The Armchair Detectives

The Armchair Detective Mysteries, Book 1

By: Matt Dunn

Narrated by: John Hopkins

A totally unputdownable and hilarious British cozy murder mystery

They might be over the hill but they’re far from six feet under and now there’s a murder to solve!

Meet Martin Maxwell. As a former government operative, at eighty-four-years young he always pictured a retirement sipping shaken-not-stirred martinis on a far-flung island. But in need of some care after a new hip, he finds himself at Twilight Lodge on the decidedly cloudy English coast.

From the outside, it’s a picture-perfect place to recuperate. But when popular resident Elsie dies unexpectedly, Martin suspects foul play. She’s the third death in less than two weeks and always had a clean bill of health. Armed with a walking stick and his trusty notebook and pen, Martin decides to investigate.

While nobody believes him – death is an inevitable part of care home life after all – Martin is convinced something sinister is afoot. With his wheelchair-bound sidekick and former nemesis Albie in tow, they begin questioning the residents. Soon they learn that there are several suspects in the frame.

When they discover Albie’s love interest Barbara is in the killer’s sights, Martin knows time is running out. Will Albie’s heart be broken forever, or can they battle the effects of old age and each other, outwitting a murderer before it’s too late?

An absolutely hilarious and heartwarming cozy mystery perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Robert Thorogood, Jesse Q. Sutanto and Only Murders in the Building.

©2025 Matt Dunn (P)2025 Bookouture, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd.

Engaging characters

Held my attention. Great narration of a story with suspense and humor. I hope there are more to come.

Humorous Lines, very true to a lot if senior living

Some obvious things overlooked. Texting but forgot they could call for help. Need for glasses but drive without.

Quite a fun little listen

All the characters in this book are interesting, and the MC with his best mate, quite funny. I enjoyed this immensely.

A perfect cozy crime novel

In the first book of a series, it usually takes an author some time to establish the personalities and backgrounds of the main characters, but I was already captivated just a few chapters into The Armchair Detectives. I absolutely adored the hilarious dynamic between Martin and Albie; their interactions provided me with countless laughs. Martin’s constant reminiscing about his old operative days (imaginary due to early dementia or real? I wasn’t sure) was another source of humor, with him seeing himself as a James Bond type, even half believing he could still pull off some of his old moves. The mystery plot wasn’t too complex, but this was more than compensated by the entertaining and funny investigative process of Martin and Albie. I also loved that the story flowed effortlessly, with humor that never felt forced, and without the overly sentimental tone often found in cozy crime novels.

The narration by John Hopkins is truly superlative. He is one of the rare narrators who can master the voices of characters across genders and ages, capturing both personality and emotion with precision. Thanks to his performance, the interaction between Martin and Albie came alive as a vividly cinematic experience for listeners.

Dunn’s brilliantly humorous writing combined with Hopkins’s nuanced and lively narration makes this a perfect audiobook. I can’t wait to follow more of Martin’s adventures (hopefully with Albie again) in the upcoming sequel.