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A Case of Murder in Mayfair
(Freddy Pilkington-Soames Adventures #2)
by
When Hollywood star Dorothy Dacres plummets six floors from her hotel terrace on the night of her greatest triumph, it initially looks like a tragic accident. But her death is so very convenient to her many enemies that press-man Freddy Pilkington-Soames, who was there on the night she died, begins to suspect foul play. And when cocaine is found in her room, it only compli
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Kindle Edition, 248 pages
Published
December 8th 2016
by Mount Street Press
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Start your review of A Case of Murder in Mayfair (A Freddy Pilkington-Soames Adventure Book 2)

3.5 stars, rounded up because I laughed out loud (when offhandedly Freddy spins a tale about his sidekick Basil's parentage).
I have enjoyed Clara Benson's Angela Marchmont cozy mysteries, so decided to give Freddy Pilkington-Soames a try. The setting is London in the early 1930s. Freddy is delightfully wry, and his rival reporter, Corky, is annoying but makes an excellent foil. The mystery plot was well developed, and all the clues were there. Nevertheless, there are a couple of surprising twist ...more
I have enjoyed Clara Benson's Angela Marchmont cozy mysteries, so decided to give Freddy Pilkington-Soames a try. The setting is London in the early 1930s. Freddy is delightfully wry, and his rival reporter, Corky, is annoying but makes an excellent foil. The mystery plot was well developed, and all the clues were there. Nevertheless, there are a couple of surprising twist ...more

This is the second in the spin-off series from the author’s Angela Marchmont series or murder mysteries set in the twenties. This time, Freddy Pilkington-Soames, insouciant man-about-town, finds himself in the middle of a drugs-and-murder case amongst a set of film people. A famous Hollywood actress somehow falls from a high balcony during a party announcing her landing a plum part. She wasn’t the nicest person in the world, so no shortage of suspects with a grudge against her, including another
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This must be quite the series. This second one in the series is brisk, amusing, interesting, and has twists that I certainly didn't see coming. The characters are well done. The period isn't overdone, just done nicely. And the little snobberies between the Americans and British are funny. I'd like to read one or two more to see how this series really holds together since book one and two were so very different. Recommended
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Feb 07, 2017
Andrea
added it
A thorough romp. Freddy loses a little insouciance when the story is from his POV, and tends to be a little more sensible altogether than my impression of him from Angela's books, but still an enjoyable story.
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Another charming Freddy novel. Lots of colorful; characters that would be at home in a Noel Coward comedy. An aging actress from Hollywood, ambitious to stay on top and in London to promote herself starring in a planned forthcoming film--one of those new talkies to help you date this in early 1930s--dies from a mysterious fall from her penthouse suite during a party she threw to honor herself, and a range of those she had wronged throughout her career were in attendance. So was Freddy, and that'
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Freddy is better..
..than Angela! There's a comedic turn about the Freddy series that gives it an edge over the Marchmont series even though the characters overlap somewhat.
The Ace reporter finds himself in some tricky situations and has a rather interesting way of getting out of them.
His clues don't seem to be dropped in quite so obviously or heavily, which helps, although the description of places and scenes of crimes could be clearer and more detailed. The terraces do become harder to follow i ...more
..than Angela! There's a comedic turn about the Freddy series that gives it an edge over the Marchmont series even though the characters overlap somewhat.
The Ace reporter finds himself in some tricky situations and has a rather interesting way of getting out of them.
His clues don't seem to be dropped in quite so obviously or heavily, which helps, although the description of places and scenes of crimes could be clearer and more detailed. The terraces do become harder to follow i ...more

I've been listening to these as audiobooks and have been completely charmed by the narrator. He just a fantastic job differentiating the various characters and it really sucks you into the storyline. It's about a 7-hour book, so it's not too long not too short. It's the perfect length for a day. I enjoy the audio books because I'm able to do other things while I'm listening, like crochet or cross stitch or cook. Another enjoyable read in the series. I've already downloaded book 3. I definitely r
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Freddy Pilkington-Soames has been invited to a party held by Hollywood Star Dorothy Dacres, as a guest of actress Augusta Laing, aka Gussie Lippincott. But the evenig does not go as planned as Dorothy Dacres falls from the sixth floor terrace.
Accident or murder. Inspector Eintwistle and Sergeant Bird investigate. With the help of Freddy, and reporter Corky Beckwith.
An enjoyable and well-written cozy mystery
Accident or murder. Inspector Eintwistle and Sergeant Bird investigate. With the help of Freddy, and reporter Corky Beckwith.
An enjoyable and well-written cozy mystery

Very good.
Very intriguing and I adore the time period and the characters . It transports you to another time and you can let your imagination run over. I very much enjoy Ms Benson's books. Easy and light to read and hard to put down. ...more
Very intriguing and I adore the time period and the characters . It transports you to another time and you can let your imagination run over. I very much enjoy Ms Benson's books. Easy and light to read and hard to put down. ...more

It was really cute. Set in the time of "talkie" pictures.
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Three and a half stars.
Benson's second novel featuring society gadabout turned Fleet-Street journalist Freddy Pilkington-Soames. In this one, Freddy is present when American film star Dorothy Dacres falls to her death from the penthouse at the Abingdon Hotel in Mayfair. Or was she pushed?
I like the way Benson is developing Freddy and his world in this series. It's a little darker than the Angela Marchmont series--there's a drug ring in this one, and the crime isn't ever "solved" in the sense th ...more
Benson's second novel featuring society gadabout turned Fleet-Street journalist Freddy Pilkington-Soames. In this one, Freddy is present when American film star Dorothy Dacres falls to her death from the penthouse at the Abingdon Hotel in Mayfair. Or was she pushed?
I like the way Benson is developing Freddy and his world in this series. It's a little darker than the Angela Marchmont series--there's a drug ring in this one, and the crime isn't ever "solved" in the sense th ...more

Another great respite from reality
So where do I begin. First you take everyone's favorite Clarion reporter, throw in a dead woman that many would like to see dead, add a dash of Hollywood and a powdering of cocaine. The result is an engaging read.
The second Freddy book was another great read that really feels like putting on your favorite sweater. I look forward to seeing what comes next for Freddy. ...more
So where do I begin. First you take everyone's favorite Clarion reporter, throw in a dead woman that many would like to see dead, add a dash of Hollywood and a powdering of cocaine. The result is an engaging read.
The second Freddy book was another great read that really feels like putting on your favorite sweater. I look forward to seeing what comes next for Freddy. ...more

Second Book Is Even Better than the First!
I love this series! The characters are likable and interesting. The conflict is resolved in each book, making each book a stand-alone. These are lighthearted, well written mysteries.
In book 2, the main character is even more developed, and the plot unfolds nicely. I look forward to reading more in the series!
I love this series! The characters are likable and interesting. The conflict is resolved in each book, making each book a stand-alone. These are lighthearted, well written mysteries.
In book 2, the main character is even more developed, and the plot unfolds nicely. I look forward to reading more in the series!

As much as I always liked Freddy, I was worried that I wouldn't enjoy his adventures as much as Angela Marchmont's. It's not an issue, I loved this story as much as the rest of Clara Benson's excellent period mysteries. This one involves Hollywood actors and I really enjoyed the unpredictable plot and quirky cast of characters. An excellent read.
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Clara Benson's books are a nice easy read. This is Freddy's second case. I like a nice easy read now and then.
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Clara Benson is the author of the Angela Marchmont Mysteries and Freddy Pilkington-Soames Adventures - traditional English whodunits in authentic style set in the 1920s and 30s. One day she would like to drink cocktails and solve mysteries in a sequinned dress and evening gloves. In the meantime she lives in the north of England with her family and doesn't do any of those things.
If you want to be ...more
If you want to be ...more
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