A Spoonful of Murder

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…


The narration has good pace and flow,and the narrators voices seemed right for the characters they were portraying. I listened to this as an audio book and felt the narrators really helped bring the story to life. The narrator narrated the book beautifully, and I loved the depictions of the different characters.

This book was such a cosy, immersive murder mystery with major Thursday Murder Club vibes. From the get go, it drew its hooks in and I couldn’t wait to keep reading on to see what would happen.

It follows a close group of ex-teachers who are thrust into a murder mystery when one of their friends meets an untimely end. With the victim in the early stages of dementia, it looks like an accident with no foul play. But it’s a good thing the group doesn’t take that at face value…

I also loved the narrator who voiced this book and it really brought it to life. It was performed so well and was really done brilliantly.

There’s plenty of red herrings and twists and turns and just when you think it’s all over, it’s not. 3/4 of the way through the book I thought it had finished and was surprised when there was a fair but more of the book to go! But I enjoyed loosing myself into this book and it was certainly entertaining.

A Spoonful of Sugar centres on three retired Primary School teachers, Thelma, Pat and Liz, who meet weekly for a coffee and cake catch up at the Thirsk Garden Centre cafe. One week they bump into Topsy, a former colleague, and her daughter at the cafe. Thelma becomes concerned about Topsy after the chance meeting and one week later Topsy is found dead. The trio come together and investigate Topsy’s death, also uncovering how the vulnerabilities of the elderly are exploited.

Thelma, Pat and Liz are highly organised and motivated and more than capable amateur sleuths! It was lovely to have three women of a certain age taking centre stage and leading the investigation into Topsy’s untimely demise.

The tone is quite cozy, full of Yorkshire warmth, humour and plain-speaking. The dialogue having echoes of Alan Bennett and certainly made me smile and laugh at times.

Excellent narration by Julie Hesmondhalgh, who really made the book come alive.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, HarperCollins UK Audio, for the audio ARC for a fair and honest review. Look forward to reading to more JM Hall books.

This book was the ultimate in comfort - listening to it was like curling up in a blanket on your favourite chair, with the sun streaming through the window and a nice hot cup of tea in hand. The main characters were likeable and perfectly how I imagine ex primary school teachers to be in retirement. The narrator was perfect for the audio book, and encapsulated the spirit of the story and made it easy to listen to, but very engaging. The smaller characters were a great combination of 'good and bad' - doing bad things but for reasons you kind of understand, reflecting the infallibility of human nature. The plot meandered along - it didn't feel too fast paced which again reflected the main characters well - but there was always something happening so it never felt staid or boring. I was going through a stressful time when I started listening to this and found myself looking forward to my drives home when I could switch off from a bad day and immerse myself in this world, where bad things happened just like in real life, but there were kind hearted people who cared and would put themselves at risk to help get to the truth. I only hope I have friends like these when I retire! Thoroughly enjoyed this - thank you!

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook.
The main characters are retired teachers in a primary school and as I worked in primary schools for a lot of years I found the analogies brilliant!
The story took on some delicate issues which we know happens all to regularly and my heart went out to the victim...
It was a great cosy crime audiobook and the narrator is brilliant!

I listened to the audiobook version of this story and I have to say Julie Hesmondhalgh‘s narration really makes this story. She does a beautiful job and kept me engaged throughout.

The only problem for me was that I found I couldn’t relate to the characters very well and at the beginning of each chapter there were always moment of confusion trying to work out which character was in action.

However I still enjoyed it very much.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for letting me listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

A great cosy mystery. A group of friends slowly unravel a set of mysteries involving an old colleague. So close to the truth it is quite horrifying and could easily be based on current events. Superb narration by the lovely Julie Hesmondhalgh.

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins Audio UK, Avon and J.M Hall for an Audio-ARC in return for an honest review.

This is a delightful and quirky thriller. The characters are a pure joy and the plot is good. Julie Hesmondhalgh does a superb job narrating and adds more character to the book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend to everyone.

This is perfect for Agatha Christie and Richard Osmond fans!

The narrator for this audiobook gets 5 stars from me for keeping me listening through the rather sad circumstances that begin the story - an older lady living with the early signs of dementia being targeted by scammers and conmen. When this former primary school nursery nurse dies, supposedly having taken too much of her medication, her three friends and former colleagues begin to think that all is not as it should be. The tone lightens a great deal, particularly when the over the top daughter of the deceased, Kelly Ann recedes into the background for a while as they begin to wonder about the events leading up to Topsy's death. Their investigation is haphazard to say the least involving male strippers, toy boys and zumba classes, (no mean feat for a woman of a certain age).Along with managing their own lives, planning meals, teenage sons and rebellious grandchildren they finally piece together the clues to solve the mystery and put certain elements of the world to rights.
It ends up being quite fun and enjoyable to listen to although at times a little too close to real life and still with that tinge of sadness about growing old.

I love a cozy mystery. This is a beautiful and wonderful story. I loved the snap shots of life and the stories of Jacob and his troubles at school. I adored this sooo very much.

Wonderful read!

***ARC providedNetgalley.co.uk in return for an honest review ***

Three retired teachers make up an unlikely super sleuthing trio when their friend, and ex headteacher, dies unexpectedly.

Any fans of The Thursday Murder Club will absolutely love this. It's a fab read and one with just enough intrigue and mystery to keep the reader guessing right up until the unexpected conclusion.

Thelma, Liz and Pat are retired school teachers. Having worked together for twenty plus years, they now meet up once a week on a Thursday at a garden centre cafe to catch up and have a good gossip. One week they are sitting down to coffee and cake when Topsy and her daughter, Kelly Anne walk into the cafe. Topsy also being a former colleague – a nursery nurse from the same school, is now suffering with early dementia which is steadily getting worse and her daughter is now caring for her.

One week later – Topsy is dead – and something she told one of her old school colleagues is playing on her friends mind. Was it the ramblings of a woman confused with dementia – or was it something much more sinister?

This book was so much fun and I really enjoyed it. It was well paced and well written. The story was interesting and it was really funny throughout. The characters were whole and you could really feel them.

I was lucky enough to listen to the audiobook and the narrator, Julie Hesmondhalgh was great and her Yorkshire accent really added to the cosy Yorkshire setting. If you enjoy Murder She Wrote, Death in Paradise or Midsomer Murders – you should love this too!

My thanks to the author and HarperCollins UK Audio for the gifted copy to review via NetGalley.

Due to be released 17th March 2022

I've actually been enjoying all the 'cosy crime' amateur sleuth types of books which have been released of late, particularly those where the protagonists are possible the least likely Detectives you might hope to meet. That's certainly the case when it comes to Liz, Thelma and Pat, the three women who, in true Miss Marple style, find themselves in the midst of a case of murder. Or maybe not ... It's not entirely clear, especially given that the alleged victim, Topsy, a former colleague of the three women was in her dotage and suffering declining health. If it hadn't been for the fact that Topsy was, in her day, a somewhat formidable character, they might have thought little of her sudden death. Well ... that and her declaration that someone wanted her dead.

Now, as you can imagine, this is not a fast paced thriller, but it is a book that drew me in and kept me pondering about the who, the what and the why - heck even the if - of the alleged murder. Because the more the three women delve into the final days of their old friend Topsy, the clearer it becomes that there is something not quite right about the whole situation and the more certain I became that there was definitely something hinky in play. It doesn't help that there are a whole host of suspect characters on the periphery of Topsy's life and money is certainly a big factor for some.

I actually liked getting to know there three women, Liz, Pat and Thelma. They are three very different characters, all very carefully created and developed, each with characteristics that both endeared and, at times, frustrated me. Pat was perhaps the hardest to get to know, the most reticent in getting involved, but there was still something about her and I could recognise her fears and understand her reluctance to get involved, especially as there was potential trouble at home too. Liz seemed the most timid of the three but was actually very astute and perhaps, unknowingly, at the time, the most in tune with what was really happening. Thelma was the most direct about looking into what had really happened, the most determined to understand what was happening, driven to find an answer by her own faith. The story is told from all of their points of view, which serves to both enhance, and perhaps at times stall, our understanding, but the author gives believable and distinct voices to them making it easy to follow the changes in perspective.

J.M. Hall has woven a very clever and authentic feeling story. This is not really just about Topsy's story, sad as it is. It is a study of the impact that age and declining health have on family, the way in which the deterioration of a previously sharp mind is one of the many fears that we all face as we advance in years. There is also a real sense of the way in which people may seek to take advantage of those who may naturally be more trusting, or perhaps just less aware, of the risks of modern life. Topsy is a victim in more ways than one, and each of those elements of her story serve to muddy the waters, and keep the truth of the whole story hidden until the very last moment. The list of potential suspects, assuming there is anything to suspect them of, is long, the motives equally so. The reveal, when it comes, is surprising, and yet fitting. Perhaps not satisfying, kind of sad actually, but in keeping with the nature of the book.

The audiobook of this is brilliantly narrated by Julie Hesmondhalgh, and can definitely be recommended. If captures the combination of hope, melancholy and humour that the story deserves, for there are as many moments that will make you smile and even laugh, as those that will leave you saddened by what comes to pass. I know that the three women, Liz, Thelma and Pat, were great characters, brought perfectly to life in the audio, and really good to spend time with. If you like a good cosy crime, with emotional and thoughtful undercurrent, this may well be the book for you.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts will be shared on Goodreads and Amazon UK.
The story centres around three retired school teachers who meet, every Thursday, and have their ‘coffee o’clock’ sessions at the Thirsk Garden Centre café. During one of these meetings, they bump into an ex-colleague, Topsy, who appears very different to the forthright Topsy they knew. One week later, Topsy is dead and Liz, Pat and Thelma find themselves drawn into the events leading to her demise.
This is a brilliant cosy mystery with plenty of intrigue and humour to keep your attention to the very end. Narrator Julie Hesmondhalgh brings the characters to life and her narration adds to the overall cosy feel of the story. As well as well-written characters, the dementia aspect of the storyline is handled well, without exaggeration for effect. Having a parent with dementia, I did find some parts of the story a little upsetting and others in a similar situation should be aware going into the book that there are some events which may be emotional for them.
There may be comparisons between this and other cosy mysteries featuring a team of retirees meeting on a Thursday, but that is where the similarities end. This most definitely stands on its own merit. I would whole-heartedly recommend A Spoonful of Murder and hope that there are many more adventures of the trio in the future!

Cosy, cute and funny. This is a really fun murder mystery with likeable and convincing characters who reminded me of many people in my own life. I really enjoyed the use of the internal monologue and there were quite a few twists and turns.

Worth curling up with on a rainy day. I did struggle a little keeping up with who each character was, but other than that very entertaining. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Julie Hesmondhalgh was the perfect narrator for this lovely book. She didn't put on voices which is how I prefer it to be read, although she did seem to sometimes channel Sue Pollard in Kelly-Anne's more hysterical outbursts. This is a cosy, tea and crumpets type mystery which kept me guessing. I'm afraid I found the three main characters mostly indestinguishable one from the other and I felt their portrayal of late 50s, early 60s women to be a little stereotypical of ladies of this age maybe twenty years ago. I'm even older and I wouldn't dream of shopping in The Edinburgh Woollen Mill.!

I received this audiobook from the publisher, Avon, via the NetGalley. It is written by J.M. Hall and beautifully narrated by Julie Hesmondhalgh.

Three retired teachers: Thelma, Liz and Pat meet every Thursday in a local garden centre for coffee and cake. One day, they notice their old colleague, Topsy, accompanied by her daughter, Kelly Anne. When the ladies discover that Topsy has dementia, they are shocked, as their friend used to be sharp and organised.

