Today I am delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for the third instalment in the The Secret Detective Agency series by Helena Dixon.

This week I have been running Library lessons with our Year 8 students. They had come to choose a piece of Historical Fiction that they could then take away, read and then write a book review on. It’s a great project. I tell them about my own reading journey and how one of the things I love about reading is that it allows you to travel through time… and Helena helped me do just that as she took me back to 1940’s war torn London and the reality of living day to day in a country at war. In a nice cosy crime kind of way of course.

About the book

Big Ben chiming in the distance, chilly walks along the river Thames, cocktails at the Ritz… and a government secretary dead? Only Jane Treen can solve the case!

London, 1941. Miss Jane Treen is faced with another mysterious disappearance within her Secret Detective Agency’s team. Tabitha Moore, a government typist, was on her way to meet Jane with vital information about some secret codes. But she didn’t turn up for work and has seemingly vanished without trace. Then Jane and her colleague, handsome codebreaker Arthur Cilento, receive a call: a body has been found, and it matches Tabitha’s description…

It quickly becomes clear that Tabitha’s death was not due to ongoing air raids on the city: the silk scarf tied tightly around her neck suggests otherwise. The prime suspect is Tabitha’s fiancé Leo Cavendish, a dashing government official, but there are plenty of others with a motive too. Jane and Arthur scrutinise those around Tabitha at work and at home, including a charming newsreader reporting on government affairs, a jealous pianist in love with Leo, and a known womaniser and gambler fond of causing trouble.

Together, Jane, Arthur and her fluffy ginger cat Marmaduke hole up in her London townhouse, with black coffee in plentiful supply and a roaring fire in the grate. But just as they begin to piece together the puzzle, someone else is found dead. It’s clear they need to step up and catch the killer on the loose in the big smoke, before it’s their turn next…

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 cosy novel, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Verity Bright!

My thoughts

It was so nice to slip back amongst the pages of another Secret Detective Agency novel. These novels are gentle, intriguing and deliciously old fashioned (in the good way). I am warming more and more to Jane as she seems to soften and become more likeable in each new story that comes along. I must admit to having a soft spot for Arthur since the beginning. The whole ensemble of characters have a certain charm – yes even Jane’s mother – that I am looking forward to joining them on more and more mysteries. I enjoyed that Murder Most British was set in the heart of London and Helena did a great job of bringing the smog filled streets and sense of imminent danger that was constantly around to life. It also highlighted the darker side of life on the home front, where there were plenty who would use the cover of war to hide their violence and crimes. A thoroughly enjoyable puzzle – and I particularly enjoyed Marmaduke’s efforts in giving a helping paw to help catch the culprit.

A gentle read that provides an intriguing puzzle to solve Murder Most British was thoroughly enjoyable. I was sorry to finish and look forward to the next in the series.

Thank you to the lovely Sarah and Bookouture for inviting me to take part in this blog tour. It was a pleasure as always.

Thank you for visiting today. I am currently reading the latest novel by Tom Cox, Everything Will Swallow You. A very different read and one that I am enjoying immensely. Oh, the joy of reading! You never know what you’re gonna get next.

Until next time…