This is such a good series! Lady Hardcastle and her 'tiny servant' Florence Armstrong are the best!

In this twelfth book of the series problems arise in the village when first a sheep and then two men are killed by what witnesses insist is a huge cat, possibly a panther. Not possible one would think but then a genuine Australian quokka turns up as well as a parrot, only to disappear again. Our pair of super sleuths set out to solve the mystery.

This was a great read. The mystery was intriguing and the finale very exciting. The author acknowledges at the end that some of what happens is not actually possible but who cares when it makes for a good story. The characters were their usual entertaining selves and kept me laughing the whole way through. Five stars!

I thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance reader copy of “The Beast of Littleton Woods.” All opinions and comments are my own.

The village of Littleton Cotterell will never be the same again, residents think. For “something” is lurking in the nearby woods, killing sheep. Something big and menacing, something one of the locals describes as a “big cat.” But that can’t be, it’s got to be a big dog. But then a farmer is killed in the same fashion, “torn to pieces.” No dog does that. And so “The Beast of Littleton Woods” is off with a bang, as Lady Hardcastle and Florence, her partner in crime (in their 12th adventure) find themselves contesting with dead men who tell no tales, problems at the post office and just what’s going on at the railroad?

As usual, T.E. Kinsey ties it all together in a most ingenious fashion, involving theft, a traveling circus, and the usual collection of original and inventive characters (oh, to be in the Dog and Duck when Lady H and Flo roll in). And they even save Spratt the butcher from the clutches of Sir Hector’s amorous sister -- worth the price of admission to read about that! “The Beast of Littleton Woods” offers up a rollicking adventure that captures your attention from the first page.

Thank you to #netgalley and the publishers, #thomas&mercer for the ARC! I have read all of the Lady Hardcastle mysteries, and was hoping this would be just as intriguing. I was right! The plot is very different from other books, and had several layers of mystery and mysterious characters and happenings to keep you riveted. I can't wait for the next one!

Oh it's so wonderful to be back with Emily and Flo in Littleton Cottrell! I love a good English village novel and this village has the most colorful characters. The mystery kept me guessing and fortunately it wasn't quite as wild and improbable as I feared. It actually makes sense and sounds plausible for the time. Maybe? I sort of figured it out before the characters but I didn't know who was behind it. After all, the villagers are so nice and quirky, none of THEM could be villains! I wish the author's note had more explanation about the legalities and social norms of the core of the mystery. The story kept me up very late reading the whole thing word for world, following along with Emily and Flo. The visit to Bath was delightful as well because I've been there and done the self-guided Jane Austen tour! This story is escapist literature at its best.

As always, the banter between Emily and Flo just makes the book! The dialogue is so witty and amusing! Emily pretends to be delightfully scatterbrained and everyone assumes she's "batty/barmy/dotty" (take your pick). Flo knows what her ladyship is capable of but goes along with it just the same. Emily is a little absentminded. She has a lot to think about and can't be bothered with the mundane like hairpins. The locals really ought to know how incredibly clever she is by now but I don't think they completely believe the stories! To be honest, I probably wouldn't either and I don't but this series is fun so I just accept it and go along for the ride. Flo knows Emily better than anyone and Emily does need someone to pick up after her and remind her to come inside and eat, etc. but the way Flo does it is so hilarious. These two remind me of Lorelei and Rory Gilmore on TV's <i>The Gilmore Girls</i>. They're not actually mother and daughter but they act like sisters at least. Tiny Flo insists she knows her place but she's as much a part of the fabric of life in Littleton Cottrell as anyone. She's fierce, funny, loyal and smart. Not to mention crazy good at the art of self-defense. I wouldn't want to cross her! I'd rather hang out with the pair! Flo would roll her eyes and Emily and I - quite a pair of eccentric middle aged unmarried sleeping in, losing hairpins, ripping clothes, etc. I think Flo enjoys it though.

Flo deals with Miss Jones and Edna well. They're all servants, technically, but Flo is more than that but she doesn't see herself as any better than anyone else and I like that. They're nice and hard working and Flo is happy to help do the chores when she has to and in turn, the other two women will help her in the house when she needs someone to prepare and serve Her Ladyship's starter breakfast. Daisy is like a sister to Flo now. Daisy has had some adventures since the ladies came to the village. Daisy pretty much singlehandedly runs the pub and runs the village gossip mill besides. I was sure I knew what she was seeing when she claimed to see a large rat the size of a cat. I was wrong and even had to go look it up! I can see why she ended up liking the creature. Daisy has a good head, a kind heart and is good natured, usually, and never mean spirited in her storytelling. I like that about her.

