They are back -jane, Arthur, Benson, the coffee, the cigarettes and of course Marmaduke the one eyed ginger cat.
An Italian prisoner of war has died, possibly murdered .Our trio are charged with discovering if this is connected with the black market activity happening in the area.
Like the first book in the series "The Seaside Murders" has all the best qualities of the cozy crime genre -picturesque locations, quirky characters and in addition an historical backdrop. Jane was a little cold in the first book. However, in this one we hear about her father and meet her mother which makes her far more relatable. After all, anyone who loves their cat as much as she loves Marmaduke obviously has a softer side.
I listened to the audio book for number one in the series and the narrator was an added bonus.So if this format becomes available for book two I recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoutre for the arc . My review is voluntary.

Jane Treen and Arthur Cilento are called on by Brigadier Remmington-Blythe to solve another crime for The Secret Detective Agency. This time, the boy of an Italian POW has washed up near to where Jane grew up. Her and Arthur, along with Arthur's manservant Benson, are tasked to find out what happened to the man as well as uncover a black market operation that is operating nearby.

I was excited to read this one after enjoying listening to the first book in this series. But this one didn't have the same excitement for me. While the book was well written, the story line was a bit dull for me compared to the first. The first novel also felt better paced and focused more on the mystery at hand. That being said, I would still read the next book in this series when it comes out.

Thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley, and Helena Dixon for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

🌃Review: The Seaside Murders

🍎Rate: 5 Stars (Million!!!)

☕Praise: Helena is a mystery writing genius! Jane, Arthur, and Benson are back! Guess who's back?! The trio! We now have our dear and very intriguing Jane returning to her home village to help solve the murder of a POW Italian man who was found murdered! On top of it we now have a black marketing scheme! Someone is stealing from the people in the village!

🍫 Jane, Arthur, and Benson are all sent together to go figure out these two crimes! Not only did Helena create a second series that is phenomenal! She created a second book in the second series that had two mysteries! (That's the most math I've done this year LOL) It starts off with its usual charm and mysterious whimsical nature that had me turning the pages right away!

📖 Not only do we have our usual characters that are back we were introduced to brand new characters in Janes 's little town! A lot of new quirky characters, for instance the woman living by the sea, had me very entertained! Speaking of entertainment! Janes glamorous mother, the famous actress, decides to stay with Jane! (She is definitely not too happy!) Talk about a touch of family drama in the midst of two Mysteries that need to be solved!

💞Characters: Helena always creates the most unique characters! Every person the trio questioned or decided to assume was the culprit had me rereading each scene because I was thoroughly provoked by what could happen next! (No spoilers!!) Each character has their own unique quality that can either make or break a scene. Their personalities are like layered desserts! You might dip in but you never know what concoction will come out!

💖Extra/Tropes: I truly appreciate how Helena always describes where they go in each scene. Whether it's a old cottage, hiking in the woods, or riding in a family heirloom car! I feel as if I'm on a movie set the whole time! Helena has the ultimate gift with description and charm! Naturally I'll be reading her books forever!

🍪Must Read
🍪 Thought-provoking
🍪 Cozy mystery
🍪 Charming author!

Thanks to Bookouture and Net Galley for this ARC. Another great story and plot; i was worried the first in this new series would be a one off and the next not as good but book two I think is better than book 1. This series is less cozy that the dolphin/kitty mysteries, perhaps because they are set in WW2, but just as enjoyable. I look forward to more

It was 1941 when Brigadier Remmington-Blythe asked Jane Treen to investigate the death of an Italian POW on the beach at the small town she grew up in and Jane wasn't sure if she wanted to return to the home she'd left when her father died. But she knew it was a must, and with Arthur Cilento and his butler, Benson, the three government agents - the Secret Detective Agency - headed for the coast. They soon discovered a lack lustre police inspector, who definitely didn't appreciate being told what to do by a woman, as well as several intriguing characters. There was another mystery which was in their sights as well - but would they be able to solve them both?

The Seaside Murders is the 2nd in The Secret Detective Agency series by Helena Dixon and I enjoyed it very much. Benson is perfection in a character, calm and cool under any circumstance, while Arthur and Jane, initially frosty with each other, are warming slightly and working well together. I'm looking forward to #3 in the hopefully not too distant future. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.

“The Seaside Murders” (The Secret Detective Agency, #2) by Helena Dixon

Helena Dixon continues her plucky “Secret Detective Agency” series with “The Seaside Murders.”

Jane Treen, Arthur Cilantro and his manservant Benson now work for the Whitehall War Office’s secret detective agency, solving crimes important to national security. When a mysterious death of an Italian prisoner of war occurs in Jane’s hometown in Kent, the team is sent to investigate. They are also tasked to look into potential black marketeering that seems to be happening in the area, particular when air raids occur.

Will they solve the two cases, and will there be a connection between the two? And who might be involved from this quaint little town?

What follows is a mysterious plot filled with twists and turns, as well as some quirky characters, like the asthmatic Arthur, the chain-smoking Jane, a die-hard manservant, an obnoxious famous mother, and a one-eyed ginger cat. The author leaves the reader guessing until the very shocking end as to not only the who, but the how.

Fans of books like T.A. Willberg’s “Marion Lane” and Julie Kelly’s “Evelyne Redfern” series, as well as authors like Rachel McMillan, Kate Quinn and J’nell Ciesielski, will love “The Seaside Murders,” which is due out April 30.

Five stars out of five.

Bookouture provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read "The Seaside Murders" in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the second book in The Secret Detective Agency series. I had even higher hopes for this second book than the first one but I was to be disappointed. I found this book (as the first one) had constant smoking references as Miss Treen can't go a minute without smoking. This is very tedious and it totally spoiled the book for me. After I realized that this book will contain the same constant references for smoking I totally lost interest. The characters, plot and storyline would be great and deserves 5 stars but the exhausting reference to the cigarettes doesn't make it more than 3 stars. Hopefully future books in the series will improve.

The second book in this series about Miss Jane Treen Government agent, Arthur Cilento code breaker, and Benson the devoted butler. The three of them work for the Government and call themselves the Secret Detective Agency.

The story takes place in 1941 when the body of an Italian prisoner of war is discovered on the beach. It happens to be close to Jane's family home so the three of them, plus Marmaduke the ginger cat, pack up and move in. The case becomes very involved and when the murderer is eventually exposed it is a huge surprise.

So far my favourite character is Benson. He is one of those magical fictional butlers who are always there when you need them and not when you don't. He smooths over every little problem, is always on hand when Arthur needs treatment for his asthma and in this book at least almost single handedly saves the day. It is all great fun and I look forward to a third book.

England, 1941: When there’s a suspicious death (incidentally near her family home), Jane, along with Arthur and Benson, is sent to investigate. The death initially appears to be as a result of a swim in too cold water; however, the victim is an prisoner of war, allowed out to work on a nearby farm, making the powers that be in London suspicious. There’s also a second issue Jane is sent to investigate: the black market. After bombers pass over London (their primary target), they dump any unused bombs on the way back home, roughly passing over the village where Jane’s home is. While people are safely in their bomb shelters, various miscreants are out, breaking into shops, taking valuable items to sell. Simple to catch, right? If you have enough people to help which the local authorities sadly lack.

This was another fun story - Benson is like the twin (triplet?) of Bunter and Jeeves! I enjoyed the descriptions of rationing and other wartime elements that added to the atmosphere without swallowing the story. There was, however, way too much about Jane smoking, but I like how her relationship with Arthur is evolving.

Recommended. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley.Com which I voluntarily reviewed.

I just loved this book! I loved the story and I just couldn’t put it down. I just love all the characters as well as the relationship between Jane and Arthur it just gets better by each book.

I would highly recommend reading this book if you love a cozy mystery that keeps you guessing.

I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early and I look forward to the next book in this series.

I loved the first book in this series and now I can say I love the second book just as much. Arthur, Jane, and Benson are back and sleuthing again. They are as delightful now as they were in book 1 and I loved following in with there detective work at the seaside. The seaside village is charming as you would expect but when there is a murder, well what will happen to this charming town and will the culprit be found?

This is yet another well written cosy murder mystery written by Helena Dixon. The returning characters are becoming firm friends and the additional characters are well developed as is the written and storyline. This is such an easy book to read yet there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. A fun and enjoyable book to read and can't wait to see what comes next.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

⭐ 2.75 ⭐ This was a nice little cosy mystery. The plot picked up towards the end, and I enjoyed the active sleuthing and danger it posed in those parts, as well as the character dynamics. Jane, Arthur Benson were a fun trio as the story went along. The backdrop of WW2 added interest to the situations the characters found themselves in. I have to say though, more than the two leads, Benson turned out to be my favorite character. He was smart, thoughtful, resourceful and intelligent.

The detectives were invetigating two potentially connected cases - the murder of a POW at the seaside village and the blackmarket operations during the air raids. The seaside village was a quaint setting, that was also the hometown of our main character Jane Treen. There were quite a collection of characters who were suspects in the mystery, and the story kept revealing more layer by layer through the meetings and interviews.

The ebook turned out to be shorter than expected, as the story ended at 75%. The rest was promotional material and additional chapters for the next mysteries. This impacted my rating, as it is only at the 60% mark that I found the story was becoming more engaging for me, and then 15% later I was surprised to find it was over.

The initial pacing was too slow, and the dialogues were heavily repetitive. Basic aspects of the cases and interviews were being re-discussed constantly - either amongst the detectives, or when they interacted with other characters. They hadn't even bothered to get the case file from their London office with a full brief, before showing up to the village and starting to interview people. The government inspector had to point that out to them, and they gave him attitude for it, taking him to be too much of a stickler!

For the most part, the two main characters felt flat- and being a Chrsitie fan, I usually find that it is important to have more engaging characters in slower cosy mysteries like these where the plot is not as active. I did feel their dynamic with each other improved as the story went on. and there were some cute moments, I enjoyed the interactions during the car driving scenes, sheltering in the bunker, and through all the sleuthing at the end.

I’ve been reading (and enjoying) Helena Dixon’s books for years now, and (in spite of the war time setting) I loved The Secret Detective Agency. So I couldn’t wait to read The Seaside Murders, book 2 in the series.

This story was just as much fun as the first. Arthur, Jane, and Benson already feel like old friends, and it was delightful to spend more time with them.

I loved the setting of the seaside village, which seems idyllic, but has a lot going on under the surface. I enjoyed exploring the various possibilities of what might be going on alongside Jane, Arthur, and Benson.

There was an interesting range of characters (and possible suspects) in the village, and I didn’t suspect the culprit until the reveal.

Overall, this was a delightful mystery, with characters that are fast becoming favourites. I recommend getting stuck into this series as soon as possible.

I was given a copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

Book 2 in The Secret Detective series is a great read and this is shaping up to be a hugely enjoyable new cozy crime series. Our detectives, Jane and Arthur, are this time tasked to investigate the murder of an unknown man and the alleged disappearance of goods, which may be being sold on the black market.

Back at her family home Jane finds it hard to be in her late fathers house so soon after his death, however as the case quickly unfolds she and Arthur are questioning suspects and looking at his library of useful books and maps to find clues.

The characters are very likeable and have developed already from their difficult start in the first book. They are very well suited to the era the book is set in and although play non-traditional roles their amusing traits keep the reader engaged. The plot is interesting to follow and the ending is unexpected and one I thoroughly enjoyed.

I loved the setting of the novel and how well the area and particularly the cliffs and coastline was described; I could imagine being there with the detectives.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Seaside Murders by Helena Dixon was a delightful and suspenseful read that had me hooked from start to finish. As I followed the captivating mystery, I felt fully immersed in the charming seaside setting, with its well-drawn characters and twists that kept me guessing. The book not only kept me entertained but also left me eager to see what would happen next in the Secret Detective Agency series!

This is a fun cozy series, and I enjoyed this second book although must confess I found the first more interesting. I'm not sure if it was the underlying mystery itself or the fact that I listened to the first as an audiobook and really liked the narrator. Either way, I will definitely continue with the series but probably switch back to audio. The plotting felt a little more uneven in this book - I would be clicking along and really enjoying the story, then got lost in descriptions that felt repetitive (for example, the multiple explanations about the air raid thefts and how no one took Mr. Wood seriously). It wasn't a huge deal, but definitely kept pulling me in and out of focus as far as the story's momentum. The characters are fun and I enjoy watching their relationships develop. I was particularly pleased to see more involvement from Benson in the actual investigating this time around!

Another great book in the secret detective agency series!
If you love a mystery that you don’t know what’s going to happen, but with some London English and old time feels this is the perfect boon for you. It’s a great mystery that follow Jane and her partner Arthur trying to solve a murder along with some other things that happen in the middle of it.
I didn’t want to stop reading it and the ending was not expected at all. Absolutely loved it and hopefully there will be a third book soon.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this ARC. And thank you to Helena Dixon for another great read.

The second in this brand new series by Helena Dixon. Jane and Arthur team up again in her home town to solve not one but two mysteries plaguing the town. The clues seem to point to the crimes being connected, but with the lack of police involvement it is hard to get a handle on things.
I love these characters, and the setting during the war makes things interesting.
I enjoy this new series. It reads a little slower than a lot of other cozy mysteries, but never boring. Lots of slow build and clues dribbling in. Truly enjoyable and looking forward to what they get involved in next.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is the second book out of the series. However, reading the first is not really necessary. You have a better understanding of the characters, but the story works very well on its own. Reading the second book first also does not spoil reading the first.
Most things I say about this book also fit the first.
The story develops slowly, but is never lengthy or boring. The characters are great.
Helena Dixon manages to walk the thin line between boring, stereotypic characters and "you know what you will get but still love them". Yes, Jane, Arthur and Benson are not the first characters that have their specific traits.
Jane: tough, always in charge, no fussing around
Arthur: weak health, very smart, socially unsure
Benson: manservant, always prepared, knows everything, can do everything
They know their weaknesses and accept or ignore them in very charming ways.
All "minor" characters are well-developed and fun, too.
The setting (WWII) is very atmospheric, the air raids, blackouts, and food- and goods-shortages, are present and important without being dominant.
If you like cosy crime with great characters and an interesting story, this is for you.
If you want a nail-biting agent story, look elsewhere.

Thank you Bookoutur for the free copy of this fantastic book.

"A pretty seaside town, a body on the beach, and a boatload of clues. Can super-sleuth Miss Jane Treen solve the mystery?

England, 1941. When Jane Treen is summoned to her boss's office at the end of a long day, she smooths down her tweed skirt and makes them both another strong pot of coffee. Brigadier Remmington-Blythe slides a folded copy of the evening newspaper towards her, with one small article circled in red ink. A body has been found on an English beach in the little seaside town where she grew up, and he wants her to investigate.

Jane is used to managing secret agents and spies, but she is now part of The Secret Detective Agency, England's answer to solving the most mysterious murders. Making her way to the coast and brimming with curiosity, she's heartened that shy and handsome codebreaking genius Arthur Cilento will be joining her to help her wade through the fishy goings-on. Although Jane doubts he will appreciate her bringing her beloved one-eyed cat, Marmaduke...

Together, Jane and Arthur drop anchor in her crumbling childhood home overlooking the sandy beach where the body was found. Surrounded by potential suspects, their eyes are on a devious doctor, an eccentric artist and a secret sweetheart. But as Jane and Arthur are searching for the truth, those giving evidence start to clam up. One thing seems sure: they need to reel in the killer before they're out of their depth...

Can The Secret Detective Agency triumph again, or will they meet their watery end at high tide?

If you love twisty crime novels, top-secret intrigue and the very best of Golden Age mysteries, then you will adore Helena Dixon's totally gripping cozy novel, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Verity Bright!"

I mean, we have to admit that the reason she's bringing her cat along is because the cat is solving the crimes.