3.75 stars

I am a long-time fan of these tales featuring the widowed Mrs. Pargeter, who is anything but a staid older woman. Her late husband was a hugely successful businessman who operated outside the law and was much beloved by his associates, who still band together to take care of Mrs. P. She claims to have had no knowledge of his shadowy work and freezes out anyone who tries to bring it up. Mrs. Pargeter is self-confident, smart and quite savvy.

The nicknames of the criminal circle are reason enough to read the book: Jukebox Jarvis, Hedgeclipper Clinton, Truffler Mason and Shot Head Shimmings are but a few. This book is a bit different from others in that it goes back to the past when Mr. P was still alive. Mrs. P gets abducted in a gang war but is unruffled as she is certain her husband will find and rescue her. We get to see the late Mr. Pargeter in action as he takes on some rivals, a despicable pair of creepy brothers.

Although this happened many years ago, those same criminal brothers are now again causing problems for Mrs Pargeter's friends and she is determined to ruin them. These stories are lighthearted, dryly humorous and great fun. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was an enjoyable read. It felt far fetched but that made it all the more fun. My one criticism, however, was that some of the repeated phrases felt a little overdone.

💼 Mrs Pargeter’s Past by Simon Brett
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Another brilliant entry in this quirky, cozy crime series.

It’s not just Gary who has a soft spot for Mrs Pargeter! Her late husband’s past surfaces again, this time with dangerous ties to the Batinga brothers.

Short Head Shimmings (yes, the names in this series are part of the joy) has fallen on hard times. When Mrs Pargeter steps in to help, it sets off a chain of events involving criminal empires, shady debts, and the usual brilliantly oddball cast of reformed villains.

What I love about this series is how it blends cozy mystery with clever plotting and dry humour. You never quite know who to trust but you can always count on Mrs P to get the job done in her own unique way.

Perfect for fans of gentle mysteries, smart female leads, and books that don’t take themselves too seriously while still delivering satisfying twists.

📚 I’ve read most of the series via Kindle Unlimited, although this was an ARC I received (thank you, NetGalley & the publisher!).

#MrsPargetersPast #NetGalley #CozyMystery #TheFitishReader #BookReview #CozyCrimeReads #SimonBrett #QuirkyMysteries #CrimeFiction #Bookstagram #MysterySeries #BookLove

In MRS. PARGETER’S PAST, written by Simon Brett, Mrs. Pargeter is a widow who loves her deceased husband despite the possibility of his criminal inclinations. She has his little black book containing the names of his previous associates. One of those associates, Short Head Shimmings (an unofficial bookmaker), owes money to the Batinga Brothers (loan sharks). Short Head Shimmings hasn’t paid up, and the Batinga Brothers are after him. He seeks help from Mrs. Pargeter. How does Mrs. Pargeter help Short Head Shimmings?

Mrs. PARGETER’s naïveté is on display in this interesting and humorous tale. The humor is evident from the beginning with the introduction of characters with names like Short Head Shimmings, Hedgeclipper Clinton, and Jukebox Jarvis. I find myself laughing aloud when reading about some of Mr. Pargeter’s prior associates. I like the way Mr. Pargeter has set up ways to protect Mrs. Pargeter. The plot progresses logically as it moves to a satisfying conclusion. I look forward to reading other books in the Mrs. Pargeter mystery series. Thank you, Severn House and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of MRS. PARGETER’S PAST.

Mrs Pargeter's Past by Simon Brett covers both the present and the past of Mrs. Pargeter's life. When helping one of her reformed, sort of, associates who has gotten in trouble with the wrong people, the story goes back to when the Pargeters were newlyweds. The story goes back and forth in time but without being hard to follow. As more of the Pargeter history is reveled, the odds of catching the miscreants of both timelines gets better. As always, the tongue in cheek writing and the characters introduced make this a very fun series to enjoy.

A great addition to the series. Mrs Pargeter is written in a very British tongue-i-chhek way, packed with crazy characters very much of the old school style: you can imagine great train robbers and Italian job types all too easily. Definitely recommended for fans of the cosy crime genre.

This is the latest installment of a long running series, in which the criminals are ever so careful to observe the social amenities – right up until they commit their crimes.

In Mrs Pargeter Brett has created a vivid and captivating character who manages to be prim and proper while behaving in the most appalling way. She makes me laugh, admire her, and sneakily wish to be just a bit more like her.

The Mrs Pargeter’s beloved – and now departed – husband spent their marriage preserving her deniability. She’ll look at you in wide eyed innocence if you ask anything about her husband’s business. Yet she doesn’t blink an eyelid at his many criminal acquaintances, and manages a variety of illegal activities while somehow preserving an air of genteel ignorance.

Here Mrs Pargeter attempts to help an associate avoid a gruesome fate as a result of an unpaid gambling debt. A straight forward thing, you’d think, but it brings her back into the orbit of some of her husband’s rivals and recalls when they kidnapped her, seeking leverage.

This particular novel spends a substantial period back in the early days of Mrs Pargeter’s marriage. In most Mrs Pargeter novels Mr Pargeter is off stage, referred to but never seen. So it was interesting here to spend some time with him, getting to know both him and Mrs Pargeter better.

I really enjoy the Mrs Pargeter novels, and this one was no exception. There’s a quiet but very very funny humor that runs through the novel, touching plot, characters, and action alike. The novel manages to be both subtle and overt at the same time (quite the achievement), rather like Mrs Pargeter and her devoted friends.

It’s a very English kind of humor, with everyone saying one thing while doing something quite contrary. It works brilliantly. Brett has the perfect touch for this kind of novel. This isn’t a very long novel, and the writing style makes it an easy read. The tone is consistently sustained, both in terms of the language and the antics of the characters.

This was a great novel to sink into. It’s not too demanding, but it’s diverting and delicious. Highly recommended for fans, but new readers could also step into the novel and enjoy every word. It stands alone.

Rating: 2.3/5

If you have read any of Simon Brett's work previously then you will have a pretty good idea what you are going to get. There is nothing pretentious about his cosy mysteries. They are easy to read, entertaining and don't take themselves too seriously - but there is usually a sound mystery structure at the heart of things.

This tenth and latest offering from the Mrs Pargeter series is slightly different in that there is no real mystery. It is a predominantly character-driven story set comically in the criminal underworld. There is plenty of light-hearted humour as the mystery is investigated by the eponymous Mrs Pargeter and there are some nice social observations and commentaries along the way too. That said, on the whole, this particular offering feels a bit tired. There are witty moments, but for the most part the same jokes are done to death, re-done and then done again.

"Mrs Pargeter's Past" is far from awful and is a pleasant enough way to pass some time, but this is probably one for the true stalwarts of the Mrs Pargeter series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

I absolutely love this series and am so glad it's back.

This one has all the usual suspects although I was surprised she didn't twig earlier that the brothers were one in the same.

Overall a fun easy read and I hope there is more to come.

Thanks for the arc.

Book Review: Mrs Pargeter's Past
Reviewed from an advance pre-release copy provided by the publisher

Simon Brett’s Mrs. Pargeter’s Past blends the structure of a crime mystery with the ease and wit of a cozy humor, making for a brisk and rewarding read. Mrs. Pargeter, stylish and composed, is the sort of heroine who floats through danger with martini-worthy poise. She’s smart, sexy, and often plays up her cluelessness just enough to keep everyone wondering how much she really knows. If you’re hooked on Mrs. Pargeter’s capers, there's an entire series to dive into.

The plot kicks off when Mrs Pargeter tries to help an old acquaintance, Short Head Shimmings, who’s gotten himself into trouble with the wrong sort of people. What follows is a whirlwind of schemes, secrets, and a criminal empire that needs dismantling—preferably without breaking a nail.

What I loved most was Mrs. Pargeter herself. She’s sexy, sharp, and often pretends to be more clueless than she is, which makes her all the more fun to follow. The book is a perfect weekend read—short enough to finish in a day, but packed with enough twists and dry humor to keep things interesting.

That said, the story does get a bit tangled. There are a lot of characters with quirky names, and the narrative jumps between scenes and perspectives in a way that occasionally left me flipping back to reorient myself. Also, the author's vocabulary can be a bit obscure—thank goodness for Kindle’s dictionary feature.

Still, these are minor bumps in an otherwise entertaining ride. If you enjoy mysteries with a touch of British eccentricity and a heroine who’s always one step ahead (even when she pretends not to be), this one’s worth picking up.

#MrsPargetersPast #NetGalley #SimonBrett

Simon Brett is one of my favorite British cozy mystery writers, and I've loved the Mrs. Pargeter series. Mrs. Pargeter's Past, however, is not his best.

Mrs. Pargeter (a mashup of Judy Holliday and Jennifer Hart) is the Essex-based widow of a London gangster whose mission in life is balancing a life of ease (her husband left her lots of loot) with good works. So when a former associate of her husband is kidnapped by Italian gangsters from her husband's past, Mrs. Pargeter and her team of high-end crooks are on the case. Soon, the gang's back together and the caper is on.

Although I was happy to join in the fun, it was work climbing through the cast of characters. I found myself bookmarking pages and making note of who was whom--which took away from the joy of being immersed in the story. Having said that, a visit with Mrs. Pargeter and her team of smooth operators is always a treat. Simon Brett's astute observations on how crime and legitimacy are often a matter of perspective are more relevant than ever.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for the opportunity to review an ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
No. 10 in the series is another charming, quirky addition to the series.
With a eclectic cast of characters (former associates of the late Mr. Pargeter) who have mainly gone straight, and the financial help from Mrs. P, the group tries to save one of theirs from a nasty demise, the result of his owing a huge gambling debt.
Another fun read!

In a serendipitous turn of events, the day I had wondered if there would ever be a new book in Simon Brett’s Mrs. Pargeter series, Mrs. Parteger’s Past magically appeared. It is a delight to see her and her eclectic comrades again. Much is familiar—Mrs. P’s schtick of ignorance about the work of her late husband and the collection of uniquely talented individuals she inherited from him, the sticky wickets in which Mrs. P. finds herself—past and present, and the seemingly effortless way in which she turns the table and comes out on top. As noted in earlier reviews in the series, if you are a stickler for plausibility, this series is not for you, but if you like a clever caper with entertaining companions, then look no further.

Mrs. Pargeter, a wealthy widow, once again finds herself in the middle of a mystery. Mr. Pargeter was definitely not a criminal, and one of his associates (who was also definitely not a criminal) finds himself in trouble. Short Head has a gambling problem and borrowed from the wrong people; he now needs to disappear while Mrs. Pargeter and her team of definitely-not-criminals work to destroy the loan sharks’ operations. 

This is a fun, breezy series with charming characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Wealthy widow Mrs. Melita Pargeter is back with book #10 in the series, which was revived in recent years after eight Mrs. Pargeter Mysteries were published from 1986 to 1998. Mrs. Pargeter's beloved husband left her a wealthy woman, but she was never interested in knowing exactly what he did for a living (we readers have our strong suspicions). Not only does she live in style, but whenever she needs some help with a sticky problem, she need only look into the little black notebook willed to her by her husband, and she is sure to find an expert with the particular skills she is seeking. Some of them have questionable pasts, it's true, but all claim to be aboveboard in their current occupations.

In Mrs. Pargeter's Past, It is one of these problems that leads her to try to rescue her husband's former accountant, Short Head Shimmings, who has significant gambling debts. Although Mrs. P offers to pay off his debts, the real issue is that the loan shark brothers cannot tolerate a challenge to their reputation, and one of them would be thrilled to make a deadly example of the hapless Short Head. Nothing less than a dismantling of the criminal brothers' extensive empire will solve the problem. And while Mrs. P feels confident she can achieve that goal, she suddenly has reason to wonder if the brothers, under assumed names, might have had something to do with a dangerous situation she found herself in years ago.

In this book, we get a glimpse of Mrs. Pargeter's life when her husband was alive. As always, it is a quick read, with an interesting cozy mystery and very little violence, sparkling dialogue, and a lot of whimsy.

My thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

Quick Witted Romp..
Mrs Pargeter and her crew are back in this wonderful tenth instalment to the series and another quick witted romp. This time, wanting to assist an associate of her late husband (neither of which, as every reader will know, were once notorious criminals), Mrs Pargeter takes action - needless to say this does not go according to plan. Written with the usual style, wit and eloquence, this latest offering is another sheer joy to devour. Wonderful stuff.

Another delightful entry in the series. This book gives a glimpse of Mrs. Pargeter’s life before the demise of her beloved husband. A host of dubious and well meaning characters round out the cast of characters. This very British novel is highly recommended for a fast, entertaining read.

Mrs Pargeter has always been most...helpful to her late husband's associates, without ever really knowing what they all did.

Now Short Head Shimmings, the accountant, is in bother with the wrong people, who are out for his blood.

Time to open that little bvalck contacts book again...

Another brilliant adventure in this excellent series

Fun, quick read with a look at Mrs. Pargeter's marriage and early days married to Mr. Pargeter, a master criminal (about which Mrs. Pargeter remains, at least publicly, determinedly unknowing). Best for fans of the series who do not need an introduction to the characters. In the range of 3 to 4 stars. Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for the ARC.