A Pinch of Poison (A Lady & Lady's Maid Mystery #2) by Alyssa Maxwell

In post–World War I England, Lady Phoebe Renshaw and her lady’s maid, Eva Huntford, encounter an uncharitable killer at a charity luncheon sponsored by a posh school for girls . . . 

Good deeds build good character, and good character is what the Haverleigh School for Young Ladies is all about. Lady Phoebe—with the tireless assistance of Eva—has organized a luncheon at the school to benefit wounded veterans of the Great War, encouraging the students to participate in the cooking and the baking. But too many cooks do more than spoil the broth—they add up to a recipe for disaster when the school’s headmistress, Miss Finch, is poisoned. 

The girls at Haverleigh all come from highly respected families, none of whom will countenance their darling daughters being harassed like common criminals by the local police. So Lady Phoebe steps in to handle the wealthy young debutantes with tact and discretion, while Eva cozies up to the staff. Did one of the girls resent the headmistress enough to do her in? Did a teacher bear a grudge? What about the school nurse, clearly shell shocked from her service in the war? No one is above suspicion, not even members of the school’s governing body, some of whom objected to Miss Finch’s “modern” methods.

But Lady Phoebe and Eva will have to sleuth with great stealth—or the cornered killer may try to teach someone else a lethal lesson.  (Summary via Goodreads)


I am a HUGE fan of Alyssa Maxwell ! !  Her stories are so easy to get lost in !  Sometimes I don't want to return to the present.  I love traveling through time back to days where things were simple and proper.  

Even though it is set in a time where things were simple, there was still death and murder.  And Lady Phoebe always seems to get in the middle of it.   In a Pinch of Poison it is no different.  

The headmistress of the girl's school that Amelia attends dies after eating a meal prepared and served by the girl's.  And when they have to close the school so that no one else gets injured and the police can investigate, Lady Phoebe and Eva decide to see what they can find out from the girls and employees.   While helping with the investigation Lady Phoebe and Eva are also helping with schooling some of the girls whose parents are abroad and they have no where else to go.

I love the fact that Alyssa Maxwell always has you thinking while you are reading.  I like the fact that there are many possibilities and you start to like the characters and hope that they didn't commit murder...even though you know that one of them did.  She also has an amazing talent in how she inter-mingles ALL of the characters and settings.

I truly enjoy traveling back in time with Lady Phoebe and Eva and I'm positive that you will also !!  Let Alyssa Maxwell take you there !!

Reviewed by Missi S.