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There are currently 25 member reviews
for The Pie & Mash Detective Agency
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Susan M. (Ashland, OR)
Would be detectives?
It took me awhile to adapt to the pace of this story. Once I did I found the theme fascinating and I quickly read it straight through. The two authors seem to work well together and hopefully will follow with a second in a series.
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Mary L. (Greeley, CO)
Quirky, amusing mystery
The reader first encounters unemployed Jane and her neurodivergent boyfriend Simon. Jane has decided they should take a course which will teach them to become private detectives, so off they go on the Level 1 class, taught my a semi-retired detective Gavin. The final project of Level 1 is to go after a case of Dev's missing girlfriend. It is a case Gavin deems unsolvable and the reader soon learns over 20 years before Gavin had investigated a case of a missing woman of the same name as Dev's girlfriend. Off the reader goes as Jane and Simon encounter a mysterious partially buried red candle and a cast of kooky people, including Simon's mother. A secret Gavin has kept from them throws another shock into Jane and Simon's world. Any lover of mysteries will want to go for a "ride along" with this excellent story.
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Vivian H. (Winchester, VA)
Delightfully Quirky Debut
The Pie & Mash Detective Agency is a delightfully quirky debut by a duo of writers using the pseudonym J.D. Brinkworth. Unemployed Jane encourages her partner, Simon, to enroll in a course learning how to develop skills to investigate crimes, missing persons, cheating partners. The duo are assigned to investigate an old case that remains unsolved by their instructor. What happened to Nellie Thorne?
Replete with equally appealing eccentric protagonists and peripheral characters, I believe a cozy mystery series could be successful.
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Sam S. (Bedford, TX)
Great Cozy Detective Mystery by Author Duo
I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy comfort read, particularly around the holidays when I want a book that's interesting enough to keep me turning the pages, but relaxed enough to allow me to unwind.
The plot is well conceived and develops organically. I was dying to know how the story was going to end and once I got there, everything made sense and left me satisfied despite the big "answer" not being what I thought it would be. That being said, it wasn't anxiety-inducing as some thrillers or mysteries can be.
The characters are very personable and I felt the authors excellently wove in aspects of modern culture. The writing style provides a sense that you could be hearing a wild tale from a friend you haven't seen in a while. There is quite a bit of British slang that I had to look up while reading but I take that as a bonus since I learned a few new things as well.
I did not know until I finished the book that the author is actually an author duo. This doesn't change my opinion of the story at all but I enjoy the blend of creative energy that it brings to the table (or, the shelf?)
Can't think of anything negative to say about the book, it was an easy and solid 5 stars for me. If there is a sequel, I will definitely be reading.
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Catrina A. (Milaca, MN)
A cozy mystery with a fun duo
Enter two wannabe detectives into an old case of missing women....sounds good. The two are quirky and mostly likable as they fumble their way through the investigation. Some details about them were irrelevant and made me like the writing a little less. Felt a little forced. All in all, it was generally an entertaining story.
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Debbie C. (Sun Lakes, AZ)
Mystery and discovery
Although this book started off slowly, it soon gained momentum. The characters are charmingly romantic, adventurous, and a bit quirky. During their detective training, they developed their own unique techniques that ultimately helped crack the case. Pie and Mash make an excellent team. I hope there will be another book with their adventures.
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Anke V. (Portland, OR)
THE PIE & MASH DETECTIVE AGENCY
THE PIE & MASH DETECTIVE AGENCY is a cozy crime mystery about Jane Pye and Simon Mash, an eccentric millennial couple who impulsively enroll in a private-detective night class. As they tackle a real cold case involving the decades-old disappearance of women named Nellie Thorne (five vanishings over fifty years), they dive into the heart of the cozy mystery genre: amateur sleuthing, quirky characters, and fast-paced discovery. Armed with enthusiasm, trench coats, and minimal training, Jane and Simon navigate eerie legends and secrets, making this an inviting and accessible read for fans of lighthearted mysteries.
THE PIE & MASH DETECTIVE AGENCY is an engaging cozy mystery that stands out for its clever blend of humor, suspense, and amateur sleuthing. The layered mystery, paired with the dynamic of Jane and Simon's contrasting personalities, makes the novel both entertaining and smart. The intertwined timelines and unexpected twists kept the story fresh and compelling.
Thank you to BookBrowse, NetGalley, and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced copy. Thanks also to JD Brinkworth for such an entertaining book—I look forward to the next!
