It's the summer of 1912. Lady Hardcastle and her maid, Florence Armstrong, have been enjoying themselves at The Grange with their friends, the Farley-Strouds. The only unpleasantness seems to be the lack of musical entertainment for the forthcoming party until Lady Hardcastle's brother Harry calls with news of a murder.
Harry sends the pair to Bristol on behalf of the Secret Service Bureau, instructing them to prevent the police from finding out too much about the victim. When the two women find a connection between the victim and an impending visit from the Austrian trade delegation, things heat up.
In no time flat, Lady Hardcastle and Florence find themselves in London to help with some very important security arrangements, and they're surrounded by misogynistic bureaucrats, Cockney gangsters, and men in strange hats carrying explosives.
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I've been having so much fun with this series that it's hard to believe that An Assassination on the Agenda is already the eleventh Lady Hardcastle mystery.
The mysteries are always good and deeply rooted in the time period (don't miss the Author's Notes for this one!), but the highlight for me has always been the repartee between Lady Hardcastle and her maid, Florence Armstrong. Their banter stems from a long and loving relationship that has carried them through thick and thin-- and many countries. The dialogue sparkles even more brightly this time due to all the bureaucrats they must deal with.
An Assassination on the Agenda is another enjoyable entry in this series, and if I have to complain about anything, it's the fact that T.E. Kinsey has warped my mind. I used to be able to see the surname Featherstonehaugh and pronounce it correctly immediately (Fanshaw). But now, with the war of words between Florence and Lady Hardcastle's brother Harry, I stumble each and every time. Shame on you, Mr. Kinsey!
An Assassination on the Agenda by T.E. Kinsey
eISBN: 9781662512964
Thomas & Mercer © 2024
eBook, 317 pages
Historical Mystery, #11 Lady Hardcastle mystery
Rating: B+
Source: Net Galley
I've read several of your posts on this series, Cathy, and it always sounds like such a fun one! In a historical series like this, it can be hard to make it authentic without 'information dump.' I'm glad that doesn't happen here.
ReplyDeleteHe does a marvelous job of avoiding information dump.
DeleteI've been taking my time with this series, but your review has me convinced that it's time to read another entry.
ReplyDeleteI have series like that, too. I keep getting persuaded to read ARCs of this one which is the major reason why I've managed to keep up with it.
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