Being the housekeeper for THE Agatha Christie can have its challenges, but finding a dead body isn’t one that housekeeper Phyllida Bright anticipated. Phyllida immediately contacts the local constable, who initially believes she is jesting as surely there’s not a dead body in the library of Agatha Christie’s home. No one seems to know who the mysterious (and now dead) Mr. Waring is, as he wasn’t on the guest list for the party. Phyllida decides to investigate, approaching the mystery the way she envisions M. Poirot would handle it. Can she uncover which one of the guests is a murderer and why?
MURDER AT MALLOWAN HALL is the first book in the Phyllida Bright series, and oh what a treat for readers! I grew up on Agatha Christie’s mysteries and have reread them over the years, so I was excited to see a book featuring Agatha Christie and her household. Most of the characters, as well as Mallowan Hall, are fictional, but the story line is phenomenal, particularly for Agatha Christie enthusiasts like me. And who doesn’t love that the dead body in the opening paragraphs of MURDER AT MALLOWAN HALL is found in the library, a reference to Agatha Christie’s book, A BODY IN THE LIBRARY?
Phyllida is a marvelous heroine! I love her sharp mind as well as her ability to organize even in the midst of a crisis. Most importantly, however, she cares for others and does her best to accommodate and assist them without doing any detriment to her job. Oh, and her interactions with Agatha Christie are such a delight! Agatha is a secondary character and the interactions between Agatha and Phyllida are thoroughly enjoyable. Quite honestly, Phyllida is exactly who I would envision as a housekeeper for Agatha! She’s neat, precise, organized and quick on her feet- but has a bright head of hair that is just as full of spunk as she is! I look forward to learning more about her mysterious past in future books.
MURDER AT MALLOWAN HALL is a delightfully good cozy mystery by Colleen Cambridge. Agatha Christie fans, in particular, will relish this spectacular tale as the atmosphere and pacing are reminiscent of some of Christie’s own tales. Colleen Cambridge is the pseudonym of Colleen Gleason, an author who wrote some of my favorite vampire tales, and I’m thrilled to say that MURDER AT MALLOWAN HALL is just as amazing. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Phyllida in the next installment!
The first in an exciting new historical mystery series set in the home of Agatha Christie!Colleen Cambridge's charming and inventive new historical series introduces an unforgettable heroine in Phyllida Bright, fictional housekeeper for none other than famed mystery novelist Agatha Christie. When a dead body is found during a house party at the home of Agatha Christie and her husband Max Mallowan, it's up to famous author's head of household, Phyllida Bright, to investigate...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, as efficient as she is personable, 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 friend as employer. 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, Phyllida is unprepared for the sight of a very real, very dead body on the library floor...A former Army nurse, Phyllida reacts with practical common sense--and a great deal of curiosity. It soon becomes clear that the victim arrived at Mallowan Hall under false pretenses during a weekend party. Now, Phyllida not only has a houseful of demanding guests on her hands--along with a distracted, anxious staff--but hordes of reporters camping outside. 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. With help from the village's handsome physician, Dr. Bhatt, Mr. Dobble, the butler, along with other household staff, Phyllida assembles the clues. Yet, she is all too aware that the killer must still be close at hand and poised to strike again. And only Phyllida's wits will prevent her own story from coming to an abrupt end...
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