Two Truths and a Murder - A Review

 Review

TWO TRUTHS AND A MURDER by Colleen Cambridge
The Fifth Phyllida Bright Mystery

Phyllida Bright is an exceptional housekeeper competently running Mallowan Hall, the home of Agatha Christie and her husband, Max Mallowan. She's also become quite adept at detecting, recently solving several murders. It's her investigatory prowess that lands her at The Rollingbroke's dinner table, not as a servant, but as a guest. Vera Rollingbroke believes that her husband is having an affair and is certain that Miss Genevra Blastwick is the other woman and she wants Phyllida to prove she's correct. After dinner the brash Generva coyly suggests that she has witnessed a murder, only she didn't realize it was a murder at first. The other guests, Phyllida included, believes she is just trying to be the center of attention and no one takes her seriously. But the next morning Generva's sister, Ethel, is dead, run over while walking home from the party. And it wasn't an accident. Someone must have mistaken her for her sister, meaning that there actually was a murder and someone from the dinner party must be the killer. Between running her household staff and dealing with her feelings for a certain chauffeur Phyllida Bright will have to solve two murders - that of Ethel Blastwick and the original murder that led to Ethel's demise. 

I absolutely love the Phyllida Bright Mystery series and this latest addition is a standout. With word getting out that Phyllida is a better investigator than the local constabulary, it's no wonder people look to her for help. But as she investigates possible infidelity, then murder, she discovers truths about Bradford, Myrtle, and her own feelings. She also discovers horrible truths she can barely comprehend.

I especially enjoy how Phyllida continues her duties as a housekeeper and how the staff know more than she thinks they do! They all work together, even helping Mr. Dobble. Intelligent writing, wonderful characters, and more than once surprise kept me reading long into the night.

TWO TRUTHS AND A MURDER is a twisty mystery filled with psychological angst. Yet there's also a lot of humor and love. In all a fantastic addition to a wonderful series.