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Lady Hardcastle Mysteries #1
Vaikne elu maal
Elu maal on kõike muud kui vaikne
Leedi Emily Hardcastle on ekstsentriline salapärase minevikuga lesk. Tema teenijanna ja usaldusisik Florence Armstrong valdab meisterlikult võitluskunste. On aasta 1908 ja nad on just äsja kolinud Londonist maale, lootes vaikset elukeskkonda.
Ent üsna pea on leedi Hardcastle sunnitud soovitud eraldatusest loobuma. Metsast leitakse laip ning politsei ajab valesid jälgi. Leedi Hardcastle kuulab ka ise pisut maad ning tundub, et ta teab kriminaaljuurdlusest üllatavalt palju...
Üha sügavamale maakoha vastakatesse ja pahameelt tekitavatesse suhetesse süüvides paljastavad nad intriigide võrgu, mis ulatub külakesest kaugemalegi. Peaaegu kedagi ei saa kahtlusaluste hulgast välja arvata ja sestap saavad daamid olla kindlad vaid ühes: pole olemas sellist asja nagu vaikne elu maal.
Leedi Emily Hardcastle on ekstsentriline salapärase minevikuga lesk. Tema teenijanna ja usaldusisik Florence Armstrong valdab meisterlikult võitluskunste. On aasta 1908 ja nad on just äsja kolinud Londonist maale, lootes vaikset elukeskkonda.
Ent üsna pea on leedi Hardcastle sunnitud soovitud eraldatusest loobuma. Metsast leitakse laip ning politsei ajab valesid jälgi. Leedi Hardcastle kuulab ka ise pisut maad ning tundub, et ta teab kriminaaljuurdlusest üllatavalt palju...
Üha sügavamale maakoha vastakatesse ja pahameelt tekitavatesse suhetesse süüvides paljastavad nad intriigide võrgu, mis ulatub külakesest kaugemalegi. Peaaegu kedagi ei saa kahtlusaluste hulgast välja arvata ja sestap saavad daamid olla kindlad vaid ühes: pole olemas sellist asja nagu vaikne elu maal.
272 pages, Paperback
First published October 4, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,031 reviews
August 19, 2018
A gentle, pleasant historical mystery, written in the manner of an Agatha Christie novel, with murder committed in the library and lots of upstairs/downstairs comings and goings.
Lady Hardcastle and her personal maid, Armstrong, make an excellent team. Their relationship is a little different from the norm and Armstrong has hidden depths. It is all great fun, well written and very entertaining.
Lady Hardcastle and her personal maid, Armstrong, make an excellent team. Their relationship is a little different from the norm and Armstrong has hidden depths. It is all great fun, well written and very entertaining.
April 15, 2024
3.5
I'm going to use a word I've never used before to describe a novel and that's "delightful". A fantastic comic double act. The crime itself isn't particularly original but I can't remember the last time I read a book that made me laugh out loud so many times
Looking forward to book 2
I'm going to use a word I've never used before to describe a novel and that's "delightful". A fantastic comic double act. The crime itself isn't particularly original but I can't remember the last time I read a book that made me laugh out loud so many times
Looking forward to book 2
October 19, 2017
Settled into their new country house, Lady Emily Hardcastle and her maid Florence Armstrong amused each other with the usual anecdotes of times past, while deciding whether to employ a couple more staff. The house was much larger than the apartment in London and Flo was sure she couldn’t manage it on her own. Lady Hardcastle soon had many callers – after all, it wasn’t often a lady resided in the vicinity; the invitations also started arriving.
But it was when a dead body was discovered in the woods that had both Flo and Lady Hardcastle intrigued. Amateur sleuths themselves, they were sure the police had the wrong suspect and were determined to discover the real killer one way or the other. The secrets and lies that came to the surface pointed to only one thing for Lady Hardcastle and Flo – their desire for a quiet life in the country was not about to come to fruition any time soon…
A Quiet Life in the Country is the 1st in the Lady Hardcastle Mysteries by T.E. Kinsey and is a wonderful historical cosy mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed. I had read #3 first, so wanted to start at the beginning. The characters of Lady Hardcastle and Flo are an absolute delight, with a number of laugh out loud moments throughout the story. I’ll be reading more in this series as soon as I can. Highly recommended.
But it was when a dead body was discovered in the woods that had both Flo and Lady Hardcastle intrigued. Amateur sleuths themselves, they were sure the police had the wrong suspect and were determined to discover the real killer one way or the other. The secrets and lies that came to the surface pointed to only one thing for Lady Hardcastle and Flo – their desire for a quiet life in the country was not about to come to fruition any time soon…
A Quiet Life in the Country is the 1st in the Lady Hardcastle Mysteries by T.E. Kinsey and is a wonderful historical cosy mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed. I had read #3 first, so wanted to start at the beginning. The characters of Lady Hardcastle and Flo are an absolute delight, with a number of laugh out loud moments throughout the story. I’ll be reading more in this series as soon as I can. Highly recommended.
October 13, 2016
2.5 stars.
I won this book from the Goodreads Giveaways.
This is a cute, cozy mystery with two women sleuths, Lady Hardcastle and her maid/companion Miss Armstrong. It takes place in a small English village in 1908.
Lady Hardcastle has retired to the country to enjoy the quiet life when, out walking one morning, she and her maid discover a body in the woods. The usual follows; police who aren't good at their jobs, an assortment of suspects and motives, many pots of tea consumed, danger for our heroine, then confrontation of the baddy followed by detailed confession from said baddy.
Lady Hardcastle and Miss Armstrong have a mysterious past together where they had many exciting, dangerous adventures and each time this past is discussed, it's far more interesting than the mystery of who killed the corpse in the woods. The author should write about these past shenanigans instead. Also, these characters would work better written as men, since they don't ring true as Edwardian women. This was better written than most books of this type but it didn't quite work for me. Lots of potential here though, I hope the author perseveres.
I won this book from the Goodreads Giveaways.
This is a cute, cozy mystery with two women sleuths, Lady Hardcastle and her maid/companion Miss Armstrong. It takes place in a small English village in 1908.
Lady Hardcastle has retired to the country to enjoy the quiet life when, out walking one morning, she and her maid discover a body in the woods. The usual follows; police who aren't good at their jobs, an assortment of suspects and motives, many pots of tea consumed, danger for our heroine, then confrontation of the baddy followed by detailed confession from said baddy.
Lady Hardcastle and Miss Armstrong have a mysterious past together where they had many exciting, dangerous adventures and each time this past is discussed, it's far more interesting than the mystery of who killed the corpse in the woods. The author should write about these past shenanigans instead. Also, these characters would work better written as men, since they don't ring true as Edwardian women. This was better written than most books of this type but it didn't quite work for me. Lots of potential here though, I hope the author perseveres.
October 13, 2024
A Quiet Life in the Country (Lady Hardcastle Mysteries, #1) by T.E. Kinsey
Synopsis /
Lady Emily Hardcastle is an eccentric widow with a secret past. Florence Armstrong, her maid and confidante, is an expert in martial arts. The year is 1908 and they’ve just moved from London to the country, hoping for a quiet life.
But it is not long before Lady Hardcastle is forced out of her self-imposed retirement. There’s a dead body in the woods, and the police are on the wrong scent. Lady Hardcastle makes some enquiries of her own, and it seems she knows a surprising amount about crime investigation…
As Lady Hardcastle and Flo delve deeper into rural rivalries and resentment, they uncover a web of intrigue that extends far beyond the village. With almost no one free from suspicion, they can be certain of only one fact: there is no such thing as a quiet life in the country.
My Thoughts /
3.5 rounded up
As I was adding book #10 of this series (Lady Hardcastle Mysteries) to my want to read list I realised that, over time, I had added quite a few others from this series as well - so I thought I should ‘do the right thing’ and start from the beginning.
So that’s where we’re at - book #1, A Quiet Life in the Country.
It seems to be a fairly common practice for the first book in a series to be used as a sort of receptacle for info dumps, and this book is no different.
The story is narrated to the reader by Miss Florence Armstrong, who acts both as a confidante and ladies maid to Lady Emily Hardcastle. Armstrong; Flo; or Florence - depending on whether she deigns you a good friend, friend or, acquaintance - has been in the employ of Lady Hardcastle for over a decade and during that time, the two women have developed a deep-seated friendship and a mutual respect for one another. What I enjoyed most about how Kinsey has written their relationship is that while Miss Armstrong is employed by Lady Hardcastle as a maid, the usual societal ‘boundaries’ between the two are fluid - they exist, yet the don’t. Both employer and employee ‘rib’ each other and these good natured ‘jibes’ are not taken to heart, rather, are taken affectionately and with good grace.
The year is 1908 and Lady Hardcastle and Armstrong have just arrived from London to the small, quiet, country village of Littleton Cotterell. Now widowed, Lady Hardcastle spent most of her marriage abroad with her husband who was in the diplomatic service. Having travelled to so many different places, and many different countries, Lady Hardcastle is now looking for a more sedate lifestyle, and she’s hoping Littleton Cotterell will provide the quiet life she’s hoping for. AAH...... How’s the serenity? So much serenity.
With a promise from Lady Hardcastle that any further perilous adventures were now firmly behind them, the two friends set about settling in to their new home. But of course.........
‘And in the centre of the clearing, my dear Florence,’ she was saying, without apparently having broken her conversational stride, ‘we have . . . I say!’ ‘A dead body, my lady?’ I said. ‘I was going to say, “a magnificent English oak”,’ she said, somewhat distractedly, ‘but the body is definitely the more arresting sight.’
....no sooner have they moved in than they find a dead body in the woods.
What follows is a delightful period-murder-mystery, filled with plenty of red herrings, witty banter and some good detecting.
Synopsis /
Lady Emily Hardcastle is an eccentric widow with a secret past. Florence Armstrong, her maid and confidante, is an expert in martial arts. The year is 1908 and they’ve just moved from London to the country, hoping for a quiet life.
But it is not long before Lady Hardcastle is forced out of her self-imposed retirement. There’s a dead body in the woods, and the police are on the wrong scent. Lady Hardcastle makes some enquiries of her own, and it seems she knows a surprising amount about crime investigation…
As Lady Hardcastle and Flo delve deeper into rural rivalries and resentment, they uncover a web of intrigue that extends far beyond the village. With almost no one free from suspicion, they can be certain of only one fact: there is no such thing as a quiet life in the country.
My Thoughts /
3.5 rounded up
As I was adding book #10 of this series (Lady Hardcastle Mysteries) to my want to read list I realised that, over time, I had added quite a few others from this series as well - so I thought I should ‘do the right thing’ and start from the beginning.
So that’s where we’re at - book #1, A Quiet Life in the Country.
It seems to be a fairly common practice for the first book in a series to be used as a sort of receptacle for info dumps, and this book is no different.
The story is narrated to the reader by Miss Florence Armstrong, who acts both as a confidante and ladies maid to Lady Emily Hardcastle. Armstrong; Flo; or Florence - depending on whether she deigns you a good friend, friend or, acquaintance - has been in the employ of Lady Hardcastle for over a decade and during that time, the two women have developed a deep-seated friendship and a mutual respect for one another. What I enjoyed most about how Kinsey has written their relationship is that while Miss Armstrong is employed by Lady Hardcastle as a maid, the usual societal ‘boundaries’ between the two are fluid - they exist, yet the don’t. Both employer and employee ‘rib’ each other and these good natured ‘jibes’ are not taken to heart, rather, are taken affectionately and with good grace.
The year is 1908 and Lady Hardcastle and Armstrong have just arrived from London to the small, quiet, country village of Littleton Cotterell. Now widowed, Lady Hardcastle spent most of her marriage abroad with her husband who was in the diplomatic service. Having travelled to so many different places, and many different countries, Lady Hardcastle is now looking for a more sedate lifestyle, and she’s hoping Littleton Cotterell will provide the quiet life she’s hoping for. AAH...... How’s the serenity? So much serenity.
With a promise from Lady Hardcastle that any further perilous adventures were now firmly behind them, the two friends set about settling in to their new home. But of course.........
‘And in the centre of the clearing, my dear Florence,’ she was saying, without apparently having broken her conversational stride, ‘we have . . . I say!’ ‘A dead body, my lady?’ I said. ‘I was going to say, “a magnificent English oak”,’ she said, somewhat distractedly, ‘but the body is definitely the more arresting sight.’
....no sooner have they moved in than they find a dead body in the woods.
What follows is a delightful period-murder-mystery, filled with plenty of red herrings, witty banter and some good detecting.
July 19, 2022
4★
“ ‘Still, it could be worse. You could have been called upon to foil the assassination of the Bulgarian ambassador. Again.’
‘That was a lark, though, wasn’t it?’
‘A lark indeed, my lady. I think we’re better off without all that, though.’ ”
This is a delightful dip into what is apparently the middle of the lives of Lady Hardcastle and her lady’s maid, Flo Armstrong, in England in 1908. The widowed Lady Hardcastle, Emily to her friends, has bought a country house to lead a quiet life among simple country folk, enjoy fresh food and clean air.
Flo narrates the story with wit and humour and loving concern for Lady Hardcastle, who is not Her Ladyship, incidentally, as Flo explains.
“ ‘Telegram for her ladyship,’ he mumbled quickly, holding it out for me to take.
‘My lady doesn’t sail,’ I said. He looked blankly at me. ‘She doesn’t have a “ship”.’ I tried to explain. ‘She’s a knight’s widow so she’s “Lady Hardcastle” or “my lady”.’ ”
They decide to go for a walk, get the lay of the land, explore the countryside, maybe stop to make sketches, have a cup of tea – but wait. Seems they’ve trespassed onto private property. Still, the owner realises who they are (very small village, so they’re a topic of local conversation) and asks:
“ ‘Just you mind you shut the gates and don’t frighten the beasts and we’ll get along fine.’ ”
That they can do. Off they tramp through the woods, with Lady Hardcastle reminding Armstrong that she needn’t keep looking over her shoulder as if they were still being pursued. They are safe now.
These little comments pop up frequently, teasers to suggest a mysterious past, and each one suggests more danger and mention is made of yet more derring-do by these two seemingly harmless women. Hardly harmless!
As they wander through the woods, Lady Hardcastle chatting as she goes:
“ ‘And in the centre of the clearing, my dear Florence,’ she was saying, without apparently having broken her conversational stride, ‘we have . . . I say!’
‘A dead body, my lady?’
I said. ‘I was going to say, “a magnificent English oak”,’ she said, somewhat distractedly, ‘but the body is definitely the more arresting sight.’”
A body! Now we’re in business! The police arrive and trample over the scene, but not before Lady Hardcastle and Armstrong have noticed some important details. Following this, they begin sleuthing as they used to, deciding the countryside is perhaps a little too quiet for them otherwise.
Meanwhile, there’s the usual society scramble to meet the new Lady. People are surprised how close a relationship Lady Hardcastle has with her maid, but the two women work well together.
Armstrong is a servant, but more in the way a daughter might be to a frail mother – cooking when necessary, etc. – but she is paid and does manage any other household staff. Lady H is not frail, however!
As they move around, Flo Armstrong mixes with the staff below stairs - cooks, chauffeurs, gardeners and the like - while her boss mingles with the gentry above stairs, so when they compare notes, they have a lot of ground covered.
Lady Hardcastle is invited to a dinner party where, after some questioning, the hostess recognises Emily (Lady H) as the daughter of one of her oldest friends. She had met Emily when she was just a tot and kept up a correspondence with the mother for years. Lady H finds her and her husband “ ‘sweet and charming and quite as barmy as a sack of gibbons and I had a lovely time.’ ”
As for the rest of the evening:
“ ‘What I’d expected to be an intimate supper with the local landowners turned into some manner of formal introduction to the Great and the Good. Or the local equivalent, at least. The Moderately Significant and the Well-Intentioned, perhaps. Still, they think themselves frightfully important and that’s what counts, I suppose.’ ”
In addition to the mystery of the body in the tree is added an engagement party, a suspicious business affair, and a stolen gem. Something for everyone, and all neatly figured out by this pair with some help from the local police, who quite admire the women, fortunately.
When Lady H needs to clear her head, she recommends music.
“ ‘But enough of thieves and bludgeoners, what say we clear our minds completely and indulge in some of the finer things in life. I seem to be in the mood for some ragtime. Fetch your banjo. We shall drink cognac and syncopate the night away.’ “
Count me in! I intend to enjoy more adventures with this colourful pair.
Available on Kindle Unlimited if you subscribe.
“ ‘Still, it could be worse. You could have been called upon to foil the assassination of the Bulgarian ambassador. Again.’
‘That was a lark, though, wasn’t it?’
‘A lark indeed, my lady. I think we’re better off without all that, though.’ ”
This is a delightful dip into what is apparently the middle of the lives of Lady Hardcastle and her lady’s maid, Flo Armstrong, in England in 1908. The widowed Lady Hardcastle, Emily to her friends, has bought a country house to lead a quiet life among simple country folk, enjoy fresh food and clean air.
Flo narrates the story with wit and humour and loving concern for Lady Hardcastle, who is not Her Ladyship, incidentally, as Flo explains.
“ ‘Telegram for her ladyship,’ he mumbled quickly, holding it out for me to take.
‘My lady doesn’t sail,’ I said. He looked blankly at me. ‘She doesn’t have a “ship”.’ I tried to explain. ‘She’s a knight’s widow so she’s “Lady Hardcastle” or “my lady”.’ ”
They decide to go for a walk, get the lay of the land, explore the countryside, maybe stop to make sketches, have a cup of tea – but wait. Seems they’ve trespassed onto private property. Still, the owner realises who they are (very small village, so they’re a topic of local conversation) and asks:
“ ‘Just you mind you shut the gates and don’t frighten the beasts and we’ll get along fine.’ ”
That they can do. Off they tramp through the woods, with Lady Hardcastle reminding Armstrong that she needn’t keep looking over her shoulder as if they were still being pursued. They are safe now.
These little comments pop up frequently, teasers to suggest a mysterious past, and each one suggests more danger and mention is made of yet more derring-do by these two seemingly harmless women. Hardly harmless!
As they wander through the woods, Lady Hardcastle chatting as she goes:
“ ‘And in the centre of the clearing, my dear Florence,’ she was saying, without apparently having broken her conversational stride, ‘we have . . . I say!’
‘A dead body, my lady?’
I said. ‘I was going to say, “a magnificent English oak”,’ she said, somewhat distractedly, ‘but the body is definitely the more arresting sight.’”
A body! Now we’re in business! The police arrive and trample over the scene, but not before Lady Hardcastle and Armstrong have noticed some important details. Following this, they begin sleuthing as they used to, deciding the countryside is perhaps a little too quiet for them otherwise.
