****4.5 stars!****

A missing teenager, a mysterious cult, and a case of mistaken identity sounds like the start of a bad joke, doesn’t it? *snorts* But there is nothing rotten about The Kensington Kidnap. Say hello to Epiphany Bloom (Pip to her friends) – the British Stephanie Plum. 

This cozy murder mystery is chock full of intrigue, suspense and humour which had me gripped right to the creepy climax. I’d liken Pip’s exploits to a modern-day Ealing Comedy at its dark comedic best. 

I loved all the Pip-isms. Those moments where Pip hinted at her previous escapades. They had me barking with laughter along with the need to know more.

Let’s face it Pip is no Miss Marple when it comes to sleuthing, but credit where credit is due, she is relentless in her pursuit of Matty and the truth. Being inquisitive (read: nosy) by nature does have its advantages. Even if sometimes she does get the wrong end of the stick, lol! (Makes for a more entertaining read, I say.) What is it they say about falling down a rabbit hole? *snorts*

Then we come to her sidekicks – Tim and Jimmy. Complete polar opposites. We’ve only just scratched the surface with these two. I did lots of ‘hmm-ing’ and ‘what about...?’ with these two (as usual!). It also made me wonder if either could be possible romantic interests in the series going forward. I can’t wait to find out. I know who my money is on!

Plus, let’s not forget Pip’s sister, Flis. She is an absolute hoot. She does this thing, which is absolutely hysterical, but I won’t give the game away here. Needless to say, these moments only add to the tally of giggles as you read. 

The Kensington Kidnap is a witty and wonderful start to a new must-read series, and I can’t wait to read about what Pip gets embroiled in next. Katie Gayle is one writing partnership that I hope continues for years to come.

This was a fun, quick read. Stories of mistaken identity are always page turners for me and I loved getting to know Pip. I was into the mystery and found Pip so endearing. Looking forward to future stories of Pip.

This was such a fun book. I enjoyed reading about Pip and getting to know her. The case of the mistaken identity and how Pip was going to handle it was so much fun to read. I also enjoyed that this story is a about a missing person case. I look forward to reading more of Pip and her adventures.



I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and Bookoture in return for my honest review. Thank you for the opportunity.

Ok disclaimer....I am not usually a cozy mystery kinda gal, but I might be rethinking that after finishing The Kenningston Kidnap. I am a big fan of the Stephanie Plum series and I felt like I was reading a cuter version of those books. I mean a girl and her cat? Come on you had me hooked right then! The main characters name is Pip...love, and she has a three legged cat named Most. I laughed several times which was a little awkward while sitting getting a pedicure. It just feels like the perfect kind of read we all need right now when life seems extra complicated it’s nice to read something that makes you giggle.

Epiphany Bloom does not have a good successful rate with jobs. She applies for a new job but is mistaken for another person and she goes with it and is a private investigator.  The case she is working is to find the teenage son of a famous actress. She meets some interesting characters while she looks for the missing teen.  
I look forward to the next book.

Congratulations to Kate Sidley and Gail Schimmel on the publication of The Kensington Kidnap – first in a series of cosy mysteries featuring Epiphany (Pip) Bloom!

Pip is down on her luck. She can’t seem to hold down a job, mishaps and misfortune seem to follow her wherever she goes, the amount of rent she owes her landlord is starting to accumulate and her dearest mother has informed her that no more hand-outs will be forthcoming and that she needs to grow up and fend for herself!

So off she goes to a job interview at a detective agency, but by mistake (because this is the type of thing that always happens to Pip), it’s assumed that she is the new ‘specialist’ detective who’s joining the agency to solve their latest case, which just happens to be Top Secret! The teenage son of two American A-Listers has disappeared from his Kensington home and it’s now Pip’s task to find him and return him safely! Well she’s not one to shy away from a challenge as readers will discover through the hilarious mentions throughout the book of Pip’s previous jobs and the possible reasons as to why she may have lost them: all quite easily explained and so obviously not her fault. As she often reminds herself when reminiscing about those lost opportunities: “It could have happened to anyone!” True, but it does always seem to happen to Pip!

But this time she’s determined to see things through and she wants to make sure that she succeeds! She knows everyone thinks she’s a hopeless ditz and she wants to prove them wrong for once. So she enlists the help of her sister Felicity (Flis), who’s making a name for herself as a mommy blogger with an angle towards green, healthy environmental things. Impossibly, Flis seems more flakey than Pip!! I found myself literally laughing out loud at her complete air-headedness and she’s clueless when it comes to using well known, everyday expressions and cliches. She’s a laugh-a-minute without meaning to be. And yet for some reason, everyone sees her as the more ‘together’ of the two sisters! I’ll leave you to decide, but I’m definitely #TeamPip on this one.

Pip leads readers on a bit of a riotous journey on her way to finding her missing teen! She’s a lot more street-savvy than she lets on, and that in itself shows her street-smarts! I absolutely adored this clumsy, awkward completely likeable main character, and as this is the first in a series, we can look forward to more bumbling adventures with her!

The author, Katie Gayle, is actually two South African authors: Kate Sidley and Gail Schimmel. They make a fabulous writing team, obviously playing off each other’s strengths to bring out Pip’s quirkiness and the ridiculous situations she finds herself in … displayed even more so as she tries to extricate herself from each of them! It all makes for a story that is utterly delightful and it’s perfect 5-star holiday reading.

I’m thrilled to take part in the Bookouture Books-on-Tour blog tour for The Kensington Kidnap. This was a great cozy mystery that I really enjoyed. I love the main character Pip, and I be thrilled to read more mysteries featuring her. She reminded me a bit of my favorite sleuth Agatha Raisin — sometimes fumbling, always intrepid, and laugh out loud funny!

This book was written by two authors, but the final product is seamless.

Highly recommended if you enjoy cozy mysteries! Thank you for making me part of the tour and for my kindle copy!

Pip hasn't been able to hold a job for more than a few days until disaster happens... But when she gets the opportunity to work for a PI agency she grabs that chance like there's no tomorrow. Can she solve the mystery?

This novel has all the right ingredients in the right amount. It's witty, funny and suspenseful all at the same time.

I fell in love with the characters and their particular traits. I found Flis particularly endearing and hilarious.

This book is one of those rare gems that get me hooked from the very beginning. When I had to take a break from reading because of work or something else I kept wondering what would happen next.

It's already out, so if you like a good mystery book full of wit and fun, you can get your copy of The Kensington Kidnap :)

Thank you so much @netgalley @bookouture and Katie Gayle for this ARC! ❤

I have been a big fan of Kate Carlisle’s Fixer-Upper series and so I thought I would give this Cozy Mystery a whirl. I loved the premise of The Kensington Kidnap: A catastrophically affected young woman, Ephinany Bloom, or “Pip” who lands into a mistaken identity to solve the disappearance of a famous teenage boy who was involved with a “save the environment” group: The Green Youth For Truth. 

The main character Pip is not your typical run-of-the-mill super-sleuth who knows how to solve mysteries or a capably-talented woman who is fantastic at solving lost items at a construction site or an Agatha Christie’s type of mystery sleuth.  She is a bumbling, irresponsible woman who happens to land into a job that isn’t really for her. Does she know how to do this job? No. Will she confess to her mistaken identity? Probably not. Pip is selfish, low on funds, and very behind on her rent, I didn’t necessarily like Pip for half of the book, I did like some of the other characters in this story, Her Sister Felicity for one. They are better fleshed out, have nuances that you can understand, and relationships that are realistic. Pip on the other hand was extremely flat for the first few chapters. Her antics are more entertaining the further you get into the book and her relationships are what make this story.

*Katie Gayle does a decent job of writing this cozy mystery except for her main character. I feel that Pip is an unreliable narrator of her own life and I don’t feel as if the character and the authors had much of a relationship with each other as the authors had with the story idea itself and the supporting cast. 

I was fascinated by was little back comments made in passing with people Pip met of adventures that she had all over the world. Those are stories I would really like to hear.

