My Bookish Thoughts 💬
What a delightful read! The stunning cover drew me in—it’s easily one of my favourites. I’ve always been captivated by Georgian homes, imagining Christmas mornings in one, wearing a red velvet coat with a black collar. Josie Lloyd perfectly captures the charm of these settings, from London townhouses to sprawling country estates in a blanket of snow.

This Agatha Christie-inspired mystery is a joyous blend of intrigue, humour, and twists, with Alice Beeton leading the charge to solve the murder of Enya, the newest hire at The Good Housekeeping Agency. Alice is brave and determined, and her intuitive assistant, Agatha the dog, absolutely stole my heart—who doesn’t need a sleuthing sidekick like her?

The camaraderie between Alice, her best friend Jinx, and their household help team was heartwarming, with delightful "jolly hockey sticks" dialogue reminiscent of Enid Blyton and Christie classics. Detective Rigby’s exasperation with Alice was a particular highlight! Oh and the recipes I have to try some of them!

This is a must-read, especially for the festive season, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for more adventures with Alice, Agatha, and co.

Highly recommended!

Big thanks to Netgalley Gallery, HQ Stories and lovely Josie for the gifted digital copy in exchange for an honest review. 🙏🏼

Book Review: Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency by Josie Lloyd

Rating: 4 Stars

I recently had the pleasure of reviewing Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency by Josie Lloyd, and I was pleasantly surprised! This cosy crime novel has a delightful retro vibe while still feeling fresh and contemporary. The story revolves around Alice Beeton, who, like her famous relative Mrs Beeton, always envisioned herself as the queen of a perfectly managed household. However, reality has taken Alice down a different path; at just over fifty, she finds herself single, childless, and living in a somewhat shabby basement flat in Kensington with her quirky little dog, Agatha—a corgi-Jack Russell mix who has a knack for stealing the spotlight.

Alice runs the Good Household Management Agency, where she connects high-end clients with domestic staff. When Camille Messant reaches out for an urgent housekeeper, Alice sends over Enya—an assertive new hire with glowing references and a knack for French. But when New Year’s Day rolls around, Alice is jolted from sleep by the shocking news that Enya has been found dead. With the police dragging their feet and the wealthy family tight-lipped, it’s up to Alice to uncover the truth.

First off, I LOVE the cover of this book. It’s just fabulous! As I dove into the story, I found myself enchanted by the varied settings and the festive atmosphere Lloyd creates. The characters are genuinely likeable and the friendships among them add warmth to the narrative. Of course, Agatha deserves a special mention—her antics are absolutely adorable and she definitely brings some extra charm to Alice's life.

What I appreciated most about this book was how well it balanced a lighthearted tone with genuine mystery. The pacing was spot on; I devoured it in just two days! The characters had real depth, and I was kept guessing about who the villain might be until the very end. Plus, there were delightful twists, turns, and red herrings sprinkled throughout—everything you’d hope for in a cosy mystery.

Oh, and did I mention there are recipes included? That’s just an extra cherry on top! Overall, Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency is a well-crafted cosy mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed. It’s a fantastic start to what promises to be an exciting new series. I can't wait to see what adventures Alice and Agatha will embark on next! If you love a good mystery with charming characters, you won’t want to miss this one. Four stars from me!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

This is a fabulous cozy crime novel that I very much hope will be the start of a series featuring the inspirational Miss Alice Beeton, fictional relative of the well known cook Mrs Beeton. Indeed the book itself shares several of the tried and tested Mrs Beeton recipes.

Alice Beeton runs an excellent agency together with her long term friend Jinx. They supply all manner of household staff and more to distinguished clients. One such client proves to be the start of what may be a new direction for Alice, as one of the staff provided by Alice is found dead and she is forced to step in undercover to unmask the truth.

There are an array of very colourful characters which I am already invested in; Agatha the dog, Jinx the best friend and Brittany the beautician to the elite to name a few. I hope that they will all feature in future books. The team around Alive and her friends and contacts form a group that are working together to solve the clues.

A great read which I highly enjoyed. There was some far fetched detail, which I enjoyed in a James Bind type thriller scenario and this together with the homespun nature of Alice and her love of her relatives recipes made a book that I would happily recommend.

Fun, Frothy..
Fun, frothy and rather deliciously beyond the realms of possibility, this cosy crime caper is the perfect festive pick me up. With a murder mystery at its very heart, a cast of quirky, eccentric and eclectic characters populating a pacy plot and an enjoyable narrative. Compelling and entertaining.

I usually enjoy cozy mysteries, and while there were some good points to the book, this one wasn’t for me and I found it difficult to read due to the formatting (which probably didn’t help).

Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency by Josie Lloyd introduces Alice Beeton, who runs a unique household staffing agency that caters to the poshest of the posh. Inspired by her famed relative, Mrs Beeton, Alice has built a quiet but orderly life, living with her terrier–corgi mix, Agatha, in a modest Kensington flat and arranging staff for the affluent. However, her meticulously managed world is upended when her newest hire is found dead while working as a housekeeper for the wealthy Messent family, plunging classic crime fan Alice into a real-life mystery. When the lead detective’s efforts prove lacklustre, Alice has to rely on her genre knowledge, intelligence and insight, and a few eccentric friends, to uncover what really happened at the Messents’ New Year gala.

Alice’s age and perspective as a woman on the wrong side of fifty bring depth and relatability to the story, creating an unconventional but compelling sleuth who draws readers in with her wry humour and resilience. Her investigations reveal unexpected dimensions of her own life, pushing her beyond her carefully curated comfort zone and into the glamorous, guarded lives of her clients. Lloyd’s clever nods to Victorian domestic icon Mrs Beeton, complete with Alice’s own culinary asides, add charming touches that will appeal to cosy mystery fans. The blend of an engaging puzzle, a cosy domestic setting and Alice’s character growth make Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency both a delightful seasonal read.

Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency was cosy crime at its finest - with a brilliant cast of complex characters and filled with love and joy within the darkness.

This walks a fine line between the intensity of the mystery (particuarly as the stakes ramp up) and that sense of heart and humour that utterly captivates a reader. It all centres around our protagonist, Alice, who is headstrong, stubborn and fiercely loyal. She cares deeply for the people around her, which is precisely what makes her a great detective. For her, this case is personal and she will stop at nothing to seek justice. Her voice is endearing and packed with the kind of gently ribbing humour that I enjoy. It is charming in its candour, with a bluntness that will stand for no rubbish.
Her life is neat, ordered and tidy, as benefits the owner of a household management agency and shouldering her family’s legacy. That order benefits her crime solving skills though with a precision and problem solving attitude. She is one capable woman. I also adored Agatha, her dog, named for Christie herself. It was a little nod to the history of the genre and there was a definite Golden Age mystery vibe to the story.

I also enjoyed the way Lloyd tied in the legacy of her ancestor - setting a standard for her to live up to. We get these excerpts from the recipes of her loved ones, which adds an extra dimension to this world. They just made it feel cozier and reminded you of the love often expressed through the ritual of making food. The actual mystery stands in stark contrast, with a rather ruthless and cutthroat world hidden behind these gilded walls. It is a life of luxury but one filled with secrets and deception. We get some interesting twists and turns along the way that throws several spanners into the works.

Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency shines brightest in its characterisation, particularly around the star of the novel.

The story:
Miss Alice Beeton, owner of the Good Household Management Agency, prides herself on efficiency and high standards, much like her ancestor before her with her famous book. So when a client urgently needs a new housekeeper, and an ideal candidate just happens to apply to the agency on the same day, it seems like fate. But when the housekeeper meets an untimely end, Alice feels she has a duty to get to the bottom of things on behalf of her agency. Going undercover as a housekeeper herself seems like a good way to find the answers. But when the danger levels rise, Alice finds she may have taken on a more deadly mission than she realised…

My thoughts:
“Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency”, by Josie Lloyd sounded like it would be right up my street, and I’m pleased to say it didn’t disappoint!

Within the first two pages of this book I felt a rapport with title character Alice Beeton, with her complete collection of Agatha Christie books and radio set permanently to Classic FM… Descended from the Mrs Beeton of household management fame, Alice likes to live her life in an orderly and tidy manner, keeping to the standards of her Victorian ancestor. She is rightly proud of her household management agency, and takes great care to place the right staff with the right client.

Alice lives alone with her dog Agatha (named after Christie, of course), and has a solid group of friends around her, many of whom she also works with. So when Enya – a young woman who has only just joined Alice’s books, but who impressed her with her knowledge and attitude – is found murdered at the New Year’s Eve party of a wealthy French family in their luxurious house on Oxley Square in London, Alice feels duty-bound to find out more. Along the way she is able to apply her logical and well-ordered mind to the mystery, even when things take an even more sinister turn and her beloved Agatha is used as collateral against her…

Interspersed with recipe wisdom, from lemon biscuits to Christmas pudding, this book was a delight to read. Although contemporary, it has definite golden age mystery vibes. The characters are all likeable, especially the indefatigable Alice, and I hope we will get to see more of them in future books (and possibly some romance for Alice!). Set around the festive period, this would be a great Christmas read or gift, but could really be read at any time. One for all fans of cosy, golden age-style crime to enjoy!

What a superb cosy crime book perfect for cosy winter reading. Hopefully, it will be the first of many in the Miss Beeton series from Josie Lloyd. Alice Beeton is a loveable protagonist with a nose for hunting out clues. A relative of the famous Mrs Beeton, Alice runs an agency. When one of her new employees Enya is found dead at a wealthy do and the wealthy close ranks, Alice decides to find out the truth. A fun and engaging cosy crime. #missbeetonsmurderagency #josielloyd #netgalley

A cute fun cozy mystery. An interesting cast of characters in unique settings and situations. The main character bakes a lot even though that is not her profession. It appears there are a lot of recipes in the book but the advanced reader copy of the recipes were not readable nor were pictures of the items visible. They sounded great overall but would have been nice to see them. Hopefully the printed book will have them available. Very quick and entertaining read! Enjoy!
I was provided an advanced reader copy and was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This was such a fun book, I love a detective mystery and this one did not disappoint. The character (most of them) were likeable and you were rooting for them to solve the crime while also finding love for themselves.

This is a good effort at cosy mystery, it was very long on the cosy and recipes but I think they got confused over the mystery part, as it didn't really flow and get going, there are a lot of characters to remember and this can be a bit confusing

This is a lovely cosy crime novel with fun tie-ins to Mrs Beeton’s book of Household Management. Who doesn’t love a mystery and recipe combo?

Alice Beeton runs a successful, high-end staffing agency for the super rich. She is terribly British, unlike most of her clientele. Together with a cast of friends and her canine companion, Agatha, Alice’s life is going well… well apart from having a loan coming due, a flaky brother, a dodgy flat and no ‘special someone’ in her life.

When a disgruntled client calls with an urgent staffing problem just before Xmas, Alice’s life takes a sharp and unexpected turn.

This was perfect for the long, cold, dark evenings. Fun and extremely entertaining.

Alice Beeton, a distant relative of the famous Mrs Beeton, finds herself at over fifty living a single life but surrounded by loyal friends and colleagues and of course her intelligent dog Agatha. Alice has a thriving business, the Good Household Management Agency, providing discreet domestic staff to wealthy clients. This modern day take on ‘below’ and ‘above’ stairs provides a great setting for an intriguing and engaging murder mystery. Clearly a well researched story with lots of detail about different social settings. The core characters are nicely developed and the dialogue is quick paced with a nice balance of humour. The hint of potential romance with Detective Rigby is a nice touch. I’m really hoping that there will be further mysteries for Alice and friends to solve. Highly recommended.

When Alice finds a housekeeper a job just before Christmas, she had no idea that by New Year she would be investigating her murder.
Throw into the mix a dog, a missing painting and a country house to make a good story.
A little bit Christmassy but not over the top.
Good book

This book was exactly what I expected, a cosy crime book echoing those books that have gone before, but with a new, more modern tale.

I loved that the recipes are included (however really disappointed that they were broken up in the eARC as I love reading recipes) to tie in with what Alice is making or eating.

My main problem was it felt like it was written in the 50s, the atmosphere felt period, Alice felt from that period, yet it was a completely contemporary book, set now, post-covid and the queen has died. But there was a disconnect.

Yet I really did enjoy it and was definitely on the edge of my seat a few times throughout the book. Plus a dog called Agatha, lovely!!

I loved this book so much I simply HAD to buy a physical copy of it too!. I have been recommending this one to anyone and everyone who will listen, and will be eagerly awaiting future releases by Josie Lloyd!

4.25/5 stars

When I began this book, I had not done any research on it and did not know that it was a "cozy". I'm glad that I did not as that might have put me off reading it (I'm not a big cozy fan).

Alice Beeton (50+), as the owner of the Good Household Management Agency and descendant of the famous authoress Mrs. Beeton (The Book of Household Management) discreetly meets the needs for top household staff for the rich and influential. She is normally very scrupulous in her background research on the staff she employs, however when she is caught in an emergency situation for her client Camille Messent, she sends out the mysterious but seemingly qualified Enya to serve as a housekeeper for the wealthy couple. As Enya is inexplicably murdered shortly after she begins her job, Alice and her office friends and community acquaintances jump in to aid the police in their investigation.

This was so much fun. Funny and smart, Alice and her friends are a joy, and I must admit that this is one cozy that pulled me in and kept me there.

Well done.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and HQ for providing the free early arc of Miss Beeton's Murder Agency for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

A departure from Josie Lloyd style of writing but a great one and I’m hoping we will be seeing more of Miss Beeton.. Alice Beeton runs a household management agency supplying the wealthy with staff but when something goes wrong at one of her placements Alice is determined to find out what happened. With her trusty dog Agatha and her friend Jinx and their list of contacts they set out to uncover the truth. A clever and very enjoyable read

Nice gentle easy read, perfect for cold winter nights. There's the added bonus of recipes ...which I haven't tried yet!
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.