The Secret Detective Agency was like reading a cozy PBS mystery drama. It was a nice quick read good but not necessarily a standout. At times the characters and all the code names could a tad bit confusing for me. I did listen to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio, and Helena Dixon for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Secret Detective Agency (Book 1 of the The Secret Detective Agency) by Helena Dixon features Miss Jane Treen, a secret super sleuth, who is called to Devon to investigate a woman's mysterious death. Set in 1941, the novel follows Jane and code-breaker Arthur Cilento as they work to uncover the killer. It's a cozy historical mystery filled with twists, intrigue, and a touch of Golden Age detective style.

The engaging storyline and the layered mystery kept me captivated. Kristin Atherton's narration was superb, with distinct voices that truly brought each character to life, enhancing the listening experience. The dynamic between Jane and Arthur is particularly enjoyable; their contrasting skills and personalities create a compelling partnership.

I would recommend The Secret Detective Agency to fans of cozy mysteries who enjoy strong, independent female protagonists. This is a promising start to a series, and I am eager to see what new mysteries Jane and Arthur will unravel in future installments.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

1941 and Miss Jane Treen is off to Devon when one of her team is found dead in a lake at the bottom of Arthur Cilento’s home. Arthur is a code breaker who will work with Jane to discover the murderer but not before other lives are lost,

Well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Good characters in this well paced cosy crime novel set during WWII. Clues must be followed while the pair try crime solving together. Very enjoyable.

This was such a fun listen - and I'm delighted to see that it is the first in a planned series! Dixon's characters were charming and witty and quirky and the perfect pairing of personalities. The mystery was interesting and well plotted. The historical elements added a lot of detail that I found fascinating and helped round out the mystery. The narration was excellent and both the main characters and supporting cast were well presented. I'm definitely looking forward to more in this series!

Miss Jane Treen is dealing with the sudden death of agents from an operation she ran.  Arthur is returning home with ever-present and prepared Benson. Their opposite approach to problem solving complements each other’s plus Benson’s skills. There were some hints on their backstories that I can’t wait to explore in future books. 

There were a couple of moments that Arthur’s actions invoked thoughts of Batman and his utility belt. As the story progressed Jane’s brashness softened. They worked great as a team - the three of them. 

Not sure I was all-in on the code names, but I enjoyed the team banter and the story. 

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for the opportunity to do an early read and share my thoughts on the story. 

Happy Reading!

The Secret Detective Agency, the seminal novel in a new series that combines a traditional English cozy, with a spy thriller set in WWII, for effective results. The characters are likeable, without being cliche or too predictable. An engaging and enjoyable read that will leave you wanting to pick up the forthcoming second book.

This is an easy listen audiobook sleuthing mystery. The main characters are interesting, and I can see may develop more in future books. Set in the 1940s, the war is going on and agents are being killed. The race is on to find the culprit. There are enough suspects and many fortuitous crossing of paths. But the reason revealed was unexpected, and for me, from the story, unknowable. Also another age, but can’t see why Jane, so bright and intuitive, can’t see that her smoking is affecting Arthur, her somewhat forced, partner’s health. This issue was repeated too often; and the same for her cat. Having said all of that I would like to listen to the next book when it’s available. Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

i ATE this up. what more could i ask for??? a grumpy autistic code cracker with asthma and a powerfully smart chain smoking woman with a one eyed cat called marmaduke in the middle of a murder she wrote esque mystery set during the first world war. it was mysterious, funny, engaging and honestly just what i needed. loved it.

3.5 Stars..... Wanted to do 4 but Jane grated on my nerves.....

I love Helena Dixon and have read everything she's ever written.

What works.... Good Storyline. Intriguing mystery, true to time period of WWII, with references to the Blitz and black out curtains.

What didn't.... JANE.... obtuse, rude, The way she treated Arthur - while staying at his home and eating his food (even with her ration card). Her character did not need to be written that unlikeable. Arthur is asthmatic and she is always being snide to him - walking too fast in the dead of winter or CONSTANTLY SMOKING in his presence and let's not forget bringing her cat into her house (they is a chapter towards the end of the book where she has the cat in his study).... I don't see how making her so unlikeable makes the story work.

Arthur is a code breaker and an introvert.

Will I want to read book 2, heck yes. Good storyline - and I want to see if Jane becomes more human.

The description of this book really caught my attention: Meet Miss Jane Treen - the coffee-drinking cat lover dressed head to toe in tweed, who just happens to be a secret super sleuth!
That line really caught my attention and I was excited to read this book.

I rated the book 2 stars only because I just couldn’t not get into it. There was plenty of good parts but the story wasn’t grabbing my attention liked I hope. I also think it had to do with it the book being written in third person narrative. I prefer first person stories, so sometimes a third person story is harder for me to engage with.

However, I did really enjoy the narration of the audio book. I think the reader did an amazing job and loved that she did different voices for each person who was talking.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy of this audiobook.

This was a fabulous cosy mystery. The story moved at just the right pace and the narrator did a brilliant job with all the voices. All the characters were well written with just the right level of description to bring them to life without slowing the pace. Thoroughly enjoyable listen. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early copy of this audio book.

I enjoyed this quick and engaging mystery of a secret mission gone wrong. I loved the narration - she did a great job with the different characters. I did find the constant smoking references to be tedious, but overall I found the plot to be fast paced and intriguing. Jane wasn’t a very likable character at first, but she grew on me. The effect of the war on their day to day lives was sprinkled through out, which brought an interesting element. I would recommend this listen!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookoutoure Audio for the opportunity to listen to The Secret Detective Agency in exchange for my honest review!

I loved this book! I listened to the book and the narrator was so good. The book is set in World War II London and the British countryside. The two main characters were fun to get to know. The story picks up with the main character, Jane, who works in British Intelligence. Her team of agents are being picked off one by one and there is a traitor they need to find. The descriptions of the scenes really made the reader feel and smell the British countryside and war torn London. The story is well paced and all the characters were well written. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Love English historical fiction and the mystery on it made this book a great read!!! Though I have to admit I was expecting something giddy nice happening between Jane and Arthur, but I guess this is more mystery more than anything; which is so good!!! Narrator did a superb job in transitioning into different characters, in a very quick manner!!! I would love to listen to more Helena Dixon’s books.
Thank you NG!!!

Title: The Secret Detective Agency
Series: The Secret Detective Agency Book #1
Author: Helena Dixon
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Kristin Atherton
Publisher: Bookouture Audio
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Audiobook Pub Date: - March 27, 2025.
My Rating: 3.3
Pages: 316

Story takes place January 1941 - in Devon, a village outside Exeter and Cornwall near London.

The main characters are Miss Jane Treen who does top secret government work in Whitehall and Mr. Arthur Cilento a code-breaker and mathematician. Oh yes plus Miss Treen’s cat Marmaduke

Jane Treen has received an urgent call that a woman has been found dead in a lake in a place where she shouldn’t have been.

It appears there is a traitor in Whitehall.
A major spy operation went wrong and several of the agents have been murdered. Jane’s supervisor has assigned her to work with mild mannered Arthur to identify what is going on before any more agents are killed.

Jane Treen our protagonist’, is sooo annoying with her bossy attitude, excessive smoking.
Kristin Atherton the audiobook narrator did a great job in performing her personality and character.

Jane is well aware that Arthur has asthma. However, she is so mean with smoking near him additionally adorable Marmaduke is a long haired cat – anyone with any consideration would not do the things she was doing. I was so upset with her attitude had a difficult time sticking to a story I was sure I would like.
My thoughts were that I hoped Jane changed or is killed off in order for me to read the next story in this series.

Yes! It does get better and the ending was a bit of a surprise.
Jane and Arthur actually make a good team!
They will be a team in " The Murder at the Dolphin Hotel]" The Secret Detective Agency Book #2.

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this audiobook.
Audiobook Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 18, 2025

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

The Secret Detective Agency is a new series from the author of the Miss Underhay cosy historical mysteries. This time the action takes place during the Second World War.

In a move away from the genteel society of the 1930s, Britain is now at war and Miss Jane Treen is working at the War Office, co-ordinating agents out in the field. When a body is found out in the countryside, she heads out of own to the home of Arthur Cilento, academic and code breaker for the War Office. A number of field agents are missing, and two have been found dead. There is suspicion of a mole in the War Office that could put everyone in danger.

Together, Jane and Arthur must solve the mystery and work out if there are bigger implications of the death on national security.

This first novel is as much about meeting the main characters, but there's a deviously twisty plot to keep us and the protagonists on our toes. In a world of spies and subterfuge, is anyone who they claim to be?

What I enjoy most about Helena Dixon mysteries is the strong female protagonists, doing their best in worlds where their options are limited by society. They often go against the societal norms, but not in a way that feels jarring against what we know of the time. The research that goes into these novels brings the time periods to life for the reader, educating them about life in that period, without being overwhelming. The period detail is tightly woven into the plots, fully immersing the reader in the story.

I was really happy to hear Kristen Atherton providing the voice for the audiobook. She's a wonderful narrator, and is the voice of many of my favourite series. She reads the material so well, with excellent characterisation.

This is a series I'll be sure to follow closely.

Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advance copy of this novel and audiobook for review.

First I want to thank NetGalley and Bookoutoure for allowing me to get an ALC.

This book was a good detective story where someone ends up dead and trying to solve the mystery. Of course there is twists and turns throughout it, but some seemed to be ones you would expect.

The time is set in 1941 England so it is an old time mystery time story. But it kind of gave me Sherlock Holmes vibes from the narrator and the writing itself. But if you like old mysteries then I do recommend this one.

3.75 star read. I was lucky to receive this title as an ARC audiobook. I really enjoyed the cozy, old fashioned murder mystery feel. The author is a very descriptive writer. Who has been killing off all of the secret agents? I’ll never tell. You’ll have to read to find out, but boy there was a plot twist! Not who I was expecting.

The main reason this did not score higher was that one of the male “voices” (as portrayed by a female voice actor) was difficult for me to understand. I had to rewind a few times and slow down the speed (I listened on 1.5 for most of the book) to understand what was being said. I believe this is mostly due to the thicker accent she uses. Otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed this listen!

Loved this book. I was absolutely hooked from the start. Full of action but cosy at the same time. Brilliant narration too.