A very interesting cozy mystery book, I love a good ginger, and Marmaduke was an appreciated addition.

The Narrator was absolutely wonderful! She really gave the characters their personalities.

I’m not quite sure what to say about this book, but it was a cozy murder mystery with a great setting and time period. However, I can’t quite figure out what made this book kind of meh. I listened to the audiobook and I liked the narrator, but I noticed myself not staying engaged. I found myself zoning out and I had to keep bringing myself back into the story. This could totally be a me problem and not the book, but I don’t find this happening very often. So who knows.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I got this audiobook as an ARC from Netgalley.

I had a really hard time getting into this one. It picked up later in the book but I felt like I missed a lot in the beginning because I had so much trouble getting my bearings. I think I would have done better reading this novel.

I really enjoyed this; it felt like listening to a book written in the 1940s but thankfully without the questionable attitudes to ethnicity and gender of the time!

Overall, the pacing was great and the characterisations were solid and intriguing - it's the first book of a new series, and I'll be looking for book two when it comes out.

The resolution of the mystery was a bit of a non-event for me, but that could be partly because I was unfortunately a bit stop-start when listening to the book at that point. That said, it did also feel like that plot thread wasn't necessarily the most important part of the book (and I suspect there will be a more complete resolution in due course, in subsequent books in the series) as that plot was mostly to drive the reason for the lead, Jane Treen and her co-lead, Marmaduke the cat (kidding; I mean Arthur) to be working together in the first place.

The details and setting seemed to be fairly accurate and cohesive. I'm not usually one for historical fiction and I'm no expert on World War II Britain (England particularly) so frankly the author could have done zero research and I wouldn't really know any different.

Heartily recommend this, and I'm keen to read the next in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for giving to access to this audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Oh my goodness what a journey.

The narrator, Kristin Atherton, is exquisite. Her voices for all the characters were distinct and so ridiculously good. I'm so happy she voiced this lovely book.

The Secret Detective Agency is a great read. It reminded me a lot of the 2001 movie Enigma with a dash charming sense of humor.

Jane was an interesting FMC, I'll admit it took me quite a bit to warm up to her, but once I did I really appreciated her a lot more! (Although... if I never hear the word coffee or cigarette again it'll be too soon.)

Arthur was a bit easier to warm up to, and I really thought he was a strong, silent character who was a good complement to Jane. (And like the point above I wish he had just told her she was irritating his asthma.)

Other than that I thought they worked really well together. It was nice seeing their adversarial relationship evolve into something much softer.

The book itself was really nice and I'd give it 3.5 stars, but I'm bumping it up to 4.5 for Kristin Atherton, she made this fun book that much more enjoyable!

This was a cozy mystery that lead me down many different paths. I liked watching the main characters butt heads and eventually come together to solve the mystery of the disappearing detectives. While this was a pretty good read, I'm not sure I quite loved the characters the way I had hoped, so it may not be quite for me.

Set against the backdrop of World War II, this compelling mystery follows Jane Treen and Arthur Cilentro as they attempt to uncover the truth behind the murder of a War Office agent, found dead in Arthur’s own home. Bound by the constraints of the Official Secrets Act, the duo navigates a web of intrigue, where every friend and acquaintance becomes a suspect, and the body count continues to rise.

Blending moments of humor with edge-of-your-seat suspense, the story unfolds masterfully, culminating in a gripping and unexpected conclusion. Though I had suspicions about certain aspects of the mystery, the final revelation still surprised me. The audiobook narration adds an extra layer of charm, enhancing the tension and the lighter moments.

A fantastic introduction to this new cosy crime series—I can’t wait to see what’s next for the newly formed Secret Detective Agency!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting premise but the executive wasn’t there for me. This started off slowly and never quite picked up enough to hold my interest. I liked Arthur enough but Jane was rude and abrasive, to a point where I thoroughly disliked her. I never warmed to Jane or the story and found the code names incredibly confusing in the beginning; it was all a jumbled mess that eventually became a little easier to decipher but not much. This one just wasn’t for me.

It is 1941, and the last thing that anyone expects to find in a quiet Devon village in a far quieter Britain than the one that exists today (even though it was wartime then) is the discovery of a murdered woman's body in a lake.

The efficient and somewhat uncomfortably businesslike Miss Jane Treen is soon dispatched by the government to deal with the matter - and prevent any further escalation.

Though it isn't clear what form any escalation might take. More murders? Be that as it may, when Miss Treen arrives there, she finds not only a reluctant local collaborator in her investigation in the attractive but reticent Arthur Cilento, but more suspects in the village than she can shake a stick at...

An enjoyable countryside murder mystery romp flavoured with plenty of gems reflecting the inimitable British sense of humour. This one will be a hit!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for providing a free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the historical backdrop, particularly relating to secret agent activity related to the war effort, and I feel like the WW2 backdrop helped to increase the stakes of figuring out the mystery. However, I did struggle to get fully invested in the narrative. It seemed to move slowly at times, and while there were many angles to their investigation, I wished it had included even more espionage intrigue than it did. The ending also wasn't as impactful as I had hoped for. Finally, I didn't really connect with the characters and found Miss Treen's character to be too light at times considering the intense mystery they were investigating. It was a well-crafted mystery, but with the several points listed above, I struggled to be fully invested.

The Secret Detective Agency is the first book in a new historical mystery series by Helena Dixon. Miss Jane Treen works in a secret government agency in London. When a woman is found dead in Devon Jane must join forces with the owner of the country home, Arthur Cilento to investigate the murder. Arthur and Jane work in very different ways but must find a way to solve the mystery together.

I had a great time with this book. I would say it is slightly darker than your average cozy historical but I don't mind that at all. Jane and Arthur are such fun characters. They are a duo that shouldn't work on the surface with Jane being an avid smoker and free spirt and Arthur being a little buttoned down asthmatic but they really end up complementing each other. The mystery was very interesting and had some great twists. It got pretty suspenseful near the end. I really enjoy Helena Dixon's books and can't wait to see where this series goes!

I highly recommend the audiobook version. Kristin Atherton does a wonderful job with the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I listened to the audiobook of this historical fiction and mystery blend, and while it had a few slow parts, the story kept me engaged from start to finish. The plot takes a bit of time to gain momentum, but once it picks up, it’s an intriguing ride. The character dynamics, especially between Jane, Arthur, and Benson, are well-developed, with a tension-filled frenemy relationship that I really enjoyed. However, Jane’s inconsiderate actions, particularly smoking around Arthur despite his asthma, did annoy me at times.

The narration really brought the story to life. The accents made it easy to distinguish between characters, but they never felt overdone or distracting, which enhanced the experience for me. The audiobook format was definitely the right choice here. There was a lot of back and forth dialogue with that I’m not sure I would have enjoyed as much without the voices for each character.

The setting is another strength—the author does a fantastic job transporting you to the wartime era, making you feel the tension and danger of the spy world. Half Moon Manor, where Arthur lives and Jane is staying, felt like a cozy haven amidst all the suspense. It was a great contrast to the overall mood and added warmth to the story.

Though the book didn’t fully blow me away, it was still enjoyable and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a mix of historical fiction and mystery. It’s a solid read, and I’d be interested in picking up the next one to see where the story goes. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced listener copy.

This was a cute British mystery novel. It kept my attention the whole way through. I'll be looking for more from this author!

Set against the back drop of the 2nd World War, we follow Jane Treen and Arthur Cilentro as they try to work out who murdered the war office agent in Arthur's home.

Working within the confines of the Official Secrets Act to crack the case, Jane and Arthur's worlds are torn apart as the list of bodies continues to rise and friends and acquaintances all take their turn under the gaze of suspicion.

Containing moments of humour and edge of the seat thrills; helped along perfectly by the narrator in the audiobook version. The threads of case slowly come together in a climatic conclusion. I have to admit, I didn't guess the outcome although I'd half wondered about an aspect of the character earlier.

A perfect beginning to this new cosy crime series. I look forward to seeing what is in store next for the newly formed Secret Detective Agency.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Secret Detective Agency' by Helena Dixon.

This book was very well written and as always the fact that Helena has done her research is clearly evidenced in the storyline so a MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS to Helena!!! There is not much worse than an author who has not researched much or at all about his chosen topic which means the book is unnecessarily littered with mistakes which can ruin a storyline!! However, Helena has completely avoided this by doing her research on the era she has set this amazing series in. This is the first book in Helena's new 'The Secret Detective Agency' and what an absolutely fantastic introduction to this new series it is!! I have read several of Helena's 'A Miss Underhay Mystery' series which I absolutely loved and would also highly recommend!

I am going to start my review a bit different to how I normally start them. Do you know when you found an author and that author has written a series that you absolutely LOVE with everything you have, from the characters, the locations to the storylines. And you know when that author then ends, yep ends, that series and starts a new series. Your heart freezes, you worry, I mean what are you going to do without your beloved characters and your home away from home? Well, ladies and gentleman! Helena Dixon did EXACTLY that. I was bewitched, in love, addicted (you get the idea) to her absolutely stunning 'A Miss Underhay Mystery series', if you haven't read those then WHY haven't you read them? Call yourself a cosy crime fan and yet you have never met Kitty? Tut, tut!! Anyway, one of my favourite authors then decides to take Kitty Underhay away from me and then starts a new series called 'the Secret Detective Agency', of which this is the first book. Well, I tell myself that's great!! I cannot wait to get into it! However, how the heck am I going to love it as much as Miss Underhay and her gang plus her mysteries and I could go on. Well, there is no chance is there? Well I said I would read it, I am sure I will love it but what I withheld is that I was dubious to how I could love Miss Jane Treen and the rest as much as I loved Kitty, Matt and the rest. Well, well, well let me ask you, yes you Helena, what sort of magic have you got going brewing? How did you do it?? How on Earth HAVE YOU created a second series JUST as amazing as 'A Miss Underhay' with characters that I have already fallen for? I am just pleased to say that the second book in this series which is called 'The Seaside Murders' is available to preorder now and will be published on the 30th April!! I mean as you could, possibly, maybe be able to tell I absolutely love, Love, LOVE this fantastic must read cosy crime book and explosive start to another guaranteed epic series, the characters, the storyline and just absolutely everything about the fantastic 'The Secret Detective Agency'!! Congratulations Helena on yet ANOTHER absolute fantastic masterpiece!!! It does not matter what I am reading when Helena drops a book I drop everything to read it! Sod reading the synopsis when I know I will absolutely LOVE it!! If you are looking for an addictive new series to sink your teeth into with a storyline filled with crime, mystery, gorgeous settings, history and so, SO much more stuff wasting your time reading what I have written when you can be reading so much better in this series and book!! Once you have finished this absolute gorgeous book, fallen in love with Helena Dixon and this series you are in luck as if you LOVED this book then head over to her 'A Miss Underhay Mystery' series where you will meet another group of amazing characters and more stunning settings while you are waiting for the next book in this series to be published!

This book an fantastic and addictive introduction to what absolutely promises to be another amazing, addictive and EPIC new series! However, I cannot say I am surprised as I have absolutely loved each book I have read by this amazing author. I do not even bother reading the synopsis of Helena's books before I start reading as I know I will love it whatever the back says!! I absolutely fell in love with the characters, the stunning settings, the storyline and just absolutely everything about this book when I started reading it and I am just so glad as I know this series is going to be just like her Kitty Underhay series, a much loved series that when I am transported to it I will not want to leave!! When you grab this gorgeous book Helena will take you on a time travelling journey back to the year 1941 and will transport you to London and then the stunning Devon where you will meet Jane Treen and her cat Marmaduke. Jane loves coffee, cigarettes and solving mysteries thanks to her work in a secret Government agency which manages agents. We also meet Arthur Cilento who also works for the secret service as a code break. Arthur lives in Devon and much prefers a quieter life due to the fact that he has chronic asthma. When Jane's agents go missing and some are found murdered, one in the home of Arthur, they are both determined to get to the bottom of what is going on. Jane ends up moving in with Arthur in order to solve the case quicker. Arthur is not best pleased though as Marmaduke's, smoking and chronic asthma don't exactly go well together!!! Thankfully Arthur has got a butler to help him out and he is a great help throughout. Benson also joins in with the investigation but can they get to the killer before it is too late? Well, if you want to know more you will have to grab your copy of this absolutely action packed and explosive page turner today and I promise that you will not regret it!!! You may even discover your new favourite author and series!! The fact that Helena truly does care for these amazing characters leaps out of the pages in their incredible character development and her evocative descriptions!! The twist at the end left me absolutely gob smacked, I mean my jaw was hitting the floor!!! There was no way on Earth I would ever seen that one coming!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Helena!!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me after reading hundreds of thrillers and crime books but you managed it hook, line and sinker!! I also want to say that even though there is so much going on at no point did I get confused which is an absolute credit to Helena's fantastic writing skills but she also wrapped everything up perfectly in the end and I am definitely looking forward to getting stuck in to the next book 'The Secret Detective Agency' series. One of the other things I love about this book is that although it is predominantly a crime is the fact that Helena also includes some humour!!! It is always nice to have humour thrown into books filled with darkness to lighten the atmosphere and Helena has the balance perfectly. The location , characters, descriptions are all just absolutely perfect with Helena's evocative writing skills bringing absolutely everything and everyone to life right in front of the readers eyes!! This book is fantastically written and had me hooked from the first page until the last. I gave up counting how many times I told myself one more chapter just to HAVE to know what happened next as this happened over and over until I ended up devouring the whole book in one sitting!!!

This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Kristin Atherton
who did an absolutely amazing job bringing this story and the characters to life. I would listen to this book in the car and while walking at any opportunity. I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Helena but also to listening to more books narrated by Kristin.

