“At Henley Regatta there are beautiful boats, plenty of bunting, and… is that a body in the marquee?”


I am so addicted to this ‘Golden Age’ cozy mystery series, which just keeps getting better and better. The author would really have to ‘drop the baton’ before one of Lady Eleanor (Ellie) Swift’s adventures would get less than full marks from me!

It is usually easy for me to slip into the era of a storyline, however sometimes I do have to stop and give myself a good talking to, when my mind wanders too far from the time and place of the crime and the characters as they are depicted, and I start comparing them with the crime detection techniques and forensic testing of the present day. It might be that on this occasion, Ellie herself was so far out of her own comfort zone that she took her eye off the ball momentarily, not because there was anything at all out of context with the narrative or storyline, but simply because the ‘bright young thing’ culture which pervaded events and was determined to distract her, is so far removed from her natural outlook on life. Everyone close to her, has tried and spectacularly failed, to turn Eleanor into the pitch perfect ‘Lady Of The Manor’, that they have given up trying and to be honest, are actually made to feel much more comfortable themselves, when taking her as they find her and accepting that her rather quirky and down-to-earth outlook on her supposed position in life, is what makes her so genuine, unique and endearing.

Therefore, the force of nature who is Ellie’s new best friend, one Tiffany Persephone ‘Tipsy’ Fitzroy, really can be overwhelming and begin to grate on one’s nerves, in her efforts to change and transform Eleanor, not only by insisting on the two of them heading off to Henley Regatta, after first coercing Ellie into purchasing some very fashionable, yet totally frivolous and constraining clothes; but by then encouraging her to throw herself at the many eligible, but immensely conceited, titled and idle young men, who frequent such events. For Ellie, who is persevering in her attempts to take her so far rather tenuous friendship with Chief Inspector Hugh Seldon to the next level, she really isn’t interested in any extraneous romantic distractions and soon decides that Tipsy might have her own selfish best interests at heart, not Ellie’s. Beware the wolf in sheep’s clothing, Ellie!

Which is just as well, because Ellie, together with her faithful butler come confidante and fellow amateur sleuth, Clifford, soon find themselves embroiled in their favourite pastime, that of solving what fast becomes a rather complicated and convoluted duo of murders. However, on this occasion, the situation is further exacerbated by the fact that both victims are distantly related to the Royal Family, so Hugh and his team have been side-lined by the Royal Police, who take automatic jurisdiction and have personally requested that the duo investigate exclusively and with the utmost discretion, so as not to cause the Royal Household any derogatory press. It soon becomes clear to Ellie and Clifford, that they have been chosen by Sir Percival Westlake, with his own separate and very personal agenda at the forefront of his mind, although they assume, as it transpires incorrectly, it is because of the serious nature of the allegations against the two young men, that of potentially spying and running up huge debts through their nefarious gambling activities. Together with Hugh, who has by now defied his superiors to throw in his lot with Ellie and Clifford, it takes all their combined brainpower to eventually fathom the full extent of Sir Percival’s selfish duplicity and ulterior motives, which are much worse than they had expected, and thus confront and apprehend the murderer. By which time, they have been attacked, followed, had their conversations bugged and all manner of underhand activities, culminating in their final near death chase.

As the saying goes, ‘every cloud has a silver lining’, and on this occasion Ellie not only manages to cheat death in her closest encounter yet, but she has also been able to give Hugh a metaphorical nudge in the right direction on the romance front, as he makes it clear that he is ready to move their relationship forward a step or two, although whether it will be quickly enough for an impetuous Ellie, remains to be seen. Whatever happens though, Ellie and Clifford’s luck must surely soon run out and I can’t see Hugh tolerating many more such heart-stopping moments, which place Ellie in terrible danger, as he has had to endure during their Royal Murder Investigation.

Those are the very bare bones of what was in fact a very complex and complicated investigation, and whilst I might have briefly considered the eventual perpetrator as one of my suspects, their name certainly didn’t appear in my final frame, although many other erroneous ones did!

