Amory Ames is a wealthy young woman who questions her marriage to her notoriously charming playboy husband, Milo. Looking for a change, she accepts a request for help from her former fiancé, Gil Trent, not knowing that she’ll soon become embroiled in a murder investigation that will test not only her friendship with Gil, but will upset the status quo with her husband. Amory accompanies Gil to the luxurious Brightwell Hotel in an attempt to circumvent the marriage of his sister, Emmeline, to Rupert Howe, a disreputable ladies’ man. Amory sees in the situation a grim reflection of her own floundering marriage. There is more than her happiness at stake, however, when Rupert is murdered and Gil is arrested for the crime. Amory is determined to prove his innocence and find the real killer.

I believe I’ve said in the past that I prefer to be at least two years behind the wave of new books. (Well, really, there’s prefer and there’s the fact that I have so many piled up to read that I’m going to be behind no matter what I do.) However, that policy really paid off when I finally got around to reading Murder at the Brightwell by Ashley Weaver.

Why, do you ask, am I so thrilled I waited far too long to read this splendid series? Because now there are two books out and a third coming out in October! Reminiscent of Agatha Christie crossed with the Phyrne Fisher mysteries by Kerry Greenwood, Weaver’s stories have a light breezy air to them that is absolutely perfect for a hot summer day. The characters are delightful, the writing is fabulous and I thoroughly enjoyed both this and the second in the series, Death Wears a Mask. Check them out today!