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Abbot Agency #8
A False Diamond
The fake diamond in Dilys Holland’s engagement ring implies that all is not well in her marriage, and the Holland family matriarch, Sybil, calls on Bea Abbot for help. Bea soon discovers that Dilys and her little girl live in fear of her abusive husband, a man called Benton with whom Bea has already clashed. Benton wants Bea to rescue the ailing fortunes of his company, part of the Holland empire, and has no scruples about trying violence on her too when she turns him down. To make matters worse, Bea’s Member of Parliament son has tied both his fortune and his marriage to Benton’s future and is desperate for Bea to rescue him. Then Dilys tries to commit suicide . . . or does she?
- GenresMysteryCozyCozy Mystery
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
263 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Veronica Heley
96 books129 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 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 27, 2015
I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to slowly savor the latest Abbott Agency novel from Veronica Heley, False Diamond — after all, the U.S. release date for the next one, False Impression: A Bea Abbot British Murder Mystery, won’t be for two months! But I just couldn’t: The novel was simply riveting from the first to the last, and I read it almost straight through. Damn!
Widowed Bea Abbott inherited the Abbott Agency, a company that places domestic help — temporary or permanent — with London’s better families and firms. Now her self-important son Max Abbott, a member of Parliament with a selfish, ambitious wife, wants his mother to sacrifice so that he can climb the political ladder: He wants Bea to merge her firm with a larger one, Holland and Butcher, which trains domestic staff. (That firm featured in the previous False Report.) Holland and Butcher’s managing director, the brutish Benton, tries to force Bea to give up the agency, and it’s a pleasure to see Bea go toe-to-toe with the smug Benton and rescue the man’s wife and daughter while she’s at it — although she herself is then accused of murder!
In addition to a fabulous mystery, False Diamond also serves as a reminder that love, generosity, and kindness determine one’s true family, not blood. I loved Bea’s motley crew: the computer genius Oliver, good-hearted if insecure Maggie, Maggie’s “sort of” boyfriend Zander, the “grey mandarin” C.J. Cambridge (as Bea calls him), a new member of the team, an intrepid and courageous taxi driver named Lucas. The group manages to suss out what’s going at Holland and Butcher and the dirty details of the wealthy Holland family.
I’ve loved all of Bea Abbott’s adventures, but False Diamond is, as Bea would say, “a gem of the first water” — the absolute best in the series. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Widowed Bea Abbott inherited the Abbott Agency, a company that places domestic help — temporary or permanent — with London’s better families and firms. Now her self-important son Max Abbott, a member of Parliament with a selfish, ambitious wife, wants his mother to sacrifice so that he can climb the political ladder: He wants Bea to merge her firm with a larger one, Holland and Butcher, which trains domestic staff. (That firm featured in the previous False Report.) Holland and Butcher’s managing director, the brutish Benton, tries to force Bea to give up the agency, and it’s a pleasure to see Bea go toe-to-toe with the smug Benton and rescue the man’s wife and daughter while she’s at it — although she herself is then accused of murder!
In addition to a fabulous mystery, False Diamond also serves as a reminder that love, generosity, and kindness determine one’s true family, not blood. I loved Bea’s motley crew: the computer genius Oliver, good-hearted if insecure Maggie, Maggie’s “sort of” boyfriend Zander, the “grey mandarin” C.J. Cambridge (as Bea calls him), a new member of the team, an intrepid and courageous taxi driver named Lucas. The group manages to suss out what’s going at Holland and Butcher and the dirty details of the wealthy Holland family.
I’ve loved all of Bea Abbott’s adventures, but False Diamond is, as Bea would say, “a gem of the first water” — the absolute best in the series. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
April 7, 2017
This books features what happens when there is domestic abuse. How it efforts those around the abuser and victim. Holland Industry is still trying to get Bea to merge her Domestic Business with their trading academy. Bea doesn't trust the manager, Benton and refuses the merge. Bea is asked to convince Benton's wife, Dilys to take her diamond wedding ring to be appraised. Bea able to get Dilys to admit that the the ring is a fake and she is a scare of Benton. Max and Nicole are both involved with Benton's schemes. The book takes you on a journey through Dily's life and her family's. The ending will surprise you. I high!y recommend this book and series.
September 19, 2019
ABSURD! Bea has now turned into a 65 year old femme fatale - wined and dined by two very peculiar men!! Max, who is as dumb as a box of rocks, treats his mother like trash - oh Bea, disown him and leave all your money to Maggie and Oliver. Ship Nicole to Siberia and Pippin to Never never Land. Get the cat off the table and stop worrying about your makeup!!
At least there weren’t as many chats with God and her ex-husband wasn’t vying for her affection as he usually is!
That was episode #8 - can the next in the series be even worse? I’ll let you know. 🤔
At least there weren’t as many chats with God and her ex-husband wasn’t vying for her affection as he usually is!
That was episode #8 - can the next in the series be even worse? I’ll let you know. 🤔
January 2, 2018
I just couldn't get on with this book at all. I thought it must have been set in the 70s with a vulgar chain smoking, fur coat wearing caricature of a woman. I just couldn't read it - it is so far away from my experience, it felt like a parody. I love mysteries but this wasn't for me.
December 3, 2013
Bea Abbot is asked to take a young woman to a jewellers to get a ring valued. Dilys’s formidable Aunt Sibyl believes that the ring is a fake and her niece’s obnoxious husband has substituted a zircon for the diamond. Bea has met Dilys before when Dilys’s husband was, and still is, trying to take over the Abbot Agency and she didn’t take to him at all.
Little does Bea know the problems she will encounter before the threat of a forced takeover will finally disappear. Precisely how much has her bullying son Max got to do with all of this anyway?
I enjoyed reading this fast paced and complex mystery with its many ramifications and its web of allegiances and loyalties. It is well written with a basis in ordinary everyday life. The mystery must at times take second place to the problems of feeding the family – the cat Winston, and adopted daughter Maggie.
Bea’s adopted son Oliver, studying at Cambridge, makes a brief reappearance and high powered civil servant, CJ, also becomes involved in trying to solve the thorny problem of who precisely Bea can trust and who she can’t. This is an interesting series and each book can be read as a standalone novel. If you like your crime novels without too much on the page violence and with believable characters then give the Abbot Agency series a try.
Little does Bea know the problems she will encounter before the threat of a forced takeover will finally disappear. Precisely how much has her bullying son Max got to do with all of this anyway?
I enjoyed reading this fast paced and complex mystery with its many ramifications and its web of allegiances and loyalties. It is well written with a basis in ordinary everyday life. The mystery must at times take second place to the problems of feeding the family – the cat Winston, and adopted daughter Maggie.
Bea’s adopted son Oliver, studying at Cambridge, makes a brief reappearance and high powered civil servant, CJ, also becomes involved in trying to solve the thorny problem of who precisely Bea can trust and who she can’t. This is an interesting series and each book can be read as a standalone novel. If you like your crime novels without too much on the page violence and with believable characters then give the Abbot Agency series a try.
February 11, 2014
I'm sorry, but people were just eliminated too easily in this one. And Bea, stop being such a doormat where Max is concerned!
April 27, 2023
Once again Heley has written a very good whodunit, with a unique and clever plot.
Bea Abbott is a very admirable and yet very human heroine who - as most sleuths do - has a keen sense of observation combined with a gift for examining possibilities.
The series was written a number of years ago but does not seem dated.
I do find the scenario, as is so often the case with fiction, that almost one has a family and when they do it is usually extremely dysfunctional, to be rather depressing. Surely there are people who come from wholesome settings who become involved in and solve crimes too?
But Bea took two forlorn young people under her wing at the beginning of this series, and they have become near and dear, affectionately calling her, "mother hen."
In greater or lesser degrees they play a part in all of the problems that come Bea's way.
This time it is reluctantly getting involved in the problems of a very wealthy family who own a business her own son is pressuring her to partner with. Who knew the timid and abused wife of the man who currently runs this business, due to the fake diamond she wears as a wedding ring, would get Bea involved in physical abuse, fraud, and eventually the cold blooded murder of three family members?
Bea Abbott is a very admirable and yet very human heroine who - as most sleuths do - has a keen sense of observation combined with a gift for examining possibilities.
The series was written a number of years ago but does not seem dated.
I do find the scenario, as is so often the case with fiction, that almost one has a family and when they do it is usually extremely dysfunctional, to be rather depressing. Surely there are people who come from wholesome settings who become involved in and solve crimes too?
But Bea took two forlorn young people under her wing at the beginning of this series, and they have become near and dear, affectionately calling her, "mother hen."
In greater or lesser degrees they play a part in all of the problems that come Bea's way.
This time it is reluctantly getting involved in the problems of a very wealthy family who own a business her own son is pressuring her to partner with. Who knew the timid and abused wife of the man who currently runs this business, due to the fake diamond she wears as a wedding ring, would get Bea involved in physical abuse, fraud, and eventually the cold blooded murder of three family members?
July 29, 2023
A Bea Abbott mystery: The fake diamond in Dilys Holland’s engagement ring implies that all is not well in her marriage, and the Holland family matriarch, Sybil, calls on Bea Abbot for help.
Bea soon discovers that Dilys and her little girl live in fear of her abusive husband, a man called Benton with whom Bea has already clashed. Benton wants Bea to rescue the ailing fortunes of his company, part of the
Bea soon discovers that Dilys and her little girl live in fear of her abusive husband, a man called Benton with whom Bea has already clashed. Benton wants Bea to rescue the ailing fortunes of his company, part of the
August 24, 2023
I haven't read any other sin this series and to be fair I probably won't in the future. However not having any background to the agency run by Mrs Abbot was a disadvantage because the book jumped straight into it without any introduction to the setting / characters or time period. It felt ike an old style classic nut is in fact a modern day setting. The whole was far too convoluted and not particularly interesting. The amount of continuing pages after the reveal really drove me mad
May 9, 2023
True Gem of a Cozy Mystery
In this installment of a delightful series, a new man enters our heroine Bea’s life and her overly-ambitious and arrogant son Max is finally brought face to face with consequences. Bea’s strength and generosity are sorely tested, but her adopted family, friends and careful reflection see her through.
In this installment of a delightful series, a new man enters our heroine Bea’s life and her overly-ambitious and arrogant son Max is finally brought face to face with consequences. Bea’s strength and generosity are sorely tested, but her adopted family, friends and careful reflection see her through.
July 8, 2024
Full of action and intrigue plus, as usual, Bea's lovely Kensington house, her agency downstairs, and various waifs and strays who've become family. The stakes are high as Max, her son, gets into trouble and Bea is threatened and assaulted. There is a more sinister and raw aspect to the crimes this time.
April 20, 2024
A diamond-platinum entry in this series, with a perfect blend of chaos, relationships, cooking--and a toaster for comic relief. Oh, and Bea finally puts her foot down with her annoying son and his power-hungry wife.
March 14, 2023
Really enjoying the series. I really appreciate that the characters grow and evolve and sometimes move on, which is something you don't always see in the mystery genre.
March 18, 2023
Great easy read
Couldnt put it down.
Always something to make me smile!
No bad langauge required.
Love strong women , a plot well worked out.
Couldnt put it down.
Always something to make me smile!
No bad langauge required.
Love strong women , a plot well worked out.
June 9, 2023
One of my favorites- stopped the canned “the villain goes after Bea at the end.” Like the relationship development- SO glad Maggie married Zander ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2023
another good read
Not sure I would call it a cosy mystery, it was shocking in part. As for the self-centred Max, I have no words!
Not sure I would call it a cosy mystery, it was shocking in part. As for the self-centred Max, I have no words!
August 17, 2023
More mystery
Lots of fun in this one. Lots of lively characters plus some new ones. Light reading for those who enjoy mystery that is not that serious
Lots of fun in this one. Lots of lively characters plus some new ones. Light reading for those who enjoy mystery that is not that serious
December 21, 2023
Great mysteries that you can't put down.
I've enjoyed the twists and turns of Bea Abbot's mysteries and each one has been very engaging. Can't wait to read the next one!
I've enjoyed the twists and turns of Bea Abbot's mysteries and each one has been very engaging. Can't wait to read the next one!
August 7, 2024
Better than the last book... definitely absurd in many ways, but an entertaining read.
February 18, 2023
This story was back to the standard of the first s five ‘False’ books. It had me hooked right from the beginning. Was far better than False Alarm. It was particularly good to have the ‘team’ back in the story. I would love to slap Narcissistic Max but nice to read a few other characters who might be included in future books such as Leon. I spent the day reading the book from beginning to end. 👍🏻
February 10, 2023
Good .
Great story . Ok the climax of the main plot fizzles out a bit . You really should read the earlier books but you could still start here as you don't need to know the back story to the characters. The god bit is not to much in this one , I just read it as she's talking to an inner voice.
Great story . Ok the climax of the main plot fizzles out a bit . You really should read the earlier books but you could still start here as you don't need to know the back story to the characters. The god bit is not to much in this one , I just read it as she's talking to an inner voice.
August 4, 2023
The books in this series are the perfect cozies! Easy to read, reasonably believable characters, somewhat believable plots; reading one of these is like indulging yourself with a little chocolate cake after going for a long walk!
April 24, 2014
The Abbott Agency rides to the rescue again in this intricate and modern take on the detective novel. Bea Abbot is in charge of the agency, but not of her obstinate son, Max, who's stubborn nature and greedy streak lead him straight to trouble. Well written and entertaining, this book is also suspenseful, even when the murder happens to a most well-deserved character!
June 26, 2017
Love all of this series by Veronica Heley. I think I wish I could be like Bea ... always well turned out, smart enough to run her own domestic placing service, have a grown son in parliament, two wonderful young people as friends and boarders, suitors always available and also dabble in murder investigations. She is a wonder.
June 14, 2019
As usual, very engaging and a satisfying read.... I like the way Heley's main characters interact with their children. Life isn't perfect and it's interesting to read something where someone tries their best with their (imperfect) grown up children.
January 27, 2015
Not for me.
September 27, 2016
It was a enjoyable read. Lots of twists & turns. :-)
November 8, 2016
I enjoyed this book very much.
Read
February 3, 2017Couldn't put down! Love the pace and the shenanigans that go on with her entourage : )
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews