I found this cozy mystery to be hard going. Perhaps ifI had read the previous ones in the series I may have been more invested and found the story more enjoyable.
The plot seemed rather slow with he crime not appearing until a quarter of the way through the book. There were some interesting story elements but the key for me was the lack of character development. This might have been handled in previous books.

I will say that some of my issues with this one may be down to this being book 4 in a series where I haven't read any of the previous titles, however, I will also say that there is no indication that this is even part of a series even on Goodreads, it's not tagged as part of the series and the description doesn't tell you either. The only reason I realised was getting partway through the book and seeing references to something similar apparently happening before and not feeling the characters were being introduced properly, so I checked reviews and it was only there that I found out.

But still I persevered because I'd read another cozy mystery which was a sequel and I found I was able to read it standalone, this however, is harder to do that with.

I think the main reason is because it takes a good quarter of the book for the actual crime to be revealed and the lead-up is very slow-paced and focused on characters I have zero connection with and found...Odd. Amita's strange attitude to not wanting to buy a phone from an actual shop just felt bizarre to me, could she not just say she dropped her phone and broke it? It felt like a forced way of getting her to have a phone with suspicious messages, an undoubtedly cool idea, but it just felt very forced.

I did enjoy the Bingo Hall/Garden Club aspect and honestly wish we'd spent more time with those groups but the time we did spend there was enjoyable, I would honestly be down with the Bingo ladies solving crimes as a group tbh.

Because I wasn't invested in the characters and it was a fairly slow-paced book I had a hard time staying with it, I did almost DNF but then came back to it a few weeks later. Part of this is presumably the fact that this is the 4th book but again there wasn't any indication of that either in the Netgalley or Goodreads pages.

Amita has an eventful bingo trip to Manchester which results in her losing her phone .
She visits the shady Martin Brunger down at the allotments in search of a replacement phone and this is how Amita and Jason end up in the middle of another case .
Amita starts to receive strange messages on her new phone , and her interest is piqued .
This book is different to the previous stories as it starts off as a missing person case .
Another great case for the duo , I really like the characters and how their relationship has developed.
Reading an Amita and Jason mystery is like meeting up with old friends.
Great writing and the pages fly by .
A series which continues to get better and better.
A satisfying read can’t wait for their next case .
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperNorth.

Jason and Amita find themselves in the middle of a missing persons case when Amita loses her phone. These two can find a mystery wherever they turn.

It’s always a delight when there is a new title with Jason and Amita. They are really likeable characters and the dynamic between them is great

Another great outing for Jason and Amita. It was like rejoining old friends, especially as I'd just finished the previous book ("The Concert Hall Killer") a few days beforehand.
This was a bit different to previous books as there was no body discovery to kick the investigation off, as was the case in previous books. This time, it was a missing person's inquiry brought about by text message received on Amira's new phone that she acquired via dodgy means at the local allotment.
As there was no body, I was initially concerned if it would hold my interest but I soon had nothing to fear as I was gripped by the unfolding plot of not just one missing person but two, the romantic entanglements of the two missing men, the mystery around their tech company and the possible links to organised crime. Plus, the re-introduction of Frank Alby, retired police detective, from book one and his comedic interactions with Jason.
This kept me guessing right up to the dramatic conclusion, especially as it wasn't until then that the title made complete sense.
Again, the author also made another star of the local area (Penrith, Cumbria) whilst keeping the link with the original Bingo Club, which gives the series it's name, with a little (minor) sub-plot.
I also loved the clever chapter titles linking things back to the garden.
This was a great read for myself as a fan of the series, hence the 5 stars, but as there isn't much of a full introduction to the main characters, new readers may struggle to get into it straightaway, so may wish to read book 1 first.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for accepting me as a reader of this e-ARC.
I am looking forward to reading more by this author, be it a "Bingo Hall Detectives" or other future work.

Yet another fantastic book in the series. Well written - adore the characters and just great. Really really recommend you pick this series up.

