It’s winter 1921 and Lady Eleanor Swift has been invited to spend Christmas in Scotland, at her frIend’s, Baron and Baroness Ashley’s castle. She is happy to accept the invite and even more happy to have Gladstone, her bulldog, along for the fun. The snow is falling and the guests are gathered by the fire enjoying each other’s company. But what was a fun evening quickly turned into an unexpected holiday when Mr. Eugene Randall is found dead. Soon the Baron is arrested, and Baroness Ashley begs Lady Eleanor to investigate and find out who the killer is. Lady Eleanor is determined to find out who the real killer is and while she is questioning the guests, someone else is found dead, from a fall from a balcony. This is not the Christmas holiday she expected, but with two murders to solve, she can’t relax until she finds the real culprit. This Christmas cozy mystery is such a wonderful story. Lady Eleanor is a favorite of mine and this series is a definite must read. I loved this story so much, it had me completely engrossed from the very first page. This magical Christmas mystery will have you flying through the pages. An absolutely amazing addition to this series….loved it.

Thank you Verity Bright for another wonderful, and enjoyable who-dun-it story. I totally love reading Lady Eleanor Swift and her sleuthing adventures. I loved everything about this book. A definite must read cozy mystery. I highly recommend this book.

“Christmas at the castle with holly, handmade gifts, snowflakes and… is that a body under the tree? Someone call Lady Swift!”



Bravo! This ‘Golden Age’ mystery series just keeps getting better and better!

This has to be Lady Eleanor Swift’s most dangerous case yet. It is certainly the most complex, both in relation to her complicated deducements when trying to narrow down her rather vast array of suspects, but also for her own personal emotional wellbeing, when a story from the past evokes long-forgotten childhood memories. This may also be the case with the most satisfying personal outcome for Ellie, but you’ll need to take the reading journey to decide that for yourself, my lips are sealed!

Being invited as Christmas and New Year guests to a remote island castle, in the middle of a Scottish loch, might sound idyllic, however for Ellie and her butler/guardian/confidante, Clifford, what should have been a relaxing break, has turned into a mammoth operation. Baron Clarence Ashley and the Baroness Wilhelmina, hosts of the seasonal festivities, have been abandoned by most of their devoutly religious Presbyterian staff, who do not celebrate Christmas. As Ellie is a personal friend of the Baron and his wife, the only solution is for her to save the day, by packing up all of the Henley Hall ladies, lock, stock and barrel and taking them with her on the day long journey to reach the castle.

What else could possibly go wrong?… Well!… The weather turns very inclement. The remaining Scottish staff contingent turn positively mutinous and deliberately try to sabotage Christmas. The other guests are a rather morose and argumentative bunch, at odds both with each other and their hosts. To top it all not one, but two dead bodies turn up, and the Baron is arrested for murder. And after helping to solve so many previous murder cases, with scant regard for her own safety and often risking her life in the process, Ellie finds that the sands of time may have finally run out for her and the one she holds so dear to her heart!

This is very much a three dimensional story, which whilst being strongly driven by plot and character, also has the added quality of allowing me to form a genuine sense of time and place, which both beguiles and entices Ellie, yet which might also prove to be her final nemesis. One of the Baron’s guests remembers Ellie’s mother, a lady far ahead of the times and protocols, who died together with her father when she was just a child. He tells the story as they journey to one of the remotest parts of the island, from where they can see in the distance the exact location of one of her mother’s most brave and skilful acts. Later Ellie persuades Clifford to take to her on a perilous journey, so that she can see the site close up for herself, and whilst there the myths and legends surrounding the deed overtake Ellie’s senses, like nothing has phased her before. How much is imagination and how much the overwhelming longing to have her mother back in her life? To Ellie it all seems so real and the entire episode adds another complex layer to this most assured and compelling storyline.

