About this series
A Phyllida Bright Mystery is a series by Colleen Cambridge. We list 6 books in this series so far, in reading order.
Start with Book 1: Murder at Mallowan Hall.
Tagged on most books in this series: Historical, British, 1940s and Village.
If you like A Phyllida Bright Mystery, try Electra McDonnell Series by Ashley Weaver and Florence Fairweather by Russell Cooper.
What readers say
Readers enjoy this 1930s series for its clever premise, with Agatha Christie's shrewd housekeeper solving murders at the novelist's country home, along with an engaging below-stairs view of household staff and prickly, flirtatious sparring with the chauffeur. Fans praise the Golden Age feel, red herrings and twists, and many say the later books get warmer as the romance grows. Common criticisms are a large cast that's hard to track, slow descriptive stretches, a heroine some find smug or pushy, and solutions or motives that don't always satisfy.
Best for: Readers who love Christie-style country-house mysteries with an upstairs-downstairs twist.
Summary of public reader reviews, updated November 2026.
