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Ladybird Ladybird: A murder mystery
A young widow is found dead in a burning glove workshop. The police call it arson. Two unlikely detectives know that is only half the story.
When a workshop on the lane to Bladon goes up in the September dusk, a toddler is pulled alive from the smoke. Her mother, glovress Nora Kinlan, is not.
The case draws Hester Croft, sharp-tongued, formidable, and the only person in town inclined to mistrust a story everyone has agreed is true, and Gertie Bundle, landlady of the Old Pyed Bull, into their third investigation together.
Inspector Wallace of the Oxfordshire CID arrests the workshop's owner before the embers are out. Hester does not agree. Nora was a quiet woman. A widow with a small daughter, a clean cottage, and the sort of secret that does not stay clean for long.
As Hester and Gertie pull at the threads Nora left behind, the small Oxfordshire market town shows them what it has chosen, since the war, not to remember.
When a workshop on the lane to Bladon goes up in the September dusk, a toddler is pulled alive from the smoke. Her mother, glovress Nora Kinlan, is not.
The case draws Hester Croft, sharp-tongued, formidable, and the only person in town inclined to mistrust a story everyone has agreed is true, and Gertie Bundle, landlady of the Old Pyed Bull, into their third investigation together.
Inspector Wallace of the Oxfordshire CID arrests the workshop's owner before the embers are out. Hester does not agree. Nora was a quiet woman. A widow with a small daughter, a clean cottage, and the sort of secret that does not stay clean for long.
As Hester and Gertie pull at the threads Nora left behind, the small Oxfordshire market town shows them what it has chosen, since the war, not to remember.
202 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2026
About the author
A.G. Barnett
29 books115 followersAG Barnett lives in Oxfordshire with his wife, daughter, three ridiculous spaniels, and four frizzle chickens.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 19, 2026
A beautiful finish for a beautiful trilogy.
This is a sad good bye to a very beautiful trilogy, which I'll read again many times from now on.
The very credible protagonists made my day from the first page of the first novel, through the last word of this one.
It's amazing how one is captured through all three novels and can't put the kindle fire down.
Thank you A.G. Barnett for this adorable trilogy.
This is a sad good bye to a very beautiful trilogy, which I'll read again many times from now on.
The very credible protagonists made my day from the first page of the first novel, through the last word of this one.
It's amazing how one is captured through all three novels and can't put the kindle fire down.
Thank you A.G. Barnett for this adorable trilogy.
July 18, 2026
Bravo
This story started out slowly, and both atmosphere and characters developed. After the sad death, a grim, but realistic reason for the death emerged. Finally, there was a great finish, which I won't spoil here. Highly recommended.
This story started out slowly, and both atmosphere and characters developed. After the sad death, a grim, but realistic reason for the death emerged. Finally, there was a great finish, which I won't spoil here. Highly recommended.
May 15, 2026
Margaret is my heroine. Read it and you'll get why.
May 22, 2026
Totally enjoyed it! This is a well written and has well developed characters. The story is catching and with the strong characters makes for a very enjoyable read. Great Reading Everyone!
June 28, 2026
Good narrative but not my favourite read they drink a hell of a lot of tea
June 11, 2026
Woodstock, 1950. A workshop is set ablaze, ruled arson, but a female body is found inside that of a young widow. Inspector Wallace investigates but Nestor Croft decides to ask questions.
An enjoyable historical mystery
An enjoyable historical mystery
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews