Retired Spies, Sunny Menorca & Murder: A Review of The Armchair Detectives on Holiday by Matt Dunn​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

I mostly stick to female authors, so I’ll admit I hesitated before picking this one up, but wow, what a delightful surprise! The Armchair Detectives on Holiday by Matt Dunn is the second book in what I really hope turns into a long-running series. Even though I hadn’t read the first one yet (that’s next on my list!), I never felt lost at all. It works perfectly as a standalone.

Martin and Albie, two octogenarian retired spies, are an absolute dream duo. Albie’s always hunting down the next meal and zipping around on his motorized scooter, while Martin is like a determined old hound dog once he catches the scent of the truth. They play off each other so naturally that they often had me laughing out loud.

The story follows them to sunny Menorca for a relaxing break after their last case. That peace lasts about five minutes until they stumble upon the body of bestselling author Karen Squires at the bottom of a cliff. The local police call it an accident, but Martin notices those perfectly manicured nails and knows she was pushed. What follows is a clever investigation among the suspicious writers at Karen’s retreat, with plenty of motives, red herrings, and twists that kept me guessing right until the end. I loved how the solution ties back to one of her own books—such a fun touch!

If you enjoy cozy mysteries with sharp, witty characters and a gorgeous setting, definitely add The Armchair Detectives on Holiday to your TBR. I’m officially hooked and can’t wait for the next one.

 You can order a copy here. You won’t regret it!

 Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for providing me with an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

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