Duplicitous dealings are afoot at the castle, with money, as it so often is, being at the root of all evil and you could ‘cut the atmosphere with a knife’, so tense and claustrophobic it is, when the guests all meet together. The well structured plot moves the action non-stop and seamlessly, thanks to some concise chapters which keep things focussed and fluid, but that doesn’t stop Ellie getting on the wrong side of the local constabulary, who want nothing more than a speedy resolution to the case, without interference from amateur detectives, which riles Ellie no end, especially when there seems to be some ‘greasing of palms’ going on too! Like all organised women, especially one who is so progressive, unconventional and far ahead of the times, Ellie makes copious lists regarding her suspects, their potential motives and their possible modus operandi. These lists are amended and updated with alarming frequency, although as alibis are established and the number of suspects decreases, Ellie feels the full wrath of a miscreant who doesn’t want to face the music and feels vindicated in their reasons for retribution and revenge. Ellie also has a delightful habit of talking to herself, only silently and in her mind. These wonderful speech bubble thought bombs, if laid together, would make a lovely little mini story by themselves, albeit the much more honest and uncensored version! Twists and red herrings liberally sprinkled the storyline and took me off at a tangent several times, so when Clifford takes it upon himself to call in the ‘real detectives’, in the shape of Detective Inspector Hugh Seldon, I was almost as pleased as Ellie herself, who has had something of a lukewarm relationship with Hugh for some time now, which she would quite like to take to the next level, if only she could get him to open up and confide in her.

I am so addicted to this entire, authentic and vibrant cast of Henley Hall characters, I just know that I shall be quite sad when this series eventually comes to an end, which I hope won’t be for some time yet! So wonderfully well drawn and developed are they, the synergy between them and their individual personalities bring the words on the pages to life, so that for the time I am reading, I can immerse myself in their world, even to sitting down with Ellie and Clifford, often ‘below stairs’ in the kitchen, as they try to fathom the whys and wherefores of their latest investigation, whilst devouring copious amounts of Mrs Trotman’s delicious cooking and baking. Although unlike Ellie, I’m sure my figure would suffer after all those wonderful meals and in-between snacks she manages to pile away. She really does have a bottomless pit for a stomach, more like your average teenager than a supposedly refined adult member of the aristocracy, although not having been born into the title and having hitherto led a completely different, independent lifestyle, ‘Lady of the manor’ and the decorum that standing in society demands, still doesn’t sit well with her. Let’s face it, everyone needs a Clifford in their lives. Someone who knows exactly what you are going to say, long before you have even had the thought; who goes into every situation prepared for all eventualities and outcomes; who is never off duty and will always be there for you, even though you may not know you need him; that one person who will devote his existence to your well-being, prepared to lay his own life down for you, to fulfil a man’s dying wish that he take care of his niece.

Every self-respecting amateur sleuth also needs the extra help of the four-legged canine variety and Eleanor is no exception, although Gladstone is usually more of a hindrance than a help, as rousing himself is something he does rarely – and then only when there is the offer of food as recompense for all his efforts. On this occasion, Gladstone is even more conspicuous by his absence, as he is too busy keeping himself warm by the kitchen range, sporting his new Christmas jumper and getting fed plenty of titbits by the Henley Hall ladies!

Lose yourself in this amazing series!

I love Christmas books and when one of my favorite cozy mystery series does one it's like a double helping of fun. Death on a Winter's Day is book 8 in Verity Bright's Lady Swift Mysteries series.

Set in 1920s England, this series makes me think of Downton Abbey (or maybe it is just because I recently saw the trailer for the new movie). Lady Eleanor Swift is a bit like Lady Mary - independent and headstrong. Though Eleanor is much nicer than Lady Mary.

I have read most of the books in this series, but it won't be a problem if you want to start with this new book. I love the whole cast of characters. The downstairs ladies weren't in the last book so it was great to see them in this book. Of course, the festivities of the holidays make them even more merry.

Even though in Scotland where Lady Swift is holidaying with friends doesn't actually celebrate Christmas (it is seen as too pagan for the Presbyterian Church of the time). Baroness Ashley is determined to have a proper Christmas in their remote Scottish castle. It's so remote that the only way to access it is by rowboat. Unfortunately, their staff will have nothing to do with the holiday - after meeting a few of them though it might not be such an unfortunate turn of events. This leads Eleanor to ask her staff to come with her to provide staff at the castle.

Arriving on Christmas Eve isn't too promising for the holiday ahead. Baron Ashley has a huge fight with another guest - a man he is trying to convince to invest in his Scottish ski resort. Tensions between the other guests are much better. And dinner isn't almost inedible - it seems that the Ashleys' cook decided to stay after all and is doing everything she can to ruin the festivities. The evening starts looking better when the guests start a rousing game of Wink Murder. But then the lights go out and when they come on again one guest isn't pretending to be dead. Ellie has found herself in the middle of another murder mystery.

