Death Down the Aisle

Phyllida Bright Mystery #6

by Colleen Cambridge

Agatha Christie’s cherished housekeeper, Phyllida Bright, not only keeps the celebrated author’s home running smoothly, but she has also proven herself an accomplished sleuth. So when a murderer brings mayhem to a wedding, in this USA Today bestselling series’ latest installment, she’s on hand to sweep up the mystery…

Phyllida is delighted to receive an invitation to the wedding of her friend Dr. John Bhatt. It’s a chance to get to know his fiancée, Emily Hartparker, and to explore Coatesworth Manor—the grand seaside estate that belongs to Emily’s distant relatives. Coatesworth is now managed by Lady Artemis Coatesworth and offers ample space for a celebration. But it’s soon clear that some of the guests have intentions beyond cheering on the happy couple.

As is often the case when extended family gathers, there is bickering, not to mention an awkward love triangle between Emily’s lovely cousin Lily, her handsome ex-husband Heath, and his new wife, Tibby. Besides that, some of the other cousins—all of whom are there simply to appease Lady Artemis, who has the power to enact a morals clause in her late husband’s will that could impact the heirs’ inheritances—don’t seem to get along. Discomfiting, certainly. Dramatic for sure.

And the drama gets infinitely worse when a wedding guest is discovered dead in the small chapel only hours after the ceremony.

Phyllida immediately agrees to help discover what happened, and brings some of her staff over from Mallowan Hall, Mrs. Christie’s manor house, for cover. But with plenty of dark secrets and ugly family dynamics, it seems the killer could be any one of the Coatesworths—and that  killer is dangerously motivated to keep the grisly truth from being revealed . . .

Genres: Mystery, History, Cozy Mystery, Crime

272 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication October 27, 2026

About the author

Colleen Cambridge is the pen name of Colleen Gleason, an award-winning USA Today and New York Times bestselling author.

Colleen Cambridge writes mostly historical-set mysteries with famous people as the sidekick or friend of her protagonists and has a blast doing so. She's written about Agatha Christie's (fictional) housekeeper, Abe Lincoln's (fictional) aide, and Julia Child's (fictional) best friend in Paris.

Colleen lives in the midwest United States with her family and two dogs, and is always plotting her next murder—er, book.

Reviews

[James · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I'm in love with Phyllida! Okay, in all seriousness, she's just a terrific protagonist. At times I see her as the perfect blend of Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, Sherlock Holmes, and all the more modern great detectives. The setting is one I want to wake up inside each and every time. The way the story feels modern and historic all at the same time is sublime. Good writing. Witty. A bit of romance. Some darkness. And a lovely truth about the reality of people's idiosyncrasies, tolerances, and political views.

[Sophia]

Agatha Christie’s efficient housekeeper and talented amateur sleuth has become a murder magnet and even a small wedding party for friends is no exception. Colleen Cambridge draws in the fun of Agatha Christie’s England of the 1950’s when the famous writer might pen intriguing murder mysteries, but her housekeeper actually solves them.

My full review will post at Books of My Heart on 10.21.26.

[Cheryl Hanzidiakou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Netgalley

3.5⭐️I’m a fan of this series and always look forward to the newest instalment. That being said, this was not one of the better ones. I found the story a little flimsier than others with a lot of filler. I prefer when the regular characters, including Agatha Christie, play more of a role in the story. I usually listen to the audiobooks of this series and I did miss Jennifer M. Dixon’s excellent narration.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the arc😊

[Heather Moll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good addition to the series, if not my favorite. This is best for fans and I wouldn’t suggest new readers start here. It was just a weaker story overall compared to others in this excellent series. Too many overhearing and coincidences had me lifting my eyes, but Phyllida is great. Plus, I love that as perceptive and controlled as she is, she has no idea that all of her maids know her feelings for Bradford. After having Bradford be more prominent in the last two books, I missed having him involved in solving this mystery, although having Agatha around a little was fun. If Phyllida and Bradford ever have a real falling out, I’m throwing my book in the fire.

3.5 I received an arc from NetGalley

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I really enjoy this series, but this one just felt a bit off to me. The relationship between Phyllida and Bradford has always been a delight, but the tension in it here felt forced, as if it were just there to have something to create friction between them. Other than the most annoying character of Kitty, who was the source of that friction between Phyllida and Bradford, I enjoyed all of the characters in this book, both the regulars and those specific to this story. As always, the upstairs downstairs relationships and behaviors during those times is most entertaining.
The plot was complex and well-developed, with all of the characters playing their parts completely. The interactions felt genuine and I could almost see the manor as well as the chapel and grounds of Coatesworth Manor. Lady Artemis is a great character, strong and independent, yet fair and kind in her dealings with family and staff. Her obvious delight in meeting Mrs. Bright and the possibility of meeting Mrs. Christie added another fun element to the story. It was a pleasure to have Agatha make an appearance in this episode and most especially for her expertise about how arsenic works, and how to test for it and treat it when ingested. It's always nice to learn a bit when reading for fun! The twist at the final reveal had me chuckling, because it was so unexpected and so Christie like!
All in all, if you are a reader of this series, by all means, read on. It was a most enjoyable story. If you have not read any others in the series, I would recommend you start with another book or two before reading this one.
My thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for early access to this book. All thoughts expressed are totally my own.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs. Bright is back, helping organize the wedding of her friend and ally, Dr. John Bhatt. As always, she has everything under control: no pesky spot or dusty corner will spoil the occasion. Except for murder, of course. Readers who know Phyllida’s boss, Agatha Christie, will find the plot familiar… very familiar. And yet, Dame Agatha had a way of using similar plot devices to arrive at very different conclusions, so I was misled for most of the novel. Honestly, I didn’t figure it out until the wonderfully familiar denouement. The usual characters are back, joined by a brand-new cast of suspects. There are clues, red herrings, and plenty of misdirection. The first body doesn’t appear until nearly 40% of the way through the book. Normally, I have little patience for this sort of thing, and all the atmosphere-building and exposition would have me grumbling. But with these novels, I found myself enjoying every word: the author’s wonderful descriptions of the setting, the seemingly pointless chatter among the characters, and, especially, the world they inhabit. I was surprised to find myself on the edge of my seat during the final part, not only because of the precarious situation in which the author places one of the characters, but also because of the personal complications thrown Mrs. Bright’s way. I love the circular nature of these stories, with the “real” events supposedly inspiring Agatha Christie’s novels, even though, in this fictional world, the inspiration runs in the opposite direction. Very clever!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Kensington.

[Homerun2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This historical cozy series starring Phyllida Bright, friend and household manager for Agatha Christie, is great fun. Interesting characters and well-done mysteries.

Phyllida and most of the staff are away at a friend of the family's wedding. The scene is set for some nastiness -- one of the heirs to the estate is there with his new wife, much to the consternation of his old wife. The former wife brought a new boyfriend who everyone dislikes. It's no great surprise when the first body turns up.

Phyllida goes about gathering evidence and deducing, all while keeping the wedding plans on track and keeping an eye on her staff. Just to spice things up, her secret love interest, Bradford the chauffeur, is not himself -- and a young gushing female visitor has something to do with that.

This one is particularly well-plotted and we even have a cameo of Dame Agatha herself, conducting tests for arsenic. Enjoyable and fun. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sixth book featuring Agatha Christie’s investigative and efficient housekeeper Phyllida Bright. In this latest installment Phyllida and her staff are coordinating a wedding for a close friend when a guest of the family is murdered. With a wide cast of characters it’s clear that anyone could be the killer.

I enjoy the inclusion of Agatha Christie’s inspiration from Phyllida’s various cases and what books are similar. The efficiency of Phyllida is always impressive and I appreciated her use of cool logic while investigating the crime, however she was almost wrong about the culprit which was a change from previous books. I also felt that the inclusion of a rivalry and jealously in Phyllida and Bradford’s relationship was a bit of a cheap tactic to keep the tension high for them.

Overall the story was engaging and well paced, I can’t wait to read the next in the series! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc. All opinions are my own.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4/5
Genre: Cozy Mystery

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

I really liked this. I love this series so much much. Each book has its own mystery to follow so you can read them in any order but there may be relationships that you don’t always understand.

Cambridge always sets up her stories so that you find information with the characters in a way that you can put the story together with them! I think the small information drops from other characters always make for a fun time trying to solve the mystery with Mrs.Bright. I always enjoy when Agatha Christie makes an appearance!

In this story Dr. Bhatt is getting married! But what happens when someone turns up dead right after the ceremony? More importantly, which guest is a murderer? These stories are always filled with quirky characters and twisting plot lines!

I cannot wait to see if there is another installment of this story as they are always fun, quick reads.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I really enjoyed this mystery, I have to say this is my least favorite book in the series. I hated the wedge between Phyllida and Bradford. It felt so forced and I can't believe they had so little faith in each other. Also, they were being so dense about Myrtle near the end. However, the murder mystery was just as enjoyable as usual. The sketchy cast of suspects and red herrings kept me guessing to the end. The twist came as a big surprise, and I never would have guessed the culprit! I liked that Agatha Christie played an important role in the case as well. Overall, Death Down the Aisle was a very good mystery but I missed seeing Phyllida and Bradford work more closely together. Their relationship is usually one of my favorite parts. No more distance between them please!

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC.

[K McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series focused on Agatha Christie’s housekeeper and household has become one of my favorites, and this latest entry didn’t disappoint in the least. Most of the action in this one takes place away from the Christie-Mallowan house, as Phyllida and the regular characters help with the wedding of the local doctor at a nearby estate. There Phyllida gets drawn into another mystery when family jealousies, broken relationships, and secrets end up in murder. One of the things I love about this series is that each book has a well-written, compelling, unique plot while also developing the relationships among the main characters in very believable and enjoyable ways. Those characters all feel very real and fully realized. I am already looking forward to the next one. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. All views are entirely my own and offered voluntarily.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has less Agatha in it as she's off with her husband on a trip while Phyllida is focused on helping with a wedding at a nearby estate. The wedding is of their friend Dr. Bhatt, but the mystery centers around the bride's extended family. Lady Artemis is hosting the event, and all her relatives are invited, some of whom have a history of drama-filled relationships. When a guest is murdered, love triangles are suspected, and there's possibly even a mass poisoning. Phyllida tries to solve this mystery while distracted by Bradford's relationship with a young girl infatuated with him. Her distraction and jealousy almost have dire consequences for someone she cares about. While I had suspicions of different characters throughout the book, I did not see the twist at the end coming.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy.

[Julie Friar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phyllida Bright is not just Agatha Christie’s housekeeper she is an accomplished sleuth. In this novel she is invited to a friend’s wedding at Coatesworth, an ideal place for the ceremony. Relatives of Lady Artemis start arriving and tensions soon become obvious. Just a few hours after the ceremony one of the guests is found dead in the chapel, it is not an accident. Phyllida will commence her investigation.

Very well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Very good characters in the well paced cosy crime novel. She will find out there are dark secrets and ugly family dynamics. Who could be the killer, why did they kill and is anyone else in danger? Read to find out.

[Tabby Shiflett · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
Book 6 in the Phyllida Bright series is an exciting addition to a wonderful cozy mystery series. I absolutely love the central and reoccurring characters, the subtle (and not-so-subtle) Agatha Christie references, and the MC's ongoing relationship with a certain chauffeur. The plot, the murder mystery, and the flow and pace of the story are executed well too. The Kitty character seemed a bit disconnected, but did add a bit of additional tension (I think the story works well without that secondary storyline though). However, the author nailed the emotionally-charged search for Opal. Overall, loved this book as well. Keep writing and I'll keep reading them!

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[Suzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun new installment in Colleen Cambridge's A Phyllida Bright series, Death Down the Aisle brings a wedding to the series, as well as thoughtless characters, a murder, and trouble for the Mallowan Hall staff. The mystery portion is well plotted with twists I did not see coming, I enjoyed the seeing a softer side to a certain grump from Mallowan Hall and found the tension/misunderstandings between the characters an added twist to the ongoing relationships.

Book 6 in this delightful historical series is a great addition and will appeal to historical mystery/thriller readers and cozy mystery readers. I loved it.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death Down the Aisle has Phyllida Bright even more on her on than usual with Agatha Christie only making an appearance. Written by Colleen Cambridge, Phyllida attends a wedding of her friend Dr. John Bhatt. Not all guests especially the “cousins” play nice and someone is downright wicked as a dead body is found not long after the ceremony. Phyllida Bright is not only an accomplished house manger she is also an excellent amateur sleuth. No shortage of suspects at Coatesworth Manor, where Phyllida helps to solve the case and catch a killer. I appreciate Phyllida Bright as much as Agatha Christie would herself. Well done.

[Tam Sesto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun addition to the series. We get to witness Phyllida’s vulnerability for the first time. Her transformation into a more relatable character was fun to read. As she delves into solving the recent murder at Coatesworth Manor, she simultaneously grapples with her emotions regarding Bradford. As always, I enjoy the flirtatious exchanges between her and Bradford, as well as the sarcastic banter between her and Mr. Dobble. One of my favorite parts to this series is trying to guess which Agatha Christie book inspired the mystery.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.

[Daria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic trope of murder at a country-house gathering, this time for a wedding, with plenty of suspects to investigate. I particularly enjoyed the links to some of Agatha Christie's own mysteries, as well as the continuing relationship between the main character, housekeeper Phyllida Bright, and the chauffeur Bradford. The pacing is brisk, and the denouement follows the classic Christie pattern with an explanation (slightly lacking in detail) to the assembled guests. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for the eARC.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. John Bhatt is getting married at the family home of his fiancée, Emily Hartparker, at Coatesworth Manor. Due to their friendship Phyllida Bright has been invited. She decides to take charge, as she believes is her right, when the murder occurs of one of the guests.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery with its cast of likeable and interesting characters. Another good addition to this enjoyable series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[SuperMommy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr John and Emily are getting married (again) and Phyllida, Agatha Christie's housekeeper, is invited to the wedding. However, tragedy strikes again and Phyllida is once more called upon to help solve another murder mystery. To add fuel to the fire, she and Bradford are experiencing strain in their relationship. Can Phyllida solve the murder and her own personal struggle as well?

another well written story in this delightful series!

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited when I first got this DRC (Thanks, NetGalley), but then it took me over a week to read. While I was happy to connect with the various characters in this cozy series, I realized I don't really enjoy the main character, Phyllida. I did enjoy the way the maids tried to encourage the romance between her and Bradford. The mystery itself didn't stick with me. It was pleasant but not amazing. Series fans will want to read this; others may want to read earlier series entries first.

[Suellen · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

3.5 Stars • 6th in the series • A wedding, a body, and a house full of suspects.

Phyllida Bright attends her friend’s wedding at Coatesworth Manor. When a guest is found dead in the chapel, she investigates a family tangled in old grudges and inheritance secrets.

A charming, Christie-adjacent historical mystery with a manor-house setting and plenty of suspects.

[The Book Adventurer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never get tired of reading Cambridge's books. This is another clever and thoroughly enjoyable installment in this series! Thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review/rating.

[Jessica - How Jessica Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent entry in the series. Full review coming for Shelf Awareness.

[Deranged]

Won but not yet received a copy through a Goodreads Giveaway. Giveaway ended Oct 13 2026

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh this was a fun (and frustrating one)! The murder mystery was interesting and I didn't fully guess who did what until Phyllida put all the pieces together. The plot line between Phyllida and Bradford had me wanting to yell at the pages but appreciated how that all resolved itself.

This series is thoroughly enjoyable and I look forward to what happens next.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing in exchange for an honest review.