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Epiphany Bloom #1
The Kensington Kidnap
Meet Epiphany devoted cat owner, well-meaning walking disaster zone – daring detective?
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 2, 2020
1495 people are currently reading
1445 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
January 8, 2022
This is a cozy mystery. The character Pip was fun, and I loved following her during this book. She does not have a job, and she really needs a job. She is mistake for someone else, and she decides to do that person job. I love the mystery parts of this book, and I really enjoyed following Pip solving the mystery. Pip gets herself in and out of trouble through out this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Bookouture) or author (Katie Gayle) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
March 4, 2021
This was a fun cozy mystery that kept me reading past midnight.
Epiphany "Pip" Bloom is pretty much a disaster with a passport. She's had jobs all over the world but that any country is still willing to grant her a visa is stunning. She's left a fair amount of damage to her employers and others in her wake. While she seems nice enough, she isn't reliably employable or terribly responsible and it's taken a toll on her being able to do things like pay rent and live without financial worry. Her mother's stopped helping her out with cash so when we enter the story, Pip is worried she's on the cusp of eviction by her kind, hot and helpful flatmate, Tim. She finagles a job under an assumed identity and hijinks and hilarity ensue along with a decent mystery of where a missing teen has gone.
Also along for the fun were a boxer that offers Pip lessons and possibly more, her sister Felicity/ Flis who has the best malapropism habit I've ever had the pleasure to read. Pip remarks that speaking with Flis is often like doing crosswords for the vocabulary workout. And last, there's Most, Pip's three-legged rescue (or stolen depending upon who you ask) cat. As an aside, I don't know why the adorable kitty on the cover has four legs. All these characters added to the story and were well-drawn in their own right. I would have liked more on Tim but that's probably because he was my favourite guy.
There's a murder but it's not the focal point of the story and it isn't revealed until rather late in the book. As the main issue for this cozy is the kidnap, which has happened before we enter the story and propels the plot effectively, I felt the mystery and the tension held up well. Some aspects of the villainy were easy to figure but I was surprised with some turns also and that was enjoyable. The conclusion was well done and Pip not only had success but learned some things along the way.
The only downside for me was that Pip had an instance where she seemed to dismiss & devalue a character for his speech impediment. It struck me as rude, and I was delighted when it's revealed he's top in his field of zoology.
Overall, I enjoyed this and look forward to the next book to go along with Pip and her people on another adventure.
Recommended.
Epiphany "Pip" Bloom is pretty much a disaster with a passport. She's had jobs all over the world but that any country is still willing to grant her a visa is stunning. She's left a fair amount of damage to her employers and others in her wake. While she seems nice enough, she isn't reliably employable or terribly responsible and it's taken a toll on her being able to do things like pay rent and live without financial worry. Her mother's stopped helping her out with cash so when we enter the story, Pip is worried she's on the cusp of eviction by her kind, hot and helpful flatmate, Tim. She finagles a job under an assumed identity and hijinks and hilarity ensue along with a decent mystery of where a missing teen has gone.
Also along for the fun were a boxer that offers Pip lessons and possibly more, her sister Felicity/ Flis who has the best malapropism habit I've ever had the pleasure to read. Pip remarks that speaking with Flis is often like doing crosswords for the vocabulary workout. And last, there's Most, Pip's three-legged rescue (or stolen depending upon who you ask) cat. As an aside, I don't know why the adorable kitty on the cover has four legs. All these characters added to the story and were well-drawn in their own right. I would have liked more on Tim but that's probably because he was my favourite guy.
There's a murder but it's not the focal point of the story and it isn't revealed until rather late in the book. As the main issue for this cozy is the kidnap, which has happened before we enter the story and propels the plot effectively, I felt the mystery and the tension held up well. Some aspects of the villainy were easy to figure but I was surprised with some turns also and that was enjoyable. The conclusion was well done and Pip not only had success but learned some things along the way.
The only downside for me was that Pip had an instance where she seemed to dismiss & devalue a character for his speech impediment. It struck me as rude, and I was delighted when it's revealed he's top in his field of zoology.
Overall, I enjoyed this and look forward to the next book to go along with Pip and her people on another adventure.
Recommended.
May 16, 2021
The Kensington Kidnap is an engaging, suspenseful cozy mystery that will make you laugh and keep you reading to discover the next exciting clue. I loved this lighthearted mystery that superbly combined humor and suspense. Epiphany Bloom, aka Pip, is the perfect protagonist in this entertaining caper involving kidnapping, cults, and influencers. This puzzle is a winning combination of fun and thrills! I highly recommend this to all cozy mystery fans! Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 24, 2021
Epiphany (Pip) Bloom is down on her luck--money and job wise. Epiphany is not poor but mommy dearest is not letting her anywhere near her trust fund dough at the moment. Epiphany wants to keep a steady job but she somehow has always found her well meaning self in the wrong place and situation in her previous short lived jobs. So when a temporary job as an office assistant comes her way she grabs it but when she ends up being mistaken as a private investigator by a leading investigation firm and given a case of a missing teenager to solve, she decides to go alongwith it... what's a little charade as long as it pays her bills and lets her put her 'investigative skills' to use. And thus Epiphany Bloom's career as a PI takes off!
A promising start to a new cozy mystery series by the author Katie Gayle. I think I am going to like Epiphany a lot and her interaction with her eccentric social media influencer sister Felicity in the book had me chuckling away and I hope to see much of it in the next books too. Also, beneath all the eccentricity and lighthearted fun, this book touches upon the issue of the sometimes insane & dangerous level of influence social media and social media influencers can have on people and their mindsets.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author for the e-Arc of the book.
The book was published on 2nd December 2020.
A promising start to a new cozy mystery series by the author Katie Gayle. I think I am going to like Epiphany a lot and her interaction with her eccentric social media influencer sister Felicity in the book had me chuckling away and I hope to see much of it in the next books too. Also, beneath all the eccentricity and lighthearted fun, this book touches upon the issue of the sometimes insane & dangerous level of influence social media and social media influencers can have on people and their mindsets.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author for the e-Arc of the book.
The book was published on 2nd December 2020.
December 14, 2020
his was a fun read and the main character, Pip, was utterly charming. This is a bit of a lighter book than I usually read, but did include some heavier topics here and there throughout the book. The book starts out with Pip down on her luck, jobless and not able to make rent, with her well-to-do mother refusing to help bail her out yet again. You learn that Pip has a rather irresponsible outlook to working and has done a bunch of jobs with random things happening that always get her fired. She takes a job as a file clerk at an investigations firm and is mistaken for an expert in the field and tasked with finding the missing son of an A-list celebrity couple. Turns out that Pip IS an expert on celebrities since she spends so much of her time reading magazines and Instragram, so she is eager to get involved and figures it's worth it to not tell them of their mistake and go see if she can find the missing teenager.
Pip goes off to investigate, with the help of her flaky sister Flis, her roommate and potential love interest, Tim, and a random guy (and potential other love interest) who runs a gym named Jimmy that she met when trying to "track down leads". As the reader, there were times I was super stressed on her behalf as she tried to pretend to be someone else and delved deeper into secrets of a seemingly innocuous environmental group that seems to be connected to the case. Pip doesn't take herself too seriously and I had to remind myself that I shouldn't either- I was just hoping she wouldn't get herself killed!
This is overall a light and fun read and I was excited to see that it was the first book in a series because I want to know what happens to Pip next. It's more of a cozy mystery than a psychological thriller but I'd recommend even to those who normally read darker books, as it's just an enjoyable read. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Pip goes off to investigate, with the help of her flaky sister Flis, her roommate and potential love interest, Tim, and a random guy (and potential other love interest) who runs a gym named Jimmy that she met when trying to "track down leads". As the reader, there were times I was super stressed on her behalf as she tried to pretend to be someone else and delved deeper into secrets of a seemingly innocuous environmental group that seems to be connected to the case. Pip doesn't take herself too seriously and I had to remind myself that I shouldn't either- I was just hoping she wouldn't get herself killed!
This is overall a light and fun read and I was excited to see that it was the first book in a series because I want to know what happens to Pip next. It's more of a cozy mystery than a psychological thriller but I'd recommend even to those who normally read darker books, as it's just an enjoyable read. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2020
This is my first book from the incredible writing duo KATIE GAYLE, Kate Sidley and Gail Schimmel
and it was amazing! Bring me all their other books and I cannot wait to see what other books they write together.
I love a great cozy mystery and this one was a great cozy YA and a really fun read that I enjoyed. I loved the characters, the mistaken identity trope, a woman, Epiphany ‘Pip’ Bloom who is down on her luck and who is trying her best to make it through with her wonderful cat, Most. Starting her new temp job at a PI firm, she is immediately mistaken for a missing person expert. I love how Pip is able to use her "nosiness" and curiosity to use in helping find a missing boy Matty. As we follow Pip through her sleuthing, we are taken on a fun adventure that is both hilarious and irresistible.
I would love to see this book as a fun series - I just can't get enough of Pip and to see her next case - she really found her knack in sleuthing.
I highly recommend this fun and wonderful escape read I really enjoyed.
and it was amazing! Bring me all their other books and I cannot wait to see what other books they write together.
I love a great cozy mystery and this one was a great cozy YA and a really fun read that I enjoyed. I loved the characters, the mistaken identity trope, a woman, Epiphany ‘Pip’ Bloom who is down on her luck and who is trying her best to make it through with her wonderful cat, Most. Starting her new temp job at a PI firm, she is immediately mistaken for a missing person expert. I love how Pip is able to use her "nosiness" and curiosity to use in helping find a missing boy Matty. As we follow Pip through her sleuthing, we are taken on a fun adventure that is both hilarious and irresistible.
I would love to see this book as a fun series - I just can't get enough of Pip and to see her next case - she really found her knack in sleuthing.
I highly recommend this fun and wonderful escape read I really enjoyed.
March 15, 2021
Review coming soon.
March 1, 2021
A darling cosy-ish book. I'm not sure I would have read it if it weren't for COVID but it was a a cute read that didn't take much thinking and sometimes those are just needed, right?
December 1, 2020
The Kensington Kidnap is the first instalment in the quirky Epiphany ”Pip" Bloom Mysteries series, set in London's affluent West End. We are introduced to Pip, the epitome of a trust fund kid, who has never strived too hard to succeed because mummy will always bail her out when necessary. But now her mother has cut off her money supply forcing her to stand on her own two feet. She visits an employment agency and finds a job filing paperwork for Private Investigators at Boston Investigations. However, on her first day on the job, in a case of mistaken identity, it appears they believe her to be Ms Du Bois, a child psychology expert who specialises in finding missing children. She soon finds herself in the middle of an urgent and important meeting regarding missing teenager Matty Price, the American son of prominent Hollywood actress Madison and her husband and renowned author Ben. After finding an envelope stuffed with cash and a file of information on the case to consult, she decides instead of setting the record straight to assume Ms Du Bois role, thinking it to be a great opportunity to prove her worth to her bitterly disappointed mother.
All previous attempts to contact Matty have failed and it is a concern that as a teenager he has not been seen on social media either. Could this indicate he is no longer with us? Pip has a few leads to follow but they don't seem too promising. If determination to find the boy could make up for her lack of investigative experience then she would be well on way to finding and locating him. Can she discover his location, return him to his distressed family and abandon her label as a liability in the process? I thoroughly enjoyed this compelling crime caper and found myself intrigued from the outset. It starts in a peculiar fashion with Pip effectively pretending to be someone she's not and initially I wasn't sure about her as either a character or protagonist as she seemed lazy, irresponsible and living off her parents' trust fund, which doesn't make her very endearing, but I soon realised that her mishaps and issues were meant to comedic and the combination between how amusingly accident prone she was and the captivating mystery was not only original but the perfect piece of cosy winter escapism too. Highly recommended.
All previous attempts to contact Matty have failed and it is a concern that as a teenager he has not been seen on social media either. Could this indicate he is no longer with us? Pip has a few leads to follow but they don't seem too promising. If determination to find the boy could make up for her lack of investigative experience then she would be well on way to finding and locating him. Can she discover his location, return him to his distressed family and abandon her label as a liability in the process? I thoroughly enjoyed this compelling crime caper and found myself intrigued from the outset. It starts in a peculiar fashion with Pip effectively pretending to be someone she's not and initially I wasn't sure about her as either a character or protagonist as she seemed lazy, irresponsible and living off her parents' trust fund, which doesn't make her very endearing, but I soon realised that her mishaps and issues were meant to comedic and the combination between how amusingly accident prone she was and the captivating mystery was not only original but the perfect piece of cosy winter escapism too. Highly recommended.
November 2, 2020
The Kensington Kidnap by Katie Gayle is the first book in a new cozy mystery series set in London.
Epiphany "Pip" Bloom is quite a quirky heroine who seems to have a history of poor choices when it comes to jobs and men. Her inner dialogue often made me laugh as she is mistaken for a juvenile psychologist and joins a team of investigators to find a missing teen. The secondary characters were fun to meet. I especially liked Pip's sister, Felicity. A smoothly paced plot kept me turning the pages.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Bookouture via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
Epiphany "Pip" Bloom is quite a quirky heroine who seems to have a history of poor choices when it comes to jobs and men. Her inner dialogue often made me laugh as she is mistaken for a juvenile psychologist and joins a team of investigators to find a missing teen. The secondary characters were fun to meet. I especially liked Pip's sister, Felicity. A smoothly paced plot kept me turning the pages.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Bookouture via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
October 29, 2020
This was a great read! Epiphany (Pip) Bloom was a very accident-prone but likeable character. She ends up being mistaken for someone else in a private investigations firm, and has to solve a missing persons case. Of course, this is not any missing persons case! The missing person in question is the teenage son of a very famous actress, Madison Price.
It was a good time following Pip in her adventures as a fake detective, her skillset relying mainly on what she has seen from tv. I’ve heard there was a sequel to be announced for this book?? Im looking forward to it.
It was a good time following Pip in her adventures as a fake detective, her skillset relying mainly on what she has seen from tv. I’ve heard there was a sequel to be announced for this book?? Im looking forward to it.
December 10, 2023
3.3 🌻
It’s my first ever book I read in this genre. 100% cozy.
Plot and Twist, great. Expected more, honestly.
If you are looking for a quick mystery read, this is it.
But, if you’re like me and this is your first time reading this type of genre and just want a quick and cozy read? It’s not for you. Your expectations will just fail you and this will make the book hard to read. This is supposed to be a quick read but it took me 6 days to finish a 230 page book.
It’s my first ever book I read in this genre. 100% cozy.
Plot and Twist, great. Expected more, honestly.
If you are looking for a quick mystery read, this is it.
But, if you’re like me and this is your first time reading this type of genre and just want a quick and cozy read? It’s not for you. Your expectations will just fail you and this will make the book hard to read. This is supposed to be a quick read but it took me 6 days to finish a 230 page book.
November 25, 2020
Misty's Corner Review
:
A cozy mystery at it’s finest! It’s hard to believe that this is the first book by Katie Gayle, or should I say, Kate and Gail?! This duo teamed up for what I hope to be the first in a long series!
Pip, Epiphany Bloom, starts off in a financial crisis of sorts (she’s in desperate need of rent money after Mummy shut down her money bags, of course!) leading to one mistaken identity after another. Soon, she’s deep undercover on a case in search of a very hush-hush missing celebrity teenager. What could go wrong?
I loved everything about this story, total Janet Evanovich ‘Stephanie Plum’ vibes! This Epiphany Bloom cozy mystery took on a life of its own! I found much joy in playing amateur sleuth right along with Pip. I laughed out loud at most of her sister’s malapropisms, or misspoken sayings, and the references to Pip’s past mishaps! (Side note, I’d love a prequel where I could read several short stories about Pip’s misadventures, as mentioned earlier!)
The mystery itself, ‘The Kensington Kidnap,’ while a bit far-fetched, was intriguing, a celebrity teenager, and possibly others, gone missing with talks about bloggers and influencers, falling down the Twitter rabbit hole! This was just the type of comedic relief within the mystery genre that I needed between hardcore thrillers!
I can’t wait to see what newfound laughter book two will hold, especially with Pip’s (and her sister’s) one-liners, her cat’s upcoming life changes, and the looming romantic triangle! Katie Gayle has set the stage for their characters and the scene for Pip’s future at Boston Investigations!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the authors Katie Gayle, and the publishers at Bookouture for my advanced copy of this ebook and my spot on this Books-On-Tour event!
Thanks for reading!
Misty M. @MistysCornerReviews
——————————————
Follow Me:
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A cozy mystery at it’s finest! It’s hard to believe that this is the first book by Katie Gayle, or should I say, Kate and Gail?! This duo teamed up for what I hope to be the first in a long series!
Pip, Epiphany Bloom, starts off in a financial crisis of sorts (she’s in desperate need of rent money after Mummy shut down her money bags, of course!) leading to one mistaken identity after another. Soon, she’s deep undercover on a case in search of a very hush-hush missing celebrity teenager. What could go wrong?
I loved everything about this story, total Janet Evanovich ‘Stephanie Plum’ vibes! This Epiphany Bloom cozy mystery took on a life of its own! I found much joy in playing amateur sleuth right along with Pip. I laughed out loud at most of her sister’s malapropisms, or misspoken sayings, and the references to Pip’s past mishaps! (Side note, I’d love a prequel where I could read several short stories about Pip’s misadventures, as mentioned earlier!)
The mystery itself, ‘The Kensington Kidnap,’ while a bit far-fetched, was intriguing, a celebrity teenager, and possibly others, gone missing with talks about bloggers and influencers, falling down the Twitter rabbit hole! This was just the type of comedic relief within the mystery genre that I needed between hardcore thrillers!
I can’t wait to see what newfound laughter book two will hold, especially with Pip’s (and her sister’s) one-liners, her cat’s upcoming life changes, and the looming romantic triangle! Katie Gayle has set the stage for their characters and the scene for Pip’s future at Boston Investigations!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the authors Katie Gayle, and the publishers at Bookouture for my advanced copy of this ebook and my spot on this Books-On-Tour event!
Thanks for reading!
Misty M. @MistysCornerReviews
——————————————
Follow Me:
Blog | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Pinterest | GoodReads | BookBub
December 9, 2020
****4.5 stars!****
A missing teenager, a mysterious cult, and a case of mistaken identity sounds like the start of a bad joke, doesn’t it? *snorts* But there is nothing rotten about The Kensington Kidnap. Say hello to Epiphany Bloom (Pip to her friends) – the British Stephanie Plum.
This cozy murder mystery is chock full of intrigue, suspense and humour which had me gripped right to the creepy climax. I’d liken Pip’s exploits to a modern-day Ealing Comedy at its dark comedic best.
I loved all the Pip-isms. Those moments where Pip hinted at her previous escapades. They had me barking with laughter along with the need to know more.
Let’s face it Pip is no Miss Marple when it comes to sleuthing, but credit where credit is due, she is relentless in her pursuit of Matty and the truth. Being inquisitive (read: nosy) by nature does have its advantages. Even if sometimes she does get the wrong end of the stick, lol! (Makes for a more entertaining read, I say.) What is it they say about falling down a rabbit hole? *snorts*
Then we come to her sidekicks – Tim and Jimmy. Complete polar opposites. We’ve only just scratched the surface with these two. I did lots of ‘hmm-ing’ and ‘what about...?’ with these two (as usual!). It also made me wonder if either could be possible romantic interests in the series going forward. I can’t wait to find out. I know who my money is on!
Plus, let’s not forget Pip’s sister, Flis. She is an absolute hoot. She does this thing, which is absolutely hysterical, but I won’t give the game away here. Needless to say, these moments only add to the tally of giggles as you read.
The Kensington Kidnap is a witty and wonderful start to a new must-read series, and I can’t wait to read about what Pip gets embroiled in next. Katie Gayle is one writing partnership that I hope continues for years to come.
A missing teenager, a mysterious cult, and a case of mistaken identity sounds like the start of a bad joke, doesn’t it? *snorts* But there is nothing rotten about The Kensington Kidnap. Say hello to Epiphany Bloom (Pip to her friends) – the British Stephanie Plum.
This cozy murder mystery is chock full of intrigue, suspense and humour which had me gripped right to the creepy climax. I’d liken Pip’s exploits to a modern-day Ealing Comedy at its dark comedic best.
I loved all the Pip-isms. Those moments where Pip hinted at her previous escapades. They had me barking with laughter along with the need to know more.
Let’s face it Pip is no Miss Marple when it comes to sleuthing, but credit where credit is due, she is relentless in her pursuit of Matty and the truth. Being inquisitive (read: nosy) by nature does have its advantages. Even if sometimes she does get the wrong end of the stick, lol! (Makes for a more entertaining read, I say.) What is it they say about falling down a rabbit hole? *snorts*
Then we come to her sidekicks – Tim and Jimmy. Complete polar opposites. We’ve only just scratched the surface with these two. I did lots of ‘hmm-ing’ and ‘what about...?’ with these two (as usual!). It also made me wonder if either could be possible romantic interests in the series going forward. I can’t wait to find out. I know who my money is on!
Plus, let’s not forget Pip’s sister, Flis. She is an absolute hoot. She does this thing, which is absolutely hysterical, but I won’t give the game away here. Needless to say, these moments only add to the tally of giggles as you read.
The Kensington Kidnap is a witty and wonderful start to a new must-read series, and I can’t wait to read about what Pip gets embroiled in next. Katie Gayle is one writing partnership that I hope continues for years to come.
December 9, 2020
Hey guys this is definitely a new series to watch out for. My goodness it was a fun read, and I just know the duo of @KatieGayle are going to make Epiphany Bloom into a cozy mystery sensation and a household name.
When “Pip” Bloom is out of a job and can’t make ends meet, and her mother refuses to be her personal ATM, she knows it’s time to find a job and calls the local temp agency. Although she didn’t leave the temp agency on good terms, they have a client desperate to fill a position and sends Pip right over. When she arrives at a private investigation office and is mistaken for the “missing persons expert” they were waiting for, well, Pip figures “what the heck” and goes along with it. (And she wonders why her relations with the temp agency isn’t agreeable).
When Pip finds out she has been tasked to find the missing son of 2 A-list celebrities, she wonders if she hasn’t walked into the job she was born to do, since she has a tendency to be “curious,” always be in the wrong place at the right time, and she practically studies the celebrity magazines and their twitter accounts. Pip feels she’s gotta find the missing boy in order to find out if this is her destiny.
As she delves into the search it takes her into the outlandish world of the wealthy AND some very unlikable characters. Pip fears she may be lucky to find Matty, let alone find him alive, and she fears for her own safety throughout this crazed endeavor. Will she be able to find Matty AND find herself as well?
What a brilliant debut. This cozy mystery was so much fun and such a page turner. Pip’s character was beyond entertaining and her thoughts and actions are absolutely priceless. There is a captivating mystery to be figured out, and it’s quite a treat watching Pip get through the debacle she’s gotten herself into and try to solve this case unscathed. My cozy mystery readers are going to love this one, and those of you who haven’t tried a cozy yet…this is the perfect one to make you a fan. This is Book 1 of the Epiphany Bloom Mysteries, so there is more to come!
When “Pip” Bloom is out of a job and can’t make ends meet, and her mother refuses to be her personal ATM, she knows it’s time to find a job and calls the local temp agency. Although she didn’t leave the temp agency on good terms, they have a client desperate to fill a position and sends Pip right over. When she arrives at a private investigation office and is mistaken for the “missing persons expert” they were waiting for, well, Pip figures “what the heck” and goes along with it. (And she wonders why her relations with the temp agency isn’t agreeable).
When Pip finds out she has been tasked to find the missing son of 2 A-list celebrities, she wonders if she hasn’t walked into the job she was born to do, since she has a tendency to be “curious,” always be in the wrong place at the right time, and she practically studies the celebrity magazines and their twitter accounts. Pip feels she’s gotta find the missing boy in order to find out if this is her destiny.
As she delves into the search it takes her into the outlandish world of the wealthy AND some very unlikable characters. Pip fears she may be lucky to find Matty, let alone find him alive, and she fears for her own safety throughout this crazed endeavor. Will she be able to find Matty AND find herself as well?
What a brilliant debut. This cozy mystery was so much fun and such a page turner. Pip’s character was beyond entertaining and her thoughts and actions are absolutely priceless. There is a captivating mystery to be figured out, and it’s quite a treat watching Pip get through the debacle she’s gotten herself into and try to solve this case unscathed. My cozy mystery readers are going to love this one, and those of you who haven’t tried a cozy yet…this is the perfect one to make you a fan. This is Book 1 of the Epiphany Bloom Mysteries, so there is more to come!
December 4, 2020
I loved this story. There was a mystery, a lot of humor, an entertaining investigator (amateur sleuth), a cult, intrigue, celebrities and a plot that kept me interested all the way through this story. Epiphany ‘Pip’ Bloom is in trouble. Her mother has cut off her allowance, she has no job, and owes rent. She has a three-legged cat named Most, and influencer sister named Fliss and her landlord and friend Tim to support her. When she takes on a temp job and a Private Investigation firm, she is mistaken for someone else. When they offer her an envelope of cash to work on a missing person case, she makes the decision to take the money and solve the case. This will show her mother that she can be responsible and just as good as her sister. The fun starts there.
Pip and her sister Felicity aka Flis were quite the pair. Pip is a bit of a clutz and leaves disaster and misadventure in her wake. Flis has a vocabulary that had me spitting out my coffee at some points. She uses so many words incorrectly that Pip has become a pro at interpreting what she is trying to say. I enjoyed the secondary characters as well and thought they were all well-developed. Pip actually did a great job with her investigation. She followed the clues, dug into things and did a good job with her impersonating to get to the bottom of what was happening. There were a lot of clues to follow and chances were taken. This turned out to be a serious investigation with life threatening consequences, and what Pip ended up uncovering was a lot more than this reader expected. My one niggle is that there appears to be a love triangle emerging. I like both of the male characters so, hopefully, it will work out in a positive way, only time will tell. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series, to see what Pip gets involved in next. I was gifted a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
Pip and her sister Felicity aka Flis were quite the pair. Pip is a bit of a clutz and leaves disaster and misadventure in her wake. Flis has a vocabulary that had me spitting out my coffee at some points. She uses so many words incorrectly that Pip has become a pro at interpreting what she is trying to say. I enjoyed the secondary characters as well and thought they were all well-developed. Pip actually did a great job with her investigation. She followed the clues, dug into things and did a good job with her impersonating to get to the bottom of what was happening. There were a lot of clues to follow and chances were taken. This turned out to be a serious investigation with life threatening consequences, and what Pip ended up uncovering was a lot more than this reader expected. My one niggle is that there appears to be a love triangle emerging. I like both of the male characters so, hopefully, it will work out in a positive way, only time will tell. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series, to see what Pip gets involved in next. I was gifted a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
December 11, 2020
Pip seems to have all the randomness of odd things happening to her whilst at work. She seems to mix things up and oddly sometimes it is not her fault, but she has always ended up getting fired. Now at her wits end how to pay the rent, but at the same time not over anxious over it, she is so optimistic that something will turn up. Turn up it does.
Going for a job interview as a filing clerk, mistakenly taken for a private investigator, she gets landed with a top job - finding a missing boy, son of two celebrities who have problems of their own and who do not want any publicity at all about the missing teenager.
Not having a clue (!) how to start a search she does what lots of people do nowadays, she puts in a google search to get her started and through luck, and charisma and personal charm manages to inveigle her way out of sticky situations getting a lot of information to boot.
A fun light hearted read but there was one murder in between, you can get exasperated with Pip, you'd want to murder her at times and I loved the way her sister Fliss murdered the English language!!!
Part of a series this is Book No. 1.
Going for a job interview as a filing clerk, mistakenly taken for a private investigator, she gets landed with a top job - finding a missing boy, son of two celebrities who have problems of their own and who do not want any publicity at all about the missing teenager.
Not having a clue (!) how to start a search she does what lots of people do nowadays, she puts in a google search to get her started and through luck, and charisma and personal charm manages to inveigle her way out of sticky situations getting a lot of information to boot.
A fun light hearted read but there was one murder in between, you can get exasperated with Pip, you'd want to murder her at times and I loved the way her sister Fliss murdered the English language!!!
Part of a series this is Book No. 1.
January 16, 2021
Desperate for a job and a case of mistaken identity while applying for a temp job made Pip an amateur sleuth in charge of a case of a missing son of multi-millionaires.
Bordering on cozy and a tiny amount of chic-lit, I enjoyed following Pip on her shenanigans. Author Katie Gayle etched out a well rounded character, entrenched in the love of her mother and sister, exasperated by them too, the story had her following the various leads in cults and social media influencers.
Many secrets in the various groups had her taking risks, but the author managed to find an escape route for her. The first book in a light crime mystery series, Pip soon endeared herself to me as I scrolled down the pages. The mystery was intriguing, and I enjoyed the hilarious moments with her sister, Flis. I especially liked Jimmy, an instructor in the gym, who stuck himself to her side to help her with the investigation.
Relentless and determined, the nosey parker did lead herself to a dark finale. Though not my genre, it sure was fun to read her capers as she went undercover on a false identity. A terrific mood-uplifter after intense thrillers.
Bordering on cozy and a tiny amount of chic-lit, I enjoyed following Pip on her shenanigans. Author Katie Gayle etched out a well rounded character, entrenched in the love of her mother and sister, exasperated by them too, the story had her following the various leads in cults and social media influencers.
Many secrets in the various groups had her taking risks, but the author managed to find an escape route for her. The first book in a light crime mystery series, Pip soon endeared herself to me as I scrolled down the pages. The mystery was intriguing, and I enjoyed the hilarious moments with her sister, Flis. I especially liked Jimmy, an instructor in the gym, who stuck himself to her side to help her with the investigation.
Relentless and determined, the nosey parker did lead herself to a dark finale. Though not my genre, it sure was fun to read her capers as she went undercover on a false identity. A terrific mood-uplifter after intense thrillers.
December 5, 2020
I am so pleased that I was given the opportunity to read The Kensington Kidnap as it was a truly tremendous cozy mystery and it did not disappoint!
The pacing moved along at a fair rate of knots and I loved the exciting plotline. Epiphany ‘Pip’ Bloom, a temp, is skint and can barely afford to feed her three-legged cat, called Most. Her current job is at a PI company and Pip knows she can't mess this one up as she really needs the dosh. When her new boss mistakes her for somebody else, believing her to be an expert in searching for missing people, he tasks her with finding Matty Price, the teenager of two celebrities, and she spots a golden opportunity...
Full of thrills and totally addictive, it held my attention from the very first chapter. Pip was a great narrator; a likeable central character with ingenuity and plenty of grit. Katie Gayle's clever writing meant I didn't want to put this book down and there were moments of danger as well as the harebrained frivolity. This brilliant story was masterfully executed by the author, with a great reveal that caught me unawares.
I shall be looking out for the next instalment in this series by Katie Gayle who clearly has talent. I recommend The Kensington Kidnap as a hugely worthwhile and an excellent read.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
The pacing moved along at a fair rate of knots and I loved the exciting plotline. Epiphany ‘Pip’ Bloom, a temp, is skint and can barely afford to feed her three-legged cat, called Most. Her current job is at a PI company and Pip knows she can't mess this one up as she really needs the dosh. When her new boss mistakes her for somebody else, believing her to be an expert in searching for missing people, he tasks her with finding Matty Price, the teenager of two celebrities, and she spots a golden opportunity...
Full of thrills and totally addictive, it held my attention from the very first chapter. Pip was a great narrator; a likeable central character with ingenuity and plenty of grit. Katie Gayle's clever writing meant I didn't want to put this book down and there were moments of danger as well as the harebrained frivolity. This brilliant story was masterfully executed by the author, with a great reveal that caught me unawares.
I shall be looking out for the next instalment in this series by Katie Gayle who clearly has talent. I recommend The Kensington Kidnap as a hugely worthwhile and an excellent read.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
June 10, 2023
A fun piece of adventure. Love the character of Pip as she grows into a more mature person with a future.
November 5, 2020
So, at first I did not like the heroine. She seemed a lazy, rich girl unable to keep a job. The first chapters I was not impressed. But then I got into the story and slowly started to like and respect Pip. Maybe it was when I read how she saved her cat, Most, as I love cats and it showed Pip has a good heart.
Pip needs a job and fast. She has to pay rent and her mother has cut her off from her creditcards. She goes for a filing job and - due to a misunderstanding - walks out with a task to find the son of a celebrity couple. They think she is someone else, but Pip is determined to find the boy and earn the money she is given. And you know what: she has a knack for sleuthing.
I kind of liked the British humor and the way Pip went about finding Matty. She used knowledge from television shows to follow clues and make a 'murder board'. It is kind of hilarious.
Near the end I did get a bit lost in the whole plot as it was a bit intricate and OTT but overall I really enjoyed this story. Liked Pip and the other characters and hope to read more (and maybe there will be a proper love interest?)
I received an ARC via Netgalley but this is my honest and voluntary review.
Pip needs a job and fast. She has to pay rent and her mother has cut her off from her creditcards. She goes for a filing job and - due to a misunderstanding - walks out with a task to find the son of a celebrity couple. They think she is someone else, but Pip is determined to find the boy and earn the money she is given. And you know what: she has a knack for sleuthing.
I kind of liked the British humor and the way Pip went about finding Matty. She used knowledge from television shows to follow clues and make a 'murder board'. It is kind of hilarious.
Near the end I did get a bit lost in the whole plot as it was a bit intricate and OTT but overall I really enjoyed this story. Liked Pip and the other characters and hope to read more (and maybe there will be a proper love interest?)
I received an ARC via Netgalley but this is my honest and voluntary review.
December 2, 2020
Pip is a character I would normally despise, anyone who calls their mother mummy after the age of eight and lives via their funding is not someone I can relate to in any way. But…. there is something so irrepressible about her you just can’t help but chuckle at her antics. She has just the right amount of quirk and anyone who steals a cat to save them from being put to sleep is okay in my book.
Being behind on the rent and cut off from her mothers funding she needs a job and fast. Getting a last minute job, from Temp Agency Sharon at Boston Investigations as a filing clerk, she arrives only to be mistaken for an expert in adolescent psychology and propelled into the missing persons case of a celebrity couple’s son.
What then follows is a rollicking romp full of misadventures as she uses her expertise gained from watching television shows and follows the clues. A protagonist with a heart that is definitely in the right place even if she is normally in the wrong one. This was a lot of fun to read and a perfect escape.
I normally split my reading between crime/thrillers and romcoms for when I need a bit of lightness. So imagine getting a book that is a combination of both it must be Christmas!
Being behind on the rent and cut off from her mothers funding she needs a job and fast. Getting a last minute job, from Temp Agency Sharon at Boston Investigations as a filing clerk, she arrives only to be mistaken for an expert in adolescent psychology and propelled into the missing persons case of a celebrity couple’s son.
What then follows is a rollicking romp full of misadventures as she uses her expertise gained from watching television shows and follows the clues. A protagonist with a heart that is definitely in the right place even if she is normally in the wrong one. This was a lot of fun to read and a perfect escape.
I normally split my reading between crime/thrillers and romcoms for when I need a bit of lightness. So imagine getting a book that is a combination of both it must be Christmas!
March 13, 2021
Epiphany (Pip) Bloom is quite the character. She absolutely is in love with her cat. Her wealthy mother has cut off funds .. and Pip really hasn't had much luck in working for a living. Every job seems to have gone wrong in one way or another ... and the one she's taken on today doesn't seem to be any different.
From a temp agency, she shows up expecting to be filing, making coffee, etc. Trouble is, the private investigation office mistakenly takes her for a psychiatrist who will be helping them .. and Pip 'forgets' to tell them she's not who they think she is. She thinks helping out with looking for a missing boy might be fun .. so she goes for it.
This is a rather -lighthearted cozy mystery that will delight most readers. Pip is a fun, entertaining character who finds herself pretending to be multiple people in her quest to be a productive member of society. I found myself chuckling at her attempts .. .but how she came up with her cat, named Most, had me almost in tears I was laughing so much. First book in a series, I will most definitely be watching for more.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this cozy mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
From a temp agency, she shows up expecting to be filing, making coffee, etc. Trouble is, the private investigation office mistakenly takes her for a psychiatrist who will be helping them .. and Pip 'forgets' to tell them she's not who they think she is. She thinks helping out with looking for a missing boy might be fun .. so she goes for it.
This is a rather -lighthearted cozy mystery that will delight most readers. Pip is a fun, entertaining character who finds herself pretending to be multiple people in her quest to be a productive member of society. I found myself chuckling at her attempts .. .but how she came up with her cat, named Most, had me almost in tears I was laughing so much. First book in a series, I will most definitely be watching for more.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this cozy mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
October 23, 2020
I really loved this book, and super excited to know its book one of a series! Pip is such a likeable character, she is such an accident prone woman but her heart is in the right place. She’s desperate to do well at a job, making it so she has her own pay cheque instead of asking mummy to bail her out. She strumbles across a job with a mistaken identity but is gripped to solving the problems. Such a quirky story keeping you gripped, making you want more and more. I can’t wait for book two! Highly highly recommended.
March 22, 2025
This was a fun, light read. The beginning made me hesitant, but by the third chapter (or so), I was hooked and read the whole thing in two nights. Pip is a bit scatterbrained, all over the place, constantly making mentions connections, and hilariously accident/incident prone. I loved the little comments about "that incident with the piano" or "who knew that could trigger an avalanche." She sounds like a few good friends I had in college, and I loved hanging out with them! The mystery was a bit unique, and not something I really felt invested in, but the writing style and characters made this a fun read!
February 23, 2024
Fun cozy mystery about a young woman without a job and only motivated to find one when her rent is past due and there are no other options. She stumbles into a missing person case and finds she quite enjoys the role of private investigator. Lots of dry humor. I got a bit worn out with her sister's use of incorrect words. It was cute the first time or two, but not so much after that. Overall, enjoyable and I look forward to continuing the series. Some foul language.
November 1, 2020
The Kensington kidnap introduces the reader to a new amateur sleuth. Epiphany (Pip) Bloom is a bit of a liability. Living in Kennington, London with flatmate/landlord Tim and her three legged cat Most, she somehow manages to screw up every single job opportunity that comes her way, incurring the wrath of many. But with rent to pay and unable to rely on an allowance from mummy she needs to find a solution to her financial worries and fast. Pip reluctantly seeks help from temp agency boss Sharon, despite their less than cordial relationship, given the disastrous ending to her last position at a vets practice. No wonder then that she is surprised to be offered the temporary vacancy at Boston Investigations, a private detective agency, a role which according to Sharon even Pip can’t mess up (watch this space). Expecting to fulfil some menial office tasks, Pip is taken aback, upon arrival, to find herself slap bang in the middle of a meeting concerning the disappearance of American teenager Matty Price, son of famous actress Madison and celebrated author Ben. In a case of mistaken identity but deciding to keep quiet, Pip assumes the role of Ms Du Bois, an expert in the field of missing children and so begins a comic caper, the first in this cozy mystery series.
It’s a giggle a minute joining Pip in her adventures as she endeavours to solve the case of the missing Matty Price, in her own inimitable style. Although she’s accidentally fallen into the role of the hapless amateur sleuth, she may have finally found her niche in life and relying on mummy’s handouts may become a thing of the past. Ably assisted by boxing gym owner and gentle giant Jimmy and flirtatious flatmate/landlord Tim, she approaches this private investigating lark with gusto. Definitely two opportunities on the horizon here for a future romance maybe? But back to the matter in hand. Where is Matty? Since all attempts to contact him go unanswered and with no presence on social media for a while, Pip has few if any clues to follow but harnessing the detecting powers of her heroine Miss Marple , she is determined to locate the missing teenager. Go, Pip!!!
