Dispatched in London: A Movie Star Mom International Cozy Mystery, Book 1

by Jacqueline M. Green

Mandy Monroe is ready for her third act. Newly retired from the school district, she and her husband plan to travel the country in an RV.
Or so she thought. Her husband has other ideas.
Instead, Mandy packs her suitcase along with her broken heart and joins her movie star daughter in London. Sightseeing, gala events and all the tea and scones you can manage. Things are looking up until Mandy discovers the body of an earl – with a letter opener in his back – and lands in the sights of the lead detective inspector.
In a strange country with no friends, Mandy must prove her innocence. Fortunately, she has the help of her young housekeeper, Lila, as she navigates London’s peerage as well as the Tube system. With the killer on her heels, can she solve the murder before she becomes the next victim?

251 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 24, 2024

Reviews

[Emmalynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. I prefer cozies without the cheating/divorced trope but Mandy didn’t spend time wallowing and trying to exact revenge, she took charge of her life and started discovering herself and of course dead bodies. Her relationship with her daughter is great and the new friendship with her reluctant sleuthing partner, Lila, is funny. Resolved to clear her name of being a suspect in the murder of the lecherous earl, Mandy sets out to explore London and capture a killer.

[Kristina Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent start to a new series

I really enjoyed this mystery and the setting in London. A very entertaining cozy. Looking forward to the next book!

[Dave Measner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun new cozy series
Mandy Monroe retires from her school counsellor job and plans to travel the country with her husband in their new motorhome. But when she gets home she finds him packing to sneek off with his girlfriend. Huge fight, divorce is inevitable and Mandy leaves for London where their daughter is working on her new movie. Once there some sightseeing and going to a party hosted by an Earl. Mandy is enjoying the party and tour of the mansion but is still adjusting to the time difference and decides to slip away for a rest in the library. While there she hears a sound from the office and finds the Earl dead on the floor. Having found the body and touched the murder weapon earlier Mandy becomes a suspect. Cue the amateur sleuthing to clear her name and get her passport back. A delightful mystery and good start to a new series full of interesting characters that could visit many locals.

[Rebecca Gregory-Chifos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't Finish

A strong start withered on the vine in this story. Yes, immediately drawn into the chaos of a woman who has just quit her job to go RVing with her newly-retired husband, who immediately hands her divorce papers. Could gloss over the idea that she'd just pick up and waltz off to London with her movie-star daughter, rather than set about finding a castration-knife wielding divorce lawyer and hanging his sorry carcass out to dry. But, for the love of heaven! But could not get past the 55-year-old woman waltzing through someone's mansion fingering everything in sight like a 15-year-old, topped only by that old cliché of "she touched the paperknife that was used to kill him". Give me strength! That's just about as corny as "the demon from hell is in the house to run UPSTAIRS where you'll be trapped".

There weren't enough redeeming feature to the book to make me read past this point. No, just no. Deleting it from my Kindle.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this cozy mystery! Amanda Monroe has just retired from her school counselors position. She was looking forward to her husband's retirement in a few days and their plan to go traveling in their new RV. She's surprised when she gets home and goes into the RV and finds food supplies already there as well as divorce papers from her husband. Their daughter, Sasha, is an actress and is heading to London to film for a new movie. She asks her mom to go with her as Amanda is devastated by the unexpected divorce. They travel to London and are invited to a party at an Earl's home. While the party is in process Amanda goes into the library to relax. She hears voices and decides she should make sure it's OK that she's in the library. She discovers the Earl lying on the floor and becomes a suspect for his murder.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new series start and boy what a great start it is! Definitely a page turner because I wanted to know how things turned out almost as bad as Mandy!
Mandy has just retired and was preparing for what she thought would be a lovely RV trip with hubby, who has other plans. So Mandy goes to London with her beautiful actress daughter for a movie shoot. The plan was to see the sights and have some fun, unfortunately things don't go as planned here either. Poor Mandy, but she's not one to give up so when she becomes a murder suspect she decides to figure it out herself. Will she be able to before something happens to her?
I received this as an ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

[Deborah Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mandy Monroe just retired she plans to travel in a RV with her Husband and has put the house up for rent. Her Husband has other plans she finds divorce papers in the RV she leaves and stays with her daughter an actress who convinces her to go to London with her. In London she goes to a party at the home of the Earl and finds him dead in his office. She has to investigate as she is a suspect. I enjoyed reading this story and did not figure out who the killer was.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mandy may not launch into the retirement that she had planned, but it does start with a few surprises.
Great book, great characters. I had so much fun reading this and could not put it down until I was done. The storyline was surprising with quite a few twists and turns. I had a blast.

I received a free copy of this book from the author. I am leaving a voluntary and honest review.

[Rose Mcclarin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mady Monroe comes home for her work retirement party to find divorce papers in the RV she and her husband were supposed to use to tour the county, plans changed, and she ended up in England with her movie star daughter and everything is great until a murder changes everything. Maddy follows a complicated path and in the end, at great risk, she finds the killer, Great Read.

[Linda Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting & entertaining short murder mystery with several potential suspects. DI Mercer made Mandy feel she was the prime suspect, so she had to act the sleuth, with unwelcome consequences.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the author, & I am writing a voluntary honest review

[fred jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick fun cozy mystery. Mandy just retired as a school councillor discovers a her husband is planning to divorce her so takes a trip to London with her actress daughter. Then she discovers an Earl stabbed in the back. The story is light, the mystery good with several good suspects with good motives. The book has the common problem of being written by an American and setting the story in England, the English characters don't quite work to us locals. However it is a good fun story with some nice touches. I received a complimentary copy from the Author and am leaving a honest voluntary review.

[Davina Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

First time reading this.author and was thoroughly engrossed. Didn't skip.a single word
Great story n.a. line and characters and totally engrossing
. Will be sure to read her next one.

[Yasmin Merrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was enjoyable. Mandy didn’t wallow in depression over her husband’s betrayal. She just picked up and went to stay with her daughter who in my opinion was a tad bit too supportive of her mom’s shenanigans! Especially since the maid/ companion could get in trouble for helping her mom in all her capers.
I will read the next in the series.