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Hardcastle & Chaytor Mysteries #1
The Body on the Doorstep
For fans of Antonia Hodgson's, The Devil in the Marshalsea, and M.J. Carter's, The Strangler Vine, The Body on the Doorstep is the first Romney Marsh Mystery by A. J. MacKenzie
Kent, 1796.
Shocked to discover a dying man on his doorstep - and lucky to avoid a bullet himself - Reverend Hardcastle finds himself entrusted with the victim's cryptic last words.
With smuggling rife on England's south-east coast, the obvious conclusion is that this was a falling out among thieves. But why is the leader of the local Customs service so reluctant to investigate?
Ably assisted by the ingenious Mrs Chaytor, Hardcastle sets out to solve the mystery for himself. But smugglers are not the only ones to lurk off the Kent coast, and the more he discovers, the more he realises he might have bitten off more than he can chew.
Kent, 1796.
Shocked to discover a dying man on his doorstep - and lucky to avoid a bullet himself - Reverend Hardcastle finds himself entrusted with the victim's cryptic last words.
With smuggling rife on England's south-east coast, the obvious conclusion is that this was a falling out among thieves. But why is the leader of the local Customs service so reluctant to investigate?
Ably assisted by the ingenious Mrs Chaytor, Hardcastle sets out to solve the mystery for himself. But smugglers are not the only ones to lurk off the Kent coast, and the more he discovers, the more he realises he might have bitten off more than he can chew.
272 pages, Paperback
First published April 21, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
March 23, 2016
This is a wonderfully atmospheric historical murder mystery set in Romney Marsh. The time period is the tail end of the 18th century and the Reverend Hardcastle opens his door at night only to discover a dying man there. This kickstarts an exciting and adventurous trail.
Hardcastle is an unusual man of the cloth given his interesting backstory and problems with drink. He investigates what is going on and is aided by the intelligent and courageous widow, Amelia. They uncover spies and smugglers amongst other things. The historical research is meticulous and the book carries detailed descriptions and events from that period such as what is happening in Europe and France. This is a compelling novel for avid lovers of mysteries set at an exciting time in history. Many thanks to Bonnier for an ARC via netgalley.
Hardcastle is an unusual man of the cloth given his interesting backstory and problems with drink. He investigates what is going on and is aided by the intelligent and courageous widow, Amelia. They uncover spies and smugglers amongst other things. The historical research is meticulous and the book carries detailed descriptions and events from that period such as what is happening in Europe and France. This is a compelling novel for avid lovers of mysteries set at an exciting time in history. Many thanks to Bonnier for an ARC via netgalley.
December 22, 2016
It's 1796 and reverend Hardcastle finds a body on his doorstep. The reverend has the honor to hear his last words and then he dies. Nobody knows who the man is, but the rumors are that his death has something to do with smugglers on the coast. Because he doesn't think the case is being thoroughly investigated reverend Hardcastle starts researching the matter on his own. He's soon being told off, but he decides the crime is important enough to keep going. Reverend Hardcastle might even be in danger himself, but he doesn't want to stop until he finds out exactly what happened. What kind of dangerous games are being played?
The Body on the Doorstep is a gripping story about a reverend who likes drinking a little too much. Reverend Hardcastle is a smart man and he uses his addiction to his advantage and as a disguise. I immediately adored him. He isn't afraid to admit he has flaws, he has a great sense of humor and he's creative and clever. I loved reading about the smugglers, the complex game that is being played and the snooping of reverend Hardcastle. The case doesn't stop with the body on his doorstep, there's something sinister going on and the story becomes more and more compelling while the plot thickens.
Reverend Hardcastle is the perfect main character for an old-fashioned mystery, because he's delightfully imperfect, can be a little naïve and is definitely cunning at the same time. It's a fantastic combination that I enjoyed a lot. I also really liked that he's getting help from a woman, the reverend's outlook on life is modern for his time and firm. Even when he's in danger he doesn't let people get away with the games they are playing and he can be tough when he needs to be.
A.J. Mackenzie has a beautiful writing style and I loved every single sentence of this book. The Body on the Doorstep kept me glued to my seat from the start. The story is interesting, the history aspect is well researched and fascinating and the main characters are fabulous. The story has a nice steady pace that suits the time it's set in, while at the same time there's a lot going on and every aspect is equally intriguing. I highly recommend this brilliant book, it's an absolute must-read for anyone who likes historical mysteries.
The Body on the Doorstep is a gripping story about a reverend who likes drinking a little too much. Reverend Hardcastle is a smart man and he uses his addiction to his advantage and as a disguise. I immediately adored him. He isn't afraid to admit he has flaws, he has a great sense of humor and he's creative and clever. I loved reading about the smugglers, the complex game that is being played and the snooping of reverend Hardcastle. The case doesn't stop with the body on his doorstep, there's something sinister going on and the story becomes more and more compelling while the plot thickens.
Reverend Hardcastle is the perfect main character for an old-fashioned mystery, because he's delightfully imperfect, can be a little naïve and is definitely cunning at the same time. It's a fantastic combination that I enjoyed a lot. I also really liked that he's getting help from a woman, the reverend's outlook on life is modern for his time and firm. Even when he's in danger he doesn't let people get away with the games they are playing and he can be tough when he needs to be.
A.J. Mackenzie has a beautiful writing style and I loved every single sentence of this book. The Body on the Doorstep kept me glued to my seat from the start. The story is interesting, the history aspect is well researched and fascinating and the main characters are fabulous. The story has a nice steady pace that suits the time it's set in, while at the same time there's a lot going on and every aspect is equally intriguing. I highly recommend this brilliant book, it's an absolute must-read for anyone who likes historical mysteries.
March 7, 2016
This is the first book in a promised Romney Marsh Mysteries series, written by AJ Mackenzie, the pseudonym of Marilyn Livingstone and Morgen Witzel,
an Anglo-Canadian husband-and-wife team of writers and historians. I love discovering debut authors and new series, to have both combined and in such an enjoyable book as The Body on the Doorstep is a real treat. Books featuring amateur sleuths are perennially popular and the pairing in The Body on the Doorstep are welcome additions to the genre. Reverend Hardcastle is an alcoholic rector with a colourful past, and Amelia Chaytor, a widow living in the village who turns out to be far braver, sharper and less easily shocked than a woman of her time was expected to be.
Despite being set during a much earlier period I was reminded somewhat of John Buchan's Richard Hannay books, perhaps because it is imbued with the same sense of adventure and with characters that may not be all they seem. As with Buchan's books the landscape, in this case Romney Marsh, plays an important role in the plot.
Whilst there is always going to be some artistic license in a work of fiction the plot (written by historians of course) feels credible, not necessarily easy in a book that features smugglers, spying, rumours of a French invasion and the artist JWM Turner!
I stayed up late last night (actually early this morning) to finish The Body on the Doorstep and I know if the next book in the series had been published I would be reading that now. I'll have to look forward to it but in the meantime thoroughly recommend this to all, particularly if you enjoy historical mysteries.
The Body on the Doorstep will be published by Zaffre on 21st April 2016. Many thanks to the authors and publishers for my ARC received through NetGalley.
an Anglo-Canadian husband-and-wife team of writers and historians. I love discovering debut authors and new series, to have both combined and in such an enjoyable book as The Body on the Doorstep is a real treat. Books featuring amateur sleuths are perennially popular and the pairing in The Body on the Doorstep are welcome additions to the genre. Reverend Hardcastle is an alcoholic rector with a colourful past, and Amelia Chaytor, a widow living in the village who turns out to be far braver, sharper and less easily shocked than a woman of her time was expected to be.
Despite being set during a much earlier period I was reminded somewhat of John Buchan's Richard Hannay books, perhaps because it is imbued with the same sense of adventure and with characters that may not be all they seem. As with Buchan's books the landscape, in this case Romney Marsh, plays an important role in the plot.
Whilst there is always going to be some artistic license in a work of fiction the plot (written by historians of course) feels credible, not necessarily easy in a book that features smugglers, spying, rumours of a French invasion and the artist JWM Turner!
I stayed up late last night (actually early this morning) to finish The Body on the Doorstep and I know if the next book in the series had been published I would be reading that now. I'll have to look forward to it but in the meantime thoroughly recommend this to all, particularly if you enjoy historical mysteries.
The Body on the Doorstep will be published by Zaffre on 21st April 2016. Many thanks to the authors and publishers for my ARC received through NetGalley.
May 28, 2016
A period murder mystery ... and a good one - think Fielding and Richardson with body count! This crime novel is set in the late 18C and it's quite refreshing to see someone trying to solve a crime without the benefit of DNA, fingerprinting and forensic science. There's no international database to consult, no police procedure, no world-weary, gloomy, disillusioned detective with a drink problem and a jazz fixation. Instead the hero is a village rector with ... well, yes ... with a bit of a drink problem but his frequent recourse to the port bottle and visits to the local inn, he would have us believe, are as much a cultivated disguise as anything else, designed to allow him to listen in without being taken seriously. Because that's how the crimes in this novel are ultimately resolved - by means of careful observation, a willingness to listen and a sharp intelligence.
The storyline concerns what looks at first glance to be a routine smuggling operation that has gone wrong but it soon becomes clear there is more to it than that. This is an England acutely aware of Napoleon lurking just across the Channel, which means the villagers live in constant suspicion of any stranger who might represent a threat to their simple way of life. Before long a political dimension to the murders becomes clear and suddenly no one knows whom to trust.
The background is impeccably presented and the pace picks up as the novel progresses, with our tetchy but well-meaning hero piecing together the fragments until he is able to reveal all in a showdown that perhaps owes more to Agatha Christie than Le Carre but is nonetheless in keeping with the overall tone of the novel.
The ending makes it clear this is not the last we've seen of Reverend Hardcastle and Mrs Chaytor and on the evidence of this debut novel a return visit will be no chore at all. Enjoyed it.
The storyline concerns what looks at first glance to be a routine smuggling operation that has gone wrong but it soon becomes clear there is more to it than that. This is an England acutely aware of Napoleon lurking just across the Channel, which means the villagers live in constant suspicion of any stranger who might represent a threat to their simple way of life. Before long a political dimension to the murders becomes clear and suddenly no one knows whom to trust.
The background is impeccably presented and the pace picks up as the novel progresses, with our tetchy but well-meaning hero piecing together the fragments until he is able to reveal all in a showdown that perhaps owes more to Agatha Christie than Le Carre but is nonetheless in keeping with the overall tone of the novel.
The ending makes it clear this is not the last we've seen of Reverend Hardcastle and Mrs Chaytor and on the evidence of this debut novel a return visit will be no chore at all. Enjoyed it.
June 18, 2016
I received this book via goodreads giveaways in exchange for an host review.
Well it starts with an actual body on a doorstep so drama from page 1!
A good Smuggler/Conspiracy/whodunit thriller. I enjoyed this book from beginning middle to end.
I also enjoyed the setting as I have spent a lot of time as a child Holidaying in that area.
I hope there is a 2nd novel in the offing :)
Well it starts with an actual body on a doorstep so drama from page 1!
A good Smuggler/Conspiracy/whodunit thriller. I enjoyed this book from beginning middle to end.
I also enjoyed the setting as I have spent a lot of time as a child Holidaying in that area.
I hope there is a 2nd novel in the offing :)
March 5, 2016
1796 - St Mary in the Marsh, Romney Marsh, Kent and the Reverend Hardcastle, answers a knock at his door late one night, only to find a dying man.
What does his last words mean, what is the significance of the shots heard that night, is there any connection to the various smuggling rings up and down the coast, or is it as the inhabitants fear a prelude to an invasion by the French.
Enjoyed this first in the series and will look out for the next one.
A NetGalley book
What does his last words mean, what is the significance of the shots heard that night, is there any connection to the various smuggling rings up and down the coast, or is it as the inhabitants fear a prelude to an invasion by the French.
Enjoyed this first in the series and will look out for the next one.
A NetGalley book
April 30, 2016
A gripping tale of smugglers and spies and wicked murder. Thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next instalment!
January 20, 2019
Humorous & very readable mystery packed with twists but the historical context failed to inspire.
The Body on the Doorstep is the first of the Romney Marsh mystery series and is set against the backdrop of the Kent coast in 1796. Despite an intriguing premise that drew me in, I had little idea of the actual historical context and although this can easily be gleaned from the story, it would have aided me inordinately to have been appraised of the basics beforehand as a guide as to what to expect. (I refer to the contrast threat of invasion by French revolutionaries, particularly after rumours of the French Directory having cemented power, and an increase in taxation in order to raise the necessary extra expenditure for defence that made smuggling rife.)
Kent: 1796, St Mary in the Marsh
When a tetchy and port quaffing Reverend Marcus Hardcastle is rudely interrupted at midnight and midway through his latest missive railing at the unprotected coastline of Kent, he discovers a dying man on his doorstep in the darkness of a new moon. Bending down to receive the cryptic final words of the dying man, Hardcastle narrowly escapes a bullet himself but is baffled by the man’s message, “Tell Peter... mark... trace...”. When a rifle bullet is extracted from the victims body and Rev Hardcastle hears the news that less than two miles away a Customs officer by the name of Curtius Miller was shot dead in a skirmish with smugglers at close quarters he is naturally intrigued. Unable to identify the man on his doorstep or to make the circumstances of Miller’s shooting add up, Reverend Hardcastle starts asking questions and a similarly inquisitive three years widowed Amelia Chaytor follows his trail. Used to being classed as an equal by her deceased husband, Mrs Chaytor is neither shy or retiring but merely seeking some respite from the pain of loneliness.
Reverend Hardcastle and Amelia Chaytor soon uncover more than they bargained for with practically everybody in the village of St Mary in the Marsh seeming to have a hand in the smuggling black market and therefore, a vested interest. For thirty-nine-year-old Reverend Hardcastle, the puzzle is something to engage his mind after once being lauded as the finest mind amongst the Church of England and destined for great things that have come to naught. A thorn in the side of his church superiors and a well-known drunken sot, Hardcastle is also a popular local figure, particularly as he turns a blind eye to the locals involvement in the smuggling. Having acquired a reputation for his predilection for port, the Reverend tries to curb his excesses whilst acting the part of the intoxicated buffoon, well aware that his enquiries are beginning to attract the attentions of the shadowy figures who are attempting to foil his path to the truth. Both Hardcastle and Mrs Chaytor play their part in contributing to the amateur sleuthing and when the inquest of Miller is rigged they start to get a sense of just how far up the chain of command the conspiracy they have stumbled upon goes.. As the senior clergy warn Reverend Hardcastle not to tarnish the cloths reputation with his pursuits and behaviour whilst under the influence of the demon drink, he remains undeterred.
Although highly readable and with a cleverly convoluted plot that delivers plenty of surprises the storyline sadly didn’t grip me. Thankfully the pace is brisk, the inimitable Reverend Hardcastle and unflappable Mrs Chaytor make a lively duo of amateur investigators and their witty repartee, cynical realism and genuine interest in ensuring justice is done make them a compelling team. Their growing respect and fondness for each other as the story progresses is also well drawn and their frankness with each other helps to flesh both characters out. The narrative, even when the relatively complicated plot is unfolding, is always jaunty and mischievously humorous and a colourful cast of local eccentrics includle the Reverend’s prickly housekeeper, Mrs Kemp, the artist JMW Turner and two elderly ladies rumoured to be witches or Sapphic lovers!
With more awareness of the historical context I doubt I would have chosen this novel because the period does not greatly interest me. However, the setting is well portrayed and the key players all distinctive and once the basics of the plot are laid out, uncovering the web of intrigue is full of tension. I just wish I had been more engaged by the whole set-up and felt more invested in the outcome. Whilst admittedly very atmospheric I cannot comment on the historical accuracy (or whether the population imbibed such vast quantities throughout the day)! A light-hearted, humorous mystery that for me was made readable by a vibrant cast of characters and a story that was jam-packed with twists!
The Body on the Doorstep is the first of the Romney Marsh mystery series and is set against the backdrop of the Kent coast in 1796. Despite an intriguing premise that drew me in, I had little idea of the actual historical context and although this can easily be gleaned from the story, it would have aided me inordinately to have been appraised of the basics beforehand as a guide as to what to expect. (I refer to the contrast threat of invasion by French revolutionaries, particularly after rumours of the French Directory having cemented power, and an increase in taxation in order to raise the necessary extra expenditure for defence that made smuggling rife.)
Kent: 1796, St Mary in the Marsh
When a tetchy and port quaffing Reverend Marcus Hardcastle is rudely interrupted at midnight and midway through his latest missive railing at the unprotected coastline of Kent, he discovers a dying man on his doorstep in the darkness of a new moon. Bending down to receive the cryptic final words of the dying man, Hardcastle narrowly escapes a bullet himself but is baffled by the man’s message, “Tell Peter... mark... trace...”. When a rifle bullet is extracted from the victims body and Rev Hardcastle hears the news that less than two miles away a Customs officer by the name of Curtius Miller was shot dead in a skirmish with smugglers at close quarters he is naturally intrigued. Unable to identify the man on his doorstep or to make the circumstances of Miller’s shooting add up, Reverend Hardcastle starts asking questions and a similarly inquisitive three years widowed Amelia Chaytor follows his trail. Used to being classed as an equal by her deceased husband, Mrs Chaytor is neither shy or retiring but merely seeking some respite from the pain of loneliness.
Reverend Hardcastle and Amelia Chaytor soon uncover more than they bargained for with practically everybody in the village of St Mary in the Marsh seeming to have a hand in the smuggling black market and therefore, a vested interest. For thirty-nine-year-old Reverend Hardcastle, the puzzle is something to engage his mind after once being lauded as the finest mind amongst the Church of England and destined for great things that have come to naught. A thorn in the side of his church superiors and a well-known drunken sot, Hardcastle is also a popular local figure, particularly as he turns a blind eye to the locals involvement in the smuggling. Having acquired a reputation for his predilection for port, the Reverend tries to curb his excesses whilst acting the part of the intoxicated buffoon, well aware that his enquiries are beginning to attract the attentions of the shadowy figures who are attempting to foil his path to the truth. Both Hardcastle and Mrs Chaytor play their part in contributing to the amateur sleuthing and when the inquest of Miller is rigged they start to get a sense of just how far up the chain of command the conspiracy they have stumbled upon goes.. As the senior clergy warn Reverend Hardcastle not to tarnish the cloths reputation with his pursuits and behaviour whilst under the influence of the demon drink, he remains undeterred.
Although highly readable and with a cleverly convoluted plot that delivers plenty of surprises the storyline sadly didn’t grip me. Thankfully the pace is brisk, the inimitable Reverend Hardcastle and unflappable Mrs Chaytor make a lively duo of amateur investigators and their witty repartee, cynical realism and genuine interest in ensuring justice is done make them a compelling team. Their growing respect and fondness for each other as the story progresses is also well drawn and their frankness with each other helps to flesh both characters out. The narrative, even when the relatively complicated plot is unfolding, is always jaunty and mischievously humorous and a colourful cast of local eccentrics includle the Reverend’s prickly housekeeper, Mrs Kemp, the artist JMW Turner and two elderly ladies rumoured to be witches or Sapphic lovers!
With more awareness of the historical context I doubt I would have chosen this novel because the period does not greatly interest me. However, the setting is well portrayed and the key players all distinctive and once the basics of the plot are laid out, uncovering the web of intrigue is full of tension. I just wish I had been more engaged by the whole set-up and felt more invested in the outcome. Whilst admittedly very atmospheric I cannot comment on the historical accuracy (or whether the population imbibed such vast quantities throughout the day)! A light-hearted, humorous mystery that for me was made readable by a vibrant cast of characters and a story that was jam-packed with twists!
