I love The Mitford Sisters mysteries! The sixth installment did not disappoint! All of the characters were very likable! The mystery itself was very clever! Thus, this series improves with each installment! I recommend this for fans of Maisie Dobbs!

There were six Mitford Sisters and now here is the sixth title in the historical mystery series about the family. Each title has been enjoyable as readers spend time with Louisa. She started as a domestic servant and now sleuths.

The book features Debo/Deborah the chatelaine of Chatsworth House and perhaps one of the least dramatic of the sisters. Think of Unity or Diana for example for contrast. Debo invites the family to visit. A psychic’s presence leads to an investigation of a murder in the past and one in the current book’s time (early 1940s).

This is the last book in the series. I recommend all of them to fans of historical fiction in general, and the Mitfords in particular.  

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur and NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.

I've been on a Mitford kick lately, having read The Mitford Affair and The Sisters within the past few weeks. I knew this would be a different best (i.e. more of a cosy mystery) but was still disappointed by the formulaic, predictable execution and simplification of the very complex sisters.

I enjoy the Mitford series! Such a fun mystery I love the historical tie ins. Another great adventure for the Mitfords.

The Mitford Murders is one of my favorite mystery series and the final installment did not disappoint! I love the characters and the Christmas setting and the story kept me guessing til the very end. This is definitely a book/series I'll reread, it's so fun!

When Louisa and the Mitford are gathered together for Christmas when psychic Mrs. Hoole leads them to a discovery connected to the disappearance of a former maid. The next morning Mrs. Hoole is found dead. Determined to get to bottom of the mystery and figure out why Mrs. Hoole was targeted. I enjoyed the setting and timing of the story lending to its uneasy feeling of the murder and the story took many turns I wasn’t sure how it would end, which was exciting!

The Mitford Secret is the sixth and final novel in the Mitford murder series. Louisa Cannon, private detective and once nursery maid to the Mitsfords and her daughter Maisie join the Mitfords in Chatsworth, the Duke of Devonshire's seat in 1941. At this gathering of the nobility and the notable, Mrs. Houle who pretends to be a psychic stirs up trouble about a maid who vanished in World War I, then she is found dead under suspicious circumstances. Whodunit? There is a whiff of German spies and bad behaviour by the previous Duke. Excellent reading for historical mystery buffs.

Jessica Followes has written a perfectly enjoyable British country house mystery. Its Ww2 period details feel spot on, but I longed for more “Mitford charm” in the novel.

I’m an avid fan of Nancy Mitford’s writing and have more than a passing interest in the family. My expectations may have been too high, but I think I would have enjoyed this mystery more if the characters were fictional aristocrats, not a family like the Mitfords that is so well-documented in fiction and biography.

Maybe it was the dreariness of a war-time holiday, and all the talk of scarce rations, but there wasn’t much wit or sparkle in this rendition of a family that was known for its eccentricity and charm. The mystery was fine, but the book fell flat for me.

Netgalley provided me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a candid review.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is my first book in this series, but I don't think it deterred my understanding at all. I enjoyed this one! It had a decent pace, nice mystery and the setting was something different that I wasn't used to in my mysteries. It was nice to see an old school mystery and I thoroughly enjoyed this setting. I'll definitely have to go back and check out other books in this series!

The Mitford Secret by Jessica Fellows is an historical mystery taking place in the late 1941 when London is under bomb attack daily by the German air force. Louisa has brought her daughter, Maisie, to spend Christmas with the Mitfords at the home of the Duke and Duchess of Cavendish. It is odd that a former servant be treated as a guest, but Louisa was excited, especially for her daughter, who deserved Christmas away from the bombs. Of course, where Louisa goes, murder goes. We get another glimpse into the daily life of whatever members of the Mitford family are available as Louisa susses out the murder of a former employee and possible witness to a murder 30 years earlier.

This is a good series. Louisa is now many years married to Guy Sullivan, a former policeman, and they have opened up their own detective agency. Of course, Guy gets the good job, because no one quite believes a woman can do the work. Louisa is an excellent character who never forgets she was once a servant, but believes in herself and loves her family. This is Mitford lite as we read about their escapades but they are totally in the background as the storyline focuses on Louisa’s investigations and relationships. It is a good story and the mystery is a good one, both of them, really. Fellowes does this time period and these characters well as she takes us once more to murder in the past.

Rachel Atkins was the reader and she did a wonderful job of maintaining the dignity of the time while differentiating between characters. Great voice. For the first time since I have been reviewing, it is a toss-up between which was more enjoyable, the written version or the audio version. They were both terrific. Yay, Rachel Atkins!

I was invited to read a free e-ARC and free e-AUDIO of the Mitford Secret by St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio, respectively, each through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #MacmillanAudio #JessicaFellows #RachelAtkins #TheMitfordSecret

England 1941
A wonderful surprise and a story that will take you on a journey of murder, mystery and endearing characters that come to life!

When I saw the name of the author, I could only think of Downton Abbey, so I was really intrigued!
Even better I have become obsessed (yes, truly) with British historical mysteries and audible, so I could not wait to read!

Yes, I loved this story and cannot wait to go back and read/listen to the entire series!! Not to be missed!

This was so good!! The mystery was well plotted and I was never sure who or what to believe. The author beautifully captured a moment of English history. This book had a great cast of characters and an interesting mystery! I will be immediately reading the first five books of the seriesIf you need a new series in your life, then pick this one up!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review “The Mitford Secret.” All opinions and comments are my own.

Louisa Sullivan has another involvement with the Mitford Sisters in “The Mitford Secret,” the last book in a series that has brought the unconventional family of English women to the attention of fans of the historical mystery genre. Jessica Fellowes knows how to imbue her fictional story and her characters with life, and “The Mitford Secret” is no exception.

These books don’t follow hard upon each other. Four years has passed since the last one; it’s 1941, Christmas, in the middle of the Blitz in London. We get a compact recap of what the sisters have been up to. Indeed, the sisters aren’t really in it much, only Nancy, now Mrs. Peter Rodd, and Deborah figure prominently. (Unity is included, but as you read you’ll see her part is small.) But that’s okay, because they do have roles, firstly as “remembrances of things past,” and then as a reminder that, indeed, these are the Mitford Sisters, with “those” personalities that the author uses to great effect.

Our premise -- Nancy Mitford invites Louisa and her daughter to spend Christmas at Chatworth, because her sister Deborah’s married into the family of the Duke of Devonshire, and thus the ancestral estate is available. Well, what giant pile of stone like this doesn’t hold a lot of secrets? (Readers should take the time to look up the history of the house, which is magnificent.) You can be sure that this one certainly does, and our author proceeds to give us a story replete with deep ones, from the past and present. To do this Jessica Fellowes makes use of a “cold case” as the ribbon tying everything together throughout the book, and characters that include Kathleen Kennedy and Adele Astaire (another reason to do your history homework).

Louisa does her part, of course (don’t forget she and her husband run a private detective agency), and all is satisfactorily resolved. “The Mitford Secret” demonstrates that no secret can ever be hidden for long, when someone like Louisa Sullivan is determined to get at the truth. With everything concluded, there’s a farewell to the two Mitford sisters she knows best and a departure for home -- London. They have their lives, and she has hers.

It’s a fine end to what has been an intriguing look at the Mitford family. But is it over? The author’s Historical Notes contain more information about the family and their amazing lives. There’s a hint that this “might” not be the last we’ll read of Louisa, or the sisters. Certainly, with the war, there’s plenty of fodder for more stories. We’ll see if our author may have something more in mind, which I would welcome.

The Mitford Secret is the sixth and final book in the terrific Mitford Murders series by Jessica Fellowes. I truly hate to see this series end, even though I missed the first three books and started the series on the fourth. I'm comforted by the fact that I still have three left to read. This one was my favorite by far. Each murder mystery stands alone, so you can follow easily without having read them all. The story was a fascinating blend of truth and fiction; the Mitford family was unlike any other, and I doubt we'll see their like again!

