In the fifth book in the series, titled The Burning Issue of the Day, we follow Lady Hardcastle as she takes on the case of a suffragette accused of having started a fire which ended up killing a journalist.
Despite the case against her client being strong, Lady Hardcastle's experience tells her there is more than meets the eye here.
T E Kinsey Concocts a Political Crime
It's quite interesting to trace the development of our sensitivities in regards to literature and media over the past hundred years. Much of the graphic, gratuitous, violent and sexual scenes we have become so used to today would have been considered immeasurably offensive and tasteless only a few decades ago.
While I won't argue the fact time does move on with or without our approval, I will say it's nice to have writers like T E Kinsey who can bring us back to a lighter and more graceful period, as he does once again with the fifth novel in his Lady Hardcastle Mystery Series, titled The Burning Issue of the Day.
Before we begin, I should note this is one of those series where every book can function as a standalone work and knowledge of the previous novels isn't required.
Anyhow, transporting us all the way back to 1910, we are once again treated to the memorable duo of Lady Hardcastle and her trusty martial arts expert maid, Flo, as a new and exciting case finds its way into their laps, this time involving the tricky and treacherous realm of politics.
A suffragette stands accused of having murdered a journalist by starting a politically-motivated fire, and as is tradition, the police are rather quick to treat it as an open-and-shut case.
Needless to say, Lady Hardcastle has more than enough experience under her belt to know there is much more than meets the eye here, never mind place for reasonable doubt.
As they begin to decipher the web of intrigue surrounding the dead journalist, it becomes apparent they are about to clash with the kinds of enemies who prefer to keep their real selves hidden far behind the scenes.
A Graceful Adventure in The Burning Issue of the Day
While we can never turn back the clock and go back to the time of classic literature, I find Kinsey's writings to be one of the next best things possible. As much as I appreciate the modern style of literature, I find it necessary to take a break from time to time and go back to something a bit more graceful, lighter, and in a good sense, more predictable.
While it is good to be surprised and have your expectations defied, sometimes nothing can beat the comfort of the familiar, and this is how I would describe the general feel of the book.
There aren't any explicit or graphic materials, nor anything I could actually imagine being classified as offensive (although I'm sure someone out there would prove me wrong on this one).
Instead, it's a relaxing stroll through the classic detective story formula where we already know the bad guys will be brought to justice and our main characters will come out largely, if not wholly unscathed.
The true appeal of this type of book, apart from being a reliably relaxing way to spend an afternoon or two, is to try and figure out the mystery as you're going to along, to anticipate the many twists bound to come your way.
As usual, I found the author did a solid job of keeping a happy medium between giving us information and bringing up more questions, which helped the story maintain a healthy pace from start to finish. While I did anticipate a few moments fairly easily, for the most part the developments did end up trumping my expectations, and I mean this in a good way.
A Slightly Deeper Meaning
Up until now, the novels in the series have been fairly light and tongue-in-cheek without really tackling any deeper issues, at least not below the surface level. They were captivating but simply amusing mystery novels with all of the focus being placed on developing the main story. This time around, Kinsey has tentatively decided to try and include some historical and political elements in his book, namely around the Suffragettes movement.
Rest assured, he doesn't go on any tirades nor are we treated to long historical expositions which kill the pace of the novel. On the contrary, Kinsey shows a very good awareness of where and when to insert the little bits of history, always adding something to the scene rather than just being there for the sake of it.
I should also add I had the impression Kinsey did some diligent research into this topic, and it shines through in the little captivating details he notes here and there. I even had the feeling he restrained himself from adding more of them to the story, which I personally would have welcomed with open arms.
While I wouldn't exactly say this book has any utterly profound or thought-provoking meditations on the subject, it's nice to see some additional elements from the real world introduced to complement the setting, giving us a very strong sense of place and time in the world.
The Final Verdict
The Burning Issue of the Day by T E Kinsey is, once again, a superb addition to the Lady Hardcastle Mystery Series, rivaling the previous entries in quality and giving us a compelling mystery, mixed with a few historical elements and some social commentary.
If you've enjoyed the previous novels, or are looking for a mystery with a more classic approach, I strongly recommend you check this book out.
 | T E KinseyPersonal site T E Kinsey is a writer who grew up in London and had the distinction of reading history at Bristol University. Before becoming an author he worked as a magazine features writer as well as an online content editor for various entertainment websites. His published career began with A Quiet Life in the Country, the first entry in the Lady Hardcastle Mystery series. In the Market for Murder and Death Around the Bend were two of his other best-received books, also part of the series. |
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