A Trace of Poison by Colleen Cambridge

 

First Lines: "I just don't see any way around it. He's simply got to be done away with," said a hushed voice.

 

The village of Listleigh has the perfect residents to raise awareness of the local writers' group's Murder Fête: Agatha Christie and her husband who live at Mallowan Hall. In quite a coup, four members of the Detection Club have agreed to attend the fête, give talks, sign books, and judge a writing contest, the winner of which will win a valuable international publishing contract. All the proceeds of this fête will go to replacing the roof of the local orphanage.

With people like G.K. Chesterton and Dorothy L. Sayers wandering the house and grounds, it's no wonder that housekeeper Phyllida Bright pays no special attention to voices discussing murder under her window... until the local priest is murdered with a poisoned drink at that evening's cocktail party.

Everything points to the head of the writers' group being the intended target of the poisoned drink, and since he is almost universally detested, Phyllida finds that her suspect list is quite long indeed. When another person dies, Agatha Christie's indomitable housekeeper knows that she has to work fast to find the killer.

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I'm really enjoying this historical mystery series written by Colleen (Gleason) Cambridge. Not only does it have a plot that would make Dame Agatha proud, but historian Cambridge really gives readers a strong feel for the period and all that it entails being the housekeeper of a large country home. 

Phyllida Bright is a stern taskmistress, but she is liked and respected by the staff of Mallowan Hall, and since she and Agatha Christie served together during the Great War, she has a special relationship with her employer. Phyllida is extremely opinionated and, in A Trace of Poison, seems to have a thing about mustaches, but to each her own. The chauffeur, Bradford, and his puppy really get up her nose, and I love how Bradford enjoys getting a rise out of her every chance he can get. Yes, the sparks are flying between these two, but I sincerely hope that Cambridge doesn't light the fire, at least for a while. 

All detectives worth their salt have "resources" to help them with their investigations. Sherlock Holmes has the Baker Street Irregulars, and Phyllida Bright has her "downstairs" contacts-- all the housekeepers, cooks, maids, and footmen who work in the surrounding houses. She needs all the help they can give her because this is one magnificently convoluted crime. 

All the historical figures in A Trace of Poison are 99% set dressing. They say very little and have even less to do with the actual plot, but it's great just to imagine them spending a weekend with Agatha Christie and her husband in their country house. If there's anything I've found to be a bit tiresome in the (so far) two books in this series it's the long, drawn-out summoning of the suspects and all the explanations given during the reveal at story's end. It just takes too bloomin' long. Phyllida, I know you love Hercule Poirot; does he take as long to amaze us with his brilliance? If he does, you really don't have to be a slavish imitator, you know!

A Trace of Poison by Colleen Cambridge

eISBN: 9781496732491

Kensington Books © 2022

eBook, 304 pages

 

Historical Mystery, #2 Phyllida Bright mystery

Rating: B

Source: Net Galley

Murder at Mallowan Hall by Colleen Cambridge

 

First Line: Phyllida Bright had seen her share of bodies during the Great War, so when she discovered the dead man sprawled on the floor, it didn't even occur to her to scream.

 

Housekeeper Phyllida Bright manages Mallowan Hall with the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove. Tucked away in the Devonshire countryside, Mallowan Hall combines the best of English country house tradition with the modern conveniences of 1930, but it isn't your typical English estate. It is the home of archaeologist Max Mallowan and his wife, famous mystery novelist Agatha Christie. 

Phyllida met Christie during their service in World War I, and she is as much friend as employee. A devotee of the mystery genre, Phyllida has yet to find a man as fascinating in real life as Christie's fictional Hercule Poirot. But even though she's familiar with murder as a topic of conversation, she's unprepared for the sight of a dead body on the library floor.

It soon becomes clear that the victim arrived under false pretenses during a weekend house party. Phyllida now has her hands full with demanding guests, hordes of reporters, and an anxious staff, and when another body is discovered, there's only one thing for her to do: take a page from Poirot's casebook to deduce which of Mallowan Hall's guests is the killer.

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Author Colleen Cambridge's Murder at Mallowan Hall is an inspired bit of fun that kept me smiling and thinking throughout. Why wouldn't Agatha Christie have a mystery-solving housekeeper and why wouldn't that housekeeper be as interesting as Phyllida Bright? Although Christie herself only makes the occasional brief appearance, with the cast Cambridge has created she's pretty much surplus to requirements. 

Former war nurse Phyllida Bright leads the way. She's no-nonsense, likes to wear unhousekeeper-like light-colored floral prints, and has the sort of eye-catching hair that Mr. Dobble the butler thinks should be kept under a cap at all times. She loves her cats, Stilton and Rye, and positively hates dogs, but I won't hold that against her. She's never met a man who meets Hercule Poirot's high standards, and she enjoys the occasional tea and chats with Agatha. All in all, she seems a very straightforward character capable not only of serious deduction but also of making readers laugh. But... why does Phyllida Bright avoid the spotlight and being photographed? I'm looking forward to future books to see how this little tidbit is developed.

 

The interplay between Phyllida and the other staff like stuffy Mr. Dobble and Bradford the new chauffeur is light and fun, and one of the things I enjoyed the most in this multi-layered mystery is the fact that I really got a good feel for the running of a country house and all the myriad duties Phyllida had to oversee every day. Tops in the shocking tidbit category was the fact that the lower servants like the scullery maids had to run out in all weathers to use the outhouse while the upper servants, the owners, and the owners' guests all got to take advantage of the indoor plumbing.  It's never fun being at the bottom of the totem pole.

If you're in the mood for a fun, intriguing mystery filled with engaging characters, by all means, pick up a copy of Murder at Mallowan Hall. Afterwards, I have a feeling that you'll be waiting for the next book in the series just like me.

Murder at Mallowan Hall by Colleen Cambridge

eISBN: 9781496732460

Kensington Books © 2021

eBook, 304 pages

 

Historical Mystery, #1 Phyllida Bright mystery

Rating: B+

Source: Net Galley