A "cosy" murder mystery series that I have enjoyed following in later years is T.E. Kinsey's books about Lady Hardcastle and her lady's maid Florence Armstrong (more like best friends than employer and employee, really). The books are set in the beginning of the 20th century, in a small village in Gloucestershire, where (in the first book) the two women came with the intent to live a quieter (hm) life after a number of adventurous years abroad (including them both having been involved in espionage). But English village life turns out to offer its own challenges, and they soon find themselves frequently "helping the police" to solve murders and other mysteries...
One reason that I felt drawn to this charming series to begin with is probably that in my own family history, there is a sister of my grandmother's who worked as travelling lady's maid in the same time period (and onward). (I don't think she was exactly involved in political espionage, though...)
Anyway, I just finished listening to the 12th installment in the Lady Hardcastle series, entitled The Beast of Littleton Woods.
It is the year 1912, and after a prized sheep has been found mysteriously mauled to death, rumours start circulating in the village about some mysterious wild animal stalking the countryside. And when the owner of the sheep is killed in a similar way, the terror spreads... Is there actually a dangerous wild beast on the loose? Or is there some other possible explanation?
Meanwhile, there are also some comparatively "minor" mysteries going on in the village, but none the less causing a great deal of headache - like someone regularly messing with the post sorted at the local post office, so that letters end up delivered to the wrong people.
Lady Hardcastle and Florence don't hesitate to offer their help solving any kind of mystery, big or "small"... And I thoroughly enjoyed following their efforts, and some rather unexpected findings and answers.
I also don't think you really need to start from the beginning with this whole series, but could probably just jump right in with this one, if you're feeling tempted.
It sounds like female Sherlock Holmes. Hounds of the Baskervilles and the like. Basil Rathbone was my favourite fim actor for Sherlock Holmes. Is voice was incredible.
ReplyDeleteNorthsider, no doubt the inspiration for a lot of detective novels can be traced back to Sherlock Holmes... :) But I suppose you may be right - sort of - about a deliberate wink to the Hound of the Baskervilles here. (Didn't occur to me while reading it, though.)
DeleteThis sounds most enjoyable.Thank you.
ReplyDeleteLittleton woods sounds extremely interesting!! I love cozy mysteries, we watch a lot on T.V.
ReplyDeleteMy kind of series; I believe I have said this before when you were reviewing other books in the series. I still haven't downloaded or read any of them, though.
ReplyDeleteI do think you'd probably enjoy them, Meike - even if they're not set in Yorkshire! ;)
DeleteOh this does sound very good! Set in England? I am sure I would love it. By the way, I read Agatha Christie's autobiography last year. Have you read it? I LOVED it. I couldn't believe how much I felt we had in common! I always loved her books but teachers at school would "tsk, tsk" over this I didn't care, I read her books anyway!
ReplyDeleteKay, I have the impression that her work has been re-evaluated in later years, compared to back in our youth, so that now she's more respected as a great writer (not just popular), compared to back then. For me, some of her books were among the first I read in English, in my early teens - and encoraged by my mum. My parents had some of them as English paperbacks. I can't recall which ones though. I also read several in Swedish translation, borrowed from the library. Nothing to do with school, I think, but in my own spare time. On the whole I preferred Miss Marple over Poirot :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't read your comments Monica, because I shall be reading this on my Kindle, once it's offered at a reasonable price on Amazon!
ReplyDeleteAnnoyingly Google has been blocking me out for the last few days.