There may not be much as to innovation of mystery writing in this book, but I enjoyed it a lot. It is written as if a cozy mystery, and the story takes place at the beginning of the 20th century in a small village in England. Agatha-Christie-revisited would be the right moniker for this story. If there were any earlier books in this series, I haven’t read them, and that may be partly the reason I enjoyed the book.

The main characters are Lady Emily Hardcastle and supposedly, her maid Florence Armstrong who Lady Hardcastle treats as a friend only when the others aren’t looking. These two are a team, an untraditional one, which adventure seems to follow wherever they go.

When the two discover a body hanging from a tree while taking a walk in the woods near their country house near the village of Littington Cotterill, Lady Hardcastle decides to solve the murder, despite the locals’ smirks. In this, Inspector Sunderland is somewhat of a big help to the women, unlike the incompetent policemen that may be portrayed in most mysteries.

Florence and Emily Hardcastle have moved to this place for a quiet life after a busy London existence and their many adventures together overseas. While they are investigating, other unfortunate incidents happen, and there is another murder involving the owners of the shipping company, who are acquaintances of Lady Hardcastle.

Florence is a big help to Emily Hardcastle in this as she can penetrate into the servants’ area to gather valuable information. Because of that, the novel becomes somewhat of an upstairs-downstairs multi-layered story.

The high spot of the novel that lightens the weight of this murder mystery lies in the banter of the two women that is full of wit, teasing, humor, and admiration and love for each other. The secrets and lies that surface due to the work of these two women and the description of life in the little town and its characters also provide an added charm.

The mystery is not that complex, but the characterization is superb and the ease of reading the book made me love it.

passing time and enjoying a murder-mystery that doesn't rattle the nerves too much.

the friendship between the two women and their dialogues.

is T E Kinsey.

it is easy to read and is fun.

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Created Feb 17, 2019 at 7:30pm • Submit your own review...