I've always enjoyed detective cozies, so Maia Chance's Gin and Panic was a treat. We have a former socialite Lola Woodby who works with no-nonsense Swedish Berta. They are investigators and don't just look for a missing broach but are willing to take on murder investigations. This time, they're hired to find a specific rhino trophy during a shooting party at Montgomery Hall in Connecticut.

The party is cut short by the death of the host, Rudy Montgomery. Their client doesn't believe the death was a suicide and hires Lola and Berta to investigate the suspicious death as well as find the missing rhino trophy...Unfazed, the women undertake the investigation. Costumes, stakeouts, unusual alliances and romances along the way, but Lola and Berta get their man. Gin and Panic is a fun escape!

"Former socialite Lola Woodby is now struggling to make ends meet as a not-so-discreet private eye in Prohibtion-era New York City, along with her stern Swedish sidekick, Berta. When they’re offered a piece-of-cake job―retrieving a rhinoceros trophy from the Connecticut mansion of big game hunter Rudy Montgomery―it seems like a no-brainer. After all, their client, Lord Sudley, promises them a handsome paycheck, and the gin and tonics will be plentiful and free. But no sooner do they arrive at Montgomery Hall than Rudy is shot dead.

When the police arrive to examine the scene, they conclude that Rudy had actually committed suicide. But Lord Sudley can’t believe his friend would have done that, and there’s a houseful of suspicious characters standing by. So Lord Sudley ups the ante for Lola and Berta, and suddenly, their easy retrieval job has turned into a murder investigation. Armed with handbags stuffed with emergency chocolate, gin flasks, and a Colt .25, Lola and Berta are swiftly embroiled in a madcap puzzle of stolen diamonds, family secrets, a clutch of gangsters, and plenty of suspects who know their way around a safari rifle.

Gin and Panic is the next jaunty, compelling Discreet Retrieval Agency mystery from beloved crime writer Maia Chance."

Everyone needs a little fun period escape, and who couldn't do with a little mystery to solve on the side?

This is book number 3 in the Discreet Retrieval Agency Mysteries Series.
This is my first book in the series. This series takes place in the roaring twenties. There is madcap action, lots of humor and silly antics throughout. If your looking for a mystery that will make you laugh out loud this series will! I enjoyed the setting, historical information of the time and the wacky characters .A enjoyable fun read that sweeps the reader into the fun of the roaring twenties.
Thank you for the ARC which did not influence my review.

I wrote about this book here http://www.bethfishreads.com/2017/10/8-books-at-top-of-my-reading-list.html

What a fun read! I received this through the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I hadn’t read anything in this cozy mystery series before, and I found this novel to be both fun and funny. At times I laughed out loud! I love mysteries that are tied into time periods and reading about how these two women got around Prohibition was at times hysterical. I plan to read more by this author.

Thank you for my review copy!

Lola Woodby was a member of high society, but is now a private detective. She and her detective partner, Berta, are called to a mansion to retrieve an errant trophy, but find themselves drawn into a murder mystery with plenty of suspects.

This book is just plain fun. Lola and Berta are clever, quick, and funny, and they have highly entertaining adventures as they work to solve the mystery.

Prohibition-era New York and its surrounding towns really come alive as well.

There really isn't much not to enjoy with this read. It's just a fun book. If anything, I would say it's not particularly memorable, which doesn't mean I didn't enjoy myself while reading it.

If you are looking for a quick, fun, historical mystery read, this is a good one to pick up. It won't take you long, and you'll find yourself laughing as you work to solve the crime along two strong women.

The prohibition may be in full swing, but it doesn't put a damper on former socialite Lola Woodby’s pursuit of a good time and the objects she and her partner Berta are hired to retrieve.  This time Berta and Lola are hired to retrieve a rhinoceros trophy from the mansion of big game hunter Rudy Montgomery.  The situation is complicated by the discovery of raw diamonds and a suicide that looks suspiciously like murder.  Lola and Berta look to be in over their heads, particularly after one of New York’s leading gangsters gets involved. Fortunately they have backup in the form of Lola’s leading man, also a private detective who has been hired to keep an eye on Lola and Berta.  Armed with cake, gin and an appetite for adventure Lola and Berta can take on just about anything.

Maia Chance serves readers a heady cocktail of madcap adventure, comic coincidences and tantalizing mystery with just the right dash of romance.  Gin and Panic is fun, funny and fast paced.  I absolutely adored this delectable cosy and look forward to Maia Chance’s next novel featuring the Discreet Retrieval Agency.

5 / 5

I received a copy of Gin and Panic from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

I have just come off of reading two very very dense books with heavy subject matter. I needed something to just enjoy rather than something I need to digest.

Enter Gin and Panic. I was happy to read a cozy mystery even though I was jumping in on the third book. I didn’t care. I just wanted something that looked entertaining without epic battles in every chapter.

Former socialite Lola Woodby, not-so-discreet private eye in Prohibtion-era New York City, along with her grim Swedish sidekick, Berta, take on a piece-of-cake job: retrieving a rhinoceros trophy from the Connecticut mansion of big game hunter Rudy Montgomery.

After all, their client, Lord Sudley, promises them a handsome paycheck, and the gin and tonics will be free. But no sooner do they arrive at Montgomery Hall than Rudy is shot dead with a houseful of suspicious characters standing by.

Lord Sudley ups the ante, and Lola and Berta take the case. Armed with handbags stuffed with emergency chocolate, gin flasks, and a Colt .25, Lola and Berta are swiftly embroiled in a madcap puzzle of stolen diamonds, family secrets, a clutch of gangsters, and a flapper who knows her way around a safari rifle (summary from Goodreads).

I had no idea what to expect with this book, but I was so relieved that it was funny. This book obviously isn’t a ‘comedy’ however there were many comical moments and that endeared it to me! I loved how sassy and quirky Lola and Berta were. I laughed out loud a couple of times. Some might argue that the focus is more on the comedy than the mystery in this book, but I honestly didn’t mind in the least. It was fun and the mystery suited my mindset just fine.

This book is set in the 1920s….which you might have guessed from the cover. The 1920s seems to be a really popular era in historical fiction right now and sometimes I feel like it’s a little over done. The 1920s are far from my favorite era in history so for me sometimes the time period grates on my nerves. In this book there is a lot of 1920s slang and language, but for some reason it didn’t bother me in the way that I was expecting. In fact I actually didn’t mind it.

This book was everything that I was expecting in a cozy mystery….funny quirky characters, some comedy of errors, a mystery that was entertaining with a few twists. I was happy with the ending and felt like everything was wrapped up nicely. There were times when the book boarded on too ‘cutesy’ and I have seen other reviewers nothing the same….and yes at times it’s a little too ‘cute’ and cheeky but at the same time, it’s a cozy people. Not highbrow literature. Cozy is practically synonymous with cutesy.

This book was just what I needed right now. I needed something fun, cute, and entertaining. I felt like I got that with this book. Some times it was a little heavy on the cute and on the cliche language of the era, but on the whole it was entertaining enough and I easily continued reading the book without issue.

Book: Gin and Panic (Discreet Retrieval Agency #3) by Maia Chance

Kindle Edition, 304 pages
Published October 24th 2017 by Minotaur Books
ASIN B06Y17JTLC
Review copy provided by: Publisher/Author in exchange for an honest review
This book counts toward: NA

Hosted by: NA
Books for Challenge Completed: NA
Recommendation: 3 out of 5

Genre: Mystery, Cozy mystery, detective novel, historical fiction

Memorable lines/quotes:

Maia Chance indulges in Gin and Panic for the Discreet Retrieval Agency prohibition mysteries. Lola Woodbury, former socialite, and her sidekick Berta are hired by Lord Sudley to retrieve his rhinoceros head trophy from a fellow hunter who made off with it. Lola has broken up with her boyfriend Ralph, a fellow detective. Meanwhile at the hunting party Lord Sudley's rival is murdered and stolen diamonds land in Lola's hands. Whodunit? Mobsters, the illegitimate son of the murdered man, anyone else. Lots of red herrings and low goings on. Have fun detecting the murderer in this cozy.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36228481-a-very-merry-princess" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="A Very Merry Princess" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1505234477m/36228481.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36228481-a-very-merry-princess">A Very Merry Princess</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8716.Susan_Mallery">Susan Mallery</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2188457798">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Beth Archer is not who she says she is and that is going to cause a lot of trouble for her and for Cade Saunders. Seems the have a lot in common as long as she is plain Beth and not Princess Bethany. Beth is a horse person and is Cade and the horse has a big role as does the barn cat. The two humans flirt a lot, try to take it easy, and in the end almost come to a complete split over something that turns out to be very unimportant. A nice addition to the series and a chance to visit with character from previous novels in the series.
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1372248-jo-mixed-book-bag">View all my reviews</a>

Gin and Panic by Maia Chance
Minotaur Books, 2017
Crime Fiction (Cozy); 304 pgs
Source: E-Copy provided by publisher via NetGalley

Gin and Panic is my first foray with the Discreet Retrieval Agency cozy mysteries, although the third book in the actual series. I admit to not being sure what to think when I first started reading Gin and Panic. Retrieving a rhinoceros head for a client wasn’t the most appealing start. However, the more I read, the more I invested in the novel I became. Lola and Berta are quite the private eye pair. Set in the roaring twenties, it is easy to see how these two women fit into it—no one taking them seriously enough, which only gives them more of an advantage.

The mystery itself was twisty and fun. Just when you think it is going to go one way, it goes another. While I wasn’t surprised by the outcome, I sure had a good time getting there.

It was hard not to laugh my way through this one what with the humor and rather eccentric characters. This mystery had a bit of everything: murder, theft, gangsters, socialites, a con artist radio talk show hosts, romance, and two heroines I couldn’t help but cheer for.

As much as I love Lola, her adventures are getting a bit tired. Maybe it was just this one. I thought the mystery was a bit patchy and the comedy was lacking. Plus, I don't love how Lola acts around her main squeeze (and competition). I'll keep reading the series, but it wouldn't kill the casual cozy reader to skip this one!

Gin and Panic
Discreet Retrieval Agency Mysteries #3
Maia Chance
Minotaur Books, October 2017
ISBN 978-1-250-10905-7
Hardcover

From the publisher—

Former socialite Lola Woodby is now struggling to make ends meet as a not-so-discreet private eye in Prohibtion-era New York City, along with her stern Swedish sidekick, Berta. When they’re offered a piece-of-cake job―retrieving a rhinoceros trophy from the Connecticut mansion of big game hunter Rudy Montgomery―it seems like a no-brainer. After all, their client, Lord Sudley, promises them a handsome paycheck, and the gin and tonics will be plentiful and free. But no sooner do they arrive at Montgomery Hall than Rudy is shot dead.

When the police arrive to examine the scene, they conclude that Rudy had actually committed suicide. But Lord Sudley can’t believe his friend would have done that, and there’s a houseful of suspicious characters standing by. So Lord Sudley ups the ante for Lola and Berta, and suddenly, their easy retrieval job has turned into a murder investigation. Armed with handbags stuffed with emergency chocolate, gin flasks, and a Colt .25, Lola and Berta are swiftly embroiled in a madcap puzzle of stolen diamonds, family secrets, a clutch of gangsters, and plenty of suspects who know their way around a safari rifle.

When I think back on this book, the first word that comes to mind is “charming” followed very shortly by “fun”. This is a pair of sleuths I loved spending time with and the plot and setting did a lot to hold my attention; overall, I was reminded of those lighthearted mysteries that take us back to the more innocent-seeming time of 1923.

Lola isn’t really the brains of the duo but she’s learning to adapt to her altered circumstances and her previous position in society opens doors to them while Berta has a knack for figuring things out while keeping the Lola ship steered in the right direction, so to speak. They have an unlikely friendship for their time but it really works for them and lays the groundwork for a successful detecting business. Lola’s constant companion, the furry Cedric, adds to the ambience.

The whole idea of someone asking them to “retrieve” a rhinoceros head trophy seems a bit outrageous in today’s world but it had me chuckling early on, imagining these two women having to smuggle such an item out of its current place of honor just to settle a grievance. Still, Lola and Berta are game, pun intended ;-), having no idea they’re about to land smackdab in the middle of a locked room mystery complete with dead body. A cache of diamonds and the bumbling efforts of our sleuths lead to enough adventure and madcappery to while away a very pleasant afternoon.

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, November 2017.

Charming mystery set in 1920's New York with an engaging pair of sleuths: a widowed and impoverished socialite and her Swedish cook. Their detective agency is hired to retrieve a hunting trophy at a Connecticut mansion, but more than a bit of theft is on the menu with the mansion's owner dead of an apparent suicide.

With many of the staples of Twenties New York: gangsters, speakeasies, and live radio broadcasts. It's tons of fun.

I love the first book in this series. The dynamics and silliness of Lola and Berta. These two had me laughing a lot. Although, Berta really brings the humor; even though Lola is kind of the main one. Yet, this time, I was lacking the comedy. Additionally, none of the other characters intrigued me. Thus I found it hard to stick with this book. Which I did not stick with this book after chapter twelve. This is unfortunate as I know this author can write and this book is not one of the best showing. I will say that Lola and Berta are starting to find their groove in the detective business. Here is hoping that the next book is way better and has the comedy inserted back in.

The Discreet Retrieval Agency is engaged by Lord Sudley to recover a rhinoceros head trophy. Lola Woodby and Berta Lundgren take time out of their cake-tasting day to head up to a Connecticut estate to recover the trophy. What they find is murder. Quirky, goofy and fun to read.

Gin and Panic by Maia Chance is the third book in her Discreet Retrieval Agency and continues the screwball comedy team of Lola and Berta as they try to retrieve a rhinoceros trophy. Of course, nothing goes as planned with these two and a murder once again throws them into a sticky situation.

The smartly paced plot with some very humorous moments keep this book from being dull as Lola was continually thinking of her break-up with Ralph throughout most of the book. I would have preferred that Lola had not been so self-centered during this book. There were several suspects and the reveal, for me, was startling as I never guessed who had "done it". All together, an enjoyable afternoon read and my rating is 3.5 stars.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Minotaur Books via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.

Mrs. Lola Woodby and her trusty companion and former cook, Berta are hired for the discreet retrieval of a stuffed rhinoceros head by Lord Sudbury. It seems like it will be an easy task with a big payoff. Plus the alcohol will be flowing freely at the mansion where the rhino's head is and Lola does enjoy a good gin and tonic.

Not long after they've arrived, the owner of the mansion turns up dead in what appears to be a suicide. Lord Sudbury retains their services asking them to look into Rudy's death. The ladies eat it up like chocolate and plunge in where angels fear to tread.

More death, gangsters, diamonds, and a dash of romance round out the plot. Not to mention that Lola is supposed to be sending out her sister's wedding invitations and picking a caterer for her.
There are gunshots fired, car chases, consorting with gangsters in a speakeasy, and plenty of prohibition era slang bandied about.

I have to say that I've enjoyed all the books in the Discreet Retrieval Agency series. This is the third one and it's quite fun. There are a few good mysteries and plenty of humor. I will say Lola needs a better pair of shoes than t-straps for skulking around, but that's part of the fun as is her carting her dog Cedric everywhere they go.

If you enjoy mysteries with well developed quirky characters and twisty plots, then this would be a good book for you. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. It's well written. The mysteries are good. There is humor. And the main characters are entertaining.

Gin and Panic by Maia Chance is being released today, October 24, 2017 from Minotaur Books.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions herein are my own and freely given.

Gin and Panic is a light-hearted, screwball comedy/mystery. It takes place during the Roaring Twenties with gangsters, criminals, and lots of socialites. I was not a huge fan of the main character, Lola Woodby – she was too scattered and immature for me. While this is the third book in the series, it is the first one I have read and also my last. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

The third installment follows a new mystery route where Lola and Berta have to snatch a Rhino trophy for a Lord Sudley. Yes, a Rhino trophy. Of course, a simple task is led to other mysteries such as smuggled diamonds, and murder! This book unlike the first two was probably my least favorite because of the storyline, I wish there was more and hope to get more based on the ending of the book! In Gin and Panic, there was more focus on Lola's love life, compared to the previous books. I hope the next book brings a solid mystery for Lola and Berta. Overall it's still a cozy light read, and the ending piqued my interest for the possible next book!