A Fire at the Exhibition

In May 1912, Lady Hardcastle and her ladys maid Flo attend the inaugural art exhibition and bicycle race in Littleton Cotterell. However, a fire breaks out, a valuable painting is stolen, and a race ends in a shocking death. The Farley-Strouds are in debt and might lose their house, and the sleuthing duo is torn between a murder investigation, an art theft mystery, and trying to help their pals.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 334 pages
Publication date: 05 September 2023
Publisher: Amazon Publishing

May 1912. After the previous years deadly heatwave, it has been an uneventful spring in Littleton Cotterell. Though for Lady Hardcastle and her fiercely loyal ladys maid Flo, at least there are the provincial delights of the villages inaugural art exhibition and bicycle race to look forward to. But at the exhibition opening, there is a panicked shout of 'Fire!' In the confusion, the main attraction, an extremely expensive book, is stolen from under everyone's nose, as is a valuable painting lent by Sir Hector Farley-Stroud. Then the race, which starts as a charming day out, ends in a shocking death. And to top it all off, the Farley-Strouds reveal they are in debt and might lose their house. The sleuthing duo soon finds themselves torn between a murder investigation, an art theft mystery, and trying to help their pals. All with a suspicious figure from Flo's past, a supercilious insurance investigator, and a pair of rather bizarre treasure hunters on the loose.

Lady Hardcastle and her ladys maid Flo are excited to attend the inaugural art exhibition and bicycle race in Littleton Cotterell. However, their excitement turns to panic when a fire breaks out at the exhibition, causing the theft of an expensive book and a valuable painting lent by Sir Hector Farley-Stroud. The race, initially a delightful day out, ends in a shocking death. To add to their woes, the Farley-Strouds reveal they are in debt and may lose their house.

As the sleuthing duo investigates the theft and the death, they are caught in a web of mystery and intrigue. They are aided by a suspicious figure from Flo's past, a supercilious insurance investigator, and a pair of bizarre treasure hunters who are also in pursuit of a hidden treasure. The investigation takes them through the picturesque villages and the surrounding countryside, where they encounter various characters and face numerous challenges.

Through their tireless efforts, Lady Hardcastle and Flo manage to unravel the mystery and save the Farley-Strouds from financial ruin. They also uncover a plot to steal a valuable artifact that could change the course of history. In the end, Lady Hardcastle and Flo emerge as heroes, and their friendship is stronger than ever before.

The inaugural art exhibition and bicycle race in Littleton Cotterell may have been uneventful, but they turned out to be a thrilling adventure for Lady Hardcastle and Flo. Their determination and sleuthing skills helped them solve the mystery and save the day, and their friendship was tested and strengthened in the process.

Weight: 300g
Dimension: 129 x 199 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781662512940