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Abbot Agency #4
A False Pretence
"Mrs Abbot. Could you spare me ten minutes? I’m responsible for a man’s death, and I need help."
When Bea’s assistant Maggie’s ex-boyfriend turns up unannounced, Bea knows it spells trouble.
Zander believes he’s to blame for his boss’s death. The Honourable Denzil has dropped dead of a suspected heart attack shortly after Zander exposed a series of sleazy goings-on at the company.
Now the paperwork proving Denzil’s guilt has gone missing. Even worse, Denzil’s formidable widow, Lady Honorio, is on the warpath.
A few days later, Zander’s landlady dies in a mysterious fire at her home. Then, Denzil’s corrupt business associate is found shot dead.
Suddenly Lady Honorio’s the least of Zander’s problems.
As the police’s number one suspect, Zander needs Bea’s help more than ever. Will Bea and her gang of misfits be able to uncover the deadly pretences in time? Or will they find themselves next on the hit list . . . ?
Previously published as False Pretences
When Bea’s assistant Maggie’s ex-boyfriend turns up unannounced, Bea knows it spells trouble.
Zander believes he’s to blame for his boss’s death. The Honourable Denzil has dropped dead of a suspected heart attack shortly after Zander exposed a series of sleazy goings-on at the company.
Now the paperwork proving Denzil’s guilt has gone missing. Even worse, Denzil’s formidable widow, Lady Honorio, is on the warpath.
A few days later, Zander’s landlady dies in a mysterious fire at her home. Then, Denzil’s corrupt business associate is found shot dead.
Suddenly Lady Honorio’s the least of Zander’s problems.
As the police’s number one suspect, Zander needs Bea’s help more than ever. Will Bea and her gang of misfits be able to uncover the deadly pretences in time? Or will they find themselves next on the hit list . . . ?
Previously published as False Pretences
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2010
313 people are currently reading
134 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 40 reviews
April 11, 2017
In the fourth book of the Abbott Agency, it alludes to racial antagonism. Zander is back and asks Bea to accomplice him to return the belongings of a co-worker. Zander found a co-worker, Denzil had embezzled a fortune from the Trust were they both worked. His wife, Lady Honoria attempts to intimidate Zander. The story continues With the problem at the Trust, no one wished to involve the police. The publicity would damage the trust and Lady Honoria does want it either. There are several accidental deaths along the way. With Maggie's and Oliver's assistant, Bea is able to straighten the matter out. I high!y recommend this book and series.
December 3, 2014
A blast from the past kicks off Veronica Heley’s fourth Abbott Agency novel, False Pretences. Zander, first seen as an unwitting victim of an art-smuggling ring in False Picture, comes to the only person he can think of for help: English widow Bea Abbott, head of the Abbott Agency, a domestic staffing temp agency in London. As Bea is tired of saying, the agency doesn’t “do” murder — except that murder has a way of finding them!
Having recovered from a near-fatal blow after False Picture, a grateful Zander has taken to charity work as the office manager at the respected, but stodgy Tudor Housing Trust. While there, Zander runs across some financial chicanery and a thoroughly racist, scheming widow of a director. Mrs. Abbott to the rescue — along with her little agency family of computer whiz kid Oliver Ingraham and project manager Maggie. Heley adds her usual humor, suspense, and knowledge of human nature to make False Pretences another fabulous read. As in False Step, the novel released immediately before this one, readers will almost immediately identify the guilty party, but the joy comes in following Mrs. Abbott’s relentless pursuit of justice for Zander and the forces of good and discovering how they will track down and expose the culprit.
Having recovered from a near-fatal blow after False Picture, a grateful Zander has taken to charity work as the office manager at the respected, but stodgy Tudor Housing Trust. While there, Zander runs across some financial chicanery and a thoroughly racist, scheming widow of a director. Mrs. Abbott to the rescue — along with her little agency family of computer whiz kid Oliver Ingraham and project manager Maggie. Heley adds her usual humor, suspense, and knowledge of human nature to make False Pretences another fabulous read. As in False Step, the novel released immediately before this one, readers will almost immediately identify the guilty party, but the joy comes in following Mrs. Abbott’s relentless pursuit of justice for Zander and the forces of good and discovering how they will track down and expose the culprit.
