cute, cozy detective book set in WWII. Really enjoyed the two main characters, and of course the orange cat. Will be reading the next one!

London, 1941: Miss Jane Treen is at her desk when her top-secret government work is interrupted by an urgent call to Devon. A woman has been found dead in a lake in a place where she shouldn’t have been. Shy and handsome code-breaker Arthur Cilento didn’t expect to find a body when he moved into the house he’d recently inherited, he is bewildered by the arrival of the efficient Miss Treen and her cat Marmaduke. She bursts into his life unexpectedly, forcing him out of his comfort zone.
The start of a new series & the pace began slowly then increased throughout the book. I liked both Arthur & Jane but feel as though I’m still getting to know them, I did love how they interacted, Jane is an all guns blazing person whereas asthmatic Arthur takes things far more slowly. They are aided by Benson Arthur’s valet cum butler cum medic. The body count does rise throughout the book & Jane becomes increasingly worried about why agents she’s been supervising are being murdered. There were plenty of twists & turns as well as red herrings before the climax & I was kept guessing as to who the murderer was. A well written series starter. I half listened & have read the book & thoroughly enjoyed the audio version, the brilliant narrator certainly brough the book to life
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

Set in 1941 London, this mystery follows Jane Treen as she investigates a traitor within British intelligence. Sent to Devon after an agent’s murder, she teams up with asthmatic codebreaker Arthur Cilento—despite their clashing personalities. As the body count rises, war-torn London looms, and the truth remains elusive.

The narration is strong, and the historical setting is immersive, but the story starts slow. Jane is hard to warm up to, and the codenames felt odd. However, the second half picks up. A solid start for cozy wartime mystery fans!

Thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for the ARC!

3.5⭐

I love cozy mysteries and historical fiction and The Secret Detective Agency is both all rolled into one. This was an enjoyable story to listen as the narration was excellent. Initially I was a bit put off by the FMC, Jane's, behavior. She's brusque and not terribly concerned by the needs of others, namely her newest "partner" Arthur. However, by the end of the book I saw her rough edges softening and an interesting partnership between she and Arthur forming as they found their footing and learned to accept each other's idiosyncrasies.

Arthur's butler/man servant, Benson is a character I can't wait to learn more about in future books, and while not a cat lover myself, Marmaduke is a nice foil to Arthur.

The pacing in the first half was a bit slow as the groundwork was laid but it definitely picked up as the story progressed. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

I'm not sure what happened to my original review, but
I absolutely loathed the self centered, abrasive female protagonist. Continually smoking around a severe asthmatic even after noting that the smoke bothers him is repugnant.
I'm not sure what the point of the cat was. To make Jane Treen more inconsiderate? She insists she had to bring the cat, but then essentially abandons it to the housekeepers care. And then gets pissy when the asthmatic person doesn't like the cat. Well duh. I'm a cat lover, but would NEVER just bring my cat (or other pet) to someone's house.
The protagonists don't actually solve the mystery, merely catch the murder when she tries to kill then.

This is more a 3.5 bumped to a 4 in hope that book 2 will be even better! Thank you, NetGalley! Cozy mysteries are my favorite, unfortunately this one wasn't one of them. It took me too long to get to the interesting parts of the story for me, but really enjoyed it once they did. Really hoping for some character development in book 2 as well as a quicker pace.

I recieved a copy of this work in audio format via Netgalley free of charge in return for an honest review.

The Narration is brilliant and very well done. It really brings the characters and the story to life for the reader.

I thought it would find Miss Jane Treen and her cat Marmaduke intresting and quirky. Sadly I find Jane lacking in any kind of compassion or thought for others. The way she treats Arthur is reprehensible. I also find Authur sad and almost a non character. Yes I understand that his chest is bad and his health poor but its like he's a blank slate he bearly reacts to anything accept those things that affect his health like Jane's Cat or her cigarette smoke .

That aside the story itself though a bit slow to start is engaging and fast paced. I was kept guessing as to who was the enemy all the way through.

In summary bad characters excellent story.

This is a fun, cozy mystery, with a historical twist. We follow Miss Jane Treen in 1941, she is a secret sleuth and the beginning of the book starts with a mystery to solve right away. There is a body in a lake and Jane needs to help find the killer before someone else gets hurt.

Jane and her cat meet a code breaker named Arthur and they need to work together to solve the mystery.

I enjoyed this book, it was a super quick read and I recommend it for anyone who likes a cozy mystery. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy of the audiobook

Loved the narrator. I think she did a great job of giving the book its own atmosphere. Great story too. I really enjoyed the historical spy mystery. Didn't guess the killer. Overall awesome. Looking forward for the next one.

Miss Jane Treen with the help of Arthur Cilento race against time as the bodies begin to pile up. This mystery is a fantastic ride through WWII England with several twist and turns and the secret world of spies. Addicted to cigarettes and finding the truth, Jane is a great detective to weasel out the killer. I love her and Arthur's surly relationship. The story was fast-paced and I was on the edge of my seat until the end. If you love a good detective story you will love this one. I am eager to read the next installment of The Secret Detective Agency.

Plot: 4 stars
Characters: 5 stars
Narrator: 5 stars
Setting: 5 stars

England, 1941: Miss Jane Treen works in a secret Government agency managing agents in the field during World War II. When one of her agents is found murdered in the water behind Arthur Cilento's back garden, she arrives promptly with her coffee, her cigarettes and her cat! Code breaker Arthur Cilento is not thrilled with this development. Introverted and severely asthmatic, chain smoking Jane makes his life difficult. Together they endeavor to solve the murder (if only to get Jane back to London!) and uncover a much more sinister plot.

Helena Dixon developes interesting and very human characters which are fun to read! Jane is very self centered and lacks compassion, Arthur is bright but handicapped by his severe asthma (often induced by Jane) and Benson is an all around pleasant and competent man. The dynamic between Jane, Arthur and Arthur's butler/caretaker is very enjoyable.

The plot is - in typical 1940's mystery fashion - somewhat convoluted, but gripping. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.

Kristin Atherton was the narrator and voiced Jane in her practical no nonsense way very well. Her voices for Arthur, Benson and the side characters were easy to distinguish.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoutre Audio for the download of this audiobook!

The Secret Detective Agency AUDIO by Helena Dixon is the beginning of a new series featuring Miss Jane Treen who is a spy mistress during World War II and whose life consists of her job, her cat, and her cigarettes. She arrives at he home of a handsome, but shy code breaker after one of her own had been found murdered in the water behind his back garden. Arthur Cilento is not thrilled when Jane arrives on his doorstep. He enjoys the quiet life, which she definitely interrupts. Together they endeavor to solve, not only this murder, but several others as well and their investigations take them to London, Cornwall, and environs beyond. Scintillating barely describes the retelling of the story.

Jane is independent in a time when women are not. She is also, quick, bright, and energetic. Arthur is a brilliant code breaker, but having been burdened with asthma as a child, he enjoys the quiet life, lived with his butler and caregiver, who is every bit as bright as either of the others, and decidedly more organized. They make for an interesting trio. Well-written characters solving war-related murders at a most frightening time in history. A time when, even in England, one could not be certain with whom one was dealing. I thoroughly enjoyed this engrossing novel.

Kristin Atherton was the narrator and an excellent choice. She voiced Jane well and was easily able to differentiate others without resorting to mimicry. She made this novel even more appealing than it might have been.

I was invited to listen the The Secret Detective Agency by Bookoutre Audio. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BookoutreAudio #HelenaDixon #TheSecret DetectiveAgency

A new mystery series from the author of the Miss Underhay series. I love a good mystery, and this is an historical, cozy English mystery. The Secret Detective Agency by Helena Dixon is a solid start as the first in the Secret Detective Agency series. I had the ALC and it was narrated by Kristin Atherton and she did an excellent job in the narration and propelling the story forward.

The story is set in London in 1941, Miss Jane Treen works in a secret Government agency managing agents in the field. She loves her coffee, her cigarettes and her cat. Arthur works for the same secret agency as a code breaker. He has chronic asthma, and a butler, Benson, who always seems to be there when Arthur needs him. When the second of Jane’s agents dies at Arthur’s home, Jane and her cat move in with Arthur. It doesn’t go well..

Jane is not the most likeable character. She lacks compassion and tact, but she is very smart and she and Arthur work really well together despite Jane’s irritating character flaws and asthma attack inducing habits. Benson, is also helping Jane out, so he is really a gem. I hope he continues in the series as well.

I enjoy reading a mystery and this was 3.75 stars. Thank you to Net Galley and Bookouture Audio for my ALC. This is being released March 27, 2025.

his is a new author for me and a brand new series! It's a cozy mystery series involving secret agents. Miss Jane Treen starts the story at her desk, drinking strong coffee, when she receives a report that someone murdered one of her agents. Shortly after, she gets an urgent message about a woman found dead in a lake where none of her agents were supposed to be.
Finding a dead woman in the lake near his inherited home upon his early return home surprised Arthur Cilento, to say the least. He's even more shocked to learn that the woman is the tenant who recently rented his property on a short lease while he was away. To solve the mystery and expose Jane's other agents' involvement in an operation, Arthur and Jane must decode a journal and identify the culprit before all the agents are killed and before they become targets. This was a brilliant introduction to these characters. They worked very well together, despite a few initial conflicts due to Arthur's allergies, but everything worked out in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook!
Netgalley and Bookouture Audio gave me the audiobook to review, and it was a treat! The narrator was engaging and really set the tone of the story. I loved the vibe and accent of the narrator, which kept the flow of the story and conveyed it very well. I loved it! Thank you for the opportunity to listen to and review this one. It was an adventure!

Jane and Arthur are two charmingly cranky protagonists! Their interactions brought a smile to my face and gave this WWII-era mystery a warm touch. When they are forced to work together to figure out why a group of government agents are being killed they must overlook the other’s distinctive habits—which they manage to do. The wartime setting and the pair’s travels to a number of towns, from Cornwall to Devon, along with their interactions with a wide variety of villagers, makes for a wonderful setting for a classic cozy mystery. If this is indeed the start of a series I look forward to more of their adventures. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC in audiobook format, which I received in exchange for an honest review.

Jane Treen is employed at a top secret government agency. Recently, many of her agents have been murdered. She is then sent to Devon to investigate the most recent one. Arthur Cilento is a code breaker and happens to own the estate where the latest victim was found. Though unhappy to be working together, Jane and Arthur are tasked to figure out what happened and to prevent any additional murders.

This was a good, cozy detective book and I am very interested to see where the rest of the series goes from here. I listened to the audiobook format, and I have to say that it was very well narrated and perfectly paced. I enjoyed following Jane and Arthur through the investigation and the interaction between the two characters. A great, quick mystery for anyone.

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

I highly enjoyed this audiobook.

The story is interesting, the characters are great.
Kristin Atherton's performance is absolutely wonderful.

The story is rather slow pasted but never boring or lengthy. 
It feels like England during the Second World War is captured well, and every character has their good reason for existence.
No character is "over the top" they all feel realistic and adequate.
Kristin Atherton does a fantastic job bringing every character alive, no matter how small the part is.

Thank you so much, Bookouture Audio, for giving me a free copy.

This book was excellent and such a great surprise. I've read this author before, but the story was so different from the Murder At the Dolphin! (Both are excellent books though.)

This book was full of intrigue and mystery, very similar in feel to Christie's Tommy and Tuppence series. The juxtaposition of the two main characters is excellent, and I love how they play off each other. The mystery kept you guessing, and that ending was beautifully done. I can't wait to read more of this series!

Thank you for the ARC!

Helena Dixon’s *The Secret Detective Agency* is an engaging and entertaining mystery that blends wartime intrigue with classic sleuthing. Set in 1941, the novel introduces Miss Jane Treen, a sharp-witted, tweed-clad investigator whose top-secret government work is interrupted by a baffling murder case in Devon. With her ever-loyal feline companion, Marmaduke, and the reluctant but endearing Arthur Cilento, Jane must navigate a web of secrets to uncover the truth.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its atmospheric setting. Dixon vividly brings 1940s England to life, from the crackling fires of Arthur’s countryside home to the shadowy corners of a sleepy village hiding more than its fair share of secrets. The period details add richness to the story without overwhelming the plot.

Jane Treen is a fantastic protagonist—intelligent, independent, and refreshingly no-nonsense. Her dynamic with Arthur is well-crafted, balancing light humor with moments of genuine warmth as their unlikely partnership develops. The mystery itself is engaging, full of red herrings and intriguing suspects, keeping the reader guessing until the final reveal.

However, the novel does have some minor drawbacks. At times, the pacing slows as the characters sift through clues and codes, and some plot points feel a little predictable. A bit more tension or urgency in certain moments would have heightened the suspense.

Overall, *The Secret Detective Agency* is a charming and well-written historical mystery with a strong female lead, an intriguing whodunit, and just the right amount of humor and heart. Fans of classic detective fiction will find much to enjoy. ★★★★☆

Huuge thanks to Bookouture Audio for audiobook via NetGalley🎧🩷

The story about mysteriously murdered agents written in the agatha christie style set in 1941? Count me in🙌📚And that small town vibe crackling-fireplace thing? Oh yeah😍

Jane Treen is curious character with a cut tongue, a sense of humor, and an amazing detective.🕵️ And HEAVY smoker, unfortunately😂 - she should be dead after that much cigarettes!! Smoking near asthmatic arthur? - does she wanna kill that poor man?😅🤔

Arthur Cilento, a smart quiet man who has talent for code breaking📝, is forced to step out of his safe comfort zone because of live Jane - and he doesn’t really enjoy it, but…🤭

Partnership between the two of them?😏😁 Cheeeck.
Funny moments? Check.
Protecting each other? Check.
Twists and ending you didn’t see coming?🧩 Check.

At the start it was quite confusing because lots of characters were thrown into the story and I have a bad memory when it comes to the names soo it wasn’t easy but I figured it out later on.

Overall I really enjoyed observe Jane’s and Arthur’s investigation and I’m very excited for second book.🤭💖📖
Aaand a big round of applause for the great narrator of this book, Kristin Atherton.😌👏