Murder in Belgravia: A Mayfair 100 Mystery

Lynn Brittney

Mar 2019 · A Mayfair 100 Mystery Book 1 · Crooked Lane Books

About this ebook

A high-profile murder propels a unique crime-fighting team into London’s underworld in this “delightful . . . compelling” WWI-era British mystery (Rhys Bowen, author of the Royal Spyness mysteries)

London, 1915. As World War I engulfs Europe, a special task force is formed in the affluent Mayfair district to tackle the city’s thorniest crimes against women. When the bobbies and Scotland Yard come up short, there’s only one telephone number to dial: Mayfair 100.

An aristocrat has been murdered, and his wife, a witness and possible suspect, will only talk to a woman. With the blessing of London’s Chief Commissioner, Chief Inspector Beech, a young man invalided out of the war, assembles a crew of sharp, intrepid, and well-educated women to investigate. But to get at the truth, Beech, Victoria, Caroline, Rigsby, and Tollman will venture into the city’s seedy underbelly, a world where murder is only the first in a litany of evils.

Lynn Brittney’s Mayfair 100 series debut, Murder in Belgravia, is the darkly compelling story of a movement far ahead of its time, in an attempt to combat the prejudices against women then and now.

Ratings and reviews

This was good fast read, a story line and enough characters to make story flow so as you didn't want to put the book down. But there were enough bends a turns so that you want see what was on the next page. I'm looking forward to the next in this series.

detective, women-sleuths, WW1, amateur-sleuth, London, historical-research, historical-places-events, sly-humor, law-enforcement, lawyers, medical-doctor This book ought to get more than just one five star rating per reviewer! As a mystery novel, it exceeds expectations, is creative with delightful or disgusting characters and slides in some very funny one liners. As a history of the feminine condition in 1915 it is brutally honest and well researched while demonstrating to the reader the extensive prejudices faced. As a perspective on the inappropriate dosing of patients, especially war veterans, with opioids by physicians it condemns yet clearly reflects issues of this century as well. There are other odious problems dragged into the light, and some historical facts like the bombings by Zeppelin. The best part is the way that the author balances the disgusting with the hopeful. DCI Beech and his cohesive band of very competent and very willing crimebusters are fantastic, and I can hardly wait for the next installment! I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

About the author

Lynn Brittney has been a writer for almost thirty years and has written several adult and children’s non-fiction books and many plays for adults and children that have been performed all over the world. Her first young adult novel was shortlisted for the Waterstones Book Prize, the Brandford Boase Award and the Doncaster Book Prize. Her second young adult novel was included in the UK Government’s Recommended Reading List for Boys and was described by the Daily Telegraph as containing...“furious swordplay, tremendous chases, atmospheric journeys and wince-inducing reminders that this was an age before anaesthetics.” This is her first Mayfair 100 mystery and adult novel.