The adventures of mystery writer Marius Quin and his friend / first love Lady Bella Montague continue as they embark on their third investigation. They are hired by a mysterious and quite sinister man to find Ernest Castleton, a civil servant working in the British Foreign Office, who was kidnapped a few days earlier. With the help of his fiancée and a few clues left in a book in the British Museum, Marius and Bella manage to find and rescue Ernest, only to find out that the truth is more complicated.

After managing to get invited to the country house of the British Foreign Secretary while he is hosting a French delegation for a super secret meeting, Marius (who must pretend to be Bella’s very boring fiancée) and Bella, try to uncover the truth, but they get involved in a murder investigation when one of the French delegates is found murdered. Will they find the killer before it’s too late?

I love this series. It is witty, entertaining, and full of twists, even though The Castleton Affair is a bit different from the previous two books. It’s more of a spy novel, with lots of intrigue, but I enjoyed it as much as the others.

Marius and Bella are a fantastic duo of detectives, but my favourite character remains Percy, Marius’s basset hound whose loyalties lay with whoever gives him food.

The story is very well-written and full of detailed historical facts. I enjoyed the subplot about Marius’s father’s mysterious disappearance and I am looking forward to reading more about it in the next books. Conspiracies, deception, secrets, and twists kept me completely engrossed in this intriguing third book in the Marius Quin Mystery series (which can also be easily read as a standalone) and I am looking forward to the next one!

A huge thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the novel.

The Castleton Affair - A Marius Quin Mystery Book #3 by Benedict Brown is a unique crossover which blends cosy mystery and thriller, like POirot meeting Jeeves and Wooster. I was utterly howling yet gripped throughout

Marius Quinn and Lady Bella Montague are on a mission to find a kidnapped official when the trail leads them to the home of the British Foreign Minister and an unalived French diplomat. Things are getting a little bit hairy and our intrepid duo are reeling, surrounded by suspects!

I adore a good cosy mystery, especially if they have an edge and The Castleton Affair is a perfect example of that. The only down side is not actually a downside, in that I have just started reading at book 3 and I need to get into book 1 and 2 first! Each can be read as a standalone, but I do like to follow a series concurrently. Great energy, fantastic wit and a series I can really get into!

Thank you to Netgalley, Storm Publishing and Benedict Brown for this fantastic ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Excellent! The 3rd book in the Marius Quin series, The Castleton Affair, has an extra air of mystery about it due to the element of espionage in this fun cozy featuring Marius and Bella, who have been recruited to track down a spy who is searching for a very enigmatic device...a quick and delightful read, Benedict Brown has done it again! A+

***NOTE: The historical notes at the end of Mr. Brown's books are always very interesting, do yourself a favor and don't skip them! :-)

Marius and Lady Isabella are asked to help find a missing government agent. While the person who hired them seems to be alright, there are some questions Marius has surrounding their new employer. As the delve deeper into the case, they are able to find and locate the missing agent - only to find that the person who hired them has kidnapped him again. Seems that he was not who he proclaimed to be. As the real government agents try to resolve what happened, Marius and Isabella are determined to learn the truth, and what secrets might be lurking.

I am loving this series, and the books only get better! Marius and Bella make a great team. While this newest case seems to bring them closer to family friends of Lady Bella, there are a lot of unanswered questions. However, they work together to discover what is missing, and who the true culprit (and double agent) is.

A great read! This is a must get for the summer!

I loved this 1920s who done it! Engaging, fun and enjoyable!

Thanks to NetGalley and Benedict Brown for an advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily

I thank NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advance reader copy of “The Castleton Affair.” All opinions and comments are my own.

Who knew that Marius Quin and Lady Isabella Montague would be so good (that is, after a dubious start) at the spy-finding business? Well, author Benedict Brown definitely does, and in “The Castleton Affair,” the third in the series set in 1920’s era England, we find the two proprietors of “Marius and Co. Detective Agency” up to their necks in some serious derring-do.

