An enjoyable cozy mystery with a bit of whimsy. I especially enjoyed the post-World War 1 setting. This was my first book in the series, and while it took a couple of chapters to get up to speed, I felt there was enough background info on the characters to be read as a standalone.

1921 Maitland Park is hosting an artist’s retreat when Constance Maitland approaches Edwina and Beryl to undergo a pretense investigation into adultery, to satisfy a family member. But then the next morning a body is discovered, strangled. Constable Doris Gibb is informed, but soon she realises she needs the help of Edwina and Beryl.
An enjoyable well-written cozy mystery.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 stars

Odd couple friends Beryl (American adventuress) and Edwina (reserved Brit) are back for another adventure. The two are officially in business as inquiry agents -- what we would call private investigators.

The setting is England after World War 1. The ladies are hired to explore some unsavory rumors circulating around an artists retreat taking place at an estate. But the discovery of two dead bodies in the first few days takes priority.

The fun in this series is the relationship between the very different two old school friends. They look at life from opposite angles, but their strengths complement each other and they are successful detectives. It has been enjoyable to watch Edwina relax a bit. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Murder in an English Glade is a charming historical mystery featuring an Odd Couple-type pair of private investigators: British socialite/aspiring novelist Edwina Davenport and American adventuress Beryl Helliwell. In this instalment, the investigators are hired to run a fake undercover investigation at an artists' retreat -- their client's cousin is accusing their client's sister-in-law of having an affair with one of the artists, and the client believes the appearance of an investigation will quell her cousin's doubts before the accusations erupt into a full-blown scandal. Except that shortly after Beryl and Edwina arrive, the artist turns up murdered, and the fake investigation turns real.


It's a charming premise. I'm a huge fan of genteel British small town mysteries, and I loved the chance to delve into a world where there's an estate large enough to host a group of artists and a group of Girl Guides, and art has such cultural cache that such goings-on are simply par for the course for the ultra elite. The beginning also totally won me over, with Beryl blundering into an argument with Edwina's housekeeper -- being unused to servants, Beryl thinks she's being helpful, but Edwina's gardener is quick to point out her faux pas. I love that contrast between both the lead characters, and how they responded to the situation.

The mystery, as well, hooked me at first. I loved the subplot about a potential romance for Edwina, and the comedy around Edwina learning what going undercover as an artist's model may actually require her to do. I also hadn't realized cigarette cases were designed by painters working with models, so that was an interesting bit of history. The big reveal came as a surprise to me, and I like how all the various disparate elements came together at the end.

That being said, the novel fizzled out for me partway through. Possibly, it's just that I had to be in a certain mood to really get into it, but the latter half felt slow to me. The mystery surrounding Beryl's history with one of the guests didn't really interest me much, and I wanted to see a lot more of Edwina's potential romance. The way the reveal was structured also felt a bit confusing -- there's a major clue near the end that points to a particular suspect, but then much ado is made over figuring out the involvement of a character who turned out to be irrelevant to the reveal. And the villain's motivation was only hinted at on-page -- there were some clues leading up to it, but the key part of information behind their motivation was only brought up in the big exposition scene, which I felt took away some of the "Aha!" feeling of all the pieces clicking into place. 

Overall, it's a pretty good mystery. I found the characters of Beryl and Edwina to be interesting, and I love the set-up of the faux investigation. The second half was a bit of a letdown, but overall, the mystery was solid, and had some good red herrings and clues.

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Thank you to Kensington Books for an e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This review will go live on my blog (link below) on September 21, 8 am ET.

Set in 1920s rural England, this clever and witty book, the fifth in the series, is splendid in every way. It is charming, brilliant, funny (I literally laughed out loud at descriptions at times), clean and cozy, yet unpredictable and twisty turny. I just love this author's writing. She has such a knack for developing quirky characters and weaving stories beautifully while etching atmosphere into the reader's mind. Not only are there mysteries, social class differences and impacts of post war but also romantic interests.

Beryl and Edwina have formed a private enquiry agency and are asked by Constance to feign an investigation undercover. Maitland House hosts an artist colony so the women pose as an instructor and an artist. One of them also tries her hand at modeling. But the posing becomes the real thing when murder enters the scene. The mysteries, deception and secrets are well done but to me the women's characters are equally fascinating. Though their personalities are very different from one another, they are complementary. The reader is able to watch the personal growth of Beryl and Edwina which is enjoyable and at times relatable.

Talk about tremendous fun! If you seek a historical fiction/mystery series, you definitely should read these books which are well worth your time. They will surely get under your skin, in a good way. The book cover is apt and accurately reflects what is contained inside.

My sincere thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this delightful book. I very much anticipate number six and wonder what is in store?!

This is an interesting book.

It is the fifth in a series and that made it difficult for me. I would have appreciated a little more background and explanation of past events and past relationships.

The time period is between the World Wars. Edwina and Beryl live in a very small village and they have opened a personal investigation agency. They seem to find employment in the most unusual places.

They are asked to pretend to investigate at an artist’s retreat. They will be at the largest estate in the area. The family is not of the nobility, but they are of the wealthy class.

Since they can use the money, they accept the pretend job. Both women expect this to be a very easy time.

They are supposed to be investigating a possible case of adultery but in reality there is no case. That is until there is a murder.

I liked the mystery. It is well done and the red herrings add a great deal to the mystery. The reader is taken on a good journey. We learn about art, and artists and artist’s models. And we also learn about the changing class system. World War I made the entire English population look at things in a brand new light.

The characters are well done. Edwina and Beryl are completely developed. The secondary characters are important to the plot. And all of them are interesting.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

Two friends who have been engaged to stage a faux investigation--until murder makes it all too real...

Although this series was new to me, it's the fifth in the Beryl and Edwina series. Beryl Helliwell, an American adventuress, and Edwina Davenport, a proper English gentlewoman, were schoolgirl chums who meet again after WWI and start their own private enquiry agency. In the proper English society in which the books take place, Edwina's understanding of the social mores is helped by Beryl's forthrightness in solving crimes. In this entry, Constance Maitland hires the two to pretend to undertake an investigation to placate her cousin, Cressida, who is convinced that Constance's brother's wife is having an affair. But then the alleged adulterer is killed, and Beryl and Edwina have to go undercover while undercover to help Constable Gibbs. It's a peasant read, perfect for the summer. I admit that I had a hard time accepting the author's choice of a female constable, even though she explains away the impossibility of a woman holding that position with a blithe comment that there were simply not enough men to fill the constabulary because of the war. It was hard to accept that early 1920s English millionaires and the upper crust would recognize and cooperate Constable Gibbs as a legitimate police officer, and that one incongruity tainted my enjoyment of the book. But it's an easy read, the story is well written, and there were no huge gaffes on the author's part. Recommended.

Jessica Ellicott’s Beryl and Edwina Mystery series is another gem uncovered by my wonderful bookworm mother. This light and interesting mystery series pairs an English Lady of manor with an American adventurer and fun ensues. This is book five in the series but reading the previous ones isn’t required to enjoy it. You will probably want to go back and read them though, they are awesome!

Off to an artist’s retreat, under false pretenses (posing as educator and artist rather than investigators), Beryl and Edwina find themselves with a dead body at their feet once more. Is it related to the mystery they are supposed to be there investigating or something else entirely? This cast of suspects is smaller than the previous novels but I enjoyed them and the artistic flair woven through the novel, it includes some fascinating historical bits too!

There is lots of banter and bounce between the two leading ladies and I read the book straight through. With twists and red herrings, this one keeps the reader guessing to the end! So if you’re looking for a good cosy mystery, don’t miss out! It!s a five out of five on the enJOYment scale!

Murder in an English Glade by Jessica Ellicott is a wonderful cozy mystery that takes place 1920s England and is the fifth book in the delightful series: Beryl and Edwina Mystery.

I love this series and this is an excellent addition. The push/pull, opposites attract combination of outgoing and vibrant American Beryl and the quiet/reserved Edwina really make this series fun.

I also enjoy the time period of post-WWI. A lot of pivotal changes occur as society is changing rapidly, and I love to see how this is reflected in the balance of old and new.

Once again this duo is pulled into a murder/mystery when being initially roped into an investigation…only this one ends in one of the suspects being murdered. Now it is just more then detective work on shady activity…now it is a murder investigation. Plenty of culprits, an intriguing plot, and hijinks ensue.

I look forward to the next book from this author.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Kensington for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

Entertaining historical cozy that will have it's readers laughing out loud while reading. Memorable characters and a story that you will enjoy.

This series is always a treat to dive in to. The characters are so creative and make you feel as if you are just another character in the book. Start to finish, Murder in an English Glade takes the reader on a fabulous mystery that you are so excited to follow to the end.

This is the fifth in the Beryl and Edwina Historical cozy mystery series. The story takes place in the English Village of Walmsey Parva. The two friends, Edwina, the reserved good mannered English Lady and Beryl the adventure seeker have been very successful with the Inquiry Agengy they have established.
On this Inquiry they are hired by the Maitland family to do a faux investigation of an illicit affair of a family member as alleged by an unbalanced distant cousin.While a highly unusual request they take on the case.The Inquiry takes place at the Maitland Estate and Park which also consists of an Artist Colony and Girl Guide camp.
The murder was solid and the road to discovery of the murder perfect. The murderer was one of my two "suspects" , but for a very different motive.
I really enjoyed the further character development of the two friends and how they are becoming even deeper friends. Also we learned more about Constable Gibbs, the only constable in Walmsey Parva and a female who was way ahead of her time. Character development within the series is one of the reasons I love cozy mystery series.
Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book. The release date is 10/26/21

In this fifth book of the series, Beryl Helliwell and Edwina Davenport are "investigating" at Maitland Park. Cressida, a poor relation, is making everyone uncomfortable with her accusations of infidelity toward Ursula Maitland, the younger wife of Hubert Maitland. Constance, his sister, engages them to do a sham inquiry to keep Cressida quiet. Unfortunately, the pretense becomes a real investigation when a murder occurs. Constance insists they help Doris Gibb, the local constable, with the investigation. Edwina convinces Doris to accept their help, as she is desperate to play in a band competition. As they interview various family and guests, they come to realizations about their own lives and expectation that are unexpected. After a few false starts and another murder. Edwina puts all the pieces together and an arrest is made in time for Doris to play her horn.
Really the best book yet.

Beryl and Edwina, now running a private enquiry business in the small town of Walmsley Parva, are invited to stay at the local manor in order to pretend to investigate the suspected relationship between the new wife of the much older lord of the manor and a visiting artist. Their employer is certain there is no such relationship going on, but wants to appease an eccentric family member who may not be entirely sane. Between an artists’ colony and a Girl Guides’ camping trip occurring on the manor grounds, there are many suspects around when the suspected lover turns up dead.

This is the fifth novel in the Beryl and Edwina Mysteries series. I “read” the first two as audiobooks and loved the two detectives as well as the quirky townspeople of Walmsley Parva, so I jumped on the chance to read an eARC of this instalment. I wasn’t disappointed, as Murder in an English Glade has all the elements I grew to love - a solid mystery, distinctive characters, and a English village setting - while also deepening the emotional bonds between the characters. Reading these novels really feels like getting to know these characters almost like real people as they grow and develop. I especially enjoyed seeing how both Beryl and Edwina are beginning to think of the Beeches - Edwina’s house - as “home” more because of the people in it than because it is the place they live. (I love the found family trope, and this series is getting closer and closer to it with every book.)

There is also fun character development in Constable Gibbs, something happened in book four to make her much more willing to collaborate with Beryl and Edwina. The hints of romance between Charles and Edwina continue to develop, and we are given a much clearer understanding of Edwina’s views on romance and marriage.

The voice and rhythm of the narration is very distinct, and I absolutely love it. I was afraid that by reading rather than listening, I would lose that specific cadence, but it is right there on the page. The third-person point of view alternates between Beryl and Edwina seamlessly, and each character shows unique thought processes and gifts (not to mention flaws) that make them always interesting.

The mystery felt less complex than in earlier books, or perhaps I am getting better at deciphering the clues, but if I had to say one negative thing about this novel it is that I guessed the culprit much too early for my taste. Nevertheless, I really enjoy this series and these characters, and this did not detract from my pleasure.

My thanks to Jessica Ellcott, Kensington Books and Net Galley for the ARC of MURDER IN AN ENGLISH GLADE.
A feast of joyous fun in this cosy mystery, the first I have read in this series. Not to be taken too seriously and lots of easy-going enjoyment. I'll definitely read the others in the series.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Kensington Books, in return for an honest review. While the fifth book in this series, it is easily read as a standalone. It’s a lovely return to post-WWI England and the delightful adventures of Beryl and Edwina. Former school friends who stayed in sporadic touch through the years, events brought them back together and they now share the same house and have established a discrete investigative agency. When Constance Maitland, a member of the local ‘high society’, hires them to conduct a sham investigation into a purported dalliance between her sister-in-law and a local artist, it’s really more to appease a cousin who keeps raising the issue in a public and distressing manner. As the Maitlands are currently hosting a resident artists’ colony at their large estate, Edwina agrees to serve as an artist’s model and Beryl will share skills from her past as a woman explorer and adventurer with the local Girl Guides troop. When two different murders occur, using similar methods, Edwina and Beryl realize the sham investigation needs to be all too real. These two characters are wonderfully written with very distinct personalities, backgrounds, and perceptions about the world around them. Edwina was raised as a very Victorian/Edwardian, reticent woman; Beryl has explored all over the world and had adventures not available to most women of the era. But their reunited friendship has filled some of the empty space in both their lives, giving them friendship and a shared sense of purpose. I enjoy this series very much and always appreciate visiting the world between WWI and WWII when a generation of women faced challenges and societal changes not experienced before. I hope you’ll root for Beryl and Edwina as much as I do and I look forward to the next book to come!

Fans of this utterly charming series will thoroughly enjoy this 5th story of the wonderful duo Beryl and Edwina! The time period is just after WWI and the location is a tiny English village. Edwina has welcomed her old school friend Beryl to stay with her, though the two could not be more different. Edwina is a spinster, struggling to make ends meet in her genteel but lonely life in the village. Beryl is a famous adventurer who, after a tumultuous life and several marriages, finds herself broke and homeless. They team together to create an unlikely detective service after having stumbled upon - and solved - local murders.

This story is set at a mansion not far from the village. An artist colony is staying at the mansion, painting on the groups, and tensions are high. Beryl and Edwina have been asked to go undercover at the mansion. Naturally, a murder occurs, and then the team is asked to solve it. All the village characters we've come to enjoy are present in the story, including the quiet lawyer Charles who turns out to have an artistic bent, and grumpy, strident constable Doris. As in each of the previous novels, our beloved Beryl and Edwina discover more of their skills and inner strengths, as well as their charming compatibility.

This is a most enjoyable and satisfying series.

I love the main characters in these books. Always something happening to keep this reader interested. A murder or two is always the case for Beryl and Edwina where ever they seem to be. I find it hard to put these books done once I start reading. A thoroughly great read always!

Set in a charming English village just after WWI, Jessica Ellicott’s winning series returns to the witty antics of delightfully mismatched friends and sleuths-of-a-certain-age, Beryl and Edwina. Their personalities couldn’t be more different —Beryl is a brash, adventurous American, while Edwina is a prim and proper Brit—but the pair have a knack for solving mysteries. Now they’ve been hired to stage a faux investigation—until murder makes it all too real. This is a really fun series set in 1920's England and this author portrays that era really well. The characters are all interesting and believable and the mystery kept me guessing until the end. This can read as a standalone but you don't want to miss the rest of the series. Looking forward to further adventures of Beryl and Edwina. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.