The Burning Issue of the Day

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

The Lady Hardcastle series is becoming a mainstay on my mystery shelves. The newest installment does not disappoint. A tight plot with plenty of twists, the cozy feel brightened with snappy wit, at this point Kinsey can do no wrong.

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.

What a great book! One of the best historical mysteries I’ve read in a long time. The characters are very well crafted; believable but entertainingly quirky. I love the relationship between Lady Hardcastle and Flo. You know that even though they exasperate each other, they’d take a bullet for each other too. (And just may have at some point in time.) The mystery is intelligent and had enough twists and turns to keep you involved. Mr. Kinsey’s historical research is spot on. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series and hope there are many more Lady Hardcastle mysteries to come!
I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a delightful and smart romp, the 1910 version of a buddy movie, only featuring a titled Lady and her resourceful maid.

Lady Hardcastle and Florence have been through many adventures together as agents for the British Empire and in this book we find out a bit about their colorful and entertaining history. They become embroiled in their latest mystery when they are approached about investigating an arson death which resulted in the arrest for murder of a young suffragette. Her friends and co-workers believed she is innocent, but the anti-women's suffrage police force isn't interested in conducting any further investigation.

The great conversational give-and-take between Lady H and Florence is very much fun, and these unconventional and intelligent books are always a treat. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Have been lavish in my praise for this series since book 1 and this book certainly gives me no reason to alter my opinion. It just immerses you in the period, the atmosphere and above all, the characters. Just the thought that all that is required for some serious breaking and entering is a pair of black plimsolls and a little welsh“ladies maid” (Flo is so much more than that) is captivating enough but when added into a story line of bribery, corruption, suffragettes and a plan to steal gold, well it’s gold dust. Can’t wait for the next one.

I love this series! I own the others and I can’t get enough of them! They are hilarious while also having interesting mysteries. The relationship and witty back and forth between Flo and Lady Hardcastle are what makes the books for me! I love the characters and Lady Hardcastles child like enthusiasm and sense of fun I will forever love these characters and I hope their are many more books written about them

The Burning Issue of the Day is book 5 in the Lady Hardcastle mystery series.
I’ll let you know now that I have not read the first 4 books but I was able to follow along with the plot and characters without many questions.

I thought this was going to be a slow read at first but I was eventually pulled into solving the mystery with Lady Hardcastle and Florence Armstrong.

It starts with Lady Hardcastle reading the Bristol News to catch up on important issues of the day. She comes across an article about a fire and a murder on Thomas Street. A suffragette at the time, named Lizzie Worel, is now being accused of starting this fire .
Lady Hardcastle and Florence-two fierce and humorous women- come to the aide of WSPU leader, Lady Bickles, to try to prove Lizzie’s innocence.

Such a light, fun read. It’s totally different from any other books I’ve read set in this time period.

I received a free copy of this ebook through a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you Goodreads, Netgalley, and the publishers for this free book in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge fan for this series. Clever and fun. The team of lady Hardcastke and Flo is wonderful. Such humor and creative dialogue. Another great installment.

Flo and Lady Hardcastle are asked to look into an arson/murder case. A local reporter has been killed and the suffragettes have bee blamed for the crime. Yes, there was a signed note from one of them admitting her guilt but it was pretty flimsy evidence with nothing otherwise proving wrongdoing. The local leader believes it may be someone trying to make the suffragettes look bad.
During the course of the case, Flo and Lady Hardcastle are beset numerous times and come out ahead, though not always unscathed.
A lovely story that was pretty easy to figure out who the baddies were but if you don't mind that, you will not have any problems with.

Four stars
This book comes out May 15th
ARC kindl provided by publisher and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

The fire which started just before midnight and burned the shop to the ground was blamed on the suffragettes – the young lady who was immediately arrested and thrown in jail proclaimed her innocence. But the police declared it an open and shut case. It was when a man’s body – that of a prominent journalist – was found in the wreckage that it was declared murder.

When Lady Hardcastle received a letter from a friend in Bristol requesting her urgent help, she and her maid and fellow sleuth, Florence Armstrong, immediately set off in their motor to meet with the suffragettes and see what could be done. But the evidence seemed to fit the crime – this one would be a challenge to Flo and Lady Hardcastle. As they began their investigations, there were dark and sinister secrets linked to the fire. Would the two determined sleuths find the answers before it was too late?

