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The Seaside Murders

The Secret Detective Agency, Book 2

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The Seaside Murders

By: Helena Dixon
Narrated by: Elizabeth Bower
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About this listen

A completely unputdownable British cozy murder mystery

A pretty seaside town, a body on the beach, and a boatload of clues. Can super-sleuth Miss Jane Treen solve the mystery?

England, 1941. When Jane Treen is summoned to her boss’s office at the end of a long day, she smooths down her tweed skirt and makes them both another strong pot of coffee. Brigadier Remmington-Blythe slides a folded copy of the evening newspaper towards her, with one small article circled in red ink. A body has been found on an English beach in the little seaside town where she grew up, and he wants her to investigate.

Jane is used to managing secret agents and spies, but she is now part of The Secret Detective Agency, England’s answer to solving the most mysterious murders. Making her way to the coast and brimming with curiosity, she’s heartened that shy and handsome codebreaking genius Arthur Cilento will be joining her to help her wade through the fishy goings-on. Although Jane doubts he will appreciate her bringing her beloved one-eyed cat, Marmaduke…

Together, Jane and Arthur drop anchor in her crumbling childhood home overlooking the sandy beach where the body was found. Surrounded by potential suspects, their eyes are on a devious doctor, an eccentric artist and a secret sweetheart. But as Jane and Arthur are searching for the truth, those giving evidence start to clam up. One thing seems sure: they need to reel in the killer before they’re out of their depth…

Can The Secret Detective Agency triumph again, or will they meet their watery end at high tide?

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!

©2025 Helena Dixon (P)2025 Bookouture, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd.
Animals Cosy Culinary Detective Historical Mystery Thriller & Suspense Crime Heartfelt England Murder
All stars
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I enjoyed the book more than the first - the characters are being developed and the plot has twists and turns.

Really enjoyable listen

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Great story and narration. Enjoyed the characters developing and learning a little more about them. Good twists in the story.

Great story

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I loved the main characters and the wartime setting. Clever ending - I did not guess it.

An excellent British cozy

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I liked the story and pace, but the narration was difficult. Of course it is difficult for a new narrator to take over and for listener to adjust, buit I was finding Arthur significantly voiced, more dirty and on more than one occasion I confused Arthur with Jane! Jane herself would sometimes be more posh leaving me thinking someone else and entered the room.

Good story, poor narration

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I really enjoyed the secret detective agency, so was really happy when this was available fairly quickly afterwards, however it's just a bit dull in comparison.
The secret detective agency was great, it had a bit of tension, it felt a bit more dramatic in parts, but this book had none of that and the narration just fell a bit flat. Nothing really happens, they just seem to wander around Kent and talk to people. Even the finale at the end was a bit random, and didn't really fit. To be honest I got a bit bored and although I try to keep on with a book, I found myself not really caring. Some of the characters had a very light back story, and I felt like the key characters in the final outcome, were on the peripheral, and the change in character for the 'mastermind' behind it all, didn't really appear believable.
Bit gutted really as I have read a lot of Helena Dixons books and this was by far the most disappointing. I won't let it stop me reading more, but hopefully should this series continue, it will be more like book 1 than this one.

Not as good as book 1.

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