This multi-layered, highly textured, traditional murder/mystery storyline, was well structured and fluently written over many concise and well signposted chapters, which kept the action fast-paced and seamless, with never a dull moment. Rich in atmosphere, totally immersive and certainly a story to escape into, some wonderful narrative and dialogue added excellent visual depth to the proceedings; as picnics are shared with Hugh; late night brainstormers turn into marathon draughts and chess matches with the inimitable Clifford; the female members of the household staff, both old and young, can’t hide their feelings about having the dashing detective calling at the Hall on a regular basis; and even the gardener and Gladstone the dog get in on the act, with a hilarious episode concerning a roll in a muddy swamp! When the chips are down and duty calls, this rather eclectic mix of personalities take their responsibilities very seriously. However, there is always time for a little fun and games and those moments are documented by the author, with some delicious bursts of heart and humour.

As the series moves on and the characters really take on their own definitive personalities, I unusually find myself trying to visualise them as real, flesh and bones people and what they might physically look like. The times dictate that Ellie really should be only decorous window dressing and as such, when invited to events such as Henley, she should always have a glass in her hand, but always discreetly abstain from eating anything. OK, so either Ellie is much more curvaceous than I see her, or she definitely has hollow legs, as she doesn’t seem to be able to stop, like most of us, at ‘three square meals a day’, with her extensive snack regime known only to Clifford. Hugh, I imagine to be handsome, tall and rather gangly, always smartly turned out, but a little shy and tongue tied at social occasions and definitely married to his job, at which he is rather good. It is definitely Clifford who is something of an enigma. At first I had built up an image of someone rather ‘Poirot’ like, quite short, a little stocky and very silent and fleet of foot. However, having read about his personal exploits and challenges during the progress of this particular case, my view has been revised somewhat and whilst still rather stockily built, I now see him as a rather tall and imposing figure, silent yes, but you would always know when he is in a room. His loyalty to his mistress is without question, although at times he appears to act more like a middle-aged bachelor uncle, than a stuffed-shirt butler!

Ellie is a compelling, if unconventional, member of the aristocracy, although whether she will ever quite make it to ‘Your Ladyship’ status in high society, I’m not sure, and does she really aspire to? Clifford is every person’s dream companion, with his uncanny knack of being able to read his mistress’s mind, knowing what she is thinking and pre-empting her every slightest need before she even utters a word. Hugh is developing nicely in his role of charming suitor for Ellie, despite the gossips pointing out that his lowly position as a working class man and a member of the Constabulary at that, is not conducive to him ever becoming Lord of Henley Hall. In fact, all of the characters are maturing and growing in their individual roles, with some excellent vibrant synergy between them, making it easy for me to identify with and remain invested in them, as the series progresses.

Oh! and I mustn’t leave Gladstone out of the equation, for whilst he really doesn’t commit too much effort to the work of crime solving, he is a faithful and loyal friend to the entire household, so long as they have a few titbits of food for him on a regular basis and his bed is always in a nice warm spot by the kitchen range, for when life just gets too much for him and he needs his own space and forty winks!

A few hours of delicious escapism from the real world and I am always sad to see this dream team, close a case and go off to get on with their own lives, leaving me to return to my own!

I found this absolutely charming and enjoyed thoroughly. A cozy mystery full of intrigue, characters that are a little trope-y but also pretty endearing, and a heroin [heroine?!! I CAN NEVER REMEMBER] that we love rooting for. Tipsy grated on the nerves a bit but otherwise, no complaints. 3.5 stars for this - fully enjoyable, not quite un-put-downable, but delightful nevertheless.

Lady Eleanor Swift has found herself once again embroiled in a murder. This time though she is asked to assist with the investigation - apparently, her reputation of being a decent sleuth is becoming known.

Unfortunately, it isn't the good-looking chief inspector, the man who makes Ellie's heart flutter, that asked her to help with the murder investigation. In fact, Hugh Seldon is expressly forbidden to participate in the investigation by the head of the royal police. The murder victim is a minor member of the royal family and Sir Perceivial is adamant there will be no scandal and no leaks. This is why he's instructed Ellie to investigate.

This story is full of colorful characters. It's the decadent 1920s with posh sets of Bright Young Things. Bed hopping, gambling, and parties galore are the preoccupations of the day. It immediately starts off with meeting Ellie's new BFF Tipsy. You might think that you missed a book because it seems like we are picking up in a different place than where the series left off in the last book. But I checked and A Royal Murder is book 9 and I did read book 8 Death on a Winter's Day.

While I have read most of this series - I haven't read the first two books - I don't think you necessarily have to have read the previous books to enjoy this cozy mystery. What you need to know about the regular characters is dribbled throughout the story to inform new readers and serve as a reminder to long-time readers.

For those rooting for Ellie and Hugh, there may be some progress on that front. However, since their slow-burn romance is usually one step forward and two steps back who knows how it will progress. At least, if begrudgingly, Hugh is coming to understand that he isn't going to stop Ellie from sleuthing. In all their awkwardness they really are perfect for each other - even if "polite" society thinks their stations are too mismatched.

The mystery is a good one. As I've said, the suspect characters are all quite colorful which adds some fun to the story. There are plenty of motives for wanting the young man dead, but are any of them actually motivated enough to kill? You'll have to read the book to find out whodunnit!

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on March 1 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2022/03/a-royal-murder-by-verity-bright-review.html

I received a copy of this title from the publisher, but all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. A Royal Murder is the latest title featuring Lady Eleanor Swift and her loyal butler Clifford. This go around finds Eleanor rubbing elbows with a distant cousin of the British Royal family when she attends the Henley Regatta with her new friend Tipsy. Eleanor gets more excitement than anticipated when the aforementioned royal Xander Taylor-Howard dies as he's giving a speech during the awards ceremony. Given the potential sensitive nature of the death (and the possibility of a scandal that could touch the royals) and the work Eleanor's uncle did for the country prior to his death, Eleanor finds herself investigating the death when asked by Sir Percival. Unfortunately, Hugh is was providing security and is banned from investigating by Sir Percival causing tension.

This is the strongest mystery in the series to date in my opinion. I was kept guessing until close to the reveal. I also enjoyed the developments in Eleanor and Hugh's relationship was the worked through her investigation in the face of him being banned. I'm looking forward to this series continuing for many more books.

Lady Eleanor Swift, Ellie to her friends, is facing an afternoon with new her friend Tipsy, Lady Tiffany Fitzroy, one of the bright young things, who is determined to ensure Ellie attends the Henley Regatta well dressed and groomed. Ellie is never happier than in her loose legged trousers and favourite green jacket, is finding this somewhat tedious.
Race day arrives with all the pomp and ceremony of the famous Regatta. When it is known that Royalty will be attending to give out the prizes, all-be-it, minor royalty, but as Tipsy says royalty is royalty, regardless, brings with it an air of excitement.
The stage is set, the marquee is jammed to capacity, the speeches commence, when the minor Royal quaffs a glass of champers part way through his speech, then drops dead at the feet of the Chairman! Not at all what lady Eleanor was led to believe happened at Henley.
What next she thinks, as the beloved of her life, Senior Detective Huge Seldon, appointed as Head of Police Security for the Regatta, seems to be giving Ellie the cold shoulder for some reason or another. When Tipsy decides he is just the man for her, Ellie is not to happy.
Hugh is sent packing from the crime scene by Sir Percival, Head of Royal Security, which is most intriguing and unusual. When Ellie is called in the next morning and asked to use her detecting skills to find out who killed the charismatic Sir Xander Taylor-Howard, intrigue knows no bounds.
Verity Bright has created another fun filled, cosy murder mystery full of fascinating characters, who could have done it, very easily, but why would they, as it seems they all had some sort of reason but not one that was strong enough motivation to committee murder.
With Clifford, her indomitable butler at her side, Huge who eventually begins to see that combining their levels of intelligence could help solve a very puzzling case, another murder carried out in the same manner, a gang of hardened, or what appears to be hardened criminals adding to what is rapidly becoming a life and death situation, hers, and you have a terrific afternoon on the couch read, as you try to work out who really did do it!

I must admit, starting a new Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery is like returning to visit old friends again and this weekend it provided me with the perfect piece of escapism as I endeavoured to disappear from the dark skies that weigh heavy on our rather scary current affairs. And escape I did with Lady Eleanor and her ever faithful butler, Clifford. I adore these novels. They are fun, feisty and cosy – a little like Lady Eleanor herself.

This time we join Eleanor as her new friend Tipsy, takes on the project of turning Eleanor into the society lady befitting of her standing. Those who are familiar with Lady Eleanor will know that Tipsy is fighting a losing battle but it’s jolly good fun watching her try. It isn’t long though before a death occurs and Eleanor is once again embroiled in finding the killer. This time the victim is a Royal who, to make matters worse, is poisoned in full view of a marquee full of people.

There is of course danger at every turn and once again Lady Eleanor, Clifford and Chief Inspector Seldon are in the thick of it. Scandal, secrets and lies surround them but they soon find there way to the shocking truth… and hopefully before they too meet a grisly end.

Absolutely joyous and I do so adore the sense of fun that is injected in to these novels. With a great cast of characters (including Gladstone the bulldog), an intriguing mystery and the glamour of the roaring twenties, this was another absolute delight from start to finish.

A delightful cozy mystery series circa 1920s is familiar and comforting.

In this 9th book, Lady Eleanor Swift and her trusty companions are engaged to find out who poisoned a minor royal at the regatta. She's given a list of potential suspects but her love interest, Detective Inspector Hugh Seldon, is told by the head of Royal Police to stay off the case. Interesting. Eleanor and her butler/bodyguard, Clifford, speak to many who were in attendance -- a collection of shady characters with opportunity and motive. Seems that the dead man had lots of secrets. But who wanted him dead?

I really enjoy the interaction between the characters and all the description and detail the author brings to the murder mystery. Clothes, food, and social customs are brought to life in the time period. Lady Eleanor isn't the typical upper crust woman; she has a great sense of humor and is quite down to earth despite her position -- much to the dismay of her household help who rues her independent streak. I always look forward to reading each new installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

A new adventure sees Lady Swift making a new friend in Tipsy Fitzroy and when attending the annual royal regatta Lady Swift is again called upon to sleuth when the host drops to the floor after downing his champagne

Loyal Butler Clifford, devoted dog Churchill and the dashing Detective Hugh Seldon are again around to prevent Lady Swift from getting herself in to much trouble

Cannot wait for number 10 in this series

A Royal Murder is the 9th instalment in the Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series, set in the 1920s. It is springtime and Lady Eleanor Swift is attending the annual royal regatta with Tipsy Fitzroy, her new chum and everyone is suited and booted. With the champagne guzzling very much in evidence, the prize-giving ceremony is abruptly halted when the host, the king’s cousin, Lord Xander Taylor-Howard collapses. Eleanor helps with the investigation at the request of Sir Percival, the head of the royal police.

The author's portrayal of Ellie delights me with every book and I love that Ellie's strong-willed, down-to-earth, intelligent, and possesses a wicked sense of humour. Again, a real draw of these tales book for me is the wonderful relationship between Ellie and Clifford and their delightful repartée. After eight books (I missed book 2 for some weird reason) the characters are like real friends and it is a huge pleasure to spend time with them. The mystery itself was pretty good and the perpetrator was kept under wraps aided by the clever twists. A Royal Murder was comfortably paced, compulsive and once again, Verity Bright's highly addictive storytelling really worked for me. I cannot wait for the next Lady Swift adventure and I highly recommend this one. A super, refreshing and effervescent tale as ever.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

Lady Eleanor Swift amateur sleuth is back and on the case. While boat race that the royals are having, all eyes are on the beautiful barges and the royal attendees. And then there is complete chaos when everyone sees the body floating in the water. Lady Eleanor Swift is at the royal regatta and she is looking very regal and very royal in her new gown. Gladstone, Eleanor’s bulldog also has a new outfit for this special occasion. The host at the awards ceremony gulps down a glass of champagne and collapses on stage. The victim happens to be the king’s cousin lord Xander Taylor-Howard. There were rumors that he was involved in a huge gambling ring. Sir Perceval who is in charge of the royal police asks Eleanor to assist in the investigation. During the investigation Lady Eleanor uncovers more that she bargained for, but can she find the culprit and close the investigation before she becomes the next victim? I absolutely love Lady Eleanor Swift Mysteries, they are so much fun, with spunky characters and wonderful storytelling. This book is both intriguing and engrossing. I found it to be a rapid read because I couldn’t wait to find out whodunnit. This cozy mystery series is sure to be a fan favorite. This was a wonderful addition to the series and I highly recommend it. I absolutely loved it.

