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A Party To Death
A masked costume party, a deadly game, and a cat among the magpies…
Toby Solano returns to The Hague to launch The Shamrock Detective Agency and to unearth the truth about the mysterious Arnold Exford – the dead and buried benefactor who apparently just tried to call his mobile…
A murder mystery-themed party invitation is hardly what Toby and his quick-witted sidekick Meredith envisaged for their new career as crime-fighters. But as evening falls and the guests gather, a deadly game begins and nothing is quite what it seems.
An elaborate investigation plays out against the delightful backdrop of narrow cobblestone streets, ornate Gothic churches, and wide well-surfaced cycle lanes. The Shamrock Detective Agency must risk reputation, personal safety, and spilt tea to prove it can hunt down a killer.
Will a neighbourhood of eccentric characters, poisonous fish, an opinionated cat, and dangerous coastal weather be a help or hindrance to the intrepid detectives?
Tea will be drunk, maps consulted, secret histories exhumed and at least one very long Dutch word mispronounced.
Toby Solano returns to The Hague to launch The Shamrock Detective Agency and to unearth the truth about the mysterious Arnold Exford – the dead and buried benefactor who apparently just tried to call his mobile…
A murder mystery-themed party invitation is hardly what Toby and his quick-witted sidekick Meredith envisaged for their new career as crime-fighters. But as evening falls and the guests gather, a deadly game begins and nothing is quite what it seems.
An elaborate investigation plays out against the delightful backdrop of narrow cobblestone streets, ornate Gothic churches, and wide well-surfaced cycle lanes. The Shamrock Detective Agency must risk reputation, personal safety, and spilt tea to prove it can hunt down a killer.
Will a neighbourhood of eccentric characters, poisonous fish, an opinionated cat, and dangerous coastal weather be a help or hindrance to the intrepid detectives?
Tea will be drunk, maps consulted, secret histories exhumed and at least one very long Dutch word mispronounced.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 25, 2025
About the author
Julie Broussely
2 books11 followersJulie Broussely writes mystery stories she hopes will make you laugh and test your wits, and quite possibly inspire vague notions of wanting to visit watery, bicycle-obsessed European cities. She lives in the sunny Netherlands where it definitely doesn’t rain quite all the time, rather like her native England, although there are a lot more windmills and cycling is virtually mandatory.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 28, 2026
Adorable sequel!
This is a series I will continue to read as each new book is written. Very fun and lighthearted while being clever and educational about the surroundings. Always a cliffhanger regarding the original premise. Keep ‘em coming!
This is a series I will continue to read as each new book is written. Very fun and lighthearted while being clever and educational about the surroundings. Always a cliffhanger regarding the original premise. Keep ‘em coming!
February 17, 2026
I loved it! The characters feel cosy and familiar from reading the first book in the series. The plot is intricate and fun, filled with what feels like thousands of tiny threads that don’t obviously connect until much further into the story. Of course, the mystery of why Toby inherited the detective agency from the mysterious Mr Exford continues.
I love the little details. The familiar streets of The Hague, the Dutch-isms seen through Toby’s eyes. Then the very British tea making. As someone with British heritage now living in The Hague, it really is both hilarious and comforting.
Shamrock is a delight as always, as well as Meredith and the other friends that Toby has made in his short time in The Hague.
I really enjoy the meandering feel of the narrative. Following Toby as he tries to piece together the clues (or lack thereof), aided by his trusty companion Meredith, and regularly distracted by other things happening that initially seem unrelated but eventually all pull together at the end (some I suspect are crumbs for the coming stories—stolen poisonous fish, I see you).
Very well written and planned out. I have no idea how anyone can bring together a layered and detailed murder mystery plot like this, and I think Broussely does it very successfully. I’m looking forward to the next installment!
I love the little details. The familiar streets of The Hague, the Dutch-isms seen through Toby’s eyes. Then the very British tea making. As someone with British heritage now living in The Hague, it really is both hilarious and comforting.
Shamrock is a delight as always, as well as Meredith and the other friends that Toby has made in his short time in The Hague.
I really enjoy the meandering feel of the narrative. Following Toby as he tries to piece together the clues (or lack thereof), aided by his trusty companion Meredith, and regularly distracted by other things happening that initially seem unrelated but eventually all pull together at the end (some I suspect are crumbs for the coming stories—stolen poisonous fish, I see you).
Very well written and planned out. I have no idea how anyone can bring together a layered and detailed murder mystery plot like this, and I think Broussely does it very successfully. I’m looking forward to the next installment!
May 17, 2026
This book is a lively, charming cosy mystery that blends small‑town warmth with a satisfyingly twisty whodunnit. When amateur sleuth Toby and Meredith find themselves entangled in yet another unexpected murder, the story unfolds with humour, heart, and a wonderfully light touch. Broussely’s writing shines in the way she builds community—every quirky neighbour, awkward encounter, and sharp aside adds colour without slowing the pace.
The mystery itself is neatly constructed: clues are sprinkled fairly, motives feel believable, and the final reveal lands with both surprise and delight. What elevates the book is it’s tone—warm, witty, and effortlessly readable. It’s the kind of story that pairs perfectly with a cup of tea and an afternoon to yourself.
The mystery itself is neatly constructed: clues are sprinkled fairly, motives feel believable, and the final reveal lands with both surprise and delight. What elevates the book is it’s tone—warm, witty, and effortlessly readable. It’s the kind of story that pairs perfectly with a cup of tea and an afternoon to yourself.
February 9, 2026
so very enjoyable
The continuing adventures of Toby and friends and his new life as a private detective. I think a cup of tea is practically a character in this series as much as Shamrock, haha.
gentle, whodunnit, brain puzzling good fun.
Looking forward to the next and hopefully even more more more of the near magical mysteries included.
The continuing adventures of Toby and friends and his new life as a private detective. I think a cup of tea is practically a character in this series as much as Shamrock, haha.
gentle, whodunnit, brain puzzling good fun.
Looking forward to the next and hopefully even more more more of the near magical mysteries included.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews