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The Reluctant Detective Protests - A Humorous Crime Mystery
Everyone wants a piece of Martin’s astute detecting mind. A neighbour wants him to trace a young woman that even a professional investigator has failed to locate. A friend asks him to dissuade an elderly person from staging protests, thereby avoiding trouble with the police. Generally, people don’t appreciate that Hayden Investigations was set up solely for Martin to avoid doing any work, and why does his wife, Susan, want to help the world and its mother.
With the assistance of her reluctant husband, Susan helps a band of elderly residents demonstrate against the impending removal of their live-in Warden. But keeping old people under control isn’t an easy task, they’re worse than kids! As for the missing woman, this gives Susan the opportunity to prove that Hayden investigators are better than real detectives, that is if they find her.
Then there’s Mrs Rich, she wants Martin to manage the local neighbourhood watch scheme, something he has no intention of doing and plans to tell her in no uncertain terms, which he’ll live to regret. On the plus side, there’s an attractive female reporter who has her eye on Martin. Is Susan jealous? Of course she is!
The Reluctant Detective Protests is the sixth Martin Hayden Mystery.
All the Martin Hayden Mysteries can be read as stand-alone novels but might be enjoyed more in order.
What Amazon readers have said about previous Martin Hayden Mysteries.
‘Will they or won’t they……solve more cases lol. I definitely didn’t see that one coming! Great ending and as always a fun ride! 2 down the rest to go…..The reluctant Detective is quite frankly A MUST READ’
‘Yet again I have really enjoyed this book. I could not recommend this series enough. Please tell me there will be more of the Hayden's.’
‘Not my usual genre (fantasy) but am invested in the characters and the story is clever. I am enjoying this book series.’
‘Lighthearted with many “possible” endings. Liked the characters and relationships linking them together. Easy read will be looking for more by this Author’
‘Love the characters and plot twist I didn't see coming, and again laced with humour.’
‘Just sat here reading the last 50 pages, slightly guilty on a Sunday afternoon whilst the husband is painting the walls behind me... read this, I urge you! So clever and the characters are ones I hope to read much more of’
‘This a quirky detective story in the old tradition of crime fiction. It involves a young man who starts out with the Detective Agency as a cover for not doing much at all. He gradually pulls other individuals into his endeavours. I loved it. No violence, no guns, just pure detective reasoning.’
With the assistance of her reluctant husband, Susan helps a band of elderly residents demonstrate against the impending removal of their live-in Warden. But keeping old people under control isn’t an easy task, they’re worse than kids! As for the missing woman, this gives Susan the opportunity to prove that Hayden investigators are better than real detectives, that is if they find her.
Then there’s Mrs Rich, she wants Martin to manage the local neighbourhood watch scheme, something he has no intention of doing and plans to tell her in no uncertain terms, which he’ll live to regret. On the plus side, there’s an attractive female reporter who has her eye on Martin. Is Susan jealous? Of course she is!
The Reluctant Detective Protests is the sixth Martin Hayden Mystery.
All the Martin Hayden Mysteries can be read as stand-alone novels but might be enjoyed more in order.
What Amazon readers have said about previous Martin Hayden Mysteries.
‘Will they or won’t they……solve more cases lol. I definitely didn’t see that one coming! Great ending and as always a fun ride! 2 down the rest to go…..The reluctant Detective is quite frankly A MUST READ’
‘Yet again I have really enjoyed this book. I could not recommend this series enough. Please tell me there will be more of the Hayden's.’
‘Not my usual genre (fantasy) but am invested in the characters and the story is clever. I am enjoying this book series.’
‘Lighthearted with many “possible” endings. Liked the characters and relationships linking them together. Easy read will be looking for more by this Author’
‘Love the characters and plot twist I didn't see coming, and again laced with humour.’
‘Just sat here reading the last 50 pages, slightly guilty on a Sunday afternoon whilst the husband is painting the walls behind me... read this, I urge you! So clever and the characters are ones I hope to read much more of’
‘This a quirky detective story in the old tradition of crime fiction. It involves a young man who starts out with the Detective Agency as a cover for not doing much at all. He gradually pulls other individuals into his endeavours. I loved it. No violence, no guns, just pure detective reasoning.’
271 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 27, 2025
33 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Adrian Spalding
20 books18 followersFinding the time to write has always been the challenge for me. The requirement to feed the family, pay the mortgage and work, all got in the way. I only found the time to write, when I began commuting each day between London and Kent. Thanks to the numerous and regular delays I encountered with South Eastern railways, I was able to actually settle down amongst my snoring fellow travellers to write fiction.
Back in the days when I had ‘real jobs’, I worked as a photographer, a journalist and a charity fundraiser, all giving me the opportunity to see first-hand the life that others lead, as well as regular press passes to Brands Hatch.
Now, a full time writer, living in Kent with my wife, I write both thriller mysteries and humorous detective books, which some say will make a great case study for a psychologist’s convention. My biggest challenge now, is no longer finding the time to write, it is to protect my biscuit tin from sneaky swoops carried out by my grandsons.
Back in the days when I had ‘real jobs’, I worked as a photographer, a journalist and a charity fundraiser, all giving me the opportunity to see first-hand the life that others lead, as well as regular press passes to Brands Hatch.
Now, a full time writer, living in Kent with my wife, I write both thriller mysteries and humorous detective books, which some say will make a great case study for a psychologist’s convention. My biggest challenge now, is no longer finding the time to write, it is to protect my biscuit tin from sneaky swoops carried out by my grandsons.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 23, 2025
Let's not get away from the main reason for the book, a humourous story of selfish Martin, well meaning but slightly dizzy Susan and Colin / Colleen.
As expected, it delivers on all fronts, humour, characters and storyline.
The further I got into the book I realised there might be something behind the subject matter. It certainly made me think, as I look into the future and also think of family members circumstances.
There is a moral here but it is subtly done. And if it gets you thinking, whilst not essential, all the better.
As expected, it delivers on all fronts, humour, characters and storyline.
The further I got into the book I realised there might be something behind the subject matter. It certainly made me think, as I look into the future and also think of family members circumstances.
There is a moral here but it is subtly done. And if it gets you thinking, whilst not essential, all the better.
December 24, 2025
Fab next installment!
This is such an easy little stereotype spectacular series to get lost in for a while, I love it!
The characters are deliberately unconventional, a little jarring sometimes, but the stories have a great heart and you always come away from them with a big grin.
Looking forward to the next one already!
This is such an easy little stereotype spectacular series to get lost in for a while, I love it!
The characters are deliberately unconventional, a little jarring sometimes, but the stories have a great heart and you always come away from them with a big grin.
Looking forward to the next one already!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews