The Love Detective:
Next Level

Angela Dyson

Average Rating 9/10 (1 Review)

Note to self: Do not screw this up.

When Clarry Pennhaligan, rookie private detective and unlikely heroine, takes on her second case, she is determined to master the art of smart. All she has been asked to do is to infiltrate a group of women who share a rather unusual way of spending their spare time. Shouldn't be too demanding, she thinks, nothing to it. But, after her first clumsy steps reveal secrets that may best be kept hidden, her investigation gains momentum and events take a bizarre and sinister turn. Out of her depth and working above her paygrade, Clarry soon faces a very real danger. Things just got Next Level.

About the Author:
As well as creating the Clarry Pennhaligan mysteries, Angela Dyson also write a series, The Fortunes of Sally Forth, featuring a woman who has swapped London Living for Country Loving - something she has recently done herself. Her play, The Gift, premiered at The White Bear Theatre, London. She also won ITV's This Morning's national short story award.

Review by Chrissi (010320) Rating (9/10)

Review by Chrissi
Book Source: Author
Rating 9/10
The Love Detective returns with Clarry being asked to befriend a young woman whose mother is concerned that she is under a bad influence and making some bad decisions. The mother appears to be a rather overbearing controlling sort and Clarry is conflicted in the role that she assumes, infiltrating a women’s group, to extend her reach into the life of the young woman.

What she finds is a group which on the surface is all about support in a slightly hippy-ish, feminine nature deity worshipping way, but some of the characters and the aims of the group are a little off… in a much more mundane, financial malarkey and murder type of way.

Figuring out who and what is going on among night-time outings to spy on the group lead Clarry to a series of wrongdoings, way beyond her original task, and places both her and Flan in danger as they narrow down the who, the what and the why. Clarry is such a lovely character, she speaks to all of us as she moves through her life. She feels like someone that you would like to spend time with as a friend as we are treated to the special relationship that she has with Flan – I find her relationship with the older woman to be incredibly positive for both of them. I like that Clarry is a normal young woman, not a black belt in a martial art, not a stunning supermodel type, she is kind of an English Stephanie Plum, but without the slapstick and the sidekick (Flan is way too dignified to wear poison green lycra).

I am so glad that Angela Dyson has brought us a another Clarry adventure and that the joy of the first book has been retained and polished in this second novel, I wish her great luck with her next and hope that this brings success that she and Clarry deserve.
Chrissi (1st March 2020)