I'm delighted to see the Farley-Strouds are back from France. They're such a hoot. Sir Hector is more astute than he lets on. He seems to know more about Marxism than his sister. His theory is treat the lower classes kindly so they spare you when they have their revolution. Makes sense to me! Gertie is at her wit's end. It was delightful visiting Clarissa and family. There's a new grandbaby to love in addition to the toddler. Now they're back home, Sir Hector's sister, Mrs. Joyce Adaway, is visiting and she and Gertie do NOT get along! They bring out the worst in each other. Joyce IS awful! As much as I love dogs, she goes way overboard smothering her little Bichon, Lady Araminta "Minty" Fluffykins. Minty is insanely spoiled and treated like a baby. I love dogs, love me, love my dog. My dog would be my child yes but also an ANIMAL - as in paws on the ground, food in dish, firm but loving guidance, etc. Minty needs a good pack leader to whip her into shape because I do agree that she's probably egging on the spaniels. They're mostly untrained and wild country dogs on the estate and Minty is more of a city dog enjoying her time in the country. She's a sweet little girl who comes to the aid of someone in need. Her mother, Joyce, is a snob. She's rude within earshot of anyone she considers inferior and that includes just about everyone in and around Littleton Cottrell... except for one person. She's a widow so maybe she's lonely or maybe she's confused or just plain old manipulative! She drove me crazy and I can see why Gertie can't stand her.

The post office has recently been taken over by Bessie and Jimmie Talbot. SHE seems OK but frazzled by the mail mix up. HE seems like a baby who needs her to have a cup of tea with him each morning once the post is sorted. She's the one worried about the mix up and losing their jobs. Bessie tells everything to Flo and Flo is kind enough to offer to help out. All the scenes are with Bessie, leading me to conclude her husband is the male name on the job application only and Bessie does all the work. But Flo likes them both so maybe not. He handles the bookkeeping so he's not totally useless. Hilda Pantry wanted the job at the post office. No one likes her because she's nosy, disapproving, rude and mean. Is she mean enough to try to sabotage the post in hopes of wresting the job away from the Talbots?

Sid Hyde was a good man and a humble farmer. He died trying to protect his sheep, ironically, from the same animal that killed him. Or did it? If he didn't have any enemies, surely it was an animal that killed him. Why them, does Lady H suspect murder? Another good man is the Farley-Stroud's new gamekeeper, Kiddle. He lives with his family in a cottage on the edge of the estate and is actively helping to protect Sir Hector and the people when he's brutally attacked by the beast! Certainly it's not murder, some wild beast IS on the loose. What type of animal did this and where did it come from? Kiddle survives but can't illuminate what attacked him and the only other witness (human) is now dead. Dick Durbin, the local poacher, was seen as a rogue more than a villain. His death brings sadness to those who knew him, even if he was up to no good.

Emily and Flo begin their investigation with Hyde's neighbors, Noah and Audrey Lock. They don't socialize in the village. I don't blame them after a scandal but by now they should be more involved. She's friendly and welcoming to the sleuths. Both Locks are eager to help in any way they can but they can't provide much information except that Noah saw big cat attacks in India and South Africa but never in England! The only other thing the Locks have to add is that Sid and his farmhand, Louis Finch, had a falling out recently. When the ladies call on him, he's a bit cagey and defensive but there's a logical explanation. The man is uneducated and not too imaginative. He doesn't know anything worthwhile either! Sid's land borders Bottom Farm, currently owned by the Roods. "Gorgeous" Phillis has somewhat earned the envy of other women because she's retained her good looks as she has aged but she's said to be very nice and charming. Mickey Lawn, a young laborer, used to be involved in crime. He swears he's turned over a new leaf and for the most part, the ladies believe him. He offers to keep an ear out if his former associates come to him with anything or say anything that might help the investigation. He seems nice and he has a girlfriend who adores him. I hope he didn't return to his former way of life.

Robinson Pinkard is the new vet from Chipping. He's new to the countryside after living in London and previously he lived in India. If anyone can identify large cat claw marks, it's him but the bodies are so mutilated it might be hard to tell. Plus, there are NO large cats in the U.K... unless... one escaped a zoo or circus which sounds plausible to me OR if someone had brought back a wild cat from India and then it got loose somehow? The vet is now mainly responsible for horses, cattle, sheep and dogs. Sometimes house cats. No large cats that he knows of anywhere around. He's charming and good looking, a little shy and nerdy. It'll take time for him to adjust to life in Chipping Bevington/Littleton Cottrell! He's good with Joyce and puts up with her treatment of Minty.

At the railway, we meet Old Roberts, stationmaster and porter. He's very concerned because it seemed to him like the regional controller, Mr. Bernard Billen, was trying to bribe him. Old Roberts is incorruptible but he isn't sure whether to do something about the potential bribe. Young Roberts, son of old Roberts, accidentally points the ladies in the right direction to start their investigation. I have a strong guess as to what Mr. Billen wanted Old Roberts to turn a blind eye to but not anything specific. It sounds like Mr. Billen was putting out feelers to see if Old Roberts would be amenable to looking the other way when perhaps some duty free/illegal/suspicious parcels/crates pass through the station. They're marked and all Old Roberts has to do is check it off on an inventory sheet so he's not sure why he would have to be bribed anyway. I was REALLY close to being on the nose with this part of the investigation! That Billen sounds like a "wrong 'un"!

Constable Hancock is coming into his own. He identifies a very big clue when Dick Durbin is killed. Good for him! The ladies didn't even pick up on it. Then Inspector Sunderland and Dr. Gosling get involved, with their usual good grace and humor. Dinah Caudle returns, eager for a big story! She can't get much out of her beloved so she goes right to Lady Hardcastle and Flo for the scoop.

I can not wait for the next adventure and to hear how Daisy is going to retell this one!

4 stars

Ah spring...the flowers are in bloom, my allergies are at an all-time high, and there is a new Lady Hardcastle for me to sink my teeth into.

The Beast of Littleton Woods, the 12th installment in the Lady Hardcastle series, is another delightful installment in what has now become the only cozy mystery series that I regularly keep up with. Set entirely in the quaint villages of Gloucestershire, I could practically taste the cider and feel the cool breezes of the English countryside on my face as I walked alongside our heroines as they untangled the nest of mysteries that Kinsey has crafted for them. Am I going to remember anything about the actual plot in a month's time? No. Did I have an absolutely fabulous time just getting to hang out with these characters in this particular setting? 100% yes!

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

4.75 stars ARC book review
As a huge fan of the Lady Hardcastle Mystery series, I was thrilled to get the opportunity to read the advanced copy of the newest installment, The Beast of Littleton Woods. The book is set in Emily and Flo’s home village of Littleton Cotterell. The townsfolk are all gossiping about the wild beast that is reportedly loose in the area. Seemingly more afraid of the beast than a murderer, as they are all too familiar with murder.

In the story we follow Lady Hardcastle (Emily) and her lady’s maid, Flo, as they try to figure out what is causing the mysterious deaths, but also some smaller mysteries at the local pub and post office. I love the townsfolk and always enjoy when the story centers in Littleton Cotterell. I thought the mystery was really clever and fun, a little gritty but still a super cozy mystery to solve. I felt the ending came together well and am excited to add this newest book to my growing Lady Hardcastle mystery series. I highly recommend this book, and the whole series, for cozy mystery fans.

Thank you to the publisher Amazon Publishing UK, author T E Kinsey, and NetGalley for the gifted digital ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I love this series. I have read seven parts of it so far - I pace myself so that I can enjoy them as long as possible. The Beast of Littleton Woods was just as excellent as the other parts of the series. I love the heroines, Lady Hardcastle and her "minion" Florence and enjoy the banter between them. It is also very interesting to hear in the books about the modern inventions or scientific results of the era. This time it was Albert Einstein and relativity. I love the charming village where our "amateur sleuths" live, with all the friendly people who congregate in the local pub to discuss the latest news - more often than not, a murder.
I hope I can enjoy this series for a long time. I can recommend it to anyone who loves cozy mysteries.

When one of Sid Hyde's prized ewes was mauled to death, with him determined to discover what animal had done it, he, along with the villagers, didn't expect Sid to also be mauled to death. The hunt was on, with witnesses saying a panther was spotted, but of course panthers didn't live in Gloucestershire. Lady Hardcastle and her "tiny servant" Florence Armstrong, decided to do some investigating of their own. But then a second man was killed, and another attacked but not badly injured - his view; a panther. What was going on?

With Lady Farley-Stroud's sister-in-law visiting, and the dislike between them obvious, Flo and Lady H visited often, to temper the fireworks. It was in the woods behind their home that the second attack came about. Lady H was suddenly of the belief that Inspector Sunderland needed to be called, and he arrived with the Bristol police doctor in tow. Time was of the essence - did the two sleuths have their suspicions about what was happening? Could they find the answers before another attack occurred?

The Beast of Littleton Woods is the 12th in the Lady Hardcastle Mysteries by T.E. Kinsey and I loved it. Laugh out loud funny in places - especially the quips between servant and master - with plenty of pace, puzzlement and distraction, this historical cosy mystery was both fun and entertaining. Our two main characters are absolute gems! Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Thomas & Mercer for my digital ARC to read and review.

This series is amazing and continues to deliver and entertain. Florence and Lady Hardcastle have such a lovely partnership. They goad each other, support each other and there are many times you'll roll your eyes with a smile on your face.

The mystery was also nicely done and I was kind of rooting for the villian for Florence, so I guess I was pretty blindsided. Elizabeth Knowelden was a great narrator for this series and did a fab job with the various accents and tones.

