Lady Hardcastle and her stalwart companion Flo Armstrong return in The Burning Issue of the Day. When a journalist is killed in a fire, evidence points to Lizzie Worrel, a suffragette who is arrested for the murder. Though the police deem this an open and shut case, Lady Hardcastle is approached to prove Lizzie’s innocence.

Teaming up with Dinah Caudle, a reporter who worked with the victim, they discover that he kept a record of his investigations. His notebook is written in a code and decoding all of his notes takes some time. As Dinah completes each section it leads to several influential suspects who belong to an anti-suffragette society. Lady Hardcastle appeals for assistance from her friend Inspector Sunderland, who is involved in an investigation of his own involving a gold shipment. As the notebook is decoded, it becomes evident that the two cases are related.

T.E. Kinsey’s dialogue between Lady Hardcastle and Armstrong flows easily and is often filled with humor. These are both strong characters with a background in intelligence operations who sometimes dazzle their friends with tales of their adventures. Their need to act on suspicions builds to a final chase that puts them in peril, but Mrs Hardcastle can be depended upon to save the day with some surprises along the way.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishing for providing a copy of this story for my review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of The Burning Issue of the Day, the fifth novel set in 1910 to feature Lady Emily Hardcastle and her maid, Florence Armstrong.

The ladies are asked to help Lizzie Worrell, a suffragette arrested for arson and murder. Her fellow suffragettes are sure she is innocent but with a suspect in custody the police aren’t interested in the holes in their case.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Burning Issue of the Day which is a fun romp through Edwardian Bristol. The plot isn’t difficult to guess and the author doesn’t make much of an effort at concealment but that’s not the point of the novel. It is suitably inventive and entertaining and reads like a pastiche of adventure novels of the time and serves as the perfect foil to the main event, the highly amusing and irreverent relationship between Lady Hardcastle and Flo. Personally I think that it is a clever and unseemingly sophisticated read. I also enjoy the historical detail the author threads through his work. It is very informative on the suffragette movement and its opposition without being didactic.

Lady Hardcastle and Flo Armstrong have a very unusual relationship for the era. Ostensibly employer and employee they are more like equals with their constant verbal sparring and oneupmanship (or should that be oneupwomanship given the context?). As former spies with a lurid and ludicrously outrageous backstory, some of which is expanded on in this novel, they know that they can rely on each other. The author must have had hours of fun thinking it up as it’s extremely amusing.

The Burning Issue of the Day is a fun read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

I absolutely adore Flo and Lady Hardcastle...and this series! I find their unique skill set, coupled with their unusual relationship, highly entertaining. The humor is tongue-in-cheek, the plot is original, and the pace is perfect. I read this title out out order, but that didn't affect my enjoyment.

If you like a clean, Miss Marple kind of mystery, this is for you. As a bonus, you learn a little history with each title.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the advanced copy.

This is another fascinating, unputdownable, brilliant book by T E Kinsey. The formidable team of lady’s maid Florence Armstrong and her mistress, Emily, Lady Hardcastle, are asked to prove the innocence of Lizzie Worrel. Lizzie is a member of the Women’s Social and Political Union, a suffragettes’ action group, and is accused of setting fire to a building in which a local newspaper reporter, Christian Brookfield, lived. The accusation is thus arson and murder.

Flo and Emily tackle the mystery by joining forces with another local reporter, Dinah Caudle. It is fair to say that the relationship with Miss Caudle, initiated in the previous book in the series, A Picture of Murder, is somewhat tense. As Flo says in the latest book, “I would be lying to say I didn’t want to slap Dinah Caudle in the chops.”. However, the women set aside hostilities in order to save Lizzie.

Dinah has Brookfield’s notebook but it’s in cipher. Fortunately, Emily works out the cipher and this suggests that the solution to the mystery may lie with the great and the good (?) of Bristol society.

The witty repartee between Emily and Flo (and Dinah now) is of the typically high quality we expect from Kinsey. There are some satisfying moments where diminutive Flo tackles male bullies.

The author’s short coda to the book shares some of his research into Bristol in the early 1900s – the WSPU did exist and they did have a shop at 37 Queen’s Road in Bristol.

I wholeheartedly recommend this latest T E Kinsey novel. I was slightly dissatisfied with A Picture of Murder, but Kinsey is on top form with The Burning Issue of the Day.

