castle owner, who then tries to blackmail her into marrying him. The next day she finds out that he died of an accident shortly after she left him, and there is another vindictive obituary. Of course, Ellie knows he is murdered as well.

As Ellie and Clifford continue their investigations, they find a few more suspects and that Rankin's father was also murdered. Finally, Ellie sees an old photograph and figures out who the murderer really is. This is a fun story that keeps you guessing.

I certainly have a penchant for cozy period mysteries, having binged-watched “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries” on Netflix last year.

And I must say that Verity Bright’s “Murder at the Fair” was every bit as thrilling, and as utterly charming, as the adventures of the Fabulous Miss Phryne Fisher.

Lady Eleanor Swift is such a dynamic character, with all the poise and gumption of her crime-solving counterparts like Jessica Fletcher, with a touch of youthful rebelliousness akin to a 1920s Veronica Mars.

But my favourite part of the novel was the relationship between Eleanor and Clifford, her resolute yet subtly droll butler. Think Alfred Pennyworth meets John Cleese and you’re almost there.

Their playful banter throughout the story really was a highlight, creating an almost familial bond between the two, with Clifford standing in as a father figure for Eleanor, who lost her parents when she was very young.

This bond is especially relevant as Clifford waits for Eleanor to solve each clue, having already come to a conclusion himself. His gentle encouragement paints him as an efficient mentor.

Oh, how I wish I had a Clifford of my own.

All in all, this was a very fun read, and I will certainly be keeping up with the continued adventures of Lady Eleanor Swift.

A great addition to the swift mystery’s, would have loved more character development in some of the side characters. Still a fast and enjoyable read.

Lady Eleanor is such a fun character and her chagrin at once again being dragged into a murder that the police believe to be an accident is a great twist. Following her intuition even when it threatens her new relationship with the inspector was a difficult decision but in the end she knows she has to do it. The characters are fun and the story well written. I look forward to seeing how the romance between her and Hugh progresses. Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of #MurderattheFair.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of "Murder at the Fair" in exchange for my honest review.

This is the 6th book in the Lady Eleanor Swift series and as with the previous books, it will grab the reader from page one. The story starts on Sunday, May 1, 1921 at the Little Buckford's May Fair. Lady Eleanor Swift will be judging the Raft Race. All our favourite characters are back including, Clifford the butler who was previously butler, batman in the army and despite their difference in class, more than an employer and servant to Ellie's late Uncle Byron, they were friends. Clifford promised Uncle Byron that he would look after Ellie. Which is how Clifford and Ellie have the most marvelous adventures together.

At Henley Manor we have Mrs. Butters, the housekeeper; Mrs. Trotman, the cook and Polly, the maid - they are all deeply involved in the annual "Henley Hall Spring Clean". Of course, the best character continues to be Master Gladstone, the bulldog.

We also see a continuation of a possible romance between Ellie and Detective Inspector Hugh Seldon.

At the May Fair Raft Race, Solemn Jon doesn't finish the race. The police are quick to call it an accident but an obituary appearing the following day claims it was murder. Who would want to hurt Solemn Jon?

Ellie once again visits Langham Manor, the home of her dear friends Lord and Lady Fenwick-Langham. Ellie broke up with their son Lancelot 4 months prior at the New Year's Eve Ball. Also at the luncheon is Lord Evander Rankin. He later demands and tries to blackmail Ellie into marriage which he considers a done deal. He obviously does not know Ellie! He claims to have documents that will destroy her Uncle Byron's reputation and a family never recovers from a scandal.

As Ellie and Clifford continue to investigate the death of Solemn Jon another death that is ruled an accident happens. This is once more followed by an obituary claiming it was murder.

As in previous books Ellie's life is in danger during this investigation. One that she assured DCI Seldon she was not conducting. The next obituary to appear in the paper is Ellie's. As the suspect list grows, the pieces of the puzzle come together and Clifford and Ellie once again save the day.

These books are best read in order because they do refer back to previous adventures and stories. I'm very much looking forward to the next book in this series and I highly recommend reading all of them.

Summer Fair Tragedy....
Lady Eleanor returns for the sixth outing in this fun, cosy series. This time she is tasked with a prize giving at the local Summer fair. Needless to say nothing goes to plan and when a tragic death occurs it soon becomes clear that something is dreadfully amiss. Entertaining escapism with a likeable protagonist and a colourful cast of supporting characters. A fitting addition to the series.

If it's the beginning of May then it must be time for the Lady of the Manor to declare open the May Fair celebrations in the village of Little Buckford. Also in charge of declaring the trophy and wooden spoon winners at the end of the raft race, Lady Eleanor Swift is devastated to subsequently discover a missing participant face down in the reeds.

With the death declared an accident Ellie is surprised to read an unfavourable obituary the following day which also suggests the death was in fact murder. When she calls to offer the victim’s newly widowed wife her condolences Eleanor finds herself promising to investigate her husband’s sudden death. Ellie then finds herself clashing with her hopeful suitor Detective Chief Inspector Seldon leading to heartache all round before another death and unfortunate obituary are discovered.

As well as dealing with an investigation beset with problems, a police force with no interest in getting involved, and the threat of blackmail, Eleanor is also faced with the upheaval of her first Henley Hall spring clean. As tempers fray and clues fail to materialise Ellie and, by association, her ever loyal butler, Clifford, find themselves in mortal danger once again.

This is a brilliant series which becomes more enjoyable with each new story. The six main protagonists are such welcome participants and it is extremely satisfying to renew their acquaintance each time a further book is released. This is the sixth instalment and I had no idea what would happen or how the cases would be solved but it was all pulled together very satisfactorily in the end.

Extra scenes at the May Fair and during the annual spring clean add a realism to the storyline as well as providing background for future books. This is a series which I automatically pre-order. I have never yet been disappointed.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. To me this is a must have series for any lover of good cosy historic crime fiction.

Murder at the Fair is the latest (June 2021) Verity Bright novel featuring Lady Eleanor Swift and her wonderful butler, Clifford. It’s another page-turner with a couple of deaths (murders?). There’s a Colin Firth / Darcy moment when Detective Chief Inspector Seldon dives into the river to save Ellie’s bulldog, Gladstone, and emerges with an almost transparent shirt.

Although I enjoyed the book, that was because of the usual witty banter; the gentle romance between Ellie and Hugh Seldon; and the hunt for the killer with the usual red herrings and doubtful alibis. I found the motive for the murder(s?) to be plausible but weak but I’m willing to forgive that because the rest of the book is such fun.

Although this book could be read as a stand-alone, I still think they are much more enjoyable if read in order.

#MurderattheFair #NetGalley

This was the first Verity Bright book I have read and it was no problem at all starting with book 6 in this series.
Lady Swift, Eleanor, encounters some mysterious deaths in the small villages she has come to live in after her uncle’s death and accompanied by her butler Mr Clifford she tries to solve them.

All in all, this was an entertaining cozy mystery. I did not particularly connect with the main character but that may be because I had not read about her before. Once in a while, the other portrays Eleanor’s inner voice by printing it in italics. Somehow, this rather annoyed me but the story itself was fun enough.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Murder at the Fair, the sixth novel to feature Lady Eleanor Swift and her butler, Clifford set in Buckinghamshire in 1921.

Lady Eleanor is presiding over the village May Day fete when Solemn Jon, the undertaker, is found dead in the reeds. A tragic accident or was it? Lady Eleanor isn’t so sure when a nasty obituary is published in the local paper. She’s not getting far in her investigation, especially as she has to keep it quiet after Chief Inspector Hugh Seldon has warned her off, but a hunting accident and another nasty obituary offer her more clues.

I thoroughly enjoyed Murder at the Fair, which is a light, frothy read with a good mystery attached. It is told entirely from Lady Eleanor’s point of view, so the reader is able to get involved in her reasoning and her life. She and Clifford are a formidable duo with a nice line in humour and teasing. They never fail to bring a smile to my face.

The plot is suitably arch with murder and a few other crimes and misdemeanours thrown in for extra fun. I must admit that I had no idea of what was going on, but really liked the way Lady Eleanor and Clifford dealt with it all, with aplomb and a brass neck. There is never a dull moment in the novel as there is always something going on, whether it’s investigative or domestic.

The dynamic between the characters is fun too. The ladies, as the female staff are known, are a raucous bunch when let off the leash, especially with the home brew and Lady Eleanor has been known to join them. Clifford, the benevolent despot, turns a blind eye. The budding romance between Lady Eleanor and Chief Inspector Seldon slows down in this novel over her sleuthing and she spends an inordinate amount of time worrying about it. Man up, Ellie, you’re a modern woman with a great personality, make him do the running because you’re worth it. Just a small suggestion to the author.

Murder at the Fair is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.