Murder at Mallowan Hall
Tucked away among Devon’s rolling green hills, Mallowan Hall combines the best of English tradition with the modern conveniences of 1930. Housekeeper Phyllida Bright manages the large household with an iron fist in her very elegant glove. In one respect, however, Mallowan Hall stands far apart from other picturesque country houses. The manor is home to archaeologist Max Mallowan and his famous wife, Agatha Christie.
Phyllida is both loyal to and protective of the crime writer, who is as much a friend as a housekeeper. An aficionado of detective fiction, Phyllida has yet to find a gentleman in real life half as fascinating as Mrs. Agatha’s Belgian hero, Hercule Poirot. But though accustomed to murder and its methods as frequent topics of conversation, The housekeeper is unprepared for the sight of a very real, very dead body on the library floor.
It soon becomes clear that the victim arrived at Mallowan Hall under false pretenses during a weekend party. And when another dead body is discovered, this time, one of her housemaids, Phyllida, decides to follow in M. Poirot’s footsteps to determine which of the Mallowans’ guests is the killer. Now only Phyllida’s wits will prevent her own story from coming to an abrupt end.
The Details
Series: A Phyllida Bright Mystery – Book #1
Author: Colleen Cambridge
Genre/Category: Cozy – Amateur Sleuth/Historical
Publisher: Kensington Cozies
ISBN: 1496732456
Page Count: 288
Rating: 
The Review
There is just something about a historical cozy that warms my heart, and Murder at Mallowan Hall also gave me a thrill; it was almost like reading a new Christie novel. Having Agatha Christie as a character in a murder mystery set in her home with a mysterious housekeeper will make you want to smile. “A Phyllida Bright Mystery” is the first book in a new series from this author, and it will have readers clamoring for more.
Phyllida Bright isn’t your average housekeeper, and Mallowan Hall isn’t just any house. The owner is none other than Agatha Christie. Agatha and her husband Max are having houseguests for the week; one guest is not expected, and Phyllida finds him murdered on the library floor. She doesn’t panic even though she wants to, but she decides immediately after meeting the inspector that it will be up to her to track down the killer.
Agatha trusts Phyllida to find the killer, and she doesn’t disappoint. The suspects vary in personality and style, and the motives will have readers wondering what the next houseguest is up to or hiding. The housekeeper keeps the investigation moving along, and she eventually uncovers the killer, but it almost costs her life. There are plenty of red herrings to keep the reader intrigued. The motive is very topical in today’s society as it was during the years Murder at Mallowan Hall is set and makes you question the past and the future.
The story takes readers back in time to a place where the wealthy had housekeepers and Agatha Christie was making headlines. The details are a bit much, but if you are a Christie fan, then you will welcome the entirety of this book, even the parts that seem to drag a bit. The characters, and there are a few too many of those as well, but those that return in future books, help create the setting and how the household works, leaving room for mystery and growth. The setting of Agatha’s home is original and well described. I found that I clearly understood what Phyllida did every day and her style, and I can’t wait to find out more about her past. What secrets is Phyllida hiding? This is a mystery readers will want to solve.
The Author
Colleen Gleason (aka Colleen Cambridge, C.M. Gleason, and Alex Mandon) is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author who can’t seem to decide what type of book to write… so she writes a lot of different genres!
So far, Colleen has written everything from vampire hunters to dystopian romance to steampunk, historical romance, and mysteries with a supernatural flair. One element, however, that appears in all of her stories is that of partnership… whether it be professional, romantic, or both.
All of Colleen’s books feature strong heroines experiencing fast-paced adventures, danger,
mystery, and, of course, romance. But at the core of each story is the belief that every woman deserves a partner who accepts her for her strengths as well as her weaknesses and vice versa.
Colleen lives in the Midwest United States with her family and two dogs and is always working on her next book.
Similar books readers will enjoy include Murder At Wedgefield Manor by Erica Ruth Neubauer or A Study In Murder by Callie Hutton.
Represented by: Don Congdon Associates
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