Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★☆

Genre: Cosy Mystery 

Available On: Amazon & Audible

By book three in the Lady Eleanor Swift series, I was officially beyond saving. I stumbled across A Very English Murder (book 1 in the series) as a suggestion on my Amazon page and, because I was in need of something to listen to on a long drive, downloaded it and the next couple on Audible. I had credits. I thought, what the hell? I love a good cosy mystery, and could see there were many in this series already published. Fabulous, I thought. If this is any good it’s a series that will keep me going when I’m in the mood for years.

Oh, how wrong I was.

I finished that first book in a day. I’d already queued up book two before it finished, and likewise concluded that within a day, having book three already waiting in the wings. What followed was an obsession binge of these books that lasted for weeks.

I devoured this series, seldom taking more than a couple of days to get through a full novel, and then only when the pesky real world and work got in the way.

A Witness To Murder was in the early days when I was so deep in the throes of the books. I was getting through a full one and starting the next in less than 24 hours. It was a full-blown audio addiction, leading me to cheerfully abandon whatever I was supposed to be doing in favour of another round of charming chaos at Henley Hall. And while it’s not one of my favourites, this outing is still up there with the better books in the series.

It’s autumn 1920, and Eleanor is determined to take a break from sleuthing. It’s the anniversary of her parents’ disappearance, emotions are high, and for once she’s hoping to avoid the corpse count that appears to have started following her since she inherited her father’s estate.

Naturally, that resolve lasts all of five minutes (and not just because dear Ellie is low-key ADHD coded).

When a local politician drops dead at a dinner party, allegedly from a severe peanut allergy triggered by the fudge, Eleanor’s cook’s best friend—Mrs Pitkin—is immediately dismissed and suspected of murder.

That, of course, simply will not do. Eleanor takes up the cause, determined to clear the cook’s name. But before she can make much headway, she’s approached by the Women’s League and asked to stand in the upcoming by-election on a platform of women’s rights.

Because nothing says ‘restful autumn’ like a murder investigation and a political campaign running concurrently.

I’ve done a full plot summary for those interested, but if you’d rather simply read my thoughts, you can skip the next section…

Plot Summary – A Witness to Murder

Following the suspicious death of Arnold Aris, a progressive MP and vocal supporter of women’s rights, Lady Eleanor is pulled into two battles: clearing Mrs Pitkin’s name and deciding whether to stand in Aris’ place for the election. The stakes are heightened by the political climate of the time—women over 21 could run for office, but still couldn’t vote unless they were over 30 and met property requirements.

Eleanor, with her trademark mix of enthusiasm, impulsiveness, and sheer bloody-mindedness, finds herself juggling campaign rallies and clandestine interviews, often with her butler Clifford in tow and Gladstone sniffing out clues at her heels. When a second candidate dies—this time with Eleanor herself suspected—the pressure mounts, and her investigation turns increasingly personal.

Amid land deals, shady backroom politics, and the usual village gossip, Eleanor has to sort through red herrings, unpick motives, and survive public speaking without throwing up on stage. The result is a brilliantly plotted mystery that balances social commentary with good old-fashioned sleuthing.

Cosy Politics, Real Stakes

What sets this book apart from the previous two in the series is the inclusion of political themes that feel surprisingly grounded for such a frothy mystery. It’s not just a case of solving a murder—this time, Eleanor is also forced to ask herself what she stands for, and whether she can make a real difference in a world where women are still expected to smile, curtsy, and stay quietly out of the way.

There’s also a growing sense of place and belonging here. Eleanor isn’t just passing through anymore—she’s becoming embedded in the village, the manor, and the lives of the people around her. Her relationships with the staff deepen. Her instincts are sharper. Her confidence, while still wobbly in places, is beginning to take root.

And once again, Clifford shines. At this point, if he announced a run for Parliament, I’d vote for him without hesitation. Dry, clever, and effortlessly competent, he continues to be the perfect counterbalance to Eleanor’s chaotic energy. That said, one of my gripes with this book—and the series as a whole in these early installments—is that we still don’t know who Clifford is. How is he able to do everything he does? His background remains a mystery, and the sheer scale of his competence is beginning to stretch credulity.

