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I’m familiar with the newest Lady Eleanor Swift books, so I’m making my way through the back catalog and catching up with all her mysteries.

It’s Eleanor’s first year as lady of Henley Hall, and hosts the entire town for Christmas Eve celebrations. Naturally, one of her guests winds up dead, and it’s up to Eleanor and her ever-faithful butler, Clifford to find the killer.

I really enjoy seeing the growth of Eleanor as a character from the first volume to now. At first a duck out of water, by this volume Eleanor has pretty much gotten used to being a Lady and knows how to behave, yet still retains her plucky independent streak and modern views. She’s still just as charming and intelligent and spunky as ever.

As always, the time period is reflected just as it should be, yet Eleanor breaks the upstairs/downstairs convention. More is offered in this story about her mysterious uncle, and she’s starting to sort out her love life, although I still find both her choices lacking. Detective Seldon has got to up his game in order to be worthy of a woman like Lady Eleanor.

On to volume 5!