Lady Eleanor Swift is back with another fabulous historical cosy mystery perfect for Agatha Christie fans: Death on Deck.

Lady Eleanor’s birthday is coming up and she cannot wait to celebrate it in style aboard opulent ocean liner Celestiana with her dashing beau, Detective Hugh Seldon. Eleanor has great plans for this trip away and she cannot wait to spend her days imbibing fruity cocktails, sampling delicious food and tripping the light fantastic at night in the gilded ballroom – until Hugh cancels at the last minute! A disappointed Eleanor is not about to sit at home moping, so she packs her bags and with her staff and faithful companion Gladstone heads off to New York for the trip of a lifetime. Only, Eleanor should know that wherever she goes, trouble always seems to follow…

Eleanor sees a man get shot and fall overboard. As if that’s not shocking enough, she trips over the murder weapon and discovers that it belongs to Detective Seldon himself! What’s more, it turns out that Hugh is undercover on the ship as well! With somebody onboard clearly set on framing him, Eleanor decides to do some discreet digging and unmask the murderer hiding in plain sight amidst the glitterati on the ship who all have their own dark secrets they are desperate to keep hidden. When another body is found, Eleanor realizes that time is of the essence and she must find out whodunnit – before she ends up spending her birthday at the bottom of the ocean!

Verity Bright cannot write fast enough for me! Her Lady Eleanor Swift series never fails to hit the spot and with Death on Deck, this talented crime writer has penned another witty, enjoyable and suspenseful historical cozy mystery that I read in one sitting. Death on Deck might be the thirteenth title in this series, but it’s certainly not running out of steam. If anything, Verity Bright gets better and better with every book she writes and after devouring Death on Deck, I cannot wait to see what further adventures await Lady Eleanor Swift.

Another delightful adventure with Eleanor, Clifford, and the gang, this time aboard an ocean liner bound for New York.

I keep wondering if the schtick will get old for this series, but we’re 13 books in and these are as enjoyable to read as ever. Verity Bright continues to use setting so well, and I’ve been hoping for a story set on a ship. This definitely lived up to my expectations, with loads of historical detail, vibrant atmosphere, and of course, an exciting storm at sea to add to the atmosphere and potentially complicate an already intricate mystery.

The mystery itself here is a good one, and maybe that’s the most impressive thing about this series: The mysteries still fell fresh and haven’t gotten predictable or repetitive in either their structure or their solves, which is no small feat in a series that continues for this long. As always, can’t wait to read the next installment.

Not my favorite of the series but it moved the overarching story along nicely. Felt a little dragged out but did what it had to do to move Eleanor and Seldon's story along.

A quick, easy and cute murder mystery that I read in one sitting. It was well written with a cute and compelling storyline and characters that were well developed

This is book 13 in the Lady Eleanor Swift series and it's a great story. I'm learning so much about the history of the of the era. Lady Eleanor is going to spend her birthday with her handsome suitor Detective Hugh Seldon. When he needs to cancel she decides to take her "family" of servants and dog on a cruise to America. When a murder occurs and Hugh's gun is the murder weapon they find out he was onboard on assignment. I'm not a great historic fiction fan but I am addicted to this series.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Death on Deck by Verity Bright is an exciting murder mystery that follows Lady Eleanor Swift on her first luxury cruise. When she witnesses a man being shot and falling overboard, she discovers that the likely murder weapon belongs to her beau, Detective Hugh Seldon, who is on an undercover mission aboard the ship. Eleanor sets out to identify the real killer among a sea of suspects including European nobility, Italian opera stars and American nouveau riche, to clear Seldon’s name.

I found Death on Deck to be another solid read in this ongoing series. The book is well-written with plenty of twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. The setting of the opulent ocean liner adds to the suspenseful atmosphere of the story. The author has done an excellent job in developing likable characters and creating a “who done it” narrative that is engaging from start to finish. While I am not personally a fan of Detective Hugh Seldon, he looks like he is here to stay, so c'est la vie. 😂

I am looking forward to reading book 14 in this series...

**ARC Via NetGalley**

I can’t quite believe we are on book 13! Yet here we are back with Lady Swift, Clifford and her resourceful and ever loyal staff. This time Eleanor is looking forward to celebrating her birthday onboard a luxury liner sailing to New York. After the dashing Chief Inspector Seldon left her disappointed when work once again called him away, well what better way to distract yourself then in the lap of luxury on a floating grand hotel.

As always though things do not go quite as smoothly as expected and it’s not long before Eleanor is witness to cold-blooded murder. Even more surprisingly she discovers the murder weapon belongs to her absent beau! It’s not long before the dream team that is Eleanor and Clifford are working together to crack the case and find out who the murderer is and why they are trying to frame Chief Inspector Sheldon.

It was such a delight to travel alongside Lady Swift again. I really am terribly fond of her and the whole gang. Engaging characters, intriguing plots and some wonderful historical details all add too the joy of reading these books. It was such a pleasure to travel on this beautiful ship with all it’s 20’s opulence and grandeur. These delightful, cosy reads are a real treat and I can’t wait to see what happens next. I absolutely loved it.

A new Verity Bright is a delight and in “Death on Deck”, Lady Eleanor is crossing the Atlantic on a opulent ocean liner with her staff. She is surprised to find herself at the centre of a murder and that Detective Seldon is on board!

Along with the staff, the two work together to untangle the mystery whilst keeping up appearances. Amongst finding red herrings and clues, the group enjoys all the entertainment and luxury the voyage has to offer with lovely light moments worked in.

I particularly appreciated the development of the relationship between Eleanor and Hugh as they have to work closely together with Hugh walking in her shoes with little authority on board.

I do so enjoy this cast and eagerly looking forward to the next one in the series! It’s a four out of five enJOYment scale and highly recommended.

This is the 13th in the Lady Eleanor Swift mysteries and is an utterly thrilling addition to the series!

Eleanor's beau Detective Hugh Seldon cancels their plans for her birthday at the last minute. Rather than be down about it, she takes her staff, her dog Gladstone on a cruise to New York. It wouldn't be a Lady Swift mystery if she didn't run into murder along the way, but this time she's stuck aboard the ship with the murderer!

I loved the setting of the cruise ship. It added brilliantly to the tension, to the mystery, and was so vividly described that I almost felt like I was there with Eleanor.

I loved the way Eleanor is portrayed. She's not your usual stuffy lady of the manor type and still has difficulty not being as independent as she'd like. I also love the banter between her and her butler, Clifford, which never fails to make me laugh.

A wonderful historical mystery series that I'd recommend to anyone who likes their mysteries on the cozy side.

Lots of intrigue and red herrings to boot. In this 13th book in the series, Eleanor is off across the water with the entire entourage in tow. This time Hugh plays a primary role - he's a suspect in the murder. I'm glad to have had more time with him and Ellie, can we begin to hope that they will finally make some progress as a couple?

The other passengers on the liner are a diverse group and, as usual, once you go a little below the surface you find they are hiding many secrets. As Ellie has her staff with her you also get to contrast the experiences of the various classes on board these ocean liners - such opulence (and waste) versus such poverty, It was well done.

Untangling the clues to get to the murderer made for a delightful read. I look forward to reading what they all get up to in the US.

The book has all you'd expect from this lovely group of characters and an enjoyable murder mystery as well.

I highly recommend this book and the series. It's 4 out of 5 for me! With thanks to Bookouture, Netgalley and the author for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review

Death on Deck is the 13th instalment in the Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series, set in the 1920s. The author's portrayal of Ellie delights me with every book and I love that Ellie's down-to-earth, intelligent, and possesses a wicked sense of humour. A real draw of these tales book for me is the relationship between Ellie and Clifford and their occasionally sarcastic repartée. After twelve books (I missed book 2 for some weird reason) the characters are like real friends and it is a huge pleasure to spend time with them. Death on Deck is comfortably paced, compulsive and once again, Verity Bright's highly addictive storytelling really works for me. I cannot wait for the next Lady Swift adventure and I highly recommend this one. A super, refreshing and effervescent tale as ever.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

admit that I was a little hesitant about putting this particular book in my stack of "to be read" above others. I had been intrigued by the title but was not certain I would like the era. But I was so wrong! And by waiting to read it, I have deprived myself of time enjoying other books in the Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series.

Lady Eleanor is a little of a mystery to me since I have begun reading the series at number 13, but there are little bits revealed in the book to give me some background information. She is from a wealthy family and now has a hereditary title inherited from an uncle. She has a history with a policeman named Hugh that goes back at least one book, perhaps more.

What I loved about this book is the descriptions of the ship, the Celestial, as she is on a transatlantic crossing in the mid 1920's. I enjoy traveling by ship and have sailed in 6 of the "seven seas". The information about the class structure of the ship in the 20's was very enlightening and I sometimes wondered about Lady Eleanor's ability to visit the 2nd class cabins while her staff was not supposed to come into the first class area. That class structure has pretty much vanished in the 21st century although there are still parts of ships that are restricted to the higher paying guests.

Although Lady Eleanor is very perceptive and quite smart there is no way she could have solved this mystery without her trusted butler Clifford. I was surprised at her extreme lack of knowledge in some areas I was sure she would be at least have a familiarity with if not some competence in the subject.

But all in all it was a rollickingly good read and I look forward to reading about more of Lady Eleanor's adventures.

When Chief Inspector Hugh Seldon, Lady Eleanor (Ellie) Swift's beau, reneges on their plans to spend her birthday together, she accepts an invitation to sail onboard the Celestiana's maiden voyage, a Trans-Atlantic crossing to New York. Once again she generously shares the excitement and pleasure of a holiday with her household staff: Clifford (the butler), Mrs. Butters (the housekeeper), Mrs. Trotman (the cook), Polly and Lizzie (the maids) and not forgetting, Gladstone (the bulldog).

Expecting a relaxing cruise with dancing and deck games, instead Ellie becomes involved in a murder investigation when she witnesses a shooting, with the victim going overboard. But it is what she finds at the scene that makes her panic: a gun she recognises as Hugh's weapon. Explanations are called for when Clifford discovers the chief inspector is definitely on board and suffering dreadfully from seasickness. Hugh's claim to be undercover doesn't quite ring true with Ellie. She suspects there is more to his presence onboard than he is willing to share, especially when it appears Hugh is being framed.

Knowing of her past experience with murder investigations, Ellie's old employer, a director of the shipping line, asks her to investigate, which she agrees to do with the help of Clifford and a reluctant Hugh. However, they are taken off the case before any real progress can be made. Unofficially, they continue to investigate, primarily to avoid a miscarriage of justice should Hugh be implicated, but also that Ellie never gives up on an investigation.

Having missed Hugh's presence in the previous novel (Murder in an Irish Castle), fans are treated to much more page time with this popular character. Romance continues to blossom between our two awkward lovers, with Clifford, swishing coat tails and all, making sure every need is met, while looking out for 'the girls' who are travelling third class and enjoying every moment.

Food plays an important role as Ellie's robust appetite needs to be satisfied and there are wonderful, mouth-watering dishes served and whipped up by Clifford, some even managing to tempt Hugh's appetite despite his battle with seasickness.

The excitement and suspense is ramped up when the ship encounters a storm, bringing the memory of what happened to the Titanic on its maiden voyage to the fore and providing an excellent setting for the denouement: a chase through the storm-tossed ship to confront the murderer.

As to the mystery, again I enjoyed how our three sleuths brainstormed and analysed each piece of information together, amidst the banter. When Hugh reveals his personal connection to the case, going back to the days of World War I, why he is being targeted is plausible. I didn't pick who the murderer was; all the suspects had viable motives, some stronger than others. However, the clues are all there and fell into place when Ellie revealed how she had worked out the identity of the murderer.

I can't finish without mentioning Gladstone. His exuberant greetings and dog licks provide pleasure and consternation in equal amounts, especially where Hugh is concerned. Gladstone is one pampered and much-loved pooch, and a delightful member of the cast.

This was the best instalment so far and the ending, on which I'm not going to elaborate, couldn't have been better.

The next book in the series Murder in Manhattan will be released in June this year. While only three months away, it's too long a wait for this fan!

It is hard to review a consistently good series. It almost feels like its enough to say that thanks to previous experience and continued good work by the authors, it was a pleasure to visit with lady Swift again.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.


This instalment is entirely focused on Lady Swift's love life. She thinks she has reached an understanding with the Chief Inspector, but things are rocky from the very beginning. Rocky is an entirely literal term since the majority of the book is spent on a ship. A cruise liner is introduced to make this book different from the previous ones. Eleanor and her faithful staff are on a ship in the middle of the ocean when a man is shot and shoved off the ship, with Lady Swift as the witness.
It is only a single discovery that has her hurrying to ensure the appropriate culprit is brought to justice. Clifford and his ready commentary offer some light respite in some very tight times. Eleanor's life is in danger a lot more and closer to actual doom than before. Our intrepid unofficial detective solves the case anyway. I almost guessed the ending but was led down a few red herrings. Given the way things finally resolved, it was little wonder as to the different people we assumed were involved!
They disembark in New York, so the next installment will be set there, making a whole new world for our lead protagonist and her faithful band of people to find new ways to get themselves in and out of trouble.

Lady Eleanor Swift is let down by her beau so heads on board the maiden voyage of the Celestiana to New York She witnesses a murder and starts to investgate...
Death On Deck is the 13th book to feature Ellie, her unflappable butler Clifford, and her love interest Hugh. It is not necessary to have read the earlier books as there are no spoilers about previous cases.
Ellie is disappointed that her birthday plans are ruined once again by Hugh's police work. She accepts an offer to travel to New York on a luxury liner but witnesses a murder on the first night. Despite the negative attitude of the crew, she seeks to find the murderer amongst the first class passengers.
As usual, Ellie is supported by her staff especially her butler Clifford. Her character continues to challenge 1930s society's values about class and gender which is refreshing as well as entertaining. There is little violence or detail about the murder and victim so the book is definitely a cosy murder mystery.
Ellie needs to put her wits to the test as she tries to investigate her fellow passengers. Every one of the suspects seems to have hidden secrets or suspicious behaviour so there are plenty of potential motives.
The luxury of the ship, which is beautifully described, is almost obscene and Ellie's social conscience makes her feel uncomfortable about her own privilege. The dialogue is witty especially as Clifford despairs of Ellie's conduct. There is a final chase scene which I loved for the action and tension as well as the detail of the ship's layout.
The ending will delight fans of the series and leave you with a big smile as you wait for the next book...
Death On Deck is a warm and witty cosy murder mystery.

‘Death on Deck’ sees Eleanor and the gang set sail for America! So you know how I bang on about my favourite genre being strong women who solve mysteries between the wars?! There is a sub genre to this which I love even more - the story being set on an ocean liner crossing the Atlantic! I don’t know why, maybe it’s the glamour of it all, the locked room mystery aspect or just basic jealously as I have always wanted to have experienced it. All this added up to me being very excited about this outing for Eleanor and the gang! And it did not disappoint.

When Inspector Hugh Seldon lets Lady Eleanor Swift know that he will have to miss her birthday as he has a case, she reconsiders an invitation to travel on the maiden voyage of the Celestiana to New York. Basically, she is in a bit of a huff and decides she wants adventure and off she trots with her merry band of staff and dog! She has paid for all the ladies on her staff to come along as a vacation and for them to experience the thrill of an ocean crossing! Not too long into the journey Eleanor witnesses a man being shot and pushed overboard. When she retrieves the gun she gets a shock as she recognises it as Hugh’s! Her faithful butler Clifford does some digging and finds Hugh on board, albeit cowering in his room with horrendous sea sickness. But he is also under cover as he is tracking a criminal he has been chasing for years! They come to the conclusion that Hugh is being framed for the murder and the countdown is on - they need to find the murderer before they dock in New York!

Although this is the 13th book in the series you can definitely read it on it's own as the background to the case isn't known to the reader either! This is one of my favourite series and this outing was brilliant - fast-paced, full of emotion, packed to the gunnels of twists and turns and technically it's a locked mystery as the murderer has nowhere to hide. I enjoyed learning more about Hugh and his life prior to meeting Eleanor and it certainly explains why their relationship has been progressing so slowly.

Roll on book 14 as it is set in New York! Let me know if you read this one.

I am a huge fan of this cosy mystery series and I really enjoyed this latest installment! The story was very well written, I especially loved reading about the setting during a luxury cruise on that beautiful ship. I enjoy all the banter between Eleanor and Clifford, and I liked the plot twist with Hugh.

4.5 stars, definitely recommended!

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

This book is number 13 in the series and it’s another cracker. This time we’re off on a cruise, a luxury cruise to New York no less. As well as all the usual characters, the Henley Hall staff, Hugh (who has grown on me over the series), Clifford and Gladstone, there is another important character in this book, the ship itself. The ship is the epitome of luxury, so beautifully decorated and designed and the descriptions of it really make it come alive.

Unsurprisingly Eleanor gets caught up in a murder on board the ship. But there’s more to this one than initially appears, and that makes it much more personal too. The people she meets that are also travelling first class are quite a varied group and it’s interesting watching them reveal more about themselves.

This is a other excellent instalment in this series. It has all the features I’ve come to expect from these books, including all the twists and turns as well. If you’ve enjoyed any or all of the previous books then you’l love this one too.

Lady Eleanor Swift experiences Death on Deck by Verity Bright. Lady Swift has embarked on a first class trip on the maiden voyage of a great cruise ship enroute to New York. She witnesses a man murdered and thrown into the sea; then she finds out the gun belonged to Hugh her police inspector friend. It turns out he is on board to pursue the murderer of his first wife during World War I. Bodies start to drop. Lots of suspects and society boors. Read and enjoy.

The 13th (!) entry in this historical cozy mystery series really delivers! This was such a delightful, fun read. I love that this time Lady Eleanor and her crew are on board the maiden voyage of a luxury liner when murder strikes. Her butler Clifford isn't as heavily featured as in prior installments, but I enjoyed Lady Eleanor working with her love interest Hugh to figure out the murderer and save Hugh from being fingered before they the ship docks.