The book starts with a Very Important Missing Person and segues into government intrigue, murder(s), and did I mention that a whole lot of people may or may not trusted? Marius and Bella need to find out who, which means a lot of very out of the ordinary events happening here for our two erstwhile protagonists. That it all comes out well in the end, while inspiring the reader to employ one’s own puzzle-solving skills, is a testament to the author’s writing ability.

There’s an “About This Book” at the end that isn’t to be missed, either. Mr. Brown definitely does his research when he writes his books, and this section is to be especially enjoyed, as he discusses code-breaking and the early days of the British intelligence services that is certainly eye-opening. I enjoyed “The Castleton Affair,” and I think you will, too.

Marius and Bella are over their heads when it comes to seasoned spies. Combine that with kidnapping, murder, and international considerations you know that this will not have a smooth solution. Who is leaking information? Who can you trust? Is the French delegation sabotaging the English?
We see a glimpse of the lives of the privileged class. The discontent of the adult children in this class feeling deprived. They need a reality check.
Our two detectives stumble from one awkward situation into another. The final solution comes at the end but not before we have a couple of murdered victims.

Once again I get to return to Benedict Brown's world of Marius Quinn & Co. Though it seems instead of the usual cozy murder mystery, there's been a shake up of having our favorite amateur detectives in a spy novel instead. This time they've found themselves looking into the kidnapping of a government code breaker only for the story to have the twists and turns you'd expect in a spy novel. As always, I was happy to see our protagonists grow in their skill and to learn more about their family, with us getting continued insight into Lady Isabella's personal life where the past book was a look into both her and Marius. While Benedict Brown may have switched things up to try something different than the past two novels as well as his work with the Lord Edgington series, I think this was a fantastic blend of genres that are practically cousins to each other. I'm excited to see where Quinn & Co go next and once again have been satisfied by what Benedict Brown has delivered.

1920s. Marcus Quin and Lady Isabella have been hired to locate and retrieve a missing civil servant, Ernest Castleton, via a set of clues. Later they are recruited to stay at the home of the British Foreign Secretary to uncover a spy.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery with its likeable main characters. Another good addition to this enjoyable series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Clearly author Benedict Brown has done a lot of research into the 1920's to understand about life in those times thus giving detailed references to aspects of life in that time period. This is the second of his books I have read and they are certainly a labour of love finding a niche in the market. This book will appeal to many I am sure. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the chance to be an ARC.

This was an entertaining read. It had a number of twists and turns and I didn’t know who to trust. Marius Quinn and Lady Isabella Montague are the two detectives who are investigating. At times, Isabella’s aristocratic connections come in very useful. Marius and Isabella worked well together, whilst each bringing their own contribution to solve the problem. This was quite a complex story and had me guessing until the end. I hadn’t read any of the previous books but this didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this book. I will look out for more of his series. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Fell in love with the cover. Marius and Bella get involved again in an investigation which has tones of espionage, which turns into a murder enquiry. Marius is the plodder and Bella seems the sharper mind and they make a good team, despite the hovering fiancée Baines in the background. (Never got the necessity for him but that is not relevant here)

This is simply told, a good storyline and the main characters remaining true to their original casting.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Benedict Brown for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Castleton Affair coming out May 15, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I love this author. I think he has some fun cozy historical mysteries! This book felt historical accurate and cozy, so I just really love the mix. This book definitely had some Agatha Christie vibes. Marius is a really interesting character. I enjoyed the espionage plot. I would definitely read more books in the series.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical British mysteries!

When mystery writer Marius Quin and his sleuthing partner Lady Bella Montague are hired by a secretive stranger to find a missing civil servant, they immediately set to work. Ernest Castleton was taken at gunpoint days earlier, but with the help of his distraught fiancée, Marius and Bella uncover a vital clue. Ernest hid a cryptic letter in the British Museum, and it sends the intrepid duo on a trail that stretches from the centre of London all the way to the English coast. The investigation takes on a new twist when they arrive at the home of the British Foreign Secretary only to find Monsieur Rochefort, a French diplomat murdered in the Grand Hall of the palatial property.
The third outing for Marius & Bella & another entertaining cosy mystery, which could be read on its own. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the pace was good, the characters had depth & added to the mix was spies & intrigue. I really like both Marius & Bella & love how their relationship is developing. There were twists & turns in this captivating murder mystery
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

"The Castleton Affair" by Benedict Brown, the third installment in the Marius Quin Mystery Book Series, stands as a testament to the author's skill in crafting compelling historical mysteries. Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century England, this novel follows the intrepid duo of mystery writer Marius Quin and Lady Bella Montague as they delve into a complex web of intrigue and deception.

As the third book in the series, "The Castleton Affair" builds upon the foundation laid by its predecessors, offering readers a deeper insight into the lives of its protagonists and the world they inhabit. Returning fans will delight in reuniting with familiar characters and witnessing their growth and development over the course of the series. However, new readers need not worry about feeling lost, as Brown skillfully weaves exposition into the narrative, ensuring that each installment can be enjoyed as a standalone story while also contributing to the overarching narrative.

Furthermore, "The Castleton Affair" showcases Brown's talent for crafting intricate plots filled with twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. From the moment Marius and Bella are hired to find the missing civil servant Ernest Castleton, the novel hurtles forward at a breakneck pace, propelled by a sense of urgency and suspense that grips readers from start to finish. As the investigation takes Marius and Bella from the bustling streets of London to the windswept shores of the English coast, they must navigate a labyrinth of secrets and lies in order to uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearance and murder at the heart of the case.

Overall, "The Castleton Affair" is a worthy addition to the Marius Quin Mystery Book Series, offering readers a thrilling adventure filled with memorable characters, intricate plotting, and rich historical detail. Benedict Brown's latest novel is sure to delight fans of the genre and leave them eagerly anticipating the next installment in this captivating series.

A good amateur sleuth novel that is YA friendly. Releases May 15th. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love Benedict Brown's writing style. I hadn't read the first 2 books in this series, but I bought them after reading this. Great characters and settings. I love a good mystery.

In 1920s England, mystery writer Marius and his partner Lady Bella are hired to locate a missing government aide. Their investigation leads them to the residence of the British Foreign Secretary, where a French diplomat is found dead. Uncovering a web of deceit and privilege, they must race against time to catch the killer before the body count rises.

This twisty novel offers engaging characters and an unpredictable plot. It includes hints of humor and romance, but the main focus is on the mystery.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I had a very enjoyable time reading this book. By now I’m used to the characters and they’re quite pleasant. The mystery here was a bit different from the previous and it was interesting. I would definitely recommend this series.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

This is another great addition to the series. I caught on to one of the killers a little earlier than Marius by actually questioning the same part of their story Marius eventually latches on to. I enjoy stories like this where I don't know any of the suspects because it means that anyone really could be the killer. There is one red herring that I absolutely thought would turn out to be more involved than they actually turned out to be. Yes, I'm being purposely vague about characters - I don't want to spoil anything for anyone. My only complaint with the book is that the author needs to decide what he wants to do with Bella as a character. I'm still not a fan of her because she never really seems to do anything with the cases - Marius solves the crimes mostly on his own and her only purpose seems to be access to certain groups. When I started to really consider that while reading this book I realized that maybe it's the author not seeing any value in her as a character beyond giving something pretty for Marius to look at throughout the story. If Marius talked about how beautiful she was or how she was his former love one more time I was going to lose my mind. Which is a shame because the actual mystery/conspiracy part of the story is really entertaining. One other thought on Bella - she needs to either dump the fiancé and get together with Marius or stop getting jealous every time a woman gives Marius any attention. As with the second book this one ends with another connection to Marius's missing father.