Murder Most Malicious is the first novel in the Lady and Lady’s Maid mystery series (which, by the way, could have a more creative name), and introduces the titled Renshaw family. The Renshaws are headed by the Lord and Lady Foxwood, the grandparents of Julia, Phoebe, Amelia, and Fox. Unfortunately, the grandchildren have lost both of their parents; their mother died in childbirth and their father was lost in WWI.
The viewpoint in this story is divided between that of Phoebe Renshaw and her loyal maid, Eva Huntsford, which is useful for readers as it allows us to get a full picture of all the characters in the story. It’s the year after WWI ended, and the war is fresh on everyone’s minds as both the Renshaws and their surrounding townspeople have lost loved ones in battle. Nonetheless, they aim to make the Christmas season a happy time with family and friends gathering for the holiday. Per tradition, servants are given gifts from their employers, and the gifts from the Renshaws have been very thoughtful – aside from the severed fingers given to several servants.
It’s soon determined that the fingers belong to one of the guests of the house, and a footman is quickly arrested by a drunken and egotistical inspector. However, both Lady Phoebe and Eva believe that the inspector is in the wrong, and aim to find evidence to prove it. Although their bond has always been atypical for a Lady and her maid, they work together as equals to find evidence before time runs out.
I read this book in Kindle format, and I don’t think that did the breaks between character perspectives very well, so that threw me off a little bit. Overall, it was an interesting storyline, and not one that mirrored anything I’d read before. It had a good mystery, fairly good characters (some of them were irritating, but still constituted a good character), and just enough romance to make me roll my eyes. I don’t think the romance was spectacularly done, but I’m hoping we learn more about it further in the series. There were two romances, and the one fit the story quite nicely, while the other just seemed a little too coincidental and unnecessary. If you end up reading this book, you should know the one I’m talking about. However, if the unnecessary romance becomes more necessary as we get further in the series, I’m all for that.
Sometimes the wording in this book bothered me, as it seemed too technical and proper. This is supposed to be Lady Phoebe’s first investigation, but she uses the phrases “whereabouts” and “alibi” surprisingly easily. She also makes some deductions about footprints and such that I would never have expected her to make without being taught. So, I thought her style of detecting was a little unrealistic compared to her actual detecting experience.
I think this novel also had a little too cliche of an ending; not in who the murder was/why/how, but in the events afterward. Let’s just say that the combination of unexpected survivors/unlikely heroes/romance I/romance II/exoneration was not included in the “surprise” element of the book. Am I upset by that? Not really. I like a happy wrap-up, and this one didn’t leave me dwelling on the fact that a murder had been committed, which is nice. I do feel like it was a lot of coincidences to put in one last chapter but, again, not unhappy about it. I will be reading the second novel in this series as I thought this was an entertaining and pleasant read.