Saturday, May 3, 2025

BLOG TOUR - The Seaside Murders



DESCRIPTION:  

A pretty seaside town, a body on the beach, and a boatload of clues. Can super-sleuth Miss Jane Treen solve the mystery?

England, 1941: When Jane Treen is summoned to her boss’s office at the end of a long day, she smooths down her tweed skirt and makes them both another strong pot of coffee. Brigadier Remmington-Blythe slides a folded copy of the evening newspaper towards her, with one small article circled in red ink. A body has been found on an English beach in the little seaside town where she grew up, and he wants her to investigate.

Jane is used to managing secret agents and spies, but she is now part of The Secret Detective Agency, England’s answer to solving the most mysterious murders. Making her way to the coast and brimming with curiosity, she’s heartened that shy and handsome codebreaking genius Arthur Cilento will be joining her to help her wade through the fishy goings-on. Although Jane doubts he will appreciate her bringing her beloved one-eyed cat, Marmaduke…

Together, Jane and Arthur drop anchor in her crumbling childhood home overlooking the sandy beach where the body was found. Surrounded by potential suspects, their eyes are on a devious doctor, an eccentric artist and a secret sweetheart. But as Jane and Arthur are searching for the truth, those giving evidence start to clam up. One thing seems sure: they need to reel in the killer before they’re out of their depth…

Can The Secret Detective Agency triumph again, or will they meet their watery end at high tide?

If you love twisty crime novels, top-secret intrigue and the very best of Golden Age mysteries, then you will adore Helena Dixon’s totally gripping cozy novel, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Verity Bright!

Buy Link:

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Title:   The Seaside Murders
Author:  Helena Dixon
Series:  The Secret Detective Agency #2
Publisher:  Bookouture
Genre:   Cozy Mystery
Format:  Kindle ARC 
No. of Pages:  308
Date of Publication:  April 30, 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

Miss Jane Treen, her associate Arthur Cilento, and her beloved cat Marmaduke (poor Arthur and his asthma) soon arrive at a quaint seaside town to investigate another murder. Despite their small detective agency, Jane’s boss has summoned her to the scene.

While anyone could be a suspect, the townspeople seem reluctant to cooperate with Jane and Arthur’s questions.

Reading a book set during World War II offers fascinating insights. In this case, I found it intriguing to learn about the limited freedom granted to some prisoners who worked on the farms in England and the responsibilities of the land girls. A particularly intriguing revelation came when a missing prisoner, whose body was later discovered, heightened the urgency of their investigation. 

Jane, Arthur, and his adept manservant Benson work seamlessly together as they delve deeper into the case. I appreciate the backdrop of World War II and the unique dynamic of Jane as Arthur’s superior, which was uncommon during that era. I eagerly anticipate their future adventures.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Helena Dixon is the author of the best-selling Miss Underhay murder mystery series and lives in Devon. Married to the same man for over thirty-five years she has three daughters, a cactus called Spike, and a crazy cockapoo. She is allergic to adhesives, apples, tinsel and housework. She was winner of The Romance Prize in 2007 and Love Story of the Year 2010 as Nell Dixon.

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