Stonebridge Manor by Peter C. Bradbury

 

Who "done" it?  The butler, the husband, one of the personal servants, or one of the weekend guests.

It could have been anyone who murdered Lady Baldwin....no one including the staff and even some of her friends liked her, but would they resort to murder?

Stonebridge Manor was a book about life in a British household with maids and butlers.  The Lady of the house was spiteful and cruel and liked to "fool" around on her husband.

I enjoyed seeing how a household with maids and butlers is run.  The main portion of the book told of the daily lives of the household and its goings on.  The murder came as a surprise halfway through the book.   

The book was a bit wordy and at times cumbersome, but it definitely kept my interest.  If you enjoy British life and enjoy knowing how wealthy British households are run, you will enjoy the book as well.

The characters were well described and likeable....well, most of them.  You can feel the propriety of the butler when he addresses his Lordship and guests, and you can feel the hatred or love each character had for each other.  The author had excellent detail in the scenes, characters' feelings, character descriptions, and interactions among the characters. 

The author is an actual English butler, and I am sure all of this and more goes on with the staff and the people in charge.  An enjoyable read.  Rating 4/5

The book was given to me by the author free of charge in return for an honest review.