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

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,'t really keep my interest.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

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

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

A Body in the Borderlands 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, librarian-turned-top sleuth, and her right-hand woman Grace ; even if it means adjusting to the low-level chaos that seems to reign in their 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.

An usual premise for a book , librarians solving murders and mystery s , wasn't quite sure of what to expect , but thoroughly enjoyed it.
Great descriptions of the area and good characters in Kit , Grace and Johan . Long may they reign.

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.

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.

Johan Golding – Joe – has cautiously joined Kitt and Grace at Hartley and Edwards Investigations. The librarians turned sleuths (though Kitt still has library shifts) have a new case: a worried niece desperate to hear from a much-loved uncle. Ralph Holmes has gone missing on the outskirts of Carlisle and the trio must figure out what has happened to him. Clearly, there’s more going on than meets their trained sleuthing eye. After all, it looks like Ralph was working for someone – and something – quite different to what Kitt and Grace are used to. Joe definitely is thrown in at the deep end but let’s just say that he’s more useful than he thinks. Make no mistake, this is not a wee cosy case because it’s being solved by librarians. Not a bit.