The Pie & Mash Detective Agency by JD Brinkworth is a comedic debut novel that leans into cosy crime conventions while skewering them with dry, contemporary British wit. Written by Jo Dinkin and Catherine Brinkworth under a shared pseudonym, it introduces an unlikely pair of amateur detectives whose enthusiasm far outweighs their expertise.
Jane Pye, recently released from her job as a programmer and in serious need of both direction and cash, decides to enrol in a private investigator evening class. She persuades her boyfriend Simon Mash – whose corporate job seems to involve more procrastination than productivity – to join her.
Their instructor, seasoned private investigator Gavin Smith, assigns the pair a real case as part of their coursework: the mysterious disappearance of a woman named Nellie Thorne. However, what initially appears to be a straightforward missing person case soon reveals a disturbing pattern.
As improbable as it sounds, the vanished woman is not the first Nellie Thorne to disappear. In fact, she is the fifth woman of that name to do so over a period of 50 years, each leaving behind a confused partner and very few clues. The whole business has stumped Kent Police, but can the wannabe private eyes do better and secure a passing grade?
From the outset, Brinkworth establishes a tone that blends comedy with suspense. Jane and Simon are far from traditional sleuths. Armed with only a few weeks of detective training, some poorly understood lecture notes and a shared love of the noir aesthetic, they embark on an investigation that quickly grows more complicated than either imagined.
Their lack of expertise often leads them into awkward situations and misguided theories, but these missteps add plenty of humour to proceedings. Instead of portraying amateur detectives as improbably brilliant, Brinkworth allows Jane and Simon to make mistakes, learn gradually and stumble towards the truth.
The dynamic between the two sleuths is one of the novel’s strongest elements. Jane is the more determined and pragmatic of the pair, driven by a desire to prove herself capable of something meaningful after losing her job. Simon, by contrast, approaches detective work with a mixture of curiosity, distraction and overconfidence.
Much of the comedy arises from their inexperience and the situations they find themselves in. Their attempts at surveillance, interviews and evidence gathering frequently go awry, producing moments that are as embarrassing as they are entertaining. The dialogue is quick and often self-aware, with characters acknowledging the absurdity of their circumstances.
Together, Jane and Simon form a partnership that is both affectionate and chaotic. While the banter between them can sometimes seem overwhelming or downright confusing, their relationship provides the emotional centre of the story, retaining interest even when the mystery takes strange turns.
Admittedly, this approach does rely on some seriously exaggerated personality traits. Simon, in particular, can occasionally verge on caricature, with his distractibility and self-centred tendencies becoming repetitive. Additionally, the plot sometimes relies on coincidence or unlikely discoveries rather than careful deduction.
Still, the central puzzle – why women named Nellie Thorne keep disappearing from the otherwise rather staid Kent area – is an imaginative hook that keeps things moving. The idea of a recurring name attached to a series of vanishings spanning decades adds a faintly eerie quality to the story.
As Jane and Simon dig deeper, they encounter rumours of ghosts, strange coincidences and fragments of local history that hint at a more complicated explanation than the perils of normative determinism. The investigation takes them through archives, remote locations and uncomfortable social encounters, gradually revealing layers of the mystery.
In this way, Brinkworth plays with the expectations of the cosy mystery genre. Traditionally, cosy crime features amateur sleuths solving crimes within close-knit communities, often with a gentle tone that avoids graphic violence. The Pie & Mash Detective Agency fits comfortably within that tradition but also gives it a modern twist.
Jane and Simon are unmistakably contemporary characters – millennials navigating unemployment, uncertain career paths and the absurdities of modern life. Their investigation is therefore not only a detective story but also a commentary on the aimlessness and curiosity that sometimes accompany early adulthood.
Plus, despite the light-hearted style, the substance of the mystery is not neglected. The disappearances create a puzzle that gradually becomes more compelling as the story unfolds. Flashbacks to earlier investigations add depth to the narrative and show how the mystery has lingered unresolved for years.
The setting contributes to the book’s atmosphere too. Much of the story takes place in and around London and the southeast of England, grounding events in recognisable locations while allowing Brinkworth to introduce elements of local folklore and urban legend. These details give the story a distinctly British flavour.
Ultimately, The Pie & Mash Detective Agency succeeds because of its charm. Brinkworth has created protagonists who are easy to root for, even when they are clearly out of their depth. Their determination to solve a decades-old mystery – despite minimal training and frequent setbacks – gives them an appealing underdog quality.
Jane and Simon’s partnership has plenty of room to grow, and their detective agency promises further adventures. If future instalments build on the strengths of this debut – sharpening the mystery while maintaining the lively character dynamics – Brinkworth should deliver a memorable contemporary cosy crime series.
For more comedic cosy crime fiction, try We Solve Murders by Richard Osman.
Penguin
Print/Kindle/iBook
£3.99
CFL Rating: 4 Stars
