A delightful crime mystery that I hope becomes a series. Alice Beeton, owner of a household management agency becomes involved in finding the killer of a member of her staff. I loved the twists and turns, the interesting cast of characters especially Agatha the dog. As a bonus lots of tasty recipes for the reader to try, straight from the famous cookbook.

Miss Alice Beeton runs The Good Household Management Agency, bringing domestic staff to those with money who need reliable staff. She is related to Isabelle Beeton, famous for The Victorian Book of Household Management.

Alice is in her fifties and has never married or had children. She works with her best friend, Jinx, who is trying to bring Alice out of the Victorian era.

When Enya turns up at Alice’s office looking for employment, Alice doesn’t do her usual checks as she receives a panicked call from Camille Messent who desperately needs a new housekeeper.

I did like Alice’s dog, Agatha, for me, she was the highlight of the book.

This is a cosy mystery, but unfortunately, it didn’t hit the spot for me. I found it to be rather wordy and much more detail than necessary.

My thanks to HQ and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Alice Beeton is a fifty-something who is a bit of a square peg and feels out of touch with present-day London. She is supposed to be related to the Mrs Beeton of the Victorian Book of Household Management fame. She manages The Good Household Management Agency which provides housekeeping staff to the wealthy.
One day, Enya Fischer seeking a position, with a clutch of excellent references. Alice places her with the wealthy Messent family. Then Alice receives the news that Enya has been found dead and foul play may be suspected. She decides to use her position to investigate aided by a couple of eccentric friends and a dog named Agatha.

The good parts are that it isn’t too badly written and the characterisation is ok. The bad parts are that the book's first two-thirds are so slow that you want to scream and the plot only gets going in the last third. Then when it does get going, everything is so obvious there is no mystery left. The constant inclusion of the anthropomorphic dog, I found irritating, despite being an animal lover.

If you like the sort of cosy mysteries that are twee and are long on cosy and short on mystery, this book will suit you perfectly. Personally, I like a cosy with a little humour, but more mystery and plot based.

I found the included recipes throughout the book a bizarre touch and totally unnecessary. They were also impossible to read on an E-reader, due to the formatting. I appreciate this sort itself out when the book is finally published.

So, a definite no from me, but I think it will be popular for those who love the genre.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley, Josie Lloyd and HQ for the much-appreciated ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

A new cosy mystery enters the scene with the indomitable but at at times vunerable Alice Beeton at its core. Alice,a descendant of the famous Mrs Beeton runs a select domestic agency placing staff with wealthy families in London. Whe one of her placements is murdered at her workplace Alice finds herself ,somewhat reluctantly, investigating the cause of the crime. Helped by a disparate group of people who work with or are on her books she keeps on picking up clues along the way and builds a relationship with a Met police inspector.
This is a well written book with good plotting. There is a lot of background and description of the main characters which should form a sound base for further books in the series..
I can see this book delighting lovers of this genre and also being adapted for television.

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.

Alice Beeton is like a modern day Miss Marple. She notices details and understands people so when a murder occurs at one of her clients homes she feels she has no option but to become involved. This leads to an entertaining cosy mystery that I enjoyed reading.
It is very much a book of its genre and no worse for that as the reader knows exactly what to expect, a fairly lighthearted (murder aside) engaging storyline with a variety of memorable characters including a dog.
Delightful

For those who love cosy mysteries, this novel fits neatly into the genre, offering a modern-day story with the nostalgic feel of a Golden Age mystery. The narrative requires some suspension of disbelief, much like the stories of Poirot or Miss Marple, but that’s part of the fun. While the plot is fairly busy with various twists and turns, it remains entertaining and never takes itself too seriously.

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Oh this book was thoroughly entertaining. Alice Beeton is such a wonderful character, one I loved spending time with, and this is the finest of cosy mysteries, one which took a turn I was not expecting at all. There is such warmth and humour in this book, cosy crime fans will find it irresistible, and, as it is set sort of around Christmas, it would make the perfect festive gift too - what more could you ask for?

In Miss Beeton's Murder Agency, Josie Lloyd introduces us to Alice Beeton and her team at the Good Household Management Agency, undoubtedly the ideal career for a woman whose ancestry includes the inimitable Mrs Beeton - yes, that one. Facing a last minute request to find a housekeeper for an affluent French family, Alice Beeton finds herself in need of a new member of staff. Now, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the fact a French speaking, exceedingly well referenced, new prospect just happened to walk through the door that very morning is a touch convenient. Well ... it is for Alice, but less so for Enya, whose very first engagement on behalf of Alice's team will also be her last. Murder is the name of the game at the Messent's New Years Eve party, but did Enya disturb a would be burglar, or is something else afoot?

I love how Josie Lloyd has framed this mystery. She takes her time over introducing the characters and establishing their back story before the fateful night, which meant that I was able to take Alice, her beloved dog, Agatha (named after Agatha Christie, of course), and her team and friends, Helly, Jinx, Jacques, Massoud, and Barney, to my heart very easily. They are a wonderful bunch, and the banter and good humour that bounces back and forth between them makes this such an enjoyable read. It's clear that Alice is a woman who likes things to be just so, who had clear standards, but who elicits real warmth, honesty and loyalty from those around her, and I can see why, She may be a 'spinster', but there is something about her that draws you in, and there is also a clear spark between her and the investigating officer in Enya's murder, Detective Rigby. It's not so obvious at first, but that is the beauty of how the book has been written. it's something that grows over the course of the book, a kind of natural evolution than any kind of big bang - all the more sweet and enduring for it.

The mystery in this book is perfectly pitched, and the clues slowly unravelled until we reach what is, in the end, quite a clever and oacy conclusion. Alice is, as her dog's namesake might suggest, quite a fan of the classic mysteries, especially Agatha Christie, and she puts this to very good use, with the aid of her friends, infiltrating the Messent home in the guise of a replacement Housekeeper, taking the opportunity of absolute trust to uncover that which people would rather remain hidden. It's quite the mix of characters, secrets and lies in that household, and nothing is quite what it may seem. I did guess one element of the story, to a degree, but that didn't mean I had the whole case sewn up - there is plenty to discover, and many unexpected moments yet to come. Illegality on a grand scale, with a twisted and cunning plot, and brilliant reveal that Mrs C herself would be proud of.

The setting of the novel is perfect, and Josie Lloyd really brings that grand life of London's social elite to life. Even Alice's own history has a little glamour to it, even if it is somewhat dulled by the way in which her brother, Jasper, has ruined the family home. It allows for good, clean (no pun intended) mystery, with a heroine who reminds me a little of a younger Miss Marple, although Alice's romantic prospects do seem to be far more encouraging. Definitely, and heartily, recommended.

3.5/4

I admit to struggling a bit with the rating because whilst this book is very readable and no doubt, destined for the Christmas market, there are some parts of it that are beyond the fantastical and it is a very cosy murder.

I added the extra half star because of the recipes included, which I know people will love. Sadly, because I was reading the ARC they lost a lot in translation so I couldn't even tell you whether they sounded exciting. Plus I'm the world's worst baker. I think Mrs Beeton would have despaired of me.

The story follows Alice Beeton, a distant relative of the original Mrs Beeton. She runs a household management agency but is rushed, one morning, into placing an unknown quantity (Enya) into a household of a French family (the Messents). Enya seems perfect but after a very short time it seems there's more going on than Alice originally thought. Then, at a New Year's Eve party, tragedy strikes.

Alice and her dog Agatha are drawn into the investigation as she takes over Enya's role. She also gets help from longtime friend, Jinx and Detective Rigby of the Met. But can she divert disaster in both her home life and the criminal world.

As I say, it is a cosy murder perfect for fans of Agatha Christie or Richard Osman. There's no blood and guts, little (if any) bad language and the cast of characters are all pleasant - except the baddies of course.

Cosy murders aren't really a favourite of mine but this book will find a good audience base, especially with the recipes included. It seems set for a series so I suspect this is not the last we have seen of Alice Beeton and Agatha.

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the advance review copy.

This is a fantastic twisty turns yet Genteel murder mystery. I absolutely loved it. There’s enough twists and dilemmas to keep the interest going and get so much excellent friendship and family background to flesh out a strong character of Alice Beeton.
I thought it was excellent, and I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to have read this. I had a publication and exchange for an honest review.

This murder mystery is great fun, and a quick read. The characters, although not all likeable, are engaging, and the dynamic between them well-constructed. However, the tasty-looking recipes throughout the text rather annoyed me; I would prefer to have these included in an appendix instead of having to skip over them in order to get on with the fast-moving plot.

The author has constructed a strong and diverse team (including some romantic interest) that I hope to meet again in future books.

Alice Beeton is a distant relative to the famous Isabelle Beeton who wrote the Victorian Book of household management. She is single and lives on her own with her dog called Agatha named after her favourite author. Who she has quite a collection of her books and she loves baking.
She runs the Good Household Management agency with the help of her friends Helly and Jinx. They provide domesticated staff to the rich and famous. She thoroughly vets her staff before hiring them. Until one day whilst interviewing a new member of staff Enya Fischer she gets a phone call from one of her clients saying that they need someone immediately. Enya’s CV and references looks impressive. So, she straightway sends her there. But whilst spending time with her family she gets a phone call to say that Enya Fischer is dead. She uses her sleuthing skills from reading Agatha Christie and goes undercover to find out who killed her.
If you love cosy crime this book is for you. This has an intriguing storyline and likeable characters and a really liked the Christmasy scene on the cover. I did enjoy this in parts. But sometimes the storyline slowed down too much and got over descriptive for me. The other thing was disappointing was the recipes interwoven though the book. I don’t know him much relevance to them in terms of the storyline and what was worse, because of the formatting you couldn’t read them anyway. 3.5 stars from me.

I have read two of Josie's books so far - The Cancer Ladies Running Club and Lifesaving For Beginners - and they were both exquisite. So if you add that talent, plus Mrs Beeton, plus what looks like a Christmassy setting, judging by the cover, then you've got the recipe for a brilliant read.

There are recipes in it!!!!!! I do enjoy a good recipe, especially when you least expect it, and I have saved a few of them.

I began reading this thinking it was set in the 1950s and it fits that era in my head, but then after a few pages it mentions Instagram and so I had to re-evaluate what I thought I knew. And yet knowing this, I still pictured Alice as a young woman in the 50s and I couldn't rid myself of that image.

It's got a lot going for it. There's history (I know I've learnt it's not an historical novel now, but all the talk of Mrs Beeton just gave me that nostalgia), there's adventure, thrill, comedy, crime, cosy crime, Christmassyness, uplift. I would have liked a bit more festivities considering the cover sort of advertises it as a Christmas story but that's not a big thing.

It was a little slow to begin with, it took a while to get going. And I've seen from other reviews that some see that as a problem. But I don't see it like that. It gives us time to get into this world, get to know our characters and become invested. I think in a story like this, if I'd had gone straight in, it wouldn't have had quite the same effect.

There is a very large cast of characters, but I loved Alice the best. She's so warm and friendly and trusting. She really shone. The other characters - there are too many to mention here - are just as good and work well with and against her. There's no wasted characters, which is impressive given a cast this size.

I read it in less than a day, it was so addictive and easy to read, and even though there's murder and whatnot, it's a real uplifting read. I reeeeeeeeeeeeeally hope this is the start of a series as I can really see it flying. It's completely different to the books of hers I've read before and it's just great. Good storytelling, fab characters, adventure, emotion, and at the centre, it's a real uplift.

Alice lives in a basement flat in London with her dog Agatha, and run a Good Household Management Agency,
Christmas is the busiest time of the year and, against her usual standard, she finds herself hiring Enya on the spot, after a frantic call from Camille Messant needing a housekeeper.

Everything seems to be going well, until she receives a call that Enya is dead. Miss Beeton is dragged into finding out who did it.

This is such a wonderful read, I immediately liked the main character, Alice and all her friends. Hoping for a sequel.

Miss Beeton's Murder Agency is a joy from start to finish .

Alice Beeton- distant relative of the legendary Mrs Beeton runs a Household Management company (supported by her friends Jinx and Helly) providing housekeepers, caterers and function staff to the wealthy of London .

A request for staff by a wealthy art dealer and his wife- the Messents- leads to murder and Alice goes undercover to discover what happened.

Accompanied by Agatha - her dog- and a close circle of friends she endeavours to find who is guilty but as the situation worsens Alice finds herself caught up in an international crime and murder gets even closer

Comedic in parts, full of warmth and with a nod to Miss Marple ( well Agatha is named so for a reason) Alice Beeton is character that is full of heart as she fumbles her way through some dangerous situations- whilst dealing with her wayward brother and the family manor house and encounters with a Detective Rigby (who she feels an attraction towards) There are even recipes to enjoy and create !!


Being someone who primarily reads crime/police procedurals, I really enjoyed the story and escaped into Alice's world

Josie Lloyd has written a brilliant wintery crime caper- a sequel is needed as the team are so good and it would be great to see how Alice deals with another murderous situation... bring on the TV version

I really enjoyed this book and hope it's the start of a series. I fell in love with all the characters at the agency.
A book to curl up with and switch off the world.

When you have a famous name, it's a common occurrence for people to assume you're related. In Alice Beeton's case, she doesn't mind because, albeit distantly, she is! With a little help with the name, Alice runs the Good Household Management Agency, providing discreet and experienced staff to the more discerning family at prices that prove her exclusivity. Her cooking, which she too is very good at, is purely for enjoyment and as a way to reduce the stresses in her life.

Spending Christmas with her brother, Jasper, and his family, at the somewhat dilapidated family pile, is a ritual Alice and her dog, Agatha have got used to. She is, however, glad to return home until a disturbing phone call in the middle of New Year’s Eve night sets Alice on a course she never envisaged. Now, she finds herself investigating the death of one of her housekeepers when it appears the police don't have the resources she does. But does voraciously reading crime fiction and avidly watching TV detective shows really prepare anyone for the real thing?

This new series by Josie Lloyd has the promise of many original stories to come and, as should be expected, there is a lot of scene setting here. There is also quite a large cast of both friends and foe, which I did find it all a little overwhelming at times. The inclusion of handwritten recipes throughout is a nice touch, and the revelations regarding the victim were very cleverly done.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, HQ, but the opinions expressed are my own. I enjoyed this. It was original and entertaining throughout. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

I don’t read a lot of cozy mystery type books normally preferring the grittier type murder mystery’s but this one really appealed to me and I have to say it was a terrific read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I think what made the read so good was the excellent writing, humour and whole bunch of super characters especially the main one Alice Beeton who is a distant relative of the famous cookery writer Mrs Beeton.
There was a lot going on in the story with Alice who totally by chance finds herself getting deeper and deeper into solving the murder of an employee of hers and oh boy did she get involved!
I’m hoping there will be more from Alice and this will be the first book of Miss Beetons Murder Agency as I would love to catch up with Alice and the rest rest of the characters and finding out what they are all up to.
So a great read, lots of fun and some lovely recipes what more could you want apart from more of the same please!
My thanks to NetGalley and HQ for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a cozy mystery, very easy to read. I had read some reviews about this book and decided I would like to read it. Alice Beeton, a distant relative of Mrs Beeton, the author of Household Management amongst others, has set up an agency to supply household staff to wealthy families.
When one client requests a replacement as soon as possible, Enya just happened to be looking for a job and happen end to be in the office at that particular time. Alice wasn’t as particular as usual with references and such like, so Enya was employed. Well, I won’t spoil the story, but murder and theft are involved! Of course, being a cozy mystery, it has a satisfying end. My thanks go to NetGalley, Josie Lloyd and Harper Collins for an arc of this enjoyable book.

Fans of Agatha Christie and cosy murder mysteries will love this modernised Marple-esque story.

A fairly quick read, I blasted through it in two days, mainly because it was a real page turner and i got easily hooked into the storyline.

Miss Beeton (yes, a descendant of THAT Mrs. Beeton) runs a successful home help agency, putting her prestigious clients in touch with Chefs; Chauffeurs; Waitresses; PAs; Cleaners and domestic assistants. Discretion is her middle name and decorum is as natural to her as breathing. However, when a domestic assistant she has recently placed with a very prestigious family suddenly drops dead on New Year's Eve (mid party I may add - how uncouth!) and there is noone else to replace the employment, Miss Beeton and her trusty dog Agatha (yep after that Agatha) have to fill in undercover in order to keep the client satisfied. Is everything as it seems in this family though? And is there something more to this death than the police are willing to admit?

Miss Beeton is propelled into a secret life of undercover crime sleuthing and when her dog Agatha is taken hostage - she just HAS to solve the case.

Interspersed with recipes from Christmas Cake to stew, (im unsure whether they are really Mrs Beeton recipes or not its not clear! But they certainly could be... ) the whole book has quite a twee, homely feel to it, easily readable and a feel good heartwarming mystery.

The recipes were totally corrupted in the unedited pre-release version I read which is a shame as id have loved to have made some of them!

Thanks to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for this ARC.