Murder on the Cornish Cliffs is the 16th Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery and I enjoyed it a lot. Eleanor and her butler, Clifford head to Cornwall to see a friend of Ellie's uncle Byron. They received a letter stating he was afraid someone was trying to kill him and asking them to come. They set off in the Rolls with Gladstone, her bulldog and their cat, Tompkins. When they arrive it is to find out that the landscape gardener that Mr. Cunliffe had hired had fallen from the cliffs to his death. Both Eleanor and Clifford were sure it was murder, and they convince the Police Inspector to do an autopsy. It is revealed that he was poisoned and that he was murdered and Mr. Cunliffe is the main suspect. It is time for Eleanor and Clifford to put on their sleuthing hats. The also call in Eleanor's fiancé, Chief Inspector Seldon to help on the sly. He is on vacation, planning to spend Christmas with Eleanor, so agrees to drive down. Will they find out who the real killer is and why St Clair was murdered.

I am enjoying this series and although I have only read the last few, have no problems following the stories. Each mystery is solved within the book, so they can be read as standalone stories. I loved the setting of this story. An old and stately manor house on the cliffs in Cornwall with a storm moving in just before Christmas. The grounds were once an amazing garden with a grotto, raised beds, bamboo and more that was beautifully described even though it was overgrown. The banter and teasing between Clifford and Eleanor always makes me smile and laugh, they are such unlikely pair of Lady and her butler. The way the two of them work together to solve a crime always amazes me with the reasoning and deduction. Clifford had been a world traveler and has so much knowledge. The secondary characters in this book were also interesting. The two older sisters were a hoot, speaking in quotes and poems all the time. Of course I can't forget Gladstone and Tompkins. Completely spoiled members of the family, they also play an important role rooting out clues to help solve the mystery, and they make me smile. This was another wonderful historical mystery and I have to say the Lady Eleanor is one I want to see more of for a long time. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, especially historical ones, then I recommend you pick up this book, or better yet, start at the beginning of this series and enjoy them all.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher; all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. The latest title in the long running series finds Eleanor traveling to assist a friend of her late uncle's, Mr Cunliffe, who believes that his head gardener is out to kill him. As it is right before Christmas, it appears that if Eleanor and Clifford can't wrap up the matter fast enough, Eleanor will have to spend Christmas apart from her fiancé Hugh. When the pair arrive, the gardener is dead - was he the target or was Mr Cunliffe and the gardener killed in a case of mistaken identity? I really enjoyed this title as the mystery was extremely well done with a couple of really interesting twists I didn't see coming. I continue to enjoy titles in this series and look forward to many more.

Murder on the Cornish Cliffs Is book #16 in Lady Eleanor Swift series and the first one I have read. I will certainly be going back to read the previous books.

It is Christmas and Lady Eleanore receives a letter from Mr Cunliffe, old friend of her late Uncle, requesting her presence in Cornwall as he believes his gardener is trying to poison him. Eleanore’s butler, Clifford, warns her that Cunliffe is a strange man, before the two of them rush down to Cornwall only to find the police in attendance - the gardener has been found dead at the bottom of the cliff. Who has killed him? And why? Was the wrong man killed and Mr Cunliffe’s life still in danger?

As snow begins to fall, Eleanor interviews the family members, two batty sisters and a bad-tempered entitled nephew, and is soon convinced everyone is lying - but as someone tries to kill her not once, but twice - she has to find out who it is and stop them.

I for one had not a clue until the big showdown in the cave at the end. And it made complete and utter sense as to why he, she or it was the murderer.

I really enjoyed the story, there was lots of fun back and forth quips between Eleanor and Clifford. Later on the book Eleanor’s fiancé arrives incognito and pretending not to know him on the train and smuggling him into the village inn had me laughing at times.

Having been to Cornwall a few times, I loved reading about the different Cornish customs - and have actually eaten traditional stargazy pie - as a child I didn’t like the fish looking at me, so my nanna use to put little hats on the heads of the fish peeking out of my serve. Brought back fond memories.

I recommend this book to lovers of cosy mysteries, and did not feel as though I have missed out by not reading any of the previous books.

With thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for my copy to review

Love the Verity Bright writing team. Love The Eleanor Swift cozy Murder mysteries. Really didn’t like the majority of the players is this installment. Usually there are a few nasty guys between the pages but it was beyond difficult to find anyone who was sympathetic. But the mystery was engaging, the murders more gruesome, the twists harder and sharper, the quips brighter and smarter, the upper classes more obnoxious and insulting than ever and the ultimate reveal totally satisfying. There isn’t much more I can hope for. This writing team gets what their readers want and delivers over and over.

Many thanks to Bookoutre and NetGalley for a copy of another great installment.

This is the latest in this series and these books keep getting better and better. While I wasn’t a fan of Hugh Seldon at the beginning he’s grown on me since, especially in the last few books and I’m now becoming impatient for the wedding (perhaps without a murder though).

Clifford, Eleanor’s steadfast and loyal butler, seems to be loosening up a little and I enjoyed watching this. While the two have always got along, I felt there was more humour from them both in this book. It was lovely to see the interactions between them both, and also with them and Seldon. I enjoyed the trip to Cornwall and whether it’s the time it’s set in, or perhaps just me, I felt this was the cosiest book of the series too.

I enjoyed the mystery in this book too. There were lots of twists and turns and while I had my suspicions as to the murder (and was correct for a change), I enjoyed watching the characters react to the ever changing situation.

This was a brilliant addition to the series and I’m excited to see where it goes, and to watch the characters continue to develop.

‘Murder on the Cornish Cliffs’ was a fun, big house-type mystery that kept me guessing right until the very end! This is the 16th book in the series but it can easily be read as a standalone mystery. I do recommend reading the series though as it has been a joy to read about Lady Swift and her merry band of helpers!

Lady Eleanor Swift and her butler Clifford are making their way to spend some time in Cornwall. They received a letter from an old family friend Mr Cunliffe who needs their help on an investigation, he fears for his life. When they arrive at his estate, they are meet by the police as the estate’s gardner Jerome St Clair has been found death at the bottom of the cliffs! Of course, Ellie and Clifford jump into investigative mode and starts to quiz the staff and residents of the house. Mr Cunliffe thinks it was a case of mistaken identity and that he was meant to be the victim. Will Ellie manage to find out who the killer is before they strike again?

I loved this book! I like it when Ellie goes on her adventures. It brings some freshness into the series with the change of location. Once again it had all the hallmarks of what makes this series great in my eyes - fun, brilliant characters and a mystery that keeps you guessing. Lady Eleanor Swift is one of my favourite characters as she is very quirky and not really of her time. She is fun and feisty, loves a mystery and a good scran! She is loving and kind and doesn't think in the way most aristocrats of her age do! I love her relationship with Clifford, her butler. To me that is the true love story that runs through this series.

This was a great mystery and I definitely did not guess who the bad guy was at all! I thought the resolution to part of the mystery was very poignant and it tugged at my heartstrings. Oh, the crazy Aunts were brilliant as well, I could very easily picture them and they were a hoot to read about. I flew through this in one sitting and the pacing and atmosphere of the book were brilliant. The tension ramped up to a great conclusion and I loved all the references to the snow and Christmas! Once again it was a brilliant read and a great addition to the series.

Let me know if you pick this one up!

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Murder On The Cornish Cliffs' by Verity Bright.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Verity Bright, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 1st December 2023.

This novel consists of 42 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

YET ANOTHER HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO VERITY ON YET ANOTHER PAGE TURNING SUCCESS!! THIS HAS GOT TO BE MY FAVOURITE BOOK IN ONE OF MY FAVOURITE COSY MYSTERY SERIES!!

Another successful unputdownable cosy mystery by the very talented Verity Bright. I'm always a bit dubious with books based historically as I worry about not being able to 'deal' with the language used but I absolutely love how Verity has written her books. The language used is perfectly suited to the era whilst being easy to read and making it quite humorous on several occasions. The atmosphere and descriptions were perfect. The synopsis and cover also suit the storyline.

The storyline had me hooked immediately and I love the way that Eleanor and Clifford go about their detective work. There was so much going on that it kept me entertained thoroughly throughout with mystery after mystery and clue after clue. It was filled with suspense, mystery, laughter, murder, clues, deceit. tension, suspense and so much more!! It is absolutely perfect to read either curled in front of the fire or lying on a beach which not many books can achieve. I devoured it in one sitting as I just could not put it down and gave up on lying to myself saying just one more chapter as that never happened!! I never did work out who the killer was and was completely shocked when they were discovered. A great achievement as I am a huge crime fan and tend to work out who did what quite early on, especially considering I have read so many of Verity's books yet she manages to get me every time. The atmosphere was perfectly suited to the mystery. I love the fact that this book takes us on a holiday into Cornwall and not just into Cornwall but into the gorgeous and gothic atmosphere of Godfrey's picturesque manor Gwel an Mor. Verity's gorgeous evocative writing skills and descriptions whisked me off to Cornwall and even with the murder and mayhem I was gutted when I came to the end and not only had to leave some amazing friends but also the gorgeous Cornwall!!! I actually went on holidays to Cornwall several months ago but Verity made me feel I was straight back there and made me look forward to my return next year even more!!! I loved getting to know more about Cornwall from the past, it's folklore and it's famous history of snuggling and shipwrecks. I think this has got to be my favourite book in this series so far with some of my favourite people (and animals of course) being in one of my favourite places ever!!! I also love the fact that although this is a cosy mystery it also had me in stitches of laughter on so many occasions which makes it the perfect light hearted read!! Verity's books always send me back to the past and I become so immersed in each of her fantastic books that I always feel a bit lost when I finally look up from my book and land back in 2023!!! If your looking for a dog with a huge personality, a Lady with an attitude, a politely sarcastic butler and a lighthearted cozy murder mystery then look no further!!

I always thoroughly enjoy reading Verity's historical notes that she includes at the back of the book and these ones are no exception so ensure you don't forget to read those. I love learning about history so was fascinated by the information she includes in the historical notes about:

🧚 Cornish Pixies.

😈Devil Worship And Mr Crowley.

🚨Cornish Lighthouses.

🌴 Lost Gardens.

🥚Egg Collecting.

🪽Mrs Liddicoat's Seagull Recipe

🎶Cornish Music And Instruments

🎄Cornish Christmas Customs

Thank you Verity for including these, I have yet again learnt quite a few facts that I had no idea about previously.

Although this is the sixteenth book in the series I would have had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.

The characters were all larger than life, realistic and a complete breathe of fresh air. Eleanor is an amazing character, very bubbly and certainly not your typical 'Lady', she is absolutely unique as well as a very strong female lead which is a great bonus for myself being female. I absolutely adore her relationship with Clifford along with the rest of her "staff" that she treats more like friends. The only downfall is that herself and Clifford are fictional as these are two characters I would absolutely LOVE to meet in real life!! Clifford is absolutely fantastic and I really enjoy how he makes me laugh with his diplomatic skills while being extremely sarcastic at times. It is so sweet how he has taken Eleanor under his wing and admonishes her in several occasions in his humerus ways. They are like the perfect comedy duo but don't tell Clifford!! I also love Sheldon who is completely overworked but still such a gentleman who is constantly on edge with Eleanor's adventures!! I adored that their love for each other shines through the pages in this book I loved meeting them all again although I did miss the Henley Hall ladies Butters, Trotters, Polly and Lizzie in this book. The gang are all larger than life with their own exceptional personalities and I hope we see more on them in the next book in this fantastic series. I can't forget the absolutely adorable Gladstone along with Tomkins who are adventures in themselves! It was interesting to meet another friend of Eleanor's late uncle. This is the first time we meet Mr Godfrey Cunliffe in this series. Godfrey and his family are a strange group of characters especially when it comes to his retainers and strange behaviour and attitude. I couldn't abide his old fashioned attitudes towards women and servants who he sees as inferior. I really could not stand him and the way he was with Ellie whose help he is asking for!!!! However, regardless of whether you love them or hate them each of the characters play their parts perfectly as always in Verity's books and I cannot wait to meet Eleanor, Clifford, Sheldon, Gladstone and Tomkins along with (hopefully) the Henley Hall ladies again in the next book in this fantastic series which is called 'A Death In Venice' and will be published on the 28th March 2024!!!

A huge congratulations on yet another fantastic success Verity!!! Here's to looking forward to your next book 🥂

f you are looking for a cosy mystery that has everything that you could ask for in a book and more then look no further!!!

This is exactly why you are one of my favourite authors and this is one of my favourite 'series' Verity! Yet another page turning and unputdownable success!

Overall a fun and easy to read page turning cozy murder mystery with the perfect amount of crime and humour that will keep you hooked throughout.

342 pages.

This book is just £2.99 to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £7.80 in paperback via Amazon (at time of review) which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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December, 1923: After receiving a letter from Mr. Cunliffe, an old friend of her deceased uncle, Lady Eleanor Swift and her indispensable butler Clifford are heading to Cornwall to stay with the Mr. Cunliffe for Christmas. Mr. Cunliffe has been restoring the old family home and suspects the gardener he hired is trying to kill him. Ellie and Clifford arrive only to find that the gardener is dead at the bottom of a cliff. The initial suspicion is that it’s an accident or possibly suicide, but Ellie and Clifford quickly realize it’s murder.

This was a fairly typical cozy - with all the snow and holiday references, perfect for cold winter day. It is the 16th in the series; it can stand alone, but would be richer if the previous books have been read.

Recommended. I received a copy of this from NetGalley. Com that I voluntarily chose to review.

Favorite Quote:

Now face to face, she couldn’t help arriving at the uncharitable conclusion that he must have been drawn nose first, and then the artist had lost heart.


My Review:

This is such a fun and enjoyable series that keeps me guessing as well as pleasantly entertained. This installment was the longest and most complicated mystery yet. I would never have come to this conclusion as I had been suspecting the wrong person for most of the book. This adventure was completely away from home and without her ladies for backup, yet her ever-prepared, flawlessly presented, and perfectly kitted butler was more than up to the task of keeping Eleanor alive and squabbling with clever wit and high style.

The next book in this wonderful series where this time Lady Swift receives a invitation from her late uncles friend in Cornwall. Godfrey Cunliffe has asked Lady Swift to join in him at his seaside manor as he believes his gardener, Jerome St Clair, is trying to kill him. Lady Swift and her butler, Clifford set off immediately but when they arrive things have already turned to murder!

Another exciting read from Verity Bright that you will not want to put down!

This is the 16th! Book in the series and was fun.

I liked that Clifford and seldon were in but missed the house and the team at home - the cook etc are so fun.

A great cosy mystery with a Christmas twist.

Thanks for the arc!

I think I was on all the blog tour so I can check and read what I thought. My general impression is a continuous improvement of the plots, an interesting character arc, and a lot of compelling and well written story.
This was the perfect read for me as it talks about gardeners’, garden and the descriptions of places made me wish I could spend Christmastime in Cornwall.
I appreciated this complex whodunnit, I was reading Dancers in Mourning in parallel and appreciated how Verity Bright did an excellent job in recreating the atmosphere and the historical background. Some elements made me also think of Mordecai Tremaine in Murder for Christmas (the festive atmosphere vs the murder)
This is the most complex story in this series and the darker one even if Elly and Clifford banters plus Gladstone did an excellent job in keeping the atmosphere light
An entertaining and well plotted story that I thoroughly enjoyed and grabbed me since the beginning.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

“He sighed. ‘I meant ask how it is that I let you out of my sight for two minutes and you are knee deep in dead bodies? Again!’”

My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Murder on the Cornish Cliffs‘ by Verity Bright. I also was invited to take part in their publication week blog tour. This is my stop.

This is Book 16 in the delightful Lady Eleanor Swift series of historical cosy mysteries set in the early 1920s. I again complemented my reading with its unabridged audiobook edition, narrated by Karen Cass.

Background is provided for new readers and each book works fine on its own, though I feel it’s rewarding to read these books in order to appreciate how the characters have developed over the course of the series.

In this outing Lady Eleanor (Ellie) and her faithful butler, Clifford, head to Cornwall just before Christmas. Mr Godfrey Cunliffe, an old friend of her late uncle, has written with concerns that his life is in danger. He doesn’t want to involve the police but hopes Ellie can help.

So along with Clifford, Gladstone, the bulldog, and Tomkins, the ginger cat, they arrive at the picturesque manor, Gwel an Mor, and find that the police are in attendance. Are they too late?

Yet it quickly emerges that it is Cunliffe’s gardener, Jerome St Clair, who is dead. His body was found on the beach at the bottom of a steep cliff. In addition, his plans for restoring the gardens to their former glory are missing. It seems that Mr Cunliffe had suspected that St Clair was the one threatening his life, though given their similar build, he now is concerned about an unknown third party having killed the wrong man.

As her reputation for solving murders proceeds her, Inspector Trevilick of the local police seems quite happy for Eleanor to question family members and staff to discover the truth. It emerges that there are plenty of secrets and the rather stuffy Mr Cunliffe remains scared for his life.

As Christmas is approaching, Eleanor invites her fiancé, Chief Inspector Hugh Seldon, to join them in Cornwall though it is decided that he do so under an alias as not to upset the local police. Still, this allows him to make his own discrete enquiries without stepping on any official toes. No further details to avoid spoilers.

This was quite a complex whodunnit with plenty of interesting twists and some scary situations for Ellie and Clifford. Verity Bright made great use of the Cornish setting with its rich folklore and history of shipwrecks and smuggling.

Still, while there are some life threatening situations, the authors find a good balance and include the antics of Gladstone and Tomkins as well as plenty of Christmas cheer.

I especially enjoyed the tour undertaken by Ellie and Clifford of the extensive gardens at Gwel an Mor with its many features seeking to solve the coded clues that they had found in the murder victim’s notebook. It was described very vividly and I felt as though I was witnessing it first hand.

The banter between Ellie and Clifford is delightful as always as are the antics of the animals. It was lovely to see Hugh being more playful as he adopted his new identity while in Cornwall.

Verity Bright closes the book with a few historical notes on Cornish customs, lighthouses, seagull recipes, Cornish pixies, and the like.

Overall, I found ‘Murder on the Cornish Cliffs’ another delightful adventure for Lady Eleanor Swift and friends. I am always happy to recommend this book and the series as a whole. Given its Christmas theme, it also is ideal for a cosy festive read.

A strange, worrying letter from her late uncle's friend
Has Lady Eleanor Swift off to Cornwall, there time to spend,
She's accompanied by her butler, Clifford, along with her bulldog and cat,
Going to see him and to stay for a chat.

Mr Godfrey Cunliffe is the friend who fears his demise
At the hand of a potential killer sadly lies.
But when they arrive it is to discover the news
That a body's been found so there's no time to lose.

Is someone in the family guilty of killing this man?
Who destroyed the new gardening plan?
There seem to be threats on Eleanor's life, too,
And Eleanor and Clifford are unsure what to do.

A Cornish village, family drama and more
Eleanor needs her fiancé nearby, that's for sure.
Can they work together to the killer to uncover-
Or will there be more victims for them to discover?

A fascinating read with twists and surprises
And danger around before anyone realises.
When someone is arrested, is that the end
Or will these detectives need more time to spend?

Another brilliant story in this series which I highly recommend
A fascinating investigation, a great way time to spend!
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

Lady Eleanor Swift is back with another Golden Age mystery, and I couldn’t be happier. The mysteries have become some of my favorite historical murder mysteries since discovering them last year. One of the things I love about them is that each book can be read as a standalone mystery, meaning you need not have read the previous 15 volumes to enjoy this book. However, once you read one of the books, you’ll probably be like me and read the back catalog.

This time we see Eleanor and her ever trusty butler, Clifford, as well as her pets, Gladstone and Tompkins, are heading to Cornwall just before Christmas at the request of an old friend of Eleanor’s late Uncle Byron – Mr. Cunliffe. You see, he’s afraid of being poisoned by the gardener. By the time Eleanor and company arrive, there’s already a dead body, but it is not of Cunliffe but the gardener himself. What follows is a classic case of murder and intrigue, along with enough food and drink to feed an army while they discuss the clues. And along the way, another murder comes to light. The race is on for Eleanor to find the murder or murderers.

There are plenty of classic adventure vibes with a gothic twist, too. The assorted supporting cast make for a wide and varied suspect list giving the reader plenty of opportunities to follow leads and come to dead ends while trying to figure out who the murderer was. I thought I knew who the murderer was but had to keep reading to figure out the motive. I appreciated the fact that Eleanor knew she was in over her head and called for reinforcements in the form of her fiancé, detective Hugh Seldon. IT was great to read their interplay and developing relationship continue to blossom.

There’s just enough Cornish history and customs to make this mystery more interesting. Let’s hear it for pasties, which made their way from Cornwall to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where miners often took the meat pies to work, wrapped in foil to keep them warm. My parents were raised in the U.P., and while neither was of Cornish descent, the pasty became a staple in both their houses growing up and continued the tradition with their kids and grandkids.

For me, it’s another solid entry in this series that I’ve grown to admire. I highly recommend this series if you like cozy mysteries, the Golden Age, and plucky women in a historical setting but have modern sensibilities.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the eARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

For more reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com

Another delightful romp with the endearing Lady Eleanor Swift, Clifford, Gladstone and his new best feline friend, and of course the dashing Detective Hugh. This time we are visiting an old friend of Eleanor’s beloved late uncle, Godfrey Cunliffe, who fears for his life. This is Cornwall at it’s coldest and the welcome for Eleanor isn’t much warmer. Everyone is a suspect and as always the only ones she can truly trust are Clifford and Hugh. She wants to think the bets of her beloved Uncle’s friend though and is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, no matter how dangerous it might be and pledges to stay until she can prove Cunliffe’s innocence (or not). Her courage is tested to the limit though when her and Clifford are once again placed in mortal danger. With cliff top searches and visits to desolate lighthouses on turbulent seas, we really do wonder how she is going to come out of this one okay at times. Another thrilling read from Verity Bright, rich with historical touches and the same good humour that this series always brings, I thoroughly enjoyed this latest adventure and do particularly like the festive ones. A truly lovely bit of festive escapism and cosy crime.

It's Christmas! Lady Eleanor is looking forward to spending Christmas with her fiancé DCI Hugh Seldon at Henley Hall with her staff that has become like family. Gladstone and Tomkins are there to give some canine and feline entertainment. Her dreams of Christmas are interrupted when she is called to aide a friend of her uncle's in Cornwall that thinks someone is trying to kill him. When they arrive at Mr. Cunliffe's house the police are already there and Clifford and Lady Eleanor fear they are too late but find Mr. Cunliffe alive but his gardener dead at the bottom of the cliffs.

Lady Eleanor and Clifford set out to unravel this mystery. They even turn to DCI Seldon to aid them. There are plenty of suspects and twists in this mystery. As usual, the banter between Clifford and Lady Eleanor is my favorite part of the story. I also admit being in love with Gladstone and Tomkins and their antics.

If you are looking for a great mystery, wonderful characters to lose yourself in this Christmas season, grab a copy of Murder on The Cornish Cliffs. While it is the 16th book of the series, it's my favorite so far!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read it and give my honest opinion.

December 1923. Ellie is getting ready to celebrate the Christmas holiday with the dearest people in her life: her fiancé, Detective Hugh Seldon; her butler, Clifford; and the lively ladies on her staff. But all that is turned on its ear when a letter arrives from a Mr. Godfrey Cunliffe, an old friend of Ellie’s Uncle Byron. He suspects his life is in danger, and he’s asking for assistance.

So Ellie and Clifford, along with the bulldog Gladstone and the ginger cat Tompkins, pack up the Rolls and head off to Cornwall, to Mr. Cunliffe’s ancestral home of Gwel an Mor. They arrive to find police cars in the drive and fear that they’re too late. But Mr. Cunliffe is unexpectedly alive and well. His gardener, Jerome St. Clair, has met an untimely end, and now Mr. Cunliffe fears St. Clair’s killer mistook the gardener for him. So he still fears for his life, but he’s less than pleased about having to resort to help from a woman. He isn’t much happier about help from a male servant, and sometimes it seems like he’d rather have no help at all.

There is so much to enjoy in this story! Gwel an Mor is a truly Gothic pile, complete with a layabout nephew and two dotty old aunts (who may or may not be as dotty as they seem). And there’s no shortage of skullduggery on the grounds. The gardens that St. Claire was hired to bring back to their former glory are really a hot mess, and what have the under-gardeners got up to in the bits that haven’t yet been cleared off? What about Mr. and Mrs. Liddicoat, the servants who came with the house? Cornwall has a past rich in smuggling. Are any or all of them up to old tricks in modern times, perhaps?

The nearby village offers loads of Cornish color, and it was delightful! I loved the Christmas traditions that the villagers shared with Ellie and Clifford, and how they jump right in and take part. The descriptions of the food were a lot of fun for me, too. Some sounded like things I might try, some not so much.

And I also loved the way Bright worked Hugh into the story. He can’t investigate a crime outside his jurisdiction, so they find a way to get around that. No, I’m not telling you how – read the book!

The lighthouse was another integral and interesting part of the story. Its history gives some insight into Cunliffe’s family, and the lighthouse keeper (Woon – just Woon) is able to share some useful details with Ellie and Clifford.

There’s no shortage of tight spots, either. Some, like Ellie driving the lumbering Rolls on narrow Cornish cliffside roads (I could picture Clifford clinging firmly to the “oh sh!t” handle above the window – would a Rolls have one of those, do you think?), are more comical than others, when I was truly concerned for our dynamic duo. But, as you probably figured, none of the tight spots are inescapable.

The murderer was not who I expected, and many things were not what they first appeared. Bright brings all the threads together in a most satisfactory conclusion, and now I’m left waiting eagerly for the next book in the series.

A Christmas setting, a house that’s a character in and of itself, witty banter between Eleanor and Clifford, twists and turns and fascinating characters – once again, Verity Bright has given us a charmer of a book! Eleanor Swift remains solidly on my list of favorite amateur sleuths.

Murder on the Cornish Cliffs is the 16th book in the Verity Brights 1920s Lady Eleanor Swift mystery series. You don't have to have read the previous books to enjoy this one.

While Eleanor was looking forward to spending Christmas at Henley Hall with her staff and fiancé when Clifford receives a letter from her late Uncle's friend seeking his help she feels she must go to the friend's aid. What she finds upon arrival is a bit odd. A body is found at the bottom of the cliffs, her Uncle's friend is convinced that the man was involved in the occult, the elderly aunts may not be mentally all there, and what is up with the nephew?

I always miss when the household staff ladies are not in the book, but it was nice seeing how the sleuthing dynamic between Clifford and Eleanor will change (or not) when Eleanor and Hugh get married.

I thought the Cornish manor that Eleanor is visiting would've made a better Halloween setting, I enjoyed learning some of the traditional Cornwall holiday festivities we get to experience with Eleanor.

Recently I've been able to solve the mystery in several of the cozy mysteries I've long read, so I was happy that this mystery had me stumped.

If you are looking for a little murder alongside your holiday fun, then you should get this book.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Saturday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2023/12/murder-on-cornish-cliffs-by-verity.html

Another charming mystery in the Lady Eleanor Swift series. Filled with the atmosphere of the forbidding and stark beauty of the Cornish coast during the Christmas season when an old friend of her uncle asks for help because he thinks someone is trying to kill him. Eleanor and her butler, Clifford, arrive to find a death has already occurred, but it is the gardener who is dead instead of the lord. Is it murder or just an accident. Is there any foundation to the man's belief that devil worshippers are behind the going ons? Can Eleanor solve this mystery so she can spend Christmas with her fiancée?

I love the banter between Clifford and Eleanor. There is real affection and humor there. Of course, her dog and cat also provide plenty of comic relief as well. You can imagine the damage a blundering dog and a mischievous cat can do to a Christmas tree. The mystery had plenty of red herring, secret passages, a history of smuggling (what do you expect on the Cornish coast) and kept my guessing until the end. A touch of romance and sentimentality finishes this Christmas mystery off just right.

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