A very clever and fun read! I loved Edie Fox, a middle-aged, ex-primary school teacher launching a new career as a PI. It turns out it's not as easy (or fun) as she imagined, Her first case is brought to her by a charming American: can she find his missing cousin?

Edie is helped on the way by a variety of characters - one who is an ex-pupil of hers from a decade ago - including her daughter Maeve's father, a man she hasn't seen since a drunken night in a club over 25-years ago. Edie also helps care for her three-year-old grandson, Alfie. But all is not as it seems, and Edie is drawn into a kidnap plot that potentially involves her daughter and grandson!

Whilst not really the 'hilarious' mystery proclaimed on the front, I loved Edie and her family and friends, and their relationships to one another. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and very entertaining read, and I've just purchased the next in the series so I can continue it.

Loved every minute!

Edie is a budding private investigator whose mysterious new client wants her to find his missing cousin. This is supposed to be hilarious, but I would not say that it was really even funny. It was decent, and I would try the next book in the series. 3.5 rounded to 3 stars.

This book is very interesting. Generally speaking, crime fiction books have several turns. But, in this book, all the turns are unexpected. So, very enjoyable. I liked it very much!

I enjoyed this book! I really liked that the main character and narrator was a single woman in her 40's, trying out a new career after deciding teaching wasn't for her. Edie Fox (not Eddie Fox!) is self-aware and loves her family, even if they drive her crazy.

I couldn't put this down because you know something is wrong and someone close to her is not telling her the truth but I couldn't figure out exactly what was going on. Edie is given a lot of cash by a man named Mike Smith (clearly an alias) to look into his cousin Isabella's disappearance. Where did Isabella go? This leads to all sorts of stake-outs and suspicions and then Mike disappears himself. Meanwhile, Edie is approached by another young investigator to join forces, and her daughter's father shows up out of the blue, looking to become part of the family. It's all well done. I wouldn't call it laugh out loud hilarious but I enjoyed it, and I will enjoy seeing Maeve and Alfie in future books (and maybe Jack Bevington, the young PI).

My only complaint is the end and wrap-up. I'm not sure why Edie has to get naked to fight the Bad Guy, and I'm still not sold on the reason for Isabella's murder. Also, I would never give up my phone to anyone, so that seemed semi-unbelievable, but I'm also not in my 40's.

Thanks for the chance to read and review!

Edie Fox is a new private investigator in Oxford, UK after having left her job as a school teacher to follow something she's always been passionate about - solving crimes! Though so far none of her cases have been nearly as exciting as the books she reads. Until one day, a strange Amercian man walks into her office and offers her cash to locate his sister who has gone missing.

Edie takes on the case somewhat reluctantly at first but the huge sum of money she was left as a retainer helps sway her mind. Though she soon finds out she bit off more than she bargained for!

I really enjoyed this book. It had me hooked from the beginning and I had no idea who the culprit was until the very end when it came out in the story! My only criticism is the ending wasn't as well fleshed out as the earlier part of the story and I felt like it rushed a bit to explain things, but leaving some things out.

The writing is similar to Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club but without the humour that goes with it. Fairly light-hearted even though it is a murder-mystery.

I can't wait to read the next story in the series when it comes out!

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed The Missing American a lot. it's fun, madcap, a bit crazy, and entertaining. I do think it's hubris to describe a novel on the cover as 'hilarious' - I certainly didn't find it so. But it is humorous and clever.

Edie Fox is in interesting character, and the twist with the American is cleverly done. Hard to say much without spoilers. The other characters are also interesting and well rounded; some are likeable, some horrible, but all add to the story. There are some very good scenes and an excellent twist at the end. I saw it coming, but that in no way detracted from my enjooyment.

I definitely look forward to reading the next in the series.

Thanks goodness this is the first in series so I will be able to read more stories featuring Edie.
Because this is a good start for a cozy series, an entertaining and solid mystery and I had a lot of fun.
Edie is a likeable and fleshed character, quirky and complex.
This is a cozy mystery but there’s more layer starting from the character, not the average heroine, to the mystery and the surprising twists.
I can’t wait to read the Runaway Husband, this one is strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the The Book Folks for this arc, all opinions are mine

The Missing American by Julie Highmore is an interesting story.
The mystery was good and the characters are well developed.

A fun quick read with a surprise ending. It kept me guessing the entire time. Would definitely recommend.

Madcap mystery that throws a lot at you, but in a fun way. It can be tough to follow along at first, but the more I read and the continually met the different characters, the easier it was to follow along. Looking forward to the next book!

I enjoyed this book. It would be a perfect read for a lazy day or a day at the beach. Characters were enjoyable and I would pick up the next book in the series.

Edie Fox, a former school teacher, is a newly set up PI., who lives with her daughter Maeve and grandson. When an American client, Mike, asks her to search for his missing cousin Isabella, it at first looks like a standard missing person case. However as her investigation gets under way, suspicions are raised about whether Mike is who he says he is.

Also complicating matters is the appearance of Maeve’s father into their lives, who Edie hasn’t seen since their one night stand in college and has only recently learned of Maeve’s existence.

Then just as Edie gets a firm lead, Isabella is murdered and Edie doesn’t know who she can trust any more.

There are lots of red herrings in this story and I found it a very enjoyable read, I didn’t work out the murderer at all, the story very cleverly takes you down some plausible paths.

Edie is a very likeable character. Think of a modern day British Kinsey Malone with a dash of Leo Street thrown in. I will certainly be looking out for the next book!

Huge thanks must go to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this story.

Disorganised and chaotic ex-schoolteacher, Edie Fox, has set up a business as a private investigator, basing her investigative skills on what she has learned from watching real-crime shows.

When Edie is tasked with finding the missing cousin of the dashing American, Mike Smith, she definitely gets more than she bargained for.

I loved this book, cleverly written with great characters, especially Edie’s hilarious little grandson, Alfie. Some unexpected twists and lots of humour, mainly from the chaos of Edie’s personal life made this a great read.

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you The Book Folks and NetGalley for the ARC, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

4* What a fun read

Edie Fox's first major assignment as a PI is to search for a missing person. However the case soon gives her more than she's bargained when the investigation intrudes into her chaotic family life.

The author's excellent storytelling ability with many twists in the plot will entertain any cosy-mystery readers.

Easy reading and recommended.

More books to follow about Edie Fox Private Investigator, same main characters different cases.

What a fun book! Edie Fox is Kinsey Millhone, if she had been a British former school teacher with a daughter, a three-year old grandson and a rookie PI agency. I loved Edie’s wry sense of humor, her love of wine and the quirky characters of her world. You just want to stay with her.

The plot is satisfyingly convoluted, with many red herrings, and I couldn’t put it down or guess where we were headed. It all starts when a toothy American in expensive clothes comes to Edie’s agency and asks her to find his missing cousin. Edie quickly starts to doubt Mike Smith, though, who showers her with cash and then disappears. I won’t spoil the rest. This is cozy crime but with a pinch of salt, rather like Elly Griffith’s excellent Harbinger Kaur procedurals.

This is the first novel of a new series, and I’m already looking forward to the next installment. Highly recommended.

I received this preview copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review

When ann American woman goes missing, PI Edie Fox is enlisted to help solve the case. It’s Edie’s first case and when things don’t quite add up, she quickly feels a little out of her depth.

The Missing American is a super fun example of a cosy crime! It’s fast-paced, lighthearted and engaging with plenty of dry, witty humour that has you grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

Edie and her sidekicks are likeable characters and the character development is spot on, making you truly invest in the safety and well-being of the gang.

From the off, this is an action-packed story with plenty of plot twists to keep you guessing - exactly what you want from a crime/detective novel.

I really enjoyed reading this and would recommend to anyone who enjoys Richard Osman and similar cosy crime novels.

New To The Game…
Meet new private investigator Edie Fox - new to the game and, with a hectic come chaotic home life just about to implode, Edie is about to get a new case to investigate from a very dashing American client. What could possibly go wrong? Probably everything. A fun and frothy cosy mystery with a quirky and likeable cast of characters, unexpected twists and turns and a wry vein of humour running throughout. A promising start to a new series.

I really loved this book. So much so that I stayed up until 4.30am reading it. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would.

A light hearted comedy mystery perfect for fans of SJ Bennett or Richard Osman.

The only criticism I have for this book is that I didn't want it to end. The characters are so likeable that you really get invested in their lives and the plot has enough twists to keep you gripped.

I eagerly awake Edie Fox's next adventure!

I really enjoyed this mystery about a new female teacher turned private detective, who along with her family and friends manage to solve a murder. The writing is delightfully mischievous with a sly humour rather than laugh out loud funny. Will definitely look out for more of this series.

To be quite honest, cosy crime isn't quite the genre I reach for normally. But I was swayed by the mention of "The Missing American" being hilarious, and after a rough couple of weeks I could have done with a good dose of laughter. However, bar maybe one or two tiny jokes, I seem to have missed out on the hilarity entirely.

"The Missing American" is however a decent cosy murder mystery, featuring newly minted private investigator Edie Fox. This is the first in a series featuring this character, and so much of what happens is meant as an introduction, a way of getting to know Edie. She came across as quite likeable, although maybe a little too naive. I most definitely had issues with her relationship with her daughter, Maeve. Maeve who seems to do little else but nap and relies on Edie to take care of Edie's grandson, Alfie. They all live in Edie's house but it doesn't look as if Edie gets any say whatsoever as to what happens in her own home.

As for the mystery, an American woman has gone missing. Her cousin enlists Edie's help. But very quickly things fail to add up, and Edie may just be a little out of her depth here for her very first case. Throw in a bunch of red herrings, a few fun sidekicks in Edie's circle and you have yourself an engaging mystery. The pace is spot-on and at a mere 280 pages, it's a super quickie read.

All in all, not quite hilarious, in my most humble opinion, but a light-hearted, entertaining and enjoyable mystery.