Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of "A Royal Murder" in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the 9th book in the Lady Eleanor Swift series. It sees Ellie having been at Henley Hall for 2 years. Our favourite characters of Master Gladstone, Clifford and DCI Hugh Seldon are front and centre. The ladies of Henley Hall have a slightly more supporting role.

Many chapters are spent with Ellie's new friend Tiffany Persephone Fitzroy or better known as Tipsy and the consumption of Champers. Tipsy also keeps trying to plant a bug in Ellie about Hugh and how he is not the right partner for her.

The murder case is highly complicated with many characters and moving parts. There are some very enjoyable tense scenes that we come to expect from a Lady Swift adventure. There was some movement in a positive direction with the DCI and Ellie. Hopefully in coming books there will be more. They make a brilliant crime solving trio with Clifford.

This was another enjoyable Lady Eleanor Swift mystery. This time. Lady Eleanor attempts to help solve the murder of a blood relative of the king. As usual, she receives help from her butler, Clifford and her love interest. Chief Inspector, Hugh Seldon. The story is swift paced and action packed. There are some surprises, including the identity of the killer. I highly recommend this book to other cozy mystery readers.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries, this one is for you. I loved reading about the 1920’s glamour throughout the book. The plot and characters are so entertaining. Although this is the ninth book in the series, it didn’t impact my enjoyment of the book. I had my suspicions of who the culprit was quite early on, however I still enjoyed the book so much so that I read it within a day.

This is the second book I read by this author, love the power she gives to the main character especially because of gender; that's why I decided to read book 9.
Besides, being an easy read I considered it a book for all, is fun, at some point I was clueless, and it was until the end I realize how the problem was figured out

📑This ARC was granted to me through NetGalley and approved by Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I love this series and I have enjoyed each and every book!
Lady Eleanor Swift attends a regatta where the king's cousin is murdered. To avoid leaks, the chef of the royal police asks for her help to investigate.
I love the banter between Eleanor and her butler Clifford, her dog Gladstone, and the budding romance with Hugh.
It's a well-written plot with wonderful and lovable characters, an I even guessed the murderer, albeit quite late in the book. That was a nice twist I enjoyed very much.
The adventures of Lady Eleanor Swift are the highlight in my TBR and always get me out of a reading slump.

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

Another fabulous mystery romp with the infatiguable Lady Eleanor Swift and her butler are tasked with solving another murder, this time involving a minor royal.

The storyline is well written and the characters have built again and we learn more about them and their relationships.

Great story and still lots of intrigue as to whether Eleanor and the dashing detective Hugh will become a couple.

Highly recommended and thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 stars

Lady Eleanor Swift, an adventurer by heart but a reluctant aristocrat by birth, is always fun to read. She is singled out this time by a flirtatious Lady who means to teach her how to snare a rich and titled husband. Lady Swift, of course, is not an attentive student. But then a minor royal is murdered by poison at a regatta event the ladies are attending. Shortly after, the head of the royal police asks for Eleanor's help in solving the crime.

Eleanor and her inspector beau find there were many suspects with a motive, seeing as how the victim was a womanizer and gambler. Inspector Hugh is organized and logical, butler/mentor Clifford is proper and thorough, and Eleanor is compulsive and intuitive. They are an impressive trio when it comes to solving murders. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Love this series and loved this book.

In A Royal Murder Lady Eleanor makes a new friend, Tipsy Fitzroy, who seems set upon making her over into a bright young thing. They attend an event at which a royal personage is poisoned and the excitement builds from there. Delightfully there are also a few incidents which make Hugh declare himself at last. Maybe Eleanor can keep him on point from now on!

The highlight as usual is Clifford the butler who is becoming more like James Bond every minute. His dialogues with Eleanor are hilarious. He is one of the best cosy characters I have ever met. Suffice it to say I cannot wait for the next Lady Swift adventure. They make excellent reading.

A wonderful cozy mystery. It was fast-paced and I like the way the mysteries kept me wondering. I was hooked!
Thank you Netgallery

It has to be said Lady Eleanor Swift doesn't really have a busy or enviable social life! That, however, is about to change, thanks to her new friend, Lady Tiffany Persephone Fitzroy, who knows the right people to meet and the occasions to be seen at with them! For their latest adventure Tipsy, as she is universally known, is taking Eleanor to the Henley Regatta whether she wants to attend or not!

When a guest of honour, who is also a minor member of the Royal Family, dies in strange circumstances Ellie is amazed to be asked to investigate by the head of the Royal police, Sir Percival Westlake, especially as Detective Chief Inspector Seldon is already on the scene. As Ellie, and loyal butler Clifford, look closely at the young man who mixed in dubious and risky circles, it becomes increasingly apparent they are now in significant danger themselves. With the help of Hugh Seldon, who is not happy at being left on the sidelines, things become a little clearer until someone close to them is attacked and no-one is confident they will live to solve what could become their final case!

When you read your ninth book in any series a few things are obvious; you must thoroughly enjoy the author's work, the main protagonists have become as familiar as family, and each new adventure has a space waiting on your bookshelf. All three are true here, but this storyline has taken the series to another level and there is a gradually increasing amount of page-turning action and anxiety here which hasn't been present previously, but the cosy nature of the relationships isn't lost, even in the tensest of scenes.

The addition of Tipsy, and the brilliantly snooty Sir Percival, means a different side of the world of the landed gentry between the wars is explored and I enjoyed the changes bought to Ellie's, and by association Clifford's, life. There is also a domestic scene which, without spoilers, involves all the kitchen staff and is just wonderful. The final cherry on this particular cake is at the end of the story, where there is a mention of the location of Ellie's next adventure and I can't wait!

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a first class addition to the Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Series which I happily recommend unreservedly.

This was a cozy murder mystery reminiscent of Agatha Christie novels. The story is set in 1923 where amateur sleuth Lady Eleanor Swift attends a royal regatta and attempts to be turned into a proper society lady. Suddenly, the host collapses to the floor. Eleanor is asked to help investigate the mystery. She races against time to track down the killer before the guilty party figures out she has learned a key clue to solve the case. I recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, light mystery read that will keep you guessing.

I like this series. I love the butler. Hugh is great as well. I hope to see him and Eleanor work out. I like the mysteries and they keep me guessing.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of A Royal Murder, the ninth novel to feature Lady Eleanor Swift, set in the South of England in 1923.

Lady Eleanor’s new friend, Lady Tipsy Fitzroy, has inveigled her into attending the Henley Regatta as one of her first forays into high society, only it’s not the success Tipsy envisaged when Lord Zander Taylor Howard, the king’s cousin is murdered at the prize giving. Lord Percival, head of the Royal Police, asks Lady Eleanor to help him investigate discreetly and thus avoid scandal.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Royal Murder, which is a fun and frothy read with a good mystery attached as a bonus. It is told entirely from Ellie’s (as she calls herself) point of view, so the reader can speculate alongside her without any extra knowledge. I like this approach as it makes the mystery more immersive and fun. There are several suspects to investigate and, more importantly, Zander’s shenanigans to uncover, because it would appear that his life has been scandal ridden. It kept me fully occupied and I still didn’t guess.

The novel is gently humorous in its dialogue and had me chuckling most of the time. It is cleverly done with much of it centred on Ellie’s lack of decorum and her butler Clifford’s disapproval. They are one of my favourite crime fighting teams. We should not forget the supporting role of Chief Inspector Hugh Seldon as a vital source of information and object of Ellie’s affection. The glacial rate of their courtship will have them collecting their pensions before they commit, but there is another tiny step forward in this novel.

A Royal Murder is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Bookouture, in return for an honest review. While the ninth book in this series, it is easily read as a standalone. Reluctant English title and estate inheritor, Lady Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Swift, is settling into a settled life at her manor home. She’s still not convinced that she must change her outlook to fit into English upper society, particularly since it is 1923 and all the world is changing. Invited to attend the annual royal regatta at Henley by Lady ‘Tipsy’ Fitzroy, Ellie meets all manner of ‘Bright Young Things’. While of a similar age, she wants little to do with their indulgences in alcohol, drugs and hooking up.
When the prize-giving ceremony is interrupted by the collapse and death of the young, handsome cousin to the king, Ellie is conscripted by Sir. Percival, the head of the royal police, to quietly investigate. Aided by her trusty butler/bodyguard, Clifford, and her always present bulldog, Gladstone, Ellie is thrust into an investigation of which she wants no part. However, it allows her to help her favorite Detective Chief Inspector, Hugh Seldon, who’s being blocked by the head of the royal police at every turn. Scandal for the royal family must be avoided at all costs, you see. When another death occurs, is it related or just coincidental? How far is Sir Percival willing to go to hush up any unpleasant findings? How safe is Ellie from the killer or those who track the killer and may have secrets of their own?
This mystery is good for those who enjoy 1920s English cozies with intrepid heroines. The author has set conditions to explain why Ellie has more freedoms than other women of the time and milieu. There is a strong supporting cast of Clifford, the staff at Ellie’s manor house, Gladstone the dog, and, of course, DCI Seldon.

The first half of the book is rather slow. I'm too old for Bright Young People and I didn't like how Ellie was being forced into becoming something she's not. It's one thing to push outside of one's comfort zone and another to become a Bright Young Person when one is neither bright nor young. I hated the regatta scene and was confused by all the suspects when it was perfectly obvious to me which one did it. I also didn't like the romantic drama. The second half of the novel picks up considerably with lots of action, excitement and Ellie and Hugh working their way towards having a real relationship. The second half was funnier too with Gladstone helping advance the plot. I seriously doubted my guess for murderer in the second half of the novel and just before Ellie figured it out, I thought I had it solved. I turned out to be sort of right and it was more complex than I imagined. The murderer was indeed too obvious though.

I really like how Ellie has grown over the last two years. She's now comfortably settled with Gladstone, Clifford and the ladies. They're like family to her now. However, she isn't doing much socializing and she still has moments of extreme self-doubt. She also worries about Hugh's feelings for her. She's so unconventional, she could just break all the rules and ask him. I don't like how Ellie allows herself to be railroaded by her new friend. I'd like to know more about how she met Tipsy and how they got to be friends. They're so different. Ellie threw over Lance because he was immature and stupid. Tipsy is the same way. Ellie is clearly uncomfortable with the fashionable set and her friend does nothing to help make it easier. Ellie needs to work on being more assertive. She improves once the murder occurs as she tries to stand up to a bulying police officer and as she teams up with Hugh to investigate.

Tipsy is just awful. She's not a real friend and completely scatterbrained. She never asks Ellie what she wants or pushes Ellie towards a compromise. It's her way or nothing. All she does is pour champagne down her throat (and Ellie's), flirt and push Ellie towards eligible men. She doesn't know or understand anything about meaningful relationships. Her idea of fun is "bagging" an eligible (rich and/or titled) man and partying. She tries to give Ellie a makeover, not taking Ellie's personal style or comfort into consideration. Ellie is older, more mature and wiser than Tipsy and Tipsy's scene is not Ellie's idea of fun.

I was surprised Clifford went along with Tipsy's grand plans for Ellie. He wants her to take her place as lady of the manor and be a proper lady but he of all people should know that's just not her. She's from an unconventional family and I think it's too late for her to change now. Clifford also has old-fashioned ideas about propriety and allowing women to participate in dangerous situations. In the second half of the novel, he reverts to being Ellie's bodyguard and wingman. Their investigations together are hilarious and Clifford has some surprising secrets hidden away, relics from when Lord Swift was still alive and up to whatever it was he did.

At first I didn't like Hugh and the romantic drama. He was so over professional and seemed disapproving and stern. Then as he's forced to meet Ellie to discuss the case, he becomes more relaxed and seems happier. I think like Ellie, Hugh enjoys using his brain and coming home to rest. He seems happier at Henley Hall with the ladies fussing over him and even Gladstone's messy, enthusiastic greetings. I loved seeing this new side of him. It's so different and makes him more charming to watch him loosen up. I thought he was smarter than he actually is though. I was certain he had figured out who the murderer was right away the same as I did and was trying to keep Ellie out of trouble. He does have very old-fashioned ideas about women. I felt uncomfortable for him the way the ladies were ogling him and objectifying him. We don't like it when men do that to us. I know they were teasing and having a bit of fun but still, he's too serious and literal to understand that and would probably feel hot under the collar if he did. He can't even mention certain improprieties around a lady, how can he realize the ladies think he's handsome?

Gladstone is my favorite character of all. He assists in advancing the plot, both the relationship between Ellie and Hugh plot and the murder mystery. Gladstone is a goofy lump and very lovable. I'm not sure I could handle all that drool and all those chewed up shoes and slippers but Gladstone is a loving companion so I think I could put up with it. He steals every scene he's in!

We meet a true hard-nosed policeman, someone more serious and decicated than Hugh! Sir Percival, head of the royal police, is a horrible bully, used to getting his own way and does not accept no for an answer. He's also not used to young ladies being cheeky with him. He deserves all the sass Ellie gives him for being so imperious with her. Sir Percival is the type who would lay down his life for King & Country. He would sacrifice his own mother, if he has one, to save the royal family from scandal or harm. Of course that's his job but he could be a little nicer and less imperious and less rude. Ellie is a private citizen, not one of his officers. He, at least, respects the intelligence of women but refuses to accept women belong in harm's way just the same as men. Ellie proves her level head can keep her out of trouble again and again even when the men plan action.

Lord Xander Taylor-Howard may be a cousin of the king (first cousin once removed) but he didn't act very royal. He epitomizes the Bright Young Thing set and didn't have an honorable bone in his body. He was up to his eyeballs in inappropriate behavior from adultery to gambling to possibly seeling secrets to the Russians! How COULD he? I would not put it past the royal family to eventually disown him though. He's 18th in line to the throne and with the war and influenza pandemic fresh in everyone's minds, he could very well end up King some day. I would fully expect the royals to disinherit him first or for him to shape up a bit more the way George IV and his brother did. It's really no wonder Xander was killed but who did the nefarious deed is the question? We can rule out the royal family since the King orders the investigation and personally asks for Ellie to get involved to keep it a secret.

His cousin Bartholomew Darnley is Xander's heir. Barty is a much nicer person but his flamboyant sense of style and slick personality doesn't appeal to me. Barty is the hanger-on, the younger cousin who is always cast aside in favor of his cousin but I think Barty is smarter and more honorable than Xander. However, clues point to Barty perhaps murdering his cousin for the money or being involved somehow with whatever got Xander killed. Which is it? What about Xander's sister? She seems like she was attached to him, at least when they were younger. She was the only girl and recieves only a female's share of the family money but what about her reputation? Could she have murdered her brother to keep him from scandalizing the family? Or did she know what he was up to and have an idea of who killed him? If so, her life could be in danger!

Was it Lady Montfort, Xander's former lover? An older, married woman with impeccible style, she doesn't seem to view affairs in the same way the royals do. She's very casual with her relationships or so she says anyway. Did she become angry when jilted by her younger lover? I think she's a practiced liar and I wouldn't believe anything she says. What about her husband? Does he have an alibi? Or Sir Roderick Rumbold, another cuckolded husband. He has a short fuse and is completely sexist. He's a wealthy businessman in the radio industry. He believes every home should have a radio to keep the ladies' minds occupied and keep them stuck at home and out of the Society pages. This doesn't seem to be working in his own home. His wife not only has expensive taste she also has a taste for younger men, like Xander. When Ellie tries to press Sir Roderick for information he grows impatient and less than charming. True, she deliberately played the ditzy debutante to provoke him but he fell for it and lost his cool. Could he have wanted revenge against Xander for making his personal life fodder for the gossip rags? They're both unrelaible and important enough that their servants would lie and tell the tale they're told to tell, making their alibis shaky at best.

Sergei Orlov is an amusing suspect. A Russian spy, he's actually quite good at disgusing himself and his accent. He could have fooled Ellie if she didn't know who he was. I think he's a charming ne'er do well. Is he REALLY a spy or perhaps he's an actor. No one questioned who he was but he knows a lot about what Xander was up to and claims his superiors would deny knowing him. That gives him a weak alibi as well. I rather like him and his sense of humor. I hope he's not the murderer. Also charming and funny, but very very dangerous is "Fingers" Treacher. Fingers is a crime boss and sounds like he belongs in New York. He's Irish and therefore has the gift of gab and Irish charm. Don't mistake his charm for heart though. He's tough and didn't get to where he was by being nice. When someone owes him money, he makes sure they know when he wants it in no uncertain terms. He doesn't have a motive for murder unless perhaps Xander sold Fingers out or double crossed him for some reason. Perhaps Fingers's thugs crossed HIM and killed Xander anyway because Xander was up to no good making a deal without Fingers' knowledge?

What was Xander up to and who killed him?

Bonus point for a brief cameo by a queer fashion designer. It surprises Ellie to see that Madame Vermeer is a man. I'd like to know more about this person and their background. I hope she comes back for more dresses and more investiagting. Another character I want to know more about is Sir Aubrey "Squints" Frampton, an expert in glass and lepidoptera. He was friends with Uncle Byron and Clifford back in the good ol' days when they did whatever it was they did. He's charmingly eccentric and really smart! I hope Clifford brings Ellie to call on him again!

I enjoyed this latest entry in the series and look forward to the next.

It was so good to be back with the irrepressible Lady Eleanor Swift and Clifford, her brilliant butler sidekick. I love their partnership and the warm atmosphere provided by Ellie’s household regulars too. The mystery was deliciously intriguing, with an interesting and varied cast of suspects and the perfect mix of clue solving and peril. Loved it!

Lady Eleanor Swift has a new girlfriend, Tipsy Fitzroy. She is trying to help Eleanor into becoming a real lady, and takes her shopping for new clothes and they go together to the Henley Regatta. At Henley they meet a lot of attractive young folks, including Xander Taylor-Howard, a cousin of the King, who kisses her just as Seldon (her policeman friend) is coming by. However, later on at the prize giving session, Xander drops dead in the middle of his presentation. However, instead of letting Seldon take the case, Sir Percival, head of the Royal Police takes charge, and asks Eleanor to help him after he tells her Xander was poisoned. Clifford and Eleanor manage to find some of the broken champagne glass after the royal police leave the crime scene.

She interviews Xander's cousin Lady Montfort (who was having an affair with Xander before he dumped her), Sir Roderick Risbold whose wife had an affair with Xander, and Bartholomew Darnly, his cousin who will probably inherit Xander's money. She also interviews a Russian, Orlov, and Treacher, the owner of the Velvet Saloon Night Club, but doesn't make a lot of progress. Meanwhile, Seldon and Clifford are helping her, although Seldon has been ordered to stay out of it.

Things start to get nasty when Eleanor and Clifford are forced off the road, and then they go to an expert and get a clue. Eleanor puts herself into a very dicey situation near the end, but the case is finally closed. This is a good mystery with fun characters.

The Lady Eleanor Swift series is so much fun, and so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of the 9th book, A Royal Murder.

I’m this story, Eleanor attends the royal regatta, where she becomes entangled in another murder investigation.

I really enjoyed this book. I love this collection of characters, and the way they all tease and support each other. Eleanor and Clifford are my favourites. I like Hugh very much too, though I do hope he and Eleanor will make some substantial progress in their relationship soon.

The mystery itself was intriguing. Although I was suspicious of the culprit early on, I soon got caught up in the investigation, and I didn’t know who it was until the big reveal.

As always, the story was leavened with plenty of humour. Gladstone, in particular, kept me entertained with his antics.

Overall, this was a wonderful blend of excitement and humour, that kept me turning the pages until I reached the very end.

I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

Lady Eleanor Swift obviously has an atypical background for the 1920s - independent, rich, adventurous and clearly not a typical Society Lady. An amateur sleuth able to meander through and question the haute ton at will, ably assisted by butler man of all trades Clifford and bulldog; Detective Seldon lingers mostly in the background with occasional forays to protect her and not quite forming a romance. She's investigating the death of a minor royal at the Henley Regatta who turns out to be rather dubious in morals and affairs of money. There are plenty of clues, suspects and the like and all seemingly rather 1920s. You certainly feel as if you might be there. I guess that I might get more from reading earlier stories of our lady heroine - how did she become who she is rather than a champagne glugging, silk dressed lady of her class. However, at this being number 9 I'm not sure that I could cope with another 8. A pleasant and interesting cosy read though. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

ARC Kindle Copy from Review from Net Galley and Bookouture.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

What was supposed to be a relaxing day of watching the royal regatta races with a new friend soon turns deadly when the prize presenter takes a sip of champagne while presenting the trophy and ends up dead on the ground.

Lady Eleanor and her trusty companion will sniff out a killer as she uses her sleuthing skills to figure out the case.

A charming read that will surely delight.