The Armchair Detectives: A totally unputdownable and hilarious British cozy murder mystery

By Matt Dunn

They might be over the hill but they're far from six feet under and now there's a murder to solve

Meet Martin Maxwell. As a former government operative, at eighty-four-years young he always pictured a retirement sipping shaken-not-stirred martinis on a far-flung island. But in need of some care after a new hip, he finds himself at Twilight Lodge on the decidedly cloudy English coast.

From the outside, it's a picture-perfect place to recuperate. But when popular resident Elsie dies unexpectedly, Martin suspects foul play. She's the third death in less than two weeks and always had a clean bill of health. Armed with a walking stick and his trusty notebook and pen, Martin decides to investigate.

While nobody believes him - death is an inevitable part of care home life after all - Martin is convinced something sinister is afoot. With his wheelchair-bound sidekick and former nemesis Albie in tow, they begin questioning the residents. Soon they learn that there are several suspects in the frame.

When they discover Albie's love interest Barbara is in the killer's sights, Martin knows time is running out. Will Albie's heart be broken forever, or can they battle the effects of old age and each other, outwitting a murderer before it's too late?

An absolutely hilarious and heartwarming cozy mystery perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Robert Thorogood, Jesse Q. Sutanto and Only Murders in the Building.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 180550097X
• ISBN13: 9781805500971
• Release Date: September 2025
• Publisher: Bookouture
• Length: 338 Pages
• Weight: 0.73 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.1" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Hilarious!

What a hoot! Marty Maxwell presents as an octogenarian former British spy. Or is he simply a retired hotel inspector who is in a care home only for rehab following a hip replacement. He is fairly recently widowed and has a daughter who is a police constable. He also has a friend, Albie, in the facility who says that he remembers nothing about his own history prior to the stroke which put him into the wheelchair but Marty insists that he was also in Intelligence. There are several interesting characters living there, and one of them dies unexpectedly giving rise to doubts in Marty's mind and his need to investigate a probable murder. He talks about everything and all of the suspicions as he goes on to find the proof that he is not on the slippery slope into dementia but still has an agile if occasionally spotty mind. LOVED IT! Voice actor John Hopkins is absolutely perfect as the narrator of this fun read! I requested and received a temporary digital audio galley from Bookouture Audio via NetGalley. #TheArmchairDetectives @mattdunnwrites #TheArmchairDetectiveMysteriesBk1 @bookouture @hachetteaudio #NetGalley *****review #BookBub #goodreads #thestorygraph #librarything #cozymystery #laughyoursoxoff #geriatricexspy #carehome #murderinquiry