Hardcastle's Collector

It’s 1917 and DI Ernest Hardcastle and DS Charles Marriot are called away from their posts with the metropolitan police to look into the murder of a young woman in a small village in Hampshire. Daisy turns out to have been quite a popular young lady, she had quite a few boyfriends, and they are all suspects. But Hardcastle has a few other people on his radar, including Daisy’s own father. Used to dealing with investigations in a big city, Hardcastle finds himself butting heads with the local villagers, who have their own way of doing things and don’t react kindly to a Londoner sticking his nose in their business. Hardcastle and Marriot will have to find a way around the villagers reticence to get justice for Daisy. A terrific historical mystery with well drawn characters and a likable hero

Thank you Severn House and NetGalley for making this available for review. In 1917 German bombs are falling on London, creating an atmosphere of fear. In the country village of Thresham Parva life goes on as usual until the body of 16 year old Daisy Salter is discovered in a field. Divisional DI Hardcastle and DS Marriott are sent from Scotland Yard to investigate the death, a challenge for two Londoners who are unfamiliar with the area and the operation of rural police forces. An autopsy reveals that Daisy was two months pregnant and, with the assistance of a local officer, Hardcastle discovers her history of promiscuity and theft.

The investigation often feels like it is going nowhere, but Hardcastle is known for his determination and high arrest record and he will not stop until he has brought Daisy's killer to justice.

This is the 13th book in Ison's Hardcastle and Marriott series, but those who are new to the series can jump right in and discover what makes them so enjoyable.

Hardcastle is an old curmudgeon that orders people around, expounds his thoughts, and can be a very good investigator. He demands a lot from his employees. He also solves all his cases...

Severn House and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published February 1st of 2016.

Hardcastle reminded me of the older people in my life. They don't explain much and can be gruff, but they get things done. When he's sent out from Scotland to help a small town's cops solve a murder case, he's more than willing. He takes his favorite man and off they go. The poor local cop assigned to him discovers he wants everything done immediately. Scotland Yard does not waste time. Or at least Hardcastle doesn't.

A young woman was found on a local farm strangled to death. At the autopsy they find she's two months pregnant. She was fond of sharing her favors with all but who killed her?

This story had several likeable points to me. Hardcastle was an interesting character. As he was investigating, he was also training the young constable from the area. The killer was someone unsuspected by everyone except for Hardcastle. It's a tight mystery with good interaction between the characters and was a pleasure for read. I'd be happy to read another one in this series.

If you enjoy police procedural novels set in England during the time period of World War I, the Hardcastle series by Graham Ison might be just what you are looking for. With a main character who isn't always the easiest person to like (described as overbearing, unreasonable, sarcastic, cantankerous, etc.) it might take a while before you begin to understand that DDI Hardcastle has his own softer, well hidden disposition.

Policing work in England during the war years is hard on all those left to control the criminal element of an entire nation while men are being called into service and sent to die in foreign lands. One thing you will definitely understand when you read one of the novels in this series is just how brutal the future was for anyone who either volunteered or was conscripted to serve. Hardcastle has been sent from London as the Divisional Detective Inspector to solve the crime of murder in tiny Thresham Parva in Hampshire. Naturally Hardcastle asks to have Detective Sergeant Charles Marriott as his bag carrier (assistant) on the case and they are joined by a very eager young Detective Constable Yardley of the Hampshire County Constabulary whose local knowledge will be useful in traveling from village to village and dealing with locals who might be suspicious of Londoners. With an Army base and a college for privileged young gentlemen nearby Hardcastle and his crew have more than just villagers to sort through to find the person who murdered Daisy Salter.

Ernie Hardcastle may not leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy, but he's one heck of an investigator even if he doesn't necessarily do most things "by the book". After all, he's been a police officer so long he has written his own version of the book. Recommended for those who enjoy the police procedural aspect of solving a case and especially if you want to get a feeling of realism for how life was in a nation at war in 1917.

I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley.

All reviews appear on Amazon, Goodreads plus Gr Facebook, LibraryThing plus LT Twitter, eyes.2c review blog

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AADQRQ2?keywords=Hardcastle's%20collector&qid=1454283053&ref_=sr_1_1_twi_kin_2&sr=8-1
(Feb 1, 2016)

LibaryThing plus LibraryThing Twitter http://www.librarything.com/work/17181488/book/126321941 (Jan 31, 2016)

Goodreads plus Gr FB https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1530926674 (Jan 31 , 2016)

eyes.2c reviews blog http://eyes2creviews.blogspot.ca/2016/01/sleuthing-in-country.html (Feb 1, 2016)

Sleuthing in the country!

I enjoyed watching Detective Inspector Hardcastle make his way through this murder case, with the long suffering Detective Sergeant Charles Marriott.
Hardcastle's prejudices still abound, his intuitive understandings are still a puzzle given the man's inability to empathize.
This time Hardcastle and his sidekick are off to the country to investigate the murder of a young woman, Daisy Salter. The list of suspects could be long--or not! There is an army camp not too far away and Daisy has caused a ruckus already with soldiers from there. It's 1917, London is being bombed, death is falling from the skies.
Surprising insights, cameo parts really, into Hardcastle's relationship with his wife and daughter emerge. The war is changing woman's roles and Hardcastle seems to be accepting this with regard to his daughter. The discussion in the family parlour (with a touch of alcohol involved) is rather heartwarming.
Another gem was the treatise on the role of the PC's wife in this era. It is they that Hardcastle turns to for the background and village opinions about various persons of interest.
There are some unlikely twists. Once you know the suspect the clues were there. Very subtle.

A NetGalley ARC