May 1912. After the previous year’s deadly heatwave, it’s been an uneventful spring in Littleton Cotterell. Though for Lady Hardcastle and her fiercely loyal lady’s maid Flo, at least there are the provincial delights of the village’s inaugural art exhibition—and bicycle race—to look forward to. But at the exhibition opening, there’s a panicked shout of ‘Fire!’ In the confusion, the main attraction—an extremely expensive book—is stolen from under everyone’s nose, as is a valuable painting lent by Sir Hector Farley-Stroud. Then the race, which starts as a charming day out, ends in a shocking death. And to top it all off, the Farley-Strouds reveal they’re in debt and might lose their house. The sleuthing duo soon find themselves torn between a murder investigation, an art theft mystery, and trying to help their pals. All with a suspicious figure from Flo’s past, a supercilious insurance investigator, and a pair of rather bizarre treasure hunters on the loose. This is part of a series and does not read well as a standalone. There is too much information needed for this story to fully make sense so I recommend reading the others first. It is however, a well written mystery and I look forward to the next in the series.

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and T. E. Kinsey

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

Not the best in this series. Sluggish read and I had pegged the thief early on and the murderers were not a surprise.
I received a free copy in exchange for a fair revie

Solid, reliably entertaining mystery. I've read every one in the series and will keep reading whatever this author puts out!

I amuse myself when I read books like this and think, oh the author's being a little too obvious here, he just dropped a hint that gives away THE WHOLE PLOT! Then I either totally forget about the clue or I was wrong and the story goes in a different direction (and then I pretend I knew it all along, ha). Parts of the mystery were fairly guessable, I thought (esp with regards to the Farley-Strouds' predicament) but that didn't make it any less enjoyable. I could read twenty more installments of Flo/Emily in the country, but it looks like they might be going back into the crown's service, and I cannot WAIT to read those!! :)

My thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC via netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The tenth book in the series already (well, eleven if you count the Christmas novella), but Lady Hardcastle and Flo are still going strong!

In this one, there's a village art exhibition during which several high-value items are stolen. Then, someone is killed during a bike race. Luckily for everyone in the larger area around Littleton Cotterell, Lady Hardcastle and Flo are only too happy to be of service.

Emily Hardcastle and her tiny servant Flo Armstrong are as clever as ever. A massive part of the entertainment in this series come from the genuine friendship between these two characters, with their banter and inside jokes, and it is no different in this book. They play of each other well, and as a reader you know that when one of them falls short the other will pick up the slack, but it's still always surprising when they go on the strangest tangents only to suddenly solve the entire mystery without seemingly having to break a sweat.

It's been a genuine delight to get started on each new book in this series, and I for one hope we'll get plenty more stories featuring Emily and Flo.

This was def a fun edition to the series. I really liked the element of this book and def really enjoyed the story as well. This book is always a fun read!! and i just enjoy these characters, i really iked the plot and the characters, sad i have to wait for more in this series

T.E. Kinsey’s writing is always top-notch and this is no exception. Back with the lovely Lady Hardcastle and her friend and lady’s maid Flo, the book is full of witty repartee and fun moments.

There are multiple mysteries in this one which ramble across the English countryside taking our leading ladies on many adventures, including bicycling! The Farley-Strouds are in need of help again too so there are plenty of facets to consider.

While an enjoyable read, the mysteries were not quite as intriguing as I had hoped and I rather figured it out too soon. I have enjoyed this series for a long time now and it will remain that way, it just wasn’t my favourite of the collection.

All said and done, a lovely time spent with wonderful characters and a fun tale. It’s a four out of five on the enJOYment scale and highly recommended.

Set at the turn of the century, the twentieth century, that is, during the Edwardian era, exciting things are afoot for Lady Hardcastle and Flo in their charming Gloucestershire village- an art show and a bicycle race with enthusiastic treasure hunters at the Grange. Art thievery and murder make the May Day holiday a memorable one for them.

A Fire at the Exhibition is the tenth installment in the Lady Hardcastle mysteries series that has a connected progression for those who like to see the two retired spies settling into a new pastime of murder solving, but has the advantage of each book working fine as a standalone as well.

The lady and her lady’s maid are now locally known for solving crime and the law eagerly accepts their help so they are able to plunge right into both situations and assist. The art show theft happens in the opening chapters, but the murder is many chapters later. They are stumped somewhat about the art thieves, but pick up bits as they go. There are some nice red herrings among the large range of possibilities to keep them guessing. I did guess at what happened with the theft, though I won’t lie that I had other suspicions equally strong. Now, the murder came so late in their investigations that I wasn’t sure what to think and can’t say there was a clear trail from the culprits when the ladies did spring the answer at the end.

The side venture of the treasure hunt based on a fictional historical event tied to the Grange and the Farley-Strouds was a fun addition as was the ladies new interest in biking. I love how each book features some bit of historical items like the innovative racing bikes and women’s growing participation in biking as a sport.

My absolute favorite moments are seeing ‘Tiny Servant’ shock the villains who under-estimate her by taking them down with her martial art and acrobatic ability. Flo has many skills she picked up as part of a team of British espionage agents alongside Lady Hardcastle, but her cheery friendliness and Lady H’s ‘what ho’s always fool people.

All in all, another fabulous low-key murder mystery and solid historical setting and colorful characters in combination that makes this historical cozy series one I happily recommend.

Three stars for another well done outing for Lady Hardcastle and Florence Armstrong. This time out they find FIRE!, a stolen book, and murder at an art exhibition. The Farley-Strouds are on hand to lend drama; their debts may cause them to lose their house! Can Lady H and Flo figure it all out? Well of course they can. I thought this was a weaker story than the last book as the plot was all over the place and never quite focused, but it gave us more of the peripheral characters so I guess it balances out. The best part of this series is that each book is not 'just' a murder mystery. We are drawn into village life and the various characters as they are living their lives while, oh yes by the way, there is a murder investigation ongoing. And what characters they are! None of them are ever caricatures-but perfectly described and they all interact with the plot in a believable way. Very well done and one of my favorite series. I was given a copy and my honest opinion is you 'otter' be reading anything T.E. Kinsey writes!

A Fire at the Exhibition by T.E. Kinsey
Lady Hardcastle series
I have been in love with this series from the beginning. My favorite character of course, is Flo the tiny servant as Lady Hardcastle sometimes says. She may be tiny but she is fierce. They are both emancipated women even though Flo does take care of Lady Hardcastle but she is treated as an equal.
This was an especially good story with art theft, treasure seekers, and bicyclists galore. Oh, and a murder which is almost incidental to the rest of the story. Chock full of fun and surprises and the ever delightful Daisy the barmaid and reigning queen of the festival.
Already looking forward to the next book in the series. Write faster dear author.

I liked the characters and the mystery kept me guessing

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lady Hardcastle and Emily are caught up in another mystery when the spring brings an art exhibition to the village of Littleton Cotterell. People are buzzing over the jewel-studded copy of Shakespeare's folio. This is, of course, one of the items that goes missing when a small fire is set causing everyone to panic and run out of the hall. Also missing are a bust and a painting of the local Grange.
The thefts are bad enough but then a man is murdered during the local bicycle race. Luckily Lady Hardcastle and Emily are among the first on scene having recently taken up the art of cycling themselves.
There are any number of suspects including an old friend of Emily's from the circus, treasure hunting twins, and even the Farley-Strouds themselves.
A nice addition to the series and I look forward to reading more.

Four stars
This book comes out September 5, 2023
Follows An Act of Foul Play
ARC kindly provided Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

There is always something going on in the town of Littleton Cotterell. So all the residents are on their feet when an exhibition opens in the town hall. As a special exhibit, there is, among other things, an extremely valuable book on display. However, on the day of the opening there is a fire and the book and other exhibits disappear. Since her friend Sir Hector is also affected, Lady Hardcastle and her maid Miss Armstrong begin the investigation. As the story progresses, things get more and more complicated. A body turns up, bikes disappear and there are rumors of a secret treasure. The lady and her maid have their hands full trying to unravel the events.
I had a lot of fun with this clever crime thriller. The characters, especially Lady Hardcastle and Miss Armstrong, are unusual but inherently believable and likeable. Until the end, one can only guess and make hypotheses about what actually happened. That's exactly what makes a good crime novel for me. What particularly sets the book apart is the quick-witted humor that comes through again and again in the dialogues. A heartwarming, funny and exciting crime thriller. Well done.

Another day spent alongside Lady Hardcastle and Flo as they untangle a mystery is a great day. This is another fantastic addition to the tales of the dynamic duo - from conversations, investigative mishaps, banter, and food choices. With a mere comment from Lady Hardcastle towards the end of the book, I am curious and hopeful that the next adventure takes them beyond their village. It is a good time in the series for the pair to move about a bit.

