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rach22's review against another edition
3.0
It was a good story. Liked the vibes and setting. I felt that the story wound up too quickly and nicely at the end but apart from that I enjoyed it. Will probably read the other books.
livres_de_bloss's review
3.0
2.5
Compared to previous instalments, this had very limited Mitford content and was more police procedural/courtroom drama than I was expecting.
The focus was also mostly on Guy which wasn’t great. I find Guy really tedious so switching from Louisa as MC to Guy was disappointing. Even Louisa wasn’t on top form; I liked her as a character in previous books but found her lying and refusal to communicate frustrating. None of the characters had any real sparkle to them and the story itself required some pretty heavy suspension of disbelief as it went on. Despite a relatively slow story, the ending was abrupt and rushed. The time jumps at the end were a bit jarring.
I started out really enjoying this series but it feels a little driftless now with Louisa out of the Mitford’s employ and the girls growing up so quickly. I don’t know how the author will be able to continue to thread between the Mitford and Louisa when they’re being taken in different directions. If these turn into mass market police procedurals, it’s going to be really disappointing. This instalment felt so “phoned in”.
Compared to previous instalments, this had very limited Mitford content and was more police procedural/courtroom drama than I was expecting.
The focus was also mostly on Guy which wasn’t great. I find Guy really tedious so switching from Louisa as MC to Guy was disappointing. Even Louisa wasn’t on top form; I liked her as a character in previous books but found her lying and refusal to communicate frustrating.
Spoiler
I find the marital-problems-because-of-lack-of-communication-between-partners infuriating and this book had it in spades. We hear so much about how Guy and Louisa are So iN lOvE but I don’t have see any evidence of that; in fact, I’d say they’re pretty ill-suited!I started out really enjoying this series but it feels a little driftless now with Louisa out of the Mitford’s employ and the girls growing up so quickly. I don’t know how the author will be able to continue to thread between the Mitford and Louisa when they’re being taken in different directions. If these turn into mass market police procedurals, it’s going to be really disappointing. This instalment felt so “phoned in”.
jo_bookworm's review
5.0
Louisa Cannon who we have met in the previous three novels in this series is set to marry policeman Guy Sullivan. I feel you need to have read all three to get the real sense of Louisa's character development and how she has got to where she is now in this fourth book.
However the British Union of Fascists have other ideas about how Louisa and Guy are going to celebrate their wedding day.
This brings Louisa back in touch with The Mitford Sisters, who she thought she had left behind. Diana, now separated from her husband Bryan has started a love affair with Oswald Mosely and with her sister Unity obsessed with the beliefs and values of the Fascists, it seems that Louisa is goign to be plunged into the darker side of politics and ever growing problems in Europe.
After first off refusing to accompany Diana, Unity and their mother on a cruise, Louisa funds herself compelled by an outside source to take up the offer and without sharing the truth with Guy she finds herself all at sea.
Onboard everything is not calm, with arguments, love affairs and fights, the atmosphere turns to murder and Louisa finds herself tangled amongst all the lies and deceit. The confessions and lies seem to permeate everyone and when the ship docks in Rome the culprits are removed.
Two years later the case is at court and everyone that was onboard seems to be a witness to something.
But what Louisa saw that trip still remains a mystery.
This is an excellent golden age crime novel, with the use of the Mitford sisters as the landscape to fictionalise the story of historic crimes. The murder like the ones before is based on the truth, information provided in the book (read at the end!) so you can get a sense of time and place. Yet the growing unrest in Europe, the rise of Fascists and Unity's compulsion to become close to Hitler is throughout the book and I am sure gives a great grounding into book five.
The narrative of this story goes between Louisa's time on the cruise and the courtroom where the trial takes place, it also brings into play Tom Mitford, the brother of the infamous sisters who works as a lawyer and always appears in the background of their lives.
The concept works, as you hear evidence and the questions being asked of the witness you can go back and see what really happened. For me it felt like I was in the public gallery watching the trial unfold, a totally immersive experience.
A well written murder mystery perfect for fans of history and the gold age of crime. Long may they continue. Highly recommended.
However the British Union of Fascists have other ideas about how Louisa and Guy are going to celebrate their wedding day.
This brings Louisa back in touch with The Mitford Sisters, who she thought she had left behind. Diana, now separated from her husband Bryan has started a love affair with Oswald Mosely and with her sister Unity obsessed with the beliefs and values of the Fascists, it seems that Louisa is goign to be plunged into the darker side of politics and ever growing problems in Europe.
After first off refusing to accompany Diana, Unity and their mother on a cruise, Louisa funds herself compelled by an outside source to take up the offer and without sharing the truth with Guy she finds herself all at sea.
Onboard everything is not calm, with arguments, love affairs and fights, the atmosphere turns to murder and Louisa finds herself tangled amongst all the lies and deceit. The confessions and lies seem to permeate everyone and when the ship docks in Rome the culprits are removed.
Two years later the case is at court and everyone that was onboard seems to be a witness to something.
But what Louisa saw that trip still remains a mystery.
This is an excellent golden age crime novel, with the use of the Mitford sisters as the landscape to fictionalise the story of historic crimes. The murder like the ones before is based on the truth, information provided in the book (read at the end!) so you can get a sense of time and place. Yet the growing unrest in Europe, the rise of Fascists and Unity's compulsion to become close to Hitler is throughout the book and I am sure gives a great grounding into book five.
The narrative of this story goes between Louisa's time on the cruise and the courtroom where the trial takes place, it also brings into play Tom Mitford, the brother of the infamous sisters who works as a lawyer and always appears in the background of their lives.
The concept works, as you hear evidence and the questions being asked of the witness you can go back and see what really happened. For me it felt like I was in the public gallery watching the trial unfold, a totally immersive experience.
A well written murder mystery perfect for fans of history and the gold age of crime. Long may they continue. Highly recommended.
lieselotte_schoeters's review against another edition
4.0
Ever since I read some of Nancy Mitfords books, I've been intrigued by the Mitford Sisters and their vastly different political ideals. So if you share this interest and enjoy a whodunit, then you'll like this book as well. While it was sometimes a bit too long, it was still an interesting story. It made me dislike Diana and Unity even more and I do hope to read more about Louisa and Guy, perhaps with Jessica Mitford in a supporting role?
bonniereads777's review against another edition
3.0
This is Book 4 in "The Mitford Murders" mystery series, and opens in Kent in 1933. It is her wedding day, and Louisa Cannon has just married Guy Sullivan, a member of the Criminal Investigations Division of the Metropolitan Police, London. She is no longer a ladies maid for the Mitford sisters, is training as a stenographer, and is looking forward to married life. However, strange and unusual circumstances find her as a temporary ladies maid, traveling with the Mitfords on the cruise ship The Princess Alice when a murder is committed. The ensuing trial leaves Louisa in a quandary, as she knows information she cannot share and is more involved than anyone could imagine.
Although this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. The book is fictional, but based on true events. Among the true characters from history that appear in this novel are the eccentric and controversial Mitford sisters, their brother Thomas Mitford, and known fascist Sir Oswald Mosley. Fellowes does a great job of combining fact and fiction. This novel is at times complex and compelling, but at other times I found it moved a little too slowly for me. I did not really connect with the characters and was not fond of their choices. However, I would recommend this book to fans of historical crime/mystery novels and anyone who enjoys reading about the Mitford sisters.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley for Historical Novels Review. My review is voluntary.
Although this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. The book is fictional, but based on true events. Among the true characters from history that appear in this novel are the eccentric and controversial Mitford sisters, their brother Thomas Mitford, and known fascist Sir Oswald Mosley. Fellowes does a great job of combining fact and fiction. This novel is at times complex and compelling, but at other times I found it moved a little too slowly for me. I did not really connect with the characters and was not fond of their choices. However, I would recommend this book to fans of historical crime/mystery novels and anyone who enjoys reading about the Mitford sisters.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley for Historical Novels Review. My review is voluntary.
cristinac_'s review
3.0
Forse il più cupo tra i quattro romanzi, l'eco della seconda guerra si fa sentire in modo molto deciso. Questa volta è più interessante la ricostruzione storica che il giallo in sé.
astain's review against another edition
2.0
After having just recently finished the previous book in this series, this one was very disappointing. I predicted the "twist" before it happened, and the story itself was very slow and drawn out.
annieb123's review against another edition
4.0
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.
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.