Meanwhile, there’s the usual society scramble to meet the new Lady. People are surprised how close a relationship Lady Hardcastle has with her maid, but the two women work well together.
Armstrong is a servant, but more in the way a daughter might be to a frail mother – cooking when necessary, etc. – but she is paid and does manage any other household staff. Lady H is not frail, however!
As they move around, Flo Armstrong mixes with the staff below stairs - cooks, chauffeurs, gardeners and the like - while her boss mingles with the gentry above stairs, so when they compare notes, they have a lot of ground covered.
Lady Hardcastle is invited to a dinner party where, after some questioning, the hostess recognises Emily (Lady H) as the daughter of one of her oldest friends. She had met Emily when she was just a tot and kept up a correspondence with the mother for years. Lady H finds her and her husband “ ‘sweet and charming and quite as barmy as a sack of gibbons and I had a lovely time.’ ”
As for the rest of the evening:
“ ‘What I’d expected to be an intimate supper with the local landowners turned into some manner of formal introduction to the Great and the Good. Or the local equivalent, at least. The Moderately Significant and the Well-Intentioned, perhaps. Still, they think themselves frightfully important and that’s what counts, I suppose.’ ”
In addition to the mystery of the body in the tree is added an engagement party, a suspicious business affair, and a stolen gem. Something for everyone, and all neatly figured out by this pair with some help from the local police, who quite admire the women, fortunately.
When Lady H needs to clear her head, she recommends music.
“ ‘But enough of thieves and bludgeoners, what say we clear our minds completely and indulge in some of the finer things in life. I seem to be in the mood for some ragtime. Fetch your banjo. We shall drink cognac and syncopate the night away.’ “
Count me in! I intend to enjoy more adventures with this colourful pair.
Available on Kindle Unlimited if you subscribe.
October 8, 2016
I wasn't sure about choosing to read this title. However I'm glad I did.
I need to be careful not to spoil the plot. So I'll ignore comment on the storyline and just comment on the writing.
T.E. Kinsey has managed to take an old tried and tested genre and bring to it a new lease of life.
Very much a period murder mystery.
At the start I thought this was a missing Agatha Christie story, but it is so much more. The author has taken the country house drama and used the ideas from the game Cleudo or the play The Mousetrap and has added humour to the mix.
I love the central characters of Lady Hardcastle and Florence Armstrong.
The red herrings are there in shoals.
The twists and turns in the plot wouldn't be out of place in the maze at Hampton Court.
I really look forward to reading more of these stories. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Thomas & Mercer for a copy in exchange for this honest review.
I need to be careful not to spoil the plot. So I'll ignore comment on the storyline and just comment on the writing.
T.E. Kinsey has managed to take an old tried and tested genre and bring to it a new lease of life.
Very much a period murder mystery.
At the start I thought this was a missing Agatha Christie story, but it is so much more. The author has taken the country house drama and used the ideas from the game Cleudo or the play The Mousetrap and has added humour to the mix.
I love the central characters of Lady Hardcastle and Florence Armstrong.
The red herrings are there in shoals.
The twists and turns in the plot wouldn't be out of place in the maze at Hampton Court.
I really look forward to reading more of these stories. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Thomas & Mercer for a copy in exchange for this honest review.
February 11, 2017
I am a very patient person, as a rule, but at nearly 30% I give up on this novel. It's slow paced and boring and I have so many other books to read. Light and fluffy historical cosy mystery that is supposed to be funny. Not.
May 13, 2018
It is 1908 and Lady Emily Hardcastle, and her maid, Florence Armstrong, have decided to settledown in a country house near the village of Littington Cotterill. It soon becomes apparent that neither are quite as traditional as might be expected. There are lots of hints about various adventures overseas and it is also clear that the women are friends, rather than servant and mistress. Referring to each other as, “ageing employer,” and “tiny servant,” they are very much a team and raise eyebrows by eating together and enjoying each other’s company.
Although Florence is hoping for a quiet life, it seems that adventure is to follow them. Shortly after their arrival, the two go for a stroll in the nearby woods and discover a body hanging from a tree. It looks like suicide, but Lady Hardcastle questions events and decides that she and Florence should investigate the crime.
Locally, the most exciting news prior to the murder was the engagement of the daughter of Sir Hector and Lady Farley-Stroud, who knew Lady Hardcastle when she was young, with the son of James and Ida Seddon, owners of a shipping company. Before long, there is another murder at the engagement party, as well as a missing jewel, and both Lady Emily and Florence are thrown into an exciting and challenging case.
This is a fun mystery, with interesting characters. I look forward to enjoying more in the series. I listened to this on audio and found the narrator excellent and this a well told story.
Although Florence is hoping for a quiet life, it seems that adventure is to follow them. Shortly after their arrival, the two go for a stroll in the nearby woods and discover a body hanging from a tree. It looks like suicide, but Lady Hardcastle questions events and decides that she and Florence should investigate the crime.
Locally, the most exciting news prior to the murder was the engagement of the daughter of Sir Hector and Lady Farley-Stroud, who knew Lady Hardcastle when she was young, with the son of James and Ida Seddon, owners of a shipping company. Before long, there is another murder at the engagement party, as well as a missing jewel, and both Lady Emily and Florence are thrown into an exciting and challenging case.
This is a fun mystery, with interesting characters. I look forward to enjoying more in the series. I listened to this on audio and found the narrator excellent and this a well told story.
April 25, 2017
Review written April 24, 2017
3.6 Stars - Cozy nicely told crime solving fiction. I chuckled and truly enjoyed a lot.
Serial book #1
A Quiet Life in the Country is the first in a cozy historical mystery serial. Got it on a chance. — Well choosed!
7:43 audiobook hours narrated by Elizabeth Knowelden.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
England 1908 about Emily, Lady Hardcastle, a 40 years old widow, and her a bit younger personal maid, Florence Armstrong. Since years both friends and companions. — Moving to the countryside and some "fun" ladies adventures, like a murder investigation to snoop about, starts immediately.
Adorable (female) characters, very British old feeling plot, fun bantering and a listening making you chuckle and laugh a lot. Simply terrific for a cozy historical mysteries lover. Yes, sure it's a bit ridiculous and very easy-going. The ladies are kinda nerdy, but if you like old fashioned even in murder investigations fiction, this style is what I would classify very good easy-to-eat entertainment. Add perfect fitting narrator voices. — It will be more.
I LIKE - funny snooping ladies
3.6 Stars - Cozy nicely told crime solving fiction. I chuckled and truly enjoyed a lot.
Serial book #1
A Quiet Life in the Country is the first in a cozy historical mystery serial. Got it on a chance. — Well choosed!
7:43 audiobook hours narrated by Elizabeth Knowelden.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
England 1908 about Emily, Lady Hardcastle, a 40 years old widow, and her a bit younger personal maid, Florence Armstrong. Since years both friends and companions. — Moving to the countryside and some "fun" ladies adventures, like a murder investigation to snoop about, starts immediately.
Adorable (female) characters, very British old feeling plot, fun bantering and a listening making you chuckle and laugh a lot. Simply terrific for a cozy historical mysteries lover. Yes, sure it's a bit ridiculous and very easy-going. The ladies are kinda nerdy, but if you like old fashioned even in murder investigations fiction, this style is what I would classify very good easy-to-eat entertainment. Add perfect fitting narrator voices. — It will be more.
I LIKE - funny snooping ladies
February 10, 2018
A Quiet Life In The Country is book one in the Lady Hardcastle Mysteries by T. E. Kinsey. Lady Hardcastle decided to move from London to the country for a quieter life. However, it did not happen Lady Hardcastle became involved with the small rural community. Also, Lady Hardcastle got involved in the investigation of the death of a young man she found in the woods. The readers of A Quiet Life In The Country will follow Lady Hardcastle investigation into the murder of the young man.
A Quiet Life In The Country is a historical crime mystery and the first book I have read of T. E. Kinsey. I did enjoy reading A Quiet Life In The Country. I like T. E. Kinsey portrayal of her characters and the way they intertwined with each other throughout the book. I do like T. E. Kinsey main character Lady Hardcastle and the way she interacts with her lady maid Florence Armstrong. I love T. E. Kinsey writing style and the way he describes his settings.
The readers of A Quiet Life In The Country will learn about law enforcement procedures in the early Nineteen Century. Also, the readers of A Quiet Life In The Country will see how people live in rural English communities in the first part of last Century.
I recommend this book.
A Quiet Life In The Country is a historical crime mystery and the first book I have read of T. E. Kinsey. I did enjoy reading A Quiet Life In The Country. I like T. E. Kinsey portrayal of her characters and the way they intertwined with each other throughout the book. I do like T. E. Kinsey main character Lady Hardcastle and the way she interacts with her lady maid Florence Armstrong. I love T. E. Kinsey writing style and the way he describes his settings.
The readers of A Quiet Life In The Country will learn about law enforcement procedures in the early Nineteen Century. Also, the readers of A Quiet Life In The Country will see how people live in rural English communities in the first part of last Century.
I recommend this book.
May 23, 2021
A Quiet Life in the Country
(Lady Hardcastle Mysteries #1)
by T.E. Kinsey
I haven't read any of these books before and it is a bit out of my norm but I really enjoyed it. I loved the witty banter, the world building, and the delightful characters!
It's 1908 in the UK in the country. Lady Hardcastle and her personal maid are more best friends than Lady and servant but play the society game in public. The Lady is a widow too. They have been on many adventures before and decided to settle in the country. They aren't there long before they find a dead body. With her wonderful brain, her maids access to gossip, they help the local cops. I think what I like the best is that the story is from the Kahr's point of view!
(Lady Hardcastle Mysteries #1)
by T.E. Kinsey
I haven't read any of these books before and it is a bit out of my norm but I really enjoyed it. I loved the witty banter, the world building, and the delightful characters!
It's 1908 in the UK in the country. Lady Hardcastle and her personal maid are more best friends than Lady and servant but play the society game in public. The Lady is a widow too. They have been on many adventures before and decided to settle in the country. They aren't there long before they find a dead body. With her wonderful brain, her maids access to gossip, they help the local cops. I think what I like the best is that the story is from the Kahr's point of view!
April 4, 2017
T.E. Kinsey had me within the first amusing ten minutes of listening to A Quiet Life in the Country, the debut book in a series featuring the mysterious Emily, Lady Hardcastle, and her sassy maid, Florence “Flo” Armstrong. After 14 years together — and some harrowing, death-defying adventures only hinted at — they’re clearly friends more than employer and employee, and their banter proves a sheer delight. But, of course, the mysteries are what really make this book shine.
A Quiet Life in the Country contains three mysteries that are tackled by these shrewd, if flippant, amateur sleuths: a suicide that isn’t, a missing gemstone and a murdered musician. Readers will thoroughly enjoy tagging along with Lady Hardcastle and Flo for a life in the country that’s proving anything but quiet. I can hardly wait for the next volume!
Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not extend a shout-out to narrator Elizabeth Knowelden, who did a very fine job, indeed.
A Quiet Life in the Country contains three mysteries that are tackled by these shrewd, if flippant, amateur sleuths: a suicide that isn’t, a missing gemstone and a murdered musician. Readers will thoroughly enjoy tagging along with Lady Hardcastle and Flo for a life in the country that’s proving anything but quiet. I can hardly wait for the next volume!
Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not extend a shout-out to narrator Elizabeth Knowelden, who did a very fine job, indeed.
March 8, 2021
Lady Hardcastle and her maid, Flo, are two of the most annoying literary characters I’ve ever come across and I’d last two minutes in their company if I ever met them. They’re annoyingly self satisfied all of the time, particularly in relation to their ‘clever’ humour.
There are two completely separate whodunnit elements to this book, probably because neither would have sufficed in itself. There is a lot of padding and references to Flo and Emily’s ridiculous backstory - a prequel in the offing perhaps? - without which it would have been an even quicker read.
If I’d hated this, I wouldn’t have finished it. I didn’t hate it. It was ok but I only read it through to the end because it’s the English Mysteries Club’s February book of the month. 3 stars might seem generous but it isn’t badly written and, although the humour in it is not to my personal taste, it gave me the occasional wry smile!
There are two completely separate whodunnit elements to this book, probably because neither would have sufficed in itself. There is a lot of padding and references to Flo and Emily’s ridiculous backstory - a prequel in the offing perhaps? - without which it would have been an even quicker read.
If I’d hated this, I wouldn’t have finished it. I didn’t hate it. It was ok but I only read it through to the end because it’s the English Mysteries Club’s February book of the month. 3 stars might seem generous but it isn’t badly written and, although the humour in it is not to my personal taste, it gave me the occasional wry smile!
December 2, 2014
Loved, loved, loved this book. Lady Hardcastle and Flo go together like bread and butter! And their more than Lady and Ladies maid. Their friends. I actually liked all of the secondary characters, too. Some were a hoot! Can hardly wait for their next adventure in the country. They thought it was going to be a little boring, but that didn't happen. You'll have to read it to find out what they got into. I would recommend this to anyone loves stories set in the early 1900's. What? They had telephones!
April 13, 2017
The time is 1908. Emily, Lady Hardcastle and her personal maid, Florence Armstrong, have resettled in Gloustershire, abandoning the night lights of London. This is a country England period piece. So, if you don't care for the following (typical) banter between two:
"All taken care of, my lady," I said. "Lamps, oil, candles, matches...alll in that tea chest over there."
"What would I do without you?"
I thought for a moment. "Starve to death, my lady, in the dark."
Then, this isn't your cup of tea. If you are willing, be prepared for the cascade of period references to such things as the "larder" and the "orangery." And know, that this is an investigative twosome in the well-worn tracks of Lord Peter Whimsey and Bunter, where the "servant" is able to get much of the critical information by being accepted by the lower classes and the "downstairs" contingent.
This introductory book brings the reader up to speed gently because you do not have to wait long for the body to appear and the game to be afoot. Kinsey, thankfully, isn't determined to describe the previous adventures of this duo in China, India and other parts of "The Empire" before turning us loose for a romp that involves an engagement, a theft, a troupe of ragtime musicians, a cricket team, several upper class twits, a variety of police and some vandals.
If you are nit-picky you may find a few period inconsistencies and deduct a star. I didn't.
"All taken care of, my lady," I said. "Lamps, oil, candles, matches...alll in that tea chest over there."
"What would I do without you?"
I thought for a moment. "Starve to death, my lady, in the dark."
Then, this isn't your cup of tea. If you are willing, be prepared for the cascade of period references to such things as the "larder" and the "orangery." And know, that this is an investigative twosome in the well-worn tracks of Lord Peter Whimsey and Bunter, where the "servant" is able to get much of the critical information by being accepted by the lower classes and the "downstairs" contingent.
This introductory book brings the reader up to speed gently because you do not have to wait long for the body to appear and the game to be afoot. Kinsey, thankfully, isn't determined to describe the previous adventures of this duo in China, India and other parts of "The Empire" before turning us loose for a romp that involves an engagement, a theft, a troupe of ragtime musicians, a cricket team, several upper class twits, a variety of police and some vandals.
If you are nit-picky you may find a few period inconsistencies and deduct a star. I didn't.
June 5, 2018
A Quiet Life in the Country is a cosy murder mystery. I loved the characters of Lady Hardcastle and her maid, Florence. Such fun, quirky and eccentric women. I found myself giggling away at some of the things they said.
This was a really easy story to listen to, and Lady Hardcastle reminded me of a posh version of Miss Marple and Agatha Raisin, so if you're fans of either of those, you'll probably really enjoy this.
I borrowed this in audiobook format through Amazon Kindle Unlimited.
This was a really easy story to listen to, and Lady Hardcastle reminded me of a posh version of Miss Marple and Agatha Raisin, so if you're fans of either of those, you'll probably really enjoy this.
I borrowed this in audiobook format through Amazon Kindle Unlimited.
January 6, 2021
This was a delightful surprise to start off the year. Can't wait to read and listen to book 2.
December 25, 2019
Enjoyable and humorous mystery as two women (Lady Hardcastle, an eccentric widow and her maid, Flo, embark on solving a murder (because the Constable is going to need some help)...and then there was 2 murders and list of suspects grows.
The book did start to drag just a bit for me some of the way through, but the chemistry with the characters was so engaging. I loved the way they bantered with each other always good-naturedly. The quick witt they each displayed was a delight (as I listened to this free in kindle unlimited in audio with a brilliant reader who had English accents down perfectly). (If you want to see some of my favorite lines, check out my notes!)
This was a great find. A light mystery with humor, no graphic violence, no graphic obscenities.
The book did start to drag just a bit for me some of the way through, but the chemistry with the characters was so engaging. I loved the way they bantered with each other always good-naturedly. The quick witt they each displayed was a delight (as I listened to this free in kindle unlimited in audio with a brilliant reader who had English accents down perfectly). (If you want to see some of my favorite lines, check out my notes!)
This was a great find. A light mystery with humor, no graphic violence, no graphic obscenities.
March 22, 2019
I started with book three in this series, progressed forward, and finally took the opportunity to go back and get the first book in the series. The cozy mystery paired with historical Edwardian setting was light and whimsical.
Actually, when I started listening, I realized that the first book introduced Lady Hardcastle and her ladies' maid, Florence Armstrong along with their new home and the other regular characters, in such a way that it didn't feel like the first book so much as the first of the stories that had been recorded. There are hints of their unusual, dangerous work abroad and no big explanation why the pair happened to be set upon 'a quiet life in the country' or why Lady Hardcastle and Florence have a relationship that is nearly family rather than an employer and servant from separate classes. The author trickles out the details and the reader/listener must catch them and piece them together as they go. Because I had experienced later books, those pieces stuck out easily to me. The meeting with Inspector Sunderland and the local villagers and neighborhood was fun. I do enjoy the amusing banter between the two women and hints of darker matters and sorrow from their shared past.
There are two murder mysteries that have interesting crossover people and facts. One seems to involve a dead man from the village cricket team whose death was meant to appear like a suicide and then later, the death of a rag-time band trumpeteer that played at the engagement party of the local squire's daughter. A theft is tossed in for good measure.
I figured out one of the murders and part of the theft and the second murder, but the ultimate solution took me by surprise. Loved seeing the intrepid Flo able to get in some of her martial arts ability, use her cache of being a member of the serving class to get their help and take on things, and spend time trailing along as her ladyship teased out the solution alongside Inspector Sunderland using old fashioned detection methods.
Elizabeth Knowelden is an absolute gem of a narrator and the voice of this series for me. She laid out the Edwardian country village world, the variety of genders and accents, and kept the pace and tone for this series just right.