I love the Lady Hardcastle series, but this book was dragging a bit. Of course the setting in the village with an art exhibition and a bicycle race is nice, and the characters, Lady Hardcastle and her maid Flo leading the way, are well described and funny as ever, but the crime (here more than one) moves into the background. So it´s entertaining, but would deserve more mystery.
Thanks to the publisher, author and Netgalley for an arc ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read two books about aristocratic Ladies who are not representative of the Ladies of the time. They were either haughty, vapid or cowed down. Lady Hardcastle was neither. Along with her supportive maid Flo and a very loyal staff they lived a very democratic and happy existence.

When the village had its inaugural exhibition of art - offerings from the villagers themselves, the productions were surprising. The prized ones were a book on Shakespeare, valued at Stf £ 1000 jewelled and dazzling, and a painting of the Grange by Summerhayes, one of a pair and an alabaster bust of an ancestor of the local laird.

At the inauguration a deliberate attempt to cause a fire, resulted in the theft of the prized exhibits and Lady Hardcastle with Flo was deputised to help the local Police in whatever way they could. They were also more keen to get the Summerhayes back as the Grange was in dire financial straits and needed the painting as one of a pair, to save the Grange from being lost.

Armed with few clues, lots of clever deductions, the addition of an eccentric brother and sister treasure hunting scheme, a hoity toity insurance investigator all adding false trails to the ultimate happy end.

Pleasant and easy to read novel set in 1912 rural England.

Tim Kinsey has written another cracking book! A Fire at the Exhibition features his reliable duo of Lady Emily Hardcastle and her trusty, but diminutive, Welsh maid, Florence Armstrong. A fire at a local art and craft exhibition means that the village hall has to be evacuated and someone takes advantage of the panic to steal a unique copy of Shakespeare’s complete works, plus a couple of minor items from the Farley-Stroud collection. Emily and Florence want to retrieve the missing items for their friends, the Farley-Strouds, who are desperately short of money and hoped to raise some dosh by selling a couple of pictures.

Characters from previous books appear such as Flo’s friend Daisy, who is a gracious Queen of the May, even when her boss at the pub sends a message “tell her Majesty, Queen Daisy, to get her lazy behind back in the bar at her earliest convenience.” She also confides that “It’s ‘ungry work bein’ the queen, you know.” Every one of Daisy’s appearances in this book is a treat, although my favourite dialogue was when Flo was asked about her youthful complexion. She demonstrated her literary knowledge by telling Sir Hector, “I also have a painting in the attic.”
“Like Dorian Gray?”
“No, it’s a picture of Cardiff Docks. Climbing up to the attic a couple of times a week to dust it provides healthy exercise.”

I do savour Kinsey’s writing; the carefully-crafted one-liners that ping in from nowhere; the witty dialogue between Emily and Florence; and the gentle and subtle weaving in of history. Some authors make their characters spout historic facts like history teachers talking to twelve-year-olds but Kinsey is like a master artist: he dabs a bit of colour here and shades in a background there. I suppose this might be described as a cosy mystery: if “cosy” describes how I feel as I devour the book: comfortable; in a good mood, engendered by Kinsey’s energetic writing; knowing the good guys will win; and that I will be smiling all the way through, then yes, it’s a cosy!

Thank you, Mr Kinsey – I’m desperate for the next book asap, please….

#AFireattheExhibition #NetGalley

Lady Hardcastle and her 'tiny servant' Flo are at it again, tasked with solving the theft of some artwork belonging to good friends Lord and Lady Farley-Stroud, and along the way end up solving another murderous death in the village.

Fabulous as always, and lovely to see some peripheral characters playing more significant roles in the adventures. Another winner.

The concept is pure genius. A great page turner with plenty of twists
Beautifully written, compelling and thought provoking, I was drawn by the cover and blurb.

The tenth book in this marvelous series and long may it continue!!!

It is now May 1912. There is a fire at the village Art Exhibition and several precious articles are stolen. Lady Hardcastle and Flo are on the case, happily assisting the police and using all their special skills. There is even a hunt for lost treasure which leads to a very suspenseful and dangerous conclusion.

This is such a good series - I look forward to reading each one as it is published. The author is very well informed and writes extremely well with many entertaining comments, and clever dialogue between her ladyship and her 'tiny servant'.

There are hints at the end of this story that the daring duo are about to return to their espionage days in the next book. I can't wait.