by Sandra Murphy

Take a trip with us to England with these reviews of 2 mysteries set there-Murder at a London Finishing School by Jessica Ellicott & A Deadly Dedication by Margaret Louden. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win copies of both the books links to purchase them at the end of each review–you may not see the links if you have ad blocker on.

Murder at a London Finishing School by Jessica Ellicott
Review by Sandra Murphy

Miss Dupont’s Finishing School for Young Ladies is where Beryl Helliwell and Edwina Davenport met as schoolgirls. Beryl went on to become an adventuress, the kind of woman who isn’t afraid to travel to far off places, meet strange people, eat stranger food, and do it all alone. Edwina stayed in her family home, took care of her mother, and did what was expected of her, which wasn’t a lot. After the war, things changed, not always for the better in Edwina’s mind.

Due to a fortunate accident, meaning Beryl crashed her car into the stone entrance to Edwina’s drive when she came to visit on the spur of the moment, the pair became private investigators or as they’re called in England, inquiry agents.

Each of the women had decided to never return to the school for reunions or fundraisers but a handwritten note from the headmistress, asking for their help, sends them back to London.

The number of students has declined as Finishing School is no longer considered a necessity, even among the uppermost classes. In addition, the girls who are enrolled are leaving due to minor thefts, ghostly noises at night, and finally, a dead body. It may well be the end of the school.

The victim is the mother of a prospective student who is there for a tour. She was not well-liked when she was a student there and being an adult has not improved her manners. No one seems to mourn her death, which means any one of them could be the killer, even Miss Dupont. Beryl and Edwina have their work cut out for them with this case.

This is book seven in the series. I love to read about Beryl’s adventures. Edwina is torn between being appalled and a bit jealous. Beryl, being American, doesn’t follow the rules for separation of the gentry and the working class, often more enforced by the working class who do not view themselves as downtrodden at all. Simpson, the former gardener, now business partner, is a delight. Edwina is breaking free of the restraints she had while her mother was alive and is learning to enjoy her new freedoms without guilt.

For a trip through the English countryside and a puzzle to solve, this is the book to read. Just don’t let Beryl drive her motorcar when touring—she’s a menace on the roads!

A Deadly Dedication by Margaret Louden
Review by Sandra Murphy

Penelope (Pen) Parish is a writer in residence in Upper Chumley-on-Stoke, England. After her first book became a bestseller, she needed a change in order to keep writing. Now that her second book is equally successful, she’s worried she won’t be able to do it again.

Simeon Foster plans to open a gourmet shop that could put the resident shopkeepers out of business. Pastries will be flown in from France, chocolates from Belgium, and farm-sourced meat, and higher prices, means no one will be happy. Shoppers will like the novelty of it but not the cost. The one shop whose business might not be affected is the bookstore where Pen writes/works.

Penelope’s sister, escaping a felonious husband and the ensuing embarrassment, now lives in England too. She’s up to something but in typical Beryl fashion, she won’t tell until she’s ready.

When the town council votes to allow Simeon’s business to go forward, the meeting turns into an uproar.
During a Guy Fawkes Day celebration, Pen discovers a body—and it’s Simeon. Held after dark so there can be fires to roast potatoes and fireworks to light the sky, no one paid any attention to who was where.

The suspect list is a long one but for Pen, figuring out who killed Simeon is a distraction from writing.

I like Pen and her friends. Figgy makes everyone welcome in her tea shop with its jammy dodgers, toffee, and strong tea. Mabel, owner of the bookshop, may seem a bit gruff but there’s no one more loyal to a friend. Pen and Beryl are totally different as many sisters are. Beryl thinks about fashion and her place in society. Pen loves her cat, Mrs. Danvers, books, writing, and her friends. This is the fourth book in the series and one you’ll enjoy for a taste of England with an American outlook.

To enter to win copies of both English mysteries, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “England” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen September 9, 2023. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Also listen to our new mystery podcast where mystery short stories and first chapters are read by actors! They are also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify. A new episode went up this week.

Sandra Murphy lives in the shadow of the Arch in St. Louis Missouri. She’s editor for Peace, Love, and Crime: Crime Stories Inspired by the Songs of the ’60s, with twenty-two cozy stories. She also edited A Murder of Crows, twenty-one stories featuring animals and crime (no animals were harmed). She also writes for magazines, newsletters, and the occasional guest blog. Both anthologies are available at the usual outlets, print or ebook.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.