Death Down the Aisle

Bravo, Verity Bright! You have once again charmed me with the adventures of Lady Eleanor and her (so much more than just a) butler, Clifford. Bonus points for Gladstone the bulldog wearing a bow tie. I am smitten!

Here we find Eleanor trying to help clear the good name of Lord Peregrine Davencourt, her best friend Constance Grainger's fiancé. It seems he was previously engaged and hadn't mentioned this to Constance. Now Daisy, his former fiancée, has brought a breach of contract action against him. But before Eleanor can solve that matter, Lord Davencourt finds himself the focus of a murder charge when he's found kneeling over Daisy's dead body.

There is so much to be delighted by in this book! Eleanor is looking into matters with her usual flair and disregard for personal safety and decorum, and Clifford is doing his best to keep her out of trouble. I think she's wearing down his expectation that she will ever conform to proper “lady of the manor” behavior. I love their relationship, their banter, the fact that Clifford is often exasperated by his mistress' non-conformity but still supports her in her endeavors.

And in this instance, Chief Inspector Hugh Seldon actually asks for Eleanor's help. He's still nervous as a long-tailed cat in a roomful of rocking chairs that she will heedlessly put herself in harm's way, but the force is short-handed, and he's grateful for her assistance, even if he's anxious about her safety. We get to see their relationship progress a little further, although still very much at a slow-burn pace, and we learn a little more about Hugh's background and personal life. I love that!

The historical detail that Bright provides is, as always, spot on and well researched. I didn't know about the Women's Institute, and it was an interesting topic to learn about. The notes at the end of the book are a nice touch – don't miss them!

Death Down the Aisle is another five-star read from Verity Bright. If you love a good cozy mystery with a little romance and some history to boot, you need to read this book!