A Lesson in Murder by Verity Bright ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Lady Eleanor Swift has been invited to be the guest of honor at her childhood boarding school's Speach Day. As usual, trouble follows when her favorite teacher is found dead in the library. Chief Inspector Hugh Seldon has no choice but to enlist the help of Eleanor and her butler Clifford as his presence at the prestigious all-girls school would raise concern among the wealthier and more powerful parents. Will they be able to solve the case without causing a scandal?

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

September 2021; Bookouture; 978-1800195714
audio, ebook, print (272 pages); cozy mystery

A Lesson in Murder is book 7 in Verity Bright's Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series. While I have read the last few books in the series, I have not read them all. So whether you are a long-time fan or just now discovering the series, it will be an enjoyable read.

I will admit at first I thought I was not going to enjoy this book. The ladies (the cook, housekeeper, and maid) of Henley Hall do not make an appearance in this story. I so love those characters and though they usually have small parts, they are larger than life characters and I knew their presence would be missed. of course, Clifford and the English bulldog Gladstone accompany Ellie for her stay at St. Mary's boarding school when she steps in as a temporary boarding mistress after the death of Mrs. Wadsworth.

However, the trips down memory lane and things that Ellie learns now about her family are touching. I particularly enjoyed the scene with the candy store owner. During this scene, we learn that her uncle Lord Byron had tried to send her special packages of sweets but the headmistress hadn't allowed it. It was with this scene that my feelings changed and I started thinking it might be one of my favorites in my series. We learn quite a bit about Ellie's childhood. I'm not sure if it had been revealed in the early books in the series (the ones that I have not read) but we find out that her parents disappeared in Peru. 

The mystery was fun with a number of red herrings so you aren't sure who the murderer was (or even if there was in fact a murder!) until the end. 

I did miss Ellie's household staff, but the children in Holly House (the house where Ellie is temporary boarding mistress) provide plenty of distraction. It is implied they are the naughties of children but really how naughty can 9- to 11-year-old girls be? I'm actually sad that it is unlikely we will see them again (it would be fun though if Ellie invited them to a sleep-over at Henley Hall).

If you are needing a quick, fun read for your weekend, A Lesson in Murder would be the perfect book.

Buy A Lesson in Murder at Amazon

(Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read it for free)

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour. 

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us. Get even more book news in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter today! Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.