Welcome to my review of A Spoonful of Murder by J.M. Hall. I was first drawn to this cosy mystery, reminiscent of Richard Osman’s books by the delightful cover. While it took me a little while to get into it, it was an entertaining read, given its slow pace.
Introducing the three unlikeliest sleuths you’ll ever meet…
Every Thursday, three retired school teachers have their ‘coffee o’clock’ sessions at the Thirsk Garden Centre café.
But one fateful week, as they are catching up with a slice of cake, they bump into their ex-colleague, Topsy.
By the next Thursday, Topsy’s dead.
The last thing Liz, Thelma and Pat imagined was that they would become involved in a murder.
But they know there’s more to Topsy’s death than meets the eye – and it’s down to them to prove it…
Unfortunately, I could find very little information about the author aside from to say he is a deputy headteacher at a school in Yorkshire.
The plot of A Spoonful of Murder is good and follows three main protagonists, Liz, Thelma, and Pat. Set in Thirsk, Yorkshire, some “ordinary evil” lurks beneath the unassuming façade of their charming little village. We follow these retired teachers while they investigate the demise of a former colleague, Topsy Joy. The friendship of the three is based on a shared history beginning in the staff room at work and extending to support and warm, cosy companionship over a weekly pot of tea in a local coffee shop.
The plot does have heavier undertones around dementia, death, parenting, ageing, friendships, elder care, and childlessness. These issues are handled sensitively, and J.M. Hall highlights the struggle of older people. However, this is not a sad, depressing read but instead covered in the bright warm cardigans, warm conversation, and secrets.
Thelma is childless and married to college professor Teddy. She is the unofficial leader of the group and more scrutinising than her friends; she sees the writing between the lines and is more curious. Thelma can always “find the exact words the other two are fumbling for” and leads their investigation with a more critical view.
Pat is delightful. She is married to Rod, a builder, and worries about her teenage son, Liam and what might be bothering him perhaps more than most would. Bright and attractive, highly critical of “the internet”, which she thinks can be seen to “sap the soul”. She may be my favourite character; she is so warm and caring.
Liz is the anxious grandmother of Jacob and is the heart and soul of the group. She is kind and caring, always on hand with tissues and gentle conversation to soothe the soul. Jacob sounds like he is autistic with his need for fairness, routine, and special interests. His teacher sounds awful and, though hidden, uncaring, and unconcerned aside from noting his “naughtiness”.
Kelly-Anne, Topsy’s daughter, was not my most liked character. I really didn’t like her much at all. she comes across as naive and set on believing “what the police said”
I adored the three main characters; they are older, strong females. All relatable, nosy, and motherly figures as you would expect from retired teachers. However, on occasion, I found it challenging to recall which one of them was speaking or whose perspective was being shared.
After many red herrings, the ending is a little chaotic. I had expected this result from the beginning, partly due to the many mysteries and thrillers I read.
This has a fun writing style which worked brilliantly on the audio version, being read by a female with a Yorkshire accent. I really enjoyed listening while driving or doing chores around the house.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for a free advanced copy. I was not obliged to leave a review, which is entirely my own.
| Title | A Spoonful of Murder |
| Author | J.M. Hall |
| Series | N/A |
| Format | AudioBook |
| Page Count | 331 Pages |
| Genre | Cosy Mystery |
| Publisher | Avon |
| Release Date | 17th March 2022 |
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