A review by vsbedford
A Baffling Murder at the Midsummer Ball by T.E. Kinsey

4.0

Another very fun read from T.E. Kinsey, this time with the heroes of the extended Lady Hardcastle universe, the Dizzy Heights. The characters feel more fully realized and the location and mystery swing along nicely; I'd like to spend a bit more time with Barty Dunn and less with Skins, who I think the author finds more entertaining than I do, unless he is meant to be kind of annoying? That being said, we are firmly in country house mystery territory and while the novel does integrate some of the tropes of the genre quite a few are also turned on their head and the potential tiresomeness of class warfare between the aristocratic family and the normie detective/policeman is avoided (which I appreciated because how many times can you read a variation of "How DARE you ask me that, sir? I know the Prime Minister!" without wanting to backhand slap everyone in the scene). All in all, a recommend.

I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.