Welcome to Litsy!

Latest reads. Really liked the cozy mystery genre and A Quiet Life was delightful. Assistant to the Villian was fun but SUCH a tease.

Starting this book in a hotel. Weekend getaway for a family birthday party!
October 6, 2024

5/5 ⭐️ for me. The first in a new-to-me cozy mystery series. It ticked a lot of my boxes even though I solved the killer‘s ID early on. Boxes ticked: witty dialogue, solid relationship between main characters, well-developed setting. There are a total of 11 books in the series, at least so far. I‘ve ordered the next two. 🙂

#cozymysteries #cozymystery #EnglishVillage #LadyHardcastleMystery

#SeasonalCozies April 2024 @julieclair

Eccentric elderly lady and her exceptionally skilled maid, after years abroad, move to the countryside near Bristol. Little do they know that their move took them to the crime capital of the country. They have barely moved in when they stumble across the first body.

Naturally they need to investigate.

Loved the banter!!

#SeriesLove2024 @TheSpineView @Andrew65

@Lauredhel - not on my "official" TBR, but there's a T ??

Prompt: One of New Book's author's names starts with the same letter as one of Last Book's author's names.

#BookChain24 @TheAromaofBooks

This fun historical cozy mystery was exactly what I was in the mood for. Wonderful characters and banter.
I listened to the audiobook version, and wow, what a narrator.

Starting one last mystery for October. It‘ll probably bleed into November but that‘s okay. #serieslove2023 @TheSpineView @Andrew65

Last day of vacation. Getting as much reading in as I can!!!

Marvelous! Would that more murder mysteries provided this many laughs! I am so, so happy this is a series. Just the right length, plot motors along. Tidbits of background for Armstrong and Hardcastle left me intrigued but not frustrated at the lack of detail, because you get a feel for them as characters very quickly, though I'll be happy to learn more of them, and others introduced here, in later books. ⚠️Period typical classism, misogyny

Hurray for sassy banter!
Pages 2-5, off to a strong start. 😊

As a cozy mystery, it lacks focus. As a historical fiction, it lacks realistic gender attitudes. However, it is a great romp for all of that!

I really enjoy lighthearted British mystery books because they are fun and quick reads.

It‘s been a while! So let‘s see…
Finished Breach of Crust & the series - solid end ☺️ 4 🌟

Audio-puzzled A Quiet Life in the Country on rec from a friend — enjoyed it, but I think I‘d enjoy it more not on audio. Also 4🌟. Bought the next already…

Started Addie LaRue and Murder in the Paperback Parlor.

Finally able to try one of these Once Upon a Book boxes… maybe I‘ll get to that once I‘ve finished Addie Larue!

Hope you‘re all well! 🤗💖

I love the “He Read, She Read” podcast, and they have repeatedly recommended this series on audio. I finally gave it a try, and I loved it. Lady Hardcastle and her maid Flo Armstrong have retired to “a quiet life in the country.” They seem to have retired from incredible adventures, but they cannot resist assisting in the investigation of two murders in their new community. I loved the wit and the relationships. The narrator does excellent work.

Thought I‘d like this, but it didn‘t hold my interest. Miss Armstrong (Flo) chronicles the adventures of Lady Hardcastle. Past adventures are mentioned, but never really fleshed out. Seemed more interesting than the current mystery. Characters didn‘t seem to fit the time period either, but minor detail in the greater scheme of things. This one just wasn‘t for me.

Loving this charming cozy mystery!

This book was hilariously written and kept me engaged. I appreciated all of the characters and twists along the way. It is one of those you wish went on forever. I‘m glad this is a series!

If you need a well-written cozy mystery series that a) is a period piece, b) has sass, c) turns the class structure of said period slightly on its ear, d) has a touch of feminist spice, and e) leaves you craving the next installment at the end of every book, then Lady Hardcastle and her companion Florence Armstrong are just your cuppa tea. Highly recommended. Nope: addicted. And eagerly awaiting the next installment later this summer.

Really enjoying this book. Lots of laugh out loud moments.

Always fun! (Not in the Litsy database)

Love these characters!
‘Much the same – no real ill effects at all. We should drink champagne all the time.‘ ‘I remember a timid seventeen-year-old girl who‘d never so much as touched a drop of beer, let alone champagne. And now look at you.‘ ‘You‘ve led me astray,‘ I said. ‘You and your fancy, society ways.‘ ‘I‘m a corrupting influence and no mistake.‘ ‘You‘re an absolute shocker.‘ #christmascozy 🎄

Fun read. I like the characters.

Last week off before back to work. My days of reading on the back deck are numbered! #backtoschool #wheredidsummergo

Read this historical murder mystery in a recommendation from a friend. I loved the banter between the lady and her maid and actually laughed out loud a few times! Excited for the next couple books to arrive.

An enjoyable read! I was afraid I would hate it as I struggled to get into the writing style at first, but I ended up liking it! A non-taxing historical cosy mystery. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Next up: Q in my #litsyatoz challenge.

A US friend of mine recommended this series and they were all $2.29 yesterday on Kindle, so I bought them all for some light reading. Now that I'm done with One Summer, will it be back to Sapiens or trying the TE Kinsey for my next Kindle read? Stay tuned 😊

⭐️⭐️⭐️ A good cosy mystery!

Finished Book number 2 on the #24in48 Readathon. This was an enjoyable enough book, but can‘t say it made me want to rush out and read book two. May pick it up at some point but will be in no rush, possibly a bit too cosy for me.
Also finished day one of the Readathon, and slightly behind where I need to be!

Been looking at this one for a while, and finally started to listen to this one on my commute. Only 3 days left at school this year so will be my final commute book of the current school year. @Lmstraubie

This is somewhere between a pick and so-so for me. I came across this on kindle unlimited so I thought I'd give it a try. I really like the two main characters, Lady Hardcastle and her maid, Flo. The mystery itself was not that interesting, but this was a quick read and good for when you're in the mood for some fluff. I plan on reading the rest of the series at some point. 3.5⭐️

#mystery

Waiting to get the car inspected and annoying junk is on TV in the waiting room. Can‘t concentrate on my print book, so I‘m glad I grabbed my headphones too. (On the second attempt after leaving the house without my bag/wallet 🤦‍♀️)

I really enjoyed this mystery. I can see myself reading more in this series. @andrew65 have you read this one? (When I think mystery I think of you.)

Current #audiobook

I‘ve got lots of flying time ahead of me, so I‘m getting started on this audiobook.

This one is not in the database so I tagged the first book in the series. This was a nice little Christmas mystery novella.

What a delightful discovery! This was a Kindle deal that I got on a whim without having ever heard of this book before, so my expectations were pretty low. The mystery itself was pretty typical, but I love the main characters! Lady Hardcastle and her maid Armstrong are fantastic: smart, capable, witty, and sarcastic. Luckily, I also took a chance on books 2 & 3 and already have them on my Kindle, with book 4 pre-ordered for Tuesday.

Oops, I bought some new kindle books. #kindlehaul

🌟🌟🌟🌟

#ilovecozies

A cozy mystery to help me settle down as we await #HurricaneMaria.

Ever since a few weekends ago I've been a little scared to spend my money too hedonistically. At least, I feel like it might led to bad luck. But I kinda lifted the ban a little and bought two books for $2-3 each for the Kindle.

Finished this one on my morning commute. What a great cozy mystery.

I saw this recommended by TopShelfText on Instagram and it sounded fun. Indeed, This was a perfect, fluffy, historical, English mystery for the last week of school. The quirky characters are particularly delightful on audio.

Haha! This was a really fun cozy mystery. I think, besides the fun dialogue and camaraderie between the ladies maid and lady, that the fact that the lady of the story was already adventurous and has lead a full life, not just puttering to adventures in "older" age was what really made this book fun. Elizabeth Knowelden was a wonderful narrator and I'll be looking for her again. I will definitely continue this series

A fun, cozy mystery. I will definitely try another in this series.