Thank you Verity Bright for yet another amazing installment to the Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Series. If love Eleanor’s sleuthing adventures and her awesome companion, Gladstone is such a wonderful character in the story. I enjoyed this story very much and I highly recommend it.

4,5* upped to 5
This is another gripping and highly entertaining instalment in this excellent series. The title could "Eleanor vs the Bright Young Thing" as we meet her dealing with a new friend who belongs the BYT set and she's trying to turn Eleanor into a fashionable and silly lady.
Things do not work as expected and Eleanor is involved into another investigation.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story even if I found it a bit slow at the beginning. The investigation was exciting and I was happy to catch with the usual characters, Gladstone and Clifford above all.
The mystery is solid and full of surprises. The solution is unexpected and I appreciated how it work.
i cannot wait to read the next story and look forward to the evolution in the life of these beloved characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Well what can I say? I adore this series!
Lady Eleanor is back with a new mystery to solve!
While attending the annual Royal Regatta, dolled up in a new dress and accompanied by her new friend, Tipsy Fitzroy, Lord Zander Taylor-Howard (cousin to the king) knocks back a glass of bubbly and collapses to the floor.
To avoid a Royal scandal Eleanor is asked to investigate the case on the quiet by the head of the royal police, Sir Percival.
Ellie discovers that he is a serial womaniser, he has a lot of debt wracked up and is involved in an illegal gambling ring, so this brings up plenty of suspects for Ellie, Clifford and Seldon to check out.!
Another fantastic addition to a wonderful cosy mystery series! I cant praise it enough!

Spring, 1923. One-time adventurer and now amateur sleuth Lady Eleanor Swift is attending the annual royal regatta with her new bestie Lady Tipsy Fitzroy. Tipsy has Eleanor trussed up like a debutante in a new dress, determined to turn her into a proper society lady. However the sparkling prize-giving ceremony is interrupted when guest of honour 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’s a philanderer, a gambler & reportedly selling secrets so the list of suspects is long. Sir Percival, the head of the royal police, asks Eleanor for her help investigating. He’d do anything to keep the story under wraps as there can be no scandal linked to the Palace. Detective Inspector Hugh Seldon has been warned off the case by Sir Percival but when there's another body he starts to investigate. It isn’t until Ellie takes a closer look at the unfortunate royal’s shattered champagne flute that she stumbles upon just the clue she needs.
The ninth outing for Ellie, Clifford & of course Gladstone & another well written page turner. I love Ellie & the stalwart Clifford as well as the very slow burn romance between Ellie & Hugh. A delicious mix between humour & mystery, I was kept guessing as to who the murderer was as there were plenty of red herrings as well as twists & turns which I didn’t see coming. The characters have plenty of depth & I have a very soft spot for Ellie, her staff & Hugh, I look forward to each new story. I recommend the book & the series without hesitation
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Lady Eleanor Swift is back, and under the tutelage of Lady Tiffany Fitzroy, known by everyone as Tipsy. Clifford believes Ellie must learn to fit in with “polite society”, and to do that she needs coaching in how to behave as a well-bred woman amongst the nobility, so how to eat (or not!), how to dress, where to be seen, how to express one self, and all sorts of other things.

Whilst attending a regatta with Tipsy, Ellie meets a handsome and dashing young man, who, not an hour later, is dead of cyanide poisoning during an award ceremony.

Ellie is drafted into investigating the man’s death (he was eighteenth in line to the throne) by the head of the Royal Police, Sir Percival, who kicks Ellie’s Hugh (Detective Chief Inspector Hugh Seldon to everyone else) off the case, claiming there could be scandalous implications for the Royals, whom he must protect at all costs.

Ellie interviews several people from Sir Percival's suspect list, getting a rather insalubrious picture of the young man, and his whole set (and the nobility in general). She figures things out, of course (though I got there almost immediately after she began investigating!), and things turn out well for her, Hugh, Clifford, and most importantly, Gladstone, at the book’s resolution.

I wish the authors would let us see more Clifford in action. He is such a scene stealer, though Eleanor had some really good moments while interviewing suspects, particularly a crime lord, whom I hope we see again.

This is the second book I’ve read in this series, and it’s light, fun, and occasionally funny, and Eleanor and her “family” are growing on me.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my review.

This is book 9 in the Lady Swift series. I think it would have been good to have read prior books to really understand the characters however I dont think it would be too hard to follow if you hadn't!

I felt the plot twists and murderer were pretty obvious but overall an easy to read cosy murder mystery.

Thank you for the arc.

The latest release in the series had quite a few twists before its final conclusion. I will not talk more about my feelings for some of them because I found a significant clue that led me to figure things out quite early. I would have liked this book even better if that had not happened.
Eleanor has made a new friend, one who wants her to find a more suitable 'beau' than a working man. Especially one who has not had the time to visit since his recuperative stay.
Once she is out in the more vicious social circles, Eleanor is literally thrown to the wolves, and she is lost with regards to etiquette or what it is about the situation that she was supposed to enjoy. This is exactly the point when yet another body falls in front of her. This time, she is asked to make a formal investigation. Her trusty butler and her well-defined lists come to her aid yet again as she starts to piece the pieces of the puzzle together. There are international relationships at stake this time around, and either no one is lying, or every one is. The investigation is very thorough but not unexpected in the directions that it took.
I think we might be inching closer to figuring out the possibilities behind the parental disappearance/uncle's death. I really hope either is addressed sooner rather than later.
would not recommend reading this series without having first read the beginning ones. One or two books in between can be skipped, but not more because otherwise, it would be hard to make sense of some of the background plots.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience of this and the previous works in the same series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this digital ARC.

I recommend starting at book 1, though you could read this as a standalone. You may be a bit confused if you skip the first 8 books. I appreciate how clear they made it that this is not a standalone. I have read a couple of books on NetGalley without realizing that they were a part of a series.

I loved this book. Such a fun mystery.

I loved reading about the 1920’s glamour throughout the book.

Lady Eleanor Swift is a favorite and I love this new adventure! She has made a new friend who insists on dressing up and getting out in society.. It is at a Royal Regatta that the guest of honor drops dead while awarding the prizes. Poor Detective Seldon is the officer in charge and gets the blame when the royal playboy is murdered. Needless to say, when the head of the royal police asks Lady Swift to investigate and leave Hugh out of it, things get even worse. Can they solve the murder and stay friends?

I am looking forward to Eleanor's next adventure! Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of #ARoyalMurder!

Lady Eleanor Swift’s new friend Tipsy was determined to turn Eleanor into one of the ‘bright young things’ – dressing in the fashion of the day, bagging a prince – while at the royal regatta that was held annually. The spring weather in the year of 1923 was particularly mild and the champagne was flowing. But when the royal host, Lord Xander Taylor-Howard, a man of many dubious talents, dropped to the stage floor after downing his champagne, Ellie, Clifford and Detective Hugh Seldon were on the case. That was, until the royal police stepped in to avoid a scandal – Sir Percival recruited Eleanor while ousting Hugh, and there was nothing they could do about it…

Unearthing clues was Ellie’s specialty, and along with Clifford and Gladstone, of course, they managed to do just that. But the secrets Ellie was discovering were drawing danger close to her side. And Hugh along with Clifford, were concerned for her safety. Could they discover the killer before it was too late?

A Royal Murder is the 9th in A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series by Verity Bright and once again it was excellent. The usual characters played their starring roles – Clifford is perfection and the expressive Gladstone a laughable charmer. Plus the delightful staff at Henley Hall always make me laugh. All in all, A Royal Murder is another fun and entertaining cozy historical mystery which I recommend. But I also suggest starting at #1 😊

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

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the ninth installation in the Lady Swift mysteries set in 1920s England. Eleanor is attending a royal regatta when the host, a distant cousin of the king, falls dead, poisoned to death. Eleanor, witness to the crime, is asked to help investigate by the royal police. Soon, another poisoning follows, and Eleanor finds that she might be next unless she can unmask the culprit.

This is in the first in the series I've read, but unlike some series, I felt like I missed some things having not read any others. There weren't a lot of explanations of backstory or characters for those new to the series. However, I did like the characters, and the mystery was a good mystery.