This is book 5 in a wonderful cozy mystery series set in 1920s England. Eleanor is at it again, along with her wonderful butler Clifford and her sweet and pudgy bulldog Gladstone. Would still like to see more of the dishy Inspector, and keep hoping things continue down the suggested lane. Would recommend. An entertaining read.

Oh my goodness. I don’t know where to begin with this wonderful addition to the series. Lady Eleanor Swift is at it again…solving mystery after mystery. She is such an awesome and lovable character. This rapid page turner will have your attention from the first page to the very last.

I love Lady Eleaor Swift and this is book 5 in her series. Set in England in the 1920's, Lady Eleanor is visiting The Grand Hotel in Brighton Beach. She is shocked to see her dead husband being carried out of the lobby. Supposedly her husband died 6 years ago and now it is up to her, Gladstone her dog and her faithful servant to solve his death both now and what happened 6 years ago. A look into the culture of England during the 20's and the class differences. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is one of the absolute best historical mystery series out there, and probably the finest combination of light reading and smart writing in the genre.

The Eleanor Swift series just keeps on getting better with every book, and Mystery by the Sea was an exceptional delight.

Verity Bright has hit on a perfect combination of lighter murder plot lines, lovable characters, and fun hijinks paired with well-written, clever mystery elements and loads of terrific historical tidbits.

That last bit was especially wonderful in this installment, which is set in Brighton and features the incredible Royal Pavilion.

Here’s a fun way to make the reader experience even better: The Brighton Royal Pavilion website has a fantastic virtual tour (https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/royalpavilion/virtual-tour/) and—thanks to Bright’s accurate account in the story—you can take a spin through the virtual tour while reading the part of the book that takes place there.

Because Bright was so carefully and meticulously accurate in her rendering, you see exactly what the characters do by choosing the corresponding room. I felt like I was there right along side them, which just made an already excellent book even better.

This has quickly become my favorite historical mystery series. It’s like a comfort read with brains. Love, love, loved this book.

Lady Eleanor Swift is turning 30 and to celebrate this milestone birthday she decides to treat herself and her household staff, who are no less than family to her, to a spring vacation at Brighton. She is determined that the vacation days are filled with nothing but fun and frolic and even makes sure that her trusted butler Clifford turns a blind eye to the less than appropriate shenanigans of Mrs. Trotters, Mrs. Butters and Polly the maid. However, its wishful thinking on Eleanor's part because no sooner does she step into the Grand Hotel to begin her vacation fun, she finds herself smack in the middle of another murder mystery and this time the victim is someone who was once very close to her and who she thought to be already dead!

I loved, loved everything about this book. My favorite in the series so far!! It great to see Lady Eleanor slowly getting used to her new position as an heiress and lady of Henley Hall and putting down roots with all the help and support from her household staff including the mischievous bull dog Mr. Gladstone. The description of Brighton and all the tourist spots that Lady Eleanor and the gang visit gave off the perfect vacation vibes! Can I also add that the cover designs for this series are STUNNING!

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author Verity Bright for the e-Arc of the book.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I missed one book in this series thus far and have liked it. This particular instalment was the best of the lot. The character of Lady Eleanor Swift has just gotten better with every passing book. In this adventure by the sea, I believed in her deduction skills as an individual and felt she played a much more significant role in the conclusion of it all than in any of the previous ones.
Lady Swift, still uneasy with the power her title affords her, is taking her entire staff on holiday. On this holiday, she is booked in the Grand Hotel while the three women of her staff are staying at a friend's place. Unfortunately for her, as soon as she enters the hotel, the most unfortunate sight meets her eyes. If you pick this up without reading the summary, the first twist is a pretty dramatic one (something the blurb should not be revealing!). What follows is a very tightly plotted mystery. We have all the suspects under close scrutiny, and every new addition brings something new to the analysis. Eleanor enjoys eating throughout the caper, as does her dog.
The humourous instances, conversational sparring were a lot more nuanced, and I enjoyed them all here. Our lead protagonist and her trusty butler are amateur detectives who systematically eliminate information most appropriately. I had not meant to read it all in one day, but I got caught up in the myriad of emotions tossed into this particular adventure that I read it in almost one sitting. I am now looking forward to whatever is next in store for Lady Swift.
I received this book as an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I love mysteries and think this one was well written, it just wasn't for me, not a style of story that grips me but not a bad book, I'm sure it'll be popular within fans of the genre

Fun historical cozy which was a great read when I couldn't sleep. Well crafted story and memorable characters made it an enjoyable couple of hours.

This is the 5th book in the series and the best one yet. Lady Eleanor and staff head to Brighton for a holiday by the sea. Upon arrival, they discover a man has been murdered and he's not a stranger to Ellie. In fact, he's her husband. Hold on tight because this book is going to take you for a ride. I'm definitely waiting for book 6.

My Dear Friend Lady Eleanor Swift...
The fifth installment in the series did not disappoint. Eleanor Swift and her staff deserved a sea side holiday after all the trial and tribulations of the past months. They are off to Brighton, but...
They are met by a dead body at the glitzy hotel. And the body is that of... Lady Swift's husband who supposedly died already... years ago at that.
Mystery by the Sea is as much a mystery, story of love found and lost, secrets and past hurts. It is a 'photo-snap' of a few days in the lives of friendly, warm, devoted and colorful household of Lady Swift.
This book made me laugh and made me contemplate. The mystery was suspenseful and cold as Brighton weather in March. Lady Swift was as smart, dedicated, curious and love-lost as she always is. I love her to bits and wish her all the best.
Hoping for new adventures.

This was a most enjoyable read. In my opinion the best one in the series so far and it's going to be a challenge for Verity Bright to top this one with the next instalment. Well done indeed!!

The holiday stay in the Grand Hotel definitely took some unexpected twists and turns. Apart from investigating the murder, we learn a great deal more about Eleanor's journey through life. She had a husband?

Despite being determined to get to the bottom of things, she does find time to enjoy the seaside resort and make sure her staff have a lovely holiday.

My thanks to Bookouture, #Netgalley and the author for my Advance Reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lady Eleanor Swift and her staff leave their stately home for a holiday in Brighton. But on arrival at the hotel, Eleanor is confronted by the dead body of her husband. The only thing is, she thought he died six years ago...
Mystery By The Sea is the fifth book to feature Lady Eleanor Swift and her long suffering but deeply sarcastic butler Clifford. Defying convention, she takes her maid, cook and housekeeper away for a holiday, leading to much enjoyment  from the ladies as well as much bewailing from Clifford.
We are deposited straight into the mystery as a body is discovered on arrival. The identity is that of Hilary Eden, Eleanor's dead husband. Obviously he had survived his previous 'death' and now Ellie needs to find out the truth. Her heart aches to think that he has been living without her for the last few years.
The 1920s is wonderfully brought to life as well as the setting of Brighton. Social conventions are encouraged by Clifford but even he bends the rules to accommodate Ellie and the holiday spirit.
Drama and humour radiate from the pages. The relationship between Ellie and Clifford is exquisite and the dialogue is highly entertaining. There is also a change to Ellie's friendship with police officer Seldon ('call me Hugh' I'm hoping for romance!)
Mystery By The Sea was a hugely enjoyable cosy murder mystery in the vein of Agatha Christie but with a modern twist of humour. I actually think this is my favourite book in the series so far :)

Verity Bright brings her fantastic sleuth Lady Eleanor Swift back for another rip-roaring historical cozy that is simply divine: Mystery by the Sea.

When Lady Eleanor Swift had come back to England, the intrepid explorer and adventuress never imagined that she would end up becoming an amateur sleuth with many a successful investigation under her belt. Desperate for a vacation and for some much needed rest and relaxation, Eleanor decides to head off to Brighton – with her trusted partner in crime Gladstone the bulldog by her side – for a blissfully decadent stay at the Grand Hotel. Eleanor hopes to leave the sleuthing to the local police and to enjoy a couple of days sunbathing and doing nothing more taxing than eating fish and chips and strawberry ice cream. But surely Eleanor should know by now that wherever she goes, trouble is sure to follow!

Eleanor is enjoying the view and is looking for her bathing costume when she hears a commotion echoing round the corridors of the fashionable hotel. With the manager keen to avoid a scandal, he pleads with Eleanor for assistance to help him out of this particular problem he has inadvertently been saddled with: a guest has been found dead at the hotel in very suspicious circumstances. Eleanor cannot believe that murder and mayhem has followed her even on holiday, but there are further shocks in store for her when she takes a look at the body and discovers that the victim is somebody she knows very well: her husband who has been dead for six years! Just what is going on here? Eleanor – and Gladstone – will get to the bottom of this case. But is she prepared for the shocking secrets she is about to uncover?

Eleanor will move heaven and earth to find her husband’s killer, but with a dangerous enemy hot on her heels waiting for the right time to strike, will she live long enough to catch him? Or is Eleanor going to be the murderer’s next victim?

Verity Bright’s Mystery by the Sea is a delightful historical cozy mystery I just could not put down. Lady Eleanor is as glamourous, clever and intuitive as ever and in her latest adventure, she will need all of her skills, nerve and resolve to solve a mystery that puts her in the line of fire and will force her to face up to a part of her life which she thought long over.

Entertaining, enjoyable and absolutely brilliant, Verity Bright’s Mystery by the Sea is another must-read for cozy fans everywhere!

On a well deserved vacation with her entire delightful staff, Eleanor must solve the murder of a fellow guest—who turns out to be her long-dead husband. Love the supporting characters in this series! So fun (and funny!)

After the eventful Christmas season, Lady Eleanor Swift decided to treat herself and her staff to a holiday by the sea. As it is only March and still the off-season, Brighton should provide a quiet yet enjoyable time away. However, when Eleanor arrives at the Grand just in time to see a body being carried away she knows that this is going to be anything but a quiet holiday. Especially when the body turns out to be her dead husband.

Even though I have read the last couple of books in Verity Bright's Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series, Mystery by the Sea can be read as a stand alone. It picks up a few months after the last book but the Christmas season and murders they solved then is only briefly mentioned at the beginning of the story.

Eleanor is celebrating her 30th birthday and she is looking for a holiday full of ice cream and donkey rides even if it is still too chilly to go to the beach. Brighton offers plenty of other distractions and fun for her and her staff. It all provides a great opportunity to get to know the characters better. It was almost as if the mystery was secondary to the character development. I enjoyed getting to know the characters better.

The mystery was interesting as it provided more opportunity to learn about Eleanor. I also didn't solve who the murderer was until it is revealed at the end.

For those who are following the series and have been cheering for Chief Inspector Detective Seldon... Don't worry, just because Eleanor is not in his jurisdiction he still makes an experience. "Please call me Hugh" is more than willing to do a favor for Eleanor, particularly since it means he can take her dancing for her birthday.

If you love cozy mysteries, this is a great series to read. And for those who like to know about the historical aspects in the novel, there is a little guide at the end that gives the reader a bit of information about Brighton and other points of interest mentioned in the story.

My review is published at Girl Who Reads - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2021/03/mystery-by-sea-by-verity-bright-review.html

Mystery by the Sea by Verity Bright is the fifth offering in the Lady Eleanor Swift mystery series, which is an absolutely bright spot in a cozy mystery reader's day. It is a thoroughly British mystery set in the early 20th Century. Lady Swift and her butler, Clifford have arrived at the Grand Hotel in Brighton for a holiday, after a rough start and an even rougher drive, until Clifford took over driving. Upon arriving she noted immediately that things were not as they should be: where was the staff? Shortly after entering the hotel, four policemen were seen to be removing a dead body. Ellie took a look and immediately fainted dead away. When she revived, she recollected what she had seen: the boy of her husband, who had died years ago, in South Africa, for heaven's sake. After composing herself, she realized she had to find out was what happening and how he had ended up here.

The main characters are Ellie (Lady Swift), in her mid-twenties, not having been raised in the nobility but inheriting it from her eccentric uncle just months before. Clifford had been his butler and now was hers. He was the quintessential English butler: formal to a fault; well spoken and subtlety sarcastic; and an amazingly good sport. They made a terrific duo. The two of them were to be joined in Brighton by the female members of her staff: Polly who was young and could not let more than an hour pass without spilling or breaking something; Mrs. Trotman, the cook; and Mrs. Butters, the housekeeper. They were all askance at her informality, but they were the only family she had. Lord Gladstone, a lazy bulldog with a serious flatulence problem rounded out the household, and the trip. This hilarious bunch of characters makes reading about Lady Eleanor nothing less than joyful. What other Lady of the Manor treated her entire household staff to a holiday? This is a truly entertaining book, full of personality and interesting questions, all waiting to be answered. I can't recommend it more highly.

I was invited to read a free ARC of Mystery by the Sea by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #mysterybythesea

Hot on the heels of Palace’s historic smash and grab against Brighton at the Amex a week or so back, Mystery by the Sea gives us Sussex south coast shenanigans. Lady Eleanor and co have swapped their Buckinghamshire pile for a week at the Grand Hotel. As with all the previous episodes in this series, there’s a fun puzzle to solve, some upstairs downstairs japes with the staff (the ladies dress up in home-made swimsuits and butler Clifford raises his eyebrow).

