A Pinch of Poison by Alyssa Maxwell

Haverleigh School for Young Ladies is a proper young woman's school where those who are privileged attend.  Some common girls get scholarships but they aren't really welcome.  However privileged these girls might be, it doesn't protect them from murder.  When the head mistress eats a small cake for dessert after a public event, she suddenly chokes and dies...

Kensington Books and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published December 27th.

Phoebe and her housemaid and partner in crime, Eva, are at the dinner along with others who were working on the fund raising event.  They aren't sure if she choked, had a heart attack or what.  They are very surprised to find she's been poisoned.

From here, the mystery grows.  There's a handyman around that has mental challenges.  The nurse seems to be scarred by her war service.  There's a younger assistant to the head who would like to have her position.  Who would have murdered her?

This is a mix of trouble from the past meeting up with trouble in the future.  The killer didn't know the substance would kill her.  The bad man is most unexpected.  Eva and Phoebe both have a romantic interest even if they aren't thinking about marriage.  I can't wait to see how that turns out in the future.

The ending is quite appropriate.  The conspirators involved in the death end up dead themselves.  Justice served itself this time.