Following straight on from the first book in the series, Murder at the Ritz, it was easy to just keep reading on with the second, even though I hadn’t been that impressed with the first volume. It wasn’t bad at all, just not quite enough to garner huge praise. And yet, yes, it was indeed very easy to keep reading.

The second instalment rejoins DCI Coburn and the lovely Rosa in 1940s London. World War II rages across Europe, and England is bombed daily in air raids. We aren’t shielded from the horrors of living through the Blitz, and its use as the book’s backdrop is a definite hook.

Once again, we’re thrust straight into the class wars, this time with a group of working class families attempting to force entry into the very posh Savoy hotel and its luxury air raid shelter. It’s not difficult to agree with their point that safety from the bombs should not be reserved for the rich, although the narrative tries to play a more impartial viewpoint – deliberately, I’ll say, even as it feels a little grating. And of course a lot of that is driven by the too-perfect Coburg, born into a titled family, but now a ‘man of the people’, and with opinions so overly ‘decent’ that they are nearly irritating.

The case kicks off the morning after this storming of the Savoy, when one of the more aristocratic guests is found dead in his bed. Suspicion of course immediately falls on the ‘ne’er do wells’ that shouldn’t have been there, and indeed the first police inspector on the case is more than happy to pursue obvious targets. However, as in the previous book, the hotel has called in Coburg as ‘one of their own’ – setting up a clash in a long-standing rivalry between Coburg and the completely awful Inspector Lomax. It all felt a bit forced, if I’m honest, but does provide a meaty subplot through the whole book, and it’s actually a nice balance between Coburg’s (lack of) character flaws and the set up he finds himself in.

I will say that I liked this a little better than the first book, and once again it was an easy, pleasant enough read. The plot hung together a little better for me this time, too. I still wasn’t entirely enamoured of the WWII setting, or rather the way the tragedies of war were left to do some of the emotional heavy lifting. The overall writing, however, isn’t quite strong enough to not make that come through as melodrama.

Would I read book 3? I’m totally on the fence. I might, in ARC form, but I’m entirely not bothered if I put the series down here and, sadly, won’t be looking to buy future instalments. Ymmv, as they say.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Allison & Busby for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review “Murder at the Savoy.” All opinions are my own.

In 1940 London, the Blitz is a nightly occurrence. People need to get away from the air raids, and that includes the bomb shelter at the ritzy Savoy Hotel, which has agreed one night to allow the “common people” to come in -- after these same people have practically forced their way through the doors. Only one problem: next morning a body is discovered. To make it worse, it’s a nobleman. Thus begins “Murder at the Savoy,” book #2 in the “hotel mysteries” series by Jim Eldridge.

Due to his high society connections, The Honorable Edgar Walter Septimus Saxe-Coburg -- also known as DCI Coburg -- gets a call about the case and goes to the hotel, to find out a rival inspector already has a suspect done and dusted, the estranged son of the murdered man. With time on his hands, Coburg and his wife take a run out to the country. A lucky break, that; while they’re gone, German bombs destroy their house, and they must move into his brother’s flat. They do spend one night at the Savoy; this will become a plot point. And of course, Coburg is brought back on the case, because he’s part of that upper-class after all, even if he doesn’t broadcast it to all and sundry. (Which is a real bone of contention to a certain someone, as you will see.)

“Murder at the Savoy” features, beside our investigation, the study of the changes that are coming to society, and how the war is shaping new attitudes. The possibility of “giving up” was much on everyone’s mind this early in the war, and Coburg’s wife, Rosa gets involved with ferreting out some unappetizing people (with help from her brother-in-law).

A fun fact -- Agatha Christie appears as a minor character helping the police with their inquiries. Her pharmacological background comes in quite handy, indeed.

There’s a few more bodies in this one, and tragedy strikes some of the participants; the awful fortunes of war. Coburg and his sergeant Ted Lampson put it all together satisfactorily, with a big dramatic finish. Readers should find the twists and turns a reasonable challenge, with just the right amount of personal stories that make characters seem like “real people.” Jim Eldridge also has the knack of putting the facts of the time into his narrative in a way that underscores his plots in a plausible fashion. That’s important, if you’re writing a historical mystery. It’s a way to bring your story alive, and you’ll find that, in “Murder at the Savoy.”

It was 1940 with the Blitz operating in full force when the Savoy Hotel with its luxurious underground shelter accepted a group of people from East London to keep them safe during the bombing. It was during their time overnight that one of the guests was murdered. Detective Chief Inspector Coburg and his off-sider, Sergeant Lampson were given the case, usurping the original officer who had first arrived at the Savoy. Unfortunately, Lomax couldn’t abide Coburg and tensions became heightened.

As Coburg and Lampson continued their investigations, two more were murdered. The original suspect had been released, but Coburg was sure it was something to do with the maids who worked at the Savoy. Perhaps they were passing information? Were there two people who were doing the killing? Could he find who the culprit was before more bodies were found?

Murder at the Savoy is the 2nd in the Hotel Mysteries series by Jim Eldridge and I thoroughly enjoyed it. A historical mystery – one of my favourite genres, and this one had a lot going for it. Great characters in Coburg, his new wife Rosa, and Lampson and some perfectly nasty ones as well. This one is my first by Eldridge and it won’t be my last. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Hotel Mysteries #2

September, 1940: The height of the Blitz. When The Savoy advertises it's series of underground shelters, a crowd of people from East London arrive at the hotel and demand entry. There they find shelter worthy of the The Savoy's clientele, but the next morning, after the air raid and when the Stepney protestors have left, it's discovered that one of the hotels guests is dead, stabbed through the heart. DCI Coburg and Sargent Lampson are called in, and the finger of suspicion falls firmly upon the East Londoners.

When the bombing is over, the body of the Earl of Lancaster is found, he'd been stabbed through the heart. DCI Coburg and Sargent Ted Lampson are called in to investigate. But soon there's another murder at The Savoy.

This is an enjoyable whodunit. This is a well written historical murder story. It's an easy book to read. The story highlights historic events that actually took place in the plotline. There's some interesting characters. I liked that we get some period drama. I also liked that fact was mixed with fiction. This is an enjoyable read.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #AllisonBusby and the author #JimEldridge for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Murder at the Savoy is the second in the hotels series from Jim Eldridge which I didn’t realise so having not read the first one I had a bit of catching up to do, this was easy enough. There’s been a murder at the Savoy! An Earl is stabbed in the back during an air raid when the Savoys fancy shelter in the basement was invaded by dirty commoners some of which are paid up members of the communist party and handily including the Earls estranged son.
Eldridge has apparently written hundreds of books this is the first one of his I have read and it shows, it’s a bit of a cut and shut job. Sections of history are dropped into the narrative like massive boulders fortunately the history is interesting. There is however a current of misogyny running through the book, his treatment and representation of women is shocking, the book is littered with dead bodies and the majority of them are women and little is said about them. One woman commits the heinous crime of having a moustache and the conclusion of the book is pretty much hysterical female gone mad over mans rejection. ???? Ok. Eldridge also gets Unity and Diana Mitford mixed up, not just once but for a whole integral section of the book. I’m reading a proof so I hope to god that gets fixed before it’s printed. It’s a pretty massive blunder. I couldn’t take it seriously after that.

Synopsis

It’s the height of the Blitz and bombs are falling all over London. The Savoy hotel is confident that its underground air raid shelter with dormitory facilities will appeal to its well-heeled guests so much that it is advertised in the newspapers. This encourages of Eastenders from Stepney to congregate one night, and they are eventually admitted preventing the trouble from escalating. During the night the Earl of Lancaster is murdered, stabbed in the back as he sleeps.

Detective Chief Inspector Coburg is called in by the owners but when he arrives he finds the local police have been called and Inspector Lomax is in charge and believes he has solved the case already, he says that the Earl’s son is the murderer.

Lady Lancaster believes her son is innocent and asks Coburg to intervene. He says its not is case and so is powerless. After establishment pressure the Commissioner steps in and hands the case to Coburg, much to Lomax’s chagrin. Lomax thinks Coburg has worked behind his back, using his class and status to get the case, and seeks evidence of wrongdoing to bring him down.

During questioning Lady Winship takes a shine to DCI Coburg and when she discovers he has recently married Rosa a famous jazz singer, she pressures the Savoy to give Rosa a showcase spot and then invites her to one of her soirees. Is this merely an innocent invitation to a talented singer or is there an ulterior motive behind it?
The investigation takes DCI Coburg and DS Lampson from the luxury of the Savoy to the bombed-out streets of London’s Eastend and gentile Ascot in search of the truth. In doing so they encounter the rich, famous, and powerful and the doughty poor, members of the establishment, communists, fascist appeasers, and foreign detainees.

My thoughts

Placing the novel in 1940 is perfect for what essentially is a period piece of writing. This is a murder mystery very much in the style of the ‘Golden Age’ of crime substituting the hotel for the country house or manor so favoured by contemporary writers then. The structure and descriptions are in keeping with the time and whilst I noted a couple of modernisms these are easily overlooked and will be unnoticed by many. It manages to capture the gentile feel of the 1930s for those who were comfortably off but with war just starting to be felt after the period known as the phony war. The devastation of the Blitz is covered and is central to the plot without taking over.

Overall, the feel was that of good television writing, entertaining and inoffensive without being over demanding. The murders were not dark or overly gruesome, the poor are downtrodden but there are no descriptions of grinding poverty, and the inclusion of the internment camp was a novel addition, but the treatment of the internees were not covered in detail. This is very much a work of entertainment and doesn’t set itself out to reflect the social realities of the time or comment of futility or waste of war.

It is very much a novel of class and manners; Coburg is upper class but trying to make his way through the ranks of the police force whereas his brother Magnus very much enjoys the trappings of privilege, but both are treated with equal sympathy. The working class are portrayed as stoically battling on through their privations and the hotel workers are diligent and mindful of their position. Coburg is ‘bombed out’ of his flat and so can, like the Queen after Buckingham Palace was bombed, feel empathy with average Eastender and ‘look them in the eye.’ The reader also gets a good feeling for the protocols operating within a mid-twentieth century grand hotel where guests expect the best and everything must be done just so.

There is mention of real-life people from the period including significant war time figures as well as people from popular entertainment. There is a minor cameo role for Agatha Christie, which is a nod towards the heritage of the work, but the author has resisted incorporating the real-life figures within the action, something which seems to be increasing in popularity with writers. This allows for the plot to remain straightforward and to flow without unnecessary distractions. There is plenty of intrigue to keep the reader guessing and the action is in keeping with the style of the work.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me access to this work in exchange for a fair review.

Murder at the Savoy was an enjoyable mystery, with an interesting plot and an intriguing setting, as well as a likeable main character. However, what let it down for me was the terribly unrealistic dialogue, with characters talking to one another in a way which was painfully obviously designed to pass information along to the reader, rather than sounding how real people would speak. This was a real shame, as I otherwise enjoyed the book.

These follow a very comforting formula which I love. I would be happy to read these and his other detective series endlessly, especially now that the evenings are drawing in. The plots themselves, are quite involved but am always reassured by the presence of Coburg & Lampson, along with Coburg's musician wife. Thanks to Netgalley.

Murder at the Savoy is the latest in the Hotels series by Jim Eldridge and it is another very enjoyable and readable crime novel based in WW2.

As the title suggests Detective Chief Inspector Coburg and Sergeant Lampson have to investigate a murder which occurred at the Savoy Hotel during a bombing raid which nobody saw occurring.

The author uses the background of the War to colour the storyline and produces a book that is highly recommended.

This is the second book of the Hotel series. The main characters are very likeable. It takes place early during WWII in London during the Blitz. The Savoy Hotel has advertised it's safe Air Raid shelter to encourage folks to stay at the Savoy. As the sirens are sounding, an angry crowd from Stepney is trying to get into the Savoy. The assistant manager lets them in to go to a separate section of the shelter from that of the hotel guests. Meanwhile, Chief Inspector Coburg (second son of an Earl) of Scotland Yard and his new wife, Rosa, a jazz singer, are huddled with their neighbors in a corrugated iron Anderson shelter.

The next morning, the Earl of Lancaster is found stabbed in his bed. The Savoy owner calls Coburg to come to the Savoy about the murder. However, when Coburg gets there, Inspector Lomax from the Strand Police is already there; the two are definitely not going to work together, and Coburg leaves. Lomax arrests the Earl's son William, who was with the Stepney group, and was estranged from his father. Fortunately, the Commissioner shortly decides that Coburg should have the case, and he and his sargeant, Lampson take over. They quickly realize that William couldn't have murdered his father, and release him. When the building where Coburg and his wife is obliterated in the blitz, they arrange to stay in his brother Magnus' London flat until they find a place of their own. Magnus and Rosa meet and immediately like each other. Soon they find themselves working together to spy on a high society couple staying at the Savoy who are trying to get rid of Churchill and want to negotiate with Hitler. This causes a very exciting confrontation!

Before he solves all, Coburg has two more murders in the hotel to work on, when two hotel employees are found dead. His nemesis, Inspector Lomax, keeps trying to find something on Coburg, and makes an accusation to the commissioner. Fortunately, Coburg manages to show it's false. I really enjoyed the book.

Thanks to Allison & Busby and Net Galley for this ARC. So glad to have found this author though Net Galley. His first series was great and this series appears to be just as good.

An enjoyable historical mystery. I appreciated the way in which the author used the Blitz not just as the setting, but as an integral part of the story. The main characters were very likeable, but the incidental characters felt more like caricatures than real people.

Every so often a book comes along that makes you think that although you want to find out who the killer is but the characters are so fascinating that you don’t want it to end because you want to spend more time with them. This is just such a book. I grasps you at the first chapter and weaves its spell and makes you feel a part of the scene.
It takes place wartime in London and mixes facts with fiction using real characters and events to make the narrative come alive. Detective Chief Inspector Coburg and Sergeant Lampson are called in on a case involving the murder of a Lord in the bomb shelter under the Hotel Savoy. He was stabbed in his bed. There is no shortage of suspects including his son who has renounced his family and gone to live in a poorer part of London. He is in the Savoy bomb shelter because a group of disadvantaged people demanded to be housed there and the manager allowed it.
Additionally, the Lord was quite a raconteur and used to having his way with ladies from above and below stairs. Did one of them kill him? His wife seems relieved that he is dead so did she find a way to conveniently free herself from the embarrassment of his actions? Did his son kill his father? Or was it someone else entirely.
Additionally, there is a plot afoot to assassinate Churchill and replace him with someone who would appease Hitler. Did the nobility who are involved in that kill his lordship?
Good detective work tracks down the killer and it is an exciting climax.
This book is a wonderful book that I didn’t want to put down. It is well written and gripping and compelling. It is the first book I read by Jim Eldridge it will certainly not be the last he is an excellent writer.
I would like to thank Allison and Busby and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an honest review.

September 1940. The height of the Blitz. When The Savoy advertises its series of underground shelters, a crowd of people from East London arrive at the hotel and demand entry. There they find a shelter worthy of The Savoy's clientele, but the next morning, after the air raid and when the Stepney protestors have left, it is discovered that one of the hotel's guests is dead, stabbed through the heart. Detective Chief Inspector Coburg and Sergeant Lampson are called in, and the finger of suspicion falls firmly upon the East Londoners, but not everything is as it seems in these sumptuous surroundings. This is the second in the series with these two characters and it picks up right after the first. Like all of this authors stories, the historical detail and accuracy make this mystery an incredibly interesting read. I am looking forward to book 3 with DCI Coburg. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

I hadn’t heard of this author before but I’m hoping he’s got a back catalogue that I can catch up with. Really enjoyed the book. Loved the detective characters and the other characters were well drawn. Love it when you find a new author that gets you excited about reading.

Murder at the Savoy is Jim Eldridge’s latest novel about Detective Chief Inspector Coburg, policing London in WWII. This is the second book in the series and the action takes place a few weeks after the first. As usual, Eldridge takes various facts and weaves them into his fiction. The novel starts with an air-raid. A crowd of poor East-Enders demand admission to the Savoy Hotel. In a great humanitarian gesture, the hotel’s manager, Willy Hofflin, lets them in and offers them accommodation alongside the hotel’s rich guests in the basement – as he did in real life. However, in the novel, when the East-Enders leave, the Earl of Lancaster has been murdered.

Edgar Coburg is called by the hotel manager but when he arrives, he finds Inspector Lomax from the local police in charge of the case. The two policemen dislike each other intensely. That dislike drives one of the subplots. Another one is Edgar’s irritation with his brother, Magnus, the Earl of Dawlish. Those subplots, by the way, are handled beautifully. Of course, we initially see Magnus from Edgar’s perspective – but then we discover that Magnus is actually acting a role. A very very important role indeed.

I mentioned that Eldridge tends to season his novels with real historical facts. In his Murder at the Natural History Museum, the chapter showing us a gaunt Oscar Wilde, ill in prison and worrying about Constance and the children, is one of my favourite passages from any novel. Murder at the Ritz, the forerunner of the Savoy book, brilliantly includes Ian Fleming and Guy Burgess. In Murder at the Savoy, we get Churchill and his attack dog, Brendan Bracken.

This is a seriously good book. I didn’t like the outcome for some characters, but that’s my desire for everyone to enjoy a happy ever after. It’s not like that in real life and it’s not like that in this novel. Do read it.

#MurderattheSavoy #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and Allison and Busby for the ARC of Murder at the Savoy by Jim Eldridge.
Set in the middle of WW2, it shows a fantastic insight into the struggles of Londoners during the blitz.
I haven't read the first in the series yet, although i do own it. This book can stand alone and is a great story throughout. Well written, and look forward to the next one in the series.

It is September 1940 and bombs are falling over London and there are sections in of the city with no air-raid shelters. The Savoy has advertised how safe and elegant their below ground shelter is and when a group of people who cannot afford to stay at the Savoy stand outside asking to be let in, assistant manager Willy Hofflin lets them in. The staff uses curtains to separate the two groups. Unfortunately, one of the guests, the Earl of Lancaster is stabbed in the back during the night. That is when the owner of the Savoy, Mr. D'Oyly Carte and the victim's wife, Lady Lancaster, ask DCI Edgar Saxe-Coburg to investigate. He reluctantly agrees, but another Inspector is already there and he and Inspector Lomax are not friendly. "Murder at the Savoy" picks up shortly after the first book in the series, "Murder at the Ritz" ends. Rosa is recovering from her arm injury and their relationship has deepened and readers get to know more about Sergeant Ted Lampson, and Edgar's brother, Magnus, Earl of Dawlish. The author Jim Eldridge vividly describes Great Britain during WW II, not shying away from the death and destruction from the Nazi bombs, the bravery of the RAF, internment camps, and the sacrifices of many people. I look forward to the next book in the series. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Murder at the Savoy is a welcome return to the London of 1940, Coburg and Lampson.

Once more, Cobury is called upon to help solve a murder and the twists and turns that eventually lead us to the conclusion of the crime make for a good story, taking the reader to the East End as well as to the privilege and wealth of the Savoy Hotel.

I really enjoyed the story. I love the pieces of period detail the author adds to the book.

I'm looking forward to book 3 already.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.

Thanks to #NetGalley, the publisher @allisonandbusby and the author Jim Eldridge for providing me with a digital ARC of #MurderattheSavoy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way. This book is the second in the hotel Murder series and is set in September 1940. I really enjoyed this book and have not read the first book but it did not matter. I loved the plot being set during the Blitz and the fact that we meet Agatha Christie and Winston Churchill. I look forward to reading more in this series, this book comes highly recommended.