The Twelve Saints of Christmas by Karen Baugh Menuhin

February 7, 2025

The Twelve Saints of Christmas by Karen Baugh Menuhin

Major Heathcliff Lennox and retired inspector Jonathan Swift are called to a country estate just outside Bath to investigate a suspicious death at what appears to be a retirement home for the very wealthy. But intrigue bubbles just below the surface and Lennox and Swift are soon faced with a second suspicious death.

Lennox and Swift return for their 12th investigation among the toffs, with their usual cast of supporting characters, including Greggs the butler and ladies' man, Lennox's spaniel Mr. Fogg, and his chubby cat Tubbs. Unfortunately Mr. Foggs and Tubbs make only brief appearances, as do Persi and Florence, wives of Lennox and Swift. I love a country house mystery, especially one set at the holidays, and this one is great fun like all of the books in the series. I recommend starting at the beginning of the series if you haven't read any of the earlier books.

Yes, there really are baths in Bath, England, although I'm not sure I'd want to go soak in them

The Belvedere Murders by Karen Baugh Menuhin

July 22, 2024

The Belvedere Murders by Karen Baugh Menuhin

Major Heathcliff Lennox and retired Scotland Yard detective Jonathan Swift are asked by Lord Belvedere to attend a ball at his fabulous country estate to keep an eye on his daughter's suitor, a man named Jack Dutton who he believes is a a gold digger after his daughter's money. Despite their best efforts, during the ball, someone manages to shove Dutton from the roof of the mansion. 

Another adventure for Lennox and Swift, #11 in the series. The mystery here reminds me of books like Murder on the Orient Express, where all the characters have some connection to the murder victim. Furthermore, he is a shady character who needs to get murdered (no one likes a blackmailer or a drug dealer). I love a country house mystery, and this one ticks all the boxes: a beautiful house, a ball, aristocrats, jewels and ball gowns, snooty rich people who think they're above the law, a locked-room mystery. While you don't need to read the series in order, do it because the books are so much fun. Recommended for readers who enjoy British historical mysteries and dry humor.

Iron Age barrow in the the Cotswolds

An Assassination on the Agenda by Karen Baugh Menuhin

July 16, 2024

An Assassination on the Agenda by Karen Baugh Menuhin

Lady Emily Hardcastle and her faithful maid and sometimes deadly companion Florence Armstrong are enjoying a summer lunch with their good friends the Farley Strouds, when Emily's brother Harry summons them, because their unique skills are needed first in Bristol, and then in London. The heir to the Austrian throne and his wife are due to visit England with a trade delegation, and Harry has heard rumors of a planned assassination attempt that his department needs to stop. He enlists Emily and Flo to evaluate the security arrangements, since who would suspect a society lady and her maid to head up a security team?

Lady Hardcastle and Flo are back for their 11th adventure, an entertaining mystery filled with charming characters, punny language, malapropisms, and dry British humor. It's best to read the series in order to understand the various characters' backstories, but also for the sheer fun of the series. Perfect vacation or summer reading. Recommended for readers who enjoy cozy light-hearted British mysteries.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie - although they survive the assassination attempt here, they are not so lucky some years later in Sarajevo

Murder at Ashton Steeple by Karen Baugh Menuhin

August 11, 2023

Murder at Ashton Steeple by Karen Baugh Menuhin

Murder has come to Major Heathcliff Lennox's town of Ashton Steeple. A businessman, Devlin Saunders, is found dead on his balcony from an arrow wound to the heart. He is survived by his not-so-grieving widow, his married lover, and a host of business partners. Scotland Yard asks Lennox and retired Inspector Swift to investigate, but no sooner do they begin than another partner dies under suspicious circumstances. Lennox and Swift hurry to unravel the tangled strings that bind the partners together before more bodies turn up. Lennox also has a personal stake in the outcome.

Lennox's tenth outing with retired Inspector Swift, Greggs the butler, Foggy the golden spaniel, and Lady Persi, Lennox's new wife. I especially enjoy these mysteries since they are set at English country houses. Fun and entertaining as always.

The Cotswolds (exactly what you think of when you picture an English village)

A Wreath of Red Roses by Karen Baugh Menuhin

February 9, 2023

A Wreath of Red Roses by Karen Baugh Menuhin

When two drowning deaths occur within a few days of each other at a country house, Scotland Yard asks Major Heathcliff Lennox and retired inspector Jonathan Swift to investigate. They find themselves at an ancient house complete with moat and drawbridge that is raised every night (but no electricity or running water). They are also in the middle of an inheritance struggle, with six illegitimate but generally charming siblings all competing to claim their father's estate. But when a third resident is found murdered, Heathcliff and Swift realize that there is more at stake than a country baron's ancient house and suspect that one of the siblings may be responsible.

Great fun. I really enjoy the characters in this series, easy going Heathcliff and uptight Swift, Greggs the butler who always has a love interest, and Heathcliff's dog and cat, Fogg and Tubbs. The next book will be set in Heathcliff's own village, so we will see more of Persi, Heathcliff's smart wife.

Castle with moat and drawbridge

The Mystery of Montague Morgan by Karen Baugh Menuhin

January 11, 2022

The Mystery of Montague Morgan by Karen Baugh Menuhin

Major Heathcliff Lennox is spending a relaxing December day at his comfortable country house with his golden spaniel Fogg and cat Tubbs when his friend ex-Inspector Swift contacts him in a panic. Swift has entered into an arrangement for a broker named Montague Morgan to sell the Scotch whiskey that Swift's wife's family produces at their Scotland estate. Unfortunately, Morgan has disappeared along with Swift's money, and if they can't find Morgan, Swift, his wife, and her father will all be bankrupted. Lennox agrees to help him find Morgan, even though Lennox's wedding to Persi is just days away on Christmas Eve.

They look into Morgan's background and discover that he is a charming and successful rogue, ruthless in business at times. But recently, Morgan found the love of his life and has been making plans to take his lover away to faraway lands with Morgan's ill-gotten gains. But Swift isn't the only one who wants his money - there are dangerous people who want their gold back and will stop at nothing to get it. They track Morgan to his country house and get trapped there in a snowstorm, with a mixed group of people also looking for Morgan. What happened to Montague Morgan? Will Swift get his money for the whiskey that Morgan sold? And will Lennox solve the mystery of Montague Morgan and get to the church in time for his wedding?

Too much fun from #7 in the Heathcliff Lennox series. Wide cast of characters in this one, although the faithful Greggs, Fogg, and Tubbs all accompany Lennox as always (Greggs finds romance in the kitchen, as usual). Next installment coming out Summer 2022.

The Tomb of the Chatelaine by Karen Baugh Menuhin

August 21, 2021

The Tomb of the Chatelaine by Karen Baugh Menuhin

In his younger days, Lord Godolphin Sinclair was an adventurer, a gold prospector, and an arms dealer. Now that he's old, he's not that much better. He has always been ruthless about amassing wealth. He is afraid of nothing, until he receives a mysterious package that has a direct link to his past. When dead bodies begin turning up, he calls Major Heathcliff Lennox and ex-Inspector Swift to his country home, Lanscombe Park, to investigate. Lennox with his dog Mr. Fogg, his cat Tubs, and his long-suffering butler Greggs (who always seems to find a lady friend on their adventures) journeys to Lanscombe Park, to help solve the crime but also hoping to reconnect with his maybe-girlfriend Persi.

I love mysteries set at English country houses! This is #6 in the Heathcliff Lennox series (don't call him Heathcliff!). They are light, cozy mysteries with great characters and humor. Great fun!

Medieval tomb of an unknown lady

The Monks Hood Murders by Karen Baugh Menuhin

July 11, 2021

The Monks Hood Murders by Karen Baugh Menuhin

An old reprobate donates a very old and valuable book to remote Monks Hood Abbey in Yorkshire. But the book disappears and the abbot contacts Major Heathcliff Lennox (don't call him Heathcliff) and ex-Inspector Swift to come and investigate. Lennox packs up Greggs, Fogg the dog, and Tubbs the cat, and they set out for the wilds of Yorkshire.

Their search raises more questions than it answers: why did the abbey get the book from the donor in the first place? When was the book last seen? Why do so many people have access to the abbey? It turns out that a number of other people are interested in finding and claiming the book as well. Everyone in the nearby village seems to be related, and when a couple of them turn up dead, Lennox and Swift are obliged to figure out who is murdering the locals and if they are also responsible for the missing book.

A fun light mystery with great characters and wonderful descriptions of the the setting and the food (they seem to be constantly eating or getting ready to eat). This is #5 in the Heathcliff Lennox series and they are such a pleasure to read. Love the covers on these books, too. Highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries.

Abbey in Yorkshire

Death in Damascus by Karen Baugh Menuhin

May 25, 2021

Death in Damascus by Karen Baugh Menuhin

Major Heathcliff Lennox is enjoying life at his country house when his friend former Scotland Yard detective Swift descends on him, demanding that they leave for Damascus at once. Lennox's maybe-girlfriend Persi (the anthropologist he met at Braeburn Castle) needs them to come and rescue her. So Lennox packs up his spaniel Fogg, Mr. Tubbs the cat, and his reluctant butler Greggs (one simply can't do without one's butler on this kind of trip) and heads off to the Middle East. An actor was killed on a movie set although the gun was supposed to be loaded with blanks. Persi is the main suspect and under house arrest at the hotel. But there are many other suspects as well as a linked plot about a hidden treasure map. Plus, Persi's old boyfriend/fiance is also on the scene to complicate matters.

Great fun! Reminds me of the Jeeves and Wooster books by P. G. Wodehouse. The characters are wonderful as are the descriptions of  the early days of air travel. This is the fourth book in the series and I look forward to the next book.

Street in Damascus, one of the oldest cities in the world

The Black Cat Murders by Karen Baugh Menuhin

January 20, 2021

The Black Cat Murders by Karen Baugh Menuhin

Major Heathcliff Lennox is invited to the wedding of an old friend at the Earl of Bloxford's country estate in the Cotswolds. Before Lennox, Greggs, and Mr. Fogg even arrive, another wedding guest is murdered. Lennox's old nemesis Inspector Swift of Scotland Yard shows up to investigate, except this time, he seems to think that Lennox is there to be his assistant.

This is the second book in the Heathcliff Lennox series, with the same loony collection of friends that you'd expect in a P. G. Wodehouse novel. Not only is Mr. Fogg the cocker spaniel in attendance, Lennox receives a black kitten as a present from the bride. Fogg immediately falls in love with the kitten. The kitten, named Tubbs for his chubby appearance, is so small, it rides around in Lennox's pocket when it's not rearranging his desk. The cuteness factor is higher than in the first book but that's okay. This is a fun series that is a refreshing change from most mysteries.

Murder at Melrose Court by Karen Baugh Menuhin

January 6, 2021

Murder at Melrose Court by Karen Baugh Menuhin

After serving in the RAF in World War II, Major Heathcliff Lennox just wants to live a quiet life at his country home (he goes by Lennox - to his chagrin, his romantic mother named him Heathcliff after the character in Wuthering Heights - all the women that he meets insist on calling him Heathcliff). With him are Greggs, his former batman during the war, and Mr. Fogg, a golden cocker spaniel, plus Cook and Tommy the boot boy, who is also Cook's nephew and is being educated despite his protests. Shortly before they are to leave to spend Christmas with Lennox's uncle at Melrose Court, a dead body appears on Lennox's doorstep. 

After contacting the local police (who have no idea what to do), Lennox and company motor down to Melrose Court to share some holiday cheer. Another dead body shows up soon after their arrival, and Inspector Swift from Scotland Yard is intent on hanging Lennox for the crime.

This is the first book in the Heathcliff Lennox series.  I love mysteries set in English counrtry houses and I love this series - it's like Agatha Christie meets Downtown Abbey, or Wodehouse's Bertie Wooster and Jeeves with a dog plus all the zany friends and relatives. One problem with this series is that the characters spend a lot of time eating and drinking delightful things, so I found myself wanting to snack along with them. I can't wait to read the other titles in the series.