The mystery itself, one of kidnapping, murder, and intrigue was a good plotline, it has a triangle of potential romance and I really liked the story, I just didn’t love Pip. She was likable, I just didn’t love her. 

I hate to do this even though I did like the premise of the mystery, I think it had wonderful potential. It just took too long to connect with Pip, (even with her adorable quirks especially of stealing a three-legged cat from the vet before it was put to sleep,) and because of that this Cozy Mysteries just wasn’t my cup of tea. I have to give this book a 3-star rating. 

Fun fact: 

‘Katie Gayle is the writing partnership of best-selling South African writers, Kate Sidley and Gail Schimmel. Kate and Gail have, between them, written over ten books of various genres, but with Katie Gayle, they both make their debut in the cozy mystery genre. Both Gail and Kate live in Johannesburg, with husbands, children, dogs and cats.” Bookouture

Thank you, NetGalley, Bookouture (I have loved all your other books approved to me), and Katie Gayle for the opportunity to read The Kensington Kidnap in lieu of my honest review.

I am so pleased that I was given the opportunity to read The Kensington Kidnap as it was a truly tremendous cozy mystery and it did not disappoint!

The pacing moved along at a fair rate of knots and I loved the exciting plotline. Epiphany ‘Pip’ Bloom, a temp, is skint and can barely afford to feed her three-legged cat, called Most. Her current job is at a PI company and Pip knows she can't mess this one up as she really needs the dosh. When her new boss mistakes her for somebody else, believing her to be an expert in searching for missing people, he tasks her with finding Matty Price, the teenager of two celebrities, and she spots a golden opportunity...

Full of thrills and totally addictive, it held my attention from the very first chapter. Pip was a great narrator; a likeable central character with ingenuity and plenty of grit. Katie Gayle's clever writing meant I didn't want to put this book down and there were moments of danger as well as the harebrained frivolity. This brilliant story was masterfully executed by the author, with a great reveal that caught me unawares.

I shall be looking out for the next instalment in this series by Katie Gayle who clearly has talent. I recommend The Kensington Kidnap as a hugely worthwhile and an excellent read.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Katie Gayle’s The Kensington Kidnap is a fun, delightful and hilarious cosy mystery that introduces a new amateur sleuth: Epiphany Bloom.

Epiphany ‘Pip’ Bloom is desperate. With no job, no money and no way to pay her rent, the last thing she needs is her mother badgering her on the phone and refusing to help her out with a loan in her hour of need. With her landlord nice and dishy Tim not exactly best pleased that she owes him months in unpaid rent, Pip needs to get out of bed, put down her celebrity gossip magazines and start finding ways to get herself employed. However, that is proving to be quite a challenge – especially as her last job was a spectacular disaster. But just when she was about to give up, a temp agency sends her along to Boston Investigations for a job they assure her she will be absolutely perfect for.

As she had been told next to nothing about the job she was interviewing for, Pip thinks that she will be doing some filing and pushing a couple of paperclips around, however, she is flabbergasted when on her arrival she is mistaken for a psychologist, given a wad of cash and told that she needs to help them find Matty Price, the son of a famous actress and novelist, whose exploits are frequently splashed all over the celebrity magazines Pip devours on a regular basis. Pip knows that she should have told them from the start that they’ve got the wrong woman, but when she ends up impressing them with her knowledge about the lives of the rich and famous – all gleaned from the pages of Hello! – not to mention the exorbitant sum of money they paid her to do this job which would get her out of the bind she has found herself in, Pip finds herself with no other option but to find Matty Price!

As Pip infiltrates the world of the rich and famous, she quickly realises that in this glamourous and decadent world, all that glitters isn’t always gold. But will she manage to track down Matty? And more to the point, will she manage to emerge from this dangerous mission unscathed? Or will accepting this job prove to be Pip’s biggest mistake yet?

The Kensington Kidnap is a charming cosy crime novel that will keep readers gripped and laughing out loud throughout. Katie Gayle has written a witty and intriguing tale sprinkled with danger, suspense and plenty of humour that will keep readers eagerly turning the pages and desperate to find out what happened to Matty Price and whether Pip will manage to find him.

I confess that when I started reading The Kensington Kidnap, I wasn’t too sure about Pip. She came across as a spoiled, lazy and entitled brat in the first few chapters, but as the book progressed, I couldn’t help but admire her positivity, ingenuity and determination and I certainly hope that there will be further investigations for her in the not too distant future.

Brilliantly funny and wonderfully compelling, cosy crime fans will not want to miss Katie Gayle’s The Kensington Kidnap.

I almost gave up on The Kensington Kidnap about three chapters in.  On balance, I think I'm glad that I persevered.  Pip is a stereotypical millennial who appears to be without purpose or focus and who has a lightly referred to shambolic past.  She is not the kind of heroine I can relate to, seeming unable to control any aspect of her life.  So far, so cliched.  It was at this point that I almost abandoned the book.  But it does get better, although I still went through phases of wanting to metaphorically shake Pip.  

Some of the supporting characters in this very light-hearted mystery were much better drawn than Pip.  Catherine the PhD student environmentalist, Jimmy, the boxing instructor and Pip's flatmate, Tim, all show signs of characters who might develop well.  I hope (if this proves to be the first in a series) that Pip will also settle down into a person showing some sign of maturity.  

The book improves as it goes on and, by the end, I was enjoying it and the quirks of the leading performers.  The authors (Katie Gayle is the pseudonym of a two-woman writing team) seem to have taken some time to find their way and I have hopes that the next book will hit the ground running.

The Kensington Kidnap by Katie Gayle is quite a mish mash. There is a bit of cozy, some suspenseful elements and lots of mystery.

At first main protagonist Pip is very annoying and irritatingly irresponsible young woman with some questionable morals and ton of stupid decision. At times it just got ridiculous and not very realistic.
However, she works hard on improving herself and bettering her life so that is admirable. 
At times she appears to be so naive and gullible and so out of touch even though she is supposedly a voracious reader of mysteries.

There is quite a lot of action, a bit of romance though I really hope it will not become another love triangle. 
Her sister's speech malapropism was quite annoying as I had a feeling that it was too forced and unnatural. Some of the side characters were likeable but others were pretty stereotypical. 
Story was quite fast paced, chapters not too long and the reading flowed nicely.

As a conclusion this is an interesting, engrossing and light mystery for those who like quick and not too serious cozies.

A character whose parents blessed with the name Epiphany is bound to be eccentric and this cozy mystery does not disappoint.
So far, Pip’s track record for holding down a job has been pretty dismal and her mum is about to cut off her funding, so this new job interview has to work! Spoilt rich girls still have to pay the rent.
By a twist of fate, she turns up at a local private investigation company at just the right time and ends up being hired to track down a missing teenager. 
With the help of her internet savvy sister and her less-clumsy and accident prone pals, Pip takes on the fake new persona and sets out to find the boy, using social media and everything she has picked up from TV shows to track his online history for clues.
Pip soon finds herself deep in the country with the Green Youth for Truth retreat, where nothing is what it pretends to be. It takes a lot of ingenuity and bare-faced deception to find Matty and the real criminals behind his disappearance and there are moments of real danger to balance out the scatter-brain frivolity.
If you are looking for an Earl Grey and cinnamon toast mystery, this is the one for you.

This is the debut novel from this author, and I really enjoyed the storyline. I liked the lead character, Pip, as I felt like she was very spunky. Pip is rich and very spoiled, and her mom has cut her off from using her credit cards and she needs income so she actually has to get a real job. She applies for a job and is hired immediately but only because of a misunderstanding. Pip is hired to find Matty, who is the son of a famous celebrity couple. She is bound and determined to complete the task of finding Matty because she really needs the money and she wants to prove that she can do it. Pips new found sleuthing skills will have you laughing out loud. She is a very lucky, likable and resourceful character and you will find yourself cheering her on. Another likable character is Pip’s three legged cat named Most. It’s a reminder that not everything is perfect but everything has a purpose. This story is full of twists and turns, and will keep you guessing until the very end.

This cozy mystery is a very enjoyable, engrossing and fun read and I recommend it. I look forward to reading more from this author.

This is my first time reading the author. I’ve started to read a lot more cosy mysteries recently and was looking forward to this. I really enjoyed The Kensington Kidnap. It’s a but different than other cosy mysteries I’ve read which tend to be set in remote little villages in the middle of nowhere. This was a refreshing change. I found this book very funny at times as Pip tries to and mostly succeed in blagging her prowess as a PI. This leads to some very funny moments. This book entertained me from start to finish. I can’t wait to read Pip’s next adventure.

I am slowly by surely falling in love with the cozy mystery genre. It is perfect escapism from the real world, providing lots of entertainment and laughs at a time when it is truly needed.

I was also drawn to this one by the bright, eye catching cover and the idea of a possible kidnapping being investigated as this is not something I’ve read about in this genre before (though my experience is slightly limited).

Pip is out of work and desperate for funds to finance her lifestyle. When her mum refuses to help her out, she takes drastic action and finds herself posing as a private investigator. What could possibly go wrong?!

I have absolutely adored the character of Pip and the way she has been brought to life. She is fun, mischievous, determined and a great character to follow throughout her journey in this book.

This has been an entertaining, quick read that I have thoroughly enjoyed.

Hi everyone!
I really like this cozy mystery! I didn't get really well with the character, but the plot is amazing!

I was a bit perplexed at the beginning as it seemed more a rom-com than a cozy mystery. I kept on reading and the book pace got faster as soon as the investigation started and I was hooked.
The story is a mix of rom-com and cozy mystery, we follow Pip as she investigates but we also get to know about her life, friends and family.
Pip is a quirky and funny character, she was never able to keep a job and she’s got some issues with taking responsibility for her action. This is Pip at the beginning of the book but as the investigation evolves she grows and becomes more adult. She grated on my nerves at the beginning but I liked her at the end of the book.
The characters are well thought, my favorite is Most the three legged cat.
The mystery is full of twists and turns and kept me guessing till the end.
It’s an highly entertaining and engrossing story, the excellent start for a new cozy series.
I can’t wait to read the next installment, this one is highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

These two authors, y'all, make a fantastic author team and have added a great book to the cozy mystery genre. What a great debut, Katie Gayle!!

Katie Gayle is the writing partnership of best-selling South African writers, Kate Sidley and Gail Schimmel. Kate and Gail have, between them, written over ten books of various genres, but with Katie Gayle, they both make their debut in the cozy mystery genre. Both Gail and Kate live in Johannesburg, with husbands, children, dogs and cats. Unlike their sleuth Epiphany Bloom, neither of them have ever stolen a cat from the vet. 
Steal a cat, you might wonder? Yup, this is just one of many crazy impulsive things Epiphany 'Pip' Bloom has done in her life. Now let's add a "three stolen/mistaken identities" stunt to it and you have yourself a fun and crazy story. By the way, she kept the cat and his name is "Most." You'll have to read the book to find out why he has that name. I'm not going to tell ya :-p

I have to admit I love morally grey characters like Pip, she is my kind of person!!! She takes you on a tightrobe journey between crazy, illegal, and downright dangerous! I didn't want to put this one down. Unfortunately, I started the book later in the night and had some major adulting to do the next day. So, I had no choice but to put it on my nightstand and finish it the next day. But this story didn't let me get a good night's sleep. I left off in a chapter that raised more questions than giving answers and my mind was going a hundred miles per hour even in my dream. I'm not kidding, folks!
Also, Pip's sister, O.M.G!!!! Felicity made me laugh out loud many times. She is a vegan blogger mom with some slight (and hilarious) vocabulary issues. She gave this book an additional little gem effect. I could totally see Pip and Feli as a funny hilarious amateur sleuth team in the next book. Katie Gayle, hint, hint!!!!! Pretty, pretty, please with a cherry on top! *batting eyelashes and puppy dog eyes*

Ladies and gents, grab this book, a great cup or glass of your favorite beverage, hide under a blanket by the fireplace and dive in!