After all, we’re told he already had a wild, globe-trotting past of high-stakes hijinks with Eleanor’s uncle when they were Eleanor’s age—yet here he is, years later, still physically up for the challenge, still five steps ahead, still scaling trellises and outwitting villains in a three-piece suit.

At this point, I’m genuinely starting to believe that Uncle Byron once saved the life of some otherworldly demi-god, who, in a fit of eternal gratitude, bound himself in service to the Henley family and now cannot leave while there are still living relatives bumbling about in need of rescuing from their own impulsive decisions and tragic lack of impulse control.

And then there’s Gladstone. Forever sleepy, always hungry, and inexplicably wise, he continues to be the emotional heart of the household. I adore this dog more than is probably reasonable.

Romance Watch

The love triangle continues to simmer—but it’s more slow stew than boiling pot at this stage. Lancelot is still hovering around the edges of Eleanor’s life, irrepressibly silly and charming in that floppy-haired, well-meaning way that makes you want to simultaneously ruffle his hair and shake him by the lapels. While exonerating him of murder charges was central to the plot of Death at the Dance, and threw Ellie into the midst of his “Bright Young Things” circle, she’s starting to realise in this installment that his world and ways are nothing like her own. He’s sweet, funny, and utterly devoted… but also so emotionally immature it’s a wonder he’s allowed to operate a motorcar, let alone fly a plane.

The lack of support, understanding, and maturity displayed as she’s trying to run for a political office is somewhat laughable.

Then there’s DCI Seldon. Gruff, grounded, and increasingly intriguing, he pops up just often enough to send a flicker through the heart-rate monitor—though of course, he immediately ruins it by being dismissive, difficult, or generally allergic to emotional expression. And yet, there’s something about the way he watches Eleanor when she’s not looking, or the way his clipped tone softens just slightly when he realises she might be hurt, that hints at deeper waters beneath the surface.

Their chemistry is a slow burn, not a spark and fire kind of affair—but it lingers. There’s an intensity to their interactions that feels as if it could tip into something more if either of them ever stopped being quite so stubborn. And while Lancelot makes Eleanor laugh, Seldon makes her think—makes her feel seen in a way that’s more subtle, but infinitely more satisfying.

Frankly, I know who I’m rooting for. (Clue: it’s not the one who calls her “Darling Fruit”… though, to be fair, I do still find the nickname unexpectedly adorable. Curse him and his ridiculous, rakish charm.)

Still, I can’t help but wish we’d see more actual development in this area. At the moment, the romantic subplot exists more as a light garnish than a side dish in its own right—and while I appreciate that the focus is on the mystery, a little more forward motion in the emotional stakes wouldn’t go amiss. Especially since both options—charming chaos and brooding competence—have their appeal, and I’m desperate to know which way Eleanor will lean when the moment finally comes.

Assuming, of course, that one of them doesn’t get dramatically poisoned before we get there. It is this series, after all.

Final Thoughts on A Witness to Murder

This one has it all: clever plotting, political stakes, warm humour, and characters who feel like old friends. The balance between fun and substance is spot on, and the mystery had enough twists to keep me guessing. It also delivers a satisfying wrap-up. The (very slowly) developing love triangle adds a delicious extra layer—though, in all honesty, I’d have liked to see a bit more of it.

I still struggle with the way Eleanor’s investigative process is presented—it’s maddeningly repetitive at times. She finds something, notes it down, reads it aloud, then recaps it to someone who already knows it… argh! But even with that, this is a light-hearted and thoroughly enjoyable farce that’s absolutely worth the read.

If you’re not already invested in Lady Eleanor’s adventures, this book would be a fine place to get hooked. And if, like me, you’re already several audiobooks deep and too far gone to turn back, A Witness To Murder is a highly rewarding addition to the series.

Long may the fudge-fuelled chaos continue.