Rotten to the Core by T. E. Kinsey

August 25, 2022

Rotten to the Core by T. E. Kinsey

Lady Hardcastle and Flo are back for another adventure. It's the day after the village fete and there is a heatwave across all of England. Walking to the village pub for refreshment, Lady H. and Flo encounter a stranger, a young and attractive woman, who is looking for a room in the village. When they arrive at the pub, all of the patrons are sitting or standing outdoors, while the pub itself is empty except for one group of men. They are the Weryers of the Pomary (aka, keepers of the orchard) having their regular meeting. Tradition states that they get the pub to themselves when they meet.

But the next morning, the village constable is at Lady Hardcastle's door early, to tell them that there has been a murder and Inspector Sunderland would like them to come round and take a look. One of the Weryers (who happens to own the orchard) has been found dead with a stab wound to the heart (there are an awful lot of murders in a town as small as Littleton Cotterell). Who would do such a thing to a charming, handsome man? Does it have anything to do with the Weryers? Or is the young lady staying at the pub involved? It's up to Lady H. and Flo to snoop around and find out.

This is #8 in the Lady Hardcastle and Flo series. Great fun, lots of puns and malapropisms, plenty of local color, and good mysteries. Highly recommended.

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