I have enjoyed several other books in this series, but MURDER BY INVITATION didn’t hold my interest.

Lady Eleanor’s outsider status was part of the charm of this series. That has dissolved in this book:
. . . She is everybody’s favorite (eccentric) titled lady;
. . . She is no longer tenuously “managing” her relationship with her butler, they are detective partners, and
. . . she no longer flirts with her detective inspector, they are engaged and boring.

All the dramatic tension in the series has been lost as she matured into her role as Lady of the Manor. If the series is going to continue, the apple cart needs to be upset, or the deck re-shuffled.

Little Buckford is in full planning mode, ready to celebrate King George V's birthday. Lady Swift has been invited to be part of the organising committee chaired by village newcomer, Mr Prestwick-Peterson, who, it is fair to say, isn't universally loved! With every meeting descending into argument and disagreement, she has her work cut out if she's to help provide the village with a day to remember!

When a body is found with one of the birthday decorations, the obvious murder weapon,d Eleanor is determined to discover the killer’s identity. As her fiancé, Chief Inspector Hugh Seldon, is officially investigating, she, her ever resourceful butler, Clifford, and bulldog, Gladstone, enthusiastically begin working alongside him. With shocking discoveries leading them closer to home and long hidden secrets being reluctantly revealed, could it be the King’s party celebrations will be missing its guests of honour?

The fifteenth book in Verity Bright's excellent series finds everyone back at home after their American adventures. With all the main protagonists back on familiar ground and everyone offering their congratulations, Hugh has an even more difficult time than normal, keeping everything moving smoothly, which I loved. His relationship with Clifford also takes a starring role, and there is a fair bit of humour interspersed with the more serious aspects of this brilliant book.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Bookouture, but the opinions expressed are my own. This was an excellent read, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and the series, even after fifteen books, keeps getting better and better.

Despite the book being number 15 in a series, I had no trouble getting to know the characters with this being my first introduction to anything written by Verity Bright. I loved figuring out the mystery alongside Lady Eleanor and found the book to be overall very charming.

This was my first time reading a Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery novel and I really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to reading more in the future 😊
Would recommend to mystery lovers
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lady Swift has been cordially invited to a huge royal celebration in Little Buckford to toast the King’s birthday… but wait, is that a body in the village hall?
Outstanding. I'll be sorry to not have it to read tonight, but couldn't put the book down! I was fully immersed in this from the start… fascinating!

"Lady Swift has been cordially invited to a huge royal celebration in Little Buckford to toast the King’s birthday...but wait, is that a body in the village hall?

Lady Eleanor Swift and her loyal butler Clifford are busy lending a hand with preparations for the big day. The grand dining room at Henley Hall is overflowing with home-sewn flags, paint and royal rosettes. Even Gladstone the bulldog and his new friend Tomkins the ginger cat are invited!

But just days before the event Mr Prestwick-Peterson, the chairman of the celebrations committee, is found dead in the village hall: strangled with handmade red, white and royal blue bunting.

With the village hall in total disarray and a key part of the decorations missing, Eleanor wonders if someone dastardly is sabotaging the King's birthday celebrations? Teaming up with her handsome beau Detective Hugh Seldon to question the local butcher, baker, and pub landlord it becomes clear that the meddlesome busybody Mr Prestwick-Peterson was not universally liked in charming Little Buckford. Indeed, the only mystery is why he wasn't murdered before...

Searching Mr Prestwick-Peterson's pristinely organised rooms, Eleanor is surprised to find a faded photograph of a beautiful young woman hidden within the pages of a novel. Could this be the key to untangling this very village murder? And can Eleanor catch the killer before the party is over for her, too?"

In a small British town bunting is THE MOST British way to die.

Great to see the character's back together again. The mystery was as good as ever but the highlight is watching Eleanor and Hugh working close together so we can see their relationship build a little bit. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The latest entry in the Lady Swift series sees Eleanor and Hugh back together again, which for me always makes for a more enjoyable read. It’s a case much closer to him this time when the discovery of a body interrupts the village’s planning for a royal celebration. Eleanor, Hugh, and Clifford have to delve into the victim’s mysterious past to solve the mystery before others take the blame. The mystery was well done, and as always in this series it’s good to catch up with the regular characters and see Eleanor and Hugh get ever so slowly closer. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.