The Mitford Murders: A Mystery (The Mitford Murders, 1)

Excellent book, unfortunately, the second book is 10 x s more expensive, and the 3rd, not even being sold yet, is 12 x’s as expensive. Pricing themselves out of the market for normal buyers 🤔for a book that has no printing costs, storage costs, distribution costs, etc.

I'm a fan of the Mitfords-I've read biographies of the family and most of the writing from Nancy and Jessica-so this was a fun read for me. It merged Downton Abbey and lighter historical mysteries and did a great job of keeping subplots interesting and historically accurate.Short synopsis-a lower working class just out of her teens meets Nancy Mitford, a friend of a friend, and eventually turns this into a job as a nanny like companion for the older Mitford daughters- the son is at boarding school and the family Nanny takes care of the babies and younger Mitford daughters.She becomes closest to Nancy and they work together to solve a mysterious murder that involves the niece of Florence Nightengale (and which is based on historical background).If you are not familiar with the Mitford family, this is still a great mystery and fun read. It's a bonus if you are familiar but not necessary as they're an eccentric British family. I was reluctant to spend the money to buy it but was glad I did.

I was interested in reading this book because of the author and the subject. It was technically well written, but it dragged in places and much of the premise of the book didn't seem plausible. I couldn't really ever figure out how a servant would have had sufficient social connections to get a job in the Mitford household, and then would have had the where-with-all or the time to be flitting back and forth to London and elsewhere on the train. Although I wasn't totally sure, I did figure out what happened right away. The main characters were endearing even if they were a bit unrealistic.

Jessica's book had me riveted from the first page. In my young days, growing up in England, I was aware of the Mitford girls and their colourful history , and I recently watched a compelling Netflix show about them. (The Mitfords, a Tale of Two Sisters). This prepared me for reading this compelling book and enjoying it thoroughly, when my mind's eye was already attuned to the Mitford family and their "downstairs" folks in a big way. I read it in three evenings, and that's quite a feat for me, with so many other diversions. I strongly recommend it for a peep back in time, with several inter- twining plots that will hold you till the last page.

Jessica Fellowes revisits an unsolved but true 1920 murder into a delightful historical novel with her own original storyline, recasting real characters into an imaginative whodunit mystery tale of intrigue and suspense.The author's skillful storytelling focuses on the lives of two young women, unlikely friends, both trying to break free of imposed constraints of their different upbringings. Louisa, flees from an unscrupulous uncle and a world of petty crime in search of a respectable life with a future. Nancy, a strong-willed late teen and oldest daughter of a respected English Lord, testing the social constraints of her aristocratic family.The tragic murder of a post-war nurse brings Louisa and Nancy together in strange circumstances, as both try to solve the involved crime. The murder mystery begins slowly as the female duo at first share their emerging obsession surrounding nurse Florence's death on a train.The author carefully creates a believable tale of the increasingly dangerous adventures Louisa and Nancy experience while searching for the murderer.Set well in the greater London 1920's, the storyline combines clashes among strict British class definitions and the blurring lines of culture following World War I and the emerging independence of women. This fun and entertaining story begins gradually amid a flurry of seemingly unrelated circumstances that creates and develops Louisa's and Nancy's unlikely friendship.First curiosity and then amateur sleuthing takes the two untrained "detectives" along a series of misadventures, as both women become attracted to different men. Tensions and suspense making the murder mystery engaging and propelling the two inexperienced women into a world for which neither is prepared.At first, the story focused on familial duties and interactions, but as the plotline and characters develop, the storylines combine into a fun and exciting read. Initially, I was uncertain of the novel's direction, but I soon became enthralled with the characters, subplots, and expected revelations.Loved the main characters and found the ending both satisfying as a standalone read and having enough substance for a series of new adventures. I greatly enjoyed the Audible dramatic narration with its exceptional portrayal of personalities and dialects.The well-written dialogue and narrative makes me want to read more in this series and from this author. I especially appreciated the lack of language vulgarity, showing the exceptional literary skills of the author.

The mystery starts immediately. The characters are developed as they are introduced & are skillfully woven into the plot. It's not a page turner, or a great writing, but it flows smoothly into the classic British setting, rich in class distinction & setting. The struggles of the working class, barely-making-it, are realistically depicted as they are drawn into solving the crime(s). Holds your attention & keeps you guessing.

This book was a really great read. I love reading non-fiction about the Mitford family, so of course I had to read this, and it didn't disappoint.MostlyI don't think the author needed to change the date of Nancy Mitoford's birth/coming out ball to fit the story line. I'm glad she explains why she"had to" at the end, but not a necessity at all.

Just when I thought I had figured out the who-dun-it and why, everything shifts.I love books set In this era, a time of great changes throughout society.I met Decca (Jessica) Mitford when I was 9 and again the next year. Even though she is a small child in this book, it was great fun having a real person from my life appear.

This book could, and should, have been at least one-third shorter. And I agree with other reviewers that mixing real and fictional people is confusing, and in the case of one real person, even libelous!Much as I am fascinated by the Mitford family, I will not be reading further books in this series. The real Mitfords were stranger, and more varied, than any fictional rendering could portray them!

The author has taken liberties with very real people - the Mitford family and Florence Nightingale Shore to conjure up a fiction about the unsolved murder of Miss Shore.Her fictitious characters lack substance. For example 1)Jennie...".a childhood friend of Louisa's"...how did she manage to marry into the gentry? She appears 3 times in the book but who she is exactly is unexplained.And 2) is Mabel Rogers based on a real person or pure fiction?The combination or real and fictitious people is confusing at best.The best thing I can say about this book is that it piqued my interest in the fascinating Mitford family.

Excellent book for a weekend read. Slow paced mystery, but well written. Hard to guess the murderer until the end.

Great fun, as all English ones are and specially written by a Followes.

I like this book. I couldn’t put it down