How is this the first time I’ve heard of this series? It seems I have some back reading to do. This was such a fun whodunnit. Lady Elenor Swift and her staff/besties are enjoyable characters, and the suspects were well-written to where I thought the all did it. The mystery was suspenseful and engaging, but still lighthearted. Very nice read for a light cozy mystery. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!

4.25 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this Audiobook

After reading a lot of festive romances this season, I was happy to delve into something a little more mysterious and this cozy crime really hit the spot. I haven’t read the previous nineteen books in the series, but it didn’t matter, I picked up on past events quickly and was subsequently swept away on this murder mystery. So many twists and turns. Lady Swift is adorable; I love how different she is to all the those around her - and Hugh - I would read a romance novel with the two of them. I’m already looking into purchasing the other books in the series.
The narration was clear and brought out all the charm in the writing. Karen Cass did a fantastic job.

This is my First Lady Eleanor Swift Novel I have read/listened to.

The story can be listened to as a stand alone book. It is a cosy winter murder mystery set in the mid 1920’s.

Lady Eleanor Swift and her policeman fiancé Hugh are invited to the Duke of Auldwyke’s Christmas gathering. Shortly after her arrival at the Estate the Duke’s secretary gets murdered and not long after that another murder attempt.

I enjoyed the fact that Lady Eleanor put her detective skills to work to help her fiancé, but also found it not so believable, especially when her staff got involved too. Maybe I missed out on information, not having read her previous adventures.

The book was very well and skillfully narrated.

I have not read any of the previous books in this series, but this one read enough like a stand alone, that I wasn’t bothered in anyway not knowing anything about the characters or their stories. This was a very clever and enjoyable read and I am thinking about checking out the rest of the series now.

Karen Cass did a marvelous job of portraying Lady Eleanor. She has a great voice and really conved all of the emotions well. She also did some very nice voices and accents for the other characters. I really enjoyed listening to her and would choose another book that she has narrated.

Lady Eleanor Swift is a fine young lady who is smart, witty and inquisitive. She is also very brave and is not afraid to protect those she cares for. There were a few quirks to her personality that I wasn’t very sure of. Like how she treats her staff as if they were friends. Her relationship with her butler, Clifford, was especially puzzling. He seemed more like a close uncle that she was very fond of rather than a servant.

Eleanor and Hugh’s relationship is very sweet and loving. It has of course developed over the course of many books, but they seemed to get along quite well. There was a bit of tension between them though that mostly had to do with how they were going to sort the differences in their social status. Ladies simply don’t marry police detectives. But I am sure they will sort it out and it certainly didn’t cause huge problems between them.

The mystery was well done. Lots of nice clues and red herrings galore. My only issue was that the culprit was someone who had been mentioned early on in the story, but then not seen until the big reveal. I am not a big fan of this style of mystery as it feels like a bit of a ruse to the reader. Also there were times when I felt like Hugh didn’t do a very good job of being a detective, he actually seemed a bit dim at times. Eleanor was the one who seemed to pick up on a lot of the clues and then told Hugh what was really going on.

I loved the writing and the setting. The descriptions of the english countryside and the type of shooting they were doing were well done. There was lots of attention to details especially when it came to the food and clothes. Some of the food sounded delicious and made me hungry. The descriptions of the other guests and the servants were also nicely done.

This story is full of humor and Christmas fun, which made it the perfect read for this time of year. I do recommend the audiobook, as the narrator does a fabulous job. As I said before, it didn’t really matter too much that this is the 20th book in a series. I enjoyed it just as much as any other cozy mystery. Fans of the series will love this just as much as those of you who are not familiar with the series.

As always, it’s such a delight to spend time with Eleanor and Clifford and the rest of the cast as they celebrate the holidays and solve another mystery.

This series has remained lively and fun, and while I do miss the greater effort toward historical detail that we got in the earlier installments in the series, the concept doesn’t feel tired and the characters remain loads of fun as they embark on their latest adventure.