#TheBurningIssueOfTheDay #NetGalley

January 1910 and a shop in Thomas Street has been set ablaze late one evening. Leaflets and a note point to suffragette Lizzy Worrwel, as guility and whois consequently arrested. Unfortunately the next day a body was discovered inside. This turned out to be Christian Brookfield, a journalist. Therefore the police are treating it as a closed case but Lady Emily Hardcastle is asked to investigate, with the help of her maid Florence Armstrong. Both who have in past lives had many adventures as government spies.
An entertaining well-paced historical cozy mystery, number five in this well-written series.

3 and 1 / 2 stars

I like these somewhat lighthearted romps into the past. This book is set in 1910 and Lady Hardcastle, former spy – now retired, of course – and the indomitable Flo set out to investigate an arson and murder.

The murdered man, who died as a result of the fire, was a newspaper reporter. The fire was supposedly set by a suffragette. When the young woman writes to Lady Hardcastle from her prison cell pleading for her assistance, The Lady and Flo can't help but respond.

I really like Lady Hardcastle. She is outspoken, drives too fast is an artist and amateur sleuth. Her trusty and formidable sidekick Flo is devoted to the Lady. I love the teasing relationship they have with one another while dealing with some very serious issues. I did not care for this installment of the series as much I have the previous stories. It is written in Mr. Kinsey's usual almost carefree style. It is written in an easy-to-read manner with one event following another in a clear logical manner. I very much look forward to the next installment in this series.

I want to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for forwarding to me a copy of this great little book for me to read, enjoy and review.

This is the first book that i have read by T E Kinsey and i wonder why i haven't come across this author before now. Such an easy read and made a welcome change from the fast paced books that i normally read. As i have discovered, this is the fifth book in a series, but that didn't take away the enjoyment. Just makes me more determined to read the previous books in the series! I rarely write what a story is about as i prefer one to read the book for themselves, but i do recommend.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy.. This is my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another well-written adventure featuring Lady Hardcastle and Florence Armstrong. Generally, I enjoy the relationship between the two main characters but it does feel that some of the humorous elements are at risk of being overused (the deliberate mishearing/mispronunciation of names especially).

There is enough back story that you could pick this up and easily follow the plot without needing to have read the previous books. The pace was fairly good, it did feel a little slow in places but not enough to make me want to stop reading.

The mystery was OK but not what I expected. I was not really surprised by the revelations except for one at the very end. I was able to put the book down and sleep without wanting to pick it up again right away. After about the 2/3 mark was where it really got interesting and I wanted to finish it but was able to sleep without finishing. The denouement needed some more action. I kept thinking Lady Hardcastle was missing something. There was something else later in the novel I thought she should have looked into but didn't. I feel bad for thinking it but it could have answered some questions that arise at the very end of the novel. I really like the coded journal and had fun trying to figure it out. I am not as clever as Lady Hardcastle, alas, and couldn't crack the cipher.

Emily and Flo are, as always, delightful. They share less of their usual banter in this story but are still very close. Flo rolls her eyes whenever Emily forgets a name and Emily teases Flo about her lack of height. They really do act like sisters or even an old married couple. Emily acts like a scatterbrained old lady but she's much more sharp and aware than she lets on. Inspector Sunderland knows this and trusts her judgement. I appreciate that the detective is not an arrogant fool. Inspector Sunderland's hands are tied as the police believe this is a closed case. He's also on the trail of something else, unofficially. Since he is not able to investigate, this makes Lady Hardcastle's involvement more plausible and necessary.

The only other series regulars to appear are Daisy at the Dog and Duck, who has a subplot of her own and Dr. Simeon Gosling. Dr. Gosling is as jovial as ever and this time we get to see him interact with a male colleague and friend. He's a very jolly sort of man with a sense of humor. I like him because he appreciates his friend Emily's intelligence and accepts Flo as part of the package deal. Journalist Dinah Caudle may become a series regular as well. She got off on the wrong foot with Lady Hardcastle but now they are united in a common cause and must call a truce. Dinah can be tough because she's a woman in a man's world. She's trying to succeed in life outside of the expectations her family has for her and I admire her for that. She's more straightforward than Lady Hardcastle but she knows how to get answers in her own way. She also has more finesse when interrogating her suspects. I suspect she will become a friend and assist with future investigations.

The newcomers are connected with either the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) or the anti-women's suffrage league. While I do not approve of some of the tactics employed by the WSPU, their cause has my full sympathy. I know quite a lot about them so I skimmed some of the history presented in the story. Georgina, Lady Bickle, seems to be the head of the local Bristol branch of the WSPU. She's a champion of women's suffrage but not at the expense of human life and she knows Lizzie Worrel did not kill Christian Brookfield. Georgie is a younger version of Lady Hardcastle but I do not care for her as much. Georgie is a wealthy dilettante. Is she merely a bored housewife looking for something to do that's slightly mischievous or does she firmly believe in the cause? Her flippant manner rubs me the wrong way. Lady Hardcastle may be eccentric but she's better educated than Georgie and is more intelligent and serious than she looks. Perhaps Georgie will seem less silly when she's older? It is very nice to see her so devoted to her husband, though and not be a part of the usual society marriage.

Poor Lizzie Worrel is stuck in jail for a crime she claims she didn't commit. She is not doing well. I feel so awful for her. She doesn't have a prayer of a chance of getting out of jail alive. Lady Hardcastle, a stranger, is her only hope. It's no wonder Lizzie is despondent. The other two suffragettes who work in the office with Lizzie and Georgie are Marisol Rojas and Beattie Challenger. Marisol, a Chilean woman, is passionate and dedicated to the cause of freedom. I really like her. Beattie is a stereotypical spinster. She's quiet, nondescript and dedicated to the Empire. I object to the spinster stereotype. I don't like Beattie because of her jingoistic and snide comments to Marisol. Ladies, you're on the same side working for a common cause, don't be catty towards each other.

The suspects are Mr. Oswald Crane, a coffee importer who speaks out against women's suffrage and marital infidelity, blaming the woman. Unfortunately for him, his wife is conducting an affair and everyone knows it. He's a blustery, rude sort of man who thinks he's a big shot and can intimidate people but is really a buffoon and not taken seriously. Nathaniel Morefield, Mrs. Crane's lover, is actually a big shot. He's on the city council and naturally the ladies suspect him of corruption but how deep and what exactly is he involved in? Jimmy Stanbridge is a younger son of nobility and has a bad drinking and gambling problem. He comes across as quite foolish. Redvers Hinckley is a property developer and I think that speaks for itself. Which one is a killer? They each have motivation to protect their own interests from the nosy journalist who was about to expose corruption in the city of Bristol. Are you surprised these types are on the suspect list? I am not. If they were American it would be the same thing with ties to Tammany Hall. Obviously these good old boys are opposed to women's suffrage for the most ridiculous reasons. Their rationale for opposing women's suffrage makes me so angry. I could never be as polite as Lady Hardcastle. I would have given them a blistering lecture and flounced off!

The book works as a standalone but contains some small spoilers - more like hints- for previous books in the series. Lady Hardcastle reveals more of her real backstory and she is becoming more well-known because of her past exploits. There is one brief mention of an old enemy and I really wonder what the story is there! I am dying to read more books about Lady Hardcastle and find out what's going on with this enemy she thought was dead.

The author includes a historical note on the WSPU and other notes on the history of the places mentioned in the story.

This is the 5th entry in this series. It is a wonderful series and this book is as entertaining as I expected. I believe that this book can work well as a stand alone read. The mystery and investigation and solution are all separate from past stories. There are references to past characters and events, yet everything is fully explained.

I strongly suggest that you read the earlier books in the series, because it will add to the enjoyment. And you would not want to miss a single laugh.

Lady Hardcastle and her ladies' maid Florence Armstrong have been spies for the crown, escaped from danger in several foreign countries and now are retired to the country. The goal is a quiet and peaceful life. It will never happen.

When Lady Hardcastle gets a letter requesting her help, she feels honor bound to look into the matter.

A suffragette, Lizzie, has been arrested for murder and faces the gallows. But, other members of her group believe that she is innocent. They need the skills that Lady Hardcastle and Flo can bring, in order to find the true killer and free Lizzie.

