A body in the begonias — and a tricksy killer who knows just how to disappear into the foliage.
It sounds like a case for the Charity Shop Detective Agency!
When word of Arthur Oliver’s murder reaches Dogs Need Nice Homes Charity Shop, Fiona, Daisy and Partial Sue — the retired trio behind the till — are aghast.
They all loved the handsome retired doctor and his swoon-worthy fitness videos. But someone in the sleepy little seaside town of Southbourne is not a fan . . .
Arthur is found dead at the local garden centre. Stabbed in the back with a pair of designer shears.
The police don’t have a clue whodunit. So now Fiona, Daisy and Partial Sue are on the case — their adorably scruffy terrier Simon le Bon trotting closely behind.
The deeper they dig into Arthur’s secrets, the more they realize that no one in this case is quite what they seem.
From jilted exes to bitter rivals, the ladies’ list of suspects is growing by the minute.
The clock is ticking for our sleuths to crack the case.
Before the killer returns for a final round of dead-heading . . .
Fans of Richard Osman, Robert Thorogood, Janice Hallett, Simon Brett, Ian Moore and Sarah Yarwood-Lovett will adore this exciting new talent in cozy crime
Review
I was absolutely delighted to receive an early copy of this book ahead of publication. As a huge fan of The Charity Shop Dectecitve Agency serious, I have been eagerly awaiting the next instalment, and it did not disappoint. Having read every single book in this series, I can safely say that Peter Boland consistently delivers a thoroughly entertaining and comforting read.
There is a wonderful, nostalgic charm to these stories. They are particularly brilliant if you are of a certain age and fondly remember classic television programmes like Dad's Army or spending Saturday afternoons watching the wrestling. That distinctively British sense of humour and community spirit shines through every page.
In this latest outing, we are reunited with our favourite trio of amateur sleuths volunteering at the "Dogs Need Nice Homes" charity shop: the level-headed Fiona, the tech-savvy Daisy, and, of course, the strong-willed Partial Sue. Catching up with them felt exactly like catching up with old friends, especially with their essential supply of tea and cake always on standby. While this series shares a sub-genre with several other popular cosy mysteries on the market, it stands out to me as the most authentic, witty, and deeply relatable.
This time around, the ladies are faced with a particularly tricky conundrum: uncovering who murdered a local YouTuber. The victim was a retired doctor and a bit of a "silver fox" who left behind an extensive circle of lady friends. But who would want him dead? Peter Boland serves up a fantastic cast of suspects and a web of clever red herrings. In fact, the case was so intricately plotted and hard to figure out that, for a moment, I wasn't entirely sure the trio would be able to crack it this time!
I am happily giving this book a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars. The ending leaves us with a brilliant little clue that suggests another adventure is on the horizon—hurrah! I already cannot wait to see what Fiona, Daisy, and Sue get up to next.
My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review. This books is published on 22 October 2026.
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