Sister and successful blogger Felicity (Flis) also plays her part in providing a cover story for the undercover Pip, proving to be just as loveable as her sister thanks to her tendency to punctuate her sentences with a malapropism or two. You’ll either find her hilarious or irritating but I’m happy to say I think her character fits in perfectly with the wacky nature of the storyline. Taking Pip on a journey through London in her ‘too small for her frame’ Mini to the depths of rural Kent, our amateur sleuth meets some celebrities along the way and plenty of influential youngsters dedicated to the cause of saving the environment who unwittingly attract the attention of some fanatical, possibly dangerous people. It’s up to Epiphany to save the day and reunite Matty with his parents. This is a storyline that verges on the farcical with slapstick humour, assumed identities and more than a few gaffes all amid an ongoing battle to save the planet. Can Epiphany Bloom find Matty, without causing harm to herself or others, dismissing the notion once and for all that she’s a complete liability?
I found this lighthearted if ridiculous mystery both addictive and amusing. It feels current with all the social media, blogging influences as well as all the discussion around deforestation and plastic use. I didn’t have any idea until reading the acknowledgements that this new series is actually a joint effort but it seems to have worked. It might be slightly silly, slightly bonkers but it is definitely entertaining and I just loved Epiphany Bloom. She’s a fabulously funny,frivolous character who can make the sun shine even on the most gloomy of days. I shall be following this series without a doubt and can’t wait for Pip’s next crazy adventure. Fans of cozy mysteries should find this book a sheer delight! My thanks as always to the publisher Bookouture and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
It’s a giggle a minute joining Pip in her adventures as she endeavours to solve the case of the missing Matty Price, in her own inimitable style. Although she’s accidentally fallen into the role of the hapless amateur sleuth, she may have finally found her niche in life and relying on mummy’s handouts may become a thing of the past. Ably assisted by boxing gym owner and gentle giant Jimmy and flirtatious flatmate/landlord Tim, she approaches this private investigating lark with gusto. Definitely two opportunities on the horizon here for a future romance maybe? But back to the matter in hand. Where is Matty? Since all attempts to contact him go unanswered and with no presence on social media for a while, Pip has few if any clues to follow but harnessing the detecting powers of her heroine Miss Marple , she is determined to locate the missing teenager. Go, Pip!!!
Sister and successful blogger Felicity (Flis) also plays her part in providing a cover story for the undercover Pip, proving to be just as loveable as her sister thanks to her tendency to punctuate her sentences with a malapropism or two. You’ll either find her hilarious or irritating but I’m happy to say I think her character fits in perfectly with the wacky nature of the storyline. Taking Pip on a journey through London in her ‘too small for her frame’ Mini to the depths of rural Kent, our amateur sleuth meets some celebrities along the way and plenty of influential youngsters dedicated to the cause of saving the environment who unwittingly attract the attention of some fanatical, possibly dangerous people. It’s up to Epiphany to save the day and reunite Matty with his parents. This is a storyline that verges on the farcical with slapstick humour, assumed identities and more than a few gaffes all amid an ongoing battle to save the planet. Can Epiphany Bloom find Matty, without causing harm to herself or others, dismissing the notion once and for all that she’s a complete liability?
I found this lighthearted if ridiculous mystery both addictive and amusing. It feels current with all the social media, blogging influences as well as all the discussion around deforestation and plastic use. I didn’t have any idea until reading the acknowledgements that this new series is actually a joint effort but it seems to have worked. It might be slightly silly, slightly bonkers but it is definitely entertaining and I just loved Epiphany Bloom. She’s a fabulously funny,frivolous character who can make the sun shine even on the most gloomy of days. I shall be following this series without a doubt and can’t wait for Pip’s next crazy adventure. Fans of cozy mysteries should find this book a sheer delight! My thanks as always to the publisher Bookouture and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
November 29, 2020
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.
This is a cosy mystery with the accident prone Epiphany (Pip) Bloom as the main character. Pip has had a series of disastrous, short-lived jobs and is used to being bailed out of difficulties by her Mum . . . . but Mum has put her foot down and closed her purse so Pip needs a job to enable her to pay her rent.
When Pip goes to work filing at a Private Investigators she is immediately taken into a meeting where they assume she's someone else and discuss the disappearance of Matty Price, the son of two celebrities. She doesn't correct their assumptions of her identity and instead sets off to endeavour to discover where Matty is . . . . and even more fun starts!
This is a story with a wide range of characters, plenty of laugh out loud incidents, a serious investigation and life threatening scenario as Pip helps uncover much more than she'd ever anticipated. I'm very happy this is the start of a new series and I look forward to reading more of Pip's (mis)adventures in future - I can't wait to read how she gets on with her boxing lessons as well as her new job!
This is a cosy mystery with the accident prone Epiphany (Pip) Bloom as the main character. Pip has had a series of disastrous, short-lived jobs and is used to being bailed out of difficulties by her Mum . . . . but Mum has put her foot down and closed her purse so Pip needs a job to enable her to pay her rent.
When Pip goes to work filing at a Private Investigators she is immediately taken into a meeting where they assume she's someone else and discuss the disappearance of Matty Price, the son of two celebrities. She doesn't correct their assumptions of her identity and instead sets off to endeavour to discover where Matty is . . . . and even more fun starts!
This is a story with a wide range of characters, plenty of laugh out loud incidents, a serious investigation and life threatening scenario as Pip helps uncover much more than she'd ever anticipated. I'm very happy this is the start of a new series and I look forward to reading more of Pip's (mis)adventures in future - I can't wait to read how she gets on with her boxing lessons as well as her new job!
October 31, 2023
Epiphany was so cute & clueless. Fun silly cute quick mystery read that was really enjoyable.
July 4, 2024
Funny at times, the mistaken words give a good laugh but otherwise decidedly juvenile, maybe more suited for Young Adult genre.
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