This wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t all that good. It took an interesting concept and beat it to death. A good editor would not have gone amiss as the story went on and on and on.

I don’t think I’ll be reading any more of the series.8 s Tony552 43

Somewhere between good and bad.

#433 in the ‘less than helpful’ . 7 s Bob58 3

A good plot with some interesting and well-drawn characters. The author avoids the trend of supplying too much information about peripheral people and even with the main characters, we learn more as we go along.

Throw in an attractive, intelligent but uneducated and unsophisticated young woman together with an idle, directionless but wealthy young man who is pretending to run a detective agency and we have the basis for an interesting story. Add a transvestite and an assortment of criminals and misfits, and we surely have the basis for a series.4 s C I KESZEI219 1 follower

Well worth a read. So enjoyable.

A cracking book. The story keeps pulling you in with twists and turns and an underlying humour throughout.
Having not read any of his books, this was recommended and did not disappoint.3 s Robert Williams154

Sorry not for me. Just couldn’t get in to it. amazon-prime ebooks mystery2 s Phil Altimas491 1 follower

a funny book, well-paced and with a great story line.

Martin has to take a job to keep his family's money. he opens a detective agency but really doesnt want to work. but his mother steps in and sends him some
he takes on a PA , Susan and with her comes her transvestite side kick colin

his first case becomes a murder case
c
2 s sandra badry5 1 follower

Great read

a very funny laugh out loud read unforgettable characters differently recommend look forward to the next one in the series 2 s Mr Andrew N Davey13

Great read

A great read with able characters. I am eagerly waiting for a follow up. Meanwhile I will other books written by Adrian Spalding. 1 Steve W21 1 follower

I did enjoy this and continued to the end. However, I did wonder where it was going at times and the ending was a bit of a curve ball that didn’t quite stack up. Quite a few annoying spelling and grammatical errors slipped through the net too. Nevertheless, worth reading although I’m not sure I’d be rushing to read a follow up.1 Mike Neilson2

Very enjoyable.

The start of a great new series, hopefully. I'm looking forward very much to reading book 2 and the rest1 Johanna Foley1 review

Entertaining read!

I’d never read any stories from Adrian Spalding , but this was a great introduction.
The characters have developed nicely over the book. I’m very keen to read more.1 Jacky Mercury250

A different take on private detectives

This is part mystery, part romance, part social observation. Can rich boy Martin actually solve his first case with no experience and only Susan his assistant and Colin the cross dresser to help? All is not as seems! 1 simon powell53

Absolute dross. Pitiful. Dreadful. Awful. And many other words ending in f-u-l. It gets 1 star only because I can't give it 0 stars but it doesn't deserve it.

I think it was meant to be a fun, light-hearted, detective romp; something a bit The Rockford Files that is name checked multiple times; but it was badly written, repetitive, meaningless piffle that crawled along paragraph after paragraph until everyone involved, including the author, got so bored that a solution was found.

The characters were barely believable, one-dimensional, caricatures who constantly share their never-ending thoughts. Not so they reveal anything deep and meaningful about themselves, more so the plot can progress at a snail's pace. Oh, and did I mention that they keep repeating themselves? Well they do. They keep repeating themselves. And as characters they are awful to the point of 'no redeeming features'; which pretty much sums up the book.1 April Taylor298 1 follower

A funny, heart warming read. Would recommend. 1 Caro167

I quite enjoyed this novel. Slightly quirky detective story. kindle1 Rachel Amanda16

Amusing and thoroughly enjoyable

Great characters, very relatable. This is a light hearted detective book which made a pleasant change from the more usual detective books. No blood or gore! The characters are really interesting and the book also touched on modern slavery in a sensitive and thought-provoking
way. Looking forward to reading the next book.1 Miss M Stanbrook61 1 follower

My first adventure of Adrian 's

My 1st and not going to be my last of the Martin Hayden mysteries. Loved the humour and managed to follow the plot which I normally find difficult . This attests to Adrian 's skill as a writer in this genre which is not my usual style. Thanks for an enjoyable read! ?1 Gill498 7

I got a third of the way through this and decided life is just too short. Flabby writing, sloppy punctuation, flat characters. Some decent ideas, but all buried in the verbal equivalent of sludge.

DNFbooks-i-disd1 M D Holbrow1 review

The Reluctant Detective

A good detective story enlivened by humorous characters. The plot has a bit of pace to it and held my interest.



1 Jane Bennett11

A really enjoyable read

Although the book is not my usual type of read I thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope that this book is the forerunner to many more cases for the quirky team.1 Bernard Shaw15

an Excellent First Novel

I thoroughly enjoyed this off beat detective procedural. There are plenty of wacky eccentric characters that we Brits can relate to.
There is a social message but it’s not the main element of the story which some of the here imply. Folks need to look a little closer at themselves if something this offends them.
Highly recommend and I’ll be reading the next instalment very soon. Ryan HoffmanAuthor 5 books32

This is a funny detective story. The sleuth, Martin Hayden, never really expected to start a detective agency. It was just a way to collect his monthly allowance from his mother. He also never expected to have a client, but he gets hired by a 90 year old woman who wants her money recovered, ans she later turns up murdered. There is also, Susan Morris is looking for an easy job to pay the bills, and gets hired as Martin's assistant/secretary. Lorreine Kennedy103 4

What a delightful book, gentle, sometimes naughty but witty book. A super idea about a man who has no interest in anything other than living well, but who, during the story starts to care about mankind. You can see that his Assistant Susan has the potential to be his loved interest. Other participants are fun too. Love Susan, recognise myself in her occasionally. It’s a super book. Definitely going to start book 2. Enjoy! Sean Loddick12

A strange book. I d the characters, I d the premise. Perhaps a little unly, but believable enough. But I found the writing at times strangely clunky. It felt as if the author hadn’t found their style, and therefore there were inconsistencies throughout which diminished my enjoyment. Perhaps very much a first novel which would have benefited from more editorial oversight.
And sadly with so many books to read, I think that means I won’t be reading any more in the series. Susan Dyson39

I enjoyed getting to know this group of people. Martin is great in his lack of interest in any form of work until ultimately being forced into doing something by his mother sending clients to his detective agency. The characters are great especially enjoy meeting Colin! The second book in the series will be on my book to read list Sandie BaldryAuthor 21 books3

I love this author's style. The characters keep you reading. The book tells the story of a private detective that doesn't want a case to solve. But as luck would have it, a case draws him in. And you get to see him and his team set about solving it.
I love humorous fiction, and this one made me smile. Shawn Perkins18

Pleasantly surprised

Bought this book based on an Amazon recommendation and found it thoroughly enjoyable. Funny and fast moving while highlighting the real life issue of modern day slavery. Gill5

An easy read with really varied characters that keep you turning the pages.
Humorous in the right places and kept me guessing as to “who dunnit”! There was even an unexpected twist at the end.
I’ll definitely be reading more. Helen3

A really good read.

I thoroughly enjoyed the reluctant detective. The characters and the story made me smile, just what is needed at the moment. Donald Lyon11 2

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