Mystery by the Sea

A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery, Book 5

De: Verity Bright

Narrado por: Karen Cass

A magnificent seaside hotel, striped deck chairs, strawberry ice cream...and a rather familiar dead body? Lady Swift is on the case!

Spring, 1921. Lady Eleanor Swift, explorer extraordinaire and accidental sleuth, hasn’t had a vacation since she arrived in England a year ago. Being an amateur detective can be a rather tiring business, and she is determined to escape any more murder and mysteries. So she books into the Grand Hotel in the fashionable resort of Brighton for some fresh air, fish and chips, and, of course, a dip in the ocean.

Eleanor is enjoying her view of the waves and trying to find her bathing suit when calamity strikes: A guest has been found dead at her beautiful hotel. The distraught manager, who can’t afford a scandal, asks Eleanor to solve the case as swiftly as possible. Thank goodness she has her partner in crime - Gladstone the bulldog - to help her sniff out the dastardly culprit.

But when Eleanor enters the dead man’s room, she receives a shock big enough to make her forget even the finest ice cream sundae. The body is that of her husband, who supposedly died six years ago on the other side of the world. Has he been alive all these years? Why does he have a copy of their wedding photograph with a cryptic message written on the back? If Eleanor can keep herself safe long enough to find her husband’s killer, she might discover that everything is not quite as it seems beside the seaside....

A warm and witty whodunit! Fans of Agatha Christie, T E Kinsey, and L.B. Hathaway will be utterly charmed.

©2021 Verity Bright (P)2021 Bookouture, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd.

Well-done!

Quite enjoyable, very well-written, and an exceptional and creative plot. I absolutely was not expecting the early surprise. I adore Lady Eleanor, and am very fond of the supporting cast. So happy I found this series. Well-done! And the narrator, Karen Cass, is splendid.

One of the best in the series so far

So much fun in a clever cozy mystery that’s still light and relaxing listening. With some of the best narration in this genre as well.

Still enthralled

Usually I’d be growing tired of the formula. I have go to authors but usually I have to pepper in other authors but Lady Swift and Clifford are so wonderfully learning about one another that I really can’t stop. I’ve done theses back to back and am anxious to listen to the next.

allergies

love the light and engaging story line and the narration, but REALLY, Clifford's coughing, throat clearing, and sniffing is too much. Send the poor man to an allergist.

Best Mystery Series!!

I LOVE these audio books. This series meets the original definition of "cozy mystery." It appears that many people don't understand the definition of "clean" (cozy) mystery books. If you like true cozy mysteries, I encourage you to try this series. I loved them so much that when I got through the series the first time, I immediately starting listening to them again.

The narrator is fantastic. She enhances the story by the way she narrates it. The stories have a great balance between intense and light, but they aren't foolish.

I love Lady Swift and Clifford, and the rest of her staff. Her butler, Clifford, is more like her mentor.

And, of course, I love the mysteries. Sometimes I guess "who dunnit," but more often I don't guess. Personally, I can't think of a way these books could be improved.

Another delightful 1920s mystery

Mystery by the Sea by Verity Bright is a fun addition to the Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series, set in 1921. Eleanor decides to take a seaside vacation at the Grand Hotel in Brighton. When she gets to the Grand, she is just in time to see the EMTs carry out a body. Then the sheet slips off the body, and Eleanor faints. The body belongs to her husband, Hilary Eden, who was supposed to have died in front of a firing squad six years earlier during the Great War for selling arms to the enemy.

The rest of the book follows Eleanor and her butler, Clifford, as they try to track down the truth while a wide range of criminals chases after them, in the belief that Hilary gave Eleanor some unspecified treasure that they all want.

This series is a true delight and wittier than many of the recent historical mysteries set in the Roaring ’20s. This era seems to be the trend for recent historical mysteries, and many have sacrificed quality for the chance to jump on this bandwagon. The Lady Eleanor Swift series does not do that, being witty and full of fun.

I have two favorite characters. First is Clifford, the staid butler, who acts so proper yet secretly has a sense of humor and abets Eleanor’s schemes while appearing to oppose them. My second favorite character is Gladstone, the old bulldog whom Eleanor has inherited from her late great-uncle. He is always full of mischief and is good for a great laugh. One other detail that provides joy is that Eleanor actually pays to bring her staff to Brighton with her, something unheard of. The cook, housekeeper, and 15-year-old ladies’ maid, who is nothing but thumbs, have a delightful time and let down their hair in some terrific scenes of comic relief.

I enjoy the audiobook performance of Karen Cass, who is well suited to read this book. She does good voices and good accents.

I had a truly delightful time listening to this audiobook and award it five stars.

Great character twist

There are just enough characters to keep track of, not a lot of fluff to confuse the reader. I Love DCI voice. I hope he lasts longer that goofy Lancelot!

I am binge listening to this series.

This series is a joy. It is fun, interesting and well narrated. I am a long time audible user but this is the first time I have listened to more than two books in a series in succession.

Recommended

Delightful main character, wonderfully witty and light hearted romp down the english lanes of yesteryear in addition to a surprisingly well crafted and intriguing murder mystery. This book is very well narrated and encourages the listener to put their modern day worries to one side and join a more innocent world for a while.

FUN

Love this series and characters very much !! Very light and enjoyable! I will be listing to more of these delightful books! The narrator is fantastic !
Leslie M