My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Murder in Manhattan‘ by Verity Bright.

This is Book 14 in the Lady Eleanor Swift series of historical cosy mysteries set in the 1920s. As usual, I complemented my reading with its unabridged audiobook edition, narrated by Karen Cass.

This novel follows on from the events in Book 13, ‘Death on Deck’, in which Lady Eleanor (Ellie) had travelled to New York City and solved a murder while on board the luxury ocean liner. Ellie has settled herself and her staff into a sumptuous Manhattan apartment and socialises with members of the local high society.

When Ellie witnesses a fatal hit-and-run accident outside her building, she is convinced that it was deliberate though her concerns are initially brushed off by beat cop, Officer Balowski. In addition, her new high society acquaintances close ranks and are not at all encouraging of her sleuthing.

Still, Ellie is unlikely to be put off and doggedly pursues her own investigation. However, New York City presents a very different society to the one that Ellie is used to and she soon finds herself in danger. No further details to avoid spoilers.

This was something a little different from the usual type of murder that Ellie investigates given that she is confronted by a hostile police force, Prohibition-era gangsters, and the like. Being Ellie, she does also find allies and, of course, is assisted by Clifford, her faithful butler, and Gladstone, who continues to win over everyone apart from Catamina, a Siamese cat, and her snobbish owner, who resides in the same apartment building as Ellie and company.

I always enjoy Karen Cass’ narration of the series’ audiobooks and here she obviously had a great deal of fun with the various American accents.

Overall, ‘Murder in Manhattan’ was another enjoyable instalment in this brilliant series with a nail-biting finale that had me on the edge of my seat. The change in location also allowed for a change of pace for Lady Eleanor Swift, combining the usual cosy mystery with a touch of hard boiled pulp fiction.

Highly recommended.

How have I not known about this series? So fun and entertaining all wrapped up in a historical cozy. And it takes place during one of my favorite eras, the 1920s (OK I just had to go back and add the 19 – Yikes). While I am sure the series is more enjoyable being read in its entirety, this book can be read as a standalone. This is the only one I have read and i had no trouble following it and really enjoyed it.

Lady Eleanor is in New York with her court and has witnessed another murder. My only gripe with cozy mysteries is how do these people have any friends left? When the New York police and the elite company Eleanor is keeping all don’t want to investigate, our amateur sleuth is hot on the case. She along with one NYC cop start poking around and this just brings trouble to them both.

New York City with all it has to offer is a great setting and I really felt it as I read. I like the supporting cast and their quirky personalities. This was a quick, easy read that captivated me from the start. I’m not sure murder has ever been this fun. I even laughed out a few times.

After a very eventful sea voyage from England, newly engaged Eleanor (Ellie) and her staff are excited to begin their holiday in New York. Eleanor, as a titled English lady, is a curiosity and is overwhelmed by the many invitations extended to her by New York's social set. For support, she takes along Gladstone (the bulldog) and Clifford (the butler), both of whom get their own share of attention. Clifford's presence also ensures that Ellie doesn't commit too many social faux pas.

But once again, another holiday is disrupted by murder when she witnesses the death of Marty, the doorman of her apartment building, in what she believes is a deliberate hit and run, but deemed an accident by the authorities. With Clifford's help Ellie launches her own investigation, crossing paths with some unscrupulous people and venturing into some of the less salubrious areas of New York. Before the case is solved, Ellie and her loyal gang will face death threats, ostracism by high society, kidnapping and a thrilling chase in New York's most famous landmark.

I did say in my review of Death on Deck that I thought it was the best instalment so far, but I have to say Murder in Manhattan is a strong rival for that title. It is filled with so many colourful (and stereotypical) characters. To name a few, we have Iver Driver, the taxi driver; Officer Balowski, the beat cop; Mrs Melchum, the crusty old lady who is Ellie's neighbour in the apartment building; Catamina, Mrs Melchum's cat, who is responsible for Gladstone's bad behaviour; the thugs, one with a scarred face; and the self-centred rich socialites and wealthy business men flaunting their wealth and power. Their interaction is a delight. And, of course, there is the city of New York itself, providing a wonderful backdrop to Ellie's investigation.

Woven into the hunt for a murderer is Ellie and Clifford's exposure to life in New York, which includes trying to understand the New York vernacular and sampling the culinary delights the city has to offer such as hot dogs and hamburgers.

All the elements that make this series so compelling are present: a number of suspects, plot twists, the banter between Ellie and Clifford, a thrilling chase and a wrapping up that always ends on a high note.

Murder in Manhattan, like all the other books in the series, was so much fun to read! As always, I'm looking forward to the next book.

Lady Swift has safely arrived in New York although
She's had to say goodbye to her beau.
She's staying for a month it seems
With Clifford, Gladstone and the ladies' team!

When she sees the lovely doorman hit and run
The police claim the case is over and done.
However, that's not good enough for Eleanor, no way
She thinks its murder so someone needs to pay!

Get ready for the glitz, glamour and soirées
As invitations her notoriety and fame send her ways.
But endeavouring the killer to uncover
Could put her in dangers as she'll soon discover!

Another page turner read with surprise twists to find
With new friends and puzzles to engage the mind.
With Clifford to help her solve the case
Can they both survive their visit to this place?

For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

I am pleased to be on the Books on Tour for the latest Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series. Thanks to Bookouture, NetGalley, and Verity Bright for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. We’re up to volume 14 in the series, and I’ve read or listened to about half of the books. The great thing about Lady Eleanor Swift Mysteries is that while each novel is part of a series, they can be read as standalone novels as well.

Eleanor and her entourage of paid help, as well as the old bulldog, Gladstone, have arrived in New York City to vacation and enjoy America. Eleanor is quite a celebrity since she solved a murder on the ship on her way to the U.S., and just the fact that she’s titled is enough to cause a stir in New York society. Not long after arriving, Eleanor witnesses a hit-and-run accident that kills one of her apartment’s doormen. He whispers his last words into Ellie’s ear, and she’s left wondering what it means. She’s convinced the accident was not an accident after all, and begins to investigate.

While Eleanor and her servants act and react the same way they have in previous books, this book feels different because of its New York City setting. We’re exposed to the underbelly of organized crime in New York of the 1920s, and corrupt police, and snooty society matrons, and immigrants living in terrible conditions. I do have to say that Americans do not come off that well in this book, and every stereotypical New York character from the early 1900s seems to appear. I’m no fan of big cities, either, but this book paints many Americans in rather a bad light.

However, even with my own chest-thumping, proud-to-be-an-American misgivings, I enjoyed unspooling the mystery. gathering tiny clues in the clever writing and trying to figure out the murderer before Eleanor and her crew. Ellie gets help with her sleuthing with Clifford, of course, whose past experiences as Eleanor’s uncle’s body man and butler serve him in good stead. Marty’s brother, Earl, becomes sort of a co-sleuth because he wants to know what happened to his brother, too. Eleanor gets some more help from Iver, a taxi driver, and Balowski, the only policeman that takes her seriously and doesn’t seem to be on the dole.

Despite having solved 13 other mysteries, Eleanor is still rather naive at times, yet that makes her more endearing and charming to the reader. Despite the fact that she inherited her estate and title nearly a year ago, she still hasn’t quite grasped how to behave with the upper crust of society after having a rather Bohemian upbringing. Her interactions with New York’s upper crust of society are fun to read because of how she acts and reacts.

Ellie’s love interest and fiancé, Hugh, was absent in this book, although his engagement ring to her made an appearance, then a disappearance, then a reappearance in the book. I’m sort of glad he wasn’t in this volume, as I’ve not warmed to him. I think Eleanor could do better than Chief Inspector Seldon, although he does give her the freedom to live her life and solve mysteries. Maybe he’s not so bad after all.

I’ll be honest, this wasn’t my favorite Lady Eleanor Swift mystery, but it was still an entertaining read. Ellie is fun and entertaining, as is her cast of supporting characters, especially Gladstone, the sausage-loving dog she takes everywhere. I also love that these books are not that expensive on Kindle, making them Bargain Sleuth-approved.

I can’t wait to see what Eleanor and the gang get involved with next!

The latest volume of Lady Swift’s detecting adventures doesn’t disappoint. The story has moved to New York and the differences between English and American societies were particularly interesting. The 1920s period setting, Ellie’s relationship with her butler and the sharp humour reminded me of Jeeves and Wooster books. This is a very enjoyable series.

It’s not easy to say something original after one took part to 14 blog tours and review all the previous instalments. This is the best novel so far as there’s a continuous evolution in the character’s arc and this is one that sees our heroes facing a new environment and people who are an unknown quantity.
You can’t know who you can trust and there’s a lot going on under the façade of the Manhattan high society.
It’s the age of Charleston but also of gangsters, Prohibition, and corruption.
Eleanor and Clifford, with some help from local people, face this new world and a couple of murder.
I love how the authors always add interesting social remarks to their stories as the social naivete of Eleanor can help her to see beyond the conventions.
The mystery is twisty, action packed and fast paced. I couldn’t stop reading and turning pages in a sort of one-more-chapter-syndrome. I had fun and was kept guessing even if some gut feeling suggested me who the villain was.
Not the best to read as a stand-alone but will surely be love by those who read the rest of the series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Last time we saw Lady Swift she was on her way to New York and recently engaged. Now, although with no beau as he had to go back to England, she’s finally in the Big Apple hoping for a nice vacation along her trusted butler Clifford, the ladies of Henley Hall and her beloved bulldog Gladstone. But, as usual, murder and mayhem follow her wherever she goes. The setting might be different but the essence of the series is still intact.

Since her arrival in New York, Lady Swift has become the talk of the town, being invited to all the high-class soirées. When the doorman of her building is killed in a hit-and-run, she’ll take upon herself to find out if it was just an accident as the police think, or if it was deliberate, what will make her come in touch with the seedier side of NYC.

It was so much fun seeing Ellie and Clifford out of their element. Great way to keep things fresh in the series! It was so nice to be able to walk the streets of New York in the 20s, from the high society parties to the seedy speakeasies where crime bosses were making buckets of money thanks to prohibition. It was really interesting to see the contrast between the English and the American way of life, and how they felt like fish out of water some times.

So far from home, they didn’t have their usual collaborators, but the new characters were a great addition. Iver Driver, Officer Balowski…his feud with Clifford was really fun to read about.

I love Ellie’s strong sense of justice and how she cares for everyone, no matter their social status. She’ll always go out of her way to find out the truth even though that means endangering herself.

The mystery itself was also a nice one as it introduced some interesting characters and a plot that dealt with what first comes to mind when one thinks about the USA in the 1920s. Plenty of red herrings made me doubt everyone as the story moved forward towards a really satisfying ending that could only take place in Lady Liberty herself.

“Murder in Manhattan” may be installment number 14 in the series, but it’s still as fresh as the first one, as the series knows how to reinvent itself from time to time to keep Ellie and Clifford’s fans engaged.

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

Lady Eleanor Swift is so excited to be traveling to New York City, with her butler Clifford, and of course her bulldog Gladstone. She has never visited New York City, so she can’t wait to see if it lives up to hype. Walking Gladstone in Central Park is at the top of her list of things she wants to do. However, when she witnesses a murder, her list quickly changes. The doorman at her building, Marty, is killed by a hit-and-run driver, and local Officer Balowski, a beat cop, is on the case. Lady Eleanor and Gladstone assist Officer Balowski in finding the culprit. When they search Marty’s apartment they discover wads of cash hidden under the flooring. But it didn’t make sense because Marty was struggling financially, so where did all that cash come from? Marty’s ex-boss Ogden Delaney is found dead in the city. Elenor is puzzled because Ogden was found so far away from his Upper East Side mansion. Lady Eleanor and Officer Balowski are certain that the murders are connected but they are not getting any answers to their questions, especially from Ogden’s wife. Lady Eleanor is soon evicted from her new apartment and Officer Balowski is fired from the police department. The only thing that makes sense is that they are getting very close to solving the case.

It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of Lady Eleanor Swift and of course Gladstone. This story plays out like a movie in my mind’s eye. I love to read about the sights and sounds of New York City, and its hustle and bustle. I was immersed in this story and I was stumped at who the culprit was, which kept me flying through the pages. Lady Eleanor is so witty and never gives up when there is a murderer to be found. Gladstone the bulldog always helps solve the case, and I’m sure he is fun to have around. I thoroughly enjoyed this installment in the Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Series. Each installment is better, and so different then the previous books. If you are looking for a fun, entertaining and engaging cozy mystery, look no further, you have found it. I loved this book and I highly recommend it.

Here we find Eleanor, Clifford, Gladstone, and the ladies in the Big Apple. New York City! They’ve successfully made it across the Atlantic, Hugh has proposed and headed back to England, and Eleanor and company are set to enjoy a lovely holiday in America. But murder finds them when Marty, the jovial doorman for their apartment block, is run over in the street. The police aren’t inclined to pursue the matter, and the high society folks Eleanor is mingling with strongly encourage her to drop it.

But Eleanor’s strong sense of justice won’t let her leave it be. As she investigates, she comes up with more questions than answers. Why did Marty have a wad of cash stashed away? He couldn’t have made that much money as a doorman. But he used to work for the wealthy Ogden P. Dellaney, also found dead in mysterious circumstances the following day. Are the two connected?

Verity Bright gives us another lovely literary confection here! Bright portrays a New York where everybody – cops, doormen, chauffeurs – is on the take somehow. People warn Eleanor that the city isn’t kind to those who go poking their noses where they don’t belong (what, Eleanor do that? Perish the thought!). But she persists. And at least one officer of the law, Officer Balowski, is willing to help Eleanor search for the truth. For their troubles, though, Eleanor is evicted from her apartment and Balowski is fired from the force. How much farther will the killer go to warn them off?

Not only do we have the main mystery, but we also have the irascible Mrs. Melchum and her snooty cat, Catamina. Mrs. Melchum isn’t very kind to Eleanor, nor is she favorably inclined toward Gladstone (and who doesn’t love Gladstone?!). The interactions between Gladstone and Catamina are pretty funny. Cat, dog, you get the drift. What happened in her past to make her so bitter? Will she ever warm to Eleanor?

With the cast of charming regulars and new characters to love (or not), a high society setting in the Roaring 20s, and a mystery that leads the reader on a merry chase, Murder in Manhattan is a joy to read. Can’t wait to see what Eleanor gets up to next!

Favorite Quotes:

I won’t tell ya some of the things I’ve heard over the years. Make your wig spin if I did.

Ogden was all mustard and no steak.

My Review:

Another lively, cleverly witty, and pleasantly amusing conundrum that the little pea in my brain was far from solving on its own. Lady Swift finds herself in serious peril more than once in this active and smartly paced adventure. I missed the involvement of her ever-patient policeman beau but the Lady has unwittingly assembled a rather surprising and diverse crew to pick up the slack, and she was in dire need of every one of them. Thankfully, Clifford, one of my favorite characters of all time, continued to be brilliant and always several steps ahead of everyone else.

I have "listened" to every book in this series and was so excited for this new addition!

Needless to say in classic Lady Eleanor style, she finds herself involved in murder as she and her crew have traveled across the pond to New York!

Humor, murder, suspense and delightful characters pull you in and don't let go until the end!
All I can say is "More please!"

A thoroughly entertaining Golden Age cozy mystery.

This delightful and easy to read series continues with installment #14 as Lady Eleanor Swift and her entourage arrive in New York after a harrowing transatlantic crossing. At first, Eleanor and Clifford are deluged with invitations to many lavish parties but all that changes when the doorman of her apartment building is killed in a hit-and-run. Eleanor knows this was no accident, but no one seems to care about justice. Then a wealthy businessman with a reputation for adultery is found dead in the street in a bad part of town. Eleanor knows these two deaths are connected but no idea who might be responsible.

The action follows at a fast pace with the story a little darker than usual as corruption, vice, and greed expose the very seedy side of Manhattan. The interaction between the characters is fun and clever and the story has enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. This is one of the few series that I still try to keep up with as I enjoy the characters, the time period, and the historical details.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. I do suggest that any prospective reader start at the beginning of the series and read the books in order.

Lady Eleanor takes Manhattan!! And finds murder as well. Bright has a ball writing about Lady Eleanor and company in New York City sightseeing, visiting speakeasies, and dealing with gangsters. This is a lot of fun.

If you haven't read any books in the Lady Eleanor 1920s cozy series you are missing out. Grab one and enjoy.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lady Eleanor Swift sets up her home-away-from-home in a lavish apartment in New York City. She is soon the toast of the town, with no high-class soirée complete without her presence. Of course, she drags her butler Clifford and Gladstone the bulldog along to every party too. Then she witnesses the charming doorman of her building, Marty, knocked down and killed in a hit-and-run, she finds fashionable society suddenly closes rank. The only local detective interested in helping her find the culprit is street-smart beat cop, Officer Balowski. Resolved to get justice for Marty and his family, Eleanor searches Marty’s tiny apartment and is shocked to find five rolls of banknotes tucked under the floorboards. The next day, wealthy entrepreneur and flashy philanderer Ogden P. Dellaney – a man Marty used to work for – is found dead downtown, miles away from his swanky Upper East Side mansion. Eleanor and Balowski are sure the deaths are connected, but not even Dellaney’s wife is willing to answer their questions. Then Eleanor is served with an eviction notice and Balowski is fired from the NYPD.
The fourteenth outing for Ellie & this time she’s in New York, after proposing Hugh had to return to England. Soon Ellie is up to her neck in accidents, hit & runs, gangsters & New York’s society. Another very well written book that often had me on the edge of my seat, even Clifford had to produce a gun a time or two. Mixed in with the growing tension are slices of humour. Strong characters & a fast paced story had me devouring this engrossing read in a couple of sittings. There are of course twists & turns but Ellie is still dogged in her determination to find out the truth & avoid cement boots & a swim in the Hudson River.
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

1920s Manhattan is a glamorous but unforgiving place, vividly evoked in Lady Eleanor Swift’s latest adventure, Murder in Manhattan. The reader gets a real flavour of the frenetic atmosphere of the city and its inhabitants where everything is for show and what lies beneath is something you’d rather not know! Some wonderful new characters are introduced—and I loved their dialogue—Iver Driver, the cabby, Balowski, the tough New York cop, a cluster of smooth socialites including Atticus Wyatt, intent on ruining his rival. True inhabitants of a town that might bemuse Ellie but doesn’t stop her from taking it on, accompanied as always by Clifford, her indefatigable butler and Churchill, the bulldog.

Lady Eleanor Swift is enjoying her first visit to New York City. She is being invited to all the high society parties and may have got the eye of a married man who doesn't usually hear the word no. But when her doorman is hit by a car and killed right in front of her, Eleanor can't ignore the fact that it might have been murder. Even though this is unpopular with the "in crowd" who soon shun her, Eleanor is determined to get justice - if she doesn't wind up in the Hudson with cement boots.

Murder in Manhattan pretty much picks up right where Death on Deck (see my review), but don't worry if you haven't read it. You can start this series with this book if you want.

When I finished Death on Deck, I wondered if we would get our next adventure in New York. It is one of the things I like about this cozy mystery series. Eleanor travels every few books so all the murders don't happen in her little English village.

It was interesting to see New York through Eleanor's eyes. How she and Clifford interpreted some of the American slang was amusing as well.

Eleanor traveled with her whole staff but we don't get to see much of the ladies. Her beau had to return to England, but there is a really sweet moment involving him.

If you are looking for a fun mystery to read while sipping a glass of iced tea this summer, then you should pick up this book. This series is one of my favorites and I'm sure it will be one of yours too.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Thursday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2023/06/murder-in-manhattan-by-verity-bright.html

After enjoying the previous book set on the ship bringing Eleanor and her household to New York, I was excited to read her adventures abroad. Although I prefer the stories set in the UK/Europe, it was a nice change to see Eleanor evolve in an unfamiliar setting. As usual, there’s the perfect mix of mystery, red herrings and banter that I learned to love since the first book.

Highly recommended, 4.5 stars.

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

This is the first book by this author that I have read. I found it an enjoyable read with wonderful characters including a mischievous bulldog. The storyline was well thought out and put together although I did feel it was a little too long for me. The story gave a great overview of the early New York and the underbelly. Although is #14 in the series it can be read as a standalone. I will look forward to the next one to see what more trouble our Lady and her brilliant butler can get into. I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and freely give my review.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher; all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Murder in Manhattan is the latest in the now very long running series featuring Lady Eleanor Swift and her beloved butler Clifford. This title finds Eleanor and her staff including Clifford spending an extended period in New York City following an eventful trans-Atlantic trip. Eleanor finds herself a hot commodity as New York City is fascinated by her title. She is horrified to witness the death of the doorman to her rented apartment when he is run down by a car. Determined to find out why the young man was killed and who is behind it, Eleanor quickly becomes persona non-grata and is herself the target of attempted violence in what is perhaps the most overtly dangerous adventure that Eleanor and Clifford have experienced yet. Will Eleanor solve the murder before it is too late? I enjoyed this title as I love the characters and watching them continue to grow. The mystery on this one was interesting and there were a few twists that will keep readers engaged until the reveal. I'm hoping that the next title will continue to push forward Eleanor's relationship with Inspector Seldon.