I guess with them being in Scotland, the story isn't too Christmasy - it's much more of a winter story as the title implies. So if you aren't one for Christmas books, I think you will still enjoy this one. Yet, there is a little Christmas magic between Hugh and Ellie. I won't say anymore so as not to spoil it for those who have been following the series for a while.

Death on a Winter's Day is a fun cozy mystery. After having read quite a bit of nonfiction this month, I really enjoyed this light read. I totally lost myself in the story. There are plenty of suspects in this book. Figuring out what motive each had is as much a mystery as who the killer is. It will definitely keep you guessing.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Nov. 25 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2021/11/death-on-winters-day-by-verity-bright.html

My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Death on a Winter’s Day’ by Verity Bright in exchange for an honest review.

This is the eighth in the Lady Eleanor Swift series of historical cosy mysteries set in the early 1920s.

I was delighted to have a new Lady Eleanor mystery to settle down with on a winter afternoon. I complemented my reading with its unabridged audiobook, narrated by Karen Cass.

Winter, 1921. Lady Eleanor Swift has been invited to spend Christmas in Scotland at the castle of her friends Baron and Baroness Ashley. She is accompanied by her loyal butler Clifford along with Gladstone the bulldog. Of course, it wouldn’t be complete without a murder though I won’t reveal the victim’s identity or manner of death in order to avoid spoilers.

Castle Ranburgh is located on an island in the middle of the enormous Loch Vale. It is a sea loch with waters that are treacherous to navigate and a local legend of a monster. With winter storms raging and no way to leave the island apart from a tiny row boat, it’s a perfect setting for a locked castle mystery. There are various guests and staff in residence, so there are plenty of suspects. Naturally Lady Eleanor draws upon her sleuthing skills to assist the local police in identifying whodunnit.

Aside from the murder mystery, there were some really delightful folkloric touches to the story and a gripping climax that had me on the edge of my seat, hardly daring to read on.

I am a huge fan of this series and eagerly await the publication of each new mystery. It continues to delight. Verity Bright always provides details of Lady Eleanor’s wardrobe and the mouthwatering dishes served by Henley Hall’s cook Mrs. Trotman.

Such attention to detail is important to me and allows me to fully engage with the story. Here descriptions of the unpalatable first night’s dinner at Castle Ranburgh effectively demonstrated how the family’s cook was using food as a silent protest as she believes celebrating Christmas is sinful.

So, while upstairs there is whisky and murder, downstairs there is a staff war as Lady Eleanor has brought members of her staff to help her friends throw a lavish Christmas celebration.

This is a novel and a series that I highly recommend for lovers of historical cosies.

4.5 Stars
Winter, 1921 & Lady Eleanor Swift has been invited to spend Christmas at Ranburgh Castle in Scotland, by her dear friends Clarence & Wilhelmina, Baron and Baroness Ashley. Following a crackly telephone conversation all of Ellie’s staff are needed to save to day as the Ashleys' staff have left on mass or so Ellie believes. There's a mix of guests, the Laird & his son, the local doctor, cousins of Clarence & Mr Eugene Randall the third. Things are tense between the guests but during a game of wink murder the lights suddenly fail & when they come back on Mr Eugene Randall is found stabbed. The killer must be in the castle… and when Clarence is arrested, Mina begs Eleanor to investigate. Determined not to let her friend down, Eleanor sets about questioning the remaining partygoers. Then someone else dies.
This is the eighth book in the series & it could easily be read on its own. I’ve loved the whole series & this is a lovely seasonal addition. Once again Ellie is intrepid whilst being added by the ever faithful Clifford & High arrives to help also. There are plenty of red herrings & twists & turns before the villain is revealed. Ellie also discovers more about her parents as well as Scottish folklore & her nursing skills are needed when the killer tries to take another life. I love how we are gradually finding out more about Ellie’s past & I love the relationship with Hugh A well written engrossing cosy mystery, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I had two unanswered questions what was in the satchel & how does the Rolls get back to Henley Hall?
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Death on a Winter's Day by Verity Bright is another Lady Eleanor Swift mystery starring Eleanor, herself, along with her highly effective butler, Clifford. Since Ellie grew up in very different circumstances, she has a difficult time conforming to society's rules, one of which is maintaining distance between her and her staff. That Clifford is her mentor and guardian angel there is no doubt, but she sees the others on her staff as family and doesn't hesitate to show them, despite any discomfort she may cause. In this case, she wishes them to come to Scotland with her for Christmas. Presbyterian Scotland does not celebrate Christmas and so most of the servants of her friends; Lord and Lady Ashley have left the castle in protest. Of course, they agree, only to arrive in Scotland to a most unusual situation. Downstairs, several of the servants stayed and are highly displeased with the new arrivals and ward breaks out. Upstairs, there is a variety of odd guests and s new coldness between Lord and Lad Ashley. Then, at an absolutely ghastly Christmas Eve dinner, one of the guests is killed. Of course, Eleanor and Clifford are on it.

