Category: George V – 1910- 1936

Murder on the Rocks by T.E. Kinsey

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Murder on the Rocks (A Lady Hardcastle Mystery #13)

Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Lady Hardcastle Mysteries #13
Publication Date: 5/26/26
Period: 1913 (Devon, England)
Number of Pages: Audiobook (Book has 296 Pages)

This book is filled with a wicked good mystery, witty banter, interesting characters, and excellent narration. You definitely cannot go wrong if you decide to read or listen to this book.

The inimitable Lady Hardcastle and her lady’s maid Flo have been invited to spend a quiet weekend on the small private island of an American friend. Had they a choice, they might have chosen to visit in the summer rather than mid-winter, but they still looked forward to the adventure – and goodness what an adventure it was.

Lady Hardcastle and Flo thought the other guests were an interesting mix of characters and looked forward to getting to know them. Then, there were thefts, then a dead body, then a storm cutting them off from the mainland. Oh! My! They are trapped on an island with a thief and a murderer. Can they solve the crimes and apprehend the criminal before more crimes are committed? As always, the unstoppable duo is on the case, and those criminals don’t have a clue what they are up against.

The narrator, Elizabeth Knowelden, is excellent. She delivers a well-paced narration with distinctive character voices. She also does an excellent job handling the witty banter between Flo and Emily – you can hear the humor in her voice as she narrates.

I recommend this book, this series, and this author.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Two Weddings and a Murder by Alyssa Maxwell

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, George V - 1910- 1936, Historical Mystery, Interwar Period (Nov 1918 - Sep 1939), New To Me Author, Part of a SeriesLeave a comment

Two Weddings and a Murder (A Lady and Lady's Maid Mystery #9)

Barbara’s rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Series: A Lady & Lady’s Maid Mystery #9
Publication Date: 2/25/25
Period: Inter-War (1922)
Number of Pages: 272

I enjoy reading historical mysteries and am always on the lookout for new-to-me authors. When I saw this book, I just had to try it and the author. I didn’t notice that it was the final book in the series, but that was not a problem. I had no trouble reading this as a standalone and following the characters and storyline.

Lady Phoebe Renshaw and her betrothed, Owen Seabright, are celebrating their wedding with friends, relatives, and servants and it is a joyous occasion for all. Eva Huntford, Phoebe’s lady’s maid, is especially joyful because she has served as both maid and close friend for many years – and she has a romance of her own. Speaking of Eva’s romance, why was he a no-show at Phoebe’s wedding ceremony?

Constable Miles Brannock finally arrives only to announce the murder of Chief Inspector Isaac Perkins had caused his delay. Oh! My! While Perkins was not well-liked, who would dislike him enough to murder him? Miles quickly begins his investigation only to be supplanted by a brutish Inspector from Scotland Yard – AND – that inspector quickly decides Miles is the murderer and arrests him.

Lady Phoebe and Owen quickly postpone their honeymoon to help Eva investigate because they are all positive Miles is not the murderer. There are many suspects – including Phoebe’s elderly aunt, Phoebe’s uncle Greville, a local farmer, a gypsy, and more. With many disparate suspects and no clues, the investigation is filled with twists, turns, and surprises.

I enjoyed the mystery and the characters, but, for me, the story seemed to drag. It was not a fast-paced, exciting mystery; but more of a slow-paced investigation. I also enjoyed seeing the storylines for the series all neatly tied up with the appropriate HEAs and good feelings all around. I would have liked to see a wrap-up for Uncle Greville and his wife Giovanna since they were front and center throughout much of the book. We learn the motives for their appearance in England, but there is no wrap-up. I would have liked to see Grampapa deal with them, but now we will never know.

While I enjoyed the mystery and the characters, I wasn’t inspired to go back and read the first books in the series. Perhaps that is because I wasn’t already invested in the characters due to that lack -I don’t know.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

View all my reviews