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.

The 2nd book in the WWII cozy the secret dectective agency series Love Jane, Arthur and of course Marmaduke. If you enjoy cozy mysteries then this delightful series is for you. Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoutre for ARC.

In the book Jane and Arthur travel to Jane's childhood town to investigate a body that was found on the beach. An italian prisoner of war that is working on the land to help a local farmer. They have also been asked to help discover who is stealing from the local shops and selling the stolen items on the black market

A wonderful fun and witty book with wonderful characters!

The second book in this series and I loved it.

An awesome follow up. I usually don't read spy books, but this series has been amazing. Looking forward to the next.

I’ve read a couple of the author’s Kitty Underhay mysteries in the past and this new series has the same cozy crime charm to it.

If you love a bit of golden-age intrigue then you’ll want to check this book out (plenty of time to read first book in the series before this one comes out too!)

3.7 Stars
One Liner: Improvement from the first book

1941, England
After solving the previous case, Jane Treen and Arthur Cilento were made the sole members of The Secret Detective Agency by Brigadier Remmington-Blythe. Now, they are sent to a little seaside town to investigate a case. However, soon after they reach the place, a body is found on the beach.
While there are enough suspects, none of them are willing to cooperate. The duo spends time in Jane’s old home in the village and tries to find the murderer despite the odds.
The story comes in Jane and Arthur’s third-person POVs.

My Thoughts:
I requested a copy before I finished the first book. Since both are to be released back-to-back, I knew the feedback for book #1 may not be applied here yet (not enough time). However, there is some improvement which assures me that the series might get better.
And yes, it works as a standalone.
The sleuths – Jane, Arthur, and Benson (Arthur’s manservant who is outrageously competent) – come together to solve another case, this time in Jane’s hometown.
The setting is lovely, though the people are mixed (which seems pretty realistic). The cast of characters is slightly smaller than in the previous book (I think). Of course, it is easy enough to remember who is who. The key ones are well-defined.
This book has two mysteries – a dead prisoner and a black market racket. Are the cases connected? You’ll have to read to find out!
The mystery, though simple, is well-planned. I didn’t guess the criminal this time. The reveal made sense, so no complaints. We have a few red herrings and some action to keep the interest levels steady.
The WWII backdrop is once again seamlessly used in the plot. Be it the raids, bombs, the influx of war prisoners (who are being used as farm workers), or the shortages of certain commodities, everything plays a role in the central plot.
While I’m still not that impressed with Jane, I do see her better. Imagine being more competent than many men and still being treated as an inferior member or an entry-level assistant. No wonder she acts so extra tough! Still, I’d like her more if she reduced her smoking. After all, it’s her health I’m concerned about!
The pacing is steady, moderate to fast. However, the book ends at 82%. Yeah, be prepared for this. Otherwise, you’ll be confused and disappointed when the story ends quickly. I checked the % in advance, so I knew what to expect.

To summarize, The Seaside Murders is a good continuation and provides decent entertainment. I like it enough and will read the next book. Hopefully, the characters will settle down better by then.
Thank you, NetGalley, and Bookouture, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

A huge thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC💙🌟

"For all those who gave their todays for our tomorrows."

Another book in The Secret Agency series that includes a dead italian man POW & more moments with Arthur and Jane investigating murder and uncovering the secrets of the black market in seaside Kent? A big YES!🕯️🌊🔍

Even though the pace started to lag somewhere in the middle, overall i was so into the story that I didn’t very noticed.

Characters were reliable, hilarious and simply amazing😍 + Elsa was seriously annoying I wanted to kick her out of that house (or the planet🌍).

🖇️Jane & Arthur?💫
I loved every. single. moment. of them being together, whether it meant just chatting, arguing (I especially liked those, I laughed a lot) or just thinking or worrying about each other, ooor when they accidentally brushed their fingers🤭
Incredible manservant Benson was an amazing partner in crime🔫🥹

There were a few moments in their investigation that seemed a bit ridiculous & random and they were REALLY LUCKY that no one caught them. But that’s fiction🫠 so no big deal😂

And we need to talk about that ending…. I was shocked?! I had a few suspects but oh, how wrong I was😐😅

Overall very quick and cozy read!📝 I'll be standing in line for the third book in the series, all excited and happy to read more about the adventures of The Secret Detective Agency, that's for sure.🗺️🔎

This story dives into the depths of black marketeering during WW2 with a gripping murder to boot. Lies abound around every corner, but no worries Jane and Arthur are back sleuthing to uncover the truth. Another great mystery surrounded by a bomb raids and thieves. It twisty and down right fun ride making it a must-read for mystery lovers.

I loved this sequel! This sequel was very witty and charming! I also thought the murder was very compelling. Full review on release date!

I read the first book in the series and enjoyed it quiet a bit so I was excited to dig into the second installment. Jane, Arthur, and Benson are back at it, this time in Jane's hometown, as they try and solve the mystery of a murdered Italian POW. I continue to enjoy the characters and their interactions as well as the historical setting. There seems to be some romantic feelings brewing between Jane and Arthur, and while that might seem so predictable, I love the idea of their opposites attracting. .

The pacing was an issue for me in The Secret Detective Agency but this story moves quickly. We see growth and a softening in Jane, through she's still brusque and unapologetic, and watching her struggle with her famous mother's unexpected appearance was insightful. My love for Benson continues to grow and I hope we get more of his backstory in coming books.

I have a weakness for cozy mysteries, and novels about the British Homefront during WWII. This series is right up my street. The second in the series is equally as well-crafted as the first. The characters benefit from being more well-rounded, and this particular mystery is deftly plotted with moments of genuine suspense/peril. Helena Dixon is very good at writing mysteries. Her characters are masterfully drawn as well. The main character, Jane, is an independent woman, not afraid to be the smartest person in the room. I love how she is unafraid to be exactly who she is, and I enjoy her thought processes, struggles, and emotional moments immensely. In this second outing , we learn more about her, and how she came to be such a force. Ms. Dixon does not “tell”, she “shows”, and sparingly at that. It is refreshing to feel like the characters are being revealed slowly, through their actions, another mystery to solve. The other protagonist, Arthur, and Benson (his Man) are also slowly revealed to be more than they seem, and they are (almost) as interesting as Jane. I cannot wait to see what Ms. Dixon comes up with next, this is a very engaging series. Highly recommend.

After reading the first book in this new series, I had to get the 2nd book right away to know what happens next with Jane, Arthur & Benson. Since the first book had them in Arthur’s home, it was nice to see the situation reversed and set at Jane’s childhood home. I saw some progress in friendship building between Jane and Arthur and was happy that Jane was more empathetic to Arthur’s medical condition as that annoyed me in the first book. It was interesting to get more information on Jane’s history and parent relationships as this helped to understand her and her quirks better. Jane’s mother is unlikeable to the reader, though I assume that is how she was meant to be. I am curious if Benson was really taken with her or just trying to help keep her mollified and not bothering Jane. I did enjoy seeing Benson have more of a role in their capers and show his skills. Again, there were enough leads, twists, and turns that I did not know who the ultimate villain was until it was revealed. I look forward to more books in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.

I'm hooked. While I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery, it's the characters that brought me back for this second installment. Although I spent a great deal of time being annoyed with Jane in the first book, either she's mellowed a bit or I have. At least she isn't practically chain smoking, much to the detriment of code-breaker extraordinary Arthur, this time. Oh, she hasn't quit completely, just seems more aware of how the smoke impacts his asthma. That said, her one-eyed cat, Marmaduke, once again makes the trip with her. But, hey, small steps, right?

We also get to know her background a bit more as this book largely takes place at her childhood home in Ashbourne, Kent, England. While I knew POW's were used as labor during the war (it's October, 1941), I really didn't know how it worked, so that was interesting, as was finding out how they chose prisoners who'd be of little danger to the community while working on farms and such. It's when an Italian POW is killed that Jane, Arthur, and his manservent Benson are sent to investigate and stay at Jane's late father's home. It holds many memories for Jane and she's never been able to face sorting things out there. There's also the not-so-little matter of black market activity. Victims of bombings are the usual targets and left with even less than they had once the sly criminals are done with them. There are countless twists and turns and secrets hidden away in this once quiet area. The area becomes even livelier with the arrival of Jane's mother, an actress who's always the center of attention and likes it that way. Can you say "diva"? Jane's relationship with her is, uh, complicated.

Bottom line, I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and getting to know Jane better. Since I spent most of book one annoyed with her for her thoughtless ways, the fact that I realized I've become quite fond of her was both a delight and surprising. True, she's got a way to go yet but she's making progress and it was fun to see the growing sense of understanding and appreciation of what they each bring to the case between Jane and Arthur. No romance but, hey, it's early. His asthma is an interesting trait to assign to a spy catcher, code-breaker or not, so it's interesting to see how it was managed back then. I'm definitely hoping to learn a bit more about Benson, too. He may be the perfect man-servant and well able to deal with Arthur's health issues, but there's surely more beneath the surface there that hasn't been touched on yet. Let's just say, I'd feel good with him having my back. The plot moves along smoothly and the clues are realistic albeit not always obvious. Thanks #Bookouture for gifting me this advance look at how things are progressing on both the war front and for Jane and Arthur. The history buff in me is definitely enjoying this look at life in wartime England and I'm already anxious to read the next installment to see where it takes us.

3.75 stars! ✨ Huge thanks to Bookouture for the ARC via Netgalley! 💌

Alright, time to dive into this seaside mystery! 🌊🔎

This book felt like a breath of salty air—cozy, charming, and packed with secrets! Set in 1941, we follow Miss Jane Treen, our fearless and slightly chaotic investigator, as she returns to her hometown to crack the case of a body found on the beach. Along for the ride? The ever-logical Arthur Cilento (our resident codebreaking genius) and his ever-patient manservant, Benson. Oh, and let’s not forget the real MVP—Marmaduke, Jane’s one-eyed cat. 🐱

The mystery? Intriguing. A dead Italian POW, whispers of black-market dealings, and a seaside town full of suspects. The setting? Perfectly atmospheric. The small-town vibes, WWII backdrop, and Jane’s crumbling childhood home added so much depth! The characters? Oh, they shine! Jane is fiery and determined, Arthur is adorably flustered, and their dynamic? A slow burn of mutual exasperation and growing fondness. (Let’s be honest, I was living for their reluctant teamwork and stolen glances! 👀)

What I loved:
✅ Twisty plot that kept me guessing! 🕵️‍♀️
✅ Historical details that felt authentic without slowing down the pace ✨
✅ Jane and Arthur’s hilarious, awkward, and maybe-slightly-swoony partnership 😏
✅ Less smoking obsession than book one (thank goodness!) 🚭

What could’ve been better?
⏳ The pacing lagged a bit in the middle. Some moments dragged, and I wanted just a bit more tension in the climax.
👀 While the villain reveal was satisfying, I kinda wish there had been more red herrings!

But overall? A fun, clever, and engaging historical mystery that had me flipping pages like crazy! If you love cozy murder mysteries with a dash of espionage, witty banter, and a side of wartime intrigue, this one’s for you! 🖤📖✨

Will 100% be back for the next case—and fingers crossed for some romance between Jane and Arthur! 🕵️‍♀️💘

I just read this and the first book back to back. I had enjoyed book number one so well that I wanted to continue hanging out in the world a while longer. This was just as good as the first! I can't wait for more!

Brilliant. I’d just given up on trying to find a new cozy crime to read then this comes along. Ticks all the right boxes and reads so well. Loved it.

This is the second book in The Secret Detective Agency series and I thought it was even better than the first.

The story is set in October 1941. It takes place in the village of Ashbourne in Kent.

Once again the main characters are Miss Jane Treen, a mid level spymaster working in Whitehall and Mr Arthur Cilento a mathematician and codebreaker and his manservant Benton.

The ‘detectives’ Jane, Arthur and Benson are sent to Ashbourne (where Jane grew up) to investigate the suspicious death of an Italian POW and an escalation in black market activity in the area.

The plot was excellent. I thought the clues were clever and logical and the villain took me completely by surprise (but I didn’t feel that the author cheated)!

In The Secret Detective Agency we learnt more about Arthur from those who had known him throughout his life. In The Seaside Murders it’s the turn of Jane. We gain insights into her relationship with her deceased father as well as her glamorous and larger than life mother, Elsa.

We also see a softening in her attitude towards Arthur which was a relief. She is still larger than life and very much marches to the beat of her own drum, but she is now capable of not killing Arthur due to carelessness and single minded focus! It’s also quite sweet and funny how disconcerting they find their softening attitudes towards the other!

On a personal note it’s also much more pleasurable that Jane doesn’t spend the entire book smoking or obsessing about smoking! Yes, she still smokes but not on every page! She also tries to be less obnoxious about smoking AT Arthur (which annoyed me in the first book).

All in all definitely a book I would recommend to anyone looking for a good historical mystery.

*** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher ***

THE SEASIDE MURDERS is the second novel in The Secret Detective Agency series by HELENA DIXON. In this exciting story, which takes place in 1941 near the village of Ashbourne in Kent, we come across the three indomitable members of this detective agency that we have met in book one. They have been tasked by Whitehall with solving the discovery of a naked body on the beach and also a problem with theft and blackmarketeering in the area.
Deciding to stay in the house where Jane Treen grew up and which she inherited from her father, under cover of needing a rest from work, she and her colleague Arthur Cilento, together with his trusty manservant Benson, get down to their investigations. An interesting and unexpected addition to their party is Jane’s famous mother……..
There are many twists and turns and we are left guessing until the end……
I really enjoyed this most enjoyable and delightfully written book.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture.The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Having been recruited as part of the Secret Detective Agency, Jane Treen has helped solve a few mysteries alongside statastician Arthur Cilento and his manservant, Mr Benson. The body of a POW has been found near her family home, and although she hasn't been able to face returning there since her father’s death, she now has no choice. Alongside the unexplained death is the ever increasing threat from black marketeers who have been targeting victims of German bombing raids along the Kent coast in recent months. With very little to go on, can the trio solve both mysteries, or will the dangers they encounter be inescapable this time around?

Book two in Helena Dixon’s excellent new series is a really good read, and I had absolutely no clue who was responsible for any of the happenings in the small village of Ashbourne until the big reveal. Once again, the historical aspects of the time were pivotal in the discovery of whodunnit and were delivered in an effortless manner, although I'm sure the research was anything but! Arthur and Jane are gradually getting to know each other, and their relationship evolves throughout this instalment! There are now twenty books and counting in the author's other series, and I hope that the Secret Detectives will be around for that long as well.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Bookouture, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is easy to recommend, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.