A nice continuation in the series…
I’m a big fan of historical mysteries, and I also like that dry British sense of humor (humour), so I was happy to get a chance to read a review copy of A Witness to Murder, which is the third book in Verity Bright’s Lady Eleanor (Ellie) Swift series. I read the first book in this series, A Very English Murder, some time ago, and I liked that one, so I expected good things from this book too. And I was not disappointed!
First, the characters have matured some. Ellie is a little more settled into her life at Henley Hall, although in a “modern” way; her relationships with Clifford, Mrs Butters, and her other staff are more developed; her relationships with Lancelot and Inspector Seldon remain suitably confusing; and she’s getting more comfortable in Little Buckford. And of course, Ellie’s bulldog Gladstone is a wonderful character in his own right!
The plot is also interesting, with a wide cast of potential suspects and many possible motives that get narrowed down by a subsequent death, and of course, by Ellie’s (and Clifford’s) sleuthing. Clifford is awesome as a sleuth – while reading this, I often thought he should have an equal co-billing with Ellie. As with the first book, I enjoyed some of the details of village life (good and bad) that popped up in the background, such as the worries of the milkman about the weather and whether his milk would curdle, or the idea that women who had supposedly just gotten the vote actually couldn’t vote until they were 30 (and had property), but all men could vote at 21.
All-in-all, I liked this book as much as the first one, and now will have to go back and find the second one to read. Please keep in mind that for me, four stars is a very good rating. I try to avoid star-flation, and keep five stars for only a few books. And again, my thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley, who provided my review copy.
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