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Lady Hardcastle Mysteries #13
Murder on the Rocks
February 1913. Lady Hardcastle and her diminutive but mettlesome lady’s maid, Flo, have been invited by their friend JB McIntyre to spend the weekend at his recently renovated Tudor fort on a remote island off the Devonshire coast. But the holiday quickly turns sinister when first a number of valuable jewels go missing—and then a fellow guest is murdered with a most unusual weapon.
Asked by JB to investigate, the stakes are raised for the sleuthing duo when a violent storm traps the group on the island and cuts them off from help. Is the murderer in their midst? With everyone claiming to have an alibi—but each also having a skeleton in their closet—can Lady Hardcastle and Flo unravel this complex web of secrets and deception before the killer strikes again?
Asked by JB to investigate, the stakes are raised for the sleuthing duo when a violent storm traps the group on the island and cuts them off from help. Is the murderer in their midst? With everyone claiming to have an alibi—but each also having a skeleton in their closet—can Lady Hardcastle and Flo unravel this complex web of secrets and deception before the killer strikes again?
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 26, 2026
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May 27, 2026Lady Hardcastle and Florence are invited to the grand opening of an island hotel only to be trapped on the island with a murderer. TE Kinsey’s Edwardian Era historical cozy mysteries continue to entertain and enthrall with a little whimsy with one’s murder.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on 7.15.26.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on 7.15.26.
May 13, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book.
Another great cozy murder mystery in this series! These books are always such an easy and enjoyable read, and I love coming back to these characters every time. These books always feel like a breath of fresh air, which sounds slightly concerning considering there’s always a murder involved!
Another great cozy murder mystery in this series! These books are always such an easy and enjoyable read, and I love coming back to these characters every time. These books always feel like a breath of fresh air, which sounds slightly concerning considering there’s always a murder involved!
March 16, 2026
I adore this series and the characters. Feisty women, humour, culture, and always a good mystery. I spotted whodunnit, but not why… and there was still a twist I didn’t spot, so bravo for still managing to keep you guessing right to the end. And yay for bringing this book down to Devon! I would happily read this series all day long, and already can’t wait for the next book. If you love funny, cosy historical mysteries with awesome women leads, please read this series!
I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.
I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.
May 22, 2026
This cozy mystery series finds Lady Hardcastle and her lady's maid/companion, Flo, invited to a pre-opening stay at a resort in a renovated Tudor fort on an island off the coast of Devonshire. It's all fun and lawn games until some expensive pieces of jewelry go missing, then someone turns up murdered. It's up to these sleuths to unravel all the lies the other guests have been spinning. In between recitals and tea, that is.
It works as a cozy mystery thanks to the main characters' wide range of interests and "special skills" (honed over the past dozen books). Entertaining in that very British way that makes me want an invitation to someone's country estate for a long holiday weekend -- without the murder, of course.
It's well-narrated and atmospheric, evoking the time (1913), with a nod to the pleasures of electricity and on-demand (radiator) heating.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @BrillianceAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #MurderontheRocks for review purposes. Publication date: 26 May 2026.
It works as a cozy mystery thanks to the main characters' wide range of interests and "special skills" (honed over the past dozen books). Entertaining in that very British way that makes me want an invitation to someone's country estate for a long holiday weekend -- without the murder, of course.
It's well-narrated and atmospheric, evoking the time (1913), with a nod to the pleasures of electricity and on-demand (radiator) heating.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @BrillianceAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #MurderontheRocks for review purposes. Publication date: 26 May 2026.
May 28, 2026
Book 13 in the Lady Hardcastle series.
Her Ladyship and Maid Armstrong are in Devonshire. Their good friend JB invited them to his fort a mile off the coast for a long weekend among friends.
First some baubles go missing, then a guest dies, then a storm hits ...
Hardcastle and Armstrong are trying their best to solve the mysteries before connection to the mainland, and the police, can be re-established.
Another wonderful entry in the series, which at one point might hint at a future spin-off series (or I read too much into it).
Her Ladyship and Maid Armstrong are in Devonshire. Their good friend JB invited them to his fort a mile off the coast for a long weekend among friends.
First some baubles go missing, then a guest dies, then a storm hits ...
Hardcastle and Armstrong are trying their best to solve the mysteries before connection to the mainland, and the police, can be re-established.
Another wonderful entry in the series, which at one point might hint at a future spin-off series (or I read too much into it).
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Emily and Flo travel to a rock off the coast of Devon at the request of an old friend, JB McIntyre, an American millionaire who owns an old Tudor fort turned luxury hotel. JB has gathered a group of his eccentric friends for a preview of his hotel. It's February and during a winter storm the ladies have to solve the problem of missing jewels. At first what seems like a prank turns sinister and then they have to find a murderer, all before Tuesday when the police can arrive!
The premise is very Christie-esque but with the usual coziness of this series. There were enough twists to keep me guessing. I did figure out some of it but there was a last minute plot twist I didn't see coming! It gets a little repetitive in the middle and bogged down at times by descriptions of the latest inventions but overall, it's a fun story. I always enjoy hanging out with Emily and Flo. There are references to previous adventures, some they've told us about in previous books and some I wasn't aware of.
Usually I miss the Farley-Strouds and Daisy when the ladies travel but this story has a bunch of new quirky characters to enjoy. The banter between Emily and Flo is delightful as always and others are now seeing Flo in the way Emily sees her. They're an inseparable duo and quite famous for their exploits by now. They like to keep their skills under their hats, especially Flo, who being small, is always underestimated. Anyone who knows her knows to back Flo in a fight though! The bond between these two women is incredible and unmistakable to anyone who cares to see it. They've been through a lot together and always have each other's backs. They remind me a lot of the Gilmore Girls. Emily appears scatterbrained but she's sharp as a tack when she wants to be. She's always cracking jokes and teasing Flo who answers back. Flo is the more practical one and without her, Emily would never eat, get dressed or be able to find anything. I can relate a lot to Emily LOL! They're both so much fun to spend time with though.
JB McIntyre is based on JD Rockefeller but unlike Rockefeller, JB has gotten out of the robber baron game. He's more of a philanthropist now and a businessman of smaller ventures. His latest project is turning an old Tudor fort on an island off the coast of Devon into a luxury hotel with all the latest modern amenities - except ice, apparently refrigeration has only just been invented and not commercially available yet and no one will deliver natural ice to the island. JB is into the latest gadgets and things and also a collector of antiquities. He collects, among other odd objects, a narwhal tusk. Cringe yes... it was legal in 1913 ... and various weapons. JB is eccentric but friendly and kind. He's generous with his friends, of whom there are many.
This group of friends is a mixed lot of business and artistic interests who have known each other a long time. Granville Bridgewater, JB's English attorney is the life of every party. He cracks jokes and tells the same long-winded stories over and over again. (They're funnier when everyone is drunk, otherwise the friends tease him about how tired his jokes are). He's quick to welcome the ladies to the friend group and always jovial and friendly. His wife, Dorothy, aka Dotty, is also friendly and welcoming. She's delightful because she speaks her mind and everyone thinks she's "dotty" (no brains) but I don't think she really is. She's just even tempered and good natured with a sense of humor about her memory. Robert Sidwell-Plant (RVSP) and his wife Patience are a mixed match couple. He's very, very proper. He never sets a toe out of line and likes his life orderly. Patience is more lively and fun and probably tired of being married to a stuffy bore. I don't blame her. He sounds controlling and horrid. They don't appear to be a loving, happy couple. George Wilson is on hand to help JD with his antiques collection. Wilson is the youngest and newest member of the group. He seems a little aloof and brooding but also a ruthless businessman who always thinks about the value of an object. He claims his wealthy clients typically think that way and not about sentiment so he's gotten into the habit of assessing everything. Unbeknownst to Wilson, he's actually been invited because JB is trying to play matchmaker. He thinks his new friend Lily Thacker, a photographer, would be a good match for George and wants to fix them up. Oh dear! The young people don't seem to want to be fixed up but also may be on their way towards coupling up naturally. Lily seems anxious and like she doesn't fit in. She was hired to take photographs but doesn't bring a professional camera. She says she only brought one for snaps right now and will bring the professional to the hotel later. Yet she doesn't know Emily's friend and doesn't seek Emily out to discuss photography. That raises red flags for me but that doesn't mean she's not who she says she is. She does say she's new to photography and doesn't know the greats yet. It IS a newish medium, especially for art and for women so she could be telling the truth and just feeling like a fish out of water because she doesn't know anyone and they're all from the smart set. She's a working gal, middle class probably, but not in the league of JB's older and wealthier friends.
Mrs. Clarice Everett is a concert violinist, virtuoso, very famous and also blind. She seems to have a chip on her shoulder about her blindness. She has caustic comebacks for every dumb assumption and question people make but ALSO innocent word usage like "watch" and "see." I'm not blind so I cannot speak to what it feels like but she's known these people a long time and considers them friends. She should know they don't mean anything by it. Clarice is a bit edgy because her husband is abusive. He's one of those "A Star is Born" characters who can't stand to see his wife's fame eclipse his. Once a famous concert pianist in his own right, Edgar Everett is now reduced to being known as Clarice's accompanist. I can't stand men like that and no one really knows why Clarice puts up with it. They all side with her, even the men, and while she explains her reasons for staying, "inertia" doesn't sound like a good excuse. She has an offer of a place to stay and help making concert bookings and finding a new accompanist. Edgar is awful and no one likes him. He shouldn't have been invited to the party.
Mr. and Mrs. Crawford are the caretakers of the hotel. She's kind, grandmotherly and a good cook. He seems lazy and unwilling to help. He tends to arrive late when he's called and he's not a good enough servant to anticipate the needs of the guests. I suspect they're up to something and it's not efficient hotel management.
Granville lives beyond his means. Credit cards don't exist yet and he must work hard to make money off wealthy individuals like JB. His wife is always decked out in the loudest, most expensive jewels. Dotty and Patience are locked in a rivalry over who can wear the most expensive, brightly colored gems at any given house party. When their jewels go missing, it causes a great deal of consternation. The ladies think it may be a prank, probably Grenville teasing them about their rivalry and love of expensive gemstones but what if it's not? Then there's a thief among them. Now who would be so stupid as to steal a friend's jewelry that is easily identifiable? I wonder if George Wilson stole them to sell to a wealthy collector? Or did Granville steal them for the insurance money? If he did take the jewelry, RVSP is in on it. Are they trying to teach their wives a lesson? It seems cruel if they are. If this is a prank, it goes on too long. If it's insurance fraud, I don't think RVSP would be in on it. He seems too stuffy and proper. However, the comments and the wink Flo observed could be a misunderstanding about something else entirely or perhaps Sidwell-Plante does mean he's tired of Granville borrowing stories from other people, embellishing them and retelling them as his own. Maybe he borrowed one of his old friend's stories and it's embarrassing the staid gentleman and has nothing to do with the missing jewels. Whatever is going on, these men don't seem to be friends anymore. Is their beef something worth killing over? Granville doesn't seem the type. I like him and want him to be innocent. Sidwell-Plante is too proper to commit murder and that leaves the women, JB, the Crawfords and George Wilson. Are the thief and the murderer one and the same? How can any of this have happened when everyone has alibis? It's up to Emily and Flo to figure out the HOW in order to figure out WHO.
Flo contemplates writing down their stories, but who would read them? ;-) I sure would and hope they have more adventures soon!
On board the train to Devon, the ladies meet Paul Dymond, a toy bear collector. He doesn't have any relevance to the story and seems to be a nice guy. He's traveling with a rare Steiff bear to commemorate the sinking of the Titanic. I had to STOP reading and go look up this bear. My first thought was "I want!" and my second was "Oh no that's creepy! https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-..."
Anyone have a spare 250,000 GBP? And a house without moths?
https://auctiondaily.com/news/steiff-...
or $500 for a replica?
https://samanthasdolls.com/product/ti...
(This repro is not so cute but the moths will eat it only after they finish with wool. https://www.steiff.com/en-us/teddies-...)
The premise is very Christie-esque but with the usual coziness of this series. There were enough twists to keep me guessing. I did figure out some of it but there was a last minute plot twist I didn't see coming! It gets a little repetitive in the middle and bogged down at times by descriptions of the latest inventions but overall, it's a fun story. I always enjoy hanging out with Emily and Flo. There are references to previous adventures, some they've told us about in previous books and some I wasn't aware of.
Usually I miss the Farley-Strouds and Daisy when the ladies travel but this story has a bunch of new quirky characters to enjoy. The banter between Emily and Flo is delightful as always and others are now seeing Flo in the way Emily sees her. They're an inseparable duo and quite famous for their exploits by now. They like to keep their skills under their hats, especially Flo, who being small, is always underestimated. Anyone who knows her knows to back Flo in a fight though! The bond between these two women is incredible and unmistakable to anyone who cares to see it. They've been through a lot together and always have each other's backs. They remind me a lot of the Gilmore Girls. Emily appears scatterbrained but she's sharp as a tack when she wants to be. She's always cracking jokes and teasing Flo who answers back. Flo is the more practical one and without her, Emily would never eat, get dressed or be able to find anything. I can relate a lot to Emily LOL! They're both so much fun to spend time with though.
JB McIntyre is based on JD Rockefeller but unlike Rockefeller, JB has gotten out of the robber baron game. He's more of a philanthropist now and a businessman of smaller ventures. His latest project is turning an old Tudor fort on an island off the coast of Devon into a luxury hotel with all the latest modern amenities - except ice, apparently refrigeration has only just been invented and not commercially available yet and no one will deliver natural ice to the island. JB is into the latest gadgets and things and also a collector of antiquities. He collects, among other odd objects, a narwhal tusk. Cringe yes... it was legal in 1913 ... and various weapons. JB is eccentric but friendly and kind. He's generous with his friends, of whom there are many.
This group of friends is a mixed lot of business and artistic interests who have known each other a long time. Granville Bridgewater, JB's English attorney is the life of every party. He cracks jokes and tells the same long-winded stories over and over again. (They're funnier when everyone is drunk, otherwise the friends tease him about how tired his jokes are). He's quick to welcome the ladies to the friend group and always jovial and friendly. His wife, Dorothy, aka Dotty, is also friendly and welcoming. She's delightful because she speaks her mind and everyone thinks she's "dotty" (no brains) but I don't think she really is. She's just even tempered and good natured with a sense of humor about her memory. Robert Sidwell-Plant (RVSP) and his wife Patience are a mixed match couple. He's very, very proper. He never sets a toe out of line and likes his life orderly. Patience is more lively and fun and probably tired of being married to a stuffy bore. I don't blame her. He sounds controlling and horrid. They don't appear to be a loving, happy couple. George Wilson is on hand to help JD with his antiques collection. Wilson is the youngest and newest member of the group. He seems a little aloof and brooding but also a ruthless businessman who always thinks about the value of an object. He claims his wealthy clients typically think that way and not about sentiment so he's gotten into the habit of assessing everything. Unbeknownst to Wilson, he's actually been invited because JB is trying to play matchmaker. He thinks his new friend Lily Thacker, a photographer, would be a good match for George and wants to fix them up. Oh dear! The young people don't seem to want to be fixed up but also may be on their way towards coupling up naturally. Lily seems anxious and like she doesn't fit in. She was hired to take photographs but doesn't bring a professional camera. She says she only brought one for snaps right now and will bring the professional to the hotel later. Yet she doesn't know Emily's friend and doesn't seek Emily out to discuss photography. That raises red flags for me but that doesn't mean she's not who she says she is. She does say she's new to photography and doesn't know the greats yet. It IS a newish medium, especially for art and for women so she could be telling the truth and just feeling like a fish out of water because she doesn't know anyone and they're all from the smart set. She's a working gal, middle class probably, but not in the league of JB's older and wealthier friends.
