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Abbot Agency #3
A False Step
It’s the strangest sight Bea has ever come across. The dead man is lying in bed wearing a lavish scarlet and gold dress, his cheeks carefully rouged, his lips painted bright red. Beside the man is a note saying ‘Sorry’ and a pair of the brightest sparkly red shoes Bea has ever seen.
It seems like a straightforward case of suicide. But when Bea discovers that the shoes don’t fit the victim, her suspicions are raised.
The dead man is Matthew Kent aka Magnificent Millie — a famous drag artist whose flamboyant act disguised a surprisingly conventional private life. And that’s not the only thing Bea has questions about . . .
Why is Matthew’s daughter so keen to whisk away his remains? And his two ex-wives seem more interested in the contents of his will than the strange manner of his death.
Bea and her gang of charming misfits must come together to solve the case: computer whiz Oliver; Bea’s unreliable but sweet ex-husband Piers, and bossy, pink-haired assistant Maggie.
It seems like a straightforward case of suicide. But when Bea discovers that the shoes don’t fit the victim, her suspicions are raised.
The dead man is Matthew Kent aka Magnificent Millie — a famous drag artist whose flamboyant act disguised a surprisingly conventional private life. And that’s not the only thing Bea has questions about . . .
Why is Matthew’s daughter so keen to whisk away his remains? And his two ex-wives seem more interested in the contents of his will than the strange manner of his death.
Bea and her gang of charming misfits must come together to solve the case: computer whiz Oliver; Bea’s unreliable but sweet ex-husband Piers, and bossy, pink-haired assistant Maggie.
307 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2009
394 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
Veronica Heley
96 books130 followersVeronica Heley has published more than fifty books, including crime fiction, historical, and children's titles. She is currently involved in the Ellie Quicke series of crime stories and a variety of other projects. A full-time writer, she has been married to a London probation officer since 1964, and has one musician daughter.
AKA Veronica Thorne
AKA Veronica Thorne
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 29, 2014
Veronica Heley’s Bea Abbott series has proven most addictive. Like a chain-smoking fiend who lights the next ciggy off the current one, I finish one Bea Abbott novel and immediately embark on the next!
In the wake of her beloved husband’s death, English widow Bea Abbott, now runs the Abbott Agency, a domestic staffing temp agency in London, with the help of a once-silly girl named Maggie and Oliver Ingraham, a teenaged computer whiz. In False Step, the third in a series, Bea responds to a plea from one of her contractors, Florrie Green: Would Bea await with a dead client until the police come so Florrie can get to her next gig? Police rule Matthew Kent’s death a suicide, but Bea immediately has her doubts. After all, why would Kent — a 60ish actor who works as an old-fashioned pantomime dame — have sparkly red high heels that didn’t fit his feet? Other discrepancies make Bea wonder.
Readers will figure out what happened to Matthew Kent, if not exactly why or how, halfway through the novel. However, as with the episodes of Columbo television series (viewers were tipped off to the murderer immediately), the fun is watching the Abbott Agency’s irregulars catch up with and expose the culprits.
There’s so much to love in this series. The late Hamilton Abbott may be gone, but he’s certainly not forgotten. Bea recalls his wisdom and generosity frequently, making him seem a character in the books, despite his demise. Bea is so clever, and she’s not afraid to shoot up a prayer when she’s in a pickle — as she so often is! Also, it’s been wonderful to see Maggie’s transformation from a prickly, silly girl with no self-esteem into a priceless asset to the Abbott Agency and Bea herself. The same goes for Oliver, whose computer skills, contacts, and brilliance make him invaluable to Bea. It’s not a conventional family, but it’s become one all the same. I just love this series and seeing the characters evolve and seeing Bea, Maggie, and Oliver become a regular, little family!
In the wake of her beloved husband’s death, English widow Bea Abbott, now runs the Abbott Agency, a domestic staffing temp agency in London, with the help of a once-silly girl named Maggie and Oliver Ingraham, a teenaged computer whiz. In False Step, the third in a series, Bea responds to a plea from one of her contractors, Florrie Green: Would Bea await with a dead client until the police come so Florrie can get to her next gig? Police rule Matthew Kent’s death a suicide, but Bea immediately has her doubts. After all, why would Kent — a 60ish actor who works as an old-fashioned pantomime dame — have sparkly red high heels that didn’t fit his feet? Other discrepancies make Bea wonder.
Readers will figure out what happened to Matthew Kent, if not exactly why or how, halfway through the novel. However, as with the episodes of Columbo television series (viewers were tipped off to the murderer immediately), the fun is watching the Abbott Agency’s irregulars catch up with and expose the culprits.
