Murder At The Brightwell is a captivating story. It truly is a mix of vivid and fascinating characters, saga, drama and romance, in which I couldn't put down."

Fun and atmospheric murder mystery set in 1923. Amory Ames was a wonderful character to read from. The mystery was engaging and the whodunit managed to surprise me. I still have a couple questions about Milo,Amory's husband, but apart from that,this book was near perfect for me.

Amory Ames is a wealthy young woman who regrets her marriage to her notoriously charming playboy husband, Milo. Looking for a change, she accepts a request for help from her former fiancé, Gil Trent, not knowing that she’ll soon become embroiled in a murder investigation that will test not only her friendship with Gil, but will upset the status quo with her husband.

Amory accompanies Gil to the Brightwell Hotel in an attempt to circumvent the marriage of his sister, Emmeline, to Rupert Howe, a disreputable ladies’ man. Amory sees in the situation a grim reflection of her own floundering marriage. There is more than her happiness at stake, however, when Rupert is murdered and Gil is arrested for the crime. Amory is determined to prove his innocence and find the real killer, despite attempted dissuasion from the disapproving police inspector on the case. Matters are further complicated by Milo’s unexpected arrival, and the two form an uneasy alliance as Amory enlists his reluctant aid in clearing Gil’s name. As the stakes grow higher and the line between friend and foe becomes less clear, Amory must decide where her heart lies and catch the killer before she, too, becomes a victim.

Murder at the Brightwell is a delicious mystery in which murder invades polite society and romance springs in unexpected places. Weaver has penned a debut in the tradition of Jacqueline Winspear.

This was pitched to me as Agatha Christie-esque, but it really wasn't. I found myself disappointed mostly because I was expecting something much different. The story itself was okay and the plot was well-developed, but there were some subplots that were just completely unnecessary.

Murder at the Brightwell will readily appeal to anyone who enjoys 1930s mysteries with a touch of romance. Amory Ames, a wealthy young wife tired of her husband’s roguish antics, decides to do her former fiance Gil a favor - to accompany him to a seaside resort and convince his younger sister to break off her love affair with a charming ne’er do well. Instead of fleeing with his tail between his legs, the young man ends up dead with Amory’s friend as the main suspect. Amongst the wealthy couples sharing their holiday, a murderer resides, but who. Amory takes it upon herself to find out with the help of her husband who has shown up out of the blue to defend his territory. Polite society has never been so exciting.

Manners and murder make for a divine mystery. Ashley Weaver’s historical novel is an excellent read.

5 / 5

I received a copy of Murder at the Brightwell from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

-- Crittermom

Murder at the Brightwell is a smart, sophisticated mystery and I loved every minute of it. When I discovered the Amory Ames Mystery series last year, I started with book four and worked my way back to the beginning. Reminiscent of Nick and Nora Charles, Amory and Milo have a different sort of marriage, not like the ones we have today. It worked for me as it was all too common in the 1930's. The mystery itself took a backseat to the relationship issues of the Ameses but I think I know what Ashley Weaver's plan for this story. As a debut to a series, certain things need to be established. The continuity from book four to this one impressed me.

If you love historical mysteries with a little humour, pick this up today.

Disclaimer: I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley in the hopes I'd review it.

My Rating: 4 stars

Murder at the Brightwell is an entertaining series debut. The story is well-paced and the characters are likeable and interesting. The mystery behind the murder was interesting too. The identity of the killer was unexpected. Amory and Milo's relationship was well portrayed. I am looking forward to reading more of Amory and Milo's adventures.

This was an excellent mystery novel that definitely made me stop and think, with some red herrings thrown in along the way. Absolutely loved it!

I enjoyed this book, it was fast paced, and kept me guessing all the way to the end. I think having a smart plot is what I like best about this book.. I don't want to figure out about the everything the murder long before I'm done reading. I have since read every book by this author and she never disappoints. Cozy mystery done right.

I love this series! Amory and Milo are my favorite detecting couple since the Thin Man series. Whenever Ashley Weaver releases a new book, I enjoy going back and rereading them in order to capture the emotional journey as well as the well written mysteries.

An Enveloping Read...
Set in the 1930's - the setting, an art deco hotel on the coast - a murder mystery featuring, sometime amateur sleuth, Amory Ames and, sometime errant playboy, husband Milo. This is an excellent and enveloping read. Nicely written with credible characterisation and a good moving plot littered with red herrings. Amory is a likeable protagonist and narrator. Thoroughly enjoyable and, above all, a real treat.

(Many thanks for the reading copy, review posted on Amazon)

I just found this series and loved it. It takes place in England in the 30's. Amory Ames is asked by an ex-boyfriend for help. She goes to a resort on the coast and gets involved in a murder mystery The themes of the affluent during this time period are interesting. Amory does some of this sleuthing with her husband, Milo. This book was reminiscent of Nick and Nora from the Thin Man series but with a more modern way of writing, i.e. being more accessible and easier to read. I will definitely be searching out the next book in the series

I am so happy to find a new series to read! Murder at the Brightwell is the first in a series of books starring Amory Ames; an affluent woman from London turned amateur sleuth. Ashley Weaver has written Mrs. Ames as a smart character; one where I found myself saying "do the right thing!" several times, and she did, each time! It is a joy to find a female protagonist who isn't foolish and prone to being a damsel in distress. I've already started book 2: Death Wears a Mask!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I found this novel to be a lot of fun. I liked pretty much everything about it, the setting, the characters, the cover, and the plot. The mystery is a good one, but for me, the characters really made the book. The story is set at a seaside hotel in the 1930s. The author presents her main character, Amory as a smart, likeable young woman. I even have to confess to a sneaking likeness for Milo, her husband, despite his apparent shortcomings. I found the entire novel very engrossing and hated to put it down. The end came as a complete surprise to me, which is how I like my mysteries.

I’m often a bit wary of historical novels, so often the historical aspects overwhelm the plot, but this is definitely not the case here. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, peopled with interesting characters, and a plot that keeps you reading, you would probably really enjoy this book.

I love this series and this one the only I hadn't read.
It's as lovely and engaging as the rest of the series.
It was great to meet Amery and Milo at the beginning.
The mystery was intriguing and engaging, the book is well written, and couldn't put it down.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to St. Martin Press and Netgalley for this ARC