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The Fish and Chip Shop Detective Agency #1
The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives
Don't miss this brand-new cozy crime mystery series, perfect for fans of Clare Chase and Peter Boland - available to pre-order now!
There's some fishy business happening in the idyllic Cornish village of Mousehole. As a killer begins to make waves, can these new amateur detectives solve the mystery?
Maggie Tyson loves living in the utterly charming village, Mousehole. She spends her days walking the local coastal paths, solving the latest crossword puzzle, and working in the small town's only fish and chip shop.
Looking for a fresh start, Ryan Stepney is in desperate need of a job, and stumbles across a vacancy at the chip shop.
When a body is found by the harbour, shock ripples through the village. And as Ryan was the last person seen talking to the victim, he becomes the number one suspect in the investigation.
Maggie is certain that her new colleague had nothing to do with the murder, so swaps her apron for a magnifying glass, and starts to investigate herself.
Can Maggie prove Ryan's innocence and reel in the killer, before they strike again?
The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives
Forty-eight-year-old Maggie is a lover of puzzles. When she's not working at Robbins' Fish and Chip Shop, she can be found on her sofa, nursing a cup of tea and solving the latest mystery thrown at the detectives in Death in Paradise, Midsommer Murders and more. Maggie finds an unlikely friend in Ryan, a recent graduate who has just moved to Mousehole and is trying to figure out what to do with his life. Together, they serve up the best fish and chips Cornwall has to offer, with an occasional helping of mystery solving on the side.
The Setting
Mousehole is a picturesque fishing village in Cornwall, known for its scenic harbour, winding streets, and tiny sandy beach. It's also home to Robbins' Fish and Chip Shop, the only chippy in town. Tourists and locals alike enjoy a battered cod whilst admiring the calm waterfront. Mr Robbins, the owner, is notoriously private - no one knows much about him. Perhaps that's another mystery for our Fish and Chip Shop Detectives to solve...
There's some fishy business happening in the idyllic Cornish village of Mousehole. As a killer begins to make waves, can these new amateur detectives solve the mystery?
Maggie Tyson loves living in the utterly charming village, Mousehole. She spends her days walking the local coastal paths, solving the latest crossword puzzle, and working in the small town's only fish and chip shop.
Looking for a fresh start, Ryan Stepney is in desperate need of a job, and stumbles across a vacancy at the chip shop.
When a body is found by the harbour, shock ripples through the village. And as Ryan was the last person seen talking to the victim, he becomes the number one suspect in the investigation.
Maggie is certain that her new colleague had nothing to do with the murder, so swaps her apron for a magnifying glass, and starts to investigate herself.
Can Maggie prove Ryan's innocence and reel in the killer, before they strike again?
The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives
Forty-eight-year-old Maggie is a lover of puzzles. When she's not working at Robbins' Fish and Chip Shop, she can be found on her sofa, nursing a cup of tea and solving the latest mystery thrown at the detectives in Death in Paradise, Midsommer Murders and more. Maggie finds an unlikely friend in Ryan, a recent graduate who has just moved to Mousehole and is trying to figure out what to do with his life. Together, they serve up the best fish and chips Cornwall has to offer, with an occasional helping of mystery solving on the side.
The Setting
Mousehole is a picturesque fishing village in Cornwall, known for its scenic harbour, winding streets, and tiny sandy beach. It's also home to Robbins' Fish and Chip Shop, the only chippy in town. Tourists and locals alike enjoy a battered cod whilst admiring the calm waterfront. Mr Robbins, the owner, is notoriously private - no one knows much about him. Perhaps that's another mystery for our Fish and Chip Shop Detectives to solve...
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 2, 2026
24 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Maggie Tyson, and her teenage daughter, Izzy, are well known in the small village of Mousehole. Ryan Stepney, on the other hand, has just arrived, expecting to move in with his girlfriend now they've both finished uni. When Maggie offers Ryan a summer job at the local chippy a very unexpected partnership is born. Izzy is travelling in New Zealand and Maggie is missing her hugely so when Ryan is deemed number one suspect in the killing of a bride-to-be found on the sand she talks him into helping her find out what really happened. As the number of suspects increases and other crimes come to light can they find out who's responsible before the local police arrest them instead?
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Hodder and Staunton, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a brilliant series starter, one of the best I've read in a long while. I loved Maggie and Ryan as well as their enigmatic boss, Mr Robbins and the slightly put upon Sergeant David Peters, and am already looking forward to the second book due out in June. An absolute sure fire 5*.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Hodder and Staunton, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a brilliant series starter, one of the best I've read in a long while. I loved Maggie and Ryan as well as their enigmatic boss, Mr Robbins and the slightly put upon Sergeant David Peters, and am already looking forward to the second book due out in June. An absolute sure fire 5*.
April 29, 2026
Cozy mystery series are a favorite of mine, and this book by Jenny Kane was a delight. In this story we meet Maggie Tyson and Ryan Stepney. As the owner of a fish and chip shop, Maggie would love to spend the majority of her free time working on crossword puzzles, or even taking a walk in the fresh air. But, no, she soon finds herself embroiled in the mystery of a body found by the harbor.
As the much younger Ryan has just begun working for Maggie, he becomes involved as well. Ryan has another reason for being involved in the investigation - he was the last to see the victim alive, and thus the police are looking at him as the chief suspect.
What a fun start in what promises to be an enjoyable new series. I already have the second book on my Kindle, and it releases in June.
Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
As the much younger Ryan has just begun working for Maggie, he becomes involved as well. Ryan has another reason for being involved in the investigation - he was the last to see the victim alive, and thus the police are looking at him as the chief suspect.
What a fun start in what promises to be an enjoyable new series. I already have the second book on my Kindle, and it releases in June.
Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
April 3, 2026
This was a pleasant murder mystery story, but it didn’t make me excited or really hooked.
It’s a nice read if you want something easy and that you can pause. While being interesting, it didn’t have the gripping effect. It’s mostly just a cozy murder mystery book, it won’t make you stressed or anxious (but that’s good!)
I would call it rather low stakes.
In the second half I started being a bit tired with the page count and I really wished for the last 30% to pick up with the pace. The action and unravelings were pretty evenly placed throughout the whole story but I would expect the action and plot twists to be more concise at some point.
It was still an enjoyable read!
I liked the Cornish setting and the duo of the main characters. The dynamics of the duo or even trio - Maggie and Ryan plus Mr Robbins made this read fun.
I think I need a bit higher stakes when I pick up a murder mystery book. I expect to be hooked and can’t put it down at least at some point, but the only think that pushed me continue with this read was the fact that it was a NetGalley ARC and I wanted to finish it to be able to write a review and fix my feedback ratio.
I don’t think I will continue this series, but I’m sure there is a target audience for this book (and the next ones) and it can be a 4 or 5 star reads for some readers.
