A Midwinter Murder
Reviewed By Janet Mawdesley December 10, 2024
Author Verity Bright
Distributor: Amazon UK
ISBN: 9781835256299
Publisher: Bookouture
Release Date: December 2024
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A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery
Eleanor Swift and her entourage make a reluctant arrival at Auldwyke Hall, home of the Duke of Auldwyke, summoned there by the Duke, to partake in his annual Winter games and Christmas event.
Ellie, having refused the invitation, is talked into attending by Mr Porritt the Duke’s Secretary, reluctantly cancelling the romantic Christmas she and the very handsome Detective Chief Inspector Hugh Seldon had planned.
Under the watchful eye of Clifford, the ladies of Ellie’s household are settled into the old Gamekeepers Cottage and Ellie is settled in to her sumptuous rooms in the House. They have been told there are strict rule for the event and their stay, of which both Clifford and Ellie are still coming to terms with, as well as the fact that they will at no time meet the Duke of Auldwyke.
She is advised to hurry downstairs for the commencement of the first shooting completion, where she will meet the rest of the guests. On the way, the very keen nose of her beloved bulldog Gladstone, draws her attention to an open door of a storeroom filled with crates of glass balls. As she attempts to get him to withdraw, her attention is captured by the body of Mr Porritt, lying on the floor: dead!
Even though there has been a death, the Duke will countenance no changes to his arrangements which leaves Ellie and Clifford to wonder just what sort of Christmas they have in store for them. Ellie wishes more than ever she had held firm and refused to attend.
Hugh is due to arrive early the next morning and Ellie simply can’t wait for him, as she hopes they can still salvage something of a romantic Christmas together, in spite of Murder being committed. They do have plans to make for their future; which she for one would like to do.
But as the snow falls, the guests fall out with one another, each one holding their secrets close, Ellie, Hugh, Clifford and Constable Denby, of the local Constabulary struggle to discover a murderer who will stop at nothing to achieve his ends.
A Midwinter Murder also sees Ellie and Hugh finally begin to plan the next step in their relationship, something that will be eagerly looked forward to in their next adventure.