Rotten to the Core (A Lady Hardcastle Mystery Book 8)

Another enjoyable investigation for Lady Hardcastle and Flo,as they attempt to discover who killed one of a clandestine group of Cider Wardens. Somehow the list of suspects keeps growing rather than narrowing down, and who is this unforthcoming lady who has taken up residence in the pub and is often glimpsed in the wrong places at the wrong times? The plot unravels in the same well thought out but not rushed fashion that we have come to know and love with this dynamic duo and the ending is as satisfying as it is unexpected. I think this book could be read as a stand alone, but you will obviously appreciate all the relationships and history more if you indulge yourself with the whole series, an action I'd heartily recommend!

Full of rib tickling good humour and pacy mystery Rotten to the Core continues the very enjoyable feminine duo’s exploits - great fun and hard to put down.

I read this during the July 2022 heatwave, and completely empathised with Emily Hardcastle need for regular baths.This series gets better, with a well crafted story and well rounded main characters. It feels as if I've time travelled to the period, because the research is thorough.The relationship between Emily Hardcastle and Florence Armstrong no longer feels any more unusual than that of Holmes and Watson. Hardcastle and Armstrong make a good team, and, as well as some interesting skills, they each have a good level of intelligence. As a result, behind the ordinariness of the story of daily life, there is a strong intellectual thread woven through the stories.I recommend this, and the rest of the series, as a good way to spend a couple of evenings. They are a good read, with just enough mystery to get the brain cells sparking, but without getting bogged down in minutiae and red herrings

Lady Hardcastle and Florence have another case to solve, as they hurtle round the country lanes in the Rolls Royce.The characters are fun and the plot has enough twists to maintain interest. The pace picks up toward the exciting ending, as the unlikely duo put together the clues in this country village mystery.

Enjoyed reading TE Kinsey Books, I love the main characters

The eighth Lady Hardcastle book in a series that never disappoints – 5 Stars.Lady Hardcastle and Flo Armstrong get to grips with some shady goings-on among an ancient order of cider wardens in this very entertaining eight book in the Lady Hardcastle series. With only twelve members, one of the Weryers must surely be the murderer, although discovering the guilty party proves tricky, and there’s a mysterious stranger in the village to account for too.Once again T E Kinsey has produced a classic cosy-mystery to enjoy, and his dynamic duo of protagonists are on top form when it comes to wheedling-out the truth from the village gossip. As is usual, the banter between Lady Hardcastle and Flo is a joy, and both the pace of the plot, and their witty repartee, never let-up for a moment. There’s plenty of action throughout, and a satisfyingly dramatic conclusion to the investigation too.Overall: A super-twisty cosy, with lots of West-Country flavour…especially that of the local cider!

Another escapade for the two veteran spies. If you like the other books you will like this - plus it’s a decent length.

…but an anachronistic order of cider makers, who, again, are being picked off one by one (a very satisfying way of writing, for me…). Luckily Emily and Flo and Dinah are on the case. I particularly enjoyed Flo’s description of Emily’s driving as ‘fleeing from a fire’ but boggle a bit at the thought of a Silver Ghost cornering. There is a typo I reported with two suggestions as to correction, but I thought of a third. I amn’t. My late boyf was Gloucestershire born and raised and used this and I still hear it from older people. Fascinating book!