The mystery itself is fine, and the setting is lovely and well-rendered. I always wish for more holiday detail, there’s enough that you can treat this one as a holiday read if you’re so inclined.

3.5 stars

During the winter of 1924, Lady Eleanor Swift is invited, along with her fiancé Hugh Seldon, to a Christmas 'gathering' at Duke of Auldwyke estate. What Lady Eleanor Swift did not expect to find during her stay, was the body of Mr Porritt, and she is forced, along with her staff and fiancé, to uncover the murder piece by piece.

This is the best season to read a cozy mystery, especially as it's mostly about Christmas, which is coming close. I liked every single character that accompanied Lady Swift, along with all the staff and other guests. Their personalities and characters were developed perfectly to help build up the atmosphere, not only with some people being hard to work with, but others also easy to sympathize.

Although I really liked the plot, and I didn't want the story to end, I did find myself getting bored on a lot of the scenes. I think if maybe the book was a bit shorter I would have enjoyed it way more! But if you enjoy a longer read, in which you can build greater relationships with the characters, then this would definitely not be a problem for you.

The narrator Karen Cass, did a really good job narrating the book. Thanks to her, I found myself even more interested in what was happening, and the way she read each persons voice made it very easy for me to tell who's talking when (something I struggle with in audiobooks usually).

Overall, this was a great read and I would definitely recommend to anyone that's in a mood for a cozy mystery!

This was a fun little mystery and it definitely left me in a Christmasy mood!

I'll admit I'm not really the kind of person that tries to solve the mystery before the characters do, I'm just along for the ride so the ending was a surprise to me.

The characters' relationships are fun and easy to catch on to, even when you jump into a later book in the series with no introduction like I did.

I'll have to go back and start at the beginning of Ellie's adventures now!

Reading *A Midwinter Murder* felt just like stepping into a classic murder mystery dinner set in a snowed-in lodge, complete with all the intrigue and suspense you’d hope for. It’s the kind of book that wraps you up like a warm blanket on a frosty night, blending cozy winter vibes with sharp old-school sleuthing. The plot unravels with a bit of Scooby-Doo-style fun, keeping things clever and engaging without ever taking itself too seriously. The nostalgic charm of this story won me over completely, and now I can’t wait to dive into the rest of the series to see what other mysteries await!

Another amazing story from Verity Bright. This is the perfect winter book for a nice snowy cold day. As this is the latest book in the series one doesn’t need to read them in order to throughly enjoy the warm characters and mystery.

A Christmas visit to a reclusive duke’s manor turns deadly when his secretary is found murdered. Trapped by a blizzard with a cast of suspicious guests, Lady Eleanor Swift and her detective fiancé must unravel a web of secrets and lies before another life is lost.

This is a clever and enjoyable mystery. I loved the cast of characters and all the secrets they’re keeping. This entertaining book with a romance subplot kept me guessing until the end. I enjoyed the audiobook narration.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Overall, a great winter-y and cozy read. Sometimes it got a little confusing to track the characters via audio but the narration was fantastic. This was my first book by this author and it’s making me want to pick up more in this series! To me, this was comparable to the Her Royal Spyness series by Rhys Bowen. I gave this a 4.5/5 stars!

This book surprised me. What a great cozy ready. I was guessing whodunnit right until the end. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to listen to this book. Although I didn't get to finish it, as it disappeared from my NetGalley app the day it was archived, I was really enjoying it! I am not familiar with this series before starting this and don't really feel like I was missing out on too much of the backstory by starting on book 20. I really was enjoying Eleanor and her ladies and the relationship they have with one another. I will definitely be going back to the beginning and getting the whole story at some point. I was only a little over half way through but still giving it five stars.

In the winter of 1924, Lady Eleanor Swift, delighted to be invited as a guest at the manor of the reclusive Duke of Auldwyke, eagerly anticipates spending time with her fiancé, Detective Hugh Seldon. Their constant busyness has left them yearning for a moment of respite.

