The Mitford Trial: Unity Mitford and the killing on the cruise ship (Mitford Murders, #4)

by Jessica Fellowes

A timeless whodunnit with the fascinating Mitford sisters at its heart, The Mitford Trial is inspired by a real-life murder in a story full of intrigue, affairs and betrayal.

It's former lady's maid Louisa Cannon's wedding day, but the fantasy is shattered shortly after when she is approached by a secretive man asking her to spy on Diana Mitford - who is having an affair with the infamous Oswald Mosley - and her similarly fascist sister Unity.

Thus as summer 1933 dawns, Louisa finds herself accompanying the Mitfords on a glitzy cruise, full of the starriest members of Society. But the waters run red when a man is found attacked, with suspects everywhere.

Back in London, the case is taken by lawyer Tom Mitford, and Louisa finds herself caught between worlds: of a love lost to blood, a family divided, and a country caught in conflict.

PRAISE FOR THE MITFORD MURDERS SERIES

'A glittering, entertaining, perfectly formed whodunnit'
Adele Parks

'Oh how delicious! Exactly what we all need in these gloomy times. Give it to absolutely everyone for Christmas, then pre-order the next one'
Susan Hill

'A lively, well-written, entertaining whodunit'
The Times

'An extraordinary meld of fact and fiction'
Graham Norton

• ISBN10: 0751573957
• ISBN13: 9780751573954
• Publish Date: 5 November 2020
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 7 September 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
• Imprint: Sphere
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 368
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The Mitford Trial is the fourth Mitford Murders mystery by Jessica Fellowes. Released 19th Jan 2021 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 368 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

These are very well written and plotted books with fictionalized accounts intertwined with real historical events and people. The author is quite adept and it's not always easy to tell where fiction shades over into actual history. The descriptions of the settings and the relationships of the glitterati of the interwar period and the "regular" people who served them makes for engaging reading. The characterizations are spot on (even though I have a distinct antipathy for Diana Mitford Guiness of long standing which colored my reaction to her fictionalized counterpart). Definitely a readable historical mystery and a well crafted book.

The author's historical notes on the plotting and murder itself added a lot of background detail (don't read it until the end of the book as it contains spoilers). The author has also included a bibliography and reading list for readers who are interested in filling in the backstory.

Four stars. Well written, well paced and plotted, satisfying and undemanding read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.