Charming manor house mystery introduces Chef/investigator Nell Drury
Dancing with Death
A country house mystery
by Amy Myers
Severn House
Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 01 May 2017
Review
Dancing with Death is an excellent period cozy that takes the form of a classic manor house murder mystery. During a house party Ghost Hunt, a guest is found murdered. As the suspects number among the fashionable elite, scandal must be minimized. Naturally, Lord and Lady Ansley have their doubts about the competency of the police. As a result, Chef Nell Drury whose skill in the kitchen hides a sharp intellect and understanding of psychology, is asked by the family to look into matters. Assisted by the Dowager Lady’s rival, Arthur Fontenoy, Nell starts her own investigation to the dismay of Inspector Melbray.
I enjoyed Dancing with Death greatly. It pleasantly reminded me of Julie Hyzy’s White House Chef mystery series. Despite some similarities, Dancing with Death is admirable in its own right. The central characters were appealing, and there was a nice touch of chemistry between Inspector Melbray and Nell. There were minor flaws - it took forever for Nell to figure out drugs and blackmail were involved, but on the whole the novel was well done. The series definitely has potential.
Dancing with Death will appeal to those who enjoy period mysteries with a light touch of romance, eg. the Phryne Fisher mysteries, or cozies such as the White House Chef mystery series.
4/5
I received a copy of Dancing with Death from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
—Crittermom
Description
Introducing chef-sleuth Nell Drury in the first of a delightful series of 1920’s traditional country house mysteries.
1925. The fashionable Bright Young Things from London have descended on Wychbourne Court, the Kentish stately home of Lord and Lady Ansley, for an extravagant fancy dress ball followed by a midnight Ghost Hunt – and Chef Nell Drury knows she’s in for a busy weekend. What she doesn’t expect to encounter is sudden, violent death.
When a body is discovered in the minstrels’ gallery during the Ghost Hunt, Nell finds herself caught up in the police investigation which follows. As the darker side of the Roaring Twenties emerges and it becomes increasingly clear that at least one person present that night has a sinister secret to hide, Nell determines to unmask the killer among them. Could the Wychbourne Ghosts hold the key to the mystery?
