This is the second book in the A Lady and Lady’s Maid Mystery by Alyssa Maxwell. I have read both books and suggest reading them in order. While there is nothing in this book which works as a spoiler for the first one, there is a growth of the characters that will be enhanced by reading the books in order starting with “Murder Most Malicious”.
The story picks up where the first book ended. It is just following the end of World War I (set in 1919), and Lady Phoebe and her maid, Eva, are just getting over the events that caused them so much grief in the last book. There is to be a special luncheon at their local school for young ladies, Haverleigh. As it turns out, both Lady Phoebe and Eva attended the school for a period of time, so it is near and dear to both of their hearts.
Lady Phoebe’s family are still heavily involved in the school (young Lady Amelia still attends) and they have used it as a vehicle for setting up aid to families who are in need following the war. The school is hosting an event which is designed to bring the aid effort to the attention of the local ladies to further its reach. The young ladies who attend the school have been tasked with making lunch for the attending dignitaries. Something goes awry with the meal and someone dies. Can it possibly have something to do with the food or with one of the young ladies who prepared it?
I enjoyed reading the second book in the series. I was able to solve the mystery somewhat before it is unveiled in the book, thanks to the clues the author provides. I’m okay with solving a mystery early. I much prefer that over an ending that is merely dropped on the reader without rhyme or reason.
The pace in this novel has picked up over that of the first one. In the first book, the reader is introduced to the characters and, by necessity, the reading is a tad slow. I like the place where this book ends and it certainly has made me look forward to the next in the series.
I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.
