This book gives cozy mystery in a familiar, historical tone. While I'm new to Verity Bright, I could keep up with Ellie and Clifford and the whole crew. The pace was slow at times, but it felt appropriate for the writing style and time period. If you love mystery but don't want a thriller, this could be perfect!

In the latest Eleanor Swift mystery, the lady detective, Clifford, and the rest of her household travel to Venice to attend Carnival, visit a countess, and attend a ball. On her first day in the city, a man falls off a gondola and into the canal, dead. Eleanor seems to have stumbled upon an old family feud that threatens to tear Venice apart, and she must navigate this dangerous relationship and the winding canals and alleys of Venice to stop the families from going to war and ruining the tenuous peace in the city. This historical mystery is a fun, adventurous, and exotic read, and readers will enjoy visiting Venice through Eleanor and Clifford’s eyes. As for the mystery itself, readers will enjoy following along on the investigation and exploring the city as tourists with Eleanor and Clifford. Bright’s characters are wonderful as always, and the witty, friendly dynamic between Eleanor, Clifford, and the rest of her household is as entertaining and enjoyable as it has been in previous books. This latest book is a fantastic addition to the Eleanor Swift mystery series, and readers are guaranteed to enjoy the latest installment and murder set in the charming Italian city of Venice.

I'm sorry to say A Death in Venice might be my least favorite installment in the Lady Eleanor Swift series, which I really enjoy. The idea of taking Lady Swift out of her usual surroundings appealed to me, but the reality was that there were lots of descriptions of Venice and how different it is from the English countryside but not enough story. I wish the secret romance and feuding families took more center stage so it was clear what the stakes were. Eleanor and Clifford were too peripheral the goings-on to make this interesting.

I loved the fact that Ellie and Clifford were visiting Venice in this book. I have been there myself and with the writing, it was so easy to remember places that we had visited, and it took me back to a happy holiday. This, I think, increased my fondness for the book.

The characters are, as usual, witness to another murder, and this time, they need to navigate the history and traditions of Venice to solve the case.

Very interesting facts covered and a highly enjoyable read.

Lady Eleanor, her butler Clifford, her bulldog Gladstone, her cat, and the ladies that make up her household staff are enjoying the sights of Venice in this latest installment of the Lady Eleanor cozy mystery series. This story was more than entertaining it was also informative. The descriptions were so interesting, that if I am not having delusions of grandeur, I was able to recognize many of the sights, hotels and districts of the magical city of Venice. There are also historical lessons of the origins and building of Venice, the history of the gondoliers and their craft.

“A gondola ride on the Grand Canal in the sunshine” Lady Eleanor wonders if there could be anything better. Spoken too soon, immediately in front of her there is a dead body in the canal, then a Romeo/Juliet romance enmeshed in a bitter family feud which gives Lady Eleanor plenty to keep her occupied. After all, what would a Lady Eleanor mystery be without a murder to solve, a family to reunite, a multitude of delicious meals to be consumed.

Each installment in this series delights and satisfies with clever dialog, beautiful and interesting settings with a plot that is complex and intriguing. Thanks to Bookoutre and NetGalley for a copy.

‘A Death in Venice’ is a brilliant fun mystery and I couldn't get enough of it! This is the 17th book in the series but it can easily be read as a stand-alone. I do recommend the whole series though as they are amazing books and have a very special place in my heart. I always know I am going to enjoy them when I pick a new one up and Lady Swift and Clifford her butler are a brilliant crime-fighting duo! They are auto-reads for me and always will be.

Lady Eleanor Swift is on holiday in Venice and has brought along all her staff and pets for the ride. Clifford, her amazing butler has everything planned so she gets to explore this fabulous city to the best of his ability! But alas, murder follows Elly everywhere she goes and whilst on a trip on a gondola she witnesses the death of a local councillor. He is also the member of a powerful local family the Vendelinis who have a long running feud with the Marcellos. Is this death going to reignite the feud and will Elly be able to figure out who the killer is?

As always the mystery is integral to the story and Elly and Clifford of course work it all out and save the day. But the beating heart of these books is the relationship between Elly and Clifford - their friendship and love for each other even though technically he is her servant. It's paternal nature is touching and it proves that family doesn't necessarily need to be our blood family. We get to choose who we love and Elly couldn't have found a better friend.

I flew through this in one day and found the mystery to be compelling and I was enthralled by the descriptions of Venice. It was such an enjoyable and fun read and I can't wait for the next adventure!

Let me know if you pick this one up!

'But there was a merciless triple killer to stop. In a city she didn't understand, and where she had no idea who she could trust any more.'

Returning to a Lady Swift novel is like diving into a big bath of warmth. You know exactly what you are going to get, with a collection of characters who will delight and entertain. And the occasional killer, of course.

This time the *entire* household is on holiday in Venice. Including the cat. On a relaxing gondola ride Ellie and Clifford witness a death, which turns out to be murder - and thus we start our rollercoaster ride of murder and intrigue. This time there is a bitter family feud, star-crossed lovers and a missing artefact. Can Ellie and the ever-reliable Clifford save the day...?

