This was a strong twentieth entry in the Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series, it had that writing style that I’ve come to expect from Verity Bright. It had that Verity Bright writing style that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel that I expected. The characters had that charm that I was looking for and glad this series had continued.

I love books that are character driven. This mystery had a solid, puzzling murder mystery but it was the characters that made it sparkle. The relationship between Eleanor, excuse me, Lady Eleanor Swift and those about her is a delight.Not born to her title, Eleanor is a generous friends to all, no matter what their status. In fact, she goes out of her way to bring them joy. That's why her staff is at the reclusive Duke's holiday gathering with her. Unfortunately, boyfriend Hugh won't be there until the next day when, as it turns out, she has a probably highly unwanted surprise for him. That said, the natural, witty flow of dialogue between Hugh and Eleanor, not to mention butler Clifford, seems to flow, leaving me wanting more. I definitely want to know more about Clifford. Is he psychic or something? I mean, the man seems to know what is wanted and needed almost before they do, not to mention his expertise in, well, just about everything continues to amaze. Thanks to him, we learn a bit about the stately art of shooting, to how it's judged to how the clay targets are prepared. Young Constable Danby, new to the cast, but shows potential as both detective and as a possible romantic interest for one of Eleanor's ladies. I'll be lookinng forward to more of him in future books.

As for the murder, it happens rather quickly and unexpectedly early on. Eleanor and her entourage have barely had time to disembark and check out their lodgings at the Duke of Auldwyke's estate when his secretary, Porritt, is killed. What happened during that mere eighteen minute gap? As it turns out, there are several suspects, all invited for the shooting contest, but, how odd, none of them seem to have actually met the Duke, including Eleanor. She was simply hoping to take advantage of the lovely Yorkshire setting to spend some holiday time with Hugh. She will definitely have a surprise for him and it isn't just that they're expected to take part in a shooting contest which is to go on despite the murder under some odd but very strict rules. I won't detail the plot further but it kept me guessing and held my interest until the end. The setting definitely sounds lovely, both the estate and interiors and clothing choices, as well as some intriguing sites encountered during explorations. I enjoyed the rather locked room feel of the plot, which is added to when a blizzard arrives and the phone lines go down.

Enough teasers. Bottom line, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and am already looking forward to the next. It was fun to see how quickly and efficiently Eleanor's lady friends created a true Christmas for all involved. And, while the book works well as a standalone, long time readers will surely love the ending. Thanks #Bookouture for allowing me an early peek into Eleanor's Christmas with both friends and strangers.

Book 20 and the series keeps getting better and better. Love that Eleanor and Hugh are finding more times to have a little romance. A good Christmas murder mystery, and although there were a lot of red herrings, and the killer was unexpected, it was still a fun read. Would highly recommend.

Lady Eleanor Swift finds herself and her staff as guests of the reclusive Duke of Auldwyke, although she did have other plans for the Season. Of course, a murder occurs rather early in the story, but it is not quite clear why she really is there until several chapters in. Also, several liberties were taken for the sake of the story's logic and coherence, but this is not unusual for the series.
The murder story is not straightforward; the banter between Eleanor and the ladies, Eleanor and Clifford, as well as Eleanor and Hugh, is fun and creates a lightness to the narrative. As I have been taking a break from the series since volume 15, I was pleasantly surprised that the pets have not taken over the plot and that Clifford and Hugh have found a balance in the narrative context. Also, the romance (finally) got a bit more room in the story and is finally getting somewhere. To be honest, this was a major point for me to take a break from the series: Eleanor was flitting from location to location and was involving herself in anything but her own life. Now she seems to admit that this is a question worth thinking more about.
All in all, a festive, cozy winter mystery with a bit of romance and funny banter.

This is my honest - and voluntary- review.

The cover design is gorgeous and enticed me to read this story! ❤️ It's an entertaining cozy murder mystery, set in a stately home at Christmastime, with strong Downton Abbey vibes. I enjoyed the twists and turns in the plot, the bit where they used a tin bath as a sledge, the descriptions of gorgeous 1920s fashions, and the sweet chemistry/banter between the detective Ellie and her fiancé Hugh. This is the 20th instalment in the Eleanor Swift mystery series, but it's written in a way that also works just fine as a standalone story.

Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the advance copy.