The characters in this book are well rounded and clever. They all have their own strong points and they meld together nicely. It is a traditional English mystery, with benefits. Clifford is the quintessential butler and more: her appears to be a mind-reader as no matter what it is that is needed, her has it at hand. He saves Eleanor on a regular basis, most often from herself. Ellie is bright, and cheerful, and doesn't always think before she acts. She is highly entertaining and always a good sport. Her ersatz beau, DCI Hugh Selden, is strong and intelligent and has all the traits necessary to make him an excellent detective. The mystery is a good one, full of misdirection and confusion. Ellie has a chance to meet the "ghost" of her mother, which fill a hole she hadn't been aware was empty. All in all, it is, as always, an outstanding read.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Death on a Winter's Day by Book outré, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #bookoutre #veritybright #deathonawintersday

Christmas is canceled! Not if Lady Eleanor Swift has a say on it! Death on a winter’s day is book 8 in the Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Series and it’s still as fresh as book 1!

Lady Eleanor, Clifford and all the Henley Hall staff travel to a remote castle in Scotland to spend the holidays with some friends, but after an innocent game of Wink turns deadly with a real corpse, things will go rather unchristmassy quite fast. Will Ellie and Clifford uncover the murderer this time?

You betcha! There has come a point in this series in which I just consider the murder mystery a secondary element of the story. Once again, the real appeal of the book to me is in its characters. Ellie, Clifford, Seldon…I would gladly read pages and pages of Lady Eleanor having secret celebrations with all the members of her household. I love how they feel like a family, and it’s always a delight to spend time with them.

Ellie is as quirky and free spirited as usual and Clifford kept imparting small doses of wisdom laced with dry humor that I always find so funny.

Ellie’s personal storyline has moved forward significantly and I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for her in future installments. I’m curious to see if this new situation will affect somehow her relationship with Clifford.

It’s always nice to see these characters out of Henley Hall. I’ve never been to Scotland but after reading some of the descriptions and tales described here I would fly there in a moment’s time.

The mystery was good and the resolution had more action than usual and it included some ties with Ellie’s parents’ story.

Perfect story for Christmas to read beside a cozy fire and a cup of hot chocolate (with a splash of whisky. We’re in Scotland, after all!).

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC from the publisher, but all opinions are my own. Death on a Winter's day is the eighth title featuring Lady Eleanor Swift; this outing finds Ellie traveling to rural Scotland to attend a house party hosted by the Ashley's over the holidays. When informed that the couple 8s having issues with their staff, her loyal servants agree to accompany her and assist during the party. In addition to Ellie, the party includes the Laird (a neighbor of the Ashley's), his grown son, the local doctor, a drunken American business man Mr Randall, and Baron Ashley's cousins the Fortesques.

When the unlikable Mr Randall is stabbed to death during a game of wink murder, Eleanor and her devoted butler Clifford find themselves in a race to unmask the killer to clear an innocent man an prevent the murderer from striking again. I thought the mystery was well done and the characters as engaging as always. There was progress on the personal front with Ellie and a special someone that series readers will appreciate. I'm curious what role the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Ellie's parents may lay in upcoming titles (if any) given the increased mentions of them in the last few titles. I'll definitely be reading the next book in the series.

