Discover new selections
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
$7.99 with 20 percent savings
Digital List Price: $9.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Peter Berry
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Lunch with the Deadly Dozen: A brand new totally brilliant cozy crime novel Kindle Edition

by Peter Berry (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 843 ratings
This group likes to stay active in retirement—by catching killers . . .

Widowed and in his sixties, Thomas Quinn has been asked to lunch by Lexington Smith, the leader of a covert team who call themselves The Twelve. When Quinn accepts the invitation to join the group, he finds himself united with other retired experts—from a surgeon to a locksmith to a cabbie—in a quest to capture a killer targeting homeless victims on London’s transit system.

As the body count rises, Quinn and his companions try to puzzle out a pattern. But can they protect this vulnerable population by identifying a predator amid the crowds of the London Underground?
Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 1 of 2
    The Deadly Dozen Mysteries
  2. Print length
    298 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Bloodhound Books
  5. Publication date
    April 3, 2024
  6. File size
    3.9 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Shop this series

 See full series
There are 2 books in this series.
This option includes 2 books.

Customers also bought or read

Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Previous page
  3. A Gathering of Spies
    Kindle Edition
    $6.99
  7. High Society Lady Detective
    Kindle Edition
    $9.99
  10. Murder at Honeychurch Hall
    Kindle Edition
    $9.99
  11. The Spy in the Ointment
    Kindle Edition
    $7.99
  15. The Birdwatcher: A Novel
    Kindle Edition
    $9.99
  17. Murderland
    Kindle Edition
    $9.99
  19. In the Blink of an Eye: A Novel
    Kindle Edition
    $11.99
  21. Death in the Fog
    Kindle Edition
    $7.99
  23. Nobody Lives Forever
    Kindle Edition
    $7.99
  29. The Roman Hat Mystery
    Kindle Edition
    $7.99
Next page
Loading...

From the Publisher

lunch with the deadly dozen, peter berry, debut novel
cozy crime, crime novel, mystery crime novel
ebook, kindle book, kindle unlimited

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Peter Berry was born in Surrey and attended the same school as Sir Keir Starmer and David Walliamsat roughly the same time but doesn't remember either of them.  After university (York, B.A Hons in History) he scraped a living in the PR industry, eventually working with celebrities including James Stewart, Sir Michael Caine and Ken Dodd while also publicising American programmes for Channel 4 including Friends, E.R., The Oprah Winfrey Show and Frasier.  In the mid 90s he decided to experiment with the music industry and worked with a disparate array of talent including Steps, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Meat Loaf, The Who, Groove Armada, The Blue Nile, Billy Ocean, George Benson, A Tribe Called Quest and Atomic Kitten.  He managed to escape PR-ing Westlife.  Twice.  In the early 2000s he started working with Jamie Oliver and spent a delightful fourteen years flying around the world, eating fabulous food and occasionally helping to launch best-selling books.  He lives in Hertfordshire with his wife, two daughters and a cockerpoo.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CV9PDNBW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloodhound Books (April 3, 2024)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 3, 2024
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.9 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 298 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1916978681
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 843 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Peter Berry

Peter Berry

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Peter Berry (known as PB to friends) was born in Surrey at the end of the 1960s and miraculously graduated from the University of York with a degree in history. He used this knowledge of the world to begin a career in PR which quickly lead to working in telly, theatre and film. In the 1990s he worked with Channel 4 publicising many of their US imports - Friends, E.R., Oprah Winfrey, Frasier and the short-lived but much loved by eight people, Bakersfield. He also used to receive Christmas phone calls from the actor, James Stewart. In 1996, he ambled into the music industry and spent ten high-speed years working with musicians as diverse as Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Steps, The Who, Groove Armada, Meat Loaf (always two words), George Benson, Billy Ocean, Atomic Kitten and many more. In 2001, he began working with Jamie Oliver and ultimately became the chef's Head of PR, travelling the world and eating delicious food; the toughest of gigs indeed. In 2016, he started the food PR business, Berry & Green with the excellent Chloe Green (no relation to Suzanne Green in Lunch with the Deadly Dozen). In 2019 he started writing a novel on the basis that, despite the excitement of the previous thirty five years, he hadn't actually ever created anything interesting (apart from a three page biography of The Blue Nile in 2004 which was quite good). The result, after four years, eighteen drafts, numerous rejection letters and four title changes, is Lunch with the Deadly Dozen. He lives in Hertfordshire with his wife, two daughters and a cockerpoo. He listens to music every day and is probably doing that right now.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
843 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book's plot engaging with an interesting premise. They appreciate the character development, with one customer particularly noting the focus on older characters.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

4 customers mention "Plot"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the plot of the book, finding its premise interesting and noting that the story plays out well.

"...The characters were interesting and developed nicely. The plot was very good. I would definitely read more about the Deadly Dozen. Highly recommended." Read more

"...methods of the group (almost a Kingmen organization) and the story played out very well...." Read more

"...Having just retired, I found the premise intriguing. Appreciated the clean language and behind the door romance I would recommend the book" Read more

"...description I thought this sounded like it would be an interesting premise for a good plot...." Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters in the book, with one customer particularly appreciating the focus on older characters.

"...The characters were interesting and developed nicely. The plot was very good. I would definitely read more about the Deadly Dozen. Highly recommended." Read more

"...I enjoyed getting all the backgrounds and the characters' interactions. The end was what I expected, but not in the way I expected it...." Read more

"Well written book. Intrigue, mystery, and well constructed characters pulled me into the story. I loved the focus on older characters...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Jeffrey Cochrane
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lunch with the Deadly Dozen
    Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This was fun. It was a pleasure to read. It was nice to see elderly people that were active and able to do things. They are usually seen sitting around drinking tea and stepping over the body. The characters were interesting and developed nicely. The plot was very good. I would definitely read more about the Deadly Dozen. Highly recommended.
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Deadly Dozen
    Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This novel had some fairly good reviews on Facebook and all. There seem to be a few of this genre of old people/retired cops/random folks solving crimes. Some have been good; some very bad. I liked the methods of the group (almost a Kingmen organization) and the story played out very well. I enjoyed getting all the backgrounds and the characters' interactions. The end was what I expected, but not in the way I expected it. I will be reading the next in the series to see where the story goes from this start. A 4.3 out of 5 rating.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Jean M Ryan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Novel approach to loss & aging
    Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Well written book. Intrigue, mystery, and well constructed characters pulled me into the story. I loved the focus on older characters. Having just retired, I found the premise intriguing. Appreciated the clean language and behind the door romance
    I would recommend the book
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Skater
    3.0 out of 5 stars Never underestimate the elderly…
    Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2024
    I really wanted to enjoy this mystery. I’ve read several mysteries recently that featured retirees with a certain set of skills, and they’ve been fabulous. This is not one of them. At first I enjoyed it. I laughed and found the characters quick witted and funny. It is extremely well crafted and written. The realism that the drawn out time line adds to the story is great. Unfortunately, that drawn out time line is filled with interpersonal details that frankly I found myself skim reading out of shear boredom. I don’t care about swear words. I don’t care about sex. These things are part of life, but the amount of time spent on characters relationship is not my cup of time. I don’t want to read a romance. I wanted to read a mystery. Perhaps this is what you’re after, if it is, then this is for you! It wasn’t for me.
    8 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Elizabeth H. Wood
    4.0 out of 5 stars Critic
    Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    FYI
    Homely means unattractive
    Homey means home-like
    I read a great deal and many authors use these words incorrectly.
    Thanks
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Greenville fan
    Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Very good. Unique. I would never classify it as cozy. There should be more. I don't need six more words
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Sherry Sharpnack
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Surprisingly Taut Mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2025
    Thomas Quinn is rather at loose ends: retired from being a sports agent and in his 60's, he lost his wife a few years before; daughter too busy for much time with him; and a somewhat-estranged son. He gets a call from a strange gentleman, and agrees to meet him for lunch.
    In this way, Thomas learns about The Twelve, an eclectic group of retirees who are tasked with extrajudicial "disappearances" of criminals whom the police can't quite bring to justice. The Twelve have existed for centuries, well-funded by the legacies of by-gone members.
    Thomas decides to join the group - because they seem like a great group of people and what else does he have to do? Almost immediately upon joining, The Twelve are called upon to help with a criminal - possibly more than one? - killing homeless folks by giving them sandwiches. The sandwiches contain a poison that doesn't kill immediately, so the homeless are found in more-remote subway stations, sometimes days later. The police simply do not have the manpower to patrol all the subway lines into and out of London. But an elderly group of pensioners could definitely ride the rail lines...
    Many of the Twelve are paired up, Thomas with Monica, a retired chemist, to ride the rails. Will they find the criminal? They will definitely find danger! But will Thomas also find a new life?
    This was a fun read with a serpentine plot line; I definitely didn't know what twist was coming next! I thought it was going to be a mash-up of "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" and possibly "The Thursday Murder club", but it holds up as a taut mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed. 5 stars.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Erin Crossway
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very funny
    Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2024
    I very much enjoyed this sometimes very funny book about elderly assassins. It took me some time to get into enjoying it, but overall it was quite good. I enjoyed the writing and the storyline was very entertaining.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • ALYSON R
    5.0 out of 5 stars I absolutely loved this!!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 7, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The Twelve is one of the best kept secrets and has been since 1831 when the first group was assembled to assist the newly formed police force. Comprised of retired persons who all have experienced loss and have not only a great deal of humanity but also a wealth of experience and skills which they bring to the group, their job is to assassinate criminals earmarked for elimination by the Metropolitan Police, presently led by Commissioner Suzanne Green. They don’t use knives or guns, but the array of weapons and methods at their disposal is impressive and inventive to say the least. Unknown to him, Thomas Quinn has been watched and assessed as eminently suitable to fill a free slot for some time now and when he receives an intriguing call by their leader, Lexington Smith, to meet for lunch and is asked to join the organisation, he finds himself in a challenging and exciting role which brings him a new lease of life after being widowed some six years ago. Making new friends, such as chemist Monica, surgeon Chris The Cutter, plumber David and Martin the cabbie, a new mission is presented almost immediately to the Twelve. Someone is murdering homeless people with a variety of rare poisons and they waste no time in mounting a surveillance operation on the Underground. However, the killer is clever and leaves few clues. Together with some unlikely and very appealing helpers, can they make that all important breakthrough to work out his motive and prevent more deaths?
    This wonderful book immediately captured my attention on the very first page and kept me totally absorbed right until the end. The characters are beautifully portrayed as are the various locations around London. I thoroughly enjoyed this deliciously warm and well told story featuring a formidable band of retirees, a two-hundred-year-old institution and a little bit of unexpected love thrown in for good measure. Highly recommended.
    Report
  • adrian heginbotham
    4.0 out of 5 stars Not too bad
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 20, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    It was ok, but seemed to be a long winded way round to a swift conclusion. As an idea it has a lot of potential, but needs to be less repetitive.
    Report
  • AMK
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 4, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Wonderful observations of (particularly) older people and great storyline. Looking forward to many more books in the series. Thank you.
    Report
  • Miss S A Lacey
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent debut - loved it!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 1, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Well plotted and full of a delicious cast of characters, I sailed through this fabulous debut by Peter Berry. Cozy crime isn’t my usual genre, but I was highly intrigued by this book and found myself completely consumed by the world of The Twelve. Despite being about a serial killer, with the odd gruesome detail, there are so many heartwarming threads running through the story, about friendship, love and life after a certain age. I can’t wait to read more about this unusual organisation, and the characters created to be a part of it.
    Report
  • Patricia Jean Trundley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fast moving and engaging
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 19, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    For fans of Richard Osman, this book is ‘ a must read,. Completely different and very engaging, it follows the theme that many retire people still have their skill sets but also time available to use them for public good. The twelve come from varied backgrounds but all are intelligent, quick witted and talented. The characters are easy to engage with and bond into a intellectual, motivated team assisting the police covertly with demanding cases.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report