Mrs. Clarice Everett is a concert violinist, virtuoso, very famous and also blind. She seems to have a chip on her shoulder about her blindness. She has caustic comebacks for every dumb assumption and question people make but ALSO innocent word usage like "watch" and "see." I'm not blind so I cannot speak to what it feels like but she's known these people a long time and considers them friends. She should know they don't mean anything by it. Clarice is a bit edgy because her husband is abusive. He's one of those "A Star is Born" characters who can't stand to see his wife's fame eclipse his. Once a famous concert pianist in his own right, Edgar Everett is now reduced to being known as Clarice's accompanist. I can't stand men like that and no one really knows why Clarice puts up with it. They all side with her, even the men, and while she explains her reasons for staying, "inertia" doesn't sound like a good excuse. She has an offer of a place to stay and help making concert bookings and finding a new accompanist. Edgar is awful and no one likes him. He shouldn't have been invited to the party.
Mr. and Mrs. Crawford are the caretakers of the hotel. She's kind, grandmotherly and a good cook. He seems lazy and unwilling to help. He tends to arrive late when he's called and he's not a good enough servant to anticipate the needs of the guests. I suspect they're up to something and it's not efficient hotel management.
Granville lives beyond his means. Credit cards don't exist yet and he must work hard to make money off wealthy individuals like JB. His wife is always decked out in the loudest, most expensive jewels. Dotty and Patience are locked in a rivalry over who can wear the most expensive, brightly colored gems at any given house party. When their jewels go missing, it causes a great deal of consternation. The ladies think it may be a prank, probably Grenville teasing them about their rivalry and love of expensive gemstones but what if it's not? Then there's a thief among them. Now who would be so stupid as to steal a friend's jewelry that is easily identifiable? I wonder if George Wilson stole them to sell to a wealthy collector? Or did Granville steal them for the insurance money? If he did take the jewelry, RVSP is in on it. Are they trying to teach their wives a lesson? It seems cruel if they are. If this is a prank, it goes on too long. If it's insurance fraud, I don't think RVSP would be in on it. He seems too stuffy and proper. However, the comments and the wink Flo observed could be a misunderstanding about something else entirely or perhaps Sidwell-Plante does mean he's tired of Granville borrowing stories from other people, embellishing them and retelling them as his own. Maybe he borrowed one of his old friend's stories and it's embarrassing the staid gentleman and has nothing to do with the missing jewels. Whatever is going on, these men don't seem to be friends anymore. Is their beef something worth killing over? Granville doesn't seem the type. I like him and want him to be innocent. Sidwell-Plante is too proper to commit murder and that leaves the women, JB, the Crawfords and George Wilson. Are the thief and the murderer one and the same? How can any of this have happened when everyone has alibis? It's up to Emily and Flo to figure out the HOW in order to figure out WHO.
Flo contemplates writing down their stories, but who would read them? ;-) I sure would and hope they have more adventures soon!
On board the train to Devon, the ladies meet Paul Dymond, a toy bear collector. He doesn't have any relevance to the story and seems to be a nice guy. He's traveling with a rare Steiff bear to commemorate the sinking of the Titanic. I had to STOP reading and go look up this bear. My first thought was "I want!" and my second was "Oh no that's creepy! https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-..."
Anyone have a spare 250,000 GBP? And a house without moths?
https://auctiondaily.com/news/steiff-...
or $500 for a replica?
https://samanthasdolls.com/product/ti...
(This repro is not so cute but the moths will eat it only after they finish with wool. https://www.steiff.com/en-us/teddies-...)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Lady Hardcastle (Emily) and her lady's maid/assistant Florence are hoping for a long weekend to enjoy themselves when they are invited to friend JB McIntyre's island. He's getting it ready to become a resort getaway and wants some friends to test things out. All is well until some valuable jewelry is stolen—and then the rather unpleasant guest is murdered. No one is actually sorry he's dead, but no one wants a murderer on the guest list. Especially when he isn't the only one who gets killed. With everyone trapped on the island until Tuesday, can Emily and Flo solve the crimes and keep everyone else safe?
It's been ages since I read a Lady Hardcastle mystery (I think I read the first one) so I was pretty much coming into the series new. There are throwaway references to other cases, presumably from other books, but none that made me feel lost coming into the series at Book 13. I did enjoy this book, but I can't say it made me feel like I needed to go back and reread the rest of the series. The characters were all pretty basic and mostly 2-dimensional. Friends who aren't entirely friends because they have secrets, or don't like the bullying of a wife. One tells long-winded stories that everyone knows but are entertaining if you've had enough to drink. The servants who smuggle goods. The American millionaire who is obsessed with the latest inventions. The story itself plods along, dragging especially in the middle, before speeding up to the end with the quick solution. I figured out some of it, but there was a good twist in there that helped keep things going.
The best part of the book for me was the description and history of the island fort, which is really well done. The author builds the fort/island into an excellent site to explore and you can see the details inside and out as they are described. The historical accuracy for the time period is subtle but well drawn, and benefits from JB loving to have all the latest gadgets (and showing them off to guests!).
A quiet cozy mystery that might appeal to people already in love with the series more than newcomers, but wasn't bad if you can accept a slightly slower than usual pace.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
It's been ages since I read a Lady Hardcastle mystery (I think I read the first one) so I was pretty much coming into the series new. There are throwaway references to other cases, presumably from other books, but none that made me feel lost coming into the series at Book 13. I did enjoy this book, but I can't say it made me feel like I needed to go back and reread the rest of the series. The characters were all pretty basic and mostly 2-dimensional. Friends who aren't entirely friends because they have secrets, or don't like the bullying of a wife. One tells long-winded stories that everyone knows but are entertaining if you've had enough to drink. The servants who smuggle goods. The American millionaire who is obsessed with the latest inventions. The story itself plods along, dragging especially in the middle, before speeding up to the end with the quick solution. I figured out some of it, but there was a good twist in there that helped keep things going.
The best part of the book for me was the description and history of the island fort, which is really well done. The author builds the fort/island into an excellent site to explore and you can see the details inside and out as they are described. The historical accuracy for the time period is subtle but well drawn, and benefits from JB loving to have all the latest gadgets (and showing them off to guests!).
A quiet cozy mystery that might appeal to people already in love with the series more than newcomers, but wasn't bad if you can accept a slightly slower than usual pace.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Flo and Lady Hardcastle are invited to a remote castle on an island by an American friend, JB, who has plans to turn it into a B&B. An assortment of colourful characters - from a blind pianist prodigy to a photographer to a solicitor - congregate to test out the sprawling estate and its modern appliances courtesy of JB’s vast fortune. As they enjoy a retreat of leisure and pleasure, one of the guests is found dead.
Oh I loved this!! I really love this series and I’d forgotten how much. I don’t ask for a lot in my historical mysteries as it’s one of my favourite subgenres and I’ll happily read just about anything but the best have a good puzzle, levity, and plenty of historical detail. Food is a plus. Murder on the Rocks has all of this and more!
The writing is so clever and I kept highlighting entire paragraphs. The banter between Lady Hardcastle and Flo is sharp and so incredibly funny and there’s a guest who makes a joke of everything in this too - his puns added to my enjoyment of the story so much. JB is also a goldmine of information so we’re treated to quite a lot of trivia in this - the origin of the American passion for ice, liquor and more. There’s also a stuffed bear collector in this - an arctophile - who immediately made me want to look up interesting teddy bears. I enjoyed each of the guests and Clarice above all. She’s a blind pianist and her passion for music and lovely nature were a treat to read about. I also loved all the author’s notes at the end which go deeper into the historical details in the story.
I guessed some of the ending but the journey getting there was so good I didn’t mind in the least. This book was such a wonderful way to spend a Sunday!
My endless thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC!
Oh I loved this!! I really love this series and I’d forgotten how much. I don’t ask for a lot in my historical mysteries as it’s one of my favourite subgenres and I’ll happily read just about anything but the best have a good puzzle, levity, and plenty of historical detail. Food is a plus. Murder on the Rocks has all of this and more!
The writing is so clever and I kept highlighting entire paragraphs. The banter between Lady Hardcastle and Flo is sharp and so incredibly funny and there’s a guest who makes a joke of everything in this too - his puns added to my enjoyment of the story so much. JB is also a goldmine of information so we’re treated to quite a lot of trivia in this - the origin of the American passion for ice, liquor and more. There’s also a stuffed bear collector in this - an arctophile - who immediately made me want to look up interesting teddy bears. I enjoyed each of the guests and Clarice above all. She’s a blind pianist and her passion for music and lovely nature were a treat to read about. I also loved all the author’s notes at the end which go deeper into the historical details in the story.
I guessed some of the ending but the journey getting there was so good I didn’t mind in the least. This book was such a wonderful way to spend a Sunday!
My endless thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC!
May 24, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book.
4,5
I must admit that I almost didn’t request this book, since it is the 13th in a series I hadn’t been following. But the cover and the synopsis won me over, and I’m so glad they did, because I found out you do not need to have read the previous books in the series to appreciate the refined humor and wit of Lady Hardcastle and Flossie, their camaraderie, their adventures, and their stories (although I will immediately be starting with the first book now!). I actually ended up marking several passages where past mysteries were mentioned in passing, just so I could identify them later when I read the series in order.
Moreover, I have to applaud T E Kinsey for the incredible research behind the era, the gadgets, and the historical accuracy - even in moments where the author later tells us that somethings did not exist yet in that time, but were included anyway because they were too good to pass on. That, to me, made the reading experience even more charming.
As for the mystery itself, I thought it was very well done. There were no absurd plot twists that made the solution impossible for the reader to guess, but it wasn't crazy obvious either. I would say that I kept the pace with Lady Hardcastle and Flossie throughout the story, even though I was never completely shocked by any plot twist.
This is, to me, the most pure definition of a cozy mystery, so if you are looking for a very historically accurate yet very nonconforming female characters, an amazing and deep friendship (or maybe something more?) between intelligent and funny women, all wrapped around a delightful whodunnit set in a fort on a dramatic island, then welcome to your next read!
4,5
I must admit that I almost didn’t request this book, since it is the 13th in a series I hadn’t been following. But the cover and the synopsis won me over, and I’m so glad they did, because I found out you do not need to have read the previous books in the series to appreciate the refined humor and wit of Lady Hardcastle and Flossie, their camaraderie, their adventures, and their stories (although I will immediately be starting with the first book now!). I actually ended up marking several passages where past mysteries were mentioned in passing, just so I could identify them later when I read the series in order.
Moreover, I have to applaud T E Kinsey for the incredible research behind the era, the gadgets, and the historical accuracy - even in moments where the author later tells us that somethings did not exist yet in that time, but were included anyway because they were too good to pass on. That, to me, made the reading experience even more charming.
As for the mystery itself, I thought it was very well done. There were no absurd plot twists that made the solution impossible for the reader to guess, but it wasn't crazy obvious either. I would say that I kept the pace with Lady Hardcastle and Flossie throughout the story, even though I was never completely shocked by any plot twist.
This is, to me, the most pure definition of a cozy mystery, so if you are looking for a very historically accurate yet very nonconforming female characters, an amazing and deep friendship (or maybe something more?) between intelligent and funny women, all wrapped around a delightful whodunnit set in a fort on a dramatic island, then welcome to your next read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As a long time fan and devoted admirer of T.E. Kinsey’s Lady Hardcastle series, I can say without hesitation that Murder on the Rocks did not disappoint. Take my advice if you love a good cozy mystery and just READ IT!
This installment finds Lady Hardcastle and her ever-capable companion, Flo, on a train bound for a remote castle, where a lively gathering of guests has assembled under the invitation of a wealthy American, JB. Of course, it doesn’t take long for a most inconvenient murder to interrupt the festivities, casting suspicion upon everyone in attendance.
What follows is everything I’ve come to love about this series: an engaging mystery, a wonderfully drawn cast of characters, and the incomparable wit and banter between Lady Hardcastle and Flo. Their dialogue is as amusing as ever, lending a warmth and charm that truly sets this series apart.
The setting, though removed from the familiar village, is still rich in atmosphere, and the newly introduced characters add a fresh dimension to the story. I also adore the historical details that are always sprinkled throughout. They help bring the narrative to life more vividly in my mind.
I can’t recommend Murder on the Rocks, or any of the others within the Lady Hardcastle series, enough. Each and every one delivers a uniquely entertaining and engaging cozy mystery experience. I’m already looking forward to the 14th installment and can’t wait to find out what’s next for the indomitable Lady H & Flo!
My sincerest thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK/Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
#LadyHardcastle
#Netgalley
#cozymystery
This installment finds Lady Hardcastle and her ever-capable companion, Flo, on a train bound for a remote castle, where a lively gathering of guests has assembled under the invitation of a wealthy American, JB. Of course, it doesn’t take long for a most inconvenient murder to interrupt the festivities, casting suspicion upon everyone in attendance.
What follows is everything I’ve come to love about this series: an engaging mystery, a wonderfully drawn cast of characters, and the incomparable wit and banter between Lady Hardcastle and Flo. Their dialogue is as amusing as ever, lending a warmth and charm that truly sets this series apart.
The setting, though removed from the familiar village, is still rich in atmosphere, and the newly introduced characters add a fresh dimension to the story. I also adore the historical details that are always sprinkled throughout. They help bring the narrative to life more vividly in my mind.
I can’t recommend Murder on the Rocks, or any of the others within the Lady Hardcastle series, enough. Each and every one delivers a uniquely entertaining and engaging cozy mystery experience. I’m already looking forward to the 14th installment and can’t wait to find out what’s next for the indomitable Lady H & Flo!
My sincerest thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK/Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
#LadyHardcastle
#Netgalley
#cozymystery
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5★s
It was February 1913 when Lady Hardcastle and lady's maid, Florence (Flo) Armstrong were travelling on a train to spend the weekend on a small island off the Devonshire coast, where a good friend, JB McIntyre, had renovated an old Tudor fort. Expecting fun and frivolity, good food and drinks, they did get that, but they also became tangled up in jewellery thefts, and murder. The man murdered was disliked by all, so no love lost there, but JB asked Lady Hardcastle and Flo to investigate, knowing their success rates of the past.
When a violent storm sank their only boat and trapped them on the island, Flo & Lady Hardcastle continued to investigate, but no one expected them to resolve the crime. Except them. It was a difficult one, plus everyone was looking over their shoulders constantly - and then another of their small group was murdered. Who was doing this, and why? Would Lady H and Flo discover the answers?
Murder on the Rocks is the 13th in the Lady Hardcastle Mysteries by T.E. Kinsey and I thoroughly enjoyed it, laughing out loud in a number of places. It wasn't quite as good as usual, but our two sleuths were once again at the top of their game in this highly addictive series.. Looking forward to #14 when we'll hopefully be back at Littleton Cotterell :) Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley & Thomas & Mercer for my digital ARC to read and review.
It was February 1913 when Lady Hardcastle and lady's maid, Florence (Flo) Armstrong were travelling on a train to spend the weekend on a small island off the Devonshire coast, where a good friend, JB McIntyre, had renovated an old Tudor fort. Expecting fun and frivolity, good food and drinks, they did get that, but they also became tangled up in jewellery thefts, and murder. The man murdered was disliked by all, so no love lost there, but JB asked Lady Hardcastle and Flo to investigate, knowing their success rates of the past.
When a violent storm sank their only boat and trapped them on the island, Flo & Lady Hardcastle continued to investigate, but no one expected them to resolve the crime. Except them. It was a difficult one, plus everyone was looking over their shoulders constantly - and then another of their small group was murdered. Who was doing this, and why? Would Lady H and Flo discover the answers?
Murder on the Rocks is the 13th in the Lady Hardcastle Mysteries by T.E. Kinsey and I thoroughly enjoyed it, laughing out loud in a number of places. It wasn't quite as good as usual, but our two sleuths were once again at the top of their game in this highly addictive series.. Looking forward to #14 when we'll hopefully be back at Littleton Cotterell :) Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley & Thomas & Mercer for my digital ARC to read and review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Lady Hardcastle Mysteries #13
Publication Date: 5/26/26
Period: 1913 (Devon, England)
Number of Pages: Audiobook (Book has 296 Pages)
This book is filled with a wicked good mystery, witty banter, interesting characters, and excellent narration. You definitely cannot go wrong if you decide to read or listen to this book.
The inimitable Lady Hardcastle and her lady’s maid Flo have been invited to spend a quiet weekend on the small private island of an American friend. Had they a choice, they might have chosen to visit in the summer rather than mid-winter, but they still looked forward to the adventure – and goodness what an adventure it was.
Lady Hardcastle and Flo thought the other guests were an interesting mix of characters and looked forward to getting to know them. Then, there were thefts, then a dead body, then a storm cutting them off from the mainland. Oh! My! They are trapped on an island with a thief and a murderer. Can they solve the crimes and apprehend the criminal before more crimes are committed? As always, the unstoppable duo is on the case, and those criminals don’t have a clue what they are up against.
The narrator, Elizabeth Knowelden, is excellent. She delivers a well-paced narration with distinctive character voices. She also does an excellent job handling the witty banter between Flo and Emily – you can hear the humor in her voice as she narrates.
I recommend this book, this series, and this author.
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Series: Lady Hardcastle Mysteries #13
Publication Date: 5/26/26
Period: 1913 (Devon, England)
Number of Pages: Audiobook (Book has 296 Pages)
This book is filled with a wicked good mystery, witty banter, interesting characters, and excellent narration. You definitely cannot go wrong if you decide to read or listen to this book.
The inimitable Lady Hardcastle and her lady’s maid Flo have been invited to spend a quiet weekend on the small private island of an American friend. Had they a choice, they might have chosen to visit in the summer rather than mid-winter, but they still looked forward to the adventure – and goodness what an adventure it was.
Lady Hardcastle and Flo thought the other guests were an interesting mix of characters and looked forward to getting to know them. Then, there were thefts, then a dead body, then a storm cutting them off from the mainland. Oh! My! They are trapped on an island with a thief and a murderer. Can they solve the crimes and apprehend the criminal before more crimes are committed? As always, the unstoppable duo is on the case, and those criminals don’t have a clue what they are up against.
The narrator, Elizabeth Knowelden, is excellent. She delivers a well-paced narration with distinctive character voices. She also does an excellent job handling the witty banter between Flo and Emily – you can hear the humor in her voice as she narrates.
I recommend this book, this series, and this author.
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 26, 2026
Murder on the Rocks is a delightful thirteenth entry in the Lady Hardcastle Mystery series. Lady Emily Hardcastle and her lady's maid Flo have been invited by their friend JB McIntyre to spend a weekend at his recently renovated Tudor fort on a remote island off the Devonshire coast. The other guests all know each other well and get together frequently, which immediately gives you that feeling of walking into a room full of inside jokes and unspoken tensions. One of the guests is a blind virtuoso violinist, which adds a really interesting dimension to the group dynamic and to the investigation itself.
What starts as a few suspicious jewelry thefts quickly escalates when one of the guests is murdered. A storm cuts the group off from the mainland, and suddenly Emily and Flo have to figure out who the killer is before anyone else ends up dead. The whole setup is a fun nod to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, with the isolated island, the dwindling guest list, and the growing paranoia among the trapped party.
What I love most about this series is the banter between Emily and Flo. Their relationship is built on years of shared history as former spies turned crime-solving friends, and the warmth and humor between them makes every conversation a pleasure to listen to.
There was also a charming bit at the beginning about the American obsession with teddy bears and a collector who acquires a Steiff bear. It was one of those small, unexpected historical details that sent me down a little research rabbit hole of my own, which is always a sign that a book has pulled me in.
Elizabeth Knowelden narrates the audiobook, and she continues to be an excellent fit for this series.
If you enjoy cozy historical mysteries with sharp writing and a classic locked-room setup, this one delivers. You could probably start here and follow along just fine, but I'd recommend going back to the beginning to get the full picture of Emily and Flo's wonderful friendship.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.
What starts as a few suspicious jewelry thefts quickly escalates when one of the guests is murdered. A storm cuts the group off from the mainland, and suddenly Emily and Flo have to figure out who the killer is before anyone else ends up dead. The whole setup is a fun nod to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, with the isolated island, the dwindling guest list, and the growing paranoia among the trapped party.
What I love most about this series is the banter between Emily and Flo. Their relationship is built on years of shared history as former spies turned crime-solving friends, and the warmth and humor between them makes every conversation a pleasure to listen to.
There was also a charming bit at the beginning about the American obsession with teddy bears and a collector who acquires a Steiff bear. It was one of those small, unexpected historical details that sent me down a little research rabbit hole of my own, which is always a sign that a book has pulled me in.
Elizabeth Knowelden narrates the audiobook, and she continues to be an excellent fit for this series.
If you enjoy cozy historical mysteries with sharp writing and a classic locked-room setup, this one delivers. You could probably start here and follow along just fine, but I'd recommend going back to the beginning to get the full picture of Emily and Flo's wonderful friendship.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
T E Kinsey’s Murder on the Rocks features his series detectives, Lady Emily Hardcastle and her maid, Flo. They have been invited to a house party with a difference: their friend, JB, is converting a house on an island to a hotel and wants a group of people to test it out before opening. This means we have a classic “closed circle” mystery when some jewels go missing and then one of the guests is murdered.
Kinsey’s books are always well researched and very well written. The banter between Emily and Flo always makes me laugh, as do Flo’s thoughts, such as the one about “hundreds of mystery writers scribbling away in their garrets”. I love the way that Flo, a lady’s maid, is shown as incredibly intelligent and well-read, as evidenced by her Flaubert joke. In this book, we also have a really good mystery. Kinsey slips several solid clues into the narrative – and, reader, I missed nearly all of them! The sign of a really, really, good mystery writer is that they hide the clues in plain sight and it’s only after the denouement that you realise the significance of what you read a few chapters earlier.
I can’t recommend Kinsey’s books highly enough: there’s humour; there’s mystery; there’s history; and, sometimes, even a smidgen of romance. Kinsey always has an Author’s Notes section after the novel, sharing various gems from his research. He explains the research he’s carried out and is honest about where he has perhaps tweaked the dates in order to use something in his novel.
#MurderontheRocks #NetGalley
Kinsey’s books are always well researched and very well written. The banter between Emily and Flo always makes me laugh, as do Flo’s thoughts, such as the one about “hundreds of mystery writers scribbling away in their garrets”. I love the way that Flo, a lady’s maid, is shown as incredibly intelligent and well-read, as evidenced by her Flaubert joke. In this book, we also have a really good mystery. Kinsey slips several solid clues into the narrative – and, reader, I missed nearly all of them! The sign of a really, really, good mystery writer is that they hide the clues in plain sight and it’s only after the denouement that you realise the significance of what you read a few chapters earlier.
I can’t recommend Kinsey’s books highly enough: there’s humour; there’s mystery; there’s history; and, sometimes, even a smidgen of romance. Kinsey always has an Author’s Notes section after the novel, sharing various gems from his research. He explains the research he’s carried out and is honest about where he has perhaps tweaked the dates in order to use something in his novel.
#MurderontheRocks #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.25 stars
Some of my favorite books in the Lady Hardcastle series have been the ones where Lady Hardcastle and Flo take a trip. This story starts off with them heading out of town on a train to stay with an eccentric businessman on his island. He has turned a fort into a fancy hotel and has invited some friends for the weekend. When they arrive we meet their fellow guests and I could tell it was shaping up to be a Closed Circle mystery, which I love. I could tell I was in for a great read.
Lady Hardcastle and Flo are excited for a relaxing weekend away. They quickly get more than they bargained for, but certainly not more than our two super-sleuths can handle. A corpse turns up just as the storm rolls in and the group are stuck on the island with a murderer somewhere near. As is typical for the Lady Hardcastle books there are a few mysteries happening that they are working to solve.
I loved that Flo marveled at the modern luxuries of the converted fort they were staying in. It really helped to paint a picture in my mind of the scenes. The other guests on the island were interesting to get to know and the mystery had me guessing until the end.
Thank you to the publisher Amazon Publishing UK | Thomas & Mercer, author T E Kinsey, and NetGalley for the gifted digital ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Some of my favorite books in the Lady Hardcastle series have been the ones where Lady Hardcastle and Flo take a trip. This story starts off with them heading out of town on a train to stay with an eccentric businessman on his island. He has turned a fort into a fancy hotel and has invited some friends for the weekend. When they arrive we meet their fellow guests and I could tell it was shaping up to be a Closed Circle mystery, which I love. I could tell I was in for a great read.
Lady Hardcastle and Flo are excited for a relaxing weekend away. They quickly get more than they bargained for, but certainly not more than our two super-sleuths can handle. A corpse turns up just as the storm rolls in and the group are stuck on the island with a murderer somewhere near. As is typical for the Lady Hardcastle books there are a few mysteries happening that they are working to solve.
I loved that Flo marveled at the modern luxuries of the converted fort they were staying in. It really helped to paint a picture in my mind of the scenes. The other guests on the island were interesting to get to know and the mystery had me guessing until the end.
Thank you to the publisher Amazon Publishing UK | Thomas & Mercer, author T E Kinsey, and NetGalley for the gifted digital ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m new to the Lady Hardcastle series, and this proved an enjoyable introduction. One of the common pitfalls in the mystery genre is an overabundance of new characters—either they’re introduced only to fade quickly as attention is spread too thinly, or the narrative slows to a crawl as each is given depth. This novel largely avoids that problem in its opening act, where the cast is handled with confidence, though it does begin to sag somewhat in the middle as the pacing loses momentum.
That said, the character work is a clear strength. Each figure feels distinct, brought to life through witty, playful dialogue that gives the story much of its charm. The setting is equally engaging, creating an immersive backdrop that complements the tone perfectly. My main reservation, aside from the pacing, is that the guilty party felt a little too easy to identify, which slightly diminished the impact of the mystery.
Overall, this is a lively and entertaining read that pays worthy homage to Agatha Christie. If this instalment is considered one of the weaker entries in the series, as I understand it may be, then I’m certainly intrigued to see what the others have to offer. I’d happily recommend it to fans of the genre.
My thanks to the author, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.
That said, the character work is a clear strength. Each figure feels distinct, brought to life through witty, playful dialogue that gives the story much of its charm. The setting is equally engaging, creating an immersive backdrop that complements the tone perfectly. My main reservation, aside from the pacing, is that the guilty party felt a little too easy to identify, which slightly diminished the impact of the mystery.
Overall, this is a lively and entertaining read that pays worthy homage to Agatha Christie. If this instalment is considered one of the weaker entries in the series, as I understand it may be, then I’m certainly intrigued to see what the others have to offer. I’d happily recommend it to fans of the genre.
My thanks to the author, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance reader copy of Murder on the Rocks. All opinions and comments are my own.
Emily, Lady Hardcastle and Florence Armstrong are back, and in the thick of it when a very rich friend who owns a castle on an island invites them to visit. And murder ensues. Did you expect anything else? Hardly, when the masters of gentle barbs and sprightly repartee are involved. And in Murder on the Rocks Lady H and Flo have a cast of characters to work through, and a diverse lot they definitely are; author T.E. Kinsey knows how to bring a group of people together who function as a group of suspects in more ways than one. Throw in some missing jewelry, no way to get off the island and -- you’ve got quite a story.
There’s plenty of twists involved, as Lady H admits that what seemed easy to figure out is not so easy after all. It does take a wee bit longer to ferret everything out; there is more than the usual tooing and froing. But that just gives readers the opportunity to discover, in some passages with great description, Lady H and Flo as the great “amateur” detectives they are, and why they do what they do.
They get home, none the worse for wear, looking forward to a return to a happy life, with trips to the Dog and Duck. And no murders. At least, for a little while. Can’t wait.
Emily, Lady Hardcastle and Florence Armstrong are back, and in the thick of it when a very rich friend who owns a castle on an island invites them to visit. And murder ensues. Did you expect anything else? Hardly, when the masters of gentle barbs and sprightly repartee are involved. And in Murder on the Rocks Lady H and Flo have a cast of characters to work through, and a diverse lot they definitely are; author T.E. Kinsey knows how to bring a group of people together who function as a group of suspects in more ways than one. Throw in some missing jewelry, no way to get off the island and -- you’ve got quite a story.
There’s plenty of twists involved, as Lady H admits that what seemed easy to figure out is not so easy after all. It does take a wee bit longer to ferret everything out; there is more than the usual tooing and froing. But that just gives readers the opportunity to discover, in some passages with great description, Lady H and Flo as the great “amateur” detectives they are, and why they do what they do.
They get home, none the worse for wear, looking forward to a return to a happy life, with trips to the Dog and Duck. And no murders. At least, for a little while. Can’t wait.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
'Murder on the Rocks' by T E Kinsey.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I'm a big fan of this series and this book didn't disappoint. I had an inkling who might have committed the crimes but I was unsure how. So I loved the twist at the end. I love the friendship between Lady Hardcastle and Flo, especially the banter. If you're a fan of cozy crime with a dynamic pair of ladies solving the crimes then give this series a read.
February 1913. Lady Hardcastle and her diminutive but mettlesome lady’s maid, Flo, have been invited by their friend JB McIntyre to spend the weekend at his recently renovated Tudor fort on a remote island off the Devonshire coast. But the holiday quickly turns sinister when first a number of valuable jewels go missing—and then a fellow guest is murdered with a most unusual weapon.
Asked by JB to investigate, the stakes are raised for the sleuthing duo when a violent storm traps the group on the island and cuts them off from help. Is the murderer in their midst? With everyone claiming to have an alibi—but each also having a skeleton in their closet—can Lady Hardcastle and Flo unravel this complex web of secrets and deception before the killer strikes again?
Thanks to Netgallery UK, the publishers and the author for letting me read a copy in return for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I'm a big fan of this series and this book didn't disappoint. I had an inkling who might have committed the crimes but I was unsure how. So I loved the twist at the end. I love the friendship between Lady Hardcastle and Flo, especially the banter. If you're a fan of cozy crime with a dynamic pair of ladies solving the crimes then give this series a read.
February 1913. Lady Hardcastle and her diminutive but mettlesome lady’s maid, Flo, have been invited by their friend JB McIntyre to spend the weekend at his recently renovated Tudor fort on a remote island off the Devonshire coast. But the holiday quickly turns sinister when first a number of valuable jewels go missing—and then a fellow guest is murdered with a most unusual weapon.
Asked by JB to investigate, the stakes are raised for the sleuthing duo when a violent storm traps the group on the island and cuts them off from help. Is the murderer in their midst? With everyone claiming to have an alibi—but each also having a skeleton in their closet—can Lady Hardcastle and Flo unravel this complex web of secrets and deception before the killer strikes again?
Thanks to Netgallery UK, the publishers and the author for letting me read a copy in return for an honest review.
May 27, 2026
grateful to NetGalley, the Author, and Publishers for granting me this audiobook ARC!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
this was a really fun, charming cosy mystery, even if i probably shouldn't have started the series on book thirteen. i definitely felt a bit disconnected from the two main characters because their relationship was already so established, but they were still incredibly likable and enjoyable.
i listened to the audiobook ARC and honestly really enjoyed it. the narrators did a great job and made the story even more entertaining to get through.
the overall vibe felt very Agatha Christie-inspired with its colourful cast of characters and playful mystery, though the writing itself was fairly basic and lacked a particularly strong voice.
my biggest issue was that the mystery never really felt high-stakes. everything came across very low-stakes and unserious, and the ending ended up being pretty underwhelming for me.
still, this was an entertaining read overall. not my favourite mystery novel ever, but enjoyable enough that i'm genuinely interested in going back and starting the series from the beginning.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
this was a really fun, charming cosy mystery, even if i probably shouldn't have started the series on book thirteen. i definitely felt a bit disconnected from the two main characters because their relationship was already so established, but they were still incredibly likable and enjoyable.
i listened to the audiobook ARC and honestly really enjoyed it. the narrators did a great job and made the story even more entertaining to get through.
the overall vibe felt very Agatha Christie-inspired with its colourful cast of characters and playful mystery, though the writing itself was fairly basic and lacked a particularly strong voice.
my biggest issue was that the mystery never really felt high-stakes. everything came across very low-stakes and unserious, and the ending ended up being pretty underwhelming for me.
still, this was an entertaining read overall. not my favourite mystery novel ever, but enjoyable enough that i'm genuinely interested in going back and starting the series from the beginning.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It’s February 1913, and on-again, off-again English spies — Emily, Lady Hardcastle, and her sassy maid and sidekick Florence Armstrong — head to an isolated island on the Devonshire coast owned by one J.B. McEntyre of Philadelphia, an excitable, very wealthy English-squire wannabe American who calls it his weekend retreat. The ladies aren’t alone: Also joining McEntyre are a blind English violinist and her manager-husband, a staid English couple, a young antiquities dealer and the “relentlessly jovial” (per the disapproving Flo Armstrong) Granville Bridgewater and his wife.
The island boasts a fort that McEntyre wants to turn into “soon to be a magnificent luxury resort,” as Lady Hardcastle phrases it; it has been exquisitely updated. One of the party dies (no spoiler, as it’s in the title) after two jewel thefts, and readers will enjoy every minute of Lady Hardcastle and Flo’s investigation, despite the culprit being a big far-fetched. I vacillated between giving this book four stars or four-and-a-half stars rounded up to five stars. That said, don’t let the denouement dissuade you from a rollicking read.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review.
The island boasts a fort that McEntyre wants to turn into “soon to be a magnificent luxury resort,” as Lady Hardcastle phrases it; it has been exquisitely updated. One of the party dies (no spoiler, as it’s in the title) after two jewel thefts, and readers will enjoy every minute of Lady Hardcastle and Flo’s investigation, despite the culprit being a big far-fetched. I vacillated between giving this book four stars or four-and-a-half stars rounded up to five stars. That said, don’t let the denouement dissuade you from a rollicking read.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2026
Lady Hardcastle and friend and maid Florence Armstrong are invited to American millionaire J B McIntyre's island off the coast of Devonshire. The other guests are an odd mixture of employees, their wives, and young proteges of the host. J B intends to market the island as a get-away resort.
As the bodies pile up, Lady Hardcastle and Flo try to sort out who among their fellow guest could be the culprit. Everyone seems to have an alibi for at least one murder. As they explore the secrets of the old fort, they realize they are up against one of the most twisted masterminds of their careers.
Always fun to go along with Emily and Flo, but I think I would run away if I saw them come to a house party! There is always a murder or two. The are always in danger. There is often collateral damage. BUT, they always eventually win out over the bad guys.
I really enjoy this series, especially the banter between "Lady and maid".
As the bodies pile up, Lady Hardcastle and Flo try to sort out who among their fellow guest could be the culprit. Everyone seems to have an alibi for at least one murder. As they explore the secrets of the old fort, they realize they are up against one of the most twisted masterminds of their careers.
Always fun to go along with Emily and Flo, but I think I would run away if I saw them come to a house party! There is always a murder or two. The are always in danger. There is often collateral damage. BUT, they always eventually win out over the bad guys.
I really enjoy this series, especially the banter between "Lady and maid".
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
I started on the Lady Hardcastle series during covid, while in quarantine, and have been fervently reading all the new books in the series as they get published. After I received the previous book from Netgalley, I have been looking out almost every month for book #13, and it was as delicious as ever.
Lady Hardcastle and Flossie's banter, Flossie's wit and many unexpected abilities, besides the good murder that is bound to happen with them around, the main difference being that this story did not happen in their little village with the usual characters. Besides the main plot, I am always excited to read about the contraptions/inventions during the times of the story - and this time there was mention of the Titanic bear and I suppose Teddy bears are coming into trend, and the dumbwaiter made an appearance.
I can't wait for book#14!
I started on the Lady Hardcastle series during covid, while in quarantine, and have been fervently reading all the new books in the series as they get published. After I received the previous book from Netgalley, I have been looking out almost every month for book #13, and it was as delicious as ever.
