“The Deadly Detective Agency” by Ann Parker was entertaining and heartwarming.
Abigail Summers lived her entire life in the village of Becklesfield, England. At 54, she is content with her busy life as a dressmaker. One night, Abigail went to bed with an odd headache but woke up feeling better than she had in ages. When her nephew and his wife sweep into her bedroom and discuss what to do with her “things,” Abigail fears she must be dead.
Still in her pajamas, Abigail wanders into town, where she meets Terry. Terry has been dead a very long time but has no memory of how he died or why. He explains that she is dead but hasn’t passed into the next realm.
He introduces Abigail to some of the other local dead. Abigail meets 82-year-old Betty; Jim, a recently deceased builder; Suzie, a 9-year-old black girl who is very attached to middle-aged nurse Lillian.
Abigail’s strong need to know what happened piques their interest. Using Suzie’s ability to move things, they learn that Abigail died of carbon monoxide poisoning. That is really upsetting as Abigail had two carbon monoxide detectors in the house. When she returns to check she sees that both detectors are missing. That confirms that her death was murder.
Being invisible makes it easy for them to move about and listen to conversations but wonder where to start. They decide to back track Abigail’s activities for the last couple of weeks. She recounted doing fitting for the Hattons at Chiltern Manor and a visit from the wealthy accountant Nathan Hill.
She recalled he’d had a phone conversation with someone named Andrew Ashwin. That triggers Terry’s memory of Ashwin hanging himself. Sadly, Ashwin knows that Nathan Hill was important; he can’t remember if Hill was involved in his death.
Abigail recalls a talk by a young woman who appeared to have real psychic abilities. Hayley Bennett has the ability to see and speak with the dead. She goes by Hayley Moon to protect her husband, constable Tom Bennett. Using Suzie’s abilities, they convince Tom to peek into the files on Abigail and Andrew Ashwin’s deaths. He finds that Abigail’s flues were intentionally clogged. Ashwin killed himself due to overwhelming debts – probably caused by Nathan Hill’s advice.
The group agrees to become a detective group and settle on the name ‘The Deadly Detective Agency.” While Hayley acts as a psychic at the annual fair at the Manor, she’s also digging for information.
Their work brings closure to several unsolved cases, and The Deadly Detective Agency realizes that they have a real purpose for hanging around. With their special skills, no shortages of unsolved cases and nothing better to do, they are eager to continue the work. With help from Hayley and the cooperation of Tom, the once-bored group will be very busy.
AT A GLANCE
Book: The Deadly Detective Agency (Abigail Summers Cozy Mysteries, Book 1)
Author: Ann Parker
Publisher: Next Chapter
Year published: 2023
Number of pages: 210
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