This delightful cozy, set in England in 1925, finds Lady Eleanor Swift and husband Hugh Seldon ready to celebrate their first Christmas together at Henley Hall. When an unexpected telegram arrives on Christmas Eve with a curt and mysterious message asking them to travel to a remote hamlet by midnight to earn their fees, they decide that their fledgling detective agency needs some income, so they drive off with Gladstone in tow. Upon tardy arrival to the client's estate, they find an empty office and a recording that starts to give them a few details before being abruptly cut off. Hearing music from the local church, they pass a graveyard where a dead man rests across a tombstone. Alas, it's the body of Inigo Osmund Unwin, their client.
This immediately turns the investigation into a game of retroactive deduction, forcing the Byron Detective Agency to solve a case that they were technically too late for. The inhabitants of the village didn't know or care much for Unwin and they seem to have a lot of secrets. As the snow falls and temperatures drop, Eleanor, Hugh, and Clifford begin a heated interrogation of the locals. Christmas this year will be nothing like they expected.
This was complex and fun with lots of wonderful historical details that the author is known for. I love the time period and the setting with the Christmas theme. The characters are what drives this series, however, and I always enjoy returning to catch their latest whodunit. From Lady Eleanor and Hugh to Clifford, their butler, who is a walking encyclopedia, to the "aprons" who cook and clean, everyone is part of the crew. Their camaraderie and witty repartee are part of each book's charm. Although there is always a mystery to solve, it's really the sense of team and family that carries this beyond the typical cozy.
After 24 books, I still very much enjoy this series and recommend any interested readers start with the first installment for maximum enjoyment.
Book Blog Tour for Bookouture 12-9-25
ARC provided for review.
This is part of a series.
Tags and Genre - cozy historical mystery, England, 1925, murder
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