Great Characters, Immersive Setting, but a Bit Hard to Follow

I love a good historical mystery, and The Secret Detective Agency has a lot going for it—WWII London, espionage, secret agents with nursery rhyme code names, and an unlikely detective duo in Jane Treen and Arthur Cilento. The setting is immersive, and Helena Dixon does a fantastic job pulling you into the chaos of bombings and wartime tension.

What really worked for me were the characters. Treen and Cilento don’t particularly like each other, but they make a great team out of necessity. There’s a level of mutual respect without camaraderie, which actually made their dynamic refreshing. And I have to say, Treen’s coffee and cigarette addiction reminded me of my younger days working in radio—caffeine and nicotine were practically their own food groups back then.

That said, the mystery itself was a bit hard to follow. The slow start may have caused me to miss key details, and by the time things picked up, I felt like I was playing catch-up. Operation Exodus, the murdered agents, and the espionage plot were all intriguing, but I struggled to keep track of who was who and what their motivations were. The bombings and war setting added to the confusion—not necessarily in a bad way, because it made the story feel authentic, but it also made it harder to focus on the unraveling mystery.

The narration by Kristin Atherton was excellent. She gave each character distinct voices and really brought the book to life, making the audiobook experience even better.

If you love historical mysteries with a strong setting, enjoy wartime espionage, reluctant detective partnerships, and a layered investigation, this could be for you. Just be prepared to pay close attention, as it’s easy to miss small but important details.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio for the ALC via NetGalley!

This is a fun cosy mystery, set in England in WW2. After setting the scene for what I assume is to be a series of mysteries, the author has devised a twisty plot in a credible wartime England with a number of diverse, quirky characters who I look forward to meeting again in other books in the series.

It was a real pleasure to listen to this audiobook; Kristin Atherton’s narration is clear, expressive, and a very good speed.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the advanced audio format of this book!

Set in 1941 London, Jane Treen is not your average detective. She's fueled by a constant stream of coffee and cigarettes and totes a one-eyed, fluffy cat as her sidekick. When an agent from her field turns up dead in the small town of Devon, she finds herself collaborating with a quiet and severely asthmatic puzzle-solving pro, Arthur Cilento, to solve the case before more bodies start piling up.

If you like slow-paced mysteries plus historical fiction, this may be a good read for you. I found the pacing to be too slow, bordering on dull; nothing felt overly urgent until the very end. The story wrapped weirdly quickly after such a slow burn while still leaving a big opening for future books in the series. There was less character development than I prefer and while they each had some fun, quirky traits, I was really turned off by Jane's blatant disregard for Aruthur's health issues. I think Arthur's butler, Benson, was my favorite character but I don't think he got enough credit or character development. Despite being a huge part of solving the case, he was treated more like a background character.

The writing was fine and the details were thoughtful to make this period piece true to the 1940's. The audio narration was well done as well. That said, it is unlikely that I will return for the second installment of this series.

High quality quick listen cozy mystery is a good opening to a new series. The narration was good the story and plot more relevant to the time it was set in . Easy to follow and the final reveal i never guessed . Entertaining but a very a to b plot with predictable spy overtones. Perfect for a cozy mystery series short and to the point. This was more about the mystery than the characters I think it would have benefited from more character development however it did make me want to read book 2 to find out about them so maybe it was deliberate. A good start for a series. Thank you netgallery, publisher , author and narrator

The first few chapters were a little tough just because there were a ton of characters thrown at you very quickly, but after things got rolling, I loved this fast-paced mystery set in 1940s Britain.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I truly enjoyed this book. It is always nice to try a new series and find the first book enjoyable, which I have found happens not that often when it comes to series labeled as cozy mysteries. Maybe because of that, reading this book hasn't felt like a cozy mystery to me; the plot, characters, and tone are more similar to historical mysteries, which I love to read. Kristin Atherton's narration is excellent, both in a fitting tone for the setting and still making characters lively. Sometimes, cozies get too sweet with the narration for my taste; this is definitely not one of them.

I don't want to give too much about the plot. The dynamic between Arthur and Jane works quite well. If you like the themes of espionage and WWII but also find the high stakes and heartbreaking moments in a WWII setting too hard to read, you should try this one. I guess that is why it can be seen as a cozy mystery, although the cover mostly does that job.

I haven't read Helena Dixon's Miss Underhay Series. I think I will try that one, too, and follow this series. I quite liked her storytelling, and I'm always up for a new British series.

Thanks to Bookouture Audio for this ARC copy, which I received via NetGalley.

3.5 stars! 🌟 Huge thanks to Bookouture Audio for the ALC via NetGalley! 💌🎧

The Secret Detective Agency – a cozy historical murder mystery with a twist, and I have some thoughts… 🤔

Miss Jane Treen is basically the queen of caffeinated chaos. ☕ She's got her trusty fluffy cat, Marmaduke, by her side and is always ready to solve a mystery or two—preferably one with a side of drama. She's sent to Devon, 1941, to investigate a suspicious death in a lake. But things quickly take a darker turn, and she's paired up with the reluctant, shy, asthma-suffering code-breaker, Arthur Cilento. 🧐

The first half of this book was a bit of a slog. The pacing was slow, and the characters felt like they were just going through the motions. Jane’s over-the-top bossiness and constant smoking near Arthur (hello? He has asthma!) 😤 were straight-up frustrating. Like, girl, just chill for a sec. I get that she's a tough, no-nonsense character, but could she cut Arthur a break? 🙄 The constant repetition of her smoking habits and his asthma was kind of... exhausting. But hey, she’s a complicated character, and I’m sure she’ll grow. Fingers crossed!

But, THEN, the plot picks up! 🤩 The story gains momentum, and things start coming together. The suspense kicks in, and I’m finally invested. Arthur and Jane’s partnership has some real potential, and by the end, I was totally rooting for them. 🥹💘 They work so well together, like Sherlock and Watson, but with a bit more sass and definitely a lot more coffee. ☕️

I also can’t forget the brilliant narration by Kristin Atherton ! She brought Jane’s chaotic energy to life, and I was totally hooked by her performance. 🎧🔥

Was the ending a bit too quick? Yeah, it kind of left me blinking like... that’s it? 🤨 But I’m still here for the next book! There’s enough intrigue and potential to make me want to see where this partnership goes next! 🕵️‍♀️💖

So, if you like cozy mysteries with a splash of historical flavor, and some nice twists, this one’s for you! 🔍✨

The Secret Detective Agency (Audiobook) by Helena Dixon

Jane Treen works for a top-secret government agency in England and when another of her secret agents is found dead on Arthur’s property in Devon, Jane grabs her beloved cat, Marmaduke, and comes to Devon to investigate.

Jane Treen loves coffee and to chain smoke in other people’s houses, especially Arthur’s who has asthma, without asking for permission. She is not afraid to speak her mind and not easily Intimidated.

Arthur Cilento is a quiet man of few words. He is a code breaker. He lives on a large estate inherited from his uncle.

With Jane’s arrival Arthur is forced to partner with her in her investigation. They are both complete opposites but that is what makes this partnership great.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture Audio for a copy of this Audiobook in exchange for an honest review

I love Helena Dixon's Miss Underhay series and was excited to listen to this first in her new series. Now bear with me here. Ultimately, I like this book, and I am already looking forward to getting to know Jane and Arthur better in what I hope is a long running series. However, it is a testimony to Ms. Dixon's storytelling skills that I finished the book. because for the vast majority of it, Jane Treen was the rudest and most annoying protagonist that I have come across in a long time. Other than that, this is an engaging read. The mystery involving wartime intrigues is complex, and Arthur, a severe asthmatic and brilliant code breaker, is a unique and likeable character. The character development is slow and subtle, but by the end of the book, there is a noticeable alteration in both Jane and Arthur. Whether or not they will become involved in a slow burn romance is anyone's guess, but at least they are on their way to forming a crack investigative team. So, my recommendation is to be prepared to be annoyed, for a time, but also to enjoy the tale Ms. Dixon weaves in this introductory read.

Thank You, NetGalley and the publishers for an opportunity to listen to The Secret Detective Agency by Helena Dixon.

This was a cosy mystery set against the backdrop of the Second World War. It kind of reminded me of Hercule Poirot in a way, not so much the main characters but the setting.

But I did like the characters of Arthur, his butler/man Friday and Jane who end up making the secret detective agency.

Looking forward to the next.

Thanks

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for this ALC.

This series has a very interesting and promising premise. I love that it is set during the war and it includes a female agent (which I know there were a lot of during that time, but they don't get talked about enough). I liked the slight romance beginning to build between the two agents, but the main part of the story fell slightly flat for me.

I finished the book in one day, however the only times when I was grabbed by the story was when the author was talking about the cat or hinting at the romance. I was looking forward to the murder mystery but it ended up feeling quite anticlimactic. That is not to say that loads of other people are not going to love this book and series, and while I enjoyed it I don't see myself reading on in the series.

‘The Secret Detective Agency’ by Helena Dixon is a captivating historical cosy mystery set in London during 1941, amid the tension and turmoil of World War II. The story follows Jane Treen, a sharp and determined secret agent, and Arthur Cilento, a code-breaker with asthma, as they join forces to investigate the murder of one of Jane’s agents. The two are an unlikely pair — Jane, driven by coffee, nicotine, and an unrelenting passion for justice, and Arthur, a tea-drinking intellectual who prefers a more methodical approach. Together, they embark on a tense journey to unravel a web of deceit, uncover stolen identities, and chase down an elusive killer, all while navigating the complications of a high-stakes government operation.

The dynamic between Jane and Arthur is one of the book’s highlights. Their contrasting personalities create a compelling and often humorous partnership, providing both tension and charm as they work through the mystery. Jane’s unwavering determination and headstrong nature balance perfectly with Arthur’s quieter, more reserved demeanor. Their interactions and growing mutual respect form the heart of the story, adding emotional depth to the thrilling plot.

The story itself is well-paced, with plenty of twists and turns that kept me eagerly following along. The mystery is layered and intricate, and just when you think you have a handle on it, another clue or revelation sends you in a new direction. The 1941 setting is also beautifully realised, with historical details seamlessly woven into the narrative, making it a delightful read for fans of historical fiction.

As for the audiobook experience, Kristin Atherton’s narration was a standout. Her voice work brought the characters to life, with distinct voices for each, making it easy to distinguish between characters, and elevated the story and made for an enjoyable listening experience.

‘The Secret Detective Agency’ is a wonderful blend of cosy mystery, historical fiction, and wartime intrigue. Fans of strong, independent female protagonists, as well as those who enjoy a dash of Golden Age detective fiction, will find this book highly satisfying.

This first installment promises an exciting new series, and I’m already looking forward to the next adventure for Jane and Arthur. Highly recommended for fans of cosy mysteries, WWII settings, and compelling detective fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the advanced copy.

The Secret Detective Agency is an engaging mystery novel with a fun premise and a cast of likable characters. The story moves at a steady pace, offering plenty of twists and turns to keep readers entertained.

Although short, the book still delivers an enjoyable read, especially for fans of lighthearted detective stories. The writing style is accessible, making it a good choice for younger readers or anyone looking for a casual mystery adventure.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC read.

#netgalley #arc

The Secret Detective Agency is book one in a new series centered on spies and sleuths in a sleepy Devon town. I had easily assumed that there would be a comedic aspect to the book but it turned out to be more serious than what I was expecting. The story is interesting but does not solely focus on Jane and Arthur's experience working for the ministry.

When a body of a secret female agent is discovered in a lake in a sleepy Devon village, Jane Treen is sent to investigate. With a long list of suspects, Jane must work with the locals without giving away her identity. She assumes the role as the deceased woman's cousin and begins working through her long list of suspects. Arthur Cilento is the owner of the property where the body was discovered and just so happens to be a brilliant code-breaker that has just been assigned to work with Jane to solve the case. Jane Treen and Arthur Cilento are an unlikely duo and strong foil characters. Jane Treen is brusque, impatient, smokes incessantly, and totes around her orange cat, while Arthur is an asthmatic who is introspective but can be a bit taciturn after working with Jane. As the two begin to solve the mystery surrounding the agent's death, a series of unfortunate accidents happen around town. It seems like there is a mole working in Whitehall, and at the very least, a murderer is on the loose.

The book is a good mix of espionage and sleuthing. It reminded me of Julia Kelly's book, A Traitor in Whitehall or of Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime book. It was an interesting book and a great start to a wonderful series.

Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary, and all thoughts are my own opinion.

I enjoy a cozy mystery and this is a fun new series set in Britain during 1941 with a the two colleagues that are not terribly fond of one another, Jane Treen and Arthur Cilento, forced together to solve a murder. The two are working to investigate the murder of one of Jane’s secret agents and bodies keep surfacing.

The story does begin a little slow with lots of characters coming into the story but hang in there! The characters are so likable and and the historical details are great! I listened to the audiobook and it had wonderful narration!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advance copy of the audio book.

The Secret Detective Agency has a good set up. We’re in London in 1941, right in the middle of WW2. Jane Treen, a mid level spymaster working in Whitehall, is concerned because several of her agents who were connected with Operation Exodus have been murdered. There seems to be a mole in their midst. Most recently, Kate Trevellian was murdered in a small village outside of Exeter, at Half Moon Manor, the home of Arthur Cilento. Arthur, conveniently, is a mathematician and codebreaker who also works for the government. Arthur had been renting the house out to Kate, and he has just returned home, so is not a suspect. Jane’s boss sends her to Half Moon Manor to work with Arthur to figure out who murdered Kate and uncover the plot to kill off the remaining Operation Exodus spies.

Jane and Arthur are total contrasts to each other. Jane is intuitive, on the move, and a chain-smoker (as we are told often). Arthur is an introvert, logic-oriented and has severe asthma. For Arthur, having Jane and her cat in the house is almost a nightmare. For Jane, having to put up with his glares and dragging him around with her is annoying. They do work together well though but their interactions can be frustrating for the reader. Maybe they’re supposed to give Holmes and Watson vibes, one cerebral, one more action-oriented, but it fails. And Arthur’s man servant, Benson, seems to be the most competent of all of them.

The plot is fine. Each clue points the pair to the next. There is a bit of danger and a couple of twists.

I listened to the audio and the narrator did a good job. Each character had a distinct voice and the pace worked well for the story.

Overall, the book was good enough that I will consider picking up the sequel but not so good that it’s a must-read. And although it’s being marketed as a “totally gripping historical English cozy murder mystery,” I don’t think it was totally gripping and espionage intrigue and spy masters don’t really fit the “cozy” description.

A good way to start a new series. This story has plenty of twist and turns as characters try to solve this murder. The book brings one back to the past during the war and draws one in as if they were part of the era.

This book will be available March 27, 2025


The Secret Detective Agency is a cozy mystery sat in London in 1941, the World War 2 era. It is fully of stolen identities, corruption and being lead all over by Jane and Arthur. Jane is fueled by nicotine and coffee, she’s a super sleuth, passionate and head strong. Arthur is the opposite, he’s a tea drinker, a code breaker and has asthma. They couldn’t be any more different. But they come together to solve the murder of Jane’s agent. While doing so they uncover a web of deceit and face confusion around a top secret operation.

Jane Treen, a top secret government worker, and proud of the work she does. But Jane has had to deal with deaths of numerous of her agents. She finds herself going to Devon to help with the investigation of the latest death. A body of a woman was found dead in the lake, in a place she shouldn’t have been. The body was found outside Arthurs home forcing Jane and Arthur to work together. They both determined things were worse off than they believed, and far more was at stake. They had to work together to gather any useful information, but they are aware that they are truly only one step behind their unknown killer.

I really enjoyed the narrator Kristin Atherton, I was blah on the male voices on the audiobook. Helena does a good job carrying the listener alone on the journey that Jane and Arthur embarked on to find this killer. Ive begin to learn that I really like historical fiction books, but you add that with a cozy mystery and im sold. I already can’t wait for the next book in this series to come out I will for sure be reading it!

If you like:
* Cozy Mystery
* Historical Fiction
* WWII England
* Murder
* Reluctant colleagues
* Cozy detective fiction

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this ALC (advance listener copy) and thank you Helena Dixon for a good new series.

This will seem like a wildly contradictory review and it just might be that, but I am a very emotional reader and what might bug me one day will not the next AND just because some things bug me doesn't always mean it takes away from my reading experience. Just an FYI. ;-)

I do enjoy Kristin Atherton as a narrator and she does an excellent job here [she nails each voice and makes it that character's own and it was one time that I actually truly enjoyed all the "voices". I honestly cannot give any higher praise]. I enjoyed how she voiced Jane and Arthur [men's voices are so difficult and Ms. Atherton really tackles that mostly comes out on top - I think there is only one voice that I didn't love, but perhaps it was just the character. ;-) ] and I feel that she really helped the story move along well and handled the serious emotions of the story really well. I absolutely recommend this audiobook for this really well told story.

Now my feelings for the book itself.
1. I really like Arthur. He is kind, smart, and doing his best for the war effort in spite of his serious limitations [which he never complains about; stiff upper lip and all], and he puts up with Jane [more on that later] in a much nicer way than I could have. ;-) He is a gentleman in the highest form and that shines through over and over again and he chooses to use his intelligence for good and that is really refreshing.

2. Jane. Sigh. What a complex, confusing, confounding character she is. I like her. I really do. Her spirit, independence, her love of country and her job [which she takes very seriously and strives to do her very best at and heaven help you if you try and work against her OR hurt those who she is working with] is just fantastic and I admire her chutzpah in this time of war and confusion.
That said...
I DID NOT like/enjoy her dismissive attitude towards Arthur [she initially treats him like an inferior, which he most certainly is not and I think that might be due to his health issues], her initial complete disregard for his asthma [with her super-brisk walking and EXCESSIVE smoking <--more on that later], and amazingly [as I am someone who 100% thrives on snark] her super-snarky, superior, impatient attitude. I am not sure why, but there were moments where it REALLY annoyed me; thankfully it wasn't all the time, and the very good storyline kept a lot of my annoyance at bay [see? wildly contradictory. LOL].

3. The CONSTANT reference to cigarettes [as a child of family that smoked and saw the destruction of health due to them, AND has breathing issues herself, this really was a negative for me] AND Jane's excessive need of them [and the whining when she could not have them]. We *KNOW* she smokes [how could we NOT] and is very addicted to them, we do not need constant references to them. Seriously. Also, the coffee references, though those didn't bother me as much because 1. I too love coffee and I would be both cranky AND sad if I didn't have access to it and 2. I cannot image how difficult it would have been to give up so muh because of the war, and coffee, if it was something I was used to and that I loved, I think I would grumble about it as well. But the constant cigarette references? UGH. I can only hope that they are not there in book 2.

4. There was some repetitiveness early on that was kind of annoying [and made me think it was going down the route that so many mysteries seem to unfortunately be doing these days], but thankfully that evened out rather quickly and I was thankful.

5. The descriptions of England and the war were spot on [from someone who has read an excessive amount of WW2 nonfiction] and the accurate descriptions really added to the story and made it very believable.

6. The reveal. WHOOSH! THAT was unexpected. I was so sure of who it was...I was V E R Y wrong. :-)

Overall, this was a really great read/listen for me [even with my minor grievances ;-) ] and I am very much looking forward to book 2!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Helena Dixon, Kristin Atherton - Narrator, and Bookouture Audio for providing this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love this genre - historical mixed in with some detective mystery and especially during the set of the war, it added an extra compelling element. It was super easy to get into and the audiobook made for happy listening so I seemed to finish it in no time.

When a body is found, it launches Arthur and Jane headlong into a mystery and one that could threaten an operation within the war.

I enjoyed their joint liaison in finding out what had happened and with murmurings of a spy in their midst, the people they can trust begin to dwindle and they’re somewhat thrown together to get to the bottom of the mystery. Especially when the bodies keep dropping. Great audiobook.