The setting is as much a part of the book as the plot, and Venice is a worthy host to this, the 17th Lady Swift book. Entertaining, funny and charming, I love these books.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)

First I must say I loved the cover of this cozy mystery, the the era it was written in and love the main character Lady Eleanor Swift. And how can you resist a book set in Italy, on a gondola and with a murder? This is the type of gripping mystery that keeps you turning pages.

A fight breaks out on a gondola, and then...... Well of course there is a death and Lady Eleanor must find out what happened. This is a fast paced book with humour and intrigue that captures your attention and keeps you reading right through to the last page. A great addition to the series (I have read some but not all but this doesn't seem to hamper my enjoyment of it!) A great read.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is book 17 and I have read a few of the books but not all, it didn't make too much of a difference as you get to know the characters.

I do enjoy the interactions of all the characters and it is a fun, cosy read.

Thank you for the arc.

A Death In Venice is Verity Bright's 17th installment in the Lady Eleanor Swift series. Now, I had not read the other 16 books, so I'm pretty late to this party. I do feel like I was missing out on a lot of the past history. I probably would understand the humor and inside jokes if I had started at the beginning. The upside - it does make me want to visit Venice. It's obvious that the author is pretty familiar with the city. I'm a sucker for notable pets and I loved Gladstone, the bulldog and Tompkins the cat with his very own kitty cat kit bag!
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Lady Eleanor Swift is back for another cozy mystery set in Venice, Italy. When Eleanor sees a fight breakout between a gondolier and a Councillor she soon discovers herself in yet another murder investigation. Lady Swift and her trusty butler, Clifford, must learn about Italy’s intertwined history of gondoliers and a lifetime rivalry between two prominent families in order to find the killer and the motive behind missing heirlooms. Bright takes the reader on an intriguing boat ride wound in history, feuding families, and a pair of star crossed lovers. Will they catch the killer in time? But remember, as an intriguing lady in the market tells Eleanor, “Everyone wears a mask in this city whether it is Carnival time or not.”

As this is my introduction to the Lady Eleanor Swift Mysteries, I truly loved being thrown into the beauty of Venice and the quirkiness of Eleanor and her sidekicks. It was a little slow at times and I would have loved more of the love story, however, I still found myself engrossed by the characters. For this I gave this book a 3 stars rating.

Thank you to NetGalley Bookouture for the ARC.

I loved this book! This is one of my favorite reads of the year so far. It kept me on the edge of my seat.

It's amazing that we're seventeen books in and it's still just as good as the first book. It had that mystery element that I was looking for and enjoyed overall. It uses the Golden Age perfectly and glad that historical setting worked overall. I enjoyed getting back to this world and characters. I enjoyed how Verity Bright wrote this and had the cozy mystery element that I was looking for. I'm excited to see where Verity Bright is going to go next.

A Death in Venice is the 17th Lady Eleanor Swift mystery and I am still very much enjoying her exploits. As the title suggests, Eleanor, her butler Clifford and her four ladies are in Venice for a holiday. Of course she goes nowhere without Gladstone, her bulldog and their cat, Tompkins. They plan on attending Carnival and she has been invited to the Countess' party. While touring and going on a gondola ride, they witness the killing of a local politician, Councillor Benetto Vendelini. Is this a murder to try and start up the feud between two of the great families of Venice? As more murders occur and Eleanor seeming to be stalked, they get involved in the investigation to find the killer.

A Death in Venice has a bit of a Romeo and Juliet vibe happening. There is a missing artifact that is needed to be found in order to stop a centuries old feud from being reignited. There is a young couple who are in love, but someone is trying to stop them from getting married. There are murders, stalking, stolen purses, rooms being ransacked and a kidnapping all wrapped up in an entertaining historical cozy mystery. I learned a lot about gondoliers, gondolas and how Venice was built while trying to solve this mystery before Eleanor did. I enjoy Eleanor's irreverent attitudes toward her staff, who she enjoys spending time with and pays for their vacation. They pop in and out of the story and add some comic relief. There is some danger, but Clifford is always there to keep Eleanor safe. There is a bit of a misunderstanding between Hugh and Eleanor which was a bit frustrating, but it was all worked out in the end. I have to mention, Kip, the young man from London who is trying to reenact Lord Byron's adventures during his time in Venice. It was fun, but he also plays a role in solving the mystery. This was a wonderful addition to this series and I am already looking forward to seeing where the next book will take us. If you enjoy a good historical cozy mystery, especially one with some humor and great characters, then I recommend you pick this one up.

A Death in Venice by Verity Bright is another Lady Eleanor Swift mystery which finds her, the ladies, and Clifford on holiday in Venice. It is an intriguing place, but Ellie gets herself in the middle of a feud between two old families and it nearly costs her everything. She is enthralled with the canals and Clifford has obtained the services of a gondolier from an ancient family of gondoliers. He knows many people and can take them anywhere, and does. Of course, there’s a murder, and of course, (Clifford eye-roll) Ellie gets involved.

Clifford is the consummate butler and had also been her uncle’s sidekick so he had many extra talents that served her well. He is constant in his attempts to make her behave like a lady and she is just as constant in refusing to do so. It is an excellent historical, cozy mystery series. Ellie has embraced the modern world of the early twentieth century. She was raised a vagabond, and then an orphan when her uncle took her in, sending her to boarding school, as he was not the appropriate parent type. Her escapades are interesting, often dangerous, but always solvable, by her and Clifford. This was a difficult one as she was out of her home country and there were people and places she didn’t understand. It was a terrific journey for the reader as Bright described everything. Love this series! Thanks Verity Bright!

I was invited to read a Death in Venice by Bookoutre. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #VerityBright #ADeathInVenice

Another fabulous adventure for Lady Eleanor Swift, her butler and confidant Clifford along with the travelling party of her household. This time they are in Italy and while enjoying a gondola ride witness a murder, with the backdrop of the beautiful city of Venice and an old family feud.

As always the characters are lovingly written about and the story is easy to read and very entertaining. The 17th book in this cozy crime series is testament to the reader’s enjoyment of the characters, who develop each time with their endearing personalities.

The cover art is again beautifully eye catching and I very much look forward to reading the next book and adventure when it is a available.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lady Eleanor Swift had been enjoying a leisurely holiday in Italy, accompanied by her loyal butler, Clifford, dedicated staff, and beloved pets. After a month of exploration, their travels brought them to the enchanting city of Venice. Eleanor was enjoying the piazzas, architecture and canals when while on a gondola ride, she and Clifford witnesses an argument between another gondolier and his passenger which turns deadly for the passenger, Councillor Benetto Vendelini, The gondolier's and the the victims's family had a centuries old feud, which had been, not so much resolved as a ceasefire agreed to. This could risk that peace.

Although Eleanor and Clifford are told by the local police that there is no need for their involvement, Eleanor is drawn into solving this case. But what else would we expect of Eleanor and her faithful butler, Clifford?

I do enjoy the Verity Bright series, but this one fell a bit flat for me. Much of the book is dedicated to the the traditions, architecture, art and history of Venice. It was like reading someone's travel diary . After the roughly the first third of the book, I felt like there were all McGuffins and not enough plot. It does pick up at the end, but it could have been trimmed to build up more suspense, the distractions letting the line go limp.

If you are a fan of the series, do read it, there is plenty to enjoy, It is always nice to visit with these "old friends" as a reader,

My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy in exchange for honest review.

Another fun and charming Eleanor Swift historical mystery. Eleanor brings along most of her staff and attending adoring animals (and it might be Eleanor who is doing the adoring) to experience Venice during Carnival. Readers of previous Eleanor Swift mysteries will have a pretty good idea of what to expect: some witty banter, nice relationships and a decent mystery. What really shines in this book is the character of Venice itself. It is obvious that the writer loves Venice that shows through the wonderful descriptions and interesting historical facts. This story could take place in no other place but Venice. Come and enjoy a cozy read and experience a place like no other...Venice.

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

Book 17! Can you believe it!? I have featured all but the very first on this very blog and I have loved each and every one. I do love a good mystery and one of the things I have enjoyed the most about this series is spending time with such warm, funny and interesting characters. Eleanor is joyful, brave, compassionate and fiercely loyal. Clifford is the the type of friend anyone would like looking out for them and an exemplary butler. This time we are joining them whilst they are holidaying in Venice. As always author, Verity Bright, gently weaves interesting historical facts throughout the story and also does a wonderful job of taking us to 1920’s Venice. It isn’t long before Eleanor and Clifford are mixed up in yet another murder. Although identifying the guilty party initially looks clear cut, Eleanor feels that something doesn’t quite add up and soon both her and Clifford are in deep and things are looking very dangerous for them indeed. It would seem there is so much more going on than meets the eye and for once Eleanor can’t even trust the police.

Full of Italian passion, danger and a touch of Romeo and Juliet, this latest instalment from Verity Bright does not disappoint.

I have loved the Eleanor Swift mysteries since first discovering them about 18 months ago. I started on volume 11 or 12, but the great thing about the books is that each one can be read as a standalone. However, I was curious enough to read or listen to most of the back catalog and have read every new release as they’ve been released.

Just like my beloved Nancy Drew books did from time to time, this Eleanor Swift mystery is also part travelogue, as she travels to Venice for some shopping, socializing, sightseeing, and of course, solving a murder that lands in her path. Some people don’t like when books offer info-dumps of information about locales, but I’ve always enjoyed books like this it opens up a whole new world of imagination without ever leaving your home. If you’re not into long descriptions of settings but are still intrigued with the series, start with a different volume.

Eleanor is as strong as ever, and of course Clifford, her ever faithful butler, is accompanying her on the trip. He helps with her investigations, but most of the time, Eleanor is resourceful enough to figure things out, search for clues, follow suspects, and get out of jams on her own. That’s what makes her such an appealing figure in this Golden Age cozy mystery.

This was a pretty good mystery that kept me guessing at times and would recommend. As much as I appreciated the expansion of Eleanor’s world in the books, I do have to say that I much prefer when she’s back at Henley Hall solving murders with the full cast of characters I’ve grown to know and love these past few years.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from NetGalley and Bookouture. I am leaving this review voluntarily.