In 1941, families all across Europe are being torn apart by the war. Deborah (Debo) Mitford Cavendish, the youngest Mitford sister, decides to bring her available family members together at the Chatsworth estate to celebrate Christmas. Besides family, some well-known celebrities are invited, as well as Louisa Cannon Sullivan, a former employee and now friend of the family; she is currently a private investigator in business with her husband Guy. Guy must stay in London with the Home Guard, so Louisa and their adorable six-year-old daughter Maisie head to Chatsworth. A woman from the village arrives claiming to be a psychic, and Deborah allows her to host a séance. Instead of the lighthearted fun they expected, however, the woman claims a maid was murdered in Chatsworth, and she says she can prove it. Louisa begins to investigate the cold case, but everyone around seems to want to keep their secrets hidden away from the light. And then Louisa must investigate a new murder! Will she be able to solve these mysteries that are buried so deeply?

Louisa is such a great character, and I am really going to miss her! She has truly grown, from being a nurse maid for the Mitford children to a married woman with a young child and a career as a private investigator. Louisa and Guy didn't send little Maisie to the countryside like many Londoners did to keep their children safe from air raids, as they thought it would be better to keep her with them. They were glad, however, for Louisa to bring Maisie to Chatsworth for Christmas, which would hopefully keep her safe from the perils of London. She's a good mother and wife and one heck of an investigator. She sometimes jumps to the wrong conclusion, but she digs her heels in to get answers. Louisa will go toe-to-toe with a duke, dowager duchess, doctor and law enforcement without being cowed. I'm not a kid person, but Maisie was absolutely precious! And I was glad to see more of Guy in this story. The real stars of the show, though, are the Mitfords. Among their ranks is a writer, communist, fascist and Hitler devotee. Winston Churchill is their uncle. They were fascinating people! I also enjoyed seeing some other real-life people such as Kick Kennedy (yes, THOSE Kennedys) and Adele Astaire, the dancer/actress whose brother is Fred Astaire. The mystery here will keep you on your toes. I figured out a culprit, but not until I was 83% through with the book. But there was an awful lot I didn't see coming! It was quite an entertaining book, but also sad to see such a great series end. I hope Ms. Fellowes will create more historical mysteries to entertain us!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This short historical mystery series is very well written with good character development and complex puzzles to unravel. Even though this is the sixth and final of the series, each one works fine as a stand alone.
It's 1941 England and the Blitz is making life miserable for everybody. It's also Christmas and Debrah Mitford, the youngest sister, decides to throw a house party at Chatsworth, one of the most famous of the stately homes. Those family and friends able to attend will gather for traditional festivities. One of the guests will be a psychic. Too bad she didn't see her own future because after she does her reading for the guests she is murdered. What might connect a twenty year old case of murder and the murder of the psychic?
Time for a private detective to start investigating. Louisa was the Mitford's maid and she and her young daughter, Maisie are part of the house party. Louisa has left service and become a private detective and will latter be joined by her husband, Guy. I won't say any more for fear of spoilers.
If you like historical mysteries with real life characters mixed in with the fictional ones, this series is for you. If you are a fan of classic mysteries from the Golden Age of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers, this series should be on your TBR list.
My thanks to the publisher Minotaur and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Mitford Secret, features former Mitford nursery maid Louisa Sullivan who, with her husband Guy, runs a private detective agency. It is 1941. Louisa and her daughter, six year old Maisie, are heading to Chatsworth-- stately home of the Duke of Devonshire -- in use as a school since the beginning of WWII. Debo Mitford, recently married Andrew Cavendish, the next to oldest son of the present duke. With the school on holiday, Debo is, somewhat nervously, hosting Christmas at Chatsworth for those Milford's and Cavendishes who can make it there. Since Guy has commitments to the Home Guard. Louisa welcomes Debo''s invitation for her to join the house party in the country. The Sullivans have not had Maisie evacuated from London, but some time away from the Blitz will be welcome.

Various guests arrive including the Duke and Duchess, Adele Astaire, who is married to the Duke's brother and "Kick: Kennedy (JFK's sister) who is romantically involved with the Duke's elder son, "Billy," the Marquess of Hartington. The Dowager Duchess has a home on the grounds but is also present, along with Nancy and Unity Mitford and their parents. Unity has already suffered brain damage from her attempted suicide. As to the other Mitford "children" Diana and her husband are imprisoned due to their danger to Britain during wartime, Tom is still alive and serving in Libya and Decca (Jessica) is in the United States. A skeleton staff is present, with some assistance during the day from a couple of women from town, but the guests will have to pitch in to make some long dust covered rooms useable. Chatsworth is a wonderful backdrop to the mystery that evolves, with extensive gardens, outbuildings in varying condition and unending corridors and rooms to provide a suitably eerie feeling.

An incident with an uninvited visitor who brings a strange message raises issues about a former maid who disappeared twenty years earlier. A present day murder happens, but why? As the local constabulary investigates the death. Louisa becomes curious about the woman who went missing so long ago. Any further specifics in this review would become spoilers. Fellowes brings the historical characters alive, placing each in appropriate roles, with an accurate depiction of their known personalities, predilections and social/world views. She never jars by including details that sound "off" about the time or the individuals. Some who are approached find Louisa's questions and behavior intrusive and perhaps a bit vulgar. Others seem to join in or encourage her inquiries. Faithful servants seem to remain faithful. There are very satisfying twists and turns in this well-written mystery. I have read only the last two books in this series to date, but purchased the first four, being both a fan of the Milford's and of Fellowe's clever use of them. Louisa (and her daughter Maisie) are engaging characters. Taking on such a well known set of characters could be a disaster, but Fellowes keeps things pitch perfect and entertaining. It would probably be better to read this series in order, but I did enjoy these out of order entries as stand alone books. Highly recommend.

Fellowes continues to provide good entertainment with this series centered around Louisa, former Nanny to the Mitford sisters, and her husband Guy. They now own a detective agency in London and are building a good life with their little daughter Maisie. It's 1941 and Louisa and Maisie are at a house party pulled together by Deborah, the youngest of the sisters- a party she hopes can heal some sibling wounds. Unfortunately things go a bit sideways when the psychic hired for the party first raises the fact that a maid was killed in the home and then is killed herself! Louisa finds herself investigating both cases, a task made easier when Guy arrives. Yes this is a tad contrived in spots (there are cameos from a number of other famous people) but it's well written and the mysteries make sense (I know, an odd thing to comment but fans of the genre know this isn't always true). I like Louisa and Guy more than the Mitfords (even in their fictional faces). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read that will be fine as a standalone.

Jessica Fellowes ends the Mitford Murder series with a Christmas house party at the Cavendish ancestral pile, where Mitford daughter Deborah has invited her family, her husband's family and long time friend and former servant Louisa. Louisa, with her daughter Maisie, is glad to escape the terrors of London in the Blitz to enjoy a more tranquil country setting. Unfortunately, more mysteries (and dead bodies) show up for Louisa to exercise her detection skills upon.

This entry in the series is much less focused on the Mitford family and their politics. Much of their drama is behind them now, and we are able to enjoy a traditional house party mystery. The puzzles are interesting; the setting is majestic; and we get enough of the Mitford back-story to keep the historical details real.

I've enjoyed the series a great deal, and look forward to where Fellowes takes us next.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hoping this really isn't "the end" to the series, and, as others have said, hoping to read more about Louisa in perhaps another series. Louisa is back with the Mitford's for Christmas with her daughter, escaping London & the bombings for a bit. There is a mysterious death, then another attempt, all while Louisa tries to get to the bottom of a death that happened twenty-five years prior. Well written, so much better (in my opinion) than the last. I was sorry to see the story end. Thanks to NetGalley, Ms Fellowes, and St. Martin's Press for the preread in exchange for an honest review

The Mitford Secret, A Mitford Murders Mystery by Jessica Fellowes is an interesting historical mystery story.

I was captivated immediately once I opened this book up.
Reading Fellowes previous work before this one seemed interesting and sounded like it would be a great mystery.
A very well written crime fiction, with such engaging characters I couldn't help but to flip the page's throughout the night. Keeping me interested and totally immersed.
The characters fascinated me and I wanted to read more about them.
They were well developed and believable.
Overall, this was an excellent, charming mystery that I got so lost in.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.