However, their plans are disrupted by the murder of the Duke’s secretary, Mr. Poritt. Hugh immediately takes charge. The inclement weather adds to the challenges of solving this unfortunate crime, making it difficult for Hugh to conduct his investigation. Eleanor, with her past experience in solving murders, offers her assistance as a second set of eyes.

Accompanying Eleanor is her ever-proper butler, Clifford, a loyal man who adheres strictly to the rules and propriety of his Lady. Always there for Eleanor, the quest to uncover the truth behind Mr. Poritt’s murder becomes a race against time.

The investigation is fraught with obstacles, and Eleanor’s sharp instincts and sharp tongue prove invaluable to Hugh’s efforts. As they delve deeper into the case, tension escalates, drawing them closer to the killer.

This delightful Lady Eleanor Swift series’ 20th book offers a unique bonus: an exploration of how a titled Lady and a policeman could plan to marry during the Golden Age. The author delves into the social conventions and expectations of the era, providing a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the characters.

The book also features the return of beloved characters such as Polly, Mrs. Butters, and the other ladies, adding depth and richness to the narrative. Clifford’s ever-protectiveness over Eleanor and his role as the male version of Mary Poppins, always knowing or having what is needed at any given moment, further enhances the charm of the story.

Beyond its captivating mystery, this celebratory 20th book in the series offers a delightful exploration of personal relationships and societal norms, making it a truly enjoyable reading experience.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

About the story:
Lady Eleanor had originally planned to spend Christmas at her home together with her fiancé and finally discuss their wedding plans. But instead she got talked into attending a society party - an invitation by Duke she doesn’t even know and had already declined. And things get worse when she finds the Duke’s secretary lying dead in the storeroom only an hour after her arrival. Thankfully her fiancé is a detective and gets put in charge of the investigation but of course Ellie can’t help to do some sleuthing as well.

This is the 20th book in the Lady Eleanor Swift series which is set in the 1920s but it was my first one. This of course means that I will already know a few things about her future when I go back and read an earlier one. And going back I will as I totally enjoyed listening to this adventure and want to know how it all began.

I loved getting to know the characters a bit along the way. Not just Ellie and Hugh but also her trusted butler Clifford who seems to be a real hoot with his dry humour. There is a bit of romance in this mystery as well but it didn’t take over the plot and I rather enjoyed their little alone time to discuss their future.

The narration was also very engaging and kept me interested and guessing throughout. Overall I had an excellent listening experience and am looking forward to find out who all began.

A big thank you for giving me the opportunity to listen to the book on the NetGalley app. It had a great time!

The Lady Eleanor Swift books always catch my eye, but this is the first I’ve actually picked up. It worked fine as a stand alone for me. All of the characters were introduced well and I had a good understanding of the relationships. The mystery itself was self-contained with no threads lingering from previous books.

Lady Eleanor has to give up her plans for a holiday at home and has to attend the Duke of Auldwyke’s shooting party instead. At least everyone is invited, including her fiancé/detective chief inspector, Hugh, and her staff has use of a cottage on the estate. Of course, a body is found not long after Lady Eleanor arrives – the duke’s secretary, clearly murdered. A local policeman and Hugh end up investigating, but the duke, and the guests for that matter, are less than helpful.

I do love a good Christmas manor house party murder. Here we’ve all the decorations and food and sledding I could ask for. We’ve also got plenty of secrets, motives, suspects. The mystery itself was put together well. The plot moved along at a good pace and kept me guessing.

The narrator is easy to listen to and captures the tone of the book well. She gives each of the character’s their own voice and personality.

Overall, I enjoyed this one. It was a good December read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital copy of this book and audiobook; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series are written as standalone novels, meaning you don’t necessarily have to have read the previous volumes to understand the plot. However, I highly recommend you do because they are all so delightful! This holiday mystery is the 20th adventure for Eleanor and the gang, and I think it’s the best one yet.