There’s so much to love in this series. The late Hamilton Abbott may be gone, but he’s certainly not forgotten. Bea recalls his wisdom and generosity frequently, making him seem a character in the books, despite his demise. Bea is so clever, and she’s not afraid to shoot up a prayer when she’s in a pickle — as she so often is! Also, it’s been wonderful to see Maggie’s transformation from a prickly, silly girl with no self-esteem into a priceless asset to the Abbott Agency and Bea herself. The same goes for Oliver, whose computer skills, contacts, and brilliance make him invaluable to Bea. It’s not a conventional family, but it’s become one all the same. I just love this series and seeing the characters evolve and seeing Bea, Maggie, and Oliver become a regular, little family!
April 8, 2017
As soon as I finished a book in this series I go on to the next one. The characters became friends in my first book. I love the slogan "We are a domestic agency and don't do murder." That is until a suicide or accident changes the death to murder.
The series is set in London, the protagonist, Bea Abbott returns to her home after the death of her husband. There are two workers at the agency, Maggie, and Olivier, both have a backstory. Ben's son, Max who has been elected to the House of Commons. Max is married to Nicole who is a shallow person. We have her first husband Piers who is Mac's father. The Agency's office is in the basement of Bea's home. The characters have grown with each book and the interaction between them is outstanding. The format is the same in all the books I have read but each story is unique.
In this book, Bea gets a frantic call from an employee that the owner of the house is dead. Bea arrives and finds a strange setup. She is left alone with the dead man waiting for his daughter to arrive. From this point, the story twists between the different factions of the series until there is a murder. The ending is a surprise and unusual. I highly recommend this book and series.
The series is set in London, the protagonist, Bea Abbott returns to her home after the death of her husband. There are two workers at the agency, Maggie, and Olivier, both have a backstory. Ben's son, Max who has been elected to the House of Commons. Max is married to Nicole who is a shallow person. We have her first husband Piers who is Mac's father. The Agency's office is in the basement of Bea's home. The characters have grown with each book and the interaction between them is outstanding. The format is the same in all the books I have read but each story is unique.
In this book, Bea gets a frantic call from an employee that the owner of the house is dead. Bea arrives and finds a strange setup. She is left alone with the dead man waiting for his daughter to arrive. From this point, the story twists between the different factions of the series until there is a murder. The ending is a surprise and unusual. I highly recommend this book and series.
December 31, 2018
A kind of wacky British cozy. Many characters, lots of action ( of a sort) and twists and turns.
September 15, 2015
A cozy mystery set in a suburb of London, England, with main character Bea Abbott. A suicide victim found by a cleaner brings Bea and her employees into a mystery. One soon knows who did it, but there are a few surprises that the reader may guess before they're revealed. An enjoyable book, and I will read the next one.
October 13, 2018
Great story! I agree with the Abbot Agency people, something didn't seem right about the first corpse but the ending was a surprise. I like how the author interrupts the story with an inside look at what the murderer is thinking. Or is it the murderer....
February 5, 2023
Veronica Heley shows her talent with this mystery series featuring heroine widow Bea Abbot. After finishing this, the third one, the primary characters have maintained the personalities that were presented in the first, and each scenario and plot is fresh and original each time.
Bea is slowly recovering from the death of her beloved husband. She is a born leader and manager as an attractive 60 something. She has decided to continue to run the agency she and Hamilton had built up that provided a comfortable living for themselves. Assisting her and shaping up quite well under a boss who brings out the best in each of them are two unlikely young people, Maggie and Oliver.
Once again in A False Step, an agency that is supposed to provide clients with housekeeping, catering, and other domestic needs, finds itself in a crisis situation. A relied upon housekeeping service comes upon the dead body of their client lying in his bedroom when they show up one morning, and in a panic they dump the entire situation on Bea.
Was it suicide? Maybe. But some things bother Bea about this situation, and she is a very observant person.
Why is the step-daughter so anxious to had a hurried funeral that excludes all of this popular man's many friends and close associates, for one thing.
In the chaos of personal and professional life, Bea Abbot is beginning to seek the council and assistance of the God her husband was devoted to, and finding out prayers do work.
My only criticism with Heley's books are that they seldom feature any well adjusted family members. Everyone seems to have made horrible personal decisions or come from extremely dysfunctional family situations. And once again, as is the case in so many fiction stories, the slate is swept clean of too much family. I wonder how Britain could have such a teeming population if almost everyone was an only child!
Bea is slowly recovering from the death of her beloved husband. She is a born leader and manager as an attractive 60 something. She has decided to continue to run the agency she and Hamilton had built up that provided a comfortable living for themselves. Assisting her and shaping up quite well under a boss who brings out the best in each of them are two unlikely young people, Maggie and Oliver.
Once again in A False Step, an agency that is supposed to provide clients with housekeeping, catering, and other domestic needs, finds itself in a crisis situation. A relied upon housekeeping service comes upon the dead body of their client lying in his bedroom when they show up one morning, and in a panic they dump the entire situation on Bea.
Was it suicide? Maybe. But some things bother Bea about this situation, and she is a very observant person.
Why is the step-daughter so anxious to had a hurried funeral that excludes all of this popular man's many friends and close associates, for one thing.
In the chaos of personal and professional life, Bea Abbot is beginning to seek the council and assistance of the God her husband was devoted to, and finding out prayers do work.
My only criticism with Heley's books are that they seldom feature any well adjusted family members. Everyone seems to have made horrible personal decisions or come from extremely dysfunctional family situations. And once again, as is the case in so many fiction stories, the slate is swept clean of too much family. I wonder how Britain could have such a teeming population if almost everyone was an only child!
August 31, 2019
Dear Mrs Abbot, may I call you Bea?
When a dead body is discovered under strange circumstances why aren’t the police called in to investigate? Is Scotland Yard snoozing on the job?
Max is such a toddler, could you drown him in the Thames and send Nicole to the Tower of London? They are both total idiots.
Oliver is just putty in your hands and you need to tell Maggie to reduce her noise levels and stop bed hopping.
Stop praying. Does your God really deal with this trivial stuff?
Put Hamilton on the back burner, he’s dead, get over it. Portrait painting Piers should be slapped silly and sent on his way.
Who and how and why did the poison get in the bottle? Did I miss something?
I read it twice and I see no answer????
You are just a meddling old woman who does nothing but drink coffee and apply make up. But somehow you create tales of woe that I am addicted to.
Send my love to Winston, he of black fur and amber eyes - The real hero of this series of mishaps.
I’ll be seeing you soon under False Pretences.
Sincerely,
Grandma Bee 🐝
When a dead body is discovered under strange circumstances why aren’t the police called in to investigate? Is Scotland Yard snoozing on the job?
Max is such a toddler, could you drown him in the Thames and send Nicole to the Tower of London? They are both total idiots.
Oliver is just putty in your hands and you need to tell Maggie to reduce her noise levels and stop bed hopping.
Stop praying. Does your God really deal with this trivial stuff?
Put Hamilton on the back burner, he’s dead, get over it. Portrait painting Piers should be slapped silly and sent on his way.
Who and how and why did the poison get in the bottle? Did I miss something?
I read it twice and I see no answer????
You are just a meddling old woman who does nothing but drink coffee and apply make up. But somehow you create tales of woe that I am addicted to.
Send my love to Winston, he of black fur and amber eyes - The real hero of this series of mishaps.
I’ll be seeing you soon under False Pretences.
Sincerely,
Grandma Bee 🐝
Read
November 28, 2022An Abbot Agency Mystery - Bea Abbots domestic agency does not, repeat not, investigate murder . . . that is, until she finds herself in the company of a dead man dressed as a pantomime dame. It looks like suicide, but why dont his red-spangled shoes fit? Why is the mans daughter so keen to hustle his mortal remains away without publicity? Then again, which of the women around him two surviving wives and a daughter really cared about him, rather than his money?
Good.
Good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2023
I absolutely love this series! The characters are fully developed and actually grow over each book. You can read in any order, but do yourself a favor and start from the beginning. Bea Abbot runs a domestic agency that does not ‘do’ murder -- but somehow she always does! I love having an older woman as the lead -- especially one who is not a silly or "decrepit" character. So well thought out and totally readable. You MUST check them out!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2022
Enjoyed the story line even though I knew who dun it quite early on. Although there was a twist I didn’t see coming. I don’t want to spoil it with too much information but I thought one man was quite short (or did I misunderstand). Each book seems to introduce more and more religion which I could do without.
July 29, 2023
A Bea Abbott Mystery: Bea finds a dead man dressed as a pantomime dame. It looks like suicide, but why don't his red-spangled shoes fit? Why is the man's daughter so keen to hustle his mortal remains away without publicity? Then again, which of the women around him' two surviving wives and a daughter' really cared about him, rather than his money?
September 24, 2023
The third in the series. Very enjoyable. The chaos has ramped up to 11 in this one as Bea deals with a house in disarray as workers update the office, her son moves in after a row with the wife, and one of her contractors finds a dead person and then scampers off. Amid all this, the plot keeps moving along nicely, with an excellent ending.
November 15, 2022
Clever
Still enjoyable . The plot was cleverly done even if not that much of surprise. The religion is starting to get a bit much but otherwise the characters are great and it's still a good read.
Still enjoyable . The plot was cleverly done even if not that much of surprise. The religion is starting to get a bit much but otherwise the characters are great and it's still a good read.
November 19, 2022
Third book is as good as first two.
Bea, Maggie and Oliver as the Abbot Agency never had to look for puzzles and crimes to solve. The other characters help keep reader guessing.