Christmas is cancelled!! Or so Lady Eleanor Swift is told by Baron and Baroness Ashley when their plans to host friends at their Scottish castle for Christmas are scuttled by their Scottish staff. Thinking quickly, Eleanor drafts her own staff to step in. After arrival, Eleanor discovers that not only are three of the Ashley's Scottish servants still there, and pretty pissed off about the Christmas festivities, but the Ashley's guests are not particularly happy with the Ashleys either. After a game of the bizarre "wink murder", one of the guests, with connections to the Baron Ashley's business hopes, ends up dead.
Eleanor has some experience poking her nose into other people's business when murder is involved (this is her eighth outing), and between her and her immensely talented butler, Clifford, they ask uncomfortable questions, with more murders and revelations occurring.

Eleanor Swift has a lot of pluck and spunk. Her unconventional upbringing and experience leaves her fitting in better with her staff than her social equals. In fact, one of the best scenes in this fun and light mystery has her partying Christmas night in the kitchen with her tipsy staff. There's so much joy and humour and respect amongst the bunch, things that are missing amongst the gentry guests, where people are losing it on each other, and pretty much all the clues point to the Baron as the culprit. Eleanor, or course, feels obligated to keep pushing to find the truth.

This was light and the mystery was pretty easy to figure out, but the story was still enjoyable. The one little thing that did detract from my enjoyment was the way the author showed us Eleanor's thoughts; her constant use of a diminutive of her name actually had me irritated the longer I read. Other than that, a fun mystery, and Clifford is the best!

Thank you to Netgalley and to Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my review.

An enjoyable if somewhat predictable read. The characters could have been more fully developed but all in all entertaining

The 8th in this series of Lady Eleanor Swift mysteries takes place in a chilly Scottish castle over the holidays. An ill-suited, sometimes ill-tempered assortment of guests has gathered for the feast and some non-genial verbal sparring when all the lights go out. There's rustling and shuffling and great consternation until they come back on, Et voila! A body very obviously murdered.

All too soon a gale blows up, trapping everyone in the best 'isolated manor' tradition and we're off to the races, in this case a spirited competition between Team A (Lady Eleanor and her butler) and Team B (the Scottish police). The motives pile up and alibis evaporate until, in a dashing confrontation with a dangerous enemy on a storm-wracked night, All Is Revealed.

This book hovers around 1920-21 Britain going by the clothing & technology but I couldn't date it any nearer by the text. If words like 'upgrade' and 'partying' are going to interfere with your enjoyment, this isn't the book for you. Likewise, if you're a fashion history purist who shudders at the thought of a Society hostess wearing her departed mother's old favourite evening gown without so much as a minor alternation to bring it within spitting distance of the long straight lines of a 1920s cut, spare yourself. If you're not a stickler for the classist etiquette of the era, you'll do just fine with this wintry Scottish crime.

The winter of 1921, in Scotland, in a drafty old castle, was freezing! Lady Eleanor Swift, her butler Clifford and Gladstone the dog, plus all the Henley Hall staff travelled to spend Christmas with Baron and Baroness Ashley, Clarence and Wilhelmina. There were other guests as well, but the atmosphere was almost a chilly as it was outside the castle. One of the guests, a disagreeable American, who continued to imbibe heavily was suddenly found dead at the dining table. But the local police weren’t particularly interested and when Baron Ashley was arrested, the Baroness begged Eleanor to find the real killer.

When another body was discovered in the freezing snow, Eleanor and Clifford knew they had a race on their hands. Could they find the evildoer who was obviously in the castle with them all, before he murdered again? Was this the worst Christmas Ellie had ever known?

Oh I do love this series! Death on a Winter’s Day is the 8th in A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series by Verity Bright, and I thoroughly enjoy the interactions between Ellie and Clifford as well as the staff. I’d very much like to visit Henley Hall to meet them all, even the slobbery Gladstone! Such a fun series with plenty of laugh out loud moments. Highly recommended.

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

Lady Eleanor Swift heads up to Scotland with all of her staff. She received an invitation from her friends, Baron and Baroness Ashley to spend Christmas with them at their recently purchased Scottish castle. When she arrives on Christmas Eve, it appears that Eleanor is not the only guest: she meets a pompous American Eugene Randall the Third, and overhears him arguing with the host, Clarence Ashley. She also meets Clarence’s cousin Lady Fortesque and her husband Sir Edward. Both of them appear judgemental and think they are better than everyone else, including Eleanor.