September 1, 2019
This addicting series gets better as it moves along. I’ve noticed other reviewers say the same thing - addicting!! Who knows why? Yes its British,
but Bea is no Miss Marple and the atmosphere is anything but cozy!
Just for the heck of it this time I counted, times they drank coffee/20, ate detailed meals/15 and made reference to make up and clothes (sage green of course)/13. Ms Heley is really hung up on these three themes.
Same screwball characters up to their usual zany behavior. Max is going to the death of me, well figuratively only. Off to False Money, what a way to wait out Hurricane Dorian, on a Bea Abbot binge!! 💦🌊💦🌊
but Bea is no Miss Marple and the atmosphere is anything but cozy!
Just for the heck of it this time I counted, times they drank coffee/20, ate detailed meals/15 and made reference to make up and clothes (sage green of course)/13. Ms Heley is really hung up on these three themes.
Same screwball characters up to their usual zany behavior. Max is going to the death of me, well figuratively only. Off to False Money, what a way to wait out Hurricane Dorian, on a Bea Abbot binge!! 💦🌊💦🌊
December 12, 2015
Bea Abbot runs her own domestic agency. As she always says the Agency doesn't investigate murder but somehow murder seems to find its way to her. In this story Zander - a former boyfriend of Maggie's - is in trouble and comes to Bea for help. He works for the Tudor Trust which provides affordable housing in London and it looks as though one of the trustees has been working a very lucrative fiddle.
I really like this series with its regular characters, Oliver, the computer whizz and Maggie who is shaping up to be an excellent project manager. Mr Cambridge - who appeared in a previous story - makes a welcome reappearance together with his son Chris. Max - Bea's son - and his wife Nicole, now heavily pregnant - also make an appearance as does Piers - Bea's former husband and a well known portrait painter.
I found the plot intriguing and the villain satisfyingly villainous. The computer aspects of the fraud are well done and convincing as is the way Bea manages to help Max with his problems. I thought the characters of the Trust's directors themselves were also well sketched in.
If you've ever wondered how amateur detectives fit their activities around all the everyday things which have to be done - read this book. People eat and drink, do the shopping and the housework as well as solve mysteries. I love this aspect of the Abbot Agency series and the Ellie Quicke Mysteries. If you like your crime stories with not too much violence - try this book - you will not be disappointed.
I really like this series with its regular characters, Oliver, the computer whizz and Maggie who is shaping up to be an excellent project manager. Mr Cambridge - who appeared in a previous story - makes a welcome reappearance together with his son Chris. Max - Bea's son - and his wife Nicole, now heavily pregnant - also make an appearance as does Piers - Bea's former husband and a well known portrait painter.
I found the plot intriguing and the villain satisfyingly villainous. The computer aspects of the fraud are well done and convincing as is the way Bea manages to help Max with his problems. I thought the characters of the Trust's directors themselves were also well sketched in.
If you've ever wondered how amateur detectives fit their activities around all the everyday things which have to be done - read this book. People eat and drink, do the shopping and the housework as well as solve mysteries. I love this aspect of the Abbot Agency series and the Ellie Quicke Mysteries. If you like your crime stories with not too much violence - try this book - you will not be disappointed.
April 28, 2019
I'm wondering why Heley's books are not more highly rated. False Pretences, like the other books by Heley that I've read, are quite engrossing. This one provides a few rare chuckles, as well.
July 29, 2023
Review about it: When Bea’s assistant Maggie’s ex-boyfriend turns up unannounced, Bea knows it spells trouble. Zander believes he’s to blame for his boss’s death. The Honourable Denzil has dropped dead of a suspected heart attack shortly after Zander exposed a series of sleazy goings-on at the company. Now the paperwork proving Denzil’s guilt has gone missing. Even worse, Denzil’s formidable widow, Lady Honorio, is on the warpath. A few days later, Zander’s landlady dies in a mysterious fire at her home. Then, Denzil’s corrupt business associate is found shot dead. Suddenly Lady Honorio’s the least of Zander’s problems. As the police’s number one suspect, Zander needs Bea’s help more than ever. Will Bea and her gang of misfits be able to uncover the deadly pretences in time? Or will they find themselves next on the hit list . . . ?
