Another delightful cosy crime mystery with the Thirsk Three - Pat, Thelma and Liz find themselves embroiled in another mystery. This time involving Marguerite, a former colleague, a ghostly charity shop and two untimely deaths……… delicious fun! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A charity shop that disappeared overnight, a fatal car crash just round the corner. Coincidence or connected and, if so, how and why? Marguerite, the scatty friend of Liz, Pat, and Thelma, tells them she’s had a psychic experience in which, while lost in a fog, she entered a strange Charity Shop, which had disappeared completely when she went back the following day. Sceptical, but knowing her propensity for getting the wrong end of the stick, the three retired teachers go to check on this mysterious shop, but are impeded by the aftermath of a car crash in which a woman had driven at speed from the lane (it’s basically a track behind some houses containing some derelict outbuildings) where the shop was reportedly situated. Confirming that there is no shop in the lane, the trio wonder what Marguerite actually saw and whether or not it is connected to the crash. The dead woman, wealthy after being recently widowed, was known for being a safe and careful driver, not known for speeding under any circumstance. The state of the track and the absence of any obvious reason also raises the question of why the woman was there in the first place. Sitting around their favourite table in the Garden Centre, the three friends start puzzling it out. I say “puzzling” because investigating is too organised a term. In truth they mostly continue with their normal activities. Gradually they accrue scraps of information which build a picture of a crime, although it is not clear what type of crime nor how many of their suspects are actually involved. Meanwhile, domestic issues like husband problems, grown up children problems, get in the way, not to mention Marguerite’s increasing interest in her ‘psychic’ powers which threatens to drag Pat into what the more rational Thelma and Liz consider to be nonsense.
This is the third in a series but works as a standalone. The stories feature Liz, Pat, and Thelma, all around the sixty mark, retired teachers with a unique view on human fallibility. That view is mainly that adults display the same psychological features as children and their motivation can be deduced from this – a quite sensible idea. I reviewed the earlier books and can see that my opinions then are still apposite now. “The three women are all very different and extremely well drawn characters, with detailed family backgrounds that clearly show why they act, individually and collectively, in the way they do when sleuthing. The plot is carefully assembled, rather like a patchwork quilt, with each element placed just so. As a mystery story it is not particularly complicated, but the writing is so good that you find yourself invested in these women and their progress.” If cosy crime is your preferred form (or even if it isn’t) then you must read this book, and its predecessors. If you like well plotted and literate stories then read this book, even if crime isn’t your usual genre.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

Retired teachers Liz, Pat, and Thelma are at it again. They love a good mystery.

So when their scatty friend Marguerite is bothered by a vanishing charity shop, they can't leave it alone

I absolutely love these woman and am desperate to join their friendship group. I loved the book which I believe is third in a series so far. Well written and a really good read - loved it!