DESCRIPTION:Martin and Albie are jetting off for some sun and sangria. But they didn’t bank on finding a body on the beach…
Fresh from their last case at Twilight Lodge, Martin and Albie reward themselves with a relaxing trip to the sun-soaked island of Menorca.
But when they head down to breakfast one morning, they happen upon a panicked husband reporting his wife, bestselling author Karen Squires, missing. Soon afterwards they’re shocked to discover Karen’s body on the beach.
Local police call it a tragic one look at the broken safety fence on the cliffs above suggests Karen fell. But the victim’s perfectly-manicured nails tells Martin that this was no accident. She was pushed.
Back at the hotel, the duo discover that Karen was running a retreat for writers, all of whom seem shocked by her untimely passing. But which one of them may have had a motive for murder? Was a fellow writer jealous of her success? Did her devoted husband feel sidelined?
As they hunt for clues, they realise that the answer may be found in one of Karen’s bestsellers and luckily for them, Albie’s girlfriend, Barbara, is her number one fan. A killer is hiding in plain sight. But to get to them, can they separate the fact from the fiction before it’s too late?
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Amazon: https://geni.us/B0FT5HS5DPsocial
Title: The Armchair Detectives on HolidayAuthor: Matt Dunn
Series: The Armchair Detective Mysteries #2
Publisher: Bookouture
Date of Publication: June 22, 2026
My Rating: 4 Stars
MY THOUGHTS:
In the first book Matt Dunn’s British cozy mystery series, Martin and Albie form an uneasy alliance. Martin is thrilled, while Albie is reluctant to admit their past collaboration. The story begins with unexplained deaths in the nursing home where both octogenarians reside, and Martin senses something amiss. With the occasional assistance of Martin’s daughter, Dionne, a police constable, they unravel the mystery.
In the second book, Martin, Albie, and Dionne embark on a holiday. One morning, while at the hotel clerk’s desk, Martin overhears a man’s desperate plea about his missing wife, Karen. With Martin’s hidden past in the “company” and his success in solving the nursing home murders, he decides to help the distraught husband. They set off to find Karen, an author on a “plot walk” - a brainstorming technique. However, she has been missing for far too long.
Tragically, they discover Karen’s body over a cliff edge, revealing that her death was not an accident but a murder. Karen and several authors were attending a writing retreat, and Martin suspects one of the other authors is responsible.
This cozy mystery series is a delightful read so far! Martin is a charming character, while Albie embodies the grumpy old man stereotype. Dionne, on the other hand, is determined to keep them both in check. I thoroughly enjoy the camaraderie between Martin and Albie, as well as their bond with Dionne. The mystery in this novel is well-crafted, with a few plot twists that keep the reader guessing. This second book is a fantastic addition to Dunn’s series, seamlessly blending mystery and humor. I eagerly anticipate the next installment in the series.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Matt Dunn is the author of numerous novels, including the bestselling The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook (which was shortlisted for both the RNA Romantic Novel of the Year Award and the Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance), A Day at the Office, 13 Dates (shortlisted for the RNA Romantic Comedy of the Year), and At The Wedding (an Amazon Kindle #1 bestseller). He’s also written for various publications including The Times, Guardian, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Company, Elle, and The Sun. Previously, he’s worked as a professional lifeguard, fitness-equipment salesman, and most recently, an I.T. head-hunter (where his success in re-writing other people’s CVs made him think he might have a talent for fiction), but he prefers writing novels for a living.
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