I bumped up Murder at a London Finishing School in my TBR, the second runner up in August's poll, and am so happy I did. Although this was the 7th book in the series, it was my first introduction to Edwina and Beryl. Set just after World War I, the enquiry agent team of the prim and proper British Edwina Davenport and the American adventuress Beryl Halliwell, are hired by the headmistress of their former alma mater to uncover who is behind the mysterious happenings at Miss Dupont's Finishing School. Neither women really want to return to their old stomping grounds of the school, but they do not feel like they can refuse.

Someone appears to be sabotaging the school--there have been strange sounds at night and items are being misplaced, if not outright stolen. And in the midst of all that a former classmate of Edwina and Beryl's is found dead on the school's property. A murder at the school would be ruinous to its reputation.

The school has already been suffering business-wise, from having had to shut down during the war and then with the changing climate after as interest in schools like Dupont's Finishing School diminish all over. Author Jessica Ellicott adeptly weaves the shifting culture of the times within her story. Not to mention she has created a cast of characters with interesting backgrounds and possible motives, and a mystery that kept me guessing right up to the end.

Coming into the series late can be risky, but this was a great way to get to know the characters and their backgrounds, getting to see where they met and glimpsing some of their childhood memories. Edwina and Beryl are very capable and intelligent women, each with their own strengths. They work well together and make a great team. This was an easygoing mystery with plenty of intrigue. I hope to read more of this series in the future. ( )

Murder At A London Finishing School is the seventh book in the Beryl and Edwina Mystery series by Jessica Ellicott.

Beryl and Edwina have been engaged by Miss Dupont, the headmistress at Miss Dupont’s Finishing School for Young Ladies. They are asked to keep their visit a secret as to why they are there. Miss Dupont has suggested that Beryl has a goddaughter from overseas that she is interested in attending. Before the Great War, attendance had been declining, and since the end, there weren’t many young ladies wanting to attend finishing school. There are only about six young ladies presently enrolled. Add to that, and there seem to be items that belong to the young ladies that are going missing and personal possessions being damaged. Some of the students have reported hearing strange noises at night, and others suspect that there are ghosts around.

Many employees working when Beryl and Edwina were enrolled in the school are still around. Miss Glover, Miss Dupont’s assistant, can still intimidate them. Edwina was pleased to see that Mrs. Jenkins, the housekeeper, and her husband, Mr. Jenkins, the butler, were still working at the school. Mary, their friend from their school days, is now an art teacher at the Finishing school. In a mysterious event, Mary falls down the stairs from the second floor. Was she sleepwalking, or was she pushed?

Soon, another former student, Veronica, arrives with her daughter, who she plans to enroll. Edwina and Beryl are unhappy about seeing their nemesis from their school days. When Veronica’s body is found in a little pond on school property. The police are convinced that she simply slipped and hit her head on a stone, causing her death.

Beryl and Edwina disagree with the police and set out to investigate. Naturally, her husband is first on the list of suspects, but they soon find other suspects.

I love this series; Edwina is a sedate person, not wanting to anger anyone's feelings, Whereas Beryl tends to be a free spirit. The story is well-written, plotted, and wonderfully descriptive. The characters were all fascinating and believable. There were enough twists and turns that I kept guessing until the end of the book as to the killer's identity.

I’m anxiously awaiting the next book in this enjoyable historical series. ( )

1920s, England, cozy-mystery, friendship, private-investigators, sly-humor, small-business, country-house, pet-dog, historical-fiction, women-sleuths, murder, murder-investigation, theft, pranks, friction, lies, malice, school*****

This is the latest in an excellent cozy mystery series. (My biased opinion)
Beryl is a peripatetic American and Edwina is a proper Britisher, but they were at finishing school together and became good friends. Several months ago, Beryl moved in with Edwina and they set up a private enquiry agency.
The publisher's blurb is a good hook. While attempting to find the source of the problems at the school they meet up with an old enemy from their school days, find old friends from those days, and find a dead body (and a dismissive member of the local constabulary). Then the gears shift and things get even more interesting!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you! ( )