The Pie & Mash Detective Agency
Private Investigator Mysteries/Amateur Sleuths
Setting – Tonbridge, England
Publisher : Berkley
Publication date : March 10, 2026
Print length : 368 pages
Paperback
ISBN-13 : 979-8217187256
Kindle
ISBN-13 : 979-8217187263
ASIN : B0FCRKTDM4
Audiobook
ASIN B0FGGGFKSW
Oddball couple Jane and Simon take a private detective class and must use their (admittedly limited) skills to solve a series of mysterious disappearances in this delightful debut mystery.
Jane Pye and Simon Mash are a millennial couple with a little extra time on their hands. Jane was recently let go from her position as a back-end programmer, having never been quite sure what that meant. And Simon’s career as a corporate collaboration consultant seems to be less collaborating and more scrolling the internet in search of matching velour tracksuits and well-balanced charcuterie boards. When they sign up for a private detective class on a whim, they quickly realize they’ve bitten off more than they can chew.
Their instructor, having a feeling his two worst students don’t have a chance of solving anything beyond finding the classroom, assigns them the case of Nellie Thorne, a woman recently reported missing. But she’s not the first Nellie Thorne to disappear. In fact, she’s the fifth in fifty years. Jane and Simon set out to solve the case, armed with just a few days of notes, matching trench coats, and a feeling they should have enrolled in a different class. The investigation leads the newly minted Pie and Mash Detective Agency to places they never thought they’d go, including haunted woods, mysterious archives, and, most terrifyingly for Jane, Simon’s mum’s house.
As clues emerge, more questions than answers begin to pile up. What links the missing Nellies? Why do locals think she’s a ghost? Is their teacher hiding something? So what if they’re heavy on heart but light on experience. Jane and Simon are determined to uncover the truth in time to pass the class and save the day.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Jane Pye and Simon Mash’s lives are in flux. Jane has lost her job, and Simon’s job no longer holds his interest. To add a little excitement to their lives, they decide to take a private detective night class. They were clearly out of their depth. They have been assigned the case of Nellie Thorne to solve. In addition to the recent Nellie Thorne, who was reported missing, there have been five others who have gone missing in the last 50 years. Eager to use what they have learned, Jane and Simon, aka the Pie and Mash Detective Agency, set off to solve their first case. Soon, they are thinking they should have selected a different class.
The investigation takes them to a haunted woods, a library basement, and even to Simon’s mum’s house, which freaks Jane out the most. Is there really a Nellie Thorne? a ghost? a figment of someone’s imagination? Are all the Nellie’s connected? Did their instructor hide some of the details? Determined to solve their first case, they pull out all the stops to get to the truth, but they may not survive their quest.
In this character-driven story, the protagonists are pretty darn funny. The dialogues between these offbeat characters sets the tone of the book, funny and sometimes over the top. They are introduced in this story, but they were in need of much more character development. If this turns into a series, I hope they are given the depth needed to connect better with the reader.
The book is divided into four distinct parts, shifting between present-day events and the year 1997. These sections occasionally follow instructor Gavin Smith’s perspective, recalling his own investigation into a missing Nellie.
Jane and Simon’s investigation takes them to various locations, but they start with limited information. Some of the evidence they gather turns out to be a mere coincidence. Simon often proposes ambitious ideas that seldom yield results. Their initial case report in class is filled with stock images and eccentric theories, prompting their instructor to grant them another chance. A subsequent visit to the library introduces them to a creepy kindred spirit and yields valuable clues. As their amateur sleuthing intensifies, Gavin joins their efforts, leading to chaotic events. I had to suspend reality at times, but eventually, the dust settles, and some explanations emerge, providing an enjoyable continuation of the story.
Jane Pye and Simon Mash take readers on an adventure in The Pie & Mash Detective Agency. The pacing was scattered, the investigation was haphazard, and the characters needed more depth. Despite those flaws, the theme of blundering detectives is interesting, and there is a good foundation here if the idea proceeds into a series. If that happens, I would be interested in reading the next installment. Be aware that explicit language nudges the book outside of the cozy mystery genre. I am rounding up to 4 star (fish).
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
About the Author
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.
You must be logged in to post a comment.