July 29, 2020
I really wanted to enjoy this, but i just ended up skimming through it. Hoping to pick it up another time when I'm more in the mood for this type of writing style.
February 5, 2017
The Body on the Doorstep is the first Romney Marsh mystery and what a clever and entertaining mystery it was!
Reverend Hardcastle, the rector of a small village in Kent, enjoys a claret and a port and a brandy and the villagers look upon him as a harmless, alcoholic idiot. While most of them are involved in smuggling in some way he turns a blind eye and, in appreciation of his discretion, is often rewarded with a bottle of brandy on his doorstep.
But what he found on his doorstep one evening was not his favourite brand of brandy, it was the bloody body of a young man who's dying words are told to the reverend.
This starts Hardcastle on a quest to discover who he was and why he was killed. While out walking he meets a widow, Mrs Chaytor, who is also curious to know some answers and, together they form an unlikely partnership, which I thought worked really well in the story. The villagers would tell things to her that they wouldn't tell Hardcastle and vice versa.
This was a complex, but not complicated, story about smugglers, treason, traitors and spies ........ in a village fearful that the French would invade the country at any time.
Full of colourful characters, my favourite of whom was the Reverend Hardcastle who was a whole lot cleverer than his villagers thought he was; he spoke plainly, offending most people apart from the fascinating Amelia Chaytor who knew her own mind.
A well plotted, well written story that I very much enjoyed and eagerly look forward to the further adventures of Hardcastle and Chaytor!
At the beginning of the book there is a map of the area featured in the story - I could follow the characters and picture where they were which made it all the more enjoyable - I do love a map!
Reverend Hardcastle, the rector of a small village in Kent, enjoys a claret and a port and a brandy and the villagers look upon him as a harmless, alcoholic idiot. While most of them are involved in smuggling in some way he turns a blind eye and, in appreciation of his discretion, is often rewarded with a bottle of brandy on his doorstep.
But what he found on his doorstep one evening was not his favourite brand of brandy, it was the bloody body of a young man who's dying words are told to the reverend.
This starts Hardcastle on a quest to discover who he was and why he was killed. While out walking he meets a widow, Mrs Chaytor, who is also curious to know some answers and, together they form an unlikely partnership, which I thought worked really well in the story. The villagers would tell things to her that they wouldn't tell Hardcastle and vice versa.
This was a complex, but not complicated, story about smugglers, treason, traitors and spies ........ in a village fearful that the French would invade the country at any time.
Full of colourful characters, my favourite of whom was the Reverend Hardcastle who was a whole lot cleverer than his villagers thought he was; he spoke plainly, offending most people apart from the fascinating Amelia Chaytor who knew her own mind.
A well plotted, well written story that I very much enjoyed and eagerly look forward to the further adventures of Hardcastle and Chaytor!
At the beginning of the book there is a map of the area featured in the story - I could follow the characters and picture where they were which made it all the more enjoyable - I do love a map!
June 18, 2016
Kent in 1796 is a county rife with rumour and intrigue. Down on the cost smugglers import tobacco and alcohol, hoping to outwit both the customs and the excise, the local people are either actively involved, support the smugglers or turn a blind eye. Meanwhile just a few years after the French revolution the french army is cutting a swathe through Europe and Southern England is alert from signs of invasion. In the middle of this is the Reverend Hardcastle, one-time man about town with a bright future, now serving the parish of St Mary in the Marsh and sinking into an alcoholic fug. When a man is shot and found dying on his doorstep Hardcastle is plunged into a plot involving espionage, treason and betrayal.
This is a most impressive debut from a new writing team. The setting pre-dates most of the war between England and France, i.e.. pre-Bonaparte, but is beautifully realised with lots of understanding of both the politics and everyday life. The setting of Romney Marsh is visualised, particularly effect are the descriptions of fog and darkness, and the characters of Hardcastle and Chaytor are very engaging and with obvious backstories that are hinted at. The plot is cleverly put together with differing explanations and characters and motives that may or may not be true. All in all a terrific book and I want to read more!
This is a most impressive debut from a new writing team. The setting pre-dates most of the war between England and France, i.e.. pre-Bonaparte, but is beautifully realised with lots of understanding of both the politics and everyday life. The setting of Romney Marsh is visualised, particularly effect are the descriptions of fog and darkness, and the characters of Hardcastle and Chaytor are very engaging and with obvious backstories that are hinted at. The plot is cleverly put together with differing explanations and characters and motives that may or may not be true. All in all a terrific book and I want to read more!
April 6, 2018
Initially I ticked 3 stars because I just felt like giving out a big sigh when I got to the end of this book; that one is finished! If it truly is only 272 pages I must be losing it. Seemed more like 400 pages to me as there was a lot of repetitious reasoning between a couple of the main characters. Turns out if one of them (Hardcastle, the rector) is pickled 90% of the time, the clear thinking of widow Chaytor is rather essential toward keeping the duo alive. She does rescue the day.
We have quite a lively assortment of night-time activities, our setting on the SE English coast, the wetlands in the county of Kent, late 1700's. Rather a busy time when full moon allows for the transfer of French goods by stealth to escape the Excise men. But there is also the transfer of information and hidden identities disturbing the peace of the "quiet" village. It does kick off with a murder at the rector's doorstep, but there are other gunshots miles away...all to be investigated by Hardcastle & Chaytor.
The action is somewhat clumsily presented, but I did buy the first two books of this series and will hope the next one will read more easily. I definitely do like the well-drawn characters.
We have quite a lively assortment of night-time activities, our setting on the SE English coast, the wetlands in the county of Kent, late 1700's. Rather a busy time when full moon allows for the transfer of French goods by stealth to escape the Excise men. But there is also the transfer of information and hidden identities disturbing the peace of the "quiet" village. It does kick off with a murder at the rector's doorstep, but there are other gunshots miles away...all to be investigated by Hardcastle & Chaytor.
The action is somewhat clumsily presented, but I did buy the first two books of this series and will hope the next one will read more easily. I definitely do like the well-drawn characters.
August 17, 2016
It’s not often I fall in love with a character (I’m actually very picky because I read so much), but I completely fell for the Reverend Hardcastle. Any man of the cloth who can down two bottles of port at lunchtime, stick two fingers up at the authorities and punch his way out of a smugglers battle on the beach in the pitch dark – well, he gets my vote.
Talk about an entertaining read. I haven’t had as much fun in a long time. I loved learning about everyday life in 1796 and when I discovered in the Afterward that some of the book is based on true events, it made me want to read it all over again.
Talk about an entertaining read. I haven’t had as much fun in a long time. I loved learning about everyday life in 1796 and when I discovered in the Afterward that some of the book is based on true events, it made me want to read it all over again.
December 10, 2016
You'll want to be wide awake for this one. Very well written; full of twists and turns.
The sometimes sozzled and very human Rev. Hardcastle is thrown into the world of smugglers and preventive men, corruption at the highest, deceptions and church politics, when a young man is shot and and dies on Hardcastle's doorstep--but not before uttering 4 words: "Tell Peter Mark treason". Hardcastle takes up a mission to find out who this young man is and why he died, but in doing so, is finding out there is a hell of a lot more going on in his humble parish than he realised and it could get him killed as well.
So far, loving it.
The sometimes sozzled and very human Rev. Hardcastle is thrown into the world of smugglers and preventive men, corruption at the highest, deceptions and church politics, when a young man is shot and and dies on Hardcastle's doorstep--but not before uttering 4 words: "Tell Peter Mark treason". Hardcastle takes up a mission to find out who this young man is and why he died, but in doing so, is finding out there is a hell of a lot more going on in his humble parish than he realised and it could get him killed as well.
So far, loving it.
May 17, 2017
A really enjoyable crime novel set in 1796 in Kent, England at the time of the Napoleonic Wars.
In Romney Marsh in the small village of St Mary, Reverend Hardcastle is horrified to discover a body of a man on his doorstep.
Assisted by his companion, Mrs Chaytor, the pair intrigued by secret goings on in the Marsh unwittingly get involved feet first in what seems to be complicated smuggling ring but turns out to be something much deeper and darker, treason, the French Republic and a plot to kill King George himself! Good fun and highly recommended.
In Romney Marsh in the small village of St Mary, Reverend Hardcastle is horrified to discover a body of a man on his doorstep.
Assisted by his companion, Mrs Chaytor, the pair intrigued by secret goings on in the Marsh unwittingly get involved feet first in what seems to be complicated smuggling ring but turns out to be something much deeper and darker, treason, the French Republic and a plot to kill King George himself! Good fun and highly recommended.
June 19, 2016
Thoroughly recommended. This is a cracking read that pulled me in right from the word go. A great, and very well written, murder mystery, with a terrific eye for historical detail. The descriptive writing brought the story to life in vivid visual detail and the characters are wonderfully real. Hopefully there will be many more adventures for the Rev. Hardcastle and Mrs Chaytor. I can't wait to read more.
August 4, 2017
Ric Jerrom is an awesome narrator. I don't read many historical books but when I listened to a preview of the audio, I was hooked. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and hope there will be more - especially in the audio format.
And how nice to listen to a book that was not littered with that offensive word starting with F. I don't mind occasional occurrences of it, but I'm having a hard time finding a modern crime writer who doesn't strew it from page to page. Very hard on my ears!
And how nice to listen to a book that was not littered with that offensive word starting with F. I don't mind occasional occurrences of it, but I'm having a hard time finding a modern crime writer who doesn't strew it from page to page. Very hard on my ears!
April 19, 2016
This was a really good book. Describing the the two main characters as a clergyman and a widow in a small village would, though true, be totally misleading. Who knew so much excitement could take place in such a seaside village in late 18th century England? Historical detail rang true throughout. I very much look forward to the next adventure of Rev. Hardcastle and Mrs. Chaytor!!
December 6, 2016
I enjoyed this book. Loved the atmospheric feel of the book transporting you back through time
No Internet or forensic science labs to help unravel the clues... I had this book as a free give away and gold recommend it to anyone looking for a good murder crime mystery
No Internet or forensic science labs to help unravel the clues... I had this book as a free give away and gold recommend it to anyone looking for a good murder crime mystery
January 24, 2017
A clever and atmospheric story with a lot of drama and twists. The setting is beautifully portrayed and it's the only book I've ever read that mentions Shadoxhurst! :-) I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.
June 5, 2018
An old fashioned who done it
And none the worse for that.The characters are rounded and pleasant to spend time with.There is humour and the plot is refreshingly free of 'issues' which is the lot of far too many of the recent crop of crime novels.It is also a very good who done it.
And none the worse for that.The characters are rounded and pleasant to spend time with.There is humour and the plot is refreshingly free of 'issues' which is the lot of far too many of the recent crop of crime novels.It is also a very good who done it.
August 25, 2018
Liked it a lot... But, these Bear a striking similarity to the series from 1924 about a clergyman detective in Romney Marsh named Dr. Syn of Dymchurch. A bit of a different twisty as Dr Syn was once a pirate, but similar nonetheless.
I will read the others in the series though.
I will read the others in the series though.
June 29, 2016
A gripping read that kept you constantly guessing. The characters are brilliantly developed and the writing style is engaging and smooth. I couldn't put the book down!
January 10, 2017
A very enjoyable read, especially on a dark winter's night.
February 12, 2019
This was a book-club read, but I was not impressed at all.
Pretty straight forward premise - 1790s, small village by the coast in south-east England, the local priest goes to open the door after some insistent knocking in the middle off the night and the person on the other side gets shot before he can make it into the parish.
Who is the man, who shot him and why, and why does it seem like some of the locals are trying to cover something up?
Doesn't sound bad, but the actual delivery of this idea just didn't work for me.
Overall, it seemed to lack historic authenticity and didn't read like an accurate depiction of that period. Maybe this was just my impression, but the dialog in particular felt off to me.
I also didn't understand why the main character was a priest. He was only a priest in name! Other than a few mentions of Sunday sermons and burial services, there was nothing priestly about "reverend" Hardcastle or his daily activities.
The characterisations were lacking as well, in my opinion. I didn't really get to know the characters and I couldn't have cared less about them.
There was no sense of suspense or danger for me, just a repetitive investigation, with Hardcastle later claiming he suspected most things from the beginning.
It was below average, in the end. I didn't find it difficult to read or finish, but I could have easily stopped reading it at any point and never given it a second thought.
Pretty straight forward premise - 1790s, small village by the coast in south-east England, the local priest goes to open the door after some insistent knocking in the middle off the night and the person on the other side gets shot before he can make it into the parish.
Who is the man, who shot him and why, and why does it seem like some of the locals are trying to cover something up?
Doesn't sound bad, but the actual delivery of this idea just didn't work for me.
Overall, it seemed to lack historic authenticity and didn't read like an accurate depiction of that period. Maybe this was just my impression, but the dialog in particular felt off to me.
I also didn't understand why the main character was a priest. He was only a priest in name! Other than a few mentions of Sunday sermons and burial services, there was nothing priestly about "reverend" Hardcastle or his daily activities.
The characterisations were lacking as well, in my opinion. I didn't really get to know the characters and I couldn't have cared less about them.
There was no sense of suspense or danger for me, just a repetitive investigation, with Hardcastle later claiming he suspected most things from the beginning.
It was below average, in the end. I didn't find it difficult to read or finish, but I could have easily stopped reading it at any point and never given it a second thought.
September 2, 2025
3.5
I picked this up from the library as I've never read much historical crime before and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. It is not my usual thing, and I am not raring to go reading more of this area of the genre but it was well written and interesting. You develop such soft spots for some of the characters and getting invested in the mystery makes it much better.
I picked this up from the library as I've never read much historical crime before and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. It is not my usual thing, and I am not raring to go reading more of this area of the genre but it was well written and interesting. You develop such soft spots for some of the characters and getting invested in the mystery makes it much better.
June 9, 2022
⭐️ 4.5 stars ⭐️
August 2, 2022
4.5 stars. Great historical read. Sadly my library only has this audiobook in the series so I have requested the next volume in print.
April 6, 2018
I downloaded the third book in this series (The Body in the Boat) from NetGalley without realising it was part of a series. I thought it would be fairer to the author if I read this one first, and I'm so glad I did because I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The Body on the Doorstep is a historical murder mystery set in 1796. Marcus Hardcastle, the Rector of St Mary in the Marsh, is writing a letter to The Morning Post when he is interrupted by a thunderous knocking on his door. When he opens it, he finds the body of a young man slumped at his feet and a bullet whistling past his head. The victim only lives long enough to whisper his last words: a message for a man named Peter.
St Mary in the Marsh is close to the coast of Kent and the man's death is written off as an argument between smugglers, but the Rev Hardcastle isn't so sure. With the help of a local widow, Amelia Chaytor, he decides to investigate the man's death. But the more he uncovers, the more it becomes clear that someone really doesn't want him to find out the truth. And that smugglers are not the only villains in St Mary in the Marsh.
When I started reading I somehow got it into my head that the Rev Hardcastle was an elderly man but he's actually only 39. Once tipped to become Bishop of Canterbury, he was wild and arrogant as a youth and upset too many important people. His posting to St Mary in the Marsh is actually a form of banishment. His parishioners think of him as a harmless old duffer with a fondness for alcohol, and as his investigation becomes more dangerous he decides it's safer to let people continue thinking that way.
I don't want to say too much more because I don't want to give away the plot, but I loved the mix of murder mystery and adventure, and the cast of eccentric characters - the smugglers, the little old ladies who notice more than they should, a landscape painter by the name of Turner...
The Body on the Doorstep is fast-paced with some real edge-of-the-seat moments, and packed with historical detail. The plot is clever, with some neat twists towards the end, and I didn't guess the identity of the murderer. I absolutely adored it and have already downloaded the second book in the series, The Body in the Ice. Recommended!
The Body on the Doorstep is a historical murder mystery set in 1796. Marcus Hardcastle, the Rector of St Mary in the Marsh, is writing a letter to The Morning Post when he is interrupted by a thunderous knocking on his door. When he opens it, he finds the body of a young man slumped at his feet and a bullet whistling past his head. The victim only lives long enough to whisper his last words: a message for a man named Peter.
St Mary in the Marsh is close to the coast of Kent and the man's death is written off as an argument between smugglers, but the Rev Hardcastle isn't so sure. With the help of a local widow, Amelia Chaytor, he decides to investigate the man's death. But the more he uncovers, the more it becomes clear that someone really doesn't want him to find out the truth. And that smugglers are not the only villains in St Mary in the Marsh.
When I started reading I somehow got it into my head that the Rev Hardcastle was an elderly man but he's actually only 39. Once tipped to become Bishop of Canterbury, he was wild and arrogant as a youth and upset too many important people. His posting to St Mary in the Marsh is actually a form of banishment. His parishioners think of him as a harmless old duffer with a fondness for alcohol, and as his investigation becomes more dangerous he decides it's safer to let people continue thinking that way.
I don't want to say too much more because I don't want to give away the plot, but I loved the mix of murder mystery and adventure, and the cast of eccentric characters - the smugglers, the little old ladies who notice more than they should, a landscape painter by the name of Turner...
The Body on the Doorstep is fast-paced with some real edge-of-the-seat moments, and packed with historical detail. The plot is clever, with some neat twists towards the end, and I didn't guess the identity of the murderer. I absolutely adored it and have already downloaded the second book in the series, The Body in the Ice. Recommended!
April 28, 2018
A Lively Romp
I really enjoyed this book and not because it was inspiring or thought-provoking but because it was entertaining. It’s lighter-than-air detective fiction, but I don’t think it has pretensions to be otherwise. It’s one of those stories that just trots along at a comfortable pace, with endearingly fallible characters and comes to a satisfactory, if far-fetched, conclusion.
The creation of the irascible, drunken rector as the prime mover whose decent into the bottle is because of historically thwarted ambitions is a fine one, and I thoroughly applauded his belated victory at the end. Pairing him with a young female widow worked well, although I would have preferred a less predictable choice such as the character of Miss Godfrey, one of a pair of ‘Sapphic lovers’ who have a taste for intrigue and brandy laced tea.
The historical background adds interest: smugglers, revolutionaries and Jacobins, all set in and around the Kent marshes. The plot is lively and has great pace with enough pleasing twists and turns to keep you interested but not frustrated. The Poirot-style gathering to expose the guilty parties at the end was, frankly, laughable but at no point were we expecting any particular deviation from the standard formula.
My aunt would have called this a chewing-gum read and I’m not ashamed to say that I enjoyed each mastication.
I really enjoyed this book and not because it was inspiring or thought-provoking but because it was entertaining. It’s lighter-than-air detective fiction, but I don’t think it has pretensions to be otherwise. It’s one of those stories that just trots along at a comfortable pace, with endearingly fallible characters and comes to a satisfactory, if far-fetched, conclusion.
The creation of the irascible, drunken rector as the prime mover whose decent into the bottle is because of historically thwarted ambitions is a fine one, and I thoroughly applauded his belated victory at the end. Pairing him with a young female widow worked well, although I would have preferred a less predictable choice such as the character of Miss Godfrey, one of a pair of ‘Sapphic lovers’ who have a taste for intrigue and brandy laced tea.
The historical background adds interest: smugglers, revolutionaries and Jacobins, all set in and around the Kent marshes. The plot is lively and has great pace with enough pleasing twists and turns to keep you interested but not frustrated. The Poirot-style gathering to expose the guilty parties at the end was, frankly, laughable but at no point were we expecting any particular deviation from the standard formula.
My aunt would have called this a chewing-gum read and I’m not ashamed to say that I enjoyed each mastication.
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