Author: Colleen Cambridge
Published: October 26th 2021 by Kensington Publishing Corporation
Format: Hardcover, 304 pages
Genre: Historial Amateur Sleuth
Series: Phyllida Bright Mystery #1
First Sentence: Phyllida Bright had seen her share of bodies during the great war, so when she discovered the dead man sprawled on the floor, it didn’t even occur to her to scream.
Blurb: Tucked away among Devon's rolling green hills, Mallowan Hall combines the best of English tradition with the modern conveniences of 1930. Housekeeper Phyllida Bright, as efficient as she is personable, manages the large household with an iron fist in her very elegant glove. In one respect, however, Mallowan Hall stands far apart from other picturesque country houses...
The manor is home to archaeologist Max Mallowan and his famous wife, Agatha Christie. Phyllida is both loyal to and protective of the crime writer, who is as much friend as employer. An aficionado of detective fiction, Phyllida has yet to find a gentleman in real life half as fascinating as Mrs. Agatha's Belgian hero, Hercule Poirot. But though accustomed to murder and its methods as frequent topics of conversation, Phyllida is unprepared for the sight of a very real, very dead body on the library floor.
A former Army nurse, Phyllida reacts with practical common sense--and a great deal of curiosity. It soon becomes clear that the victim arrived at Mallowan Hall under false pretenses during a weekend party. Now, Phyllida not only has a houseful of demanding guests on her hands--along with a distracted, anxious staff--but hordes of reporters camping outside. When another dead body is discovered--this time, one of her housemaids--Phyllida decides to follow in M. Poirot's footsteps to determine which of the Mallowans' guests is the killer. With help from the village's handsome physician, Dr. Bhatt, Mr. Dobble, the butler, along with other household staff, Phyllida assembles the clues. Yet, she is all too aware that the killer must still be close at hand and poised to strike again. And only Phyllida's wits will prevent her own story from coming to an abrupt end.(GoodReads)
My Opinion: I’m not sure how I discovered this book, but finding head housekeeper Phyllida Bright has been a pleasure. Combining all of Agatha Christie’s sleuths, which makes sense since Phyllida works for the renowned author, she undertakes her investigations into the stabbing death of a houseguest on a dark and stormy night and the strangulation of an assistant cook the following morning. Which, in a way, makes this a locked room mystery – of sorts.
There is an excessive amount of periphery information about the running of a home in 1930 Devon, so you might find yourself drifting off. But don’t wander too far since there are little tidbits of information left amongst the fluff, which turn out to be the clues you need. All ending in true Christie fashion that makes the adventure fit together perfectly.
For those who want to know what is next for Phyllida Bright, the second in the series, A Trace of Poison, is due this fall.
Blurb: Tucked away among Devon's rolling green hills, Mallowan Hall combines the best of English tradition with the modern conveniences of 1930. Housekeeper Phyllida Bright, as efficient as she is personable, manages the large household with an iron fist in her very elegant glove. In one respect, however, Mallowan Hall stands far apart from other picturesque country houses...
The manor is home to archaeologist Max Mallowan and his famous wife, Agatha Christie. Phyllida is both loyal to and protective of the crime writer, who is as much friend as employer. An aficionado of detective fiction, Phyllida has yet to find a gentleman in real life half as fascinating as Mrs. Agatha's Belgian hero, Hercule Poirot. But though accustomed to murder and its methods as frequent topics of conversation, Phyllida is unprepared for the sight of a very real, very dead body on the library floor.
A former Army nurse, Phyllida reacts with practical common sense--and a great deal of curiosity. It soon becomes clear that the victim arrived at Mallowan Hall under false pretenses during a weekend party. Now, Phyllida not only has a houseful of demanding guests on her hands--along with a distracted, anxious staff--but hordes of reporters camping outside. When another dead body is discovered--this time, one of her housemaids--Phyllida decides to follow in M. Poirot's footsteps to determine which of the Mallowans' guests is the killer. With help from the village's handsome physician, Dr. Bhatt, Mr. Dobble, the butler, along with other household staff, Phyllida assembles the clues. Yet, she is all too aware that the killer must still be close at hand and poised to strike again. And only Phyllida's wits will prevent her own story from coming to an abrupt end.(GoodReads)
My Opinion: I’m not sure how I discovered this book, but finding head housekeeper Phyllida Bright has been a pleasure. Combining all of Agatha Christie’s sleuths, which makes sense since Phyllida works for the renowned author, she undertakes her investigations into the stabbing death of a houseguest on a dark and stormy night and the strangulation of an assistant cook the following morning. Which, in a way, makes this a locked room mystery – of sorts.
There is an excessive amount of periphery information about the running of a home in 1930 Devon, so you might find yourself drifting off. But don’t wander too far since there are little tidbits of information left amongst the fluff, which turn out to be the clues you need. All ending in true Christie fashion that makes the adventure fit together perfectly.
For those who want to know what is next for Phyllida Bright, the second in the series, A Trace of Poison, is due this fall.
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