It’s a nice read if you want something easy and that you can pause. While being interesting, it didn’t have the gripping effect. It’s mostly just a cozy murder mystery book, it won’t make you stressed or anxious (but that’s good!)
I would call it rather low stakes.
In the second half I started being a bit tired with the page count and I really wished for the last 30% to pick up with the pace. The action and unravelings were pretty evenly placed throughout the whole story but I would expect the action and plot twists to be more concise at some point.
It was still an enjoyable read!
I liked the Cornish setting and the duo of the main characters. The dynamics of the duo or even trio - Maggie and Ryan plus Mr Robbins made this read fun.
I think I need a bit higher stakes when I pick up a murder mystery book. I expect to be hooked and can’t put it down at least at some point, but the only think that pushed me continue with this read was the fact that it was a NetGalley ARC and I wanted to finish it to be able to write a review and fix my feedback ratio.
I don’t think I will continue this series, but I’m sure there is a target audience for this book (and the next ones) and it can be a 4 or 5 star reads for some readers.
April 26, 2026
Really enjoyed this cosy mystery! Some great twists and turns, and I really liked the two MCs. It is also the reason I was hungry every night thinking about fish and chips! (I may have gone to my local chippy to get said fish and chips).
April 8, 2026
I really like a gritty crime thriller but being a fan of Agatha Christie I also love a cosy crime book too.
The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives caught my attention as it is set in beautiful Mousehole, a place I have been on holiday several times recently. It really appealed to me knowing that I would be able to picture the setting.
I wasn’t disappointed as I loved the two main characters, middle aged Maggie who works in the local fish and chip shop and Ryan who has recently graduated from university and is anticipating moving in with his girlfriend in an apartment in Mousehole. When Ryan has the rug unexpectedly and unceremoniously pulled from under him the only course possible seems to return to his parents’ house with his tail between his legs. They had made it clear that they thought his girlfriend, Bea was out of his league and just stringing him along.
As Ryan sits, totally blindsided by events, on Mousehole Harbour, kindhearted Maggie comes to his rescue and gives him an alternative to leaving the area.
Ryan is just settling in to working at the fish and chip shop, learning the ropes from Maggie and living in the bedsit above the shop owned by the enigmatic Mr Robbins when there is an unexpected death on the harbour late at night. Maggie, a self confessed lover of crime novels, dramas and puzzles begins to think that maybe this was no accident and after Ryan is asked to go into Penzance Police Station for questioning she needs to find out if this was a murder and who did it. She is convinced that it wasn’t Ryan. This mystery is right up Maggie’s street and before long she has Ryan on board helping to chase clues and find answers much to the annoyance of Detective Inspector Houseman and Detective Sergeant Peters.
As Maggie enjoys the thrill of the chase she realises that being a private detective is a job just made for her and that actually she is rather good at it too!
As a new reader to this author’s books I am delighted to see that more books in this series are planned. The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives held my interest all the way through and the pace was just right. I loved that Maggie got her denouement in the dining room just like my favourite detective. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance reading copy of this excellent book.
The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives caught my attention as it is set in beautiful Mousehole, a place I have been on holiday several times recently. It really appealed to me knowing that I would be able to picture the setting.
I wasn’t disappointed as I loved the two main characters, middle aged Maggie who works in the local fish and chip shop and Ryan who has recently graduated from university and is anticipating moving in with his girlfriend in an apartment in Mousehole. When Ryan has the rug unexpectedly and unceremoniously pulled from under him the only course possible seems to return to his parents’ house with his tail between his legs. They had made it clear that they thought his girlfriend, Bea was out of his league and just stringing him along.
As Ryan sits, totally blindsided by events, on Mousehole Harbour, kindhearted Maggie comes to his rescue and gives him an alternative to leaving the area.
Ryan is just settling in to working at the fish and chip shop, learning the ropes from Maggie and living in the bedsit above the shop owned by the enigmatic Mr Robbins when there is an unexpected death on the harbour late at night. Maggie, a self confessed lover of crime novels, dramas and puzzles begins to think that maybe this was no accident and after Ryan is asked to go into Penzance Police Station for questioning she needs to find out if this was a murder and who did it. She is convinced that it wasn’t Ryan. This mystery is right up Maggie’s street and before long she has Ryan on board helping to chase clues and find answers much to the annoyance of Detective Inspector Houseman and Detective Sergeant Peters.
As Maggie enjoys the thrill of the chase she realises that being a private detective is a job just made for her and that actually she is rather good at it too!
As a new reader to this author’s books I am delighted to see that more books in this series are planned. The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives held my interest all the way through and the pace was just right. I loved that Maggie got her denouement in the dining room just like my favourite detective. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance reading copy of this excellent book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
📱📖 Read on Kindle | 📃 356 pages
⏱ Duration: 5 hours | ARC provided by NetGalley
🏷️ Published by Hodder & Stoughton
Release date: 2 April 2026
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Jenny Kane’s new cozy mystery serves up everything you’d expect from the genre: a picture-postcard village, quirky characters, and a murder that ties the community in knots. Maggie and Ryan make an endearing, if slightly mismatched, team, and the premise of clearing Ryan’s name gives their partnership believable stakes, and the hook of Ryan being a suspect gives their sleuthing a believable tension.
That said, the story sometimes overstays its welcome. At 356 pages, it felt like a full plate when a half-portion would’ve satisfied. The flow of events occasionally felt unnatural. Mr. Robbins, the enigmatic shop owner, is so clearly teed up for future installments that his limited presence makes him more question mark than character. And while the village charm is delightful, the investigation’s flow strains logic: Maggie seems to appear wherever questions need asking, and townsfolk, including police, and the suspects readily defer to her, or let her ask any questions which didn’t feel plausible for someone with limited experience. Ryan, on the other hand, felt more grounded; his worry about crossing legal lines gave the story moments of tension and realism. The relationships and dynamic are enjoyable, but the believability wavered enough that I struggled to stay fully immersed.
For fans of slow, scenic mysteries with British small-town charm, this one will scratch the cozy itch, even if it sometimes forgets that less can be more. Overall, the story and relationships had potential, but I didn’t feel compelled to continue the series.
Would I recommend it?
Interesting characters and a charming Cornish setting, but the believability issues held me back. Unrealistic amateur detectives, and underutilized side characters gave a doozy. This was a pleasant but uneven read, engaging, yet not quite believable enough to hook me for book two. A decent cozy mystery, but I wouldn’t prioritize this one for an encore.
⏱ Duration: 5 hours | ARC provided by NetGalley
🏷️ Published by Hodder & Stoughton
Release date: 2 April 2026
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Jenny Kane’s new cozy mystery serves up everything you’d expect from the genre: a picture-postcard village, quirky characters, and a murder that ties the community in knots. Maggie and Ryan make an endearing, if slightly mismatched, team, and the premise of clearing Ryan’s name gives their partnership believable stakes, and the hook of Ryan being a suspect gives their sleuthing a believable tension.
That said, the story sometimes overstays its welcome. At 356 pages, it felt like a full plate when a half-portion would’ve satisfied. The flow of events occasionally felt unnatural. Mr. Robbins, the enigmatic shop owner, is so clearly teed up for future installments that his limited presence makes him more question mark than character. And while the village charm is delightful, the investigation’s flow strains logic: Maggie seems to appear wherever questions need asking, and townsfolk, including police, and the suspects readily defer to her, or let her ask any questions which didn’t feel plausible for someone with limited experience. Ryan, on the other hand, felt more grounded; his worry about crossing legal lines gave the story moments of tension and realism. The relationships and dynamic are enjoyable, but the believability wavered enough that I struggled to stay fully immersed.
For fans of slow, scenic mysteries with British small-town charm, this one will scratch the cozy itch, even if it sometimes forgets that less can be more. Overall, the story and relationships had potential, but I didn’t feel compelled to continue the series.
Would I recommend it?
Interesting characters and a charming Cornish setting, but the believability issues held me back. Unrealistic amateur detectives, and underutilized side characters gave a doozy. This was a pleasant but uneven read, engaging, yet not quite believable enough to hook me for book two. A decent cozy mystery, but I wouldn’t prioritize this one for an encore.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Maggie is a really great person. She’s kind and thoughtful. I felt for her as her daughter Izzy was out of the country. I loved how much empathy she had for Ryan as he arrived in Mousehole, a quaint Cornish village. How he arrived was very well thought out. I felt for him and I didn’t like Bea from the start because of the situation she put him in. I didn’t like her mother either. I liked how Ryan Maggie and the fish and chip shop. It was expertly incorporated into the story.
Maggie’s enthusiasm, love for Mousehole, and her passion for cozy mysteries makes her such a quirky, well-rounded character. She’s unlike any I have found any of the books I’ve ever reviewed. I LOVED the mention of Death in Paradise, a TV show I enjoy. I personally identified with her, as my husband and I also try to solve the mysteries.
Maggie’s love for solving TV crimes was contagious.
What will happen when a crime happens in real life?
Everything about this book is PERFECT. I loved the characters (even if I was uneasy about Mr. Robbins). The setting, and how completely immersive the plot is, won me over too. I thought the parallel between Maggie and her daughter and Ryan and Bea in terms of them both being apart from someone in their life was well shown. I loved their backstory.
There’s wonderful attention to detail. I’ve been to Cornwall, and Mousehole is a perfect representation of a Cornish village.
The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives covers some tough subjects: love and knowing when to move on, life, being away from family or people who are important to you, difficulty finding housing and work, the struggle to fit in and find happiness.
It is quirky, heartfelt, exciting, sad, shocking, realistic, and an absolutely brilliant start to a new series. I can’t wait to find out where the rest of the series is going to take me.
It’s book that made me feel so hooked I didn’t want it to finish. It’s one of my favorite books of the year.
5 stars
Thanks to Jenny Kane and Hodder and Stoughton for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
Maggie’s enthusiasm, love for Mousehole, and her passion for cozy mysteries makes her such a quirky, well-rounded character. She’s unlike any I have found any of the books I’ve ever reviewed. I LOVED the mention of Death in Paradise, a TV show I enjoy. I personally identified with her, as my husband and I also try to solve the mysteries.
Maggie’s love for solving TV crimes was contagious.
What will happen when a crime happens in real life?
Everything about this book is PERFECT. I loved the characters (even if I was uneasy about Mr. Robbins). The setting, and how completely immersive the plot is, won me over too. I thought the parallel between Maggie and her daughter and Ryan and Bea in terms of them both being apart from someone in their life was well shown. I loved their backstory.
There’s wonderful attention to detail. I’ve been to Cornwall, and Mousehole is a perfect representation of a Cornish village.
The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives covers some tough subjects: love and knowing when to move on, life, being away from family or people who are important to you, difficulty finding housing and work, the struggle to fit in and find happiness.
It is quirky, heartfelt, exciting, sad, shocking, realistic, and an absolutely brilliant start to a new series. I can’t wait to find out where the rest of the series is going to take me.
It’s book that made me feel so hooked I didn’t want it to finish. It’s one of my favorite books of the year.
5 stars
Thanks to Jenny Kane and Hodder and Stoughton for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This cozy crime mystery had me hooked from the first pages. It was a ride of feelings. From the calm british village vibes to let me shake this character to tense moments. At no point could I put it down before I know who done it.
Maggie and Ryan are two extremely sympathetic protagonists, who you just have to like. They act well together and make each other better. Help each other to become more confident and point out each others weaknesses. The built up of the friendship felt real and believable.
That have a beautiful found family vibe.
Their motto could be fish&chips, crime solving and bad taste in romantic partners.
They working on the last part. Even though this book was just that start of the series, you could see their character growth.
The side characters were weaved in nicely and didn't fell flat. Especially Mr.Robbins mysterious existence gets you. Like the characters you start from haha, funny rumours to, maybe there is something true to the rumours. But who knows, can't wait for the next books where we learn hopefully even more about the other characters and the village.
Jenny Kane manages amazingly to toy with the lines. It is tense, gets your heart racing and at moments worried about the main character but doesn't go too far to lose the coziness.
Let's you calm down with a tea and biscuits after stressful moments.
The only criticism is that the characters are sometimes just a bit to open. A friend of theirs just died but they have no issue with talking to strangers. A little bit more paranoia or carefulness would be more believable.
Would I recommend this book?
Absolutely!
No really, get that book. Sit outside in the spring sun and enjoy a good story, a refreshing ice tea and some fish and chips.
I would like to thank Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Maggie and Ryan are two extremely sympathetic protagonists, who you just have to like. They act well together and make each other better. Help each other to become more confident and point out each others weaknesses. The built up of the friendship felt real and believable.
That have a beautiful found family vibe.
Their motto could be fish&chips, crime solving and bad taste in romantic partners.
They working on the last part. Even though this book was just that start of the series, you could see their character growth.
The side characters were weaved in nicely and didn't fell flat. Especially Mr.Robbins mysterious existence gets you. Like the characters you start from haha, funny rumours to, maybe there is something true to the rumours. But who knows, can't wait for the next books where we learn hopefully even more about the other characters and the village.
Jenny Kane manages amazingly to toy with the lines. It is tense, gets your heart racing and at moments worried about the main character but doesn't go too far to lose the coziness.
Let's you calm down with a tea and biscuits after stressful moments.
The only criticism is that the characters are sometimes just a bit to open. A friend of theirs just died but they have no issue with talking to strangers. A little bit more paranoia or carefulness would be more believable.
Would I recommend this book?
Absolutely!
No really, get that book. Sit outside in the spring sun and enjoy a good story, a refreshing ice tea and some fish and chips.
I would like to thank Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 12, 2026
An entertaining murder mystery set in Cornwall - I feel a little more could have been done with the location, Mousehole is an iconic village and we only really see the harbour. Maybe next time.
Our two main characters are great. On one hand you have the typical sleuth of these kind of books, an enthusiastic amateur who is obsessed with puzzles. And to compliment her, you have a just out of uni lad who doesn't know what he wants to do with his life. They were a fantastic double act, they supported and cared for each other and it was easy to buy into the friendship that sprung up between them. You honestly believed that they cared for each other.
The rest of the supporting cast were good too, from the suspects to the witnesses. Major shout out to Bea, who was one of the worst characters in the world - but brilliantly written, I wanted to smack her so bad, but we all know someone like her, she felt very real even as I hated her. And another one to their boss, who I am obsessed with and need to know more about in the next book, I love him so much.
I really liked the simple fact that there was a logical reason as to why one of our main characters was considered a suspect, and while it was still thinner than I would have liked, the fact that it was believable at all made all the difference.
The mystery itself was fun, slightly let down by the end which included reveals that the reader didn't have access to - you could guess it was between certain characters but you had no way of solving the mystery because key evidence was kept from you.
All in all however, a very entertaining read for the weekend.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
Our two main characters are great. On one hand you have the typical sleuth of these kind of books, an enthusiastic amateur who is obsessed with puzzles. And to compliment her, you have a just out of uni lad who doesn't know what he wants to do with his life. They were a fantastic double act, they supported and cared for each other and it was easy to buy into the friendship that sprung up between them. You honestly believed that they cared for each other.
The rest of the supporting cast were good too, from the suspects to the witnesses. Major shout out to Bea, who was one of the worst characters in the world - but brilliantly written, I wanted to smack her so bad, but we all know someone like her, she felt very real even as I hated her. And another one to their boss, who I am obsessed with and need to know more about in the next book, I love him so much.
I really liked the simple fact that there was a logical reason as to why one of our main characters was considered a suspect, and while it was still thinner than I would have liked, the fact that it was believable at all made all the difference.
The mystery itself was fun, slightly let down by the end which included reveals that the reader didn't have access to - you could guess it was between certain characters but you had no way of solving the mystery because key evidence was kept from you.
All in all however, a very entertaining read for the weekend.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
** “I’m doing it, Grandad! I’m being a detective!” **
Jenny Kane brings us a delightful new cozy mystery series with “The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives.”
Maggie Tyson loves her job at the Robbins’ Fish and Chip Shop in Mousehole, a tiny seaside English village, as well as all things detective. Ryan Stepney, new to town, is flabbergasted when his girlfriend Bea, whom he was joining in Mousehole, abandons him for a whirlwind trip to Portugal. Finding himself homeless and jobless, Maggie takes pity on him and gets him a job at the chippy shop.
But when the young woman Ryan meets at the local pub turns up dead, he and Maggie quickly jump into detective mode, partly to clear Ryan’s name after being the last to speak with the victim.
What follows is a fun, quirky, zany mystery filled with twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing until the very end. Kane creates a great cast of characters, some adorable, some enigmatic and some downright unlikable.
Fans of cozy mysteries, stories about older women taking younger men under their wings to solve mysteries like the “Harry Wild” TV series and the Bella Winter mysteries by Clare Chase, as well as series like the Charity Shop Detective Agency mysteries by Peter Boland will love “The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives,” which is due out April 2.
Five stars out of five.
Hodder & Stoughton provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.
Jenny Kane brings us a delightful new cozy mystery series with “The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives.”
Maggie Tyson loves her job at the Robbins’ Fish and Chip Shop in Mousehole, a tiny seaside English village, as well as all things detective. Ryan Stepney, new to town, is flabbergasted when his girlfriend Bea, whom he was joining in Mousehole, abandons him for a whirlwind trip to Portugal. Finding himself homeless and jobless, Maggie takes pity on him and gets him a job at the chippy shop.
But when the young woman Ryan meets at the local pub turns up dead, he and Maggie quickly jump into detective mode, partly to clear Ryan’s name after being the last to speak with the victim.
What follows is a fun, quirky, zany mystery filled with twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing until the very end. Kane creates a great cast of characters, some adorable, some enigmatic and some downright unlikable.
Fans of cozy mysteries, stories about older women taking younger men under their wings to solve mysteries like the “Harry Wild” TV series and the Bella Winter mysteries by Clare Chase, as well as series like the Charity Shop Detective Agency mysteries by Peter Boland will love “The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives,” which is due out April 2.
Five stars out of five.
Hodder & Stoughton provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.
April 12, 2026
Pitched as a cosy crime novel, the first in a series. I am always wary of getting involved in other series, especially when they can come across as formulaic and almost churned out at an alarming degree.
In the case of this one, I have found a gem of a story, likeable characters, with a mystery and history of their own, a beautiful setting and a serving of fish and chips.
Maggie works in Robbins Fish and Chip Shop, Mr Robbins is a mysterious character who is seen and occasionally lends a hand, but clearly has a back story we all need to know about. For Maggie's daughter Izzie, who is travelling abroad, she thinks he is a gangster. Maggie just thinks he is another puzzle to solve.
Enter Ryan, embarking on his new life with girlfriend Bea, in Mousehole. However, it seems Bea has other ideas, that don't necessarily involve Ryan. At rather a turning point, Maggie embarks on helping Ryan and solving his own personal puzzle of what he should do next in life.
What they didn't bank on, was a dead body and Ryan being the last person to see them alive.
It takes all of Maggie and Ryan's puzzling skills, with some help from watching the best detectives on the television to find the solution, before Ryan's life takes a completely different turn.
A page turner, that had me hooked and certianly earns more than the label of cosy crime - this would make a brilliant adaption for television, that Sunday night slot! I cannot wait to read what comes next because this odd coupling are going to make the best detectives as well as the best fish and chips!
In the case of this one, I have found a gem of a story, likeable characters, with a mystery and history of their own, a beautiful setting and a serving of fish and chips.
Maggie works in Robbins Fish and Chip Shop, Mr Robbins is a mysterious character who is seen and occasionally lends a hand, but clearly has a back story we all need to know about. For Maggie's daughter Izzie, who is travelling abroad, she thinks he is a gangster. Maggie just thinks he is another puzzle to solve.
Enter Ryan, embarking on his new life with girlfriend Bea, in Mousehole. However, it seems Bea has other ideas, that don't necessarily involve Ryan. At rather a turning point, Maggie embarks on helping Ryan and solving his own personal puzzle of what he should do next in life.
What they didn't bank on, was a dead body and Ryan being the last person to see them alive.
It takes all of Maggie and Ryan's puzzling skills, with some help from watching the best detectives on the television to find the solution, before Ryan's life takes a completely different turn.
A page turner, that had me hooked and certianly earns more than the label of cosy crime - this would make a brilliant adaption for television, that Sunday night slot! I cannot wait to read what comes next because this odd coupling are going to make the best detectives as well as the best fish and chips!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a cozy, easy read that pulled me in right away. The chapters are short, which had me flipping pages quickly because I always wanted to see what would happen next. It moves at a nice pace without feeling rushed.
The best part of the story is the characters. Maggie really stood out to me. She’s warm, kind, and easy to love. She takes Ryan in when he has really nowhere else to go because she misses her daughter, and that part feels very real and touching. She’s caring and understanding without being overbearing. She just feels genuine and always trying to help anyway she can.
Ryan is also very likable. He’s trying to figure things out, and you can’t help but root for him. He feels honest and easy to connect with. Together, Maggie and Ryan make a great duo. Their bond feels natural, and their sleuthing adventures are fun and cozy. The kind of ‘wanna be detectives’ you want to ask to join.
The two main characters are contrasted heavily by some other characters such as Bea…who make you wish they’d go away. It’s a good mixture of give and take with them.
I do wish there had been a few more clues along the way. I love trying to solve the mystery in my head as I read, and I wanted a little more to work with so I could really play detective alongside them. I truly didn’t know until the end.
Even with that, it’s still a sweet story full of lovable characters.
February 23, 2026
Well this was simply fantastic. It was everything I was looking for in a small town cosy murder mystery.
Maggie is a kind, thoughtful person who is greatly missing her daughter (she is traveling in New Zealand).
Ryan is down on his luck, as his girlfriend Bea up and left him for a few months to go traveling, derailing all their plans of a future together.
Together they make an odd but well rounded crime solving team.
The plot was well paced, with plenty of twists and turns that kept me on my toes trying to guess ‘who done it’.
The book doesn’t shy away from handling some deeper topics though, including being away from those you love, learning when it’s best to move on from a person, the struggles of fitting in and the ability to find happiness in unlikely places. I thought the author handled these points really well and it helped endear me to the characters all the more.
I also really need to know more about who Mr Robbins is. Why does he have a driver, what does he spend his day doing. I need to know more!
What a great start to (I hope) a long series! I can’t wait to revisit the fish and chip shop for another mystery in book two.
If you are looking for your next cosy mystery I would highly recommend giving this one a read.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers Hodder and Staunton for the early copy.
Maggie is a kind, thoughtful person who is greatly missing her daughter (she is traveling in New Zealand).
Ryan is down on his luck, as his girlfriend Bea up and left him for a few months to go traveling, derailing all their plans of a future together.
Together they make an odd but well rounded crime solving team.
The plot was well paced, with plenty of twists and turns that kept me on my toes trying to guess ‘who done it’.
The book doesn’t shy away from handling some deeper topics though, including being away from those you love, learning when it’s best to move on from a person, the struggles of fitting in and the ability to find happiness in unlikely places. I thought the author handled these points really well and it helped endear me to the characters all the more.
I also really need to know more about who Mr Robbins is. Why does he have a driver, what does he spend his day doing. I need to know more!
What a great start to (I hope) a long series! I can’t wait to revisit the fish and chip shop for another mystery in book two.
If you are looking for your next cosy mystery I would highly recommend giving this one a read.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers Hodder and Staunton for the early copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It's been far too long since I last read a Jenny Kane book, but when I discovered she was writing a brand new series and it's called The Fish and Chip shop detectives I knew I wasn't going to be able to resist.
And I'm so glad I have found the start of this new cosy mystery series set in Mousehole, Cornwall.
Maggie and Ryan have barely met and started to get to know each other in any context, when Ryan shares a table in a pub with Tanya, and she winds up dead.
Maggie is determined to trust her gut and help try to clear Ryan's name, after the initial suspicion seems to be landing in his direction.
And this leads them into learning all about the deceased's friendship group, an unexpected connection back to Ryan himself, and a whole lot of lies and secrets.
I kind of guessed one part of it, but not even that was completely accurate. I enjoyed seeing how Maggie operated, she has a heart of gold, an desire to help people and a puzzler's brain.
From sticky situations, to some great theories, this was an enjoyable story. And I'm already looking forward to seeing that these characters will be up to net.
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
And I'm so glad I have found the start of this new cosy mystery series set in Mousehole, Cornwall.
Maggie and Ryan have barely met and started to get to know each other in any context, when Ryan shares a table in a pub with Tanya, and she winds up dead.
Maggie is determined to trust her gut and help try to clear Ryan's name, after the initial suspicion seems to be landing in his direction.
And this leads them into learning all about the deceased's friendship group, an unexpected connection back to Ryan himself, and a whole lot of lies and secrets.
I kind of guessed one part of it, but not even that was completely accurate. I enjoyed seeing how Maggie operated, she has a heart of gold, an desire to help people and a puzzler's brain.
From sticky situations, to some great theories, this was an enjoyable story. And I'm already looking forward to seeing that these characters will be up to net.
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved this from the beginning. The cozy seaside setting, the detective-fic fan (extra brownie points for the Shakespeare & Hathaway reference), the cozy home base of the chip shop, and the friend with the mysterious past and connections (I look forward to his story) all ticked my boxes. I devoured this in one day and was disappointed not to have a second installment ready to dive into.
I was initially concerned that the fictional detective references might become stale, but they were used just enough. I never found them distracting or overdone.
I did experience some confusion keeping the large cast of characters straight. By the end I had a much better handle on everyone, but early on some characters blended together a bit. Maggie started off strong, but as Ryan became more developed and experienced personal growth, she seemed to fade somewhat into the background.
Overall, this was a cozy, engaging read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I look forward to the next in the series
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the advanced copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.
I was initially concerned that the fictional detective references might become stale, but they were used just enough. I never found them distracting or overdone.
I did experience some confusion keeping the large cast of characters straight. By the end I had a much better handle on everyone, but early on some characters blended together a bit. Maggie started off strong, but as Ryan became more developed and experienced personal growth, she seemed to fade somewhat into the background.
Overall, this was a cozy, engaging read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I look forward to the next in the series
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the advanced copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.
March 21, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Jenny Kane for the e-book ARC!
This was such an engaging, unique cozy mystery! I’ve read a lot of cozy mysteries, but this one stands out for many reasons. The main sleuth is a single mom named Maggie who works in a fish and chips shop. Her daughter is traveling in another country, so she’s been a bit lonely and finds a companion in our secondary sleuth Ryan. Ryan is a young man who finds himself in this small Cornish town to follow his girlfriend and start their life together. His girlfriend isn’t present, and turns out to be rather flighty and selfish, so Ryan clings to Maggie in this new, unknown place he now calls home. When the murder of a young woman occurs, and Ryan is the last person to have seen her, he is arrested under suspicion of the murder and Maggie springs into action to defend him. As the story develops, so does their bond and the connection that Ryan shares with his new life at the fish and chips shop. With an unexpected, interesting conclusion and a tight storyline, this book has become one of my favorite cozy mysteries!
I thoroughly look forward to reading Kane’s future novels, and hope this series is continued. Thank you! 🕵️
This was such an engaging, unique cozy mystery! I’ve read a lot of cozy mysteries, but this one stands out for many reasons. The main sleuth is a single mom named Maggie who works in a fish and chips shop. Her daughter is traveling in another country, so she’s been a bit lonely and finds a companion in our secondary sleuth Ryan. Ryan is a young man who finds himself in this small Cornish town to follow his girlfriend and start their life together. His girlfriend isn’t present, and turns out to be rather flighty and selfish, so Ryan clings to Maggie in this new, unknown place he now calls home. When the murder of a young woman occurs, and Ryan is the last person to have seen her, he is arrested under suspicion of the murder and Maggie springs into action to defend him. As the story develops, so does their bond and the connection that Ryan shares with his new life at the fish and chips shop. With an unexpected, interesting conclusion and a tight storyline, this book has become one of my favorite cozy mysteries!
I thoroughly look forward to reading Kane’s future novels, and hope this series is continued. Thank you! 🕵️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
New series and new author to me - but I shall be back
This was set around Maggie, a single Mum whose daughter has gone on a trip to Australia before uni and seems to want to stay. We also meet Ryan, a new graduate with an erstwhile girlfriend, Bea. By coincidence she is also a friend (not a good one) to Tania - who is on her stag/hen trip with her fiancé Troy.
What follows is a cosy mystery with Maggie and Ryan doing all they can to ‘help’ the police solve the murder that ensues.
Tania and Bea are part of a friendship group with Heidi and Daisy - we also meet Hugh who is Troy’s best man and Simon a mechanic.
We mustn’t forget Mr Robbins who has his own mysteries - the fish and chip shop owner.
There is a obviously more to the back stories of Maggie, Ryan and Mr Robbins which hopefully will form part of the next books in the series - now the Fish and Chip Shop Detectives are established I am sure there will be a few to come.
Set in Mousehole in Cornwall we can imagine the harbour and the sea, the smell of fish and chips and a seagull popping into steal a chip.
A great well written read - but all the loose ends in this murder we’re well tied up - onward to the next - please
This was set around Maggie, a single Mum whose daughter has gone on a trip to Australia before uni and seems to want to stay. We also meet Ryan, a new graduate with an erstwhile girlfriend, Bea. By coincidence she is also a friend (not a good one) to Tania - who is on her stag/hen trip with her fiancé Troy.
What follows is a cosy mystery with Maggie and Ryan doing all they can to ‘help’ the police solve the murder that ensues.
Tania and Bea are part of a friendship group with Heidi and Daisy - we also meet Hugh who is Troy’s best man and Simon a mechanic.
We mustn’t forget Mr Robbins who has his own mysteries - the fish and chip shop owner.
There is a obviously more to the back stories of Maggie, Ryan and Mr Robbins which hopefully will form part of the next books in the series - now the Fish and Chip Shop Detectives are established I am sure there will be a few to come.
Set in Mousehole in Cornwall we can imagine the harbour and the sea, the smell of fish and chips and a seagull popping into steal a chip.
A great well written read - but all the loose ends in this murder we’re well tied up - onward to the next - please
April 3, 2026
It is always good to get into a series with the first book, and there is no doubt that this will become a series! The quality of the writing is great, the main characters are introduced and backstory laid out in a way that makes them very relatable and gives some depth to the story. But the setting and location are also great and what made the story for me, bringing back memories of a wonderful summer holiday in Cornwall and Mousehole in particular and to be fair, this probably added to my enjoyment of the novel.
The only drawback is a slight overuse of dialogue; yes, it can add to character development but sometimes you just want to get on with the story, and this did seem drag out some of the scenes giving the impression that the story was dragging, which it really wasn’t, it is actually very well paced.
If ‘cosy’ crime is your thing but with ‘real’ characters, and picturesque British seaside locations are where you like to have your murders and investigations set, then The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives is definitely the book for you this summer. But just be careful reading this sitting on a harbour wall… There is not much more to say than, dig in!
The only drawback is a slight overuse of dialogue; yes, it can add to character development but sometimes you just want to get on with the story, and this did seem drag out some of the scenes giving the impression that the story was dragging, which it really wasn’t, it is actually very well paced.
If ‘cosy’ crime is your thing but with ‘real’ characters, and picturesque British seaside locations are where you like to have your murders and investigations set, then The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives is definitely the book for you this summer. But just be careful reading this sitting on a harbour wall… There is not much more to say than, dig in!
April 14, 2026
Ryan - a slightly lost twentysomething from Birmingham moves to the picturesque town of Mousehole in Cornwall to be with his girlfriend. Upon finding her absent when he arrives, he meets Maggie - an empty-nester in her mid forties who works in the local Fish & Chip shop. Forming an unlikely but heartwarming friendship, the pair find themselves drawn into a local tragedy when a young bride is found dead on the beach. Was it an accident-or something more sinister?
I had a lot of fun with this. I loved Maggie and Ryan paired up, it really works and is a different take on the usual 'amateur sleuth investigates' storyline. I found that all bar one of the characters in the book were well written and surprisingly rounded given that some really didn't get a lot of page time. I loved the enigmatic Mr Robbins, and there were a lot of character arcs started in this book that I'm excited to see continue into the next and beyond.
Definitely worth a read of this one, it's very sweet and an unusual motive too.
- Thanks to NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review -
I had a lot of fun with this. I loved Maggie and Ryan paired up, it really works and is a different take on the usual 'amateur sleuth investigates' storyline. I found that all bar one of the characters in the book were well written and surprisingly rounded given that some really didn't get a lot of page time. I loved the enigmatic Mr Robbins, and there were a lot of character arcs started in this book that I'm excited to see continue into the next and beyond.
Definitely worth a read of this one, it's very sweet and an unusual motive too.
- Thanks to NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review -
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives is a charming, seaside‑soaked cozy mystery that feels like slipping into a warm cardigan on a blustery Cornish day. Jenny Kane introduces a duo I didn’t know I needed: Maggie, a puzzle‑loving forty‑something with a sharp mind and a soft heart, and Ryan, a recent graduate trying to find his footing in the world. Their unlikely friendship becomes the gentle heartbeat of the story.
Set in the picturesque village of Mousehole, the book leans fully into its coastal atmosphere—harbour views, winding streets, and the comforting hum of the local chippy. When a body is discovered and suspicion lands on Ryan, Maggie steps out from behind the counter and into amateur‑sleuth territory, determined to uncover the truth.
The mystery itself is light, engaging, and pleasantly twisty without ever losing its cozy charm. What really shines is the sense of community and the easy warmth between the characters. It’s the kind of story that pairs perfectly with a cup of tea and a quiet afternoon.
With thanks to Jenny Kane, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Set in the picturesque village of Mousehole, the book leans fully into its coastal atmosphere—harbour views, winding streets, and the comforting hum of the local chippy. When a body is discovered and suspicion lands on Ryan, Maggie steps out from behind the counter and into amateur‑sleuth territory, determined to uncover the truth.
The mystery itself is light, engaging, and pleasantly twisty without ever losing its cozy charm. What really shines is the sense of community and the easy warmth between the characters. It’s the kind of story that pairs perfectly with a cup of tea and a quiet afternoon.
With thanks to Jenny Kane, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives” the first instalment in The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives Mystery series by Jenny Kane set in Mousehole is a picturesque fishing village in Cornwall, England. What a great start to a new series.
Can Maggie prove Ryan's innocence and reel in the killer, before they strike again?
This is a new to me author and I will definitely be reading more from her. I love the story and the I enjoyed the bond between Maggie and Ryan,
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and had plenty of twists to keep engaged right to the very end. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself but I was right on who the killer was.
Overall, this book is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries and heartwarming fiction. Jenny’s writing is engaging, and her characters are lovable and well-crafted. I highly recommend this charming novel and look forward to the next instalment.
I requested and received an advance readers copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Can Maggie prove Ryan's innocence and reel in the killer, before they strike again?
This is a new to me author and I will definitely be reading more from her. I love the story and the I enjoyed the bond between Maggie and Ryan,
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and had plenty of twists to keep engaged right to the very end. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself but I was right on who the killer was.
Overall, this book is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries and heartwarming fiction. Jenny’s writing is engaging, and her characters are lovable and well-crafted. I highly recommend this charming novel and look forward to the next instalment.
I requested and received an advance readers copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed this, although it made me hungry for fish & chips every time I picked it up to read!
Sometimes cozy mysteries can be all fluff and no substance, but I found I was properly caught up in this story, perhaps because I liked Maggie and Ryan (our amateur detectives) and felt they were well drawn characters.
I really enjoyed all the ins and outs of the investigation - you find everything out alongside of Maggie and Ryan so you feel like you're fully involved. I hadn't figured out what was happening, but I didn't mind that I hadn't guessed whodunnit as I just enjoyed the final reveal.
You can feel throughout that it's being set up for a series, because there are other characters you're introduced to and want to know more about (Mr Robbins being the one I'm most interested in!) and it feels like a set-up that would work well as a TV series too. I'd definitely read any future escapades, and look forward to finding out how the detectives get on.
With thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for my copy.
Sometimes cozy mysteries can be all fluff and no substance, but I found I was properly caught up in this story, perhaps because I liked Maggie and Ryan (our amateur detectives) and felt they were well drawn characters.
I really enjoyed all the ins and outs of the investigation - you find everything out alongside of Maggie and Ryan so you feel like you're fully involved. I hadn't figured out what was happening, but I didn't mind that I hadn't guessed whodunnit as I just enjoyed the final reveal.
You can feel throughout that it's being set up for a series, because there are other characters you're introduced to and want to know more about (Mr Robbins being the one I'm most interested in!) and it feels like a set-up that would work well as a TV series too. I'd definitely read any future escapades, and look forward to finding out how the detectives get on.
With thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for my copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a lovely cozy mystery with an engaging plot and a hook of an ending that definitely left me wanting more.
The highlight for me was the friendship between Maggie and Ryan. Their bond felt very authentic; I loved how Maggie’s empathy for Ryan balanced with her own feelings of loneliness. It gave the story a warm, "cozy" heart that made it very enjoyable to sink into.
However, I did have a few pacing issues. At 356 pages, the story felt a bit overextended, and my attention wavered in the middle. I also would have loved more depth from the supporting cast. For example, Mr. Robbins was introduced but then largely disappeared, which felt like a missed opportunity for character development.
Overall, this is a great "on-the-go" read. It’s not a heavy commitment and is perfect for when you want a low-stress mystery to dip in and out of. I'm not really interested in reading the next book, but I might give it a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The highlight for me was the friendship between Maggie and Ryan. Their bond felt very authentic; I loved how Maggie’s empathy for Ryan balanced with her own feelings of loneliness. It gave the story a warm, "cozy" heart that made it very enjoyable to sink into.
However, I did have a few pacing issues. At 356 pages, the story felt a bit overextended, and my attention wavered in the middle. I also would have loved more depth from the supporting cast. For example, Mr. Robbins was introduced but then largely disappeared, which felt like a missed opportunity for character development.
Overall, this is a great "on-the-go" read. It’s not a heavy commitment and is perfect for when you want a low-stress mystery to dip in and out of. I'm not really interested in reading the next book, but I might give it a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 31, 2026
I absolutely LOVED this!!!!
While I typically read thriller books, I absolutely LOVE a cosy murder mystery- and this was just perfect!
Maggie was oh so lovable, I loved her determination & the maternal relationship she had with Ryan, healing part of her while her daughter was in New Zealand.
I must add, even though they were only in the book for a few sentences, I HATED Bea’s parents! I mean, how rude and pompous?!
Anyway, while at the beginning I thought the owner of the fish and chip shop was rude and grumpy, I slowly began to quite like him!
I wish we could’ve seen more of the relationship between Maggie and her ex, whether that be gossip from the past or them having a well needed conversation, but I still loved the progression of their relationship - and him secretly rooting for Maggie & Ryan, even though they were doing his job!
I honestly read the last 50% of this in one day, I was so wrapped up in finding who had done it that I couldn’t put the book down!
I hiiighly recommend this!
While I typically read thriller books, I absolutely LOVE a cosy murder mystery- and this was just perfect!
Maggie was oh so lovable, I loved her determination & the maternal relationship she had with Ryan, healing part of her while her daughter was in New Zealand.
I must add, even though they were only in the book for a few sentences, I HATED Bea’s parents! I mean, how rude and pompous?!
Anyway, while at the beginning I thought the owner of the fish and chip shop was rude and grumpy, I slowly began to quite like him!
I wish we could’ve seen more of the relationship between Maggie and her ex, whether that be gossip from the past or them having a well needed conversation, but I still loved the progression of their relationship - and him secretly rooting for Maggie & Ryan, even though they were doing his job!
I honestly read the last 50% of this in one day, I was so wrapped up in finding who had done it that I couldn’t put the book down!
I hiiighly recommend this!
May 1, 2026
There was something very appealing to this book that reminded me of Hanna Ellis' books or Astrid Swift books by M.H. Eccleston. I love cozy mystery novels set in English seaside towns, and this book proved to be an enthralling cozy mystery.
In a fishing village in Cornwall, Maggie, a fish and chip shop worker and murder mystery enthusiast meets a recent grad named Ryan who is busy figuring out his life and in desperate need of employment. As the two work together in the fish and chip shop, a body is discovered in the nearby harbor and Ryan is the last person to have interacted with the victim. Maggie will use her amateur sleuthing skills to clear Ryan's name and solve the case.
This debut novel was a delightful treat. I enjoyed the cozy seaside theme along with Maggie’s references to Agatha Christie and murder mystery shows. This book was a quick and easy read, and I'm looking forward to reading more books in this series.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary. All thoughts are my own.
In a fishing village in Cornwall, Maggie, a fish and chip shop worker and murder mystery enthusiast meets a recent grad named Ryan who is busy figuring out his life and in desperate need of employment. As the two work together in the fish and chip shop, a body is discovered in the nearby harbor and Ryan is the last person to have interacted with the victim. Maggie will use her amateur sleuthing skills to clear Ryan's name and solve the case.
This debut novel was a delightful treat. I enjoyed the cozy seaside theme along with Maggie’s references to Agatha Christie and murder mystery shows. This book was a quick and easy read, and I'm looking forward to reading more books in this series.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary. All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives is the first book I have read by Jenny Kane and it will not be the last. I really enjoyed the Cornwall setting and the characters in this book are so fun. I’m really looking forward to getting to know them more in the upcoming books in the series. I can so relate to Maggie as a woman with a recently grown daughter and trying to figure out what is next in life. Ryan is written so well that I could relate to him as well. I think a lot of people get out of college/high school and think - Now what? I love how well they worked together and the mystery was tricky to figure out. I never really did figure it out before the great reveal! I love that Ryan and Maggie are going to continue to work together and I can’t wait to read more of their adventures!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a new author for me and the first book in a new series. It looked kind of interesting when I requested it on Netgally, but it really exceeded my expectations. Maggie is a very interesting MC, a woman of 47 who runs a fish and chip shop for a somewhat mysterious boss. She has one college age daughter, Izzie, who is off in New Zealand, exploring before she starts college next year. This leaves Maggie an empty nest, a job she enjoys but is used to, and her puzzles and mystery shows. Enter Ryan, a recent college graduate relocating to Mousehole to move in with his well-off girlfriend as they start a new life. When his girlfriend blows him off, not only is the whole relationship in question, but he needs a job. When his stop at Robbins' Fish and Chip Shop puts him in Maggie's radar, they form a work relationship that quickly changes tenor when it turns out that Ryan is the last person to see a local young woman who shows up dead on the beach. With a tenuous friendship and desire to save Ryan, Maggie and Ryan join forces to find out what really happened to Tania. This was a really interesting and well developed mystery with lots of layers, well fleshed out characters, and lots of twists and turns. We get a surprising and well executed finale that will totally make you want to visit again! I can't wait to see what Maggie, Ryan, and our surrounding cast get up to next! Many thanks to #Netgally, #Hodder&Stoughton, and the author for an opportunity to read. #TheFishandChipShopDetectives #FishandChipsShopDetectiveAgencyMysteries #JennyKane #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader
March 29, 2026
Set in the picturesque Cornish village of Mousehole, this cosy mystery introduces Maggie Tyson—crossword lover, coastal‑path walker, and part‑time fish‑and‑chip‑shop worker—who finds herself unexpectedly stepping into the role of amateur sleuth. When newcomer Ryan Stepney becomes the prime suspect in a harbour‑side murder, Maggie is convinced he’s innocent and decides to do some investigating of her own.
The plot is clever and nicely paced, with that classic small‑village charm where everyone knows everyone, and secrets never stay buried for long. Maggie and Ryan make an appealing duo, and the supporting cast feels full of potential for future instalments.
As the start of a new series, it’s a strong, enjoyable opener—light, engaging, and with characters I can see growing into something really fun. A solid 7/10 and a promising beginning to what could become a very likeable cosy‑crime run.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Many thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the opportunity to read this book.
Maggie enjoys her work in the local fish and chip shop and spends her spare time enjoying murder mysteries and puzzles but when a body is found nearby she gets the chance to investigate a real murder mystery. Help comes in the form of Ryan, a young man looking for a fresh start. Can they solve the case.
Oh i do love a cosy murder mystery and one set around fish and chips is even better. A true British staple. The plot was clever and enticing. I really enjoyed the build up to the big reveal. I had figured some of it out but not all. The ending was perfect and I liked the hint at future stories. I hope there are more to come. Maggie and Ryan are fun leads and you easily warm to them. I'm intrigued about the mysterious Mr Robbins as well and hope to learn more in the future. A fun cosy mystery with some drama for added depth.
Maggie enjoys her work in the local fish and chip shop and spends her spare time enjoying murder mysteries and puzzles but when a body is found nearby she gets the chance to investigate a real murder mystery. Help comes in the form of Ryan, a young man looking for a fresh start. Can they solve the case.
Oh i do love a cosy murder mystery and one set around fish and chips is even better. A true British staple. The plot was clever and enticing. I really enjoyed the build up to the big reveal. I had figured some of it out but not all. The ending was perfect and I liked the hint at future stories. I hope there are more to come. Maggie and Ryan are fun leads and you easily warm to them. I'm intrigued about the mysterious Mr Robbins as well and hope to learn more in the future. A fun cosy mystery with some drama for added depth.
April 27, 2026
This book is exactly what it promises: cosy, coastal crime with a side of comfort food and just enough intrigue to keep you hooked.
Set in a sleepy Cornish village, it follows Maggie—your classic warm but quietly sharp protagonist—and Ryan, the mysterious newcomer who immediately gives “he’s hiding something” energy. When a murder rocks the harbour and Ryan ends up as the prime suspect… yeah, things escalate quickly.
The whole “fish and chip shop turned detective HQ” concept? Honestly, kind of iconic. It leans fully into that small-town, everyone-knows-everyone vibe, where secrets don’t stay buried for long and gossip travels faster than the tide.
It’s not dark or gritty—this is very much cosy crime. The stakes are there, but it’s more about the characters, the setting, and the slow unravel of the mystery rather than shocking twists. That said, it does keep you guessing just enough to stay invested.
Set in a sleepy Cornish village, it follows Maggie—your classic warm but quietly sharp protagonist—and Ryan, the mysterious newcomer who immediately gives “he’s hiding something” energy. When a murder rocks the harbour and Ryan ends up as the prime suspect… yeah, things escalate quickly.
The whole “fish and chip shop turned detective HQ” concept? Honestly, kind of iconic. It leans fully into that small-town, everyone-knows-everyone vibe, where secrets don’t stay buried for long and gossip travels faster than the tide.
It’s not dark or gritty—this is very much cosy crime. The stakes are there, but it’s more about the characters, the setting, and the slow unravel of the mystery rather than shocking twists. That said, it does keep you guessing just enough to stay invested.
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