The Burning Issue of the Day is the 5th in the Lady Hardcastle Mysteries by TE Kinsey and another excellent addition to the series. I love the laugh out loud wit and humour that always peppers these stories – light, entertaining and loads of fun. Lady Hardcastle and Flo are two really brilliant characters and I’m already looking forward to #6. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Lady Hardcastle and her lady's maid Flo have a new detecting job. The plot is well done. As with the earlier books, they are somewhat unorthodox in their methods, and the book is both clever and amusing. Lady Bickle, an active suffragette has asked them to look into an arson case in which an up and journalist for the Bristol News, Brookfield, has died. The fire happened late at night and the owners of the shop were out. Someone left lots of suffragette notices around and a "signed" block printed confession was posted supposedly by Lizzie Worrel, who is now in prison. Lizzie claims her innocence.

Lady Hardcastle and Flo talk with Inspector Sunderland with whom they have worked before. He has been told the case is solved, but agrees to help. Another Bristol News Journalist, Dinah Caudle, also offers to help. Dinah has found a notebook belonging to Brookfield which is written in shorthand and ciphers. Lady Hardcastle manages to break the code and show Dinah how to read it. Meanwhile, they have found a misspelling in the suffragette notices. They soon figure out that one of the women working at the Suffragette store must be telling the suspects about their findings. Then, as Brookfield's notebook gradually gets decoded, they figure out who is responsible for the arson as well as discovering a big criminal plot involving some of their suspects.

I read other books in this series and I think they're all lovely and entertaining.
This one is fun to read and engaging, the characters are well written, and the mystery keep you guessing till the end.
As usual I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This is the fifth book in the Lady Hardcastle series, though it works as a stand alone. The book is the perfect blend of history, mystery, and humor. After thoroughly enjoying this book I will be reading the others in the series. Great for fans of Elizabeth Peters, Rhys Bowen, and Carola Dunn.

Lady Hardcastle and her faithful sidekick Flo are back in another Edwardian mystery, this one centered around the suffragette movement. A fire breaks out on Thomas street just before midnight and all clues point towards Lizzie Worrell, a young woman active in the suffragette movement. Unfortunately for Lizzie, the body of a journalist is found among the wreckage, which escalates the charge to murder. The other members of the suffragette are certain of her innocence and call upon Lady Hardcastle for assistance. Lady Hardcastle and Flo, former spies for the British government turned amateur sleuths, set off immediately to investigate, teaming up with Dinah Caudle, a co-worker of the deceased and a reporter with the skills to decode a notebook filled with potential clues. As each piece is decoded, clues start to appear pointing towards prominent members of the anti-suffragette movement. Lady Hardcastle and Flo must tread carefully as they face resistance each step of the way towards uncovering the real culprit.
Although this is the fifth in the series, it was the first I have read and I found it easy to follow. The characters, both primary and secondary are well developed and come with intriguing backstories that allow the reader to really enjoy the atmosphere of the novel overall. There is a constant comical banter between our two amateur sleuths that I found both endearing and witty. There were quite a bit of period details, especially pertaining to the suffragette movement that were enlightening and well researched. Overall this was a lighthearted English cozy that I would highly recommend for those looking for a fast paced historical romp.

I really look forward to each of these books as they come out, so that I can enjoy a few more pleasant hours in the company of the amazing Lady Hardcastle and her maid, Florence. The two of them make a remarkable team and in this book we hear a lot more of their past times together when Lady Hardcastle was a spy and Florence learned martial arts, among many other things.

The burning issue of the day of the title is the Suffragette movement and the author has done his research. It is amazing to look back and realise that many people really believed that women did not have the right kind of brain to cope with such serious issues as voting for their government. At least we have come a long way from that!

Of course our intrepid pair become involved in arson, murder, break and enter, and even gold theft and fraud, ably assisted by their good friend Inspector Sunderland. All very silly but absolutely delightful and an excellent read.

“The Burning Issue of the Day” by T.E. Kinsey is the fifth in the Emily, Lady Hardcastle and Florence Armstrong mystery series. One of the burning issues of the day (it’s 1910) is the fight to get women the vote – and it was a hard-fought one, finally won in 1918 when women over the age of 30 could vote (with property caveats). That would be changed to equal voting rights in 1928). Until that point, suffragettes (as opposed to suffragists, the difference being explained by the author in a note at the end) engaged in many acts of civil disobedience including property damage. In “The Burning Issue of the Day” arson is one of those acts. Unfortunately, a man’s body is discovered in the burned building, and a suffragette is blamed for murder from the beginning pages.

It’s a major frame, it is, of course. Lady H and Flo are asked to help find Lizzie Worrel innocent by Georgina, Lady Bickle, one of the leaders of the local suffragettes. Well. No problems here. Inspector Sunderland will help in an unofficial capacity; the evidence is basically nonexistent -- it’s just a rush to justice because of the anti-suffragette sentiment. They also have help from another newspaper reporter that has clashed with Lady Hardcastle in the past. She’s a strong character who seems to be joining the team.

The dead man, Christian Brookfield, is a reporter. My first thought was, who did Mr. Brookfield anger? Because of course Lizzie Worrel can’t be guilty. T.E. Kinsey does a good job of casting a little bit of doubt here and there, that maybe Lizzie might have had her reasons, but ultimately, my supposition proves correct. And our erstwhile heroines proceed from this basis. He’s even provided a coded notebook that will help Lady H and Flo find his killer – and provide some information for another blockbuster in the plot. They crisscross the town, seeking clues, interviewing suspects, keeping one step ahead of the men who are trying to keep them from finding out anything. Remember that big plot point I mentioned earlier? That wraps up satisfactorily because of what our ladies discover. Clever clogs, these ladies are.

The zingers and one liners that are a hallmark of the series are well in evidence. However, to my mind the book is a little too cutesy in spots, a little too "oh we have special skills but don't ask what they are." Their backgrounds are hinted at as in the earlier books in the series, so each one can almost be a standalone. This one just seemed to be a little too over the top in talking about their “special skills.”

Also -- it's time to meet the German. We're five books in, already. I assume he exists or hopefully we'd know that by now. Get on with it, already.

There’s an author’s note at the end of the book with information about the history behind the story, along with the chance to do some decoding. Have fun!

Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for a copy of the book, in exchange for this review.

Solid new entry in this series. I adore Flo + Lady Hardcastle. The author's writing is always entertaining - fun and lighthearted mysteries, witty banter, enjoyable characters. It was interesting learning about the suffragette movement from that time period, and I enjoyed the historical note at the end. (Side note - is it just me, or does every mystery from this time period written in the last few years include a Vigenere code?? so trendy)

Two minor nits: 1) Given that the inspector kept semi-inviting the women over to meet his wife for so long without ever extending an actual invitation (enough so that they comment on it in the last book), I thought there might be a bit of a story there re: his wife. Instead, they meet her at a dinner party the end of this book with zero fanfare and nothing to comment on. Very minor nit and only cared about by readers who have followed the whole series. :) 2) Out of nowhere, the author dropped in a tiny tidbit about the German Lady Hardcastle killed or thought she killed years ago. He surfaced in the last book - surprise, he's maybe alive?? - then was mentioned for a hot second in this book and promptly dropped again. The ladies promise to be extra careful given the news and nothing happens. Maybe the author was just laying more groundwork for the future, but it felt more like a dropped thread to me. These nits did not detract from my enjoyment of the story though. I thoroughly enjoy these stories and always look forward to reading the next one!

My thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC via netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Another exciting escapade for the ex-spy, Lady Hardcastle and her maid. This time they are caught up in plot to discredit the suffragettes in Bristol and when one of their number is arrested for the murder of a reporter, she has to help. I particularly enjoyed this title because of its descriptions of the City of Bristol, mainly because I worked in the City for 20 years and I could mentally visualize so many of the scenes. This series is a particularly well written and researched one and I don't get those little niggles about accuracy that I find with some other authors.

The Burning Issue Of The Day is the fifth book in the A Lady Hardcastle Mystery series.

It’s Friday morning and Lady Hardcastle and her ladies maid, Florence Hamilton, are reading the Bristol News while partaking of their breakfast they start to discuss an article about arson on Thomas St where a tenant dies and the arrest of a woman, charging her with murder. Later that morning as Lady Hardcastle and Flo are about to head out for lunch at the Dog and Duck the post arrives and Lady H finds a letter written on fine stationery and takes time to read it. The letter is from a Lady Bickle who says she got Lady H’s name from her friend, Dr. Simeon Gosling. She states in her letter that she has learned from Gosling Lady H’s investigative skills and would like to meet with Lady H to see if Lady would look into the arson. Lady Bickle is a leader of a local suffragette group, who are part of the WSPU, and they adhere to a non-violence way of getting women’s rights. The young lady arrested for the arson, Lizzie Worell, is a member of Lady Bickle’s group. Lady Bickle feels certain that Worell is innocent.

