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The Kimble Detective Agency #1
Cars, Cats and Crooks
Ever Dreamt Of Becoming A Detective? - Peyton Has!
Peyton Kimble is 42 years old and has recently been made redundant from his boring dead end job at an independent car factory in Chester, UK. What should he do next with his life?
Become a private detective, of course!
Although the answer is obvious to the imaginative and intelligent Peyton, who feels like he’s been waiting for this opportunity all his life, his other half, Sherri, initially thinks he’s having some sort of mid-life crisis. But with the support of his sister Ros and her eighteen year old lazy, but clever drop-out son, Jackson Chadwick – who soon becomes Peyton’s assistant – the 'Kimble Detective Agency' takes off with a bang!
Their first case is the mystery of Mrs Boggins’ missing cat, a seemingly simple, boring and childish investigation which actually ends up being a little more complicated than they initially imagined, and lands them an article in the local paper after their heroic rescue of poor Speckles.
But when Gordon Tate turns up dead, Peyton and Jackson are drawn into an entirely more sinister world that will change both their lives forever. The police rule the death as a suicide, but Peyton and Jackson have other ideas.
Will The Outcome Be A Total Success?
With all the evidence stacked against them and even the police turning their backs, can Peyton and Jackson prove that this was something more than a simple suicide?
The revelations they uncover will turn Peyton's entire family upside down, dredging up old secrets and scandals from the past that most thought were long buried and forgotten.
Scroll Back Up & Click BUY NOW To Discover The Secrets Of The Past
Peyton Kimble is 42 years old and has recently been made redundant from his boring dead end job at an independent car factory in Chester, UK. What should he do next with his life?
Become a private detective, of course!
Although the answer is obvious to the imaginative and intelligent Peyton, who feels like he’s been waiting for this opportunity all his life, his other half, Sherri, initially thinks he’s having some sort of mid-life crisis. But with the support of his sister Ros and her eighteen year old lazy, but clever drop-out son, Jackson Chadwick – who soon becomes Peyton’s assistant – the 'Kimble Detective Agency' takes off with a bang!
Their first case is the mystery of Mrs Boggins’ missing cat, a seemingly simple, boring and childish investigation which actually ends up being a little more complicated than they initially imagined, and lands them an article in the local paper after their heroic rescue of poor Speckles.
But when Gordon Tate turns up dead, Peyton and Jackson are drawn into an entirely more sinister world that will change both their lives forever. The police rule the death as a suicide, but Peyton and Jackson have other ideas.
Will The Outcome Be A Total Success?
With all the evidence stacked against them and even the police turning their backs, can Peyton and Jackson prove that this was something more than a simple suicide?
The revelations they uncover will turn Peyton's entire family upside down, dredging up old secrets and scandals from the past that most thought were long buried and forgotten.
Scroll Back Up & Click BUY NOW To Discover The Secrets Of The Past
245 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 2, 2014
88 people are currently reading
393 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
March 11, 2015
I Love English Detective Fiction
And Cars, Cats and Crooks is no exception. I wish I knew Cheshire, because I enjoy visiting in my memory as I read..The main characters are interesting and believable and off the beaten path far enough to make the novel unique. I look forward to getting to know them better as I read more of this series.
And Cars, Cats and Crooks is no exception. I wish I knew Cheshire, because I enjoy visiting in my memory as I read..The main characters are interesting and believable and off the beaten path far enough to make the novel unique. I look forward to getting to know them better as I read more of this series.
February 12, 2015
What a wonderful, zany, madcap adventure this was. I'm absolutely in love with Kimble and Chadwick. This book had me going from the first sentence. There were quite a few laugh-out-loud moments and this light-hearted and comical mystery made my day!
March 6, 2015
The Kimble Detective Agency
This first outing of the Agency is a good read. I enjoyed the humor as well as the intriguing story. I anticipate enjoying more by this author who is new to me with this book.
This first outing of the Agency is a good read. I enjoyed the humor as well as the intriguing story. I anticipate enjoying more by this author who is new to me with this book.
February 11, 2015
Quick,fun read.
Had a few problems with translation at times but trust enjoyed this clean suspense novel. Proves they can still be good and without foul language! Thank you!
Had a few problems with translation at times but trust enjoyed this clean suspense novel. Proves they can still be good and without foul language! Thank you!
April 5, 2015
When you get downsized, you can choose to get another job, or follow a dream Peyton Kimble decides to do what he's always wanted to do, become a private detective - he's good at figuring things out after all. Joined by his nephew, Jackson Chadwick they start out with the case of the missing cat and prove that they are both good at detective work.
Unfortunately, it's hard to make a living finding lost pets.
I recommend this to anyone who likes a cozy mystery, and a couple of kind and funny detectives.
Unfortunately, it's hard to make a living finding lost pets.
I recommend this to anyone who likes a cozy mystery, and a couple of kind and funny detectives.
January 27, 2015
A good mystery
Can't wait for the next installment. This is an unusually written book and a good mystery. I spent a lot of the first few pages laughing and the last pages breathless.
Can't wait for the next installment. This is an unusually written book and a good mystery. I spent a lot of the first few pages laughing and the last pages breathless.
January 25, 2015
Good
the murder of a young man that the police decided that it was sucide but the farther insists that it's murder.
the murder of a young man that the police decided that it was sucide but the farther insists that it's murder.
March 16, 2015
Not sure how the bumblers in this book solved the crimes but they did. The characters are fun and it is enjoyable to see how they get along.
April 2, 2020
Peyton Kimble has recently lost his job and decided to pursue his dream of becoming a private detective. Peyton's wife, Sherri, and his brother, police officer Arthur, think he's crazy for wanting to open a detective agency. His sister, Ros, is all for it, however, and she convinces Peyton to take her underachieving son, Jackson, on as an assistant. Their first case is one of a missing cat, but they take it seriously. When Peyton and Jackson solve the mystery, they gain some local notoriety, which they hope will boost their business. Their second case, however, hits close to home when the son of Ros' boyfriend is found dead at his home. The police rule it a suicide, but his father insists Gordon would not have killed himself. Peyton agrees to investigate.
Their questions and clues begin to unearth a scandal much larger than the death of one young man. Soon, Peyton is wondering whom he can trust, especially when Jackson ends up in mortal danger. Will they be able to crack this case without anyone else getting killed?
I originally got this book because of the "cats" element, but once that portion of the story wrapped up, I remained invested in the outcome of the book as a whole. Peyton is earnest and likable, and it was fun to see him 'learning on the job' as he launched his new career. Jackson was a perfect foil as he finally found a job he can enjoy. Not all characters were fully faceted, but the important ones were.
Entertaining, if not remarkable. Average score.
Their questions and clues begin to unearth a scandal much larger than the death of one young man. Soon, Peyton is wondering whom he can trust, especially when Jackson ends up in mortal danger. Will they be able to crack this case without anyone else getting killed?
I originally got this book because of the "cats" element, but once that portion of the story wrapped up, I remained invested in the outcome of the book as a whole. Peyton is earnest and likable, and it was fun to see him 'learning on the job' as he launched his new career. Jackson was a perfect foil as he finally found a job he can enjoy. Not all characters were fully faceted, but the important ones were.
Entertaining, if not remarkable. Average score.
July 14, 2017
Parts of it okay, but completely broke down in resolution. Cop got warrant to search house without even knowing a crime to suspect owner of? And nothing on warrant about what searching for??? Then timeline totally broken. Ladder bought almost a month before the incident that was supposed to trigger the murder! Yet had fake emails, etc, setting up "alibi" for ladder purchase to kill someone who hadn't yet offended the murderer? And murder supposedly committed by forcing someone to take pills "in his sleep" ?? He'd wake up from pills being shoved in his mouth and need drink to swallow (there was glass at scene). But no signs of struggle or injury to victim, so the timeline and method both broken. Too many flaws in mystery.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2017
Enjoyable read.
I wasn't too sure about the book when I started it but quickly became drawn in. The character interactions became key. Looking forward to the next one! I think I would recommend this book to the person who enjoys a mystery but not all the blood, gore, and foul language.
I wasn't too sure about the book when I started it but quickly became drawn in. The character interactions became key. Looking forward to the next one! I think I would recommend this book to the person who enjoys a mystery but not all the blood, gore, and foul language.
January 5, 2018
First book of the series
A new detective agency that friends and family don't think will ever work out. A good book with 3 separate stories, or cases with strong plots and we'll developed characters.
A new detective agency that friends and family don't think will ever work out. A good book with 3 separate stories, or cases with strong plots and we'll developed characters.
August 25, 2018
This story has potential, but it also has issues. The writing is simplistic, the dialogue both cheesy and unrealistic, and there were inconsistencies with the timeline. I’ll not be continuing with the series, and cannot recommend it.
July 3, 2017
slow start, was almost boring, but since it was a cozy mystery I didn't expect fireworks, still I came close to putting it down. half way thru it got better and the ending was pretty good.
May 8, 2022
This was great! It had flare. It was just a really good book. I enjoyed it.
December 8, 2023
I found the writing and the mystery to be amateurish with an irritating overuse of the word ‘whilst’. May be appropriate reading for middle schoolers.
November 20, 2024
I had a rough time getting through this one.
January 1, 2025
Good story line, lots of typos.
I love a good mystery it was easy to read kept my attention and an ending that made me want to read the next in line!
I love a good mystery it was easy to read kept my attention and an ending that made me want to read the next in line!
February 13, 2017
I liked the story line. Nice change of pace.
June 16, 2015
Light read handles heavy topic with grace
Because I love mysteries and cats, this book seemed a likely fit for me, and it was. I enjoyed the plot, the learning process for these self-made detectives, and their can-do attitude in the face of considerable odds. It is very British, which I enjoy, and I learned many new words and turns of phrases that one doesn't encounter on American broadcasts of UK programs.
Further, a delicate topic arises in the course of the investigation that is handled appropriately, with uncompromising support for female victims that is welcome from a male author and his male characters. Unfortunately, females occupy rather peripheral roles in this book, so I would encourage the author to explore more central and active roles for female characters in the future.
So, why only 4 stars? That's because as a self-published work, it was badly in need of proofreading and the advice on character development that a good publisher should provide.
Still, I'm quite hooked, and look forward to seeing where book 2 goes.
Because I love mysteries and cats, this book seemed a likely fit for me, and it was. I enjoyed the plot, the learning process for these self-made detectives, and their can-do attitude in the face of considerable odds. It is very British, which I enjoy, and I learned many new words and turns of phrases that one doesn't encounter on American broadcasts of UK programs.
Further, a delicate topic arises in the course of the investigation that is handled appropriately, with uncompromising support for female victims that is welcome from a male author and his male characters. Unfortunately, females occupy rather peripheral roles in this book, so I would encourage the author to explore more central and active roles for female characters in the future.
So, why only 4 stars? That's because as a self-published work, it was badly in need of proofreading and the advice on character development that a good publisher should provide.
Still, I'm quite hooked, and look forward to seeing where book 2 goes.
August 14, 2017
*Note* This is a debut novel, so expect some minor spelling/punctuation/grammar errors in the text. Nevertheless, I was impressed, and do look forward to the second installment of the series.
Peyton Kimble and his nephew/assistant Jackson Chadwick are appealing and likable main characters. After some initial bumbling and at-first reluctant assistance from Peyton's older brother Arthur on the police force, the newly-formed Kimble Detective Agency does manage to solve three crimes: a stolen cat, a murder staged to look like a suicide, and a serial rapist whose assaults go back decades. The fact that the suspects in the cases are all interconnected can be attributed in part to the size of the small English village in which they all reside.
Peyton Kimble and his nephew/assistant Jackson Chadwick are appealing and likable main characters. After some initial bumbling and at-first reluctant assistance from Peyton's older brother Arthur on the police force, the newly-formed Kimble Detective Agency does manage to solve three crimes: a stolen cat, a murder staged to look like a suicide, and a serial rapist whose assaults go back decades. The fact that the suspects in the cases are all interconnected can be attributed in part to the size of the small English village in which they all reside.
April 23, 2016
A straightforward, easy-read cosy mystery that is well-written with engaging characters and a well-paced storyline. Ok, it can get a bit irritating that whenever a protagonist decides to set up a detective agency, they immediately get embroiled in a juicy murder - but, let's face it, without this plot device there would be no story. Well, not one worth reading anyway. However, back to the book in question, I enjoyed reading this and got through it in a few hours. The story flows well and the characters are sympathetic - yes, you have to suspend your disbelief a couple of times but that goes with the territory so to speak. I will certainly be reading more of the Kimble Detective Agency series and would recommend this one to any cosy mystery fan.
September 7, 2015
Enjoyable British humour
This debut novel in the Kimble Detective Agency series is a lighthearted, easy novel. There is a little excitement, but it is a momentary blip in the events surrounding our faithful gumshoes. There is a teaser of the next adventure waiting for them, but this story can easily stand alone. I will liken it to a lovely spot of tea and a few digestives. It isn't supper, but it will get you through the afternoon. It can be subtle; please don't expect shoot-outs or the like, but I heartily recommend it for a quick pick me up!
This debut novel in the Kimble Detective Agency series is a lighthearted, easy novel. There is a little excitement, but it is a momentary blip in the events surrounding our faithful gumshoes. There is a teaser of the next adventure waiting for them, but this story can easily stand alone. I will liken it to a lovely spot of tea and a few digestives. It isn't supper, but it will get you through the afternoon. It can be subtle; please don't expect shoot-outs or the like, but I heartily recommend it for a quick pick me up!
March 28, 2015
Aside from the few quirks of the British English language to the American version I found this book to be fun, light hearted tho it did have a murder & a few rapes, but there was not much detail in those. The characters were fun and it was interesting to see this uncle & nephew start up a detective agency from the very start. I enjoyed it and will wait for future books to come out. It was an easy read.
February 23, 2015
This book by Carter is a good start of a detective series. It has the usual problems of setting up the start but is handled well. The characters are well sketched out and the plot is interesting, but not heavy. It is a nice, easy read. I will be interested in further episodes.
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" and "To Whom It May Concern"
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" and "To Whom It May Concern"
May 27, 2015
Nimble Kimble
A mid-life crisis and a new detective agency is born. Our hero and his young assistant confidentially go forth and quickly solve their first case. Their second case is more complicated, a suicide or murder? The investigations were interesting and held that interest until the exciting resolution.
A mid-life crisis and a new detective agency is born. Our hero and his young assistant confidentially go forth and quickly solve their first case. Their second case is more complicated, a suicide or murder? The investigations were interesting and held that interest until the exciting resolution.
July 5, 2015
I found this book to be quite entertaining. There was mystery, and some comedy to the story. The main characters, Kimble, Chadwick, and brother Arthur, were well developed. Their interactions were believable, and added to the story. The mystery had it's twists and turns, and with a family secret in the mix, it kept me interested. It wasn't a complicated story, but was an enjoyable one.
July 30, 2015
I got this book as a free download because it sounded like a fun read, and that is exactly what it was. I liked the characters, and even though it started off a little bit slow for me, it did pick up and took a turn I did not expect. Overall entertaining, but I have to be honest I like a little bit more action and some romance in my books.
July 16, 2016
Quick Mysteries
British mystery about a man who has been laid off from his job in a automobile factory, who decides to start a detective agency. The first job is about a lost cat but his cases get progressively more serious. He has an excellent attitude and gets help from his policeman brother.
British mystery about a man who has been laid off from his job in a automobile factory, who decides to start a detective agency. The first job is about a lost cat but his cases get progressively more serious. He has an excellent attitude and gets help from his policeman brother.
April 7, 2015
Nice read
It took awhile to get into this book but by the second case it took off. I would consider reading the second book since there are questions left unanswered at the end of the book.
It took awhile to get into this book but by the second case it took off. I would consider reading the second book since there are questions left unanswered at the end of the book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews