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‘When Steve Higgs writes, he hits it out of the park. I find myself laughing out loud and often.’When a climber suspiciously falls to his death and a local artist has her dog stolen, both cases fall into the lap of local sleuth, Patricia Fisher …… but they should have come with a warning.No sooner does she start to investigate, than a mysterious underworld figure issues a confusing threat. What has she uncovered?Local boy, Sam Chalk, wants to help, his antics amusing but seemingly nothing more than a distraction. Does he know something though?With time running out to save the dog, and the climber’s death looking like nothing more than a terrible accident, a chance discovery will rock Patricia’s world.If only she had listened to Sam.Get ready for a new series of thrills!‘This series has it all; everything I want in a story and series ... humour, suspense, and colourful characters. It’s one of my top all-time favourite series.’

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 13, 2020

2669 people are currently reading
1582 people want to read

About the author

Steve Higgs

544 books801 followers
Let's start this off with an invitation to get some FREE books. No, you didn't read that wrong, we are talking about multiple free books. I love giving away free books because once people delve into the fast-paced mystery thrills I write, they go on to buy lots more.

All I need from you is an email address to send them to. Here's the link you need - https://mailchi.mp/fd47a6eb4ae5/patri...

When I wrote my first novel, Paranormal Nonsense, I was a Captain in the British Army. I would love to pretend that I had one of those careers that has to be redacted and in general denied by the government and that I have had to change my name and continually move about because I am still on the watch list in several countries. In truth though, I started out as a mechanic. Not like Jason Statham, sneaking about as a contract killer, more like one of those greasy gits that charge you a fortune and keep your car for a week when all you went in for was a squeaky door hinge.

At school, I was mostly disinterested in every subject except creative writing, for which, at age ten, I won my first award. However, calling it my first award suggests that there have been more, which there have not. Accolades may come but, in the meantime, I am having a ball writing mystery stories and crime thrillers and will claim to have more than a hundred books forming an unruly queue in my head as they clamor to get out.

Now retired from the military, I live in the south-east corner of England with a pair of lazy sausage dogs. Surrounded by rolling hills, brooding castles, and vineyards, I doubt I will ever leave, the beer is just too good.

Links:
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Steve-Higgs/...
Website: https://stevehiggsbooks.wordpress.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stevehiggsau...

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5 stars
1,688 (47%)
4 stars
1,146 (32%)
3 stars
587 (16%)
2 stars
112 (3%)
1 star
46 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
70 reviews
February 18, 2021
Fun and clever

As I live in Deal Kent the places mentioned are local and known to me. I remember the actual camping shop in Sandwich, my dad was a vegetable delivery driver who used to deliver to West Malling so it's all vivid in my mind.
The fact that I find myself laughing out loud and still unable to work it out till Patricia reveals the answer makes these books enjoyable.
Read the ones on the cruise ship first and you will be hooked. I should think the sales of dachshund dogs has gone through the roof.
Brilliant read and un put downable love them .
Profile Image for Rita Whinfield.
1,583 reviews
April 5, 2021
Sleuthing pays well

Read this in one sitting, loving how Patricia is getting on with her life. She struggled with this mystery, but it all came together at the last moment.
2,419 reviews43 followers
July 28, 2022
Fun read. I thought it was the first in the series but there is a connected series that came earlier. I will have no trouble going back to read the ones from the cruise. Great comfort read. I kept imagining how it would be worded differently if it had been set in the states. Surprisingly, that really wasn't a distraction as it usually would be. Enjoyed spending time with these characters. There was one thing I wanted to shake Patricia about, but it wasn't out of line at all, just one of those things that is noticeable because the book is a mystery.
11 reviews
April 29, 2020
So NOT Agatha Christie

One dimensional lead character. I'm not the most savvy detective but even I guessed the so called denoument about a third of the way through. Totally disappointing and suggest the author reds Mrs Christies's novels to better understand how to plot a detective be novel. This one has no idea.. I'd give a zero rating but the least is a one star.Reader beware!
Profile Image for Judi.
285 reviews4 followers
September 19, 2022
In this Patricia story, we get to see more of the village where she lives. We meet the post mistress, who is the town source of news, well, gossip. We also meet Sam and his mother, who help solve the mysteries. Patricia's new home and cars are provided by the Maharaja of Zangribar. And her friends from the earlier cruise mysteries are all here. And Anna has had her puppies--named after the Beatles: John, Paul, Ringo and Georgie, the only girl puppy. Fun cozy mystery. Recommended.
Profile Image for Rae Woodrow.
7 reviews
November 16, 2021
murder mystery and trouble

I so enjoyed Patricia’s adventures during her cruise, and was really saddened when that came to an end, but her new adventures I’m glad to say, are just as entertaining on dry land

A really enjoyable murder mystery, with a little humour thrown in for good measure
291 reviews1 follower
February 24, 2021
Wow

Patricia's life sure is interesting!! I would love to be one of her sidekicks! So glad that Sam was able to help her! He is such an interesting character! Two mysteries solved with 4 phone calls!!
12 reviews
March 17, 2021
Great

Read the cruise books and wasn't sure once Patricia was back home it would work, but it so does, just get hooked on the story. So glad to see a slight overlap with the blue moon series as well.
Profile Image for Cindy Dyson Eitelman.
1,464 reviews10 followers
April 9, 2025
I found this surprisingly entertaining. Highly improbable in plot and execution, but still entertaining. I'd liked Steve Higgs' British food caper series okay, and didn't realize this was the same author until near the end. And I like it much better than the other--will finish all these before I resume on them.

His characters are a blast--the detective herself, a fairly normal 40-something who finds herself in a position of having a place to live (rent-free), a household staff (paid for), and a garage full of expensive cars (also paid for). She's as gobsmacked by the good fortune as you or I would be. But she takes the free time and resources and opens a detective agency for herself.

Add on a butler who aspires to be John Steed and frequently dresses like him; a blonde bombshell fitness instructor and part-time assistant; and various other fun and unusual people. Great.
513 reviews3 followers
August 16, 2025
I was so excited to get this box set for only .99. I loved the cruise set , so I know that I will enjoy this one. I would say that it would be better to read the first set first; however, Mr. Higgs does a great job with the back story.
Patricia is now living in a huge mansion and has a fleet of vehicles thanks to the generosity of the
Maharaja of Zangrabar. The butler she had while on board the cruise ship has come to butler in this new residence. While onbaord the cruise ship, Patricia finds she has a knack of solving crimes so she decides to open her open detective agency.
Spoiler Alert: I was at first concerned about the many cases that was being discussed until the very end when everything is brought to light. Good show, Mr. Higgs.
Profile Image for Gayla Essen.
71 reviews2 followers
May 12, 2021
Classic who did it

This book was an okay read. Kind of reminded me of some of the old detective shows I watched on tv as a kid. Solve one case and a bonus case thrown in to make an interesting who’s the murderer plot.
Profile Image for Geraldine M.
254 reviews1 follower
June 1, 2021
Excellent t

If you're reading the series, you'll find as I have that you just.cannot stop. Her.first 2 cases solved after coming home from the Aurelia. Someone is hunting Patricia. Whoever can it be? I can't wait to get into the next book. Loving the.cozy mystery series!
877 reviews25 followers
June 17, 2021
Sam knows more than the rest

Book one of the Patricia Fisher Mystery Adventures is truly inspiring. Patricia has worked out who did it. I was able to guess right along with her. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this 1st book. Can't wait to read the next, then next, etc!!
Profile Image for Amanda Hodges.
7 reviews2 followers
June 21, 2021
Enjoyable light mystery

I enjoyed reading this story. It was humorous with an unexpected ending. It was a pleasant change to some stories that have little imagination and rely mostly on vulgar four letter words.
Profile Image for Barbara Allendorfer.
10 reviews
July 13, 2021
A good read

Follows the set of 10 short novels detailing the “rise of Patricia”. Good summer reading. Highly recommend if you’re tired if simple plots with no twists or turns. This book has it all.
129 reviews1 follower
September 7, 2021
Loving the stories by Steve Higgs

So far I’ve read 11 books about Patricia Fisher and I can’t stop here. What a funny, clever, enjoyable read they are. Thank you Steve for these and keep them coming!
49 reviews2 followers
September 29, 2021
Great books

I have read both sets of books and I have to say they are all great. I love the characters and the story live. They are funny too. Patricia gets into so much trouble. I would recommend these books to all who love cozy mysteries. Keep them coming please.
15 reviews1 follower
December 30, 2021
A great book to occupy your night.

I chose this book because it looked like a fun read. It was not only that, but made me think a bit. Very entertaining. I am looking forward to reading the next one, and have just purchased it.
25 reviews1 follower
February 21, 2022
Excellent!

As with Steve’s other sets, this is already cooking up to be another exciting continuation of one of his sets. I love the way he “offshoots” other sets with some of the people in this one! A great, enrapturing read!
Profile Image for Madam.
224 reviews12 followers
March 13, 2020
Back home in West Malling, Patricia’s new detective agency is already busy: a woman is convinced her husband’s accident was a murder, and an artist’s beloved dog has been kidnapped, with a $10,000 demand for his return. She’s on the case with Jermaine always at her side, whether he’s snatching angry vergers in mid-air, spying on suspects, or serving as her personal John Steed.

Despite the police’s conclusions, Sarah Foy is convinced her husband Edward was murdered, because he was such a careful and safety-conscious rock climber. Her daughter Susie, on the other hand, is infuriated her mother won’t accept the verdict and profanely impedes Patricia at every opportunity: her favorite insult is “cadaverous cow,” preceded by a two-word expletive beginning with F.

Meanwhile, in East Malling, artist Emma Maynard is heartbroken over the kidnapping of her beloved Yorkshire terrier, Horace. She suspects her missing boyfriend, Damien, not only abducted Horace, but pilfered several hundred dollars of her festival cash.

Out on a morning walk with Anna, Patricia runs into Sam Chalk, the intellectually impaired son of a longtime friend. He’s quite interested in Anna, but when Patricia invites him to visit the pups, who have been named after the Beatles, he assures her he visits one every day, a point he often repeats to no avail.

As the investigations continue, Patricia, Jermaine, and Barbie discover unsettling facts about Ed’s death, most notably a small item hidden in his backpack. As the two cases converge, Patricia is not only convinced the police were right, as she finally heeds Sam’s frequent remark, but that the killer was someone Ed trusted, literally, with his life.

Steve Higgs has kicked off Patricia’s new journey with all the humor, surprises, and love readers have come to expect of his mysteries. What Sam Knew is an excellent beginning to her promising new series.
31 reviews1 follower
March 24, 2020
Full of Fun, Friends, and Frolic

I think I was determined determined to find these "village" mysteries boring after what happened on the Aurelia, but I cannot. Patricia Fisher continues to be a force to be reckoned with, yet all the while a glorious combination of self- deprecation, self improvement, and self acceptance in ever changing dominance. You cannot help but love her.

Jermaine continues his role as butler / bodyguard / investigative aide with brilliance. His character continues to grow ever more human as the reader gets a deeper look at his needs, dreams, and motivations.

Barbie, on the other hand, is busy with a new life and love (Hideki) but her uncover appearance in the story is worth the wait.

I love the ever-growing circle of friends, enemies, rivals, assets, et cetera in Patricia's world, and the occasional reference to old friends still at sea. I can foresee a rich, full world growing for the reader to get caught up in, probably making us wonder how we ever doubted Patricia's choice to leave the Aurelia.

The story itself reminds me somewhat of author James Patterson in that the reader is given a piece of this, a tidbit of that, a little extra over here just to keep your mind busy, and then in the end all comes together in a way that leaves one a little shocked but satisfied.

Having lived all of my life in large American cities, I have thoroughly enjoyed watching Steve Higgs show me that small town (is that what a village is?) life is merely a microcosm of my world. People love, hate, have children, lose children, get jealous, divorce, have strokes of luck (both kinds), murder, get caught, gossip, and fiercely protect those they love, and so much more. But in a village, these things seem so much more personal and intense in this reader"s opinion. To find if you agree, read this brilliantly written story.
Profile Image for R.
360 reviews5 followers
March 20, 2020
This was a fast paced, fun read which I really enjoyed.

Private Investigator Patricia Fisher has been hired to find a stolen pet taken from the owners back garden.

Also hired to take on a second case, Patricia sets out to prove or disprove that a capable rock climber has been murdered.

Both cases presented difficulties for Patricia due to the complete lack of evidence available.

The two cases are baffling to say the least. Who could have stolen the pet; there has been a ransom demand but two days later, nothing further has been heard of by the animal napper?
Also, what could have been the reason behind the climber's death? The cause of the his death seems to be a straight forward accidental one, but his wife is adamant that he didn't fall but was pushed. However, she has no proof.

I found myself getting right in there with this story, my brain ticking away. The author has a real gift for mixing interesting mystery with laugh out loud humour, which makes for a really fun read. I love a good murder mystery and the Patricia Fisher ones are always good value in that respect. Always filled with scrumptious morsels to get your teeth into, plus there is always a juicy cliffhanger right at the end; something tempting to draw you into the next book. I am always nicely hooked in the story and when the last scene plays out in my head, at which point I find myself cursing vehemently when I realize that that was the end of the book...gah! This book's cliffhanger is an absolute doozy, you won't be disappointed I promise you!

Gotta love Steve's style; the man is the very devil with a keyboard!
Profile Image for Billie.
5,783 reviews72 followers
March 14, 2020
She over 50, feisty, and oh so good at solving mysteries.
Patricia Fisher is not your average woman. To start with she lives in a seventy-three-room manor house and travels with a Jamaican butler who is part ninja and fakes his Downton Abbey accent. Then add to those facts that she just opened a private investigations business and throw in the worrying bit where people keep trying to kill her.
When a climber suspiciously falls to his death and a local artist has her dog stolen, Patricia finds herself investigating two cases that seem to have no motive and no clues. Even with the help of her friends these mysteries will be hard to unravel.
But as she starts to poke her nose in where it is most definitely not wanted, a name from the past comes back to haunt her, a mysterious underworld figure issues a confusing threat, and she begins to wonder if she has any idea what she is doing. Will her intuition get her through again? Or has she bitten off more than she can chew?
If only she had listened to Sam.

Wonderful start to this new series with Patricia!!
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Profile Image for Joan.
967 reviews
May 19, 2020
Normally, you finish reading a good book and are left wondering what happens after the happy ending. Do they get to live happily ever after? What comes next?

Patricia is home from her world cruise and has opened a detective agency. Her name has been splashed all over the British papers from her past exploits and this ensures her success as a private detective.

Best of all, we get to see Patricia enjoying her new 74 room mansion and the fabulous cars in it's garage. Jermaine is still her butler and Barbie is also staying with her, as her Japanese boyfriend is now working in a London hospital.

A woman contacts Patricia when the police have declared the climbing accident death of her husband to be an accident. She knows her husband took all the necessary safety precautions and never climbed alone. Her unpleasant teen-aged daughter tells Patricia, in not so nice terms, to leave her stepfather's death alone.

We get to see the little min dachshund Anna as a new mother, with puppies John, Paul, Ringo, and the only girl puppy, Georgie.

A second client contacts Patricia when her mini Yorkie is kidnapped and being held for $10,000 ransom. When Patricia sets a trap, not only does she not catch the culprit, but they return to the dog's home to find it has been trashed and, "Slut" written on the wall.

The two cases do not appear to be related, but in Patricia's world, anything can happen!
1 review
October 12, 2020
I don't know how many men read Patricia Fisher books but I do and I'm a man!
Well actually, it's a man that writes them so I can't be that ... whatever the word is?

I first read the the ten book collection about her finding out that her husband was cheating on her with her best friend. After the first book I was hooked. I won't spoil it by giving away the plot but it was so fast paced and super funny I was up until the early hours, reluctant to put the book down. Luckily I'm retired and disabled so there was no rush for me to get to sleep! Well, not so lucky that I am disabled, but you know what I mean. The first ten book series was set on a luxury liner on which Patricia managed to bag herself the most expensive and luxurious suite. How? you'll have to read it to find out, oh and she has become somewhat of a private detective too.

This book, What Sam Knew, is the continuation of the story of what happened when the cruise comes to an end.

It is just as unputadownable, if there is such a word, as the first series. But it's not just Patricia on her own that has to solve her cases, she has set up a proper detective agency now she is back home, no, she has been unexpectedly joined by her two best and closest friends from the cruise liner.

I've just finished this book and about to start the next. It's 2.45am here so I'll just give it an hour, or maybe two.
Give these books by Steve Higgs a go, I'm sure you will enjoy them!
Profile Image for Lissa Knowles.
Author 7 books4 followers
January 4, 2021
What Sam Knew This is a light, easy read that can be read as a stand alone mystery BUT if you like to follow events in sequence I recommend starting with Patricia Fisher's cruise mysteries.

I started reading the Patricia Fisher Series when she was a spurned wife who decided to get away from it all by taking a round the world cruise. I didn't read all of the entries in the series for one reason or another and when I next picked up Patricia's story discovered that quite a lot had happened in her life since the last book I read.

What Sam Knew is the first book in the series of books that I skipped over completely and starts out with Patricia settling in to life in a 74 room mansion complete with servants. Her faithful butler Jermaine is there, along with Barbie and Patricia's new dog. I enjoyed being able to 'work' along with Patricia as she gets her new detective agency off the ground but had to admit that I was a little bit blindsided by the eventual denoument and found the culprit a little bit dark for my taste in a cozy mystery.

Overall I enjoyed the mystery and am keeping the rest of the boxed set that I purchased (the first five mysteries of Patricia's Fasher Adventure Mysteries) for my quick bathtub reads.
Profile Image for Dallass.
2,249 reviews
November 17, 2020
It had all the elements, but...

This was quite the fast paced and action packed novella (?), and coming in at less than 200 pages it certainly tried to cram a lot into the story. Patricia is a likeable and intelligent character, who along with her butler-come-bodyguard, Jermaine, seem to be constantly in motion. And while the plot was a good one it is because it is so fast paced and it rushes things that I really didn’t connect to any of the characters ( besides Patricia) because we really didn’t see much of them except for when they needed to impart information.

Oh, and I did have to check whether or not I’d accidentally picked up a book further on in the series as they often mention and refer to previous cases which also adds to the impression of always on the go action.

So, give this book an extra 100 pages to flesh out characters and scenes (plus a bit more of her backstory), and it would have been a 4 star book. Sadly being so busy it knocked it down to a 3 star read me.
Profile Image for Erin.
157 reviews1 follower
February 15, 2021
Yawn.

Patricia Fisher's husband cheats on her, she goes on a world cruise and solves a few crimes, and then a Maharajah gives her the use of his estate in her home town and ail of his luxury cars and his staff for perpetuity, so she goes home, starts a detective agency, and lives like a rich woman even though she isn't.

She also doesn't actually seem like a very good detective since she ignored major clues that were obvious to readers but hidden to her, and she talks about that cruise incessantly. Apparently there is a whole series about the cruise, and so she is just talking about it in case we didn't read that series. I did not. She also talks about her cars and the size of her house.

Another annoying detail: She doesn't know what a booty call is and doesn't take the time to Google it, but mentions several times that she doesn't know what it is despite the fact that people keep saying that phrase.

There were pleasant parts of this book, and so I kept reading, just to find the solutions to her cases. But I'm done. Patricia Fisher can solve crimes without me. And I'm pretty sure many people will enjoy these books.
Profile Image for Pete.
895 reviews7 followers
March 13, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed the Patricia Fisher cruise series, the storylines and characters were great and this new Village Mysteries series looks to be continuing in the same vein.
Having set up her own detective agency Patricia continues to get involved in just as many hair-raising scrapes as she did on the ship, and of course she has she has her friends from the ship to help her.
I also really like that the mysteries are lightened by a healthy dose of humour, I particularly like the descriptions of the locals reactions to her new situation, living in a mansion with a butler and a fleet of expensive cars.
The main mystery itself, whether or not a climber died accidentally, is very satisfying, and the secondary mystery, a missing dog, provides some more intrigue.
Overall a very enjoyable read and I am very much looking forward to seeing how this series progresses. I received an advance copy of this book, but have voluntarily written this honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews

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