Blog Tour | Book Review: A Death in Chelsea by Lynn Brittney (Mayfair 100 #2)

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for the second book in the Mayfair 100 series, I’m delighted to be sharing my review with you today.

Book Description

Set against the backdrop of WW1, Mayfair 100 is the telephone number for a small, specially-formed crime fighting team based in a house in Mayfair. 

A call comes through to Mayfair 100, where the intrepid team of investigators eagerly await their next case. 

A society gossip queen has been found hanged in her room in mysterious circumstances. Her enemies are numerous – and her family are convinced she was murdered. Can the group uncover the truth in a case that twists and turns to delight and terrify its readers. 

My Thoughts

What a scandalous read! If there’s one thing that gets me excited when reading historical murder mysteries, it’s the shenanigans of the upper class, what a deceitful bunch they are! Also, I love the ‘airs and graces’ and the dialect. Needless to say, I love the setting of this novel, both the era it was set and the London location. If post-Edwardian settings, scandal, and a gripping murder mystery are your thing, you don’t want to miss this one!

A Death in Chelsea is the second novel in Brittney’s Mayfair 100 series; it follows A Murder in Belgravia. I always advocate for reading series in order, because, while each case is different, you get to know the backstory of the characters, and you get this sense of familiarity with each novel. However, A Death in Chelsea can absolutely be read as a standalone, particularly because in the ‘Introduction’ to the novel, Brittney gives you a quick rundown of who’s who, so you begin this novel with a sense of understanding even if you haven’t read the first one.

The murder mystery in this novel is really interesting, it’s full of twists that keep you guessing until the end, a very satisfying end might I add. But, my favourite thing about this novel is the awesome women who make up the detective team. During WWI, it was not the norm for women to investigate crime, but Detective Inspector Beech (a great man) saw the need for them on an investigative team. To strengthen his team of P.C. Bill Rigsby and Detective Sergeant Tollman, he enlisted the help of Dr Caroline Allardyce and Victoria Ellingham (trained as a lawyer but not allowed to practice). The dynamics between this group make for joyful reading, and they’re a vibrant bunch, each likeable in their own way, with plenty of wit! Individually they have their own unique skills, and together it makes for a strong team, and it’s great to watch them piece together this case over the course of the novel.

While the case is dark, this novel is perfect for those who want to skip the gory details. Fans of cosy crime will appreciate the closely acquainted community in this novel. Gathering clues, the Mayfair 100 team use their intelligence and intuition to solve the case, A Death in Chelsea is reminiscent of the Golden Age of detective fiction, it was a pleasure to read and I absolutely recommend it.

This book is available to buy from Amazon UK / Book Depository

*My thanks to the publisher (Mirror Books) for providing me with a copy of this book and inviting me to participate in the blog tour*

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