Eleanor has plans to spend the holidays at home at Henley Hall this Christmas. However, she and her fiancé detective, Hugh Seldon, have been invited to a shooting competition at the mysterious Duke of Auldwyke’s estate. All seems to be going fine until Ellie finds the duke’s secretary, Mr. Porritt, dead. The duke doesn’t want to call Scotland Yard, but since Hugh works for them, he and Eleanor will have to figure out the murderer without any help. That should be no problem, right? After all, this is Ellie’s 20th murder mystery, right?

Besides the normal, lovely drawn characters, I really enjoyed the interplay between Eleanor and Hugh. I didn’t like Hugh much when he first came on the scene, and I thought their engagement was rushed, but he’s really grown on me. And for this volume, the two characters actually discuss their future together!

This mystery was a bit darker than previous volumes in the series but having Clifford and Gladstone the bulldog present relieved some of the tension amongst the guests at Auldwyke Hall. Overall, I found this a very enjoyable read/listen. The incomparable Karen Cass is always a delight to listen to when bring the characters in the story to life.

This was my first Lady Eleanor Swift mystery and it will not be my last! It is perfect for fans of Downton Abbey and Clue.

The mystery was a good one, it felt like an Agatha Christie novel. Where everyone is a suspect and you need to make your own diagram to figure it out! At times I was little confused because of the number of side characters but I think in the end it wrapped up the mystery nicely.

I also loved the romance between Eleanor and Hugh. They are so cute and I need a wedding as soon as possible!

Overall, a fun wintery mystery!

A Midwinter Murder: A gripping and addictive historical cozy murder mystery by Verity Bright

adventurous mysterious slow-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75

Thank you to Verity Bright, the publisher, & NetGalley for this audiobook in exchange for a fair & honest review.
Personally I don’t think there’s anything better than reading a murder mystery over the festive season. A Midwinter Murder, a 1920s Christmas mystery, Lady Eleanor Swift’s 20th murder case to be exact. This 1920s heroine is helping her fiance solve the murder of Mr Porritt - whom was found dead in the storeroom clasping a golden pendant in the shape of a 🌹rose.

I personally missed the traditional sleuth detective and actually authority tension. In this book Lady Eleanor Swift is working with her policeman fiancé.

Narrator:
Karen Cass give this murder mystery a very British twist. Cass is easy to listen to and captures a range of character tones which makes for engaging listening.

Ideal Reader:
Someone who likes a ‘murder she wrote’ or a ‘miss marple’ mystery set against a historical backdrop.
Fans of a classic murder mystery - set inside the home, filled with town gossip, and a civic problem-solver. A reader who’s looking for a couple detective duo.

Keywords: Civic Sleuth, Classic British Murder Mystery, 1920s Detective,Murder mystery audiobook, Christmas murder mystery

Lady Eleanor Swift and her detective fiancé Hugh Sheldon are invited to a house party at the home of the Duke of Auldwyke. Shortly after arriving, she discovers a body, and she and her fiancé and her staff (which she has brought along with her, including her cook) are left to discover who the murderer is.
I went into this expecting a light, cozy mystery, and that is what I got. There isn’t a lot of depth here. For being a detective with the Scotland Yard, Hugh seems a little dim, which allows Eleanor to shine.
What I liked: I was in the mood for something easy that wouldn’t wrap me up in deep emotion, and this fulfilled that requirement. I enjoyed the relationship between Lady Eleanor and her butler, and I liked that she had a good relationship with the rest of her staff as well.

What didn’t work: frequently characters used phrasing that was far too modern for 1924. She calls her housekeeping staff “her ladies,“ a term generally reserved for those of the upper classes in England in that time and nobody seems to notice. She describes her butler as a “closet softy” and someone else is referred to as a “drama queen.” These are all very modern usages and did not fit in the era. It pulled me out of the story every time I heard one of these. Also, I felt that the mystery plot and solution was lacking. I can’t go into it more without spoilers, but I really didn’t care for the denouement.
Thank you you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this free advanced reader copy. This is my unbiased review.