Lady Hardcastle and Flossie's banter, Flossie's wit and many unexpected abilities, besides the good murder that is bound to happen with them around, the main difference being that this story did not happen in their little village with the usual characters. Besides the main plot, I am always excited to read about the contraptions/inventions during the times of the story - and this time there was mention of the Titanic bear and I suppose Teddy bears are coming into trend, and the dumbwaiter made an appearance.
I can't wait for book#14!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Despite missing familiar characters from their home village of Littleton Cotterell, I loved the setting of this 13th book in the series.
Never ones to miss out on an adventure, Lady Hardcastle and her ‘tiny servant’ Flo Armstrong accept an invitation to join wealthy American JB McIntyre at his newly renovated island fort off the coast of Devon. What begins as a leisurely weekend getaway ends with, no surprise with these two gals, murder. And everything is complicated by the fact that the fort’s occupants and guests are stranded on the island for a few days until a scheduled mail delivery brings a boat there. Stranded with a murderer in their midst, no less.
Equal parts moodily atmospheric and lightly humorous, I enjoyed this immensely.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Never ones to miss out on an adventure, Lady Hardcastle and her ‘tiny servant’ Flo Armstrong accept an invitation to join wealthy American JB McIntyre at his newly renovated island fort off the coast of Devon. What begins as a leisurely weekend getaway ends with, no surprise with these two gals, murder. And everything is complicated by the fact that the fort’s occupants and guests are stranded on the island for a few days until a scheduled mail delivery brings a boat there. Stranded with a murderer in their midst, no less.
Equal parts moodily atmospheric and lightly humorous, I enjoyed this immensely.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
February 1913 and Lady Hardcastle and Flo are invited to spend a weekend at a house party on a remote island off the Devonshire coast. Almost as soon as they arrive some jewels disappear, and then there is a murder. The possible suspects are few and all of them trapped together in the house by bad weather. No phone line means the police are uncontactable so Lady H and Flo are on the case.
I always enjoy the books in this series and was very happy to take a little jaunt into Devon. The mystery was good and I began to suspect the right person towards the end but had to wait for the author to reveal why they did it. As usual I loved the interactions between Lady H and her tiny servant, many of which are laugh aloud funny. Five stars!
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I always enjoy the books in this series and was very happy to take a little jaunt into Devon. The mystery was good and I began to suspect the right person towards the end but had to wait for the author to reveal why they did it. As usual I loved the interactions between Lady H and her tiny servant, many of which are laugh aloud funny. Five stars!
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Lady Hardcastle series is my absolute favorite, so it always makes my day when I get to read the newest one. Murder on the Rocks is a wonderful addition to the series. Though I always miss the locals when the book takes place somewhere else, I have to say that I loved this cast of characters. They were all so interesting and colorful. My favorite was Clarice. The island setting was great too. As always, I loved the humor, the banter, the mystery and the historical details. I did figure out some of the big reveal this time, but certainly not all of it. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and already can't wait for the next one! Highly recommended!
Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK/Thomas & Mercer for the ARC.
Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK/Thomas & Mercer for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Lady Hardcastle and Flo have been invited to visit their friend JB McIntyre in his fort on an island off of Devonshire. He is planning to turn it into a hotel. It is high on a very rocky island. They arrive with several other folks. However, by the next morning two of the guests have had valuable jewelry stolen. Clarice, one of the visitors is blind, and her husband is not very helpful and says she is a useless criple. The next morning, he is found murdered. Soon, there is another murdered man, and then a big storm which sinks the boat which was their transportion. Of course, Lady Hardcastle and Flo eventually figure everything out.
I thank Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for the ARC so I could read the book before publication. It is a fun cozy mystery.
I thank Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for the ARC so I could read the book before publication. It is a fun cozy mystery.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Murder on the Rocks by T.E. Kinsey
Narrator, Elizabeth Knowelden
Lady Hardcastle and Flo, her tiny servant, never fail to entertain. This book takes place away from home which I don’t always like because the main characters don’t have their usual cast of friends and family at hand but this one was very good. It’s sort of like a locked room mystery because they are stuck on an island for several days due to a storm and a sunken boat. There is a bit of a twist at the end but Flo and Lady Hardcastle save the day as usual with some help from a new group of acquaintances and I hope some of them become friends. As always, already looking forward to the next book in this series.
Narration was excellent.
Thanks to NetGalley.
Narrator, Elizabeth Knowelden
Lady Hardcastle and Flo, her tiny servant, never fail to entertain. This book takes place away from home which I don’t always like because the main characters don’t have their usual cast of friends and family at hand but this one was very good. It’s sort of like a locked room mystery because they are stuck on an island for several days due to a storm and a sunken boat. There is a bit of a twist at the end but Flo and Lady Hardcastle save the day as usual with some help from a new group of acquaintances and I hope some of them become friends. As always, already looking forward to the next book in this series.
Narration was excellent.
Thanks to NetGalley.
May 28, 2026
Always, always, always GREAT!
When I start a Hardcastle mystery I try to be sure I have the time to finish it that day, because I know I won’t want to put it down. This one came out in the middle of the week and instead of humbly waiting till the weekend I ravenously dived right in, and forced myself to put it down for work and sleep. I have to say that discipline was easier than having to wait several days for the weekend to start it! What a great story all tied up in a nice bow.
I love Kinsey’s style and always wait on pins and needles for the next edition. Rereading the series has never been boring either.
Keep them coming T.E. Kinsey!!
(Ebb and Flow.. priceless!)
When I start a Hardcastle mystery I try to be sure I have the time to finish it that day, because I know I won’t want to put it down. This one came out in the middle of the week and instead of humbly waiting till the weekend I ravenously dived right in, and forced myself to put it down for work and sleep. I have to say that discipline was easier than having to wait several days for the weekend to start it! What a great story all tied up in a nice bow.
I love Kinsey’s style and always wait on pins and needles for the next edition. Rereading the series has never been boring either.
Keep them coming T.E. Kinsey!!
(Ebb and Flow.. priceless!)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 stars
We are thirteen books into this series and Lady Hardcastle remains a delightful way to spend an afternoon. Murder on the Rocks provides a cozy sendup of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None with a deliciously imposing island fortress setting and an intriguing closed-circle mystery. I wouldn't say that any of these books really break new ground or flip the conventions of the genre on its head, but they are just so comforting to read when you need a little pick me up. If Kinsey continues to churn these out, I will certainly continue to read them!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!
We are thirteen books into this series and Lady Hardcastle remains a delightful way to spend an afternoon. Murder on the Rocks provides a cozy sendup of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None with a deliciously imposing island fortress setting and an intriguing closed-circle mystery. I wouldn't say that any of these books really break new ground or flip the conventions of the genre on its head, but they are just so comforting to read when you need a little pick me up. If Kinsey continues to churn these out, I will certainly continue to read them!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!
May 29, 2026
Lady Hardcastle and Flo never disappoint. For this outing, the ladies are off for a long weekend at an American friend's fortress in Devonshire with a menagerie of characters. Of course, murder and mayhem join the party. The ladies' witty repartee does not disappoint, and the mystery has plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the reveal. I so want to slow down and savor each new release in this series, but I enjoy my time with the ladies so much that I find myself devouring every one. This release is no exception, and leaves me wanting more.
Elizabeth Knowelden's narration is excellent, as usual, and brings these characters to life.
Elizabeth Knowelden's narration is excellent, as usual, and brings these characters to life.
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