Cannot wait to read the next book.

#TheBeastofLittletonWoods #NetGalley

The Beast of Littleton Woods' is the twelfth book in the 'A Lady Hardcastle Mystery' series and another great entry. I love the character's as much as always and the little puzzles they are looking into turn into one big complicated and twisty mystery with multiple parts of the whole. A very interesting and entertaining read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This series has been awesome. Is there a panther killing people instead of a human? The story is a fun read with some humor, a murder and it's over before you realize it. Highly recommend.

An interesting mystery of a supposed beast killing sheep and men. Liked this one and kept me guessing to the end. Would highly recommend this book.

I can never get enough of Florence and Lady Hardcastle. The rapport is top notch and so clever. The mystery in this one was great as we stick close to home. Another fabulous story.

The Beast of Littleton Woods by T.E. Kinsey was exactly the kind of cozy-yet-creepy mystery I didn’t know I needed. I picked it up expecting a charming countryside whodunit with a touch of the supernatural, and what I got was all that plus an irresistible sense of playfulness and atmosphere.

Kinsey has a knack for crafting settings that feel lived-in and slightly eccentric. Littleton Woods feels like the sort of place you’d want to visit—if it weren’t for the mysterious creature rumored to be lurking in the trees. The mix of folklore, small-town gossip, and old-fashioned detective work gave the story this delightfully nostalgic feel, like a classic British mystery with just enough bite to keep things fresh.

What I loved most was the balance between the light and the dark. There’s humor and heart, but also genuine suspense and a few moments that made me pause. The characters, as always in Kinsey’s books, are where the story really shines—clever, curious, and full of personality. I found myself smiling at their banter one minute and scanning the woods for shadows the next.

The mystery itself is paced well—never too fast, never dragging. Just a steady build-up of clues, red herrings, and eerie moments that kept me guessing. And the reveal? Satisfying without being overly tidy, which I appreciated.

In this book #12 of the Lady Hardcastle mysteries, it appears that a wild animal has killed a sheep. The villagers become a bit concerned. But then when a member of the community is ripped to shreds the fear grows rapidly. There are reports of seeing a panther in the area which are dismissed as there are no panthers in England. Lady Hardcastle and her tiny assistant, Florence Armstrong (ladies maid) decide to see what they can deduce. Other things happen in the village that cause even more questions. What is happening with the mail? The new postmistress is at wits end. She is sure that she has sorted the mail properly. And yet, when the postman delivers it, people are getting the wrong letters.
Could all these mysteries be related? With few clues, Lady Hardcastle and Flo bring the "mystery board" into use for all of them at once.

Will they be able to solve these mysteries or will they be the next victim of the Beast of Littleton Woods?

I love these characters with their interesting history of exploits. The characters are well written with enough wit that occasionally you will laugh. Sometimes you may see your own foibles in their manner. Good Job Mr. Kinsey.

Excellent - all the bits I love of this series and characters, I don’t think Kinsey has a bad book in him. There is humour and knowledge, and I am happy I vaguely guessed some of the plot points and one of the animals (the smiley one, no spoilers). It had an interesting plot that was out of the box, especially the mixed up letters bit!

If you love cosy historical mysteries with feisty, intelligent women then you’ll love this. I only wish new books in the series came along more often…

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers Thomas & Hudson, in return for an unbiased review.

This is of course a five star book. I love this charming series so much. All the usual suspects are here - Flo, Lady H and their bantery relationship (I really love those two) and all our favourite townspeople. There's tea, sandwiches, gossipy village life and a gruesome murder or two. I thought this one in particular was quite violent, and there are a lot of various animals in this story, some quite frightening. This is a fun book overall though and the end seems to hint at a Christmas book next, which would make me so happy. Lovely stuff.

My endless thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC!

The Beast of Littleton Woods is another excellent addition to my favorite series! I was thrilled to see that this one takes place in Littleton Cotterell because I always miss the townspeople when they take place elsewhere. But you get to see plenty of the supporting cast in this one! The plot was a little different this time but was still very intriguing. There are a lot of strange happenings and seeing how it all came together was great fun. As always, I loved the banter and the humor. I laughed and smiled and just generally had a wonderful time. If you haven't read this series yet, I highly suggest you start from the first one. T.E. Kinsey is a fantastic author, and his books never let me down. I already can't wait to see what Lady Hardcastle and Flo get up to next!

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC.

Lady Hardcastle and Florence are once again on the job - this time to save the village from a mysterious beast. As always they have a lot of fun along the way. You will fall in love with this charming village and the murders that abound.

Was a fantastic book that i thoroughly recommend and will be buying as I need a trophy version lol. I enjoying the different dynamics at play between the main characters especially towards the end.