Lady H decides to take on the investigation and with the victim of fire, a Christian Brookfield, being a reporter with the Bristol News, reluctantly decides to call a truce with reporter Dinah Caudle, who they had a run-in with in the previous book. Soon, Caudle brings a notebook of Brookfield’s to Lady H and Flo that are notes on stories that he had been working on. The notes are written in code and some are easy to decipher and it appears that he was working on the corruption of some high placed businessmen. Some are more difficult to break and these will be the ones to get the investigation to head in the right direction.

I love this series. The stories are all well told and well plotted the characters are well developed very enjoyable. I particularly enjoy Lady Hardcastle and Flo. Even though they Lady and Lady’s Maid they are more than less on an even footing. The dialogue between them is often humorous.

I’m looking forward to reading many more books in this very enjoyable series.

Another delightful entry in the Lady Hardcastle series - this time we find Flo and Emily knee deep in arson, murder, large scale thievery, and the women's suffrage movement. The period-ness of the series is definitely coming into focus as we move forward and I hope the author has intentions of integrating more historical keystones into the mysteries. As readers have come to expect, the dialogue is snappy, the characterization sharp, and the pacing is fantastic - there's maybe a scene or two that could be pared down, but that's a small quibble in an otherwise very satisfying novel. A strong, strong recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this book. I am so glad I kept this book to read whilst on holiday as I devoured it in one day. This is the usual outrageous romp involving the usual suspects but this time is set around the suffragettes period and the general election at the time. There is also a bit of a good robbery going on and as usual only Lady Hardcastle and Flo can save the day. Even though you know it will all end ok these books are compulsive reading. Highly recommended

The fifth Lady Hardcastle mystery from TE Kinsey. When the eccentric Lady Hardcastle receives a call for help from a suffragette, the sometime amateur sleuth is spurred into action. A delightful mystery told with flair and plenty of gentle humour. A worthy addition to the series.

I love this series and Flo and Lady Hardcastle are two of my favorite characters. I love their sleuthing antics and they always get their
Suspect. I look forward to many more installments
Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

It's always a great joy to read another Lady Hardcastle mystery, and this was a really fun one. I love these characters and spending time with them again in this adventure was like seeing old friends. Their escapades to solve this mystery are clever, witty, and compelling in a brilliantly light and enchanting way. I enjoyed this book very much and would recommend it to anyone who loves mystery, historical fiction, and character driven series. Great fun.

This was the first book of the Lady Hardcastle series I have read, so I cannot compare it to the previous 4 in my review. It has enough hints about the main characters' past for a new reader to read as a stand alone book. It was a pleasant read, but did not keep me up at night trying to get to the end. The author aims for quaint and witty but falls short - more Enid Blyton than Agatha Christie, sadly. Flo and Emily are described like they are superheroes rather than women with special skills, but in their actions seem bumbling comics. What detective worth their salt goes around giving every Tom, Dick and Harry and blow by blow account of all their findings - in this case, straight to the bad guys' spy!

Thank you to Net Galley for the advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Although this was not my favorite Lady Hardcastle mystery, it was still a fun read. Highly recommend this series!

Ive read this entire series and i love it!! Its a cozy yet sassy murder series with characters that are actually incredibly likeable and interesting. So good i may read again!

I’ve come to really love these books—especially the two lead characters—and look forward to the next one. This may be my favorite so far. It drags a little in the middle—the author, bless him, includes so much interesting information that sometimes it bogs down the story a bit—but still manages to be a fun, funny, fast and feisty read.
The two main characters—especially the martial-arts, knife-wielding, door-(and head-) cracking ‘maid servant,’ Armstrong, who narrates the story, and the relationship they have (and quick-witted, smart-mouth dialogue between them) are wonderful. And the various characters they encounter—and their evolving relationships with them—equally so. The books manage to be remarkably informative without being pedantic—and the author makes it clear where he’s taken liberties.
This installment, with its central topic of women’s right to vote, is especially timely now. (Isn’t that sad?!) I highly recommend this book to any lover of a good mystery, smart (and beautiful) women, and intelligent, clever writing.

For the fifth book in the series, Kinsey only seems to be slipping slightly. I think the amount of characters distracted from the actual plot. Instead of "revisiting old favorites" the spots when other characters from previous books were mentioned disengaged readers from the new characters. Every time, even when vital to the plot, I had to re-focus and make it a point to remember what was going on that made me feel like I was reading a Game of Thrones novel rather than a beloved mystery.

Despite the distractions, Flo and Lady Hardcastle were impeccable as ever and I can't wait for the next in the series!

Lady Hardcastle and her Lady's maid Florence are at it again solving anther mystery while getting involved in the Women's Sufferage movement. This fourth installment in the series is just as charming and as the previous books with a wealth of interesting characters and witty dialogue. Always look forward to these books and the latest adventures of Lady Hardcastle and Florence.

I am a fan of cozy mysteries of all varieties. I love the quirkiness combined with intrepid amateur sleuths. I was not familiar with this author or this series, so the book came as a delightful surprise. British cozies seem to definitely have a different flavor than American ones, and frankly, I revel in the distinctions between them and enjoy both. British cozies always seem to have a dry rather than open wit and characters who are strongly individual in their quirkiness. In this book, I quite enjoyed the relationship between Lady H and her maid. I also really liked the use of a newspaper article to set the scene for the entire novel. Great way to give backstory. I liked the historical element of the story as well. I have done some research on the suffragist movement in the United States, so it added an interesting element to this story for me. I am curious now to investigate some other books in this series.

Lady Hardcastle and her sidekick(servant) Flo team up to save a suffragette from a murder charge in The Burning Issue of the Day. Excellent historical mystery.

This is proving to be a very enjoyable series. I received this one from Netgalley but, before I read it, I finished all the earlier ones first. The relationship between eccentric widow Lady Hardcastle and her maid Miss Armstrong is a joy, and the trickle of backstory elements always leaves the reader wanting a bit more. I was pretty much hooked from book one, as Lady H and Flo find themselves a new house and set about furnishing it (including with daily help). The exchanges between them are always beautifully judged - for instance, Flo rarely refers to her employer as "my Lady" except when she disapproves of her actions, they bicker over who is to drive the new car, and so on. One has the sense of a long-established relationship based on mutual respect and affection.
With the fifth in the series, the author takes the light-hearted amateur detectives - we know by this time that their background has been much more serious, but they have retired from living on their wits in the service of HMG - and gives them something a bit more serious to get their teeth into. A death has occurred which may have been the result of suffragist sabotage, and a young suffragette is on trial for her life. Can they save her, despite the opposition of the (male) Bristol establishment? I felt that the author genuinely wanted to talk about the suffragist cause and that it wasn't simply a subject to hang a mystery on.
Kinsey introduces a new character in this book, the journalist Diana Caudle, who despite initially clashing with Lady Hardcastle, looks set to put in appearances in future episodes. I see there is another on its way - good-oh!

I have been following this series for quite some time now. Lady Hardcastle and Flo form a really good detective pair. Their camaraderie is well depicted in each of the stories. Women's Suffragette, arson and murder and a whole lot of driving around in the rover, the duo have an adventurous time.

However, the charm was a tad missing. The first two books were simply perfect but I find something amiss since book 3 - I quite cannot point out. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series. Gunther is yet to come into picture and I am pretty sure that things are going to get murkier once he's in town.

My favourite companions in crime are back on the case, this time involving the death of a suffrogette.

As always an intriguing, and involving investigation ensues, with a well balanced amount of humour along the way.

This is a delightful addition to this cozy crime series, which can be enjoyed regardless of whether you've read any of the previous books

Another wonderful adventure in the Lady Hard castle series.So well written great characters involving plots.A cozy read I curl up with each time a new book comes out.Highly recommend this entertaining series,#netgalley#amazonuk

I have always been a big fan of TE Kinsey’s books starring Lady Hardcastle and her trusty side Flo.
I particularly enjoyed this book and how it incorporated the history of the Suffragette movement in England at the time. And of course, where would we be without a murder in the novel!! Having found the last few books a bit repetitive, this one brought back the reason why I enjoyed Kinsey’s style of writing.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of the book.

I have really enjoyed all of T.E. Kinsey's Lady Hardcastle novels. They're an excellent, enjoyable read that always include a nice bit of humour combined with a good old fashioned 1900s murder mystery. I have really come to love these two self aware female protagonists. A wonderful installment in the series. I recommend wholeheartedly.

The Burning Issue of the Day is a must-read. It has all of the elements to make this one of my favorites.

Here we find Lady Hardcastle and Flo on the case to find a killer. It seems a journalist has been killed in a suspicious blaze. The suspect is someone from the group of suffragettes. The due detectives take the job of figuring out and proving that Lizzie is innocent.

The storyline is easy and fun to follow and the well-crafted characters are what make this a great read.

These cozy’s are a fun read. You never know what Lady Hardcastle and her ladies maid, Florence Armstrong will get into next. When they are asked to prove Lizzie didn’t burn down the building, there is little evidence of her guilt or innocence. Little by little ideas take shape and they start their investigation.
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