n post–World War I England, foul play at a suspicious séance provokes the delightfully mismatched sleuthing duo of American adventuress Beryl Helliwell and prim Brit Edwina Davenport to dig up some dirt. Fun historical cozy in a great location. Interesting characters with believable dialog. Hope there is more in this series!

Princess Fuzzypants here: Thoroughly modern Beryl and increasingly modern Edwina break stereotypes in post WWI rural England. While the male population was badly reduced by the war, their little village does have some amazing examples of capable women who do male dominated job exceedingly well. Beryl’s new airplane does not please Edwina. Edwina is not thrilled with Beryl’s sporty and speedy car either but both come in handy when they are hired to investigate two newcomers.

Sister and brother have set up a most unusual shop where Miss Dinsdale purports to connect the living with the dead. Both of our heroines are not taken in but several in the village are, The seances create division and vitriol amongst the believers and the non-believers. When one of the believers, Hazel, is found skewered in a sarcophagus, the investigation into questions of fraud meld into a murder investigation. The town is filled with quirky characters whose lives are closely intertwined. Between the gossip and rumour floating around, the ladies will have to sort through all sorts of questionable information.

But, as usual, both Beryl and Edwina are willing to pitch in and help even when it means travelling well outside their comfort zone. This is nothing new for Beryl. But even she is amazed as how much richer her life can be when she lets a little love in. Five purrs and two paws up.

In an English village after the Great War, the friendship between Edwina and Beryl has evolved such that they opened a private inquiry agency in recognition of their successes in solving local crimes. In fact, in recognition of a recent solved case, they were gifted a beautiful small airplane. A fact that Edwina finds quite disconcerting. And then hearing their talented church organist has resolved to work providing music for seances instead. The village certainly has plenty of things to investigate. The story meanders a bit but all the strange occurrences are wrapped up by the end with a fair but unexpected resolution.Enjoyable for those who appreciate slow developments and clues and a mastery of characterization.

Big things are happening in this book. Beryl has her plane and is enjoying flying to her heart's content. Edwina has finished her book and is just working up her nerve to get it shipped out. Of course, she'll have to post it where the town's biggest gossip (i.e. the postmistress) will see it. So she reroutes to a tea shop to fortify her nerves.
It is at the tea room that she meets psychic, Maude Dinsdale. Maude has just moved to town but she is about to set Walmsley Parva on its ear. While some people are eager to believe in her talents, others are being torn apart. And one person ends up dead in a mummy's sarcophagus.
There is a lot going on in this book including Charles being given care of his cousin's two-year-old son. The end of the mystery wasn't really fairly clued so that was a bit annoying but this was overall a nice book.

Beryl and Edwina Mystery #8
Three and a half stars
This book comes out June 25, 2024
Follows Murder at a London Finishing School
ARC kindly provided by Kensington Publishing and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Jessica Elliott has Beryl and Edwina immersed in Murder at an English Seance. in small town England after the First World War Edwina has mailed off a manuscript of a novel to a publisher and Beryl has received an airplane for services rendered to a customer. However all the village attention is on the Dinsdales and their seances until Hazel, a villager, winds up murdered in the casket of their Egyptian mummy. Scandals in the village; hosts of suspects and surprising events. Read and enjoy.

I love Beryl and Edwina, but I recommend reading this series in order. The book opens with a lot of village gossip that will make sense to people already invested in the series, but not to new readers.

Eight books in, and this series just keeps getting better! I'll admit that I read this series more for the characters than the mysteries, but the cases Beryl and Edwina solve are puzzling and satisfying, too.

When the church organist quits to work for newly-arrived psychic medium, the vicar's wife asks Beryl and Edwina to expose the fraud. Before they have much of a chance, though, a body is found during one of the seances. Misdirections and trickery abound to throw our sleuths off the scent.

Things are changing in Walmsley Parva. Beryl has been gifted an airplane, Edwina is ready to send her novel to a publisher, and Charles's household may be increasing. Simpkins's condiments empire is expanding, and they're all benefitting from being his taste-testers. Constable Gibbs recognizes and respects the work Edwina and Beryl have done, and it's good that the three women are now working together.

Beryl and Edwina complement each other well, even as they're growing and changing. Edwina has gotten back some of the fire we saw that she had back in school. Maybe it's due to no longer being under her mother's thumb, maybe it's due to Beryl's influence, but it's great to see. Beryl has benefitted from her friendship with Edwina, too. She is more empathetic, and understands better how to live with other people. Simpkins has developed from a surly gardener to an essential member of the household, as well as a wealthy businessman.

Charles, well, I have hopes that he and Edwina will have their romance, but I also worry for how that may upset the balance at The Beeches.

Why you should read this book: The characters, the setting, and the mystery all blend together to make for a read that's cozier than any English teatime.

Why you might not want to read this book: If you're not a fan of historical mysteries, you may not enjoy this series. You should give it a try if you enjoy cozies, though, because this series is good enough to change your mind.