May 31, 2019
A nice English mystery, not so much of a who-done-it as it is how Mrs. Abbot's agency will prove it. The author uses a technique of interspersing the antagonist's thoughts throughout the book so you know who the killer is pretty much from the beginning. There is something very disturbing about these looks into how an evil villain justifies their crimes, even to the killing of innocent bystanders to suit their purpose. Thank goodness for Mrs. Abbot and her crew, which at times includes a bit of God work.
December 7, 2022
3 and a 1/2 stars.
Good story. It could have used a spellcheck, however. There were a few places where misspelled words broke concentration so you lost the flow of words and were brought back to reality while you made sense of the sentence. And there was a section where the daughter in law’s sister was called Letitia (e.g. page 68) rather than Lettice, which is what she’s called in the other stories and in this book as well. And the son and daughter in law remain self absorbed fools.
On the whole, however, it was a good story.
Good story. It could have used a spellcheck, however. There were a few places where misspelled words broke concentration so you lost the flow of words and were brought back to reality while you made sense of the sentence. And there was a section where the daughter in law’s sister was called Letitia (e.g. page 68) rather than Lettice, which is what she’s called in the other stories and in this book as well. And the son and daughter in law remain self absorbed fools.
On the whole, however, it was a good story.
July 17, 2023
This is an excellent series of cozy mysteries!
The characters are intriguing and fun, especially Mrs Abbott, the kindly, smart
main character. She enjoys helping people both professionally and personally,
often landing her in difficult, sometimes dangerous situations. The characters
created are not perfect but their flaws lend humanity to them. I enjoy the complex story lines of the mystery but also of Bea and those she shepherds.
I love that Bea Abbott turns to God for help, solace, and thanksgiving!
The characters are intriguing and fun, especially Mrs Abbott, the kindly, smart
main character. She enjoys helping people both professionally and personally,
often landing her in difficult, sometimes dangerous situations. The characters
created are not perfect but their flaws lend humanity to them. I enjoy the complex story lines of the mystery but also of Bea and those she shepherds.
I love that Bea Abbott turns to God for help, solace, and thanksgiving!
May 22, 2017
I really like this series of books about Bea Abbot and her employment agency. Seems like they do more detecting than placing domestic employees. Anyway, Bea is such a softy and has several young people hanger-ons around at all times. However, the young people are also very smart when it comes to computers and she solves this case only with their help. These books are very entertaining.
January 6, 2023
The characters are brilliant
The story is expertly woven with just enough detail to keep suspense alive while also delving into the foibles and personalities of the characters. A balance of good vs evil, substance and humor, social relevance and sufficient entertainment to keep this picky reader coming back. Thank you to the author!
The story is expertly woven with just enough detail to keep suspense alive while also delving into the foibles and personalities of the characters. A balance of good vs evil, substance and humor, social relevance and sufficient entertainment to keep this picky reader coming back. Thank you to the author!
January 17, 2021
I'm really enjoying getting to know Beas and her wonderful, extended family. The mysteries surrounding them are fun and intriguing. Well written and enjoyable books with no sex, gratuitous violence or swearing. A real treat.
November 28, 2022
Good
Really enjoying this series. The only thing slightly annoying is the god bits getting more frequent. This book does seem very dated in its language around race . But not offensive just dated. But a good story well told .
Really enjoying this series. The only thing slightly annoying is the god bits getting more frequent. This book does seem very dated in its language around race . But not offensive just dated. But a good story well told .
December 25, 2022
Another winner
Veronica Helen does it again! An intriguing plot which she wraps up in unexpected ways. A cozy which offers just enough drama to raise your anxiety, but not to be frightening.
Veronica Helen does it again! An intriguing plot which she wraps up in unexpected ways. A cozy which offers just enough drama to raise your anxiety, but not to be frightening.