When the investigation begins, a coded diary helps them follow possible suspects. It will be decoded by a former adversary, a young woman who is a reporter for the local newspaper.
Diana was a friend of the reporter who died and she is also a strong believer in the rights of women. She is happy to become an important part of this investigation.

The suspects are important and powerful men. They are above suspicion. As things unfold, it becomes evident they are not at all who they appear. It seems what is below the surface is corrupt.

Lady Hardcastle and Flo are wonderful characters. Their conversations are filled with humor and wit. Each of them are intelligent women who are capable of solving problems. Because of that, they are supporters of the vote for women. This book also points out that if women did get the vote, only the “right” women would be able to vote. And there were many men in England who were unable to vote because of their status.

As clues are presented, the reader is carried along with the investigation. It is evident who the criminals are, but providing enough proof to get Lizzie out of jail will take a great deal of effort.

T E Kinsey is a wonderful author. He continues to produce quality stories about a time and place when life was not as simple as we would like to imagine.

His characters are well developed and complete. Even secondary characters are provided with enough back story that the reader understands who they are and their motivation.

Lady Hardcastle and Flo work with the police and exchange information on a regular basis. This is not a story where a heroine goes into danger without letting anyone know where they are.

It would be wonderful to imagine that Lady Hardcastle and Flo existed and had exciting adventures one after the other. Each book provides another reason to admire them, enjoy them and laugh along with them.

I have enjoyed this series, and Mr Kinsey's talent.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

The Burning Issue of the Day is the fifth book in the Lady Hardcastle Mysteries series by T E Kinsey.

Word has gotten around town that a suffragette has killed a local newspaper man by setting a building on fire, where the man was sound asleep in. The Bristol News report that the suffragette left a signed note claiming responsibility for the attack. Days after the incident, Lady Hardcastle received a letter from a faithful friend of the accused who claims that Lizzie Worrel wasn't the arsonist and is pleading for their help. It’s now up to Lady Hardcastle and her lady's maid, Florence to prove that Lizzie was innocent, and find the true arsonist who could be lurking around town.

The Lady Hardcastle series is always a joy to come back to. All the books can be read as a standalone and the mysteries are always so well-written and engaging from start to finish. I especially adore the characters in this series as no one would suspect that a widow and her maid to have a knack for solving murder cases together- by that’s exactly what Lady Emily Hardcastle and Flo do.

And what a delightfully, entertaining duo they make.

The series is set during the Edwardian period in England and draws from different evolutions in history such as the development of moving pictures- and of course the women’s suffrage. The author paints a beautiful setting of 1910 Bristol with vivd imagery that brings the entire novel to life. The author incorporates the mystery element with humour flawlessly and you’ll find yourself grinning at the endless banter between Lady Hardcastle and Flo.


‘He was mauled’, I said, ‘because he fell off his bicycle. And he fell off his bicycle because…?’

‘Because he was, in Hector’s own words, “completely pie-eyed”. But I’m just mildly squiffy.’

‘Don’t make me hurt you, my lady,’ I said.


You can probably tell by now, but my favourite part of this novel, and the series in general, is Lady Hardcastle and Flo’s relationship. As much as I love my main protagonist sleuth, but I also love my crime-solving duos and this series homes one of my favourite pairs. Even though Flo is technically a maid Lady Hardcastle never treats her as such and instead treats Flo like a friend, which I assume is very different to the norm at the time of this period where there might've been a clear divide between servant and mistress. But Lady Hardcastle and Flo ignore all of that and have formed a beautiful relationship that is built on solving mysteries together, fun banter, and maybe even a little snide remark here and there for good fun.


‘Might I offer you some friendly and respectful advice, my lady?’

‘Of course, dear.’

‘Shut your trap before it gets you in trouble. You might end up walking home tomorrow night.’


The mystery in this instalment was well-written and well-paced. The clues were subtle but they were there. Every time a new clue was revealed it seemed like more and more characters were being added to my suspect list.

You can probably guess my final remarks, but I’m going to say it anyway.


I would recommend this book and this series to anyone who loves a good, entertaining historical mystery series with an amazing set of characters that you find yourself missing once you close the book. This series definitely has one of my favourite friendships and I sincerely hope that theres a lot more to come from Lady Hardcastle and Flo.

4 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of The Burning Issue of the Day by T E Kinsey.

review will be posted on my blog (linked) by April 20 2019