3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for this ALC.

This series has a very interesting and promising premise. I love that it is set during the war and it includes a female agent (which I know there were a lot of during that time, but they don't get talked about enough). I liked the slight romance beginning to build between the two agents, but the main part of the story fell slightly flat for me.

I finished the book in one day, however the only times when I was grabbed by the story was when the author was talking about the cat or hinting at the romance. I was looking forward to the murder mystery but it ended up feeling quite anticlimactic. That is not to say that loads of other people are not going to love this book and series, and while I enjoyed it I don't see myself reading on in the series.

‘The Secret Detective Agency’ by Helena Dixon is a captivating historical cosy mystery set in London during 1941, amid the tension and turmoil of World War II. The story follows Jane Treen, a sharp and determined secret agent, and Arthur Cilento, a code-breaker with asthma, as they join forces to investigate the murder of one of Jane’s agents. The two are an unlikely pair — Jane, driven by coffee, nicotine, and an unrelenting passion for justice, and Arthur, a tea-drinking intellectual who prefers a more methodical approach. Together, they embark on a tense journey to unravel a web of deceit, uncover stolen identities, and chase down an elusive killer, all while navigating the complications of a high-stakes government operation.

The dynamic between Jane and Arthur is one of the book’s highlights. Their contrasting personalities create a compelling and often humorous partnership, providing both tension and charm as they work through the mystery. Jane’s unwavering determination and headstrong nature balance perfectly with Arthur’s quieter, more reserved demeanor. Their interactions and growing mutual respect form the heart of the story, adding emotional depth to the thrilling plot.

The story itself is well-paced, with plenty of twists and turns that kept me eagerly following along. The mystery is layered and intricate, and just when you think you have a handle on it, another clue or revelation sends you in a new direction. The 1941 setting is also beautifully realised, with historical details seamlessly woven into the narrative, making it a delightful read for fans of historical fiction.

As for the audiobook experience, Kristin Atherton’s narration was a standout. Her voice work brought the characters to life, with distinct voices for each, making it easy to distinguish between characters, and elevated the story and made for an enjoyable listening experience.

‘The Secret Detective Agency’ is a wonderful blend of cosy mystery, historical fiction, and wartime intrigue. Fans of strong, independent female protagonists, as well as those who enjoy a dash of Golden Age detective fiction, will find this book highly satisfying.

This first installment promises an exciting new series, and I’m already looking forward to the next adventure for Jane and Arthur. Highly recommended for fans of cosy mysteries, WWII settings, and compelling detective fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the advanced copy.

The Secret Detective Agency is an engaging mystery novel with a fun premise and a cast of likable characters. The story moves at a steady pace, offering plenty of twists and turns to keep readers entertained.

Although short, the book still delivers an enjoyable read, especially for fans of lighthearted detective stories. The writing style is accessible, making it a good choice for younger readers or anyone looking for a casual mystery adventure.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC read.

#netgalley #arc

The Secret Detective Agency is book one in a new series centered on spies and sleuths in a sleepy Devon town. I had easily assumed that there would be a comedic aspect to the book but it turned out to be more serious than what I was expecting. The story is interesting but does not solely focus on Jane and Arthur's experience working for the ministry.

When a body of a secret female agent is discovered in a lake in a sleepy Devon village, Jane Treen is sent to investigate. With a long list of suspects, Jane must work with the locals without giving away her identity. She assumes the role as the deceased woman's cousin and begins working through her long list of suspects. Arthur Cilento is the owner of the property where the body was discovered and just so happens to be a brilliant code-breaker that has just been assigned to work with Jane to solve the case. Jane Treen and Arthur Cilento are an unlikely duo and strong foil characters. Jane Treen is brusque, impatient, smokes incessantly, and totes around her orange cat, while Arthur is an asthmatic who is introspective but can be a bit taciturn after working with Jane. As the two begin to solve the mystery surrounding the agent's death, a series of unfortunate accidents happen around town. It seems like there is a mole working in Whitehall, and at the very least, a murderer is on the loose.

The book is a good mix of espionage and sleuthing. It reminded me of Julia Kelly's book, A Traitor in Whitehall or of Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime book. It was an interesting book and a great start to a wonderful series.

Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary, and all thoughts are my own opinion.

I enjoy a cozy mystery and this is a fun new series set in Britain during 1941 with a the two colleagues that are not terribly fond of one another, Jane Treen and Arthur Cilento, forced together to solve a murder. The two are working to investigate the murder of one of Jane’s secret agents and bodies keep surfacing.

The story does begin a little slow with lots of characters coming into the story but hang in there! The characters are so likable and and the historical details are great! I listened to the audiobook and it had wonderful narration!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advance copy of the audio book.

The Secret Detective Agency has a good set up. We’re in London in 1941, right in the middle of WW2. Jane Treen, a mid level spymaster working in Whitehall, is concerned because several of her agents who were connected with Operation Exodus have been murdered. There seems to be a mole in their midst. Most recently, Kate Trevellian was murdered in a small village outside of Exeter, at Half Moon Manor, the home of Arthur Cilento. Arthur, conveniently, is a mathematician and codebreaker who also works for the government. Arthur had been renting the house out to Kate, and he has just returned home, so is not a suspect. Jane’s boss sends her to Half Moon Manor to work with Arthur to figure out who murdered Kate and uncover the plot to kill off the remaining Operation Exodus spies.

Jane and Arthur are total contrasts to each other. Jane is intuitive, on the move, and a chain-smoker (as we are told often). Arthur is an introvert, logic-oriented and has severe asthma. For Arthur, having Jane and her cat in the house is almost a nightmare. For Jane, having to put up with his glares and dragging him around with her is annoying. They do work together well though but their interactions can be frustrating for the reader. Maybe they’re supposed to give Holmes and Watson vibes, one cerebral, one more action-oriented, but it fails. And Arthur’s man servant, Benson, seems to be the most competent of all of them.

The plot is fine. Each clue points the pair to the next. There is a bit of danger and a couple of twists.

I listened to the audio and the narrator did a good job. Each character had a distinct voice and the pace worked well for the story.

Overall, the book was good enough that I will consider picking up the sequel but not so good that it’s a must-read. And although it’s being marketed as a “totally gripping historical English cozy murder mystery,” I don’t think it was totally gripping and espionage intrigue and spy masters don’t really fit the “cozy” description.

A good way to start a new series. This story has plenty of twist and turns as characters try to solve this murder. The book brings one back to the past during the war and draws one in as if they were part of the era.

This book will be available March 27, 2025


The Secret Detective Agency is a cozy mystery sat in London in 1941, the World War 2 era. It is fully of stolen identities, corruption and being lead all over by Jane and Arthur. Jane is fueled by nicotine and coffee, she’s a super sleuth, passionate and head strong. Arthur is the opposite, he’s a tea drinker, a code breaker and has asthma. They couldn’t be any more different. But they come together to solve the murder of Jane’s agent. While doing so they uncover a web of deceit and face confusion around a top secret operation.

Jane Treen, a top secret government worker, and proud of the work she does. But Jane has had to deal with deaths of numerous of her agents. She finds herself going to Devon to help with the investigation of the latest death. A body of a woman was found dead in the lake, in a place she shouldn’t have been. The body was found outside Arthurs home forcing Jane and Arthur to work together. They both determined things were worse off than they believed, and far more was at stake. They had to work together to gather any useful information, but they are aware that they are truly only one step behind their unknown killer.

I really enjoyed the narrator Kristin Atherton, I was blah on the male voices on the audiobook. Helena does a good job carrying the listener alone on the journey that Jane and Arthur embarked on to find this killer. Ive begin to learn that I really like historical fiction books, but you add that with a cozy mystery and im sold. I already can’t wait for the next book in this series to come out I will for sure be reading it!

If you like:
* Cozy Mystery
* Historical Fiction
* WWII England
* Murder
* Reluctant colleagues
* Cozy detective fiction

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this ALC (advance listener copy) and thank you Helena Dixon for a good new series.

This will seem like a wildly contradictory review and it just might be that, but I am a very emotional reader and what might bug me one day will not the next AND just because some things bug me doesn't always mean it takes away from my reading experience. Just an FYI. ;-)

I do enjoy Kristin Atherton as a narrator and she does an excellent job here [she nails each voice and makes it that character's own and it was one time that I actually truly enjoyed all the "voices". I honestly cannot give any higher praise]. I enjoyed how she voiced Jane and Arthur [men's voices are so difficult and Ms. Atherton really tackles that mostly comes out on top - I think there is only one voice that I didn't love, but perhaps it was just the character. ;-) ] and I feel that she really helped the story move along well and handled the serious emotions of the story really well. I absolutely recommend this audiobook for this really well told story.

Now my feelings for the book itself.
1. I really like Arthur. He is kind, smart, and doing his best for the war effort in spite of his serious limitations [which he never complains about; stiff upper lip and all], and he puts up with Jane [more on that later] in a much nicer way than I could have. ;-) He is a gentleman in the highest form and that shines through over and over again and he chooses to use his intelligence for good and that is really refreshing.

2. Jane. Sigh. What a complex, confusing, confounding character she is. I like her. I really do. Her spirit, independence, her love of country and her job [which she takes very seriously and strives to do her very best at and heaven help you if you try and work against her OR hurt those who she is working with] is just fantastic and I admire her chutzpah in this time of war and confusion.
That said...
I DID NOT like/enjoy her dismissive attitude towards Arthur [she initially treats him like an inferior, which he most certainly is not and I think that might be due to his health issues], her initial complete disregard for his asthma [with her super-brisk walking and EXCESSIVE smoking <--more on that later], and amazingly [as I am someone who 100% thrives on snark] her super-snarky, superior, impatient attitude. I am not sure why, but there were moments where it REALLY annoyed me; thankfully it wasn't all the time, and the very good storyline kept a lot of my annoyance at bay [see? wildly contradictory. LOL].

3. The CONSTANT reference to cigarettes [as a child of family that smoked and saw the destruction of health due to them, AND has breathing issues herself, this really was a negative for me] AND Jane's excessive need of them [and the whining when she could not have them]. We *KNOW* she smokes [how could we NOT] and is very addicted to them, we do not need constant references to them. Seriously. Also, the coffee references, though those didn't bother me as much because 1. I too love coffee and I would be both cranky AND sad if I didn't have access to it and 2. I cannot image how difficult it would have been to give up so muh because of the war, and coffee, if it was something I was used to and that I loved, I think I would grumble about it as well. But the constant cigarette references? UGH. I can only hope that they are not there in book 2.

4. There was some repetitiveness early on that was kind of annoying [and made me think it was going down the route that so many mysteries seem to unfortunately be doing these days], but thankfully that evened out rather quickly and I was thankful.

5. The descriptions of England and the war were spot on [from someone who has read an excessive amount of WW2 nonfiction] and the accurate descriptions really added to the story and made it very believable.

6. The reveal. WHOOSH! THAT was unexpected. I was so sure of who it was...I was V E R Y wrong. :-)

Overall, this was a really great read/listen for me [even with my minor grievances ;-) ] and I am very much looking forward to book 2!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Helena Dixon, Kristin Atherton - Narrator, and Bookouture Audio for providing this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love this genre - historical mixed in with some detective mystery and especially during the set of the war, it added an extra compelling element. It was super easy to get into and the audiobook made for happy listening so I seemed to finish it in no time.

When a body is found, it launches Arthur and Jane headlong into a mystery and one that could threaten an operation within the war.

I enjoyed their joint liaison in finding out what had happened and with murmurings of a spy in their midst, the people they can trust begin to dwindle and they’re somewhat thrown together to get to the bottom of the mystery. Especially when the bodies keep dropping. Great audiobook.

The Secret Detective Agency was like reading a cozy PBS mystery drama. It was a nice quick read good but not necessarily a standout. At times the characters and all the code names could a tad bit confusing for me. I did listen to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio, and Helena Dixon for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Secret Detective Agency (Book 1 of the The Secret Detective Agency) by Helena Dixon features Miss Jane Treen, a secret super sleuth, who is called to Devon to investigate a woman's mysterious death. Set in 1941, the novel follows Jane and code-breaker Arthur Cilento as they work to uncover the killer. It's a cozy historical mystery filled with twists, intrigue, and a touch of Golden Age detective style.

The engaging storyline and the layered mystery kept me captivated. Kristin Atherton's narration was superb, with distinct voices that truly brought each character to life, enhancing the listening experience. The dynamic between Jane and Arthur is particularly enjoyable; their contrasting skills and personalities create a compelling partnership.

I would recommend The Secret Detective Agency to fans of cozy mysteries who enjoy strong, independent female protagonists. This is a promising start to a series, and I am eager to see what new mysteries Jane and Arthur will unravel in future installments.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

1941 and Miss Jane Treen is off to Devon when one of her team is found dead in a lake at the bottom of Arthur Cilento’s home. Arthur is a code breaker who will work with Jane to discover the murderer but not before other lives are lost,

Well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Good characters in this well paced cosy crime novel set during WWII. Clues must be followed while the pair try crime solving together. Very enjoyable.

This was such a fun listen - and I'm delighted to see that it is the first in a planned series! Dixon's characters were charming and witty and quirky and the perfect pairing of personalities. The mystery was interesting and well plotted. The historical elements added a lot of detail that I found fascinating and helped round out the mystery. The narration was excellent and both the main characters and supporting cast were well presented. I'm definitely looking forward to more in this series!

Miss Jane Treen is dealing with the sudden death of agents from an operation she ran.  Arthur is returning home with ever-present and prepared Benson. Their opposite approach to problem solving complements each other’s plus Benson’s skills. There were some hints on their backstories that I can’t wait to explore in future books. 

There were a couple of moments that Arthur’s actions invoked thoughts of Batman and his utility belt. As the story progressed Jane’s brashness softened. They worked great as a team - the three of them. 

Not sure I was all-in on the code names, but I enjoyed the team banter and the story. 

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for the opportunity to do an early read and share my thoughts on the story. 

Happy Reading!

The Secret Detective Agency, the seminal novel in a new series that combines a traditional English cozy, with a spy thriller set in WWII, for effective results. The characters are likeable, without being cliche or too predictable. An engaging and enjoyable read that will leave you wanting to pick up the forthcoming second book.

This is an easy listen audiobook sleuthing mystery. The main characters are interesting, and I can see may develop more in future books. Set in the 1940s, the war is going on and agents are being killed. The race is on to find the culprit. There are enough suspects and many fortuitous crossing of paths. But the reason revealed was unexpected, and for me, from the story, unknowable. Also another age, but can’t see why Jane, so bright and intuitive, can’t see that her smoking is affecting Arthur, her somewhat forced, partner’s health. This issue was repeated too often; and the same for her cat. Having said all of that I would like to listen to the next book when it’s available. Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

i ATE this up. what more could i ask for??? a grumpy autistic code cracker with asthma and a powerfully smart chain smoking woman with a one eyed cat called marmaduke in the middle of a murder she wrote esque mystery set during the first world war. it was mysterious, funny, engaging and honestly just what i needed. loved it.

3.5 Stars..... Wanted to do 4 but Jane grated on my nerves.....

I love Helena Dixon and have read everything she's ever written.

What works.... Good Storyline. Intriguing mystery, true to time period of WWII, with references to the Blitz and black out curtains.

What didn't.... JANE.... obtuse, rude, The way she treated Arthur - while staying at his home and eating his food (even with her ration card). Her character did not need to be written that unlikeable. Arthur is asthmatic and she is always being snide to him - walking too fast in the dead of winter or CONSTANTLY SMOKING in his presence and let's not forget bringing her cat into her house (they is a chapter towards the end of the book where she has the cat in his study).... I don't see how making her so unlikeable makes the story work.

Arthur is a code breaker and an introvert.

Will I want to read book 2, heck yes. Good storyline - and I want to see if Jane becomes more human.

The description of this book really caught my attention: Meet Miss Jane Treen - the coffee-drinking cat lover dressed head to toe in tweed, who just happens to be a secret super sleuth!
That line really caught my attention and I was excited to read this book.

I rated the book 2 stars only because I just couldn’t not get into it. There was plenty of good parts but the story wasn’t grabbing my attention liked I hope. I also think it had to do with it the book being written in third person narrative. I prefer first person stories, so sometimes a third person story is harder for me to engage with.

However, I did really enjoy the narration of the audio book. I think the reader did an amazing job and loved that she did different voices for each person who was talking.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy of this audiobook.