Mystery by the Sea book cover
Now interwar Brighton is known for its gangland as most famously described in Graham Greene’s Brighton Rock. So I’m expecting Pinkie and co (or their equivalents) to move through these pages, but they don’t really arrive until the end and even then they are more like Fagin than Brown. No, what Mystery by the Sea gives us is – in its depiction of the seaside rather than the series’ more customary bucolic Home Counties – the series spin off movie where all our favourite characters go on some kind of road trip (albeit in this case at 25mph). It’s fairly obvious that the one that Verity Bright used as their model dates not from 1921 but 1971: the highest grossing film of the year, outdoing even Diamonds are Forever, was…On the Buses.


Stephen Lewis as Inspector ‘Blakey’ Grimshaw and Reg Varney as ‘Stan’ Butler Clifford
Hear me out. The witless and charmless Inspector Grimshaw is clearly Blakey. The popular Miss Summers reminds Clifford of a line from Anna Karenina – step forward Anna Karen who played Olive. And as we’ve cast Lionel Blair and Terence Alexander as Clifford previously, it’s only fair that Reg Varney gets a go to be…the butler. Geddit? Stan Butler? Oh, please yourself. In the title role, as always, is the phenomenal Liza Goddard who gets champagne and oysters, a dance with a new beau, and, er, the truth about her old beau – her husband even – the murder of whom is the central plot. It isn’t a locked room mystery but is treated as one which makes sense.


Anna Karen as Miss Summers
These are strange times, in which reading about crime for entertainment may feel unseemly. But this series is as soft as Brighton rock is hard. I don’t normally read cosy crime but I do make an exception for this series. It’s about the puzzle, not the sensationalism and frankly it’s all too much fun to miss. The holiday aspect dials up the Eleanor/Clifford double act which is where the story is the strongest, and dials down the whimsy to the point that it’s a welcome change of pace. We seem to have lost Lord ‘Goggles’ Fenwick-Langham which is another plus point: newish love interest Hugh is relatively plausible. There’s a nice line in exposition, and the twist is never quite what you’d expect. And as for Lady Eleanor, I’m intrigued as to where Verity Bright will send her next.

The 5th book in the series sees Lafy Eleanor Swift take her Gladstone the dog, her butler andstaff for a well deserved holiday in Brighton. However Ellie finds that murder is never far away when arriving at the hotel the victim is being taken away, but not before Ellie sees it is her husband, who she believed had died years ago.

This is another lighthearted fun romp, which is likely to make you hungry whilst reading it as food features heavily!

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this story in exchange for my review.

A perfect fun and escapist cozy mystery read with a fresh twist of humour.

Mystery by the Sea by Verity Bright is set in England,1921.

To celebrate her 30th birthday Lady Eleanor (not your typical lady) is off to a seaside holiday in Brighton taking her staff to accompany her as she thinks they too deserve a holiday. Master Gladstone the bulldog is also joining them all on the trip!

The characters are divine and the era of 1921 works beautifully. The staff stay at a nearby boarding house and Lady Eleanor, Master Gladstone and her butler Clifford are booked into the luxurious Grand Hotel.

As they arrive at the hotel Ellie and her butler Clifford soon find themselves confronted by a dead body and Ellie becomes a suspect as the victim is very well known to her and the timing of her arrival at the hotel appears way too suspicious. Ellie and Clifford decide to do a bit of their own investigating and just make the best duo of amateur sleuths

There’s a copious amount of mouth watering food, mayhem, mystery and murder in this elegantly told whodunit. Could Ellie’s friendship with police officer Seldon progress into more than just a friendship?

The culprit reveal was quite the surprise! This is the fifth book in a series but easily read as a standalone (it was my first encounter with the series!).

Eleanor Swift has returned to England in 1921 and she does not quite fit in with the other ladies of the aristocracy. She is modern, non judgemental and willing to look at everyone on an equal platform. Quite unlike other people of her status of the era.

When she decides to take her full domestic entourage and encamp to Brighton for a holiday, she did not think she will encounter dead bodies almost as soon as she arrived, and worse the body of her husband whom she thought had died six years before. She also did not think she would be the prime suspect in the murder despite no evidence to connect her with the murder.

Unravelling why Hilary was murdered at Brighton at the very same hotel she was occupying was too much of a coincidence and trying to put the clues together with her very efficient major domo was this story.

Beautiful setting, excellent detective skills, and a vintage historical feel to the entire story. Excellent reading.