The Mitford Scandal

The real life Mitford sisters were a fascinating family. They loved dinner parties, clubbing, drinking, dancing, theater and did I say drinking  and inappropriate liasions. In The Mitford Scandal by Jessica Fellowes, the author follows the family through several years of their outrageous activities. (The Mitford Scandal will be released by St, Martin's Press on January 21.)

Diana, the eighteen-year-old beauty, marries wealthy Irishman Bryan Guinness and embarks on a fabulous honeymoon. She asks former maid Louisa Cannon to be her lady's maid and come along. Also joining them is another couple Shaun and Kate Mulloney. The couple is constantly bickering and making everyone uncomfortable. 

When someone dies from an allergic reaction, Louisa feels uneasy about the death, but the family refuses to perform an autopsy. Without any authority, Louisa decides to just carry on with her job.

On their first anniversary the Guinness's and their entourage decamp to Venice with Kate Mulloney and American actress Clara Fischer. When another person dies, Louisa reaches out to her friend Detective Inspector Guy Stiles with her suspicions. 

The real life MItfords rubbed elbows with Nazis and Fascists before World War II. The fictional characters flirt with these groups. An interesting book with lots of era-specific details.