This is actually the 4th in the Bingo Hall Detectives series of books, which I didn't realise at the time. Maybe I would have had a better time with this book and its characters had I managed to play catch-up, but sadly, there just wasn't the time to do that.
It wasn't long after I started that I realised this mistake as I felt that the characters weren't being introduced completely, and I think that made it hard for me to connect fully to them initially, which is a shame. That said, I did get there, but it did take a wee while, probably not helped by the fact that the pacing was so slow with nothing really much happening initially, apart from a side story which, for me, was blatantly obvious what had happened, but which kept cropping up as the rest of the story progressed.
Another thing that didn't really help was that I am not sure my sense of humour and that displayed in this book are really in alignment. I did find a couple things on the funny side but I also cringed at others.
Anyway... nothing ventured, nothing gained, and I think what I have to gain about this experience is that this series is just not for me. I say series and not author as I have read other books by him and enjoyed them.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

So, back into modern cosy territory. As I’ve said before, I’ve had very pleasant surprises from the pen of Rosemary Shrager and Antony Johnston, when their celebrity chef/dog sitter mysteries remembered to provide fairly clued mysteries, rather than having the sleuth identifying the villain by the subtle clue of them trying to kill our hero. So I thought I’d try another of the recent series, namely this, the Bingo Hall Detectives.

Which is an odd title, because there isn’t that much bingo in the story. I was expected a whole band of bingo enthusiasts chasing after the villain, but it’s just Amrita and two non-bingoers. There is a mystery regarding the disappearance of the bingo money, but I’d advise the armchair sleuth not to get too invested in this plotline.

There also isn’t a vast amount of gardening either, but I guess the title had to be something.

I’m torn on this one. I felt a little as if I was coming in at episode four (which I was, as this is the fourth book) and had trouble getting a handle on the supporting cast. Jason seemed a tad argumentative and Frank, well, I was at a bit of a loss why they thought he’d be much help. I imagine with more backstory from the first three books, this wouldn’t have been an issue.

Having said that, it’s a cracking idea for a set-up – a second-hand phone with messages from a killer. Who owned the phone before? Will the killer find the new owner? There is something very clever about the resolution to the mystery, the reason why something happens, but unless I missed something, for the most part it’s a guessing game rather than a logic problem for the reader to piece together. Not that this is an issue, it’s just not my preference. There’s the old chestnut of a clue in a photograph that we can’t see as well, and a few more viable suspects would have helped.

I imagine that if you enjoyed the first three books, then you’ll know what to expect from this one. It’s a lot better than some of the cosy mysteries that I’ve come across, those about bright young girls set in the Golden Age and it does what it does well. Maybe at some point I’ll go back to the first book to take a look when I’ve got a bit more reading time.

The Bingo Hall detectives are back with a new mystery to solve. When a rogue text message leads to a missing person case, Jason and his mother-in-law Amita are on the case. With a missing professor, his shady business partner and a newborn baby to deal with, there's plenty for the duo to get their teeth into.

This is cosy crime at its best, with plenty of twists, turns, red herrings and dead ends!

The Bingo Hall Detectives are back for a fourth adventure! After an evening out in Manchester with her fellow bingo players, Amita Khatri returns home, hungover as heck and without her mobile.
Unable to deal with being cut off, she picks up a used phone from a contact dealing goods from his allotment shed, and starts getting worrying messages, sent to the phone’s previous owner.
Amita Khatri is a pensioner, fond of sparkly shell suits, and known as the Sheriff of Penrith. Living with her daughter, Radha, and her family – freelance journalist Jason and their two children – she has been involved in solving a number of crimes in the local area, dragging her hapless son-in-law into the escapades.
The messages on the new phone worry Amita, and once again convinces Jason to help investigate. Soon they are on the case of two missing men – one an academic IT lecturer and researcher, the other his shady-sounding business partner. Unwilling to go to the police initially, they recruit the irrascible former DI Frank Alby, a bundle of rage and anger, now retired to a life of meditation. Meeting back up with Jason and Amita, no amount of meditation is going to temper his irritable nature – they’ve crossed paths before in previous adventures, and Amita has to use all her persuasive powers to get him involved with them again.
What follows is a fun chaotic investigation with wonderfully drawn characters, and there are many laugh out loud moments. Amita is such a brilliant character, a real force of nature – a detecting whirlwind who drags everyone along in her wake, regardless if she’s even going in the right direction. As always, the characters are brilliantly and sharply written. I just love the relationship between Amita and Jason – they’re a fabulous team.
Just don’t ask what happened in Manchester.
Thank you to the author, Harper North and Netgalley for the advanced eARC for review

This is the fourth cosy outing for the Bingo Hall Detectives,Mother in law Amita and son in law Jason are out solving mysteries again. It's a fun mystery and the characters have developed beyond the earlier books. It's a light-hearted and humorous book which keeps the pages turning.

It kept me guessing until the end and I really didn't know the solution until the end. Once again, the unsung hero of the book is the beautiful Penrith and the surrounding countryside.

Thank you to netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read an E-ARC copy in return for an honest review.

Albeit on more of a cosy crime side than a thriller, make no mistake: Jonathan’s latest book in this series is a great read. Son-in-law and mother-in-law Jason and Amita are looking for a missing husband, an academic whose wife is upset at his disappearance. But one person quickly leads to two, with the pair reluctantly leaning on a former copper’s insight to press on with the investigation. Though more than able to handle themselves – Amita more so than Jason, let’s be fair – the family members quickly see that there’s more going on than they bargained for – athletic academics, phones that aren’t quite yours and vegetable patches. A cracking read, and a moment where I defy you not to cry.

Book Review: Growing, Growing, Gone… by Jonathan Whitelaw.

Set in the picturesque yet perplexing town of Penrith, nestled in the heart of the Lake District, Growing, Growing, Gone… delivers a delightful blend of mystery, wit, and intrigue. The story revolves around Amita Khatri, a determined sleuth, and her son-in-law Jason, who find themselves embroiled in an investigation when a mild-mannered academic goes missing—and he’s far from the only one.

The charm of this novel lies in its richly drawn characters, particularly Amita, whose sharp intellect and no-nonsense attitude contrast perfectly with the more laid-back approach of Jason. Alongside them is Frank, the irascible retired copper whose blunt humor adds a dash of gruffness to the trio. As they search the Cumbrian countryside for missing people and money, the tight-knit nature of their investigative team keeps the pacing lively and the banter sharp.

The setting, with its quiet villages, serene lakes, and fertile farmland, serves as both backdrop and character, lending a unique flavor to the mystery. The narrative cleverly incorporates the theme of "planting the evidence," giving it an eerie, almost garden-variety feel, as clues are buried, both literally and figuratively, throughout the story. This play on words and themes adds a layer of complexity that will keep readers engaged.

The plot weaves a tangled web of disappearances, hidden motives, and well-timed twists, each unfolding with a rhythm that mirrors the shifting landscapes of the Lake District itself. As Amita, Jason, and Frank dig deeper, the stakes grow higher—leading to an unexpected and satisfying conclusion.

Growing, Growing, Gone… is a lighthearted but clever mystery that keeps the reader guessing without being overly complex. It’s perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with a touch of humor and a strong sense of place. If you enjoy stories with quirky characters, subtle tension, and a little bit of gardening lore, this book is well worth the read.

***advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
Another cozy murder mystery - heavy emphasis on the cozy. This is quite a slow paced plot, it took nearly a quarter of the book to find out what the actual crime was and who it had happened to.
I will say I thought there were some innovate plot elements regards the mystery itself, but for me it wasn’t pacy enough to keep my attention well. Some parts were a bit overdone - the retired inspector who hates the son in law, that narrative has been set, I’m not sure we need two paragraphs of jibes each time they meet.
I think this is a series which I didn’t realise when I started, I’m not sure I was invested enough in the characters to read any more myself but suspect there will be an interested demographic of readers nonetheless.

Things aren't going well up in Cumbria.

Amita has managed to lose her phone, and has obtained a replacement from a very questionable source. And then the messages start coming...

Pretty soon, Amita, son-in-law Jason, and retired copper Frank are looking for more than one missing person