I love that there are several amazing, unique and colourful characters in this series and I became completely invested in each and every one of their lives immediately. Although I still miss Kitty, Matt and the gang these ones are definitely filing the gap that they left!! I loved getting to know each and every single one of them. I really cannot wait to read the next books in this absolutely amazing series. The characters were all realistic and it was lovely to watch all the different relationships and friendships between different characters develop and grow. The fact that Jane has a ginger cat called Marmaduke is right down my street being a huge animal lover myself. I run my own animal rescue called Golden Oldies Cat Rescue And Hospice which you can find on social media so any books that contain animals always get bonus points from me! Congratulations Helena on creating another group of larger than life and unforgettable characters!!!

Congratulations Helena on yet another huge success!!! I cannot wait to get stuck into more of your books and this is exactly why you are on my favourite author list!!! Here is to your next guaranteed success 🥂!!

Overall YET AGAIN, another absolutely addictive and unputdownable cosy crime by Helena and an absolutely fantastic start to this new and addictive series that will keep you up all night.

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Helena Dixon regales readers with the pairing of an unlikely duo, Miss Jane Treen and Arthur Cilento. The pair have at least one thing in common. Both work in similar fields: Jane has a top-secret government job, while Arthur is a code breaker. Their paths cross when Jane arrives at his residence, accompanied by her cat Marmaduke. Arthur finds their presence, especially Jane’s, quite annoying, especially when she announces they’ll be staying for the foreseeable future.

The timing, as well as their lines of work, are delicate. It is right in the middle of WWII and their work is of great significance. When one of the agents that works with Jane is found dead, her boss sends her to work with Arthur.

I enjoy new series like this. Admittedly, the book started a bit slow, but that was no doubt due to the introduction of Jane, Arthur, and Chief Inspector Thorne, whom they consult with. The setting and the mystery were intriguing, and I found myself enjoying both Jane and Arthur. When you factor in the excellent narration by Kristin Atherton, especially when it came to the voicing of the different protagonist, it turned out to be a very engaging read. I can only imagine the adventures they’ll face together in the future.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

The Secret Detective Agency by Helena Dixon

Miss Jane Treen works as a top-secret government worker, but her undercover agents keep going missing. A mystery woman has been found dead in a lake. Is it one of her agents? Jane heads to Devon with her cat, Marmaduke, and is teamed up with shy, asthma-suffering code-breaker Arthur Cilento.

I felt a bit sorry for Arthur, really, because I'm pretty sure that Jane was trying to kill him, constantly smoking near him and then making him run around in the cold. Set during WW2 in 1941, Jane and Arthur have to contend with rationing, air-raid sirens, and tight-lipped villagers.

If you like a twisty, historical, cosy mystery with a bossy, coffee-drinking, chain-smoking lead character, then this book is for you.
Thumbs up 👍

Go read a book!

Body count: 4. I think.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for providing me with an ALC to review. The Secret Detective Agency by Helena Dixon is out now.

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Jane Treen is a secret detective. One day a woman was found dead in a lake. Jane is called to investigate the case. However, Jane crosses paths with a shy Codebreaker named Arthur Cilento. Together, they team up to crack a coded diary and solve the case.

I thought that Jane was a very fun character! She was a cat fanatic and brought her cat with her everywhere she went. I also thought that she was very energetic. She was also very observant and is very passionate about crime! There were a few of her actions that I disagreed with. I also believed that she is selfish and judgmental at times. Nevertheless, Jane was a very quirky and enjoyable character!

I liked her relationship with Arthur. It took a lot for me to get invested in. I felt bad for Arthur because she did not take his health problems into consideration. However, they gradually grew to understand each other and were able to value the other’s talent. Therefore, their relationship grew on me, and I began to root for them. Their relationship eventually became one of the strongest aspects of this novel!

Overall, this novel is about secrets, war, and friendship. I liked all of the characters. I thought that they were very fun! I was also intrigued by the mystery and thought it was compelling! The novel is written in a humorous style! The novel also gave a good description of WWII, and thought that it was well-researched! Therefore, The Secret Detective Agency is a very light hearted and solid cozy mystery! I can’t wait to read the sequel, The Seaside Murders, soon! I am excited to revisit the characters again! I recommend this for fans of Maisie Dobbs, Mr. Churchill’s Secretary, and Her Royal Spyness! I also loved the narrator! She made the story come alive! I love how she portrayed each character! Therefore, it was a solid audiobook!

If you expect people in historical times to have modern sensibilities (I am talking about cigarette usage, not racism) then you won't like this. Speaking as a person who is on asthma medication for a reason, the female lead smoking heavily around her coworker who has asthma is rude as hell but it's also historically accurate, and the author makes character development out of it. You will totally find reviews saying she is a jerk, and I yeah she is, but those people either didn't finish the book or weren't paying attention to her character development. And it's a series. Let the woman become a decent person at a plausible rate for her time.

This has some exciting parts and some interesting banter. This is probably going to be a really good series.