Book #1 in the Secret Detective Agency series, a golden age mystery series set in London, 1941 as the war continues to grow. Jane Teen is a field agent manager, who works with a cigarette in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. She's on her way to Devon to investigate the death of one of her agents, bringing her cat along for the trip. She'll base her operation in the home of Arthur Cilento, a code-breakerwho's single, shy and asmathaic. Don't judge, the two of them will make an excellent team as they dedicate their efforts to insuring their agents are not targets.

The first books in a series move a little slower as they introduce the community and characters, setting arcs for future plot lines at the same time. This one follows that pattern but picks up pace as Jane moves into Arthur's house, cat and all. This was an excellent read and I'm looking forward to book #2.

The first in a new series The Secret Detective Agency and ira 1941 when we meet Jane Treen for the first time. Codebreaker Arthur Cilento has returned to his home in Devon to find a woman who shouldn’t be there, and what’s more she is dead! Jane Treen works in Whitehall for a secret government agency run by the Brigadier. A number of Jane’s agents have gone missing or been found dead and now another has been found at Arthur’s home. Jane and her cat and constant companion Marmaduke are soon en route to investigate.

Briefly, it is clear that Jane and Arthur need to work together albeit they certainly don’t hit it off at first, but the needs of the country come before their petty little squabbles. The list of potential suspects in the killings it long and someone is trying to best the British government. Not on Jane’s watch?

Jane isn’t immediately the most likeable character, she certainly isn’t at all like her namesake Miss Marple, although they both have an insatiable desire to solve the crime. This Jane is hard headed, very clever and a very heavy smoker, the latter of which is a big problem for asthmatic Arthur. He needs to man up a bit and tell her not to smoke in his house! That said it was an enjoyable plot and the killer was not easily detectable, just about verging on cosy it’s an entertaining golden age mystery and I’ll definitely pick up book 2.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Helena Dixon for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Secret Detective Agency coming out March 27, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve read several books by this author. I really love historical cozy mysteries. I’m so excited that she started a new series. The time period is really interesting. I love stories about WWII. Jane Treen is a strong character. I really enjoy the direction of the book. It definitely feels like a Christie novel. There were a couple slow spots for me, but I loved it. I already have the second book in the series, so I will definitely be finishing that one soon.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy historical mysteries!

A delightful start to a new cozy mystery series by a wonderful author. I loved the characters, especially of course the main ones Jane and Author. Their newly formed and budding secret partnership will sure to be a great basis for future books. Looking forward to seeing what they get involved in next.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have a weakness for cozy mysteries and for British Homefront Novels from WWII. This series is right up my street. I was very impressed with plotting of this one, Ms. Dixon clearly knows how to write a mystery. There were moments of genuine peril, nothing too intense, and I could not discern the ending before it was revealed. Even more, I enjoyed the characters in this series. They are not revealed through explication, but through their actions (mostly). You feel like you have gotten to know them, but there is more to learn. The main character, Jane, is an independent woman who is not afraid to be the smartest person in the room. She does not seem hindered by her gender-she is exactly who she is at all times. Refreshing. The other protagonist, Arthur, is a bit mysterious, but I am enjoying getting to know him. I am enthusiastic about this new series, cannot wait to see what Ms. Dixon comes up with next. Highly Recommend.

It was 1941 London, and Jane Treen worked for a secret government agency run by the Brigadier, whose secretary Stephen, was a man Jane despised. But Jane's agents were dying at a rapid rate, and when the body of another was found at code-breaker, Arthur Cilento's home, Jane and her cat Marmaduke were soon on his doorstep in a small village in Devon. Needing to work together, under the Brigadier's orders, Arthur with his chronic asthma was desperate for her to leave. Jane smoked heavily, which upset his asthma...

As the pair worked together to unearth clues into who was betraying the British government, there were plenty of suspects to add to their list. As more deaths followed, they despaired of finding the answers they needed. Heading into London on the train, where the dreadful bombing was evident, Jane, Arthur and Benson, Arthur's man, were determined to reach the conclusions they sought. But would they?

The Secret Detective Agency is the 1st in a new series of the same name, by one of my favourite authors, Helena Dixon, who writes the Miss Underhay series. I was thrilled when I saw this new series, and am looking forward to #2 very much. Miss Jane Treen isn't a particularly likeable character, but I'm sure she'll grow on me. Arthur is wonderful and Benson reminds me of Clifford, Lady Eleanor Swift's butler, in the series by Verity Bright. All in all, a fabulous historical mystery which I loved. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery! The plot was very fun and all of the characters were likable. The only issue that I had with this book was the constant mention of the main characters asthma. It took away from my ability to enjoy the book because of how frequently it was mentioned. Other than that I loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC copy of this book.

** “Where there is a web there is usually a big, fat spider at its centre. We need to find the spider.” **

Helena Dixon offers a new series filled with mystery and intrigue with “The Secret Detective Agency.”

When Arthur Cilento returns to his family’s estate, he’s shocked to find a dead body on his property. Who is she, and why is her body floating on his estate?

Jane Treen works for a Brigadier at Whitehall, England’s WWII war office. When she learns several of her agents are missing, and learns of this mysterious dead body, she knows she must travel to Arthur’s home to figure out who the woman is. And since Arthur also works for the war office, they can work together to figure out what’s going on.

What follows is a mysterious plot filled with twists and turns, as well as some quirky characters, like the asthmatic Arthur, the chain-smoking Jane, a die-hard manservant, and a one-eyed cat. The author leaves the reader guessing until the very end as to not only the who, but the why.

Fans of books like T.A. Willberg’s “Marion Lane” and Julie Kelly’s “Evelyne Redfern” series, as well as authors like Rachel McMillan, Kate Quinn and J’nell Ciesielski, will love “The Secret Detective Agency,” which is due out March 27.

Five stars out of five.

Bookouture provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

I love Helena Dixon's writing and have devoured her other series (Miss Underhay).
I found the setting of World War 2 very compelling, and the added danger and tension this added was central to the plot. I loved the developing camaraderie between Arthur and Jane, and felt their strengths worked well together. The setting of the mystery, in a small village in the English countryside was a welcome change to other books set at this time that tend to be in London. The writing was witty, and kept me guessing right to the very end.
I'd recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction, cosy mysteries and to people with an interest in spies and intelligence.

I picked up this book in Dixon’s new series and had to get the 2nd one right away to read them back to back. It did take some focus to keep the characters straight as they had code names and real names. I found it took me a little while to like Jane Treen as she seemed not to be empathetic to Arthur’s conditions but she did grow on me. The book kept me guessing and second-guessing who I thought the villain/s were. I’m excited to see this series continue.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.

I really enjoyed this book! A cozy mystery that is perfect for a rainy day. Jane is a delightful character who is a joy to read! The banter is fun and I was glued to the pages. Overall, I highly recommend. Looking forward to reading more b y Helena Dixon!

The "coffee drinking cat lover," excuse me but who wrote a book about me?! Kidding, but in all seriousness this book brought me exactly what I would want from a British cozy mystery. The banter was fun and the mystery was well thought out! 5 stars!

If you are looking for a cozy murder mystery set in the World War II, then you've picked up the right book. Miss Jane and her begrudging partner Arthur, are thrown together to solve the case of a woman who's body was found on Arthur's property.

Miss treen enters Arthur's life like a bit of a storm, forceful and in a swirl of cigarette smoke. She also brings her cat and an overnight bag as she plans to stay for a while, whether he likes it or not. In some ways, I find her attitude of moving into his space, and potentially his sanctuary, in an incredibly aggressive manner. I think I am a far more a fan of Arthur, than Miss Treen and her brusque manner which I see as rude and imposing on the people around her.

The mystery itself is certainly one I enjoyed as the unlikely duo must determine who their suspects are and who had the motive, means, and opportunity. Because as the case evolves we learn the woman on the edge of Arthur's property was not the only victim, and she certainly isn't the last either.

I feel as though the author did a good job with weaving a spy narrative with cozy mystery, murder and intrigue. Though finding her footing in this series, I do hope future books in the series will be just as fun and entertaining.

A new series from one of my favorite authors. Exciting!

Set in London in 1941, Miss Jane Treen works in a secret Government agency managing agents in the field. She loves coffee, cigarettes and her cat Marmaduke, not necessarily in that order. Arthur Cilento also works for the secret service as a code breaker. He enjoys a quiet life, has chronic asthma, and a butler who takes very good care of him.

Jane has a problem when some of the agents she manages either die or go missing, and when one is found dead at Arthur's home, the two of them are paired up to solve the case. This involves Jane and Marmaduke moving in with Arthur which does not work really well. Cigarettes and a cat versus a man with asthma - you can see the problem at once.

It is a very intriguing mystery and involves a lot of danger for our investigative couple. Jane is very irritating and not at all compassionate. Arthur is very interesting and has hidden depths. The butler is a gem. I look forward to the next book and discovering how the three of them solve their issues and work as a team.

"Meet Miss Jane Treen - the coffee-drinking cat lover dressed head to toe in tweed, who just happens to be a secret super sleuth!

London, 1941: Miss Jane Treen is at her desk, strong black coffee in hand and fluffy ginger cat by her side, when her top-secret government work is interrupted by an urgent call to Devon. A woman has been found dead in a lake in a place where she shouldn't have been. Jane needs to gather the clues and find the killer before someone else from the agency gets hurt...

Shy and handsome code-breaker Arthur Cilento is bewildered by the arrival of the efficient Miss Treen and her cat Marmaduke. She bursts into his life unexpectedly, forcing him out of his comfort zone. Placed at his country home to unravel the mystery, together, the reluctant colleagues huddle near the warmth of a crackling fire to piece together the murderous puzzle at hand.

In the sleepy Devon village, someone is hiding something: but is it the busybody vicar and his sister, the dutiful housekeeper and her secretive son, the stern librarian, or someone else altogether? And who were the people with the woman in the lake on the day she died?

No sooner have Arthur and Jane have drawn up a list of suspects, than a parcel reveals a clue that sends them in hot pursuit of a coded diary stashed in a village church. But as the heavy wooden door slams behind them and a key turns in the lock, one thing is sure: they need to unravel the truth and crack this code before the killer decides their number is up...

But if they can catch the culprit in time, might this unusual pair become the finest crime solving partnership since Sherlock and Watson hung up their hats...?

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!"

Personally I'm glad knowing she took her cat with he. That fluffy ginger couldn't be left behind in the Blitz!

The Secret Detective Agency by Helena Dixon is a fun, charming cozy mystery set in England during II World World. When a woman is found dead in a lake just by codebreaker Arthur Cilento estate he must join forces with a confident and determined Jane Treen who's working a top secret government job.

I have to say the story sounded intriguing from the start. And although it took awhile for me to get used to the writing style of the author and the stylized langue once I warmed up to it I really enjoyed my adventure with Arthur and Jane.
The plot is not as obvious as it may seem, and it's a major plus for me. I thought it's going to be two rather amateur sleuths working together to solve a mystery and I really didn't expect the secret agents, double identities and government secrets being part of the story. There are plenty of clues but nothing is too obvious so I was still surprised by the ending.

The only other aspect of the book, besides the slow start, that I found somewhat cumbersome were the weird surnames and code names straight out of nursery rhymes. It really pulled me out of the story. I kept reading Arthur's surname as Cliento and thinking is he supposed to be Spanish..?.

Overall I had a lot of fun reading this story and really got to like the characters. I wish there would be a bit more banter between Arthur and Jane as I did feel there's some potential for a future romance, especially with them having such opposite characters. Hopefully the romance is coming in book number 2 which I'd be really happy to pick up.

Firstly thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC of The Secret Detective Agency. All opinions within this review are my own.

We have Miss Jane Treen, a top-secret investigator who is called to Arthur Cilento's manor when a body of a woman is found in a lake at the back of his house, under suspicious circumstances. Arthur is typically used to the quiet life, not liking to step out of his comfort zone and suffers with his asthma but it is all upturned by Miss Treen's arrival, as she is the complete opposite to him and to Arthur's annoyance, plans to stick around, along with her cat Marmaduke and a relentless smoking habit. Working together, they attempt to piece together the murderous puzzle and find the culprit in time.

The Secret Detective Agency perfectly fits what it means for a historical English murder mystery and the fact it's a series means there's plenty more to come from Arthur and Jane Treen.

This was a really pleasant and cozy read for me, holding my attention throughout. I thoroughly adored the relationship between Arthur and Jane Treen, and was amused at his constant asking of her return back to London. It was nice to see the balance between them both and a slight warming and understanding of each other towards the end, something that could potentially grow within the series. It's also good to see a strong woman as the lead and in a top job, that probably wasn't likely to happen in real-life 1941 London.

As this is book 1 in the The Secret Detective Agency series, I look forward to seeing what Arthur, Jane and Benson get up to next.

This review will also be featured on @kindlecrimereads

Oooh! A Second World War spy thriller-cum-murder mystery! Who could resist a book set in a period so rich with intrigue, especially when the setting is the Home Front, much cosier than anything in a more military setting? In this book (of course, no spoilers!) the focus is on the unlikely partnership between severe Londoner, Jane Treen, who is involved in co-ordinating a network of spies on the continent, and Devonshire country gentleman Arthur Cilento (a codebreaker and a young man physically unable to serve). When one of Jane’s spy network turns up, dead, on Arthur’s country estate, the pair are forced to work together to catch a killer and prevent more murders.
This book appealed to me for a reason other than the setting and genre — the author. I’ve read and enjoyed several of Helena Dixon’s Miss Underhay mysteries (and will eventually get round to the rest when my TBR permits) and so I reckoned I’d have a look and see how the author handled a different period.
Well now. As I say, I enjoyed Miss Underhay very much but…whisper it…I think I like this fledgling series even more. It’s hard to judge on just one book, but I’ll definitely read on. All of the expected qualities in terms of writing, characterisation and setting are present. For me what made it different is that the context is much more serious — an existential crisis for the nation, rather than the often-frivolous 1930s) and so the stakes are higher.
I became very invested not just in the success of Jane and Arthur’s investigations but in the relationship between the two very different main characters and the contrast between Jane’s stark London life (the descriptions of the aftermath of the Blitz are grimly fascinating) and Arthur’s much more cosseted country situation. 
I look forward to reading more.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

The start of a new series for Helena Dixon and I look forward to many more adventures with Jane, Arthur and Benson.

A glimpse into wartime Britain with its bombing raids, blackout and rationing. It made me think about my grandparents lives in the war, as my grandfather was a fire warden at this time in Birmingham.

Jane takes her war work very seriously, but comes to value Arthur’s logical mind.

As someone who has cat allergies and chest problems, I may have told Jane to live in a hotel with her cigarettes and cat rather than to move into my home, but Arthur seems too polite.

A great start to what I think will be a very popular series.

I love reading WWII fiction so I enjoyed this cozy mystery take on the time period. Throw in a strong female lead and a cat and I’m sold!