This book wasn't for me, unfortunately. The characters weren't badly written per se, and yet I could not relate to them and the plot kept losing me. I had a hard time paying attention. The narration was good, but the story simply did not keep my interest.

I’ve read another series by the author before, at least I started it but found it not to my taste. I liked something about it enough to know maybe a change of characters/ place might help and when I saw a new series beginning, I had to try it. I am not someone who likes jumping into series’ later than the first couple ( if not the very first one).

This story is much more complex than the cover might indicate. It’s set in wartime Britain and involves a lot of spies and undercover dealings. I guessed the culprit but not the right reason, so I felt like the author provides enough proper clues as well as red herrings.

The two lead characters have their own unique styles and manage to work together while not being completely in sync or entirely at odds. It was refreshing to see the different balance between two people of different genders. I sincerely hope they don’t end up together just to keep things different.

The plot involves investigating with a mix of truthfulness and secrecy, aiding and hindering the process in varying degrees. I found the narration a great way to acclimatize to the surroundings and people. Although I had an eCopy of the book, this review is entirely based on my experience with the audiobook.

“Trust no one.”

I’m always on the lookout for historical cozy mysteries. I was browsing NetGalley and I was intrigued by the title and the description of this book so I requested it. Thank you to the publisher for the #gifted NetGalley approval! Book two is out now and book 3 release end of this year.

Arthur and Jane are fantastic characters. They’re thrown together to solve a murder of a colleague, which turns into more dangerous and mysterious happenings. The two are accompanied by Benson, who is just as observant and capable as Arthur and Jane. Jane has a take-charge personality and I enjoyed that about her. Arthur is the strong silent type, and I loved it when he had his moment to shine.

No one is safe and everyone is a suspect. Never mind there is also a war going on with the added stress of blackouts and rations. I enjoyed the added twist of the war and Arthur’s health limitations. It added to the drama and suspense nicely.

The audio narrator is Kristin Atherton and I enjoyed her take on these characters. Her accents are flawless and her tone carries well.

I’m looking forward to reading more books from this author!

This was very slow in the beginning and a struggle to get into. Also, Jane as a character is hard to like. Things did pick up later in the book, but this is a series I probably won't continue. I don't think this one is for me, but it seems to have quite a lot of good reviews. The narrator did a good job.

The Secret Detective Agency by Helena Dixon is an enjoyable, cozy mystery that had me hooked from the start! The narrator did a fantastic job bringing the story and characters to life, capturing the atmosphere perfectly. The pacing was great, and the narration kept me engaged throughout, making it a delightful audiobook experience.

The story itself is clever and full of twists, with a lovely balance of intrigue and charm. The characters are relatable and endearing, and I found myself rooting for them as they navigated the mystery. There’s just the right amount of suspense without being too dark, making it an easy, satisfying listen.

I gave it 4 stars because while I enjoyed the story, I felt a few parts could have been fleshed out a bit more, and the resolution was a little too quick for my liking. But overall, it was a fun and entertaining listen that I’d recommend to fans of lighthearted mysteries.

If you’re in the mood for a cosy mystery with a strong cast of characters and a fun, engaging plot, The Secret Detective Agency is definitely worth a listen!

If I could have gotten over my annoyance with Jane, I might have liked the book more, but it kept this book in the mediocre range. Perhaps this is a series starter where this character will stop being a narcissistic twit and have a little consideration for Arthur. There's certainly a lot of room for growth.

The plot is a good idea, one I could get invested in, particularly with it being during the war. So many WWII books weigh you down with tragedy, it's interesting to see one as a cozy. And one with the MMC having a chronic illness and the FMC a smart and courageous agent. That being said, the characters needed more depth.

Good start. I'll try the next book to see where it goes.

This story had many interesting characters, but I struggled to get fully into the murder mystery. The characters were believable and well-developed, which kept me reading, but there were so many characters that it became difficult to keep track of who was involved with what, much less who could have killed the victim.

This is a pleasant story of four friends who fed up to be abused and belittled by men decide to exact revenge by spraying graffiti on the buildings of the people who have wronged them.

Lacks some humph hence the 3 stars, but it’s pleasant enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for letting me review this ARC in exchange for an honest review .

I love historical mysteries and this book was a bit of a disappointment, but still a solid 3.5*

I liked the locale, the mystery, the plotline, the hero. The heroine was a hard one to sell though. I mean really is she so callous as yo keep aggravating Arthur's health. Where is empathy here??

I hope Jane's character is moderated as the series moves along as this could be an exciting series.

I loved the narration. Very on point and gave a lot of life to the book.

#netgalley #TheSecretDetectiveAgency

"The Secret Detective Agency" by Helena Dixon is a cozy historical mystery set in 1941 England. The story follows Jane Treen, a sharp-tongued, chain-smoking government agent, as she investigates a suspicious death in a quiet Devon village. Partnering with Arthur Cilento, a code-breaking agent with asthma, the duo uncovers a web of espionage and secrets that stretches far beyond the surface of the case.

The novel shines in its character dynamics, especially the contrasting personalities of Jane and Arthur. Their evolving relationship adds charm and complexity to the story, offering a classic detective partnership feel. The atmospheric wartime setting is another highlight, with period-accurate details that ground the story in its historical context. Additionally, the audiobook version, narrated by Kristin Atherton, has been praised for bringing the characters to life with distinct and engaging voices.

However, the pacing may test readers’ patience—particularly in the early chapters, which introduce a wide cast and complex plotlines involving code names and intelligence work. Some readers found these elements confusing or slow-moving. There were also mixed feelings about Jane's treatment of Arthur, especially her disregard for his health, which some found off-putting.

Overall, The Secret Detective Agency offers a rich setting and intriguing mystery that may appeal to fans of slow-burn, character-driven historical mysteries. While it may not click with everyone, it lays a solid foundation for future installments in the series.

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.