The Ashleys invited some locals to Christmas Eve dinner, too: Robert Cameron, Laird of Dunburgh and his son Gordon, as well as Doctor Connell. During dinner Eleanor finds the local guests pleasant, apart from Gordon, who sneers at the Christmas tradition.

As the night progresses, Eugene gets more and more drunk, and becomes unbearable. To lighten the mood, one of the guests suggests a game of wink murder.

During the game, the lights temporarily go out. When power is restored, the guests uncover than Eugene has been fatally stabbed in the back. The police are called in and each of the guests is questioned. Eleanor finds the Inspector Lockhart disengaged and single minded.

She and Clifford, her butler, begin an investigation of their own. It soon appears that Clifford is a man of knowledge and invaluable to their case. Then, a second body is found… Eleanor and Clifford are convinced that the killer is one of the guests. Who is it? Will they be able to uncover the perpetrator?

I really enjoyed this book. I found Eleanor quirky and independent, a woman of vision who was ahead of her time. I loved the relationship she had with all of her staff, she treated them like people and didn’t look down on them. My favourite character was Clifford, his stoicism and wisdom stood out throughout this book.

This is a perfect Christmas read, so curl up with your favourite drink and get cosy. If you fancy a ‘whodunnit’ in a cold and draughty Scottish castle, then this book is definitely for you.

This is the eighth book in the Eleanor Swift Mystery series and it is Clever, Clever, Clever. Full of wit, snappy dialog, and the familiar characters of Lady Swift’s entourage make this a fun frolic in a Scottish castle over the Christmas Holidays of 1921. But wait, it is not all roaring fires, glad tidings with old friends, a tipple of this and that, glorious sumptuous meals. The castle staff is in revolt, the guests who are of the Presbyterian faith are grim, the relatives of the hosts are nasty and vocal and there is a MURDER. Lady Eleanor is implored by her hosts with solving it and unmasking the evil person(s) responsible. Oh fun, off they go, Lady Swift and her unflappable Butler Clifford, back and forth across a frothing and dangerous loch, fortifying herself with a “glug of bubbles” to do battle with a nincompoop police inspector.

There are so many small details that pull this very canny and entertaining mystery together. I admit to missing many as I put away my discerning, critical nature as I got lost in the story. Upon rereading portions I realized just how perfectly and tightly the whole plot was woven.

The author is a husband-and-wife writing team. I can almost see and hear them bantering back and forth, getting the dialog and quips just right. The Historical Notes were very informative especially the explanation and incorporation of the Scottish Presbyterian beliefs regarding the celebration of Christmas.

Well written, entertaining and completely enjoyable - Thank you NetGalley and Bookoutre for a copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of "Death on a Winter's Day" in exchange for my honest review.

A new Lady Eleanor Swift book is always a cause for celebration. This was our 8th visit with Ellie and her staff. Clifford - her butler, Mrs. Butters - her housekeeper, Mrs. Trotman - cook extraordinaire, Polly - her maid and my favourite character, as always - Master Gladstone - the bulldog.

This time Ellie and her staff have travelled to Scotland to help her friends Lord & Lady Ashley at Castle Ranburgh after a bad phone line conversation had Ellie thinking they needed help. Christmas at this point in time was not celebrated in Scotland and their staff have all left the castle expect for a footman, a cranky cook and a young maid. An interesting group of people have gathered at the Castle to celebrate this forbidden holiday. And if Ellie is there, then there is sure to be a murder or two. The police seem to have little or no interest in investigating what happened at the Castle so Clifford brings in DCI Seldon (Hugh) to help them out.

While the entire book was exciting the last few chapters were thrilling and suspenseful. Definitely a wonderful addition to the series. Ellie also ends up with a new maid - Lizzie whom they return to Henley Hall with. We also learn a lot more about Ellie and Hugh. As always, I'm already awaiting the next installment in this brilliant series.

