Spruced Up for Murder by Helen Golden Series: A Right Royal Cozy Investigation #1
Published by Drew Bradley Press on October 19, 2022
Source: Rachel's Random Resources
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 318
Format: eBook
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Death at Francis Court Now Confirmed as Murder!
Speculation is rife that the victim, estate manager Alex Sterling (44), was found by Lady Beatrice (35), the Countess of Rossex, niece of King James. Lady Beatrice, who has finally come out of hiding following her son’s departure to boarding school, has been managing the project to refurbish and redesign the Events Suite at Francis Court, alongside Perry Juke.
Heading up the murder investigation is Detective Chief Inspector Richard Fitzwilliam. Rumour has it that he and Lady Beatrice have a fractious history…
Awful man! How dare Fitzwilliam suggest Lady Beatrice’s sister is the number one suspect for Alex’s murder. It could be any one of the staff who were on-site that morning. Well, she’ll show Mr High and Mighty Fitzwilliam! With her attention to detail, her clever dog Daisy, Perry’s imagination, and his partner’s contacts at Fenshire CID, they’ll find the murderer before him. And then they’ll see who’ll look like a fool. Because it won’t be Lady Beatrice, will it?
I really enjoyed Spruced Up for Murder. Lady Beatrice is a widow and now that her son has gone to boarding school, it’s time for her to come out of her self-imposed isolation. Her sister, Lady Sarah, has talked her into heading up an interior decorating project at Francis Court. Sarah also gives her an assistant, Perry Juke, who has worked on the estate for years. Perry knows Lady Beatrice has a reputation for being cold and snobby, but he agrees to take on the task anyway.
And then they find a dead body in the room they’re working in.
Lady Beatrice and Perry start investigating. They make a fun team, with their own styles and own ways of finding out information. It also helps that Perry’s partner, Simon, is a crime writer with his own CID connections. He’s also a fabulous chef. Honestly, this has all the ingredients I need in a cozy – likable characters, a cute dog, and delicious food. Detective Chief Inspector Richard Fitzwilliam is not thrilled with their snooping, and he and Lady Beatrice tend to bring out the worst in each other.
The chemistry between all of the characters was realistic and I was sure I’d like them if I ever met them in real life. The plot moved along well. There were just enough red herrings and potential suspects. I’m looking forward to the next two in the series, For Richer, For Deader (review November 20) and Not Mushroom for Death (review December 16th).
About Helen Golden
Helen Golden spins mysteries that are charmingly British, delightfully deadly, and served with a twist of humour.
With quirky characters, clever red herrings, and plots that keep the pages turning, she’s the author of the much-loved A Right Royal Cozy Investigation series, following Lady Beatrice and her friends—including one clever little dog—as they uncover secrets hidden in country houses and royal palaces. Her new historical mystery series, The Duchess of Stortford Mysteries, is set in Victorian England and introduces an equally curious sleuth from Lady Beatrice’s own family tree—where murders are solved over cups of tea, whispered gossip, and overheard conversations in drawing rooms and grand estates.
Helen lives in a quintessential English village in Lincolnshire with her husband, stepdaughter, and a menagerie of pets—including a dog, several cats, a tortoise, and far too many fish.