Review: A PINCH OF POISON, by Alyssa Maxwell

Rated 5 out of 5 stars by Iris Chacon. (An electronic copy of the book was provided to the reviewer in exchange for an honest and objective review.)

This delightful post-WWI English mystery is the second in the author’s “Lady and Lady’s Maid Mysteries” series, but readers need not be familiar with the first book to enjoy the second. A Pinch of Poison stands on its own quite well, setting the tone and pace of England just after The Great War, when Lady Phoebe and her maid Eva strive to solve a murder mystery in a boarding school for well-bred young ladies.

The settings, era, and characters are beautifully developed. The twists and turns of the murder mystery accompany twists and turns in the (perfectly chaste) love lives of Lady Phoebe and Eva. Lovers of Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple will certainly enjoy A Pinch of Poison and will probably also wish to read the first book in the series, Murder Most Malicious, by Alyssa Maxwell.

No one need worry about being offended by any language or behavior in this novel. It is pleasant and entertaining for readers of any age.