The Charity Shop Detective Agency

 

The Charity Shop Detective Agency by Peter Boland- Cosy Crime

One of my books of the year 10* if I could. On arriving at the charity shop where she works Fiona sees her rival Sophie from the cat's protection shop across the road putting a box of donations on their ever-burgeoning pile outside her own shop. On a closer inspection she sees a knife covered in what looks like blood. She calls the police who take it and the box away for closer examination. When someone they know is later found dead by her delivery man, Fiona and her friends get into action to bring the perpetrator to justice and so the charity shop detective agency is born.

This is such a clever and well thought out concept. Three ladies seemingly inconspicuous because of their age get up to all sorts of antics to solve the increasing murder rate. I've read the Richard Osman ones and this one for me is better, I smiled more, and the characters come alive so well. There are twists and turns and red herrings and a wonderful dog by the name of Simon LeBon! I really didn't want this to end. I sincerely hope that this will be the first of a series- if so sign me up now! Love Fiona, Partial Sue and Daisy. A charming, wonderfully entertaining read I absolutely loved.

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THE CHARITY SHOP DETECTIVE AGENCY by Peter Boland PUT THE KETTLE ON AND DISCOVER AN UTTERLY CHARMING NEW COZY MURDER MYSTERY SET IN A SLEEPY SEASIDE TOWN. A serial killer is stalking the elderly of Southbourne. The only clue left behind is a domino in the hand of each victim — with a name scratched on the back. Eighty-six-year-old Sarah Brown is found dead in her hallway one morning by her delivery man. She was stabbed in the back. Fiona, Sue and Daisy, volunteers at the local charity shop, Dogs Need Nice Homes, can’t believe their favourite customer is dead. The ladies vow to bring the killer to justice. With plenty of tea and cake along the way, and despite squabbles with their rivals, the Cats Alliance across the street, the Charity Shop Detective Agency is born. Fans of The Thursday Murder Club, Janice Hallett, Simon Brett, Ian Moore and Sarah Yarwood-Lovett will adore this exciting new voice in cozy crime. THE DETECTIVE Level-headed Fiona has found a quiet sanctuary volunteering at the local charity shop, Dogs Need Nice Homes. And she’s found firm friendship with the strong-willed Partial Sue (she’s ever so partial to a cup of tea) and the kindly — and surprisingly tech-savvy — Daisy. Together, these ladies, with Simon Le Bon, Fiona’s scruffy haired terrier cross, investigate murders as the utterly charming Charity Shop Detective Agency.

PETER BOLAND After studying to be an architect, Pete realised he wasn’t very good at it. He liked designing buildings, he just couldn’t make them stand up — a big handicap in an industry that’s partial to keeping things upright. So he became an advertising copywriter, the highlight of which was creating an ad featuring Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman. He then tried his hand at writing his own stories and quickly realised there’s no magic formula. You just have to put one word in front of the other (and keep doing that for about six months). It also helps if you can resist the lure of surfing and drinking beer in a garden chair. The first book in his Charity Shop Detective Agency series will publish in late 2022. BOOKS BY PETER BOLAND: THE CHARITY SHOP DETECTIVE AGENCY FOLLOW PETER ON: GOODREADS FACEBOOK TWITTER