I received an advance copy from Kensington Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 out of 5 stars. Recommended.

This is book 8 in the series and while can be read as a stand alone as far as the mystery goes they are best read in order to enjoy the growth and development of the character's. This is a historical mystery, taking place after the Great War, and in the English Countryside. The mystery is well written but little slow paced with plenty of suspects and a few red herrings. I did find the answer a little obvious as the villain was ignored as a suspect but the reason why was a surprise I didn't see coming. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is such a fun and cozy series! Jessica Ellicott has created fully developed characters in Beryl and Edwina, two women of a "certain age" who work as private inquiry agents in the small village of Walmsley Parva in the 1920s. The book opens with Edwina nervously mailing her completed novel to a London publisher and Beryl acquiring an airplane, hinting at their distinct personalities. The story picks up when the vicar's wife hires Beryl and Edwina to investigate the Dinsdales, a brother and sister new to the village who hold seances (Miss Dinsdale is a medium). They've even stolen Hazel, the church organist, and our ladies need to prove the Dinsdales are frauds to get Hazel back to her church duties. I loved all the different village characters and seeing Beryl and Edwina grow (especially Edwina, who was so timid in the first book). Plus, I'm a sucker for plots involving seances and psychics. The book did start a bit slowly until the murder, but it really picked up after that. I figured out who the murderer was but not the motive, which was quite unique. If you enjoy gentle English village cozies, definitely give this series a try! Thank you Kensington for the ARC.

I have been a reader of this series from book one and enjoy the characters Edwina and Beryl but this installment feels a bit off. It is difficult to marry the lightness of the previous books with the sombre tone of this one. There is a lot of history and tragedy in it and this is only furthered by the seance. I enjoy cosy rather than historical mysteries and this seems to have taken a turn. Some of the plot was implausible for me and a little too transparent. The writing is good though and if you enjoy a historical novel this may be more your cup of tea than mine.

Murder at an English Seance by Jessica Ellicott is another Beryl and Edwina mystery. At some point in the book it ways that all the murders started when Beryl arrived. True, but coincidence, I think. This book is filled with adventure, from the arrival of a medium to the arrival of Beryl’s airplane. Edwina doesn’t even like to ride in the car with Beryl, much less an airplane. These two ladies make me smile and in this book I realized that they are younger than I thought. Early 40’s The arrival of a medium in town is noteworthy but what really mattered is the loss of the church organist, who also wanted to play for the medium. The vicar thought it inappropriate and so they parted ways. Then, she ended up dead and everything went downhill from there. They did manage to solve the crime. The murderers were most surprising, as was their motive.

This is a charming series. The setting is bucolic, Over the series the reader has gotten to know the surrounding area as well as many of the residents. Like many small towns, there are characters. They are mostly lovable with quirks. Beryl has brought fresh air to Edwina’s life and home and things keep changing, as they do in this book. Edwina is opening her heart and her life to many things and people. It is heartening to see. It is also sad when a pillar of the community, someone everyone likes, is murdered. The constable is welcoming their assistance. That is a change, but one they are fully prepared to take advantage of. The mystery is a good one and would never have been solved if it were not for the airplane and Beryl’s dogged pursuit of Edwina’s favor on that score. Terrific book. Thanks, Jessica Ellicott!

I was invited to read Murder at an English Seance by Kensington Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonPublishing #JessicaEllicott #MurderAtAnEnglishSeance

A historical murder mystery surrounding a Seance. What could be better?

Of course we all know mediums are charlatans- or are they? Especially when a body ends up in the room.. Of course Beryl and Edwina are on the case, but a lot is going on.

Another wonderful addition to this great series!

In “Murder at an English Séance” the eighth book in Jessica Ellicott’s Beryl and Edwina Mystery series Beryl Halliwell and Edwina Davenport have been asked by the vicar’s wife to investigate a so-called psychic medium. This seems like a simple enough assignment – after all Beryl knows Harry Houdini who has taught her a trick or two – but it quickly becomes complicated when a murder victim is found during a séance. It will take everything Beryl and Edwina have to solve this case, but they need to be careful and not put themselves in danger.

I love this series and this book is a nice addition to the series. I love the relationship between Beryl (a somewhat famous American adventuress) and Edwina (a prim and proper Brit who has learned to unwind quite a bit) – the two bring out the best in each other, have both grown as characters, and make a formidable team. The supporting cast of characters is equally good – there have been some gradual changes in Edwina’s relationship with Charles and this book took Charles in a different direction – I can’t wait to see what happens between the two in future books! This is a historical mystery, taking place after the Great War, and I love the village setting of Walmsley Parva, the villagers, and the strength of the women living there. The mystery is well done, with plenty of suspects and a few surprises - I always try to figure out whodunit but in this book I couldn’t do it. Well done by Ellicott!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

This is such a fun mystery series set in post WWI. This is the 8th book in the series. The two main characters are Beryl and Edwina who are close friends. They continue in this next in series to forgo society rules for women and forge their own path of independence. I love that aspect of this series. In this next in series Beryl has a plane she knows how to fly and that alone has upset the village residents and created a scandal. She and Edwina are investigating a shocking murder as only they can with their investigation skills and interviewing local villagers. A fun secondary sub plot is Séances are being held that are suspicious as fraud to them. I love the characters, the bravado of these two friends and the sleuthing. A excellent next in series. This is 8th in series and I highly recommend the entire series.

Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own.

An overall satisfying historical mystery in the series starring a typical English woman residing in a small village and her American adventuress friend in the 1920s. The combination of the two provides an intriguing friendship and good counterparts in the investigative business they have set up. Their latest case is to investigate a medium who has set up shop in town and has lured the church organist away to play music during seances. Beryl, the American adventuress, who has already set things astir in town by landing her airplane, a gift from a grateful client, is sure she can detect a fraud using tricks of the trade she learned from Harry Houdini. But it isn't a fraud they discover at a seance but murder...

It was nice to see how much Edwina has grown in this series and it becomes very obvious in this story where she is breaking away from the social mores of the restrained upright British citizen to pursue clues, confront suspects and even find personal happiness in sending off her recently finished mystery novel to a publisher. Beryl also shows some growth.

There is a subplot that provides both some humor and slows down the narrative at times.

Twists a plenty mean that you aren't going to guess the answer to this mystery quickly.

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

I thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advance reader copy of “Murder at an English Séance.” All opinions and comments are my own.

Mediums were all the rage in the 20s, and it seems the (fictional) village of Warmsley Parva has acquired one in the form of Maude Dinsdale, newly moved to town. She’s attracted quite the following. Edwina Davenport and Beryl Halliwell don’t happen to be among her supporters, but a whole lot of others are, and they are flocking to Maude’s séances, while many in the village are convinced that people are being duped. But is Maude the reason her assistant’s been murdered? Poor Agnes is found stuffed in a mummy’s coffin. Well, this is just up Edwina’s and Beryl’s alley (this is their eighth book), and it doesn’t take them long to figure out the inhabitants of our cozy English village once again harbor a whole lot of secrets that someone, in particular, will kill to keep hidden.

But, never mind that. Beryl has an airplane! Edwina has sent her book manuscript to the publisher! And straight out of left field, Charles Jarvis, Edwina’s would-be suitor, has become the guardian of a child, his dead cousin’s son. There are certainly some life-changing events in Jessica Ellicott’s “Murder at an English Séance” (and I’m not talking about Agnes). Oh, yes, all’s well that ends well on the crime-fighting front, too (they uncover a killer, and get a terrible gossip to understand the error of her ways). Beryl and Edwina and Charles and their friends and fellow villagers will continue to weather all the storms of life, while readers like me eagerly await more stories.

Beryl's got an airplane! This latest in the series (still just as good as a standalone) sees Beryl and Edwina trying to solve the mystery of the man who was killed and put in a mummy's casket. They were meant to be helping to determine the validity of a psychic who has come to Walmsley Parva but somehow it got more complicated. I like this series (and this installment) for the atmospherics of an English village in the years between the wars- and this time Ellicott takes full advantage of the fascination at the time with mystic things. Even better though are the two women and their friends whose lives have become enriched and expanded over time. This outing sees Charles and his ward step forward a bit. And never forget about Crumpet! Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A fun read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Jessica Ellicott for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Murder at an English Séance coming out June 25, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I read the book right before this one and I really loved it so I was excited to check out this book. Séances are always an interesting topic to me. I think Beryl and Edwina go through a lot of character development in this book. I was a little surprised that Beryl could fly airplanes. I haven’t read the first six books in the series so that was news to me. But that was pretty cool of her in that day and age. I also loved that Edwina was writing a book. I definitely need to go back and read the other books. I definitely loved it and I love all the plot. I’m excited to check out future books in this series!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy English mysteries!

Murder at an English Seance by Jessica Ellicott is the eight book in Beryl and Edwina Mystery series.

I wish I had known this at the time I requested this book. I have already mentioned in few of my reviews that I think many readers would appreciate if NetGalley is to visibly mark number of installments. Even though I always check before requesting sometimes mistakes happen.

I like to read books in order, especially cozy mysteries for character development but this installment can be read as a stand alone. Previous references are clearly explained without too many details.

Both characters are smart and down to earth and likeable. I really enjoyed reading about their friendship.
Mystery was well devoloped and presented.
I found historical references a bit too much for my liking.

Beryl and Edwina Both have their secrets but the biggest one they have to uncover is who left a body in a sarcophagus…and uncover a fake medium.. It’s all in a job for these two and the shenanigans ensue.

This was a fun read and I really enjoyed the author’s style. I hope to read more from her in the future.