All in all, I thought this first entry was as fabulous as the later books and do not hesitate to put it out there as a good bet for historical cozy mystery lovers.
Actually, when I started listening, I realized that the first book introduced Lady Hardcastle and her ladies' maid, Florence Armstrong along with their new home and the other regular characters, in such a way that it didn't feel like the first book so much as the first of the stories that had been recorded. There are hints of their unusual, dangerous work abroad and no big explanation why the pair happened to be set upon 'a quiet life in the country' or why Lady Hardcastle and Florence have a relationship that is nearly family rather than an employer and servant from separate classes. The author trickles out the details and the reader/listener must catch them and piece them together as they go. Because I had experienced later books, those pieces stuck out easily to me. The meeting with Inspector Sunderland and the local villagers and neighborhood was fun. I do enjoy the amusing banter between the two women and hints of darker matters and sorrow from their shared past.
There are two murder mysteries that have interesting crossover people and facts. One seems to involve a dead man from the village cricket team whose death was meant to appear like a suicide and then later, the death of a rag-time band trumpeteer that played at the engagement party of the local squire's daughter. A theft is tossed in for good measure.
I figured out one of the murders and part of the theft and the second murder, but the ultimate solution took me by surprise. Loved seeing the intrepid Flo able to get in some of her martial arts ability, use her cache of being a member of the serving class to get their help and take on things, and spend time trailing along as her ladyship teased out the solution alongside Inspector Sunderland using old fashioned detection methods.
Elizabeth Knowelden is an absolute gem of a narrator and the voice of this series for me. She laid out the Edwardian country village world, the variety of genders and accents, and kept the pace and tone for this series just right.
All in all, I thought this first entry was as fabulous as the later books and do not hesitate to put it out there as a good bet for historical cozy mystery lovers.
January 17, 2019
4 Stars for the audible edition. Narrated by: Elizabeth Knowelden. She did a fine job narrating the 40 year old widow, Lady Emily Hardcastle and her maid and best friend, Florence Armstrong.
This is a British cozy mystery that takes place in 1908. After leading an adventurous life, the two move to the countryside, hoping for peace and quiet. It doesn't last, as they find a dead body on their first morning walk and within a week, there is another mystery to solve (I don't want to spoil it). Although there are mysteries to solve, for me the most fun was their close friendship and humorous banter between the eccentric Hardcastle and the practical Armstrong. They blur convention and class lines between mistress and servant. We only get snippets of their past for much of the book. I almost wanted the past stories hinted about, rather than the present mystery.
The third main character, was the Inspector Sunderland. Unlike most mystery books, he allows them to sit in on his interviews and uses Flo's access to the "downstairs" to gather information. Hopefully, in the next book, we and the two MCs will get to meet Mrs. Sunderland.
This is a coziest of cozy mysteries. If you expect more, you maybe disappointed. But this is my cup of tea, so I enjoyed it. Its been awhile since I read one, so I think I missed it. Nevertheless, I plan to read the series but probably not binge. Small doses is probably best.
This is a British cozy mystery that takes place in 1908. After leading an adventurous life, the two move to the countryside, hoping for peace and quiet. It doesn't last, as they find a dead body on their first morning walk and within a week, there is another mystery to solve (I don't want to spoil it). Although there are mysteries to solve, for me the most fun was their close friendship and humorous banter between the eccentric Hardcastle and the practical Armstrong. They blur convention and class lines between mistress and servant. We only get snippets of their past for much of the book. I almost wanted the past stories hinted about, rather than the present mystery.
The third main character, was the Inspector Sunderland. Unlike most mystery books, he allows them to sit in on his interviews and uses Flo's access to the "downstairs" to gather information. Hopefully, in the next book, we and the two MCs will get to meet Mrs. Sunderland.
This is a coziest of cozy mysteries. If you expect more, you maybe disappointed. But this is my cup of tea, so I enjoyed it. Its been awhile since I read one, so I think I missed it. Nevertheless, I plan to read the series but probably not binge. Small doses is probably best.
June 18, 2018
A Quiet Life in the Country is a cozy, fun, mystery. Lady Hardcastle and her maid, Flo, are the best of friends who also seem to find adventure. Perfect for readers who prefer a mystery that is lighthearted.
November 12, 2021
Lady Hardcastle und ihre Zofe Florence sind ein eingespieltes Team, die schon viele Abenteuer gemeinsam überstanden haben. Nun sind die beiden Damen aufs Land gezogen, doch die Dorfidylle ist trügerisch und so stolpern sie schon bald über einen Toten im Wald. Die Polizei scheint nicht besonders helle oder engagiert zu sein, also beginnt das Duo zu ermitteln.
Dies ist der Auftakt zu einer Reihe, um die Witwe Lady Hardcastle und ihre pfiffige Zofe Florence. Anfangs hatte ich meine Bedenken, ob ich mit dem Humor glücklich werden könnte, doch bald waren die Ermittlungen für mich interessanter. Die Geschichte wird von Florence erzählt, so ist man bei ihrer Detektivarbeit immer dabei. Der Krimi schlägt ein paar Haken und die Charaktere sind sympathisch, es steht also einem weiteren Teil nichts im Wege.
Dies ist der Auftakt zu einer Reihe, um die Witwe Lady Hardcastle und ihre pfiffige Zofe Florence. Anfangs hatte ich meine Bedenken, ob ich mit dem Humor glücklich werden könnte, doch bald waren die Ermittlungen für mich interessanter. Die Geschichte wird von Florence erzählt, so ist man bei ihrer Detektivarbeit immer dabei. Der Krimi schlägt ein paar Haken und die Charaktere sind sympathisch, es steht also einem weiteren Teil nichts im Wege.
March 15, 2021
Enjoyed this first in series and plan to read more about Lady Hardcastle and her maid/companion Flo Armstrong whose strong bond relates to their past history which makes, in itself, a mystery that is gradually revealed in this book and apparently in the other books in the series. Their relationship is quite unusual and their humorous repartee adds a spark to the book. Not so humorous are the two murders that occur in this country village that belies the title of "a quiet life in the country." In spite of common belief, as Inspector Sunderland suggests, the statistics indicate that most crime occurs in small country villages and so the Inspector investigates as do Lady Hardcastle and Flo. Many interviews of the various suspects ensue. There are both humorous and serious comments about society and colonization in this historical mystery. A good reading ride.
June 12, 2023
It’s very enjoyable not so bad for the first one in the series. I love the Lady and lady’s maid banter they are really funny. I will continue to read more of the series. It’s 3.5 ⭐️ for me.
January 16, 2021
No one had wanted us dead simply for being English for a number of years now…
1908. King Edward VII is king of Great Britain and India. Cricketing rivalry between England and Australia is at a high, and the widow Lady Hardcastle, her late husband murdered in Shanghai, moves from London with her personal maid, Flo Armstrong, to the Gloucestershire countryside to stay in a house while the incumbents are in India. We quickly learn that Flo – who narrates the story of their eccentric adventures - grew up in a travelling circus where her father was a knife-thrower, learned self-defence in China from a Shaolin monk, and her employer is something of an amateur sleuth. Naturally Lady Hardcastle is keen to explore the village, and is invited to dinner by the local worthies.
‘What I’d expected to be an intimate supper with the local landowners turned into some manner of formal introduction to the Great and the Good. Or the local equivalent, at least. The Moderately Significant and the Well - Intentioned, perhaps. Still, they think themselves frightfully important and that’s what counts, I suppose. ’
Naturally, there’s a murder of two to investigate, assisting DI Sunderland from the Bristol police, and some jewellery goes missing at an engagement party, where a ragtime bank from London entertains, and some suspicious characters are on the guest list. As the Inspector warns the pair -
‘We might have to have words about your interference later, but in truth I appreciate your efforts and your candour – no matter that it’s a little late. But I’m duty bound to say that if we were to arrest everyone who could satisfactorily be described as “a bounder”, half the government front bench would be sewing mailbags and the banks in the City of London would be closed for lack of staff. ’
At first, this seemed a pleasant enough cosy mystery, the characters and style brought to mind Jeeves, valet to Bertie Wooster (PG Woodhouse was born in 1881) – with a feminist slant. And then, just when I thought everything was figured out, author TE Kinsey comes up with a novel twist.
Verdict: fine shot, sir. Well played.
1908. King Edward VII is king of Great Britain and India. Cricketing rivalry between England and Australia is at a high, and the widow Lady Hardcastle, her late husband murdered in Shanghai, moves from London with her personal maid, Flo Armstrong, to the Gloucestershire countryside to stay in a house while the incumbents are in India. We quickly learn that Flo – who narrates the story of their eccentric adventures - grew up in a travelling circus where her father was a knife-thrower, learned self-defence in China from a Shaolin monk, and her employer is something of an amateur sleuth. Naturally Lady Hardcastle is keen to explore the village, and is invited to dinner by the local worthies.
‘What I’d expected to be an intimate supper with the local landowners turned into some manner of formal introduction to the Great and the Good. Or the local equivalent, at least. The Moderately Significant and the Well - Intentioned, perhaps. Still, they think themselves frightfully important and that’s what counts, I suppose. ’
Naturally, there’s a murder of two to investigate, assisting DI Sunderland from the Bristol police, and some jewellery goes missing at an engagement party, where a ragtime bank from London entertains, and some suspicious characters are on the guest list. As the Inspector warns the pair -
‘We might have to have words about your interference later, but in truth I appreciate your efforts and your candour – no matter that it’s a little late. But I’m duty bound to say that if we were to arrest everyone who could satisfactorily be described as “a bounder”, half the government front bench would be sewing mailbags and the banks in the City of London would be closed for lack of staff. ’
At first, this seemed a pleasant enough cosy mystery, the characters and style brought to mind Jeeves, valet to Bertie Wooster (PG Woodhouse was born in 1881) – with a feminist slant. And then, just when I thought everything was figured out, author TE Kinsey comes up with a novel twist.
Verdict: fine shot, sir. Well played.
June 13, 2024
I giggled a lot while reading. Flo and Lady Hardcastle are both witty and snarky and have great chemistry. Flo is Lady Hardcastle's lady's maid, friend, and co-conspirator.
At first, their involvement in the first murder they investigate was spurious at best but as they're drawn into their new life in the country, they get more involved with the people and with events and soon their involvement seems inevitable. I loved how well they worked together and their relationship with Inspector Sunderland.
The story gets off to a slow start as Kinsey lays the foundation but it slowly builds up. The mysteries, two murders, a theft, and embezzlement, keep the ladies, and the local police, hopping. Are they connected? Is their new small town a hotbed of crime? Can Flo really torture someone without leaving a mark? I had fun finding out.
At first, their involvement in the first murder they investigate was spurious at best but as they're drawn into their new life in the country, they get more involved with the people and with events and soon their involvement seems inevitable. I loved how well they worked together and their relationship with Inspector Sunderland.
The story gets off to a slow start as Kinsey lays the foundation but it slowly builds up. The mysteries, two murders, a theft, and embezzlement, keep the ladies, and the local police, hopping. Are they connected? Is their new small town a hotbed of crime? Can Flo really torture someone without leaving a mark? I had fun finding out.
September 6, 2018
A British cozy murder mystery time piece set in 1908. The writing has an Agatha Christie feel. This is the first in a series. The audible narration was top notch, with British accents spot on, to make you laugh out loud at some of the jabs and witty comments of the dignified and nosy Lady Hardcastle and her ladies maid, aka co-conspirator, Flo as they interject themselves into solving a murder. Highly enjoyable, resembling a sort of female fluff version of Sherlock Holmes. I have already started the next of the series, In the Market for Murder, which does begin right where this one left off, so they should be read in order. I am sure there are inconsistencies in the accuracy of what a woman could do during this time period, of which I am aware but choose to overlook, and just enjoy the cozy mystery for which it is.
June 8, 2017
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. I kept listening to this audiobook and kept hoping something interesting would happen or that I would start to care about any of the characters, but alas, it did not and I never did.
March 16, 2024
4.25 stars ...
This was fun! Lady Hardcastle and her lady's maid (and our narrator), Flo, are so delightful that I didn't even mind that the actual "mystery" was only ho-hum. I'll certainly be continuing with the series! 👍😁👍
This was fun! Lady Hardcastle and her lady's maid (and our narrator), Flo, are so delightful that I didn't even mind that the actual "mystery" was only ho-hum. I'll certainly be continuing with the series! 👍😁👍
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