It's 1921, and Ellie has been invited to the Castle on a Scotland island to celebrate Christmas with her friends who own it, Baron Clarence and Baroness Wilhelmina Ashley. Of course, her butler Clifford, dog, and four members of her kitchen staff go as well. Also there are neighboring family, the Laird Robert, his son Gordon Cameran, Sir Edward and Lady Fortesque, Doctor Connell, and an American who is drunk most of the time, Mr. Randall. Christmas gets off to a bad start when the local and that from Henley Hall do not get along together. However, Clifford does the best he can to keep things going. After a lousy Christmas Eve dinner, they decide to play wink murder. Shortly into the game, the lights all go out, and when they come back, Randall is dead with a knife in his back.

When Inspector Lockhart decides that the host, Clarence, is the killer because his finger prints are on the knife (which came from his weapons room), his wife Wilhelmina asks Ellie to investigate. She is not making a lot of headway when she goes for a walk and finds a missing document, but progress seems slow. Fortunately, the local cook quits and the meals improve immensely. She calls her friend, Detective Chief Inspector Seldon at Scotland Yard and gets him to find some background information. Then, Clifford asks Seldon to come to the castle to help.

Things get pretty dicey as there appears to be another murder (although Inspector Lockhart has called it an accident. However, with a lot of danger and excitement, things are sorted out eventually, and things are warming up between Ellie and Seldon.

Bright has conjured up one of the most delightful detective duos imaginable. Her juxtaposition of opposite personalities gives the book both heart and humor. The mystery definitely plays second fiddle to the characters in her delightful light mystery novels.

This was perhaps my third or fourth adventure with this detective team and I enjoyed the holiday journey to the wilds of Scotland and the introduction of some magical Scottish folk lore. It was an entertaining book with a satisfactory resolution to the mystery.

Netgalkey provided mecwith a complimentary egalley in return for a candid review.

The Lady Eleanor Swift books are great fun for fans of period crime fiction. Although the prose doesn’t stand up to scrutiny - peppered as it is with Americanisms such as ‘gotten’, which betray the author’s nationality, and with anachronisms - it’s as comforting as a warm blanket and therefore the perfect Christmas read. This latest instalment finds Ellie and her household staff in northern Scotland for Christmas in a castle. Which may sound idyllic, however it is anything but: even before one of the other guests is stabbed to death during a parlour game. With Ellie’s friend (and Baron of the castle) under suspicion, she and her intrepid butler Clifford must investigate and save the day… and Christmas.

Christmas in a castle in Scotland sounds wonderful but ends up being quite a disaster for Lady Eleanor and her team, although I think Gladstone enjoys himself. A Christmas game called Wink ends up being more like Murder in the Dark with a real corpse.

Again the real draw of this book for me is the wonderful relationship between Eleanor and Clifford and their delightful repartee. After eight books all the characters are like friends and it is a real pleasure to spend time with them.

Further developments regarding Hugh are fun too but I hope the authors do not make him any more of a duffer than he is in this book. Ellie needs an equal partner in her relationships and at the moment he is appearing rather weak! A great book though and I am always ready for the next one!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Death on a Winter’s Day, the eighth novel to feature Lady Eleanor Swift, set in 1921.

Ellie, as she’s known, has been invited to spend Christmas at a castle in the Highlands by her friends, Baron and Baroness Ashley. It is not all plain sailing with the local staff refusing to work and Ellie’s staff filling the void and an obnoxious guest getting murdered on Christmas Eve. It’s only when Baron Ashley is arrested that she and her butler, Clifford start investigating seriously and they soon realise that there is more to the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed Death on a Winter’s Day, which is a fun read with a relatively convoluted solution. It’s not difficult to follow, simply that there is an ingenuity to who did what and why. There is also a hint of the supernatural in the tale, is this due to the romantic setting of the mystical Highlands or is it going to be a feature of the series? I hope it’s the former as I don’t have much time for it.

I had no idea of the killer’s identity or the motive. My prime suspect may have had a motive and suspicious behaviour, but it wasn’t to be. I must admit that I was surprised by the unveiling, which is clever and quite audacious in view of the previous misdirection. It turned what I thought I knew on its head too.

Throughout the novel Ellie and Clifford joust verbally and support each other in their sleuthing. Their banter makes it a fun read, especially with Clifford trying to promote a relationship between her and Chief Inspector Hugh Seldon. This takes a step forward by the end of the novel, but we readers have seen this before, so who knows?

Death on a Winter’s Day is a fun read that I have no hesitation in recommending.