Gin and Panic is the third Discreet Retrieval Agency by author Maia Chance. This is the first book in the series that I have read. It can easily be read as a stand alone.

Gin and Panic is set in the 1920 Prohibition Era in New York and Connecticut. Lola and Berta, the Discreet Retrieval Agency's two owners, are hired to retrieve a rhinoceros from the country mansion of a big game hunter. They were retrieving it for Lord Sudley, an Englishman and fellow big game hunter. Lola and Berta are set to spend the weekend at the mansion but their host is murdered and then they discovered raw diamonds in the rhino head. A madcap adventure ensues from this point.

What a fun fun fun book! I loved the mystery aspect as well as the adventures that Berta and Lola became involved in. The book is well written and the author has ensured that we are back in the 1920s. I cannot wait to read more in this series!

I highly recommend Gin and Panic.

Socialites, parties, mysteries and a socialite detective to ride herd on all of it. Just too fun of a read!

This is the first book I'd read in this series but it didn't take long for me to catch up to what was going on. Lola Woodby is the main character in this book. She's supposed to be part of society but doesn't really have the money for it. She and her former cook, Berta, have opened up a "discreet retrieval agency" in order to make ends meet. In this book, she's supposed to have a simple retrieval, getting a rhino's head off a hunters wall. But it turns into diamond smuggling and murder and nothing is what it seems.
I thought this would be a fun mystery novel and for some readers it may be. It was just a bit too cutesy for me. Lola was actually pretty annoying what with not actually working on solving the case... ever. And she's food-focused? How is that new or interesting in a female detective?

Two and a half stars
This book comes out October 24

This is a modern book that tries, and fails spectacularly, to recreate the style of British mysteries set between the wars. The characters are unbelievable and they act in stupid, unrealistic ways. The plot is lame, and the dialogue hopelessly boring.

The blurb for the book starts out "Former socialite Lola Woodby, not-so-discreet private eye in Prohibition-era New York City, along with her grim Swedish sidekick, Berta…"

Lola is a widow who was left nothing by her husband. She is also, however, the daughter of filthy rich parents. Thus her financial situation is at least partially her own choice, and her pecuniary situation would not negate her social standing. However, her efforts to snag a new husband by
fooling around (wink wink) with a cad thinking to snare him into marriage, certainly would bar her from polite company.

Berta, far from being grim, seems to be the brains of the bunch, directing the investigations and managing the funds.

They undertake a shady assignment to steal something (oops "recover" something) based on the flimsiest story you ever heard. No fact finding, no questioning the tale, but a headlong rush to the country for an adventure.

Absolutely unreadable. Stick with the real thing from authors like Patricia Wentworth.

I received a review copy of "Gin and Panic: A Mystery" by Maia Chance (St. Martin's) through NetGalley.com.

Lord Sudley employs Lola Woodby, and Mrs Berta Lundgren to retrieve what he considers to be his rhinoceros trophy from the Connecticut mansion of his friend and big game hunter Rudy Montgomery. Not all goes to plan when a shot is heard and a body found.
The second of this series that I have read and I still couldn't take to the two main characters, and styleof writing resulting in not enjoying this light mystery.

Fun mystery. Some of the antics seemed a little too contrived, but it was entertaining.

Light and fun mystery. Maybe not the strongest entry in the series, but still entertaining.

Thanks St. Martin's Press and netgalley for this ARC,

Loved, Loved this new book by Mai Chance. This is the deepest mystery yet for our detectiving ladies. I hope this series goes on forever!

GIN AND PANIC is a delightful, dizzy, madcap light mystery. It is a comedy novel, more than a serious mystery and that is its essential charm.

The book is set in the Roaring Twenties and the characters reflect the period's colorful characteristics---gangsters, house parties, restless socialites--topped off with a cook turned detective.

I loved every minute of this light, escapist novel. It would be a perfect tonic for someone who needs a
lift. NetGalley provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.