Book Review: A Royal Murder by Verity Bright

Kel’s Review

It is a delight to return to such a beautifully crafted world! Verity Bright has, in the Lady Eleanor Swift mystery book series, wonderful characters and they are all back in “A Royal Murder”. A royal boat race is the scene of both the murder and of a conflict between our lady investigator and our favourite Detective Seldon! Despite his best efforts to keep Eleanor out of it, when she is asked by the royal police to find the culprit, Detective Seldon realises there are people and places where she can obtain key information easy than he. Soon they are embroiled in more than just murder but perhaps a conspiracy or a crime ring…

I enjoy the banter and repartee between everyone but especially our loyal and multi-skilled retainer, Clifford! Eleanor’s friend is, intentionally, exasperating! Gladstone, the bull dog, is just perfect!

If you enjoy historical cosy mysteries, pick this one up now, and then be sure to enjoy the rest of the series too! It’s a five out of five on the enJOYment scale!

Ka’s Review:

It must be a challenge to keep on writing these engaging stories, And I for one appreciate each one. It’s Book 9 and I’m already looking forward to Book 10.

The characters are so well written. I really couldn’t take to Eleanor’s new best friend, she really jarred with me. Unsurprisingly she contributes to the plot tension! Well done!

The cast of Detective Seldon, Clifford and the hunky and cheeky bulldog, Gladstone, continue to provide the perfect ensemble to investigate this latest murder mystery.

Despite the red herrings, I figured out quite a lot of the plot. Yet, once again there were those unexpected twists.

A most enjoyable cosy mystery. well done indeed. Five out of five!

We received complimentary copies of the book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in these reviews are completely our own. 

From the back cover

At the royal boat race there are beautiful barges, plenty of bunting, a handsome prince and… is that a body in the water? Lady Swift is on the case!

Spring, 1923. One-time adventurer and now amateur sleuth Lady Eleanor Swift is attending the annual royal regatta with her new pal Tipsy Fitzroy. Tipsy has Eleanor trussed up like a debutante in a new dress, determined to turn her into a proper society lady. Even Eleanor’s favourite companion, Gladstone the bulldog, has a new outfit for the occasion.

But the sparkling prize-giving ceremony is interrupted when the devilishly handsome host gulps his glass of champagne on stage and collapses to the floor. The victim is none other than the king’s cousin, Lord Xander Taylor-Howard. He was rumoured to be entangled in a rather dubious gambling ring, but did someone kill him instead of collecting his debt? Or was this simply an ill-timed tragic accident? Either way, a right royal scandal is afoot…

Sir Percival, the head of the royal police, asks Eleanor for her help investigating. He’d do anything to keep the story under wraps. She knows it will get her into hot water with a certain dapper Detective Seldon, but she’s determined to see justice done. However, as she digs deeper, she learns Lord Taylor-Howard was hiding more than one murky secret. It isn’t until she takes a closer look at the unfortunate royal’s shattered champagne flute that she stumbles upon just the clue she needs. But can she reel in the killer before her ship is sunk too?

A warm and witty 1920s mystery that cozy fans will just adore. Addictive reading for fans of T E Kinsey, Lee Strauss and Agatha Christie.