I didn't know exactly what to expect when I read the first Lady Hardcastle mystery, except that it was a cozy mystery with “quirky” characters (if I remember the description correctly). And I was absolutely delighted with what I read. That is equally, if not more so, true for this latest in the series, Rotten to the Core. Lady Hardcastle and her associate Flo Armstrong are in their hometown of Littleton Cottrell, learning about the upcoming autumn harvest festival when someone is killed (surprise, surprise). An apple orchard owner was stabbed and placed with an apple in his mouth.

The amateur sleuths' investigation, conversations with their friendly barmaid-gossip Daisy and their in-the-know cook Edna, diligent clue searching all ensue. Of course, complications abound with many possible local suspects, a newcomer to the village, and secrets held by a mysterious apple warden group (they may have coined that term).

I know that many other readers of T. E. Kinsey's series are like me – I read these books more for the incomparable repartee between Emily Hardcastle and Florence Armstrong than I do for the who-dunit. Superb, droll badinage that clearly resonates with a mutual, long-standing comprehension of each others personality and foibles. And this iteration has much more of those comical conversations than the last couple of novels – in which I was sorely missing the abundance of humor, given the times we live in.

If you haven't read any of this series, do so as soon as possible! There are a few references to previous plot points from earlier books, so reading an earlier one-- or reading them all in order (my recommendation!) – might slightly improve the reader's appreciation of Rotten to the Core. But it is sufficiently stand-alone to more than repay the time taken to relish in the goings-on of Littleton Cotterell.

I want to thank publisher Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. This is an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review “Rotten to the Core.” All opinions and comments are my own.

Lady Emily Hardcastle and her lady’s maid Florence Armstrong (best friend is more like) are up to their attractive ankles (well Flo’s, perhaps; Lady H would probably not describe hers that way) in bodies in “Rotten to the Core,” the eighth in the entertaining series by T.E. Kinsey that finds our duo investigating an ever-increasing series of deaths in and about the small English village of Littleton Cotterell.

Life’s been quiet for a few weeks around the village. But that ends abruptly. A member of the “Weryers Pomary,” the Cider Wardens, a local men’s group that does “good works” is found murdered in his apple orchard. Luckily for us the local coppers have realized that Lady H and Flo come in awfully handy when it comes to murder investigations. People do like to tell them things. And they are ferrets when it comes to crisscrossing the county themselves, digging out clues. “I have every confidence in us,” Lady H says. Well deserved.

So, investigating they go, to find that a reason for murder -- the old bystanders, envy, jealousy and/or revenge, perhaps -- is actually, rather diabolical, and really quite evil, in the end. For our killer doesn’t stop with just one murder, oh, no. We eventually have three in the present day, with ties to a fourth that happened twenty years ago. All of this takes quite a while to figure out, as you can imagine, and the famous crime board gets a real workout. But persistence pays off, and not a moment too soon, as our ladies are threatened. Not that a reader should be worried about that, not for a second. After all, they have a Harvest Festival to attend.

This is a fictional world with wonderful characters (the barmaid Daisy’s a treat) inside a mystery with clues keeping you guessing until the last pages. And there’s always a bit of “side story” to whet one’s appetite, including tidbits of the past lives of our two heroines; quite the characters they are, also. And did I mention the banter between the two? I haven’t up to now, but I shall remedy that omission.

An author’s note explains about happenings, terms, people and places, and time frames used in the story. And how references from “The Goon Show” came about. Flo would be so proud.

Lady Hardcastle and Flo were at it again, with their penchant, for solving mysterious, puzzling deaths. I thought their conversations with each other to be a bit overblown. Although I have to say their investigative skills were on point. It was intriguing, a bit chatty, and also captivating.

Thanks to Net Galley for this ARC. This series is still going strong at book 8. The characters are great and so are the story lines. No repetitiveness like with some authors. Looking forward to No 9!

I love cosy mysteries as you can return to a familiar setting and characters and T.E. Kinsey has created a gem with this one! I love Lady Hardcastle and Flo and they are off on another mystery in “Rotten to the Core”!

A murder occurs right in their own little village this time and this one has a harvest theme. This one winds all over, it quite the tale! There are plenty of fun, light moments included in amongst the investigation.

It’s a four out of five (I found it a tad implausible at points) on the enJOYment scale! If you love historical cosy mysteries, don’t miss out on this series!

As an avid follower of Lady Hardcastle and Flo this book, the eighth in the series, matched the usual highly enjoyable and entertaining standards we have come to expect. With a murder rate competing with Midsommer, Little Cotterell punches above it’s weight but then again so does Flo! With members of the local, not so secret society of Weryers of Pomary falling quickly enough to worry Isaac Newton the Ladies must find the motive before the Society begins to crumble. What happened in the past provides a lead and and as the net closes the Ladies are hard pressed to bring the killer(s) to justice. Look forward to the next book and my thanks to Net Galley and publisher for this early opportunity to read and review.

Set during an unusual heatwave in rural England in 1911, Rotten to the Core is a splendidly witty, endearing, engaging and delicious murder mystery story rife with adventures. Not only that but the characters are so easy to envision! Oh, how fun it would be to cavort with reckless Lady Emily Hardcastle with her need for speed and her common-sense astute assistant and dearest friend Flo, two ladies who are no strangers to murder investigations. Inspector Sunderland recognizes their skills and talents and is happy to have their aid. They balance each other beautifully and tease each other relentlessly, all in good fun, but have what it takes to solve crimes. Their refreshing bantering relationship and perceptions into human nature give me such joy.

The historical bits such as cider making and the true heatwave of 1911 add authenticity. The harvest was extremely early that year, creating havoc and, in this case, contributed to murder and mayhem. Colourful characters in an English setting (think traditional local pubs, apples and secret meetings held in corners) play a big role in the story. Daisy is one of my favourite characters.

Though all the books in the Lady Hardcastle Mystery series can be read as standalones, tiny snippets of past investigations are alluded to (such as a Dubrovnik debacle), just enough to tantalize without making the reader feel like being enveloped in a cloud of fog of bewilderment. Historical Fiction and Mystery readers ought to flock to this cozy series, one of the wittiest you will ever read, laugh out loud funny without being nonsensical. Sure, there are a few far-fetched situations (death via cider) but they are creatively done.

My sincere thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this wonderful, wonderful book! I look forward to discovering what the terrific author has in store in book #9!

T.E. Kinsey is consistently producing witty engaging cosy mysteries that have clever insights in the country life of an early 20th century English lady and her maid, enjoying a restful retirement after a life of intrigue, spying, and hi jinks. Well, that was their intent - but somehow genteel mayhem and mysteries seem to pursue them, leavened with good humor and subtle social commentary on social class and norms. The latest mystery centers around a murder conducted in the agrarian context of orchardists and a secret society. All is solved by Lady Hardcastle and her doughty assistant Flo in the end, but the pleasure is in the process of getting there. Highly recommended.

Lady Hardcastle and her trusty friend/sidekick/servant Flo are at it again. The delightful repartee between them is still there, and they are still the two eccentric characters that make this series such a fun one to read. This time around, though, they are looking for a local killer rather than being involved in international intrigue. No matter, Flo still gets the chance to demonstrate some of her more unexpected skills and their work as a team is on full display.

This is one of the most entertaining series I have found, in part because of the unique nature of Lady Hardcastle and Flo’s relationship. It’s also entertaining to have two amazingly independent women in an era that is still male dominated, early 1900’s. The mystery begins and ends within this book, and there is no need to have read earlier books in the series to understand how various secondary characters relate to the two main characters. If you enjoy this book, though, I’m pretty sure you’ll want to read all the other books in the series.

For this book, it’s almost apple harvesting time, and the village is getting ready to set up for the annual festival that accompanies it. There is a running joke throughout about Flo being on the committee to organize the festival, or any other committee for that matter, with the townspeople attributing the final plan of an outdoor festival on the green per her recommendation. In fact, it was simply an off-hand comment from Flo, but when she tries to point that out to the townspeople, they simply refuse to listen.