April 6, 2023
Fun cozy mystery series
Love this series. The doughty heroine, Bea Abbott, is classic. The other characters are the perfect foils. Enough intrigue to keep the plot cooking along. Pure delight.
Love this series. The doughty heroine, Bea Abbott, is classic. The other characters are the perfect foils. Enough intrigue to keep the plot cooking along. Pure delight.
May 25, 2023
A 3 because I let the book set for over a week
before I picked it up again. It’s well written and the plot twists are believable. It just didn’t seem to drive me to keep reading until I was done.
before I picked it up again. It’s well written and the plot twists are believable. It just didn’t seem to drive me to keep reading until I was done.
July 8, 2024
I admire the author for keeping all the balls in the air as chaos builds. The inner voice of the perpetrator is represented in brief sections in italics, as in the previous books - a technique the author abandons later in the series.
May 7, 2019
A cozy that I enjoyed, but didn't remember much from the previous book. The bad person was so bad I thought I might not be able to read the book, but I did.
March 12, 2020
The fourth Abbot Agency mystery is another reliably appealing cozy.
November 28, 2022
Great stories. I really enjoy reading about Bea and all the rest.. love the characters they are changing g, growing and seem to fit the big picture. I am sad each book ends. Well done
January 3, 2023
Fringe
I don’t quite understand the hair ‘fringe’. Other than that I thoroughly enjoy the books. 60 is the new 40 in age!
I don’t quite understand the hair ‘fringe’. Other than that I thoroughly enjoy the books. 60 is the new 40 in age!
April 8, 2023
another great read
Bea and her motley crew do it again, I really enjoyed this book, although I cringed at some of Honoria’s use of language. Can’t wait to read the next escapade
Bea and her motley crew do it again, I really enjoyed this book, although I cringed at some of Honoria’s use of language. Can’t wait to read the next escapade
April 8, 2023
Love Bea’s arrow prayers. Honoria with her hammer was more predictable, but I like the character development…
May 17, 2023
Excellent fast paced cozy
A False Pretence finds Bea, Oliver, and Maggie in a page turning dilemma. Racing through to capture a brutal killer, you won't be able to put it down.
A False Pretence finds Bea, Oliver, and Maggie in a page turning dilemma. Racing through to capture a brutal killer, you won't be able to put it down.
November 5, 2023
3.5. Bea annoys me sometimes but not so much that it detracts enormously.
December 2, 2023
All sorts of things up in the air at Bea's services agency when a friend of Oliver's (and a would-be beau for Maggie) draws them into a case of fraud--then murder.
I love this crowd.
I love this crowd.
March 12, 2024
Loved it.
March 16, 2025
a wonderful time Reading
a relaxing and enjoyable time . Just to be alone with your self and enjoying a good book. Now to the next book
a relaxing and enjoyable time . Just to be alone with your self and enjoying a good book. Now to the next book
May 19, 2025
Wow
A cracking good read the characters are brilliant,I really enjoyed it I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cosy mystery stories.
A cracking good read the characters are brilliant,I really enjoyed it I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cosy mystery stories.
September 17, 2014
I would not want to write this review under False Pretenses. So I admit I skipped 28 % of the book.
I thought it was excellently written, I just was a bit too chilled getting repeated glimpses into the murderer's mind. If the star rating had been about the book's excellence instead of how much I enjoyed it, I would have rated it higher.
I could not find the book under the title, though there are a number of other books by the same name. I did find it under the author's name, and it appears that she is fairly prolific.
I recommend this book unreservedly for those fond of mysteries, and with a stomach even slightly stronger than mine.
I thought it was excellently written, I just was a bit too chilled getting repeated glimpses into the murderer's mind. If the star rating had been about the book's excellence instead of how much I enjoyed it, I would have rated it higher.
I could not find the book under the title, though there are a number of other books by the same name. I did find it under the author's name, and it appears that she is fairly prolific.
I recommend this book unreservedly for those fond of mysteries, and with a stomach even slightly stronger than mine.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews