Set in 1933, this cozy of sorts is based on real people- the Mitfords- and a real murder case.  Louisa, who served as a housemaid for the Mitfords has finally, happily married DS Guy Sullivan, and, she thinks, walked away from this stressful family.  Not so.  She ends up agreeing with MI5 to accompany Diana and Unity on a cruise on the Princess Alice with the goal of keeping an eye on the sisters.  Unfortunately, Joseph Fowler is murdered during the trip and things go, to put it mildly, sideways.  This moves back and forth in time between the cruise and the subsequent murder trial, which features Thomas Mitford, the brother of the family.  These sisters- Diana and Unity- are especially distasteful (as they were in real life).   The mystery isn't too complicated so read this more for the period atmospherics.  I found myself periodically googling to check up on who was real (in addition to the Mitford family, there are some cameos).  This isn't for those who know a lot about the family but it is a good launching point to learn more.  Focus on Louisa, who is a winner.  Thanks to the publisher for the ARC.  While it's the fourth in the series, you can read this as a standalone.

This book was genuinely awful. It jumps around. It leaves plot lines in the middle of them and never goes back. It jumps around [yes, I know I said that already. Yes, it needs to be said twice, and maybe more] and is so disjointed, you never know where you are. To jump from one year to the next and then back again is not a fun way to read a book. And this book uses this all the time. And it is just awful. There are so many characters, that by the end, I barely remembered just who this book was about. It was absolutely sensationalized [given the past books, I have a very difficult time believing that Louisa would enter into espionage and keep things from her husband and also go back into service for the Mitford's, who she now pretty much despises. The whole premise is just ridiculous and unbelievable and just added to the already awfulness of this book. The writing is also so poor, it was like she just had to get another book written and this was the result. And DO NOT EVEN get me started on the end. SO unsatisfying after all that mumbo-jumbo claptrap. I am officially done with this series and cannot recommend it to anyone. 

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin Press/Minotaur Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've now read all four of the Mitford Murders books, and they lose a little bit of charm with each installment. Fellowes did a lot of historical research for this book, but the plotting, characterization, and story just falls flat. Louisa is sent off on a cruise with the Mitfords on the thinnest of pretenses, and the mystery is not particularly interesting. It moves between the time of the cruise and a later trial, but it's not clear what that adds to the story. Ultimately, the solution is extremely unsatisfying and the book is pretty uninspiring.

An intriguing and complex combination of mystery & spy story. In the early '30s, newly-married Louise Sullivan is persuaded to go on a Mediterranean cruise as a ladies maid to her old employers, the Mitfords. At the same time, she is recruited to report on the doings of Unity & Diana Mitford. The two sisters are of concern because of their fascist views.

When a murder takes place, Louise and her husband must solve it.

I have always enjoyed this series and book 4 did not disappointment. I loved that the mystery happened on a ship and that the trial was interspersed throughout the story. And the ending! Yay!

I haven’t read any of the other books in this series, so the Mitford siblings got a little confusing  for a first time reader of the series.  Also, I didn’t get the advantage of learning Louisa and Guy’s backstory.

What I liked:
*The book is based on a real family and a real murder case
*The scenes from the trial are so well done, especially the interplay between the attorneys and the witnesses. In some books trial scenes can drone on with, “he asked, she said, blah blah blah”,  but that wasn’t the case here
*The author's notes are informative and it is clear there were well researched historical tidbits included in the story


What I didn’t care for:
*it was far fetched to me that Louisa would take a dangerous assignment with someone she just met without vetting the information or discussing it with her new husband.
*I wanted more relationship stuff between Louisa and Guy-- more about the troubles that spurred her on to take the job and cruise with the Mitfords. The Mitford sisters are really unlikeable and selfish -- why did Louisa agree to go with them? 
*The post-murder investigation scenes of toing and froing from cabin to cabin got monotonous and claustrophobic  for me.

I’m so fascinated that this is based on a true family and that the murders are also related to an actual court case. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical fiction/mysteries. 4/5

I had not read any of the previous Mitford Mysteries when I sat down with this one but I thoroughly enjoyed it! Even thoigh there are three previous books, I was able to follow along and became absorbed in the story. The timeline does go back and forth so you need to pay attention The characters are very well done and so interesting. I discovered after reading the book that it is based on an actual family and real life events although the story itself is fiction. I have finished the first book in the series and am reading the second based on how much I enjoyed this one. I hope to see more Louisa and Guy adventures in the future. Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of #TheMitfordTrial..

I read the first book in this series and overall liked it, but then I never ended up reading books 2 or 3, so when I saw this, I jumped at the chance to read it. 

Louisa has married DS Guy Sullivan, and it almost seems like she’ll be out of the Mitford’s lives now. Not the case since she gets recruited “for king and country” to act as the Mitford’s lady’s maid on their cruise due to their ties to fascism. Louisa makes up a story to Guy and joins the Mitfords. Here’s where some of the book’s activity really starts to kick off. There’s a murder on the ship, which in turn reveals lots of secrets. There’s a lot of plot that goes on between the murder and it’s conclusion, but things are tied up with Diana Mitford’s testimony at the trial. 

Louisa and Guy are really the only likable characters left in the series. The Mitfords continue to be pretty obnoxious people. But that just makes the secrets Louisa has to keep from Guy even more heartbreaking. 

This really is a complex book (in a good way!) and I think anyone who likes historical fiction should give this series a try. I’m definitely going back to read books 2 and 3.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. This is the fourth installment in this series. I like this series, but the Mitford sisters are really not very likeable. They were actual people so this story is a fictionalized account based on their lives. This story takes place in 1933. The sister's former Lady's maid, Louise Cannon, is asked by a total stranger to accompany the sisters on a holiday cruise. The stranger wants her to spy on them because of their connection to BUF, the British Union of Fascists. I wondered why Louise so readily agreed to spy on them, but I think it was the connection to war. She wanted to do her part to prevent a war. Lots of twists and turns along the way, and also a lot of history. I enjoyed it, and can't wait for the next installment.

Fans of this series will be thrilled with this latest installment,
A fictionalized mystery based on real life people.
I recommend you read the previous books in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

1933 Louisa Cannon is now married to D.S. Guy Sullivan. Because of her former position as lady's maid to the Mitford sisters she is asked by a complete stranger to accompany them on a holiday, but also to spy on them. Because of their connection to Sir Oswald Mosley and the BUF, the British Union of Fascists. Unfortunately the characters are a bunch of unpleasant people and it doesn't say much for Louisa's character that she associates with them.
Not a particularly satisfying mystery.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I very much enjoy Jessica Fellowes Mitford mysteries, featuring Louisa Cannon, who began her working career as nursemaid,then lady's maid to the famous Mitford family's daughters.Louisa's wedding to Guy Sullivan DS, of London's Metropolitan occurs as the story opens- with the entire Mitford family in attendance a happy day!

As war clouds hover over the UK, Louisa is induced to report to British authorities anything that transpires on a cruise that Lady Redesdale and her daughters Diana Guinness and Unity are taking.
Diana's relationship with Sir Oswald Mosley and both sister's fascist leanings are of concern to UK authorities.

Guy turns up on the cruise as he is worried about Louisa and a murder happens that he as a police officer handles. The plot is long and complicated and involves British secret intelligence, double agent spies etc. The murder itself is based on a real crime but in real life the Mitfords are not involved in this.

It was a bit too complicated and long but I do enjoy the characters and hope for a sequel ( pretty sure there will be one)

The Mitford Trial is the fourth instalment of the Mitford series by Jessica Fellows.  Due to #NetGalley allowing me to read this book for my honest review, this was my first Mitford book.  I was easily drawn into the characters and the story even not having read the earlier books.  Louisa Cannon is preparing to become Mrs. Guy Sullivan as Britain faces the rise of fascism.  Then Louisa is whisked away to board the Princess Alice to accompany the Mitford ladies to Europe.  Suddenly there is a murder on board and Louisa must help solve it.  This book is actually based on a real murder case. It was well written and enjoyable.

Yes, yes, yes! Another one hit straight out of the park involving the Mitford family and their former maid Louisa. Finally Louisa and her policeman, Guy, get married with all of the whose who in attendance. That is until there is a call dispatched to a disturbance that turned out to be nothing but a false alarm. Off on their honeymoon now, Louisa is changing her life and learning a new trade. Everything is going well until there is a murder that throws the Mitford sisters together once again. The mysteries contained inside this book are well written with great descriptive verbiage that keeps the readers attention and wanting to devour more. Fellowes has a knack for bringing her characters flaws and all together in such a way that you would think that you are part of the story as you read it. I also felt that the time sequences are well drawn together without any lapse or missed time frames. Overall I would say this one is a 5+++++.

Thank you to netgalley as well as the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have mixed feelings about this novel. It is an excellently researched, well written historical novel that leans heavily on actual people and events, even though in some cases the names of individuals have been changed. I wasn’t aware, when I began,that the Mitfords were actual people, and I was somewhat lost because this is not the first book in the series and when the other Mitford sisters were referred to, I had difficulty placing them.
The book itself moves back and forth between time frames. This sudden switch, which occurred through chapters and, until I became accustomed to the style, it took me a second to reorient myself to what I was reading.
There are some explanations at the end of the book that help share research information from the author and help with understanding of the novel. It is best not to read these before finishing the book as they contain spoilers. They do add credence to the novel itself and to the author’s credentials.
Finally, the book is filled with unlikable people. With the exception of Louisa, the chief protagonist, and Guy her newly minted husband, I didn’t like any of the characters. The Mitford sisters come across as entitled, spoiled, and self-absorbed. The other characters in the book show many flaws, such as the Nazi officer who appears to be a poster-child for Hitler’s Aryan race or the victim, a highly flawed “captain of industry who tries to trade his wife’s “favor’s to pay off a debt.
Still, I believe there are readers who will read and be captivated by this book. They most likely are people who have a significant interest in the time period, in the rise of Hitler and the Third Reich, or who want a more genuine look at the differences between the working class and the nobility. For that reason, Although there is a fictional mystery in this book, I believe that takes a significant back seat to the historical research and facts that underpin the book. 
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced digital copy for review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

The fourth installment of the Mitford Mysteries with Louisa Cannon at the center. This book finds Louisa accompanying Diana Mitford Guinness, Unity Mitford and their mother on a European cruise. While on board, a murder happens. Louisa learns things that she cannot share, even with her husband, DSI Sullivan who came to visit her on cruise. The Mitford girls are entrenched in fascism with Unity wanting to travel to Berlin to meet Hitler. The British Government is doing everything to keep England from going to war with Germany. A great read, and there is a glimmer of more to come!

A timeless murder mystery with the fascinating, glamorous Mitford sisters at its heart, The Mitford Trial is the fourth installment in the Mitford Murders series from Jessica Fellowes, inspired by a real-life murder in a story full of intrigue, affairs and betrayal Like the other books in this series the historical detail is amazing. I really enjoy the notes at the end outlining the actual story itself. This particular story takes place during the rise of Nazism in the 30's. Tightly plotted, interesting characters and great dialog make this a fast and entertaining read. This can read as a standalone but the whole series is worth reading. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

1930s, espionage, historical-novel, historical-research, murder, fascists

These books are fiction, but based on true events and Fellowes includes historical notes at the end of each book. The time is during the rise of the Nazis and all that entailed.
Newly wed Louisa is in steno training and her husband is a DS at The Met in London when she is tapped by the espionage agent known to her to join the Mitfords (her former employer) on a three-week European cruise as a lady's maid because of their involvement in fascist enterprises. While on the cruise there is the predictable murder and that sets things up for the later trial. It is fast-paced and riveting and highlights the issues of fascism as well as the role of women and marriage in the 1930s. Very interesting!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Minotaur Books for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review “The Mitford Trial.” All opinions are my own.

Our book begins with a wedding (well, after “that” prologue).  No longer the Mitford ladies’ maid, Louisa Cannon is at last getting married to her policeman.  Everything’s fine, and then all the coppers have to rush off to help quell a disturbance of the Oswald Mosley-led BUF (British Union of Fascists).  It turns out to be a false alarm, and soon she and Guy Sullivan, her new husband are off on their honeymoon.  She’s stopped being a maid completely, and is training to be a court stenographer.  What could go wrong?  Plenty, in “The Mitford Trial,” the fourth in the series that uses the five famous Mitford sisters and their tumultuous lives as the basis for some very mysterious goings-on.

Six months later, Nancy Mitford asks to see Louisa.  She wants her to accompany her mother and a couple of the sisters on a cruise.  Louisa turns her down.  She wants nothing to do with the Mitfords anymore.  Well, our book should be over, shouldn’t it?  Not likely, for she’s approached by a stranger who tells her that for King and Country it’s her duty to go on the cruise to keep an eye on the Mitford clan (mother, then Diana, and the youngest, Unity) and “observe,” to see who they interact with. And she can’t tell her husband.  Well, nothing good can come out of that, and nothing does, obviously.  We already know that somebody (presumably) dies.  And Louisa and the sisters will be up to their pretty ear bobs in it, soon enough.  So Louisa makes up a story for Guy, takes a leave from school, and we’re off.

What “they” are looking for is anything to do with Mosley, presumably, and also how chummy the Mitfords plan to be with anyone or anything to do with the Nazi party.  The author fills us in on Diana Mitford’s history with Oswald Mosley, how she left her husband for him.  She’s using the cruise as a ploy for the gossip to die down while she’s getting a divorce.  And Unity is there salivating about a German who’s on the boat.  Add to our cast a woman with a husband having investment troubles, and she’s having an affair with a cabin boy, who’s also got a girlfriend aboard.  And then Louisa’s husband shows up.  Enough complications for you yet?

Finally, it’s revealed that the woman’s husband is the one from the prologue that’s attacked.   The wife and the cabin boy are highest on the suspect list, especially since they were right there.  Our murder investigation begins, with Louisa’s husband as the chief investigator.

There’s cross and double cross.  Louisa comes back to England, and meets with her mystery man.  She’s told that she can never talk about what she knows, that the security of the country is at stake.  And that’s that.  But her trust has been shattered, and things have changed between her and her husband.   That’s what was so heart-breaking about this book, the secrets that must be kept between these two.  At least Louisa has an idea for the future, so maybe something good will come out of it after all.

Eventually, much time has gone by.  There’s a sensational trial of the wife and her cabin boy lover.  Diana testifies, and things are over rather abruptly with a tragic ending.  

I found this book complex and compelling.  A lot of unpleasant people populate the pages, including the Mitford sisters (history pretty much bears this out).  One caveat -- the book jangles you out of your comfort zone by moving the timeline around a bit.  I found it annoying.  But the author has certainly done her research, and provides a thought-provoking story in “The Mitford Trial.”
 
An author’s note explains the real-life trial and people the book is based upon.  Don’t read it first as it contains spoilers.

This book, the 4th in the series, sees Louisa Cannon getting married to her long time beau Guy Sullivan with members of the Mitford family attending.  It has been many years since Louisa first met the Mitford family and they have all grown up and changed—some not for the better.  Before long, Louisa and members of the Mitford family are once again caught up in murder.  
Based, in part, on real life events and facts including the murder and some of the Mitford daughter’ anti-Semitism and support of Hitler this is not a light-hearted book set in the roaring twenties but the darker days leading up to World War II.  Fellowes is able to weave historical facts with real people and create a fictional story that does justice to the atmosphere of the time.  

It is a satisfying story but I don’t like it as much as the others because I don’t like these people very much.  Louisa and Guy are a delight and I’m happy that they finally find some happiness in marrying one another but the Mitford children who are the focus of this book aren’t very nice and neither are their beliefs.  

Thanks for to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.