September 18, 2021

In the Market for Murder

 


Lady Hardcastle Mysteries #2
Mystery
2016 Brilliance Audio
Read by Elizabeth Knowelden
Finished on September 11, 2021
Rating: 3/5 (Good)

Publisher's Blurb:

Spring, 1909, and Lady Hardcastle, amateur sleuth and all-round eccentric, is enjoying a well-deserved rest. But a week after a trip to the cattle market, Spencer Caradine, a local farmer, turns up dead in the pub, face-down in his beef and mushroom pie. Once again, it is up to Lady Hardcastle and her maid, Florence, to solve the case.

Armed with wit and whimsy, not to mention Florence’s mean right hook, the pair set out to discover what really happened and why. Was it poison or just ill luck?

As they delve further into their investigation, they encounter a theft where nothing is stolen, a séance with a troubled ghost and an ever-increasing number of Spencer’s family and friends who might just have motive for murder. One thing’s for sure: Lady Hardcastle has a mystery on her hands.

I didn't care for this second installment in the Lady Hardcastle series nearly as much as A Quiet Life in the Country. The mystery (there are actually three mysteries) wasn't terribly interesting and I missed the humorous bantering between Lady Hardcastle and Flo that I so enjoyed in Kinsey's debut. There are five more books in this series and I'm not sure if I'll continue, although Elizabeth Knowelden is a delightful narrator of the audiobooks. Cozy mysteries may just not be for me.
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8 comments:

  1. (Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea4:58 AM

    Sorry this one did not work as well as you had hoped. Lately, I find that I need to preview all British, Scottish, Irish narrators carefully as sometimes the narration ends up a bit frustrating to me.

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    1. Les in Oregon11:13 AM

      Diane, it was a pretty mindless listening experience, but I do enjoy the reader for this series. I just don't think I'm a cozy reader.

      Delete
  2. JoAnn5:34 AM

    Without the humorous banter, I'm not sure I'd try this one. That was my favorite part of book one!

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    1. Les in Oregon11:13 AM

      JoAnn, there was a little bit of the bantering, but not as noticeable as in the first book. Ah, well.

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  3. jenclair5:55 AM

    It is such a disappointment when a book doesn't live up to your expectations. I occasionally find a cozy that I enjoy, but the genre isn't my favorite.

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    1. Les in Oregon11:14 AM

      Jenclair, it's not really a favorite genre of mine, either. I did enjoy the first book, though.

      Delete
  4. Iliana3:08 PM

    These books have really nice covers but as much as I want to love cozy mysteries I don't reach for them too often.

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    Replies
    1. Les in Oregon3:09 PM

      Iliana, I like the cover art, too. I may try the next book in the print format and see if I like it any better.

      Delete

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