Murder at Claridge's is the third Hotel historical mystery by Jim Eldridge. Released 22nd April 2022 by Allison & Busby, it's 318 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. (Paperback format released in Nov 2022). It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is an engaging and well written police procedural set in London during the blitz. The main protagonist, a well-heeled Scotland Yard DCI and his colleagues are trying to solve a strangling murder in the kitchens at Claridge's. The general chaos of the blitz and a large number of refugees from other areas of Europe are complicating factors, especially when it's revealed that the victim might be German instead of Romanian as he claimed. The mystery itself is well wrought and the characters are well delineated and distinct. The story is often somewhat gritty for a historical cozy mystery, and includes on page descriptions of blood and the less salubrious realities of wartime life. I liked the relationship between DCI Coburg and his wife, Rosa, who although she's a musician, is currently driving for the war effort in the ambulance corps.

Although it's the third book in the series, the necessary character backstories are provided and the mystery itself is self-contained, so it can be read as a standalone. It's an undemanding read for fans of British historical mysteries although I found a number of anachronistic feeling bits in the dialogue and descriptions which yanked me out of the story briefly. One example was the choice of "ripping him off". With a short perusal online, it appears to have been used as early as the 12th century, however it wasn't in common vernacular until the 1960s (in America). That's a relatively small quibble however, and with three books extant in the series, it's a good candidate for an entertaining weekend binge read. 

Four stars. 
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I really enjoy the Museum Murders series by Jim Eldridge so was keen to read the first in the new series.
Similar in vein to the Museum series, male and female partnership, well know public buildings as locations, fairly cosy and not to gruesome murders but with a later setting.
I did like this but not as much as the Museum Murders but I think it's because it's new characters that I haven't got to know as well but I will definitely stick with the series when more come.

A really fun and quirky read set in the backdrop of old London with a murder mystery to solve. Great cover

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I am becoming a big fan of Jim Eldridge's books. I love the Museum Mysteries series, so I thought I would give this book a try to see if held the same allure. It did. The writing is just so well done and very readable. The settings and attention to historical detail are top-notch. It was well paced, and held up well as a standalone. The plot was intelligent and engaging. Coburg (along with his wife) are strong lead characters. And it was all wrapped up in a satisfying ending. I look forward to reading more books in this series.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

Jim Eldridge immerses the reader in World War II London in Murder at Claridge's. Chief Inspector Coburg has been called in to solve a murder at the Claridge Hotel and quickly adds sidebars of criminal prostitution and false sale of military commands. As Coburg gets close to the criminals and spies who are committing the crimes, he alarms the spies and foreign governments in exile who use the hotel as a base. Interesting look at war time crime.

Murder at Claridge’s by Jim Elderidge

I am gonna be honest I struggled with this book, the mystery was good, it was paced well and there was a satisfying ending but I am just not keen on the main characters, so it was impossible to really truly enjoy the book

This book has a lot of subplots and so it did mean that at times I had no idea what was really going on. Some of the characters are more developed in the previous books so you may need to read the others so that you know what is going on.

A good mystery but not my favourite.. will stick to the museum mystery in future

#NetGalley #murderatclaridges #mystery #war #1940

This book is fun but not in the hilarious way, more a real 'whodunnit'. I can imagine this series being made into a good TV series and being very enjoyable with historic costume, music, lavish sets etc. Please someone pick it up as I already have the pictures in my head!

This is in a series however was the first book I had read, although I've read the museum series and it is in the same vein.

I did enjoy this book, there were lots of twists and turns but I think it would have been helpful to have read the previous books in the series.

Overall, a quick and fun read.

Thank you for the arc.

Once again a really brilliant example of storytelling from Jim Eldridge. The intermingled snippets of history with his clever and likeable characters make these books so enjoyable.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review

This is the first book by this author and not my usual historical mystery read. I found it very entertaining. It was well written with wonderful characters and information about living through the blitz. There were lots of twists and turns that gave a good substance to the story. I would like to read more by this author. I received this as an ARC through NetGalley and freely give my review.

My thanks to Allison & Busby and NetGalley for a review copy of this book.

Murder at Claridge’s is the third of the historical Hotel Mysteries series by Jim Eldridge and the second that I’m reading and reviewing (I also read and enjoyed book 2, Murder at the Savoy, last year). The series is a police procedural set in 1940s London amidst the blitz and we follow Chief Inspector Edgar Saxe-Coburg of Scotland Yard (not serving in the war because of a damaged lung), younger brother of a peer, as he and his partner Sargent Lampson solve cases, as well as deal with problems of daily life. Edgar is married to Rosa Weekes, a jazz pianist and singer, who during the war is volunteering with the St John’s Ambulance. Lampson has lost his wife, and is dealing with a teenaged son who seems to be getting out of hand, though he is helped by his parents in caring for the boy. Chief Inspector Coburg finds his social position both a blessing and a curse for while it helps open doors and aid investigations when the upper echelons of society are involved, it has also earned him a nemesis in Inspector Lomax, a working-class man who believes Chief Inspector Coburg has got to where he is only because of his social status (rather than any talent), and is resentful (somewhat justifiably so) when cases involving the upper crust are taken from him and handed to Coburg.

And this is what unfolds in this book at well. A kitchen hand is murdered, in fact garrotted, just outside the entrance to the kitchens of the Claridge’s. Inspector Lomax is called to the scene and begins his investigation in a rather heavy-handed manner, pronouncing the kitchen too hot and questioning the staff superficially before moving the body out. Meanwhile Coburg and Lampson who are dealing with the case of a domestic violence victim who finally couldn’t take it anymore, are put onto the Claridge’s murder by the Superintendent, for Rupert D’Oyly Carte prefers the case be handled by Coburg since a lot of European royalty is living at the Claridge’s. Needless to say, this worsens things with Lomax, who once again makes allegations of nepotism, and such. Alongside, we have some gangsters, Hooky Morton and Roly Fitt engaged in a battle over black-marketing and their goons switching sides, which leads to some other deaths, and then another murder similar to but seemingly unconnected with the Claridge’s murder on which once again Lomax is called in. Also, Lampson is working out a plan to get his son away from the bad company he seems to have fallen into (which also throws up the promise of some romance for Lampson) while Rosa wishes to do more than just her volunteering work so that she can help people much more than she has been doing.


This was an enjoyable read for me, just like the previous book in the series I read. I find I really get along with Eldridge’s writing; the book moved well and kept me reading, both in its pace and plot. I also quite like the characters, Coburg and Rosa, Lampson (and his family), and Coburg’s older brother the Earl of Dawlish (though in this book, he only has a minor role—one telephone call).

The historical setting and detail are nicely done, and I think the author manages to combine real (events and characters) and fictional elements in a successful way. Being set in the blitz, one really gets a feel of what life would have been like in those times—on the one side we have people leading (or at least attempting to) what one might call are normal, ordinary lives, but at the same time, one never knows when one encounters the worst either—buildings disappearing and colleagues or friends dying right before one’s eyes, spending every night in a shelter, rationing every little thing, but worst of all, living without a sense of security at all times (This is something one sees across the books). Besides the atmosphere of the blitz, we also get an idea of the broader politics of the time (which has a role to play in the story as well)—from the various European governments that operated out of London at the time, to the fraught relationship with the French (which I hadn’t realised continued even when they were allies) as the British continued to support the Vichy regime led by Marshall Pétain while also giving space to De Gaulle and his ‘government’ for the support they received. I hadn’t realised quite how complicated things were in this sense at the time. I also enjoyed meeting the real-life characters that make an appearance like Peter Fleming, brother of Ian, whom I last ‘met’ in Wuhan, while Oswald Mosley and D’Oyly Carte are mentioned as in the previous book.

The mystery or rather mysteries in the story are interesting and keep one engaged all through. We have several threads going on from the Claridge’s murder to the other similar death that takes place, the gang fight of sorts that is going on, as well as the domestic violence case that Coburg and Lampson are working on and some other illegal activities they end up uncovering. Some of these are connected, and others not and there is more than one twist or development that I didn’t see coming at all.

This is rather a packed book, really, with a lot going on from police work and the different mystery/investigation threads, to Rosa’s experiences volunteering and her wanting to do more, her performances as singer and pianist, Lampson’s troubles with his son, the antagonism with Lomax and his team and a whole lot more. In a sense, it is very much a reflection of real life, where it isn’t as though one case is all that a policeman (or any detective for that matter) handles, and where personal life doesn’t stop or take a backseat either, and I thought Eldridge did a great job of weaving all this in such that one can follow all the developments while keeping everything straight in one’s mind. But at the same time, if it makes sense, sometimes it did feel like there was a bit too much going on as well. Also, one other small niggle was that I’d have liked to get more of a ‘feel’ of the Claridge’s itself.

But overall, this is a good and engaging police procedural with likeable characters, and a solid historical background and detail. I’m excited to see where the next book in this series takes place, and what lies ahead for Coburg, Rosa, and Lampson!

4.25 stars.

I love anything by this author and this newish series, set during the WWII, does not fail to enthrall. The main characters, an aristocratic policeman and his jazz singer wife, are likeable, clever and totally down to earth, unlike many of the people they meet. The murders are usually linked to wartime activities and show the sleazy side of life that the upper classes and criminals tried to hide. An excellent read.

It's 1940, the Blitz is in full swing and while the German Luftwaffe is indiscriminately carpet-bombing London, various nefarious and highly criminal shenanigans are still going on unabated around the great capital, especially in and around the Claridge, one of the most luxurious hotels in the city.

One again we follow the winsome Detective Chief Inspector Saxe-Coburg as he smartly and painstakingly tries over the course of one eventful week to resolve several violent murders and prevent further mayhem from happening...

This adrenaline-fueled story offers the reader a vast array of highly deplorable crime behaviors ranging from the ruthless mobsters and their violent and bloody turf wars to the unscrupulous pimps smuggling their "ladies of pleasure" through the back kitchens of one of the most renowned hotels in London and the small-time swindler trying to
sell his phony military commissions to naive and desperate young men, and last but not least to the various menacing continental spies garroting each other all over the metropolitan map....
In short, a despicable fictional tapestry of all the human foibles, weaknesses and wickednesses one could possibly imagine occurring in time of war!

Jim Eldridge is a talented wordsmith and this latest addition to his masterful crime series set in London during WWII is a superbly well crafted and highly entertaining historical novel.

Perfectly plotted and blessed with a colorful cast of exquisitely drawned characters and lots of sparkling dialogues, this delightful whodunit deserves to be enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Allison & Busby for this terrific ARC

I recently read all three of these books in this series one after the other. The individuals in the stories were well thought out and went beyond the tropes of normal mystery characters; the detective who shows emotion, the heroine who pushes herself to help more in the war effort, the sidekick sergeant who is capable and well-rounded. The setting of London during the blitz is a wonderful choice to increase the tension and add another layer of story to the novel.

I enjoyed these books immensely and would recommend to anyone who loves mysteries or historical fiction.

crime-fiction, thriller, historical-research, historical, 1940, law-enforcement, England, murder, murder-investigation, procedural, class-consciousness, resentment, friction****

Great characters and some surprising ones! Interesting take on the difficulties and oddities of trying to police while avoiding bomb craters and having police cars and ambulances destroyed by those same bombs. And then there is the anger of some policemen who haven't gotten the assignments and promotions they think they deserve. An interesting read.
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Allison & Busby via NetGalley. Thank you!

October's 1940 London. DCI Coburg and Sergeant Ted Lampson are called to to investigate the death of a kitchen porter at the Claridge's Hotel. Much to the annoyance of the local Detective Inspector Lomax, then another similar murder occurs on his patch. But there is also the problem of fighting between local gangs, and various fraud ploys to be investigated. While some are dealing with personal problems.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery with its varied and likeable characters. Another good addition to the series which can easily be read as a standalone story.

Murder at Claridge's by Jim Eldridge is a police procedural taking place toward the middle of World War II in England. It is 1940 and the war had not stopped crime. It's just added a whole new dimension to the life of DCI Saxe-Coburg and his new wife, singer Rosa Weeks, who was also volunteering as an ambulance driver as there was little call for singers in wartime. She and her partner, Derrick Peers, had been called out to a possible heart attack. As Rosa was unloading the stretcher, the house collapsed, right onto Derrick. Her partner was dead and all she wanted was her husband to comfort her. She tracked him down at Claridge's, which was an upscale hotel, where she was mistaken for a prostitute. Her day was not getting better. Coburg was investigating a murder of a man who worked in the kitchen. He was garroted, not a common way to die, but he picked up an investigation of prostitution, fraud, and possible link to mobsters while he was there. It was a relief to get home to Rosa, where she shared her day with him. After hearing about her run-in with the man looking for a prostitute, he returned to the hotel and got further information from that man.

There were more deaths, including a local DI and Coburg solved or helped solve most of them. This was and excellent book, full of intriguing personalities, some good, some bad, and some in between, like all people. Him being remotely related to an aristocrat and having attend Eton and Cambridge opened doors for him not accessible to other policemen. He was a strong intelligent character, perfect for hi intrepid wife. The mysteries were good, and inter-related on some level. Such is life. It was a genuine look into the lives of Londoners during 1940, which is something good for all of us. It was a terrific, well-written book. Worth your time.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Murder at Claridge's by Allison & Busby, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #allison&busby #murderatclardiges #jimeldridge

An exciting police procedure crime mystery has you hooked from the very first page. Set in the 2nd World War gives it an added dimension and the bonus of Claridge’s. Characters that stand out with plenty of thrills and even shocks alone the way. Part of a series which will be well worth checking out. I will be.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The usual team investigate the political ramifications of three murders in Blitz ravaged London
Inspector Coburg is invited to find out why a kitchen porter has been murdered at Claridge’s hotel but this is not the only crime in the hotel or the city over this week and we are embroiled in different mysteries with the able gentleman assisted by his sergeant Lomax and not always helped by others in the force

I'm loving this series and this is the best instalment so fa: complex, full of twists and gripping.
I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the description of life in London at the beginning of WWII and was glad to catch up with the characters.
There's a double set of murders, one more political and the other involving people from the gangland.
It's a compelling and entertaining read and I can't wait to read the next story and there's some clue of new development in the character's life.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine