Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency by Josie Lloyd

Synopsis

A brand new cosy crime series from bestselling author Josie Lloyd with a retro feel but an entirely contemporary setting.

Alice Beeton never meant to wind up single and childless on the wrong side of fifty. Like her distant relative Mrs Beeton – yes, that Mrs Beeton – she had hoped to have her own spic-and-span household by now. In reality, she lives in an immaculate but dingy basement flat in a rather shabby block in Kensington with Agatha, her fiercely intelligent, if rather over-territorial, corgi-Jack Russell cross.

Now Alice runs the Good Household Management Agency, providing discreet domestic staff to extravagant townhouses and sprawling country piles. So when Camille Messant calls in urgent need of a new housekeeper, Miss Beeton sends out new hire Enya. She’s rather forward but she does come with impeccable references and is fluent en français.

But in the early hours of New Year’s Day, Alice is rudely awakened with the news that Enya has been found dead. As the police struggle to drum up an adequate investigation and the wealthy family and their party guests close rank, Miss Beeton takes it upon herself to solve the crime…

Audiobook review

5 stars

What a delightful cozy mystery!

I absolutely adored that audiobook and I now want to read more of Josie Lloyd and listen more books narrated by Emily Pennant-Rea.

The plot

Alice Beeton runs the Good Household Agency with her childhood friend and former socialite: Jynx and lovely Elie. The butter of the agency is placing house staff for the wealthy in London.

When a placement in the Messant’s house turns into the murder of newly hired Enya, Alice is shocked.

And when Enya’s friend turns out of the blue, imploring Alice to find the murderer as the police seems unable too, Alice will take matters into her own hands and apply all the knowledge she has garnered reading Agatha Christie’s novels.

But even helped by her adorable dog, Agatha, Alice realizes she might have taken more than she can chew!

The characters

Alice Beeton has a Victorian feel to her personality. Single, with her older brother having inherited of her beloved family estate, she loves having everything in the right place. All is in the details! Very observant and astute, her conservative life will become mayhem and she will have to discover some side of her personality, like acting, she didn’t know!

If Alice is the main character of the story, the help of many quirky and delightful side characters is essential to solve the mystery. I loved every single one of them:

-Jynx with her flamboyant but faithful personality;

-Jacques the passionate and charming French chef;

-Inspector Rigby whom I would love to read more about in future books;

-Masood the limo chauffeur and probably ex spy or secret services;

-Barney currently a librarian but ex special agent too

And let’s not forget Agatha, that smart and mischievous dog!

The mystery

Honestly the mystery is smartly built! It’s a cross between a cluedo and an Agatha Christie’s novel! I had never guessed who did it, even less how they did it. And kudos to Alice for her power of deduction!

The writing

The writing is straightforward and perfect for the story. With Alice and staff being very polite, Rigby being gruff, the Messant, especially the man, being arrogants and glacials.

I really had a grand time listening to it and the cherry on top was the location: Kensignton! I happen to know Kensington extremely well as I have stayed in that part of London many times. It was so much fun remembering the places and streets mentioned in the story.

I really hope that Josie Lloyd will make a series of Alice Beeton and co’s adventures solving crimes!

Thanks for reading.

Sophie