Early on Lady H and Flo encounter a group of men known as the Weryers, an ancient organization of twelve men, either born or voted in, whose purpose is stated as being to protect the harvest and the pubs where the cider will be sold. Almost immediately upon being made aware of this groups existence, one of them is murdered. The local police, being well acquainted with Lady H and Flo, as well as knowing they work for the secret service, call in the women to help with the investigation

There is a young woman who has appeared in town, and suspicion falls on her as well as the other members of the Weryers. As Lady H and Flo drive from place to place, often with Flo’s objections to Lady H’s love of speed, more of the men are murdered and the mysterious stranger is looking more and more guilty. But what is the reason for the murders and what sinister secrets are some of the Weryers hiding. This is the first place Flo’s skill set comes into play as she and Lady H make several late night forays to homes and mills to try and discover the answers to some of their questions.

The tables get turned on our two intrepid spys/adventurers as they near the end of the investigation. Once again, Flo’s skills, with help from Lady Hardcastle, are needed to bring the investigation to a successful close. The village festival is a rousing success, too, leaving all the villagers planning to put Flo on all the committees that get formed when a new village activity is in the offing. My expectation is that, on these occasions, Flo will be running in the opposite direction as quickly as her often referenced tiny feet and legs will carry her.

If you like your mysteries with a good dose of unique humor, don’t miss this book and this series. Kinsey has found an excellent blend of mystery, spy activity, and humor which is wonderfully entertaining. His pacing is excellent and the book is well written. Whether you are looking for a beach/airplane read or something to entertain you for several hours at a stretch, this book will definitely suit the purpose.

My thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book for review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

England, punny, sly-humor, amateur-sleuth, situational-humor, light-hearted, women-sleuths, historical-fiction, historical-research, history-and-culture, 1910s, cosy-mystery*****

All of the Lady Hardcastle books are a fun escape from reality and this one is no exception! The personalities of the characters are as much fun as the dialogue, the sleuthing is creative, and the descriptions are exceptional. The plot twists are inventive and the whole thing is a blast! Never a dull moment, even if some of the old catch phrases sound like something from Beowulf! Of course I loved it!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Amazon Publishing UK/Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley. Thank you!

Very enjoyable book, love the character and the banter that is always present. It is a cosy series, well written and enjoyed. The mystery was interesting filled with a multitude of characters who were well integrated into the story.
Love it.

Lady Hardcastle and her maid, the small but mighty Florence Armstrong, are back with more tales of derring-do! There’s no rest for this duo, even during the stifling heatwave of 1911. A mysterious death in the middle of an apple orchard brings out Inspector Sunderland, and he’s quick to call for the help of his favorites, Lady Hardcastle and Flo. The ensuing string of murders around Littleton Cotterell leads to a case rife with symbolism and replete with danger. Another must-read in this series from T.E. Kinsey!

I have read and enjoyed every book in the Lady Hardcastle series so far and this was no exception.

The relationship between Lady H and her maid Flo is simply delightful, there is plenty of humour alongside several murders and I love being transported back to the quaint rural West Country villages in the early 1900’s. TE Kinsey researches his subjects very well (each book focuses on a theme, cider making in this instance) and the characters are very well written.

I felt that the ending and unveiling of the murderer was a bit rushed but it was still a very enjoyable cozy-murder mystery and I look forward to another visit to Littleton Cotterell in the not too distant future.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I love this series featuring Lady Emily Hardcastle and her lady’s maid Flo and this one did not disappoint. We are in 1911 in the middle of a heatwave with the harvest rapidly approaching when there is a series of murders in the nearby village. All the victims are members of the mysterious Weyrers Society and obviously, Lady Hardcastle and Flo are on hand to help the police with their investigations.
The strength of these books for me is the relationship between Flo and Lady Hardcastle. Flo is a brilliant character who tells us the story from her own viewpoint and although technically, a lady’s maid, her friendship with her employer is clear. The dialogue between them is witty and often made me laugh out loud. The other characters are brilliantly written too and stay just the right side of caricature.
I felt that the book lost something towards the end. Maybe it was the inclusion of Diana Caudle as an addition to the sleuthing team? There were almost too many people involved with solving the mystery. However, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read and the perfect accompaniment to a Summer’s evening with possibly a glass of cider.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Amateur Sleuth Lady Hardcastle and Flo her maid, friend ,confidante and at times bodyguard are asked to assist in ousting the murderer of members of the secret society Weryers of Pomary a group of men who oversee the cider harvest

As is usual with these reads there is plenty of comedic exchanges between our two main characters and this helps the enjoyment of this series

I can't fault this book at all. Quirky characters, the cozy British countryside and a murder-mystery to solve! This is the first I've read of the Lady Hardcastle series, but its already become a must-read series for me and I've downloaded the other 7 books to my kindle!

I adore the two main characters; the investigative duo of Emily, Lady Hardcastle, and her lady’s maid, Florence Armstrong. Their relationship is one of the highlights of the book for me. Despite Flo being Lady Hardcastle's 'maid', they treat each other as good friends and equals, and the bantering between them was a delight to read.

Rotten to the Core has the perfect amount of mystery and good ol' British humour. I can't wait to read the series from the beginning and get to know Flo Armstrong and Lady Hardcastle even better!

Old sins cast long shadows in T E Kinsey's latest Lady Hardcastle mystery, "Rotten to the Core." In the midst of preparations for a harvest festival, a local man is found dead in an orchard. Lady Hardcastle and her more-than-a-maid Flo are called upon to investigate. They find a benevolent society with some odd rituals, a tourist/newcomer who picks some odd local sites to visit, and more than one motive for murder.

Flo and Emily are back with the sharp skills and witty banter that we've come to expect and love. There are red herrings and suspects galore in this outing, indeed, maybe a few too many. But Flo and Emily persevere, and solve the case in time to enjoy cider at the festival.

I always enjoy spending time in Littleton Cottrell, and this book is no exception.

If you like an egalitarian aristocrat with an amazing jill-of-all-trades sidekick, pick up this series now!

I received an advance copy from Amazon Publishing UK via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A very suitable title for a book which involves cider making, apple orchards and murder. It is summer in Littleton Cotterell and Lady Hardcastle and Flo have another mystery to investigate.

As usual the story is great fun. There are several murders and our strangely well matched pair of sleuths investigate thoroughly, working amiably together with the local Police Inspector. There are plenty of suspects, a surprise culprit and a few very dangerous moments.

Along the way we get plenty of humour especially from the dialogue between the the two main characters. They really have a very special relationship for a Lady and her maid. Sometimes just leaving the house can provide a fun moment :-
Lady H: Have you seen my hat?
Flo: Yes it's enchanting.
Lady H: Most amusing. Where is it?
Flo: Your hat?
Lady H: Yes.
Flo: The one you are wearing or another one?
Lady H (touches her head): Right you are. Well I'm ready then. How about you?
Flo: I'm always ready my lady.

My only problem with these books is having to wait for the next one.

I got off to a slow start due to the fact it was an England based tale from the early 1900’s, and unfamiliar colloquialisms were used. I’m just warning you, if it’s the same for you, don’t give up.
It was more than worth the small effort. Mr. Kinsey pens an intriguing story covering small village life. His eccentric characters bring his tale to life. The possibility of more than one motive and murderer is raised. We get several possibilities and suspects to consider before he brings the tale to an explosive conclusion.
I requested the ARC from NetGalley and enjoyed it very much. I would recommend to any cozy lover.

This was the first book I'd read from this series, but it certainly won't be the last!

Lady Hardcastle and her maid Flo find themselves caught up in the mystery of the Weryers - the local Inspector asks for their assistance in solving the case, which they're more than happy to provide! Murders aplenty, multiple suspects, and a relentless heatwave makes for a fun to read book.

Great characters, with plenty of chuckles, I really enjoyed it.