If the name Jessica Fellowes looks familiar to you, you are probably thinking of her uncle, Baron Julian Fellowes. (Yes, the man behind Downton Abbey and now The Gilded Age.) Her Mitford Murders mysteries have long been a popular series, and it is easy to see why. Based in history, they offer a fictional take on real-life events through our detective, and are a lot of fun to read! The newest installment, The Mitford Vanishing, focuses on yet another Mitford-specific mystery, and is the perfect book to curl up with for the weekend.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an Advanced Listening Copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Mitford Vanishing, Jessica Fellowes
1937. War with Germany is dawning, and a civil war already raging in Spain. Split across political lines, the six Mitford sisters are more divided than ever. Meanwhile their former maid Louisa Cannon is now a private detective, working with her policeman husband Guy Sullivan.
Louisa and Guy are surprised when a call comes in from novelist Nancy Mitford requesting that they look into the disappearance of her Communist sister Jessica in Spain. But one case leads to another as they are also asked to investigate the mysterious vanishing of a soldier.
As the two cases come together, Louisa and Guy discover that every marriage has its secrets—but some are more deadly than others. Suddenly home feels a long way away…
Why You Should Read This…
I should start off by saying- you don’t need to have read the previous books in the series to read this! I’ve only read the second book in the series, and had no issues following along. (I do have the others requested from the library, though.)
The Mitfords are really having their moment right now (which I think that they would appreciate). With The Pursuit of Love being remade in 2021 and the 1930s in focus once again, it is time for the Mitfords. I think that Fellowes grounds the story in history well while still being creative and telling a fictional story, she really brings the family to life. And I’ve got to say, having Louise and Guy investigating in two different countries worked so well, and brought a lot more nuance to the book than I expected.
Rachel Atkins is a perfect narrator for this story. She tackles the accents of different classes and regions well, and conveys emotions beautifully.
Do you have The Mitford Vanishing on your TBR list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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