Just good mysteries all around, with a few laughs.
Bea, Maggie and Oliver as the Abbot Agency never had to look for puzzles and crimes to solve. The other characters help keep reader guessing.
Just good mysteries all around, with a few laughs.
April 15, 2023
Well, 'A False Step' certainly doesn't disappoint! Endings are always important. Don't believe you'd guess this one even if you tried super hard. Yup, it's that good. Same great characters, and some new ones you'll enjoy. Great British cozy mystery !
April 22, 2019
Better than 4*'s but less than 5....
February 3, 2023
Fun easy reading
Easy to follow with twist and turns everywhere. Love all the characters. I will differently read the rest of the series.
Easy to follow with twist and turns everywhere. Love all the characters. I will differently read the rest of the series.
February 5, 2023
Wasn't sure I was going to like it at first. But it drew me in as I read further.
March 23, 2023
great read
The end was unforeseen and brilliant. Really enjoy these books and the characters are believable. Can’t wait for the next one.
The end was unforeseen and brilliant. Really enjoy these books and the characters are believable. Can’t wait for the next one.
March 29, 2023
Dependable read as always
Loved the twist! Veronica Heley doesn’t usually catch me unawares but did so on this occasion. Always enjoy her work.
Loved the twist! Veronica Heley doesn’t usually catch me unawares but did so on this occasion. Always enjoy her work.
April 3, 2023
I did enjoy the ending! A positive twist for once!
July 17, 2023
another fabulous Bea Abbott story!
Likeable characters abound, plus unsavory ‘bad guys.’ This one was more of a puzzle - ‘who done it’ was not revealed till Bea figured it out!
Likeable characters abound, plus unsavory ‘bad guys.’ This one was more of a puzzle - ‘who done it’ was not revealed till Bea figured it out!
October 17, 2023
A lot of fun and rollicks along. Excellent for distraction.
July 8, 2024
More mayhem and upheaval at the Abbot Agency and there's always more to it than meets the eye. Enjoyable. On to the next!
May 15, 2025
A cracking good read
These books are wonderful and really enjoyable to read I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cosy mystery stories.
These books are wonderful and really enjoyable to read I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cosy mystery stories.
August 24, 2025
Outstanding
Ms. Heley just writes so well! Her characters are three dimensional and interesting. This plot has a huge twist I did not see coming at all! Very, very enjoyable.
Ms. Heley just writes so well! Her characters are three dimensional and interesting. This plot has a huge twist I did not see coming at all! Very, very enjoyable.
December 13, 2025
Or 3.5. Or if just comparing this book to other cozy mysteries, a 4.
I will continue reading this series.
I will continue reading this series.
May 5, 2023
Best one so far… glad that it was a mix up and that Matthew was still alive. A very pleasant twist…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2015
Bea Abbot is asked to help by Florrie Green who runs a cleaning company. The request is rather unusual. Bea has to stay with the dead body of one of Florrie's clients who appears to have committed suicide. Bea senses all is not as it appears amd this niggles her even though she keeps remembering that the police accepted it was an open and shut case of suicide.
Perhaps she'd better forget all about it as she has enough domestic problems of her own what with the builders modernising her office space in the basement and her MP son Max wanting to move back with her and run his office from her living room. With the help of assistants Oliver and Maggie Bea uncovers a web of deceit and some less than pleasant characters involved in the death of Florrie's client.
This is a fast paced story with many interesting insights into human behaviour and some very well drawn characters. I am definitely warming to Bea Abbot and I think this is the best one in this series so far. I'm looking forward to the next one. The audio book of this series - read by Patience Tomlinson are excellent and I think she gets most of the voices right for the characters.
Perhaps she'd better forget all about it as she has enough domestic problems of her own what with the builders modernising her office space in the basement and her MP son Max wanting to move back with her and run his office from her living room. With the help of assistants Oliver and Maggie Bea uncovers a web of deceit and some less than pleasant characters involved in the death of Florrie's client.
This is a fast paced story with many interesting insights into human behaviour and some very well drawn characters. I am definitely warming to Bea Abbot and I think this is the best one in this series so far. I'm looking forward to the next one. The audio book of this series - read by Patience Tomlinson are excellent and I think she gets most of the voices right for the characters.
February 25, 2011
This is a different kind of mystery........a real "cozy", involving the owner and employees of the Abbott Agency. But the agency is not of the detective variety, but instead arranges for temporary help......house cleaners, maids, valets, etc. The characters are rather endearing and confusion seems to abound, even though the agency is quite successful. In this, the second book of the series, a body is found in a house being cleaned by the agency and the question arises....is it suicide or murder? The answer, it turns out, is not what the reader expects and is a nice twist. This is very light reading and is a good bedside book......enjoyable and slightly daffy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews