Lady Eleanor Swift and her resourceful butler Clifford are at it again. I find this series a bit hit and miss, but this one is very good - especially if you sped read the annoying bits with the female domestic staff.

This is book 17 in the Lady Eleanor Swift series and it is a wonderful way to learn history and class differences in England in the early 1920's. 1924. Lady Eleanor Swift has been on a grand tour around Italy for a month with her butler Clifford. Finally arriving in Venice, she’s thrilled to be attending the famous carnival: all that’s needed is the perfect bejewelled costume for her faithful bulldog, Gladstone. But on her first gondola ride to take in the sights, a passenger collapses into the canal with a knife sticking out of his back.
Eleanor saw an argument break out between the gondolier and the victim, Councillor Benetto Vendelini, and it turns out they're rivals from the city's two great families. Vendelini’s murder is sure to reignite their centuries-long feud. While attending a glitzy ball that night, Eleanor learns of a plot to steal a precious family heirloom from the Vendelini household. Is the stolen item the key to solving this baffling murder?
I love this series, it is not only a good mystery cozy but very educational. I'm curious how it will handle the beginning of WWII in the next few years. Could be read alone but you'll miss the wonderful relationship between all the characters.

Thank you for this ARC!

A very cosy mystery book! Very fun and short read that will keep keeps you guessing. I do think it would be better read in the complete series but does hold up as a standalone.

A fun summer read, taking you back in time to solve mysteries the old-fashioned way.
The book takes you into Venice as well as into another ear and makes for a comfy read.

This is the seventeenth in the series and I think I might have finally reached the point where I could willingly walk away. Even the previous book was good enough to keep me coming back, but this wasn’t it.

After such a serious beginning I must admit that the book is not all bad. It’s a good standalone in the genre but given that I’ve been following the series from the beginning and have read almost all being maybe one or two in between, there’s a certain standard I’ve gotten used to.

Our leading Lady is on vacation in Venice, as is obvious from the title. She bumps into someone in the beginning of the book and she picks up a piece of something that later ties in with the murder that she witnesses.

There are families fighting in the background and a lot of smaller secrets that people are trying to keep from each other.

I would not have guessed the culprit, especially since the red begins are numerous and we aren’t really given a chance to find the killer ourselves. I may not continue with this series if there are more books, but my will is not as strong as I’d like it to be. Only time will tell. The last book I reviewed in the series was Murder on the Cornish Cliffs.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience of this and the previous books in the series.

Ellie is awestruck by the wonderful sights of Venice in the lead up to carnival time: its people, architecture, canals and history. Joining Ellie on this Venetian escape are the fun-loving female staff (the girls) of Henley Hall; Gladstone (the bulldog) and Tomkins (his feline companion) and, of course, Clifford (the butler) who is master of just about everything and a fount of knowledge, but delightfully blushes and squirms when ladies' unmentionables are mentioned.

One never knows if Detective Inspector Hugh Seldon, Ellie's fiancé, will put in an appearance. Unfortunately, this time he is just a voice at the end of the telephone, with some humorous results. His attempts to contact Ellie are thwarted by poor telephone connections; disjointed conversations causing some concern and perhaps a little jealousy on his part. After all, Ellie is in one of the most romantic cities of the world without him.

True to form, when an innocent man is accused of murder, Ellie and Clifford set out to find the real murderer, becoming embroiled in a long-standing feud between two prominent Venetian families, while also trying to help two young lovers and ensuring that they themselves do not end up as corpses in the canals.

Excitement and humour abound, intermingled with interesting facts and evoking descriptions, which make this series so entertaining and a firm favourite of mine. I eagerly await the next book!

This one is a bit complicated. The storyline is very Italian with two of the great families of Venice potentially reigniting an ancient feud. Romance.The clash of tradition with modernity. A historical tour of Venice. I enjoyed it overall but, there were times when elements appeared to fight for my attention.

As in previous books, the interactions between the ensemble of lovely characters is something I look forward to. And I enjoy the banter between Lady Swift and Clifford. Sometimes the expressions used just make me roll my eyes - such fun!

Am I the only one struggling with the relationship between Hugh and Eli? Neither of them are naive. Both have been married. And yet the 'old fashioned paradigm' he applies to them? .Are they really suited? Hmm!!

I'm confident that this one will be enjoyed by many of the series fans. I look forward to the next one.

It's 3 out of 5 for me! With thanks to Bookouture, Netgalley and the author for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review

Very fun and short read. Funny murder mystery that has whit and also keeps you guessing. I don’t usually read these kinds if books. I definitely want to read the others written by this author.

This book gives cozy mystery in a familiar, historical tone. While I'm new to Verity Bright, I could keep up with Ellie and Clifford and the whole crew. The pace was slow at times, but it felt appropriate for the writing style and time period. If you love mystery but don't want a thriller, this could be perfect!

In the latest Eleanor Swift mystery, the lady detective, Clifford, and the rest of her household travel to Venice to attend Carnival, visit a countess, and attend a ball. On her first day in the city, a man falls off a gondola and into the canal, dead. Eleanor seems to have stumbled upon an old family feud that threatens to tear Venice apart, and she must navigate this dangerous relationship and the winding canals and alleys of Venice to stop the families from going to war and ruining the tenuous peace in the city. This historical mystery is a fun, adventurous, and exotic read, and readers will enjoy visiting Venice through Eleanor and Clifford’s eyes. As for the mystery itself, readers will enjoy following along on the investigation and exploring the city as tourists with Eleanor and Clifford. Bright’s characters are wonderful as always, and the witty, friendly dynamic between Eleanor, Clifford, and the rest of her household is as entertaining and enjoyable as it has been in previous books. This latest book is a fantastic addition to the Eleanor Swift mystery series, and readers are guaranteed to enjoy the latest installment and murder set in the charming Italian city of Venice.

I'm sorry to say A Death in Venice might be my least favorite installment in the Lady Eleanor Swift series, which I really enjoy. The idea of taking Lady Swift out of her usual surroundings appealed to me, but the reality was that there were lots of descriptions of Venice and how different it is from the English countryside but not enough story. I wish the secret romance and feuding families took more center stage so it was clear what the stakes were. Eleanor and Clifford were too peripheral the goings-on to make this interesting.

I loved the fact that Ellie and Clifford were visiting Venice in this book. I have been there myself and with the writing, it was so easy to remember places that we had visited, and it took me back to a happy holiday. This, I think, increased my fondness for the book.

The characters are, as usual, witness to another murder, and this time, they need to navigate the history and traditions of Venice to solve the case.

Very interesting facts covered and a highly enjoyable read.

Lady Eleanor, her butler Clifford, her bulldog Gladstone, her cat, and the ladies that make up her household staff are enjoying the sights of Venice in this latest installment of the Lady Eleanor cozy mystery series. This story was more than entertaining it was also informative. The descriptions were so interesting, that if I am not having delusions of grandeur, I was able to recognize many of the sights, hotels and districts of the magical city of Venice. There are also historical lessons of the origins and building of Venice, the history of the gondoliers and their craft.

“A gondola ride on the Grand Canal in the sunshine” Lady Eleanor wonders if there could be anything better. Spoken too soon, immediately in front of her there is a dead body in the canal, then a Romeo/Juliet romance enmeshed in a bitter family feud which gives Lady Eleanor plenty to keep her occupied. After all, what would a Lady Eleanor mystery be without a murder to solve, a family to reunite, a multitude of delicious meals to be consumed.

Each installment in this series delights and satisfies with clever dialog, beautiful and interesting settings with a plot that is complex and intriguing. Thanks to Bookoutre and NetGalley for a copy.

‘A Death in Venice’ is a brilliant fun mystery and I couldn't get enough of it! This is the 17th book in the series but it can easily be read as a stand-alone. I do recommend the whole series though as they are amazing books and have a very special place in my heart. I always know I am going to enjoy them when I pick a new one up and Lady Swift and Clifford her butler are a brilliant crime-fighting duo! They are auto-reads for me and always will be.

Lady Eleanor Swift is on holiday in Venice and has brought along all her staff and pets for the ride. Clifford, her amazing butler has everything planned so she gets to explore this fabulous city to the best of his ability! But alas, murder follows Elly everywhere she goes and whilst on a trip on a gondola she witnesses the death of a local councillor. He is also the member of a powerful local family the Vendelinis who have a long running feud with the Marcellos. Is this death going to reignite the feud and will Elly be able to figure out who the killer is?

As always the mystery is integral to the story and Elly and Clifford of course work it all out and save the day. But the beating heart of these books is the relationship between Elly and Clifford - their friendship and love for each other even though technically he is her servant. It's paternal nature is touching and it proves that family doesn't necessarily need to be our blood family. We get to choose who we love and Elly couldn't have found a better friend.

I flew through this in one day and found the mystery to be compelling and I was enthralled by the descriptions of Venice. It was such an enjoyable and fun read and I can't wait for the next adventure!

Let me know if you pick this one up!

'But there was a merciless triple killer to stop. In a city she didn't understand, and where she had no idea who she could trust any more.'

Returning to a Lady Swift novel is like diving into a big bath of warmth. You know exactly what you are going to get, with a collection of characters who will delight and entertain. And the occasional killer, of course.

This time the *entire* household is on holiday in Venice. Including the cat. On a relaxing gondola ride Ellie and Clifford witness a death, which turns out to be murder - and thus we start our rollercoaster ride of murder and intrigue. This time there is a bitter family feud, star-crossed lovers and a missing artefact. Can Ellie and the ever-reliable Clifford save the day...?

The setting is as much a part of the book as the plot, and Venice is a worthy host to this, the 17th Lady Swift book. Entertaining, funny and charming, I love these books.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)

First I must say I loved the cover of this cozy mystery, the the era it was written in and love the main character Lady Eleanor Swift. And how can you resist a book set in Italy, on a gondola and with a murder? This is the type of gripping mystery that keeps you turning pages.

A fight breaks out on a gondola, and then...... Well of course there is a death and Lady Eleanor must find out what happened. This is a fast paced book with humour and intrigue that captures your attention and keeps you reading right through to the last page. A great addition to the series (I have read some but not all but this doesn't seem to hamper my enjoyment of it!) A great read.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is book 17 and I have read a few of the books but not all, it didn't make too much of a difference as you get to know the characters.

I do enjoy the interactions of all the characters and it is a fun, cosy read.

Thank you for the arc.

A Death In Venice is Verity Bright's 17th installment in the Lady Eleanor Swift series. Now, I had not read the other 16 books, so I'm pretty late to this party. I do feel like I was missing out on a lot of the past history. I probably would understand the humor and inside jokes if I had started at the beginning. The upside - it does make me want to visit Venice. It's obvious that the author is pretty familiar with the city. I'm a sucker for notable pets and I loved Gladstone, the bulldog and Tompkins the cat with his very own kitty cat kit bag!
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Lady Eleanor Swift is back for another cozy mystery set in Venice, Italy. When Eleanor sees a fight breakout between a gondolier and a Councillor she soon discovers herself in yet another murder investigation. Lady Swift and her trusty butler, Clifford, must learn about Italy’s intertwined history of gondoliers and a lifetime rivalry between two prominent families in order to find the killer and the motive behind missing heirlooms. Bright takes the reader on an intriguing boat ride wound in history, feuding families, and a pair of star crossed lovers. Will they catch the killer in time? But remember, as an intriguing lady in the market tells Eleanor, “Everyone wears a mask in this city whether it is Carnival time or not.”

As this is my introduction to the Lady Eleanor Swift Mysteries, I truly loved being thrown into the beauty of Venice and the quirkiness of Eleanor and her sidekicks. It was a little slow at times and I would have loved more of the love story, however, I still found myself engrossed by the characters. For this I gave this book a 3 stars rating.

Thank you to NetGalley Bookouture for the ARC.

I loved this book! This is one of my favorite reads of the year so far. It kept me on the edge of my seat.