There’s just something about that old-timey cosy mystery feel, very reminiscent of Agatha Christie (I wonder why) and the sort of.. gentle murder feel? If that makes sense? Nothing gory, nothing actively violent happening on-page, just.. gentle murder. If you know you know. 

The second book in a series (I have read the first (loved it) but you don’t have to in order to know the whos and the whys, you’re not thrown headfirst into the deep end with this one if you haven’t) of murders happening at or near the home of Agatha Christie and solved by her housekeeper, Phyllida Bright, this time we’re joined by several other authors of the 1930s scene, as well as a fun group of amateur crime-authors for a murder fetê. What could possibly go wrong? There’s a murder, obviously. There’s more than one, even. And it’s fun! 

I don’t know what it is about Phyllida, but she’s just such a delight of a character. She’s a little bit more bitey in this book than she was in the first, and she runs the house with an iron fist, but she’s kind to her staff, protective and helpful when necessary. And yes, this is a book that’s based on a murder-plot, but the character dynamics are the glue that’s keeping it together and the way Phyllida’s interactions with her own household and the various other characters she comes across in her investigations are written just made my cold heart sing. 

Oh Phyllida Bright, how I adore thee.

 Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.