A Body in the Borderlands

Kitt Hartley Yorkshire Mysteries #8

by Helen Cox

Former investment banker Johan Golding - Joe to his friends - is the newest member of the Hartley and Edwards Investigations team. And he's thrilled to be shadowing Kitt Hartley, librarian-turned-top sleuth, and her right-hand woman Grace Edwards; even if it means adjusting to the low-level madness that seems to reign in the Hartley and Edwards offices.

But Joe finds himself thrown in at the deep end when a man known as Ralph Holmes goes missing on the outskirts of Carlisle. Police are refusing to investigate, as his disappearance seems voluntary, but his niece, Carly Lewis, is determined to find out what really happened.

As Kitt, Grace and Joe begin to investigate, they deduce there might be more to this disappearance than meets the eye. Drawn into a web of international conspiracies and possible murder, they need to find out who Ralph Holmes really was - and who he was working for. In their most dangerous case yet, the team are in a race against the clock to uncover the truth, before anyone else gets hurt . . .

HEAR WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE KITT HARTLEY MYSTERY SERIES

'All the Kitt Hartley series are amazing' 5* reader review

'Helen Cox is my queen of Miss Marple' 5* reader review

'I love Kitt' 5* reader review

'One of my favourite series' 5* reader review

'Make yourself a pot of tea and enjoy this escape from real life for a while' 5* reader review

'Brilliant!' 5* reader review

Genres: Crime, Fiction

336 pages, Hardcover

Published January 16, 2024

About the author

Helen Cox is a Yorkshire-born novelist and poet. After completing her MA in creative writing at the University of York St. John Helen wrote for a range of publications, edited her own independent film magazine for five years and penned three non-fiction books. Her first two novels were published by HarperCollins in 2016. She currently lives by the sea in Sunderland where she writes poetry, romance novellas, craft non-fiction and The Kitt Hartley series alongside hosting The Poetrygram podcast.

Reviews

[Annarella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been loving this series since I read the first novel and always enjoyed it even it I don't understand and can't stand Gracie who I found a bit too rude and a bit silly.
This book has potential but somehow it didn't work for me. There's potential, there's a solid mystery but somehow Kit is so different from the character of the beginning that it seem I'm reading another series.
I'm sure it's just a glitch and the next book will be excellent
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Day Ravenstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not expecting that! The plot completely foxed me. Definitely the most twisty book so far. I loved the introduction of Joe. Reading a book from the perspective of a completely new character was so interesting. Halloran getting injured (again) really pulled at my heart strings even though he was okay. No one likes seeing their favourite character get hurt. Can’t wait to see what else this series has in store for us.

[Sally Lockwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another very easy listening cozy mystery by Helen Cox, although I did think The ending was a bit far-fetched!!

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately I didn't love this book. The whole thing was just a bit too far fetched and then came to easily to the final conclusion.

Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this

[Roger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it hard to keep up at times. But, I finished it so it can't have been that bad

[dnsyl57 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Body In The Borderlands" is book #8 in the "Kitt Hartley Yorkshire Mysteries" by Helen Cox.

"Former investment banker Johan Golding - Joe to his friends - is the newest member of the Hartley and Edwards Investigations team. And he's thrilled to be shadowing Kitt Hartley, librarian-turned-top sleuth, and her right-hand woman Grace Edwards; even if it means adjusting to the low-level madness that seems to reign in the Hartley and Edwards offices.

But Joe finds himself thrown in at the deep end when a man known as Ralph Holmes goes missing on the outskirts of Carlisle. Police are refusing to investigate, as his disappearance seems voluntary, but his niece, Carly Lewis, is determined to find out what really happened.

As Kitt, Grace and Joe begin to investigate, they deduce there might be more to this disappearance than meets the eye. Drawn into a web of international conspiracies and possible murder, they need to find out who Ralph Holmes really was - and who he was working for. In their most dangerous case yet, the team are in a race against the clock to uncover the truth, before anyone else gets hurt . . .

My thoughts:
This story is told mostly from Joe's perspective. As he is only shadowing Kitt and Grace to decide if he wants to become an investigator, it gives interesting insight into his thoughts and the life of a PI.

This particular case turns out to be far more complicated and dangerous than any of them expected. I did sense there was something off about the missing person report but just how many twists it would take to come to the truth was a surprise and well done.

Kitt has a seamlessly endless ability to be prepared for almost anything and adapt to situations. Grace is very good at researching, but her supposed humourous antics often fall flat - not just to Kitt but also to me as a reader. Halloran does play an important role in this story but he is not as prominent as in previous books.

All in all, Joe is clearly still grieving the loss of his wife, but he is slowly finding a way forward and seems to be a good fit for the team.

An enjoyable read with twists you won't see coming!!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the easy reading that this author always provides. I love the quaint characters and their depth that she shares with us. I enjoy reading about areas of the country that I have a passing knowledge of but most of all I enjoy the way that the stories unfold, the intricate follow up of flimsy and insubstantial clues.
This novel, as others have said, is not quite up to the usual standard hence the four stars and not five. The story is based on the search for the uncle of a client: the uncle has seemingly disappeared under strange circumstances. The team has a new member and the perspective all the way through relates to Joe and the fact that he’s lost his wife and is looking for a new direction in life..will the agency live up to expectations? The story becomes complicated and there are some very strange goings on when the uncle is found but then the body disappears and is not acknowledged as existing by the police who had recovered it. There is a scary encounter with a dodgy hotel owner who is a con merchant after money and who in any normal world would not even be in business. There are meetings with shady characters with hidden agendas and finally there is the twist in the tale at the end. I think I had an inkling about the final twist but even so it was well presented. The actual ending to the story was however weak. If the rest of the storyline was actually true this ending would never occur so although I know we suspend reality a little when reading these stories this one did not live up to expectations.
Still a good, quick, easy read that I did enjoy and would recommend.

[Bodies in the Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somehow I managed to miss Helen Cox’s latest Kitt Hartley novel when it came out in 2023! Not sure how I managed that.

Thankfully @lambeth_libraries had a copy on prominent displayed @uppernorlibhub and so I was able to catch up with my favourite librarians-turned-private detectives, Kitt and Grace.

This time they have a new member of the team, Joe Golding, interning with them as he seeks purpose after the death of his wife Sarah. He’s finding life as a comparatively young widower (in his thirties) quite challenging and happy to be distracted by the case of Ralph Holmes, reported missing by his Holmes’s niece, Carly.

Soon Kitt, Grace and Joe are up to their necks in an espionage ring, and the Cumberland Police are denying any knowledge of the dead body Kitt and Co find shortly after their arrival on the Solway Firth - or the officers who interviewed them after thy discovered the body.

How does this relate to the missing Holmes? Will Kitt be able to get answers for Carly when even the police have clammed up?

It’s a rollercoaster ride into new territory both geographically and subject-wise. As always, Cox leads with her characters, and if you love them as much as I do, you’ll go along with the cloak and dagger stuff …

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Former investment banker Johan Golding - Joe to his friends - is the newest member of the Hartley and Edwards Investigations team. And he's thrilled to be shadowing Kitt Hartley, librarian-turned-top sleuth, and her right-hand woman Grace Edwards. Joe finds himself thrown in at the deep end when a man known as Ralph Holmes goes missing on the outskirts of Carlisle. Police are refusing to investigate, as his disappearance seems voluntary, but his niece, Carly Lewis, is determined to find out what really happened. As Kitt, Grace and Joe begin to investigate, they deduce there might be more to this disappearance than meets the eye. Drawn into a web of international conspiracies and possible murder, they need to find out who Ralph Holmes really was
The eighth book in the series & another entertaining mystery. The characters have depth & I’ve grown to like Kitt more & more throughout the series. There are twists, turns & red herrings as well as plenty of suspects – so I was kept guessing. A well written captivating book, which I thoroughly enjoyed
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Cidney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Young widower Joe goes to work for a private investigations company in York run by Kitt and her friend Grace, a distressed young woman arrives at their office saying that her uncle has disappeared whilst he had gone on holiday in Carlisle and asks them to help. They listen to the recording of his last message to her stating that he was not coming back but staying up there. This is the first time that Joe gets to work with Kitt and Grace.

I have to say that large chunks of the book were a tad tedious. I can't have been the only one who when the dog's collar was mentioned thought guess this will be a future clue, and when the missing *** crops up 1/3rd of the book later I discovered I had guessed right at the end. S00 plot wise, was interesting but the book could have been very much shorter, or the clues for the missing "uncle" made stronger. And to add insult to injury I had even solved the clues for the young woman's career too. The book was just not holding my attention that well.

[Sarah Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Body in the Borderlands by Helen Cox is the 8th instalment in the Kitt Hartley series of books. I have read all the previous 7 books and have really enjoyed them all. Each book is told from a different characters perspective, this time we are introduced to a new character Johan Golding or Joe. All the books contain the same characters and focus around Kitt and her sleuthing. I enjoyed the story, setting and plot, lots of twists and turns. I find Helen's books such page turners and I read this in just over a day. My only complaint would be that I felt that this was a short book and over far too quickly.

This could be read as a stand alone book, but feel that it would be enhanced by reading the other books, as you understand the characters and their relationships more. I am looking forward to reading the next instalment.

[Chelsea Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book offers a compelling look into the complexities of living in border spaces, focusing on how bodies and identities are shaped by political and social boundaries. the weaving together personal narrative, research, and critical analysis to explore themes of migration, race, gender, and power. the writing brings attention to the physical and emotional toll of borderlands, highlighting both the challenges and resilience of individuals navigating these contested spaces. over, it's a thought-provoking and insightful book for readers interested in the intersection of identity and borders. i enjoyed this read, even though it was a bit of a slow burn especially with the introduction of the characters.

[Jane Sandell · Rating 2 out of 5]

As far as I am concerned, this series has lost its way entirely. When it started out I found it witty and funny with strong, well-developed characters. I enjoyed the way they interacted and influenced one another. But A Body in the Borderlands by Helen Cox left me wondering if I was reading the same series. Oh, it was written well in that the plot hangs together and the descriptions of place were as good as ever. But the premise was just farcical and, by and large, the characters seem to have slipped into a collection of stereotypes. I'm really sad about writing this review, just as I was about reading the book.

[Oundle Crime · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kitt Hartley runs a detective agency with her friend Grace and is giving Joe a month’s work experience. He’s just lost his wife and needs a new direction in his life. A new client, Carly, visits their office and explains that her uncle has gone missing. He’s left her a voice message telling her not to look for him, but that’s unlike him because they are each other’s only family. Kitt and co soon realise that something very strange is going on. This was very far-fetched in places and occasionally a bit slow, but the characters are likeable enough. It was an okay read. I nearly stopped once or twice but decided to carry on and was pleased I did.
Review by: Norfolk Gal, Oundle Crime

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I expect that when Joe, on work experience at a Detective agency, wished for more excitement he didn’t expect this much!! I really enjoyed the interaction between the characters in this book. Nicely plotted story, enough humour, and lots of twists and suspects characters to keep you guessing - and a dog as well (not the villain). Thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

[Paisley Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has so mnay twists and turns (however goodreads only goes to 260 this book has 311 pages?) however as of what it mentions in here up to 260 they find out that carly who was the 'neice' of a deceased British intelligence agent wasn't actually his neice and that she was referred to as "snow queen' by other agents and that she was an a gent and had tricked Joe, carly and kit into helping her.

[MS M ADAMS · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most exciting book in the series so far.

Without giving a way too many spoilers I like a bit of hush hush! I loved the visit to Carlisle and the beautiful Solway Coast, it is not a city to pop up in many of the books I read. The only thing to irritate me was Grace’s constant Mickey take and banter! Otherwise I loved it.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written private detective story, that starts well but became a struggle to contine with/finish. Enjoyed the characters and the development of the story, though very repetitive in places. Foresaw a lot of unfolding storyline and well-before the end, the final piece of the puzzle.

[Tara Cardwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mystery with Kitt is always at once exciting but also comforting like a comfy blanket in winter.

[Nicola Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am enjoying this series but I did find this one a bit too far fetched and ridiculous in parts

[Sam Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't as keen on this storyline as some of her others.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little far fetched this time but I enjoyed the read. X

[Tess Mayer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick read but lowks cringe and the ending plot twist was kind of funny because it was so cray cray without little explanation like might as well have said
And it was all a dream 👩🏼‍🦯‍➡️

[Mazz · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good read with some twists and turns!!

[Caleigh Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was slow but once it got going it was really good.

[Christine Pritchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant story kept me guessing till the end ! I love these characters they are all so different from each other and very plausible. I hope there are more cases for them to solve in the future.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cozy mystery . Conversation a bit too clunky for me, plot too contrived. Not a murder investigation as such, lots of running around the north of England/Scotland .. I had to push myself to finish this one and it didn't really keep my interest.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

[Diana Willemsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 ster. Amusant snackboek.
Een bibliothecaresse die misdaden oplost is voor mij (boekenfan) vermakelijk genoeg voor deze donderdagmiddag. Al zijn de personages vaak irritant en de plots vergezocht. Dit keer struikelde onze roodharige heldin over een heus spionagenetwerk.
Spannend hoor 😅