During that visit, an agitated Topsy confides that some men came to her house and as she pretended to be asleep, one of the men said that it would have been better if she were dead. Topsy was adamant the man meant her.

Next week, Topsy is dead.

The police say that it was an accident as Topsy, in a state of confusion, overdosed on her heart medication. Her daughter is distraught because her mother died while she was on a much needed short break in Portugal.

Soon, Thelma, Liz, and Pat discover that the case isn’t so simple anymore, and that in fact, someone did murder Topsy…

This book leads us on a path of scammers preying on elderly, financial fraud, toy boys and dodgy builders. The reader is offered a glimpse into the women’s lives and how slowly, bit by bit, they crack the case. My favourite character was Pat, I sympathised with her as she was trying to lose the weight whilst working out what was troubling her son Liam.

This cozy murder mystery is perfect with a lovely cup of tea/ coffee and cake!

I definitely recommend it.
Thank you to the publisher, Avon, for accepting my NetGalley request to listen and review this book.

This is a cosy mystery, which I found enjoyable. At first I found it hard to get into the story, but it grew on me as the time went on.

Older ladies who are ex work colleagues, Liz, Pat and Thelma, meet up every Thursday to have a catch up. At one of their meetings, they meet one of their old work colleagues who is called Topsy. Topsy has dementia and her daughter is her carer. The three friends go to Topsy's home after they become suspicious of some things that she said to them at the meeting. They realise that something is not right after they find out that someone has stolen her life savings. Soon after this, Topsy is found dead, and they set out to investigate her robbery and death. Who has robbed and killed her, and why?

The narrator of the story was very good, and she had a pleasant voice, which suited the book. I liked the interview at the end of the audiobook too.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited listening to the audiobook of A Spoonful Of Murder, written by JM Hall and narrated by the delightful Julie Hesmondhalgh. It was an absolute joy to listen to this book, from start to finish. Julie could read absolutely anything and I would want to listen, and in this instance, she brought an very good book to life for me.
I loved the premise of the book, three retired teachers, Thelma, Liz and Pat, meet every Thursday for coffee at Thirsk Garden Centre. One week, they bump into their old friend and colleague, Topsy, who is with her daughter. Sadly, it soon becomes apparent that Topsy has dementia. Within a week, Topsy is dead! The three women decide to try to get to the bottom of why their old friend died, was it murder, and if so who was behind it?
This book was so very good and I really hope a sequel is released very soon. It will inevitably draw comparisons with The Thursday Murder Club, they are both brilliant cosy murder books and there is definitely room in the market for both series!
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a lovely cosy mystery set in Thirsk, Yorkshire. It followed 3 retired school teachers who become involved in investigating the death of their retired colleague, Topsy. It was read beautifully by Julie Hesmondhalgh. It also dealt very sensitively with conditions such as Alzheimers.
The plot was well laid out with some intertwining stories, which all came together well at the end with a satisfactory conclusion.

I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of the audiobook from Netgalley.

The narrator on this one took some getting used to, but by the time I was used to their cadence, I became completely immersed in the story.

I felt the genuine emotions and characterizations come through.

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This was a very quick and easy mystery to get into.

Even though I was able to discover the plot, that is a testament to the author's ability to lay the groundwork and seamlessly integrate the hints into the plot. All you need to do is pay attention and you'd be able to tell who the murderer is, even as you watch the ladies muddle their way through the investigation.

I was infuriated by the way the women were infantilized by those around them, made to feel as though they were confused and obsolete, meanwhile they were the only ones making strides in the case.

I don't often read books where the protagonists are older ladies so I don't have much to compare it to, but it felt like a genuine depiction of how that group would be treated irl. The pacing also reflects the ladies' access to information and competency with tech so I didn't mind that it was a slower realization rather than constant chunks of information throughout.

For fans of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple series.

A wonderfully, cosy murder-mystery. That basks in the everyday and the domestic lives of a small close-knit community. There's humour and a cast of down-to-earth characters who are extremely likeable and relatable. It's UK centric and I loved the references to popular culture. Obviously, a murder takes place so there's sadness as well. Sorrow runs throughout the book, as the three retired schoolteachers unexpectedly find themselves investigating the death of their friend. The sub-plots are smashing and the narration is A++. Julie's northern accent worked splendidly for this title. Her narration was so intimate that I felt like I was sitting opposite, her voice and treatment of the characters gave them more heart and added to the realistic nature of this mystery. I loved every minute and didn't want it to end.

Description 🔖

Three retired school teachers; Pat, Liz and Thelma meet every week at the cafe of their local garden centre for a cuppa and a catch up. At one such meeting, they happen to bump into an old colleague of their’s called Topsy. By the following week, Topsy is dead.

These three ladies had no idea they were about to become involved in a murder, but it is important to them to find out what happened to their friend. They are certain that a crime was committed and it is up to them to solve it.

General Thoughts 🤔

Firstly, I wish I could be a real grown up and enjoy a cup of tea. I feel like a cup of tea is necessary in order to complete the cosiness of this book. This was definitely a great book to get lost in and block out the rest of the world. It was full of twists and turns with red herrings at every corner, however the story wasn’t too difficult to follow.

I loved the warming parts of this story. Not only did it keep me on my toes with the mystery, but it gave me all of the feels and warmed my heart. These ladies had their own lives, some of them with more drama than others, yet they all put that on hold to a certain extent in order to find out what had truly happened to their friend.

Characters 👫👭👬

I think that good characters are an absolute must for a successful cosy mystery and this book didn’t disappoint. Pat, Liz and Thelma are a group of brilliant personalities and they all bring something different to the table.

If I was forced to choose, I think I’d have to pick Liz as my favourite. I loved that her inner monologue was one of little confidence, yet she continued to throw herself into uncomfortable and unfamiliar situations. I think I’m probably most like Thelma as I feel like I could see myself doing some of the things that she did and feeling the same way as her about them.

Writing Style ✍️

J.M. Hall has found himself on my authors that I’ll continue to read list. There was so much packed into this book without it feeling overwhelming and complicated. I listened to an interview with him about his inspiration for the book and it makes complete sense in hindsight. He captured the emotion and impacts of fraud on the elderly so well and it certainly made me think about how it would make me feel if it happened to a friend or relative of mine.

The book was paced really well and certainly kept me glued to the pages so I could find out what happened next. It was told from multiple POVs (my favourite) but there were some moments I got confused about which character I was reading. One thing I particularly loved though was the fantastically named chapters. Every one made me giggle because it was kind of like hearing my Nan’s answer if I asked her what happened in her day.

Conclusion & Scoring 🎖

As I mentioned above, I was really looking forward to reading A Spoonful of Murder and it definitely lived up to the hype I had created for it in my mind. It was thrilling and full of mystery whilst at the same time, funny and very heart warming. The characters were brilliant to journey with and I would love to see more of them from this great author. You should definitely get this book, a cup of tea and some biscuits and get lost in this cosy mystery.

'Cosy' murder mysteries are in fashion at the moment and this fits that box perfectly - but it's actually less cuddly then the title might imply. As the characters themselves comment, it is 'ordinary evil' - the sort of awful things that very average people will do if the circumstances are right.

Three retired primary school teachers bump into a former colleague when enjoying a coffee and catch up at a local garden centre. They are shocked to find their colleague, Topsy, is now afflicted by dementia and far from the bossy, forthright woman they'd worked with for many years. More worryingly, Tospy seems convinced someone wants to kill her, and her daughter is clearly struggling to cope with her caring duties. Within weeks of their chance meeting, Topsy has been found dead. Surely just a tragic accident involving a confused elderly lady taking the wrong pills - but the friends are not convinced and become drawn into a mystery that highlights the ways in which vulnerable elderly people and their relatives are preyed upon on scammers and fraudsters. But did someone actually go as far as murder?

It's a really intriguing tale with plenty of twists and turns and no obvious solutions - I can't honestly say I knew for sure who the culprit would be, or even if there was a culprit, before it was revealed, which is fairly unusual. The characters are likeable and very ordinary - I think it's the most plausible 'ordinary people as sleuths' story I've ever read. There's a bit of coincidence, but not much. And Hall cleverly peppers his story with the many mundane aspects of their daily lives which keeps things grounded. Hall - a teacher himself - clearly knows the teaching profession inside out and it is in many ways a love letter to the profession. Current and ex teachers will love it - particularly as it's a job that is not always given the respect it deserves.

It's a story that is told with lots of affection and plenty of humour - I often laughed at a description or an aside - but the underlying 'ordinary evil' is not minimised either. The author reveals in an interview at the end of the book that his own father, a dementia sufferer, was the victim of a scam. The anger he feels at people who pray on the elderly in this way, and the terrible damage that it does, is clear.

The audible narrator is a female with a Yorkshire accent - as you'd hope for a book with female protagonists set in Yorkshire. Her voice is just right, comfortable to listen to, a bit wry. She reads with good expression, and clear diction. I found the story easy to follow as an audiobook and didn't get lost or lose attention (sometimes problems I found with audiobooks). That is testament to the good quality of the story and the engaging narration.

Overall I am very impressed by this novel and how it manages to be entertaining, thought provoking, highly compelling, and to tackle difficult subjects that affect everyone. I hope he writes another book - maybe not a sequel (much as I'd love to meet these characters again, ordinary folks getting involved in more than one murder mystery is never very plausible), but a different book. A definite recommendation to everyone who enjoys a crime/mystery novel but also those who have broader tastes.

Three ladies of a certain age, meeting at a garden centre for their usually coffee and cake run into an old friend unexpectedly. Topsy, out with her daughter Kelly-Ann is confused. But just how confused? Confused enough to mix up her tablets causing her death a mere week later? Or is something more foul afoot.

This is a readable and enjoyable mystery. It will be particularly enjoyed by Primary school teachers (of the current or retired variety) as the protagonists frequently recall their experiences in the school they all worked in.

A classic cosy Murder mystery read very well by Julie Hesmondhalgh, although this was ok I felt it was lacking something and at times felt a little disjointed., there was nothing new about the premise but it is a ideal quick read

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for accepting me for this audiobook arc

i really enjoyed this and started to play it at any given moment that I could, it reminded me of The Thursday Murder Club and because i really enjoyed that i felt i was able to get into the rhythm of this book easily. the narrative was easy to follow.

This book was just what I needed to listen to. Set in Yorkshire and narrated perfectly by Julie Hesmondhalgh, it is witty despite being based on an absolutely awful incident involving the authors father. The humour of the main 3 characters brings the story to life as they negotiate their retirement years with a sense of refusal to decline, to be sidelined or to be patronised. The death of a friend who was suffering from dementia alerts the sharp mind of one of our Miss Marple's, when a few too many off-chance remarks about the deceased begin to knaw at her conscience. The entire book is a delight but also a timely warning to those with vulnerable relatives to whom some people will exploit.

This wonderful audio book was recommended by an ex teaching colleague of mine who I meet regularly for lunch along with another retired teacher! There are so many parts of the story that made me smile remembering similar incidents and past colleagues.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, carrying my iPad around so I could continue to listen to the story. So pleased I listened to this murder mystery, without blood and guts but with many mini stories that come together quite subtly.

It’s an easy read/listen. The narration was perfectly matched to the story.

This was such a lovely book to listen to, the story was believable and the narration suited it. Just loved the ending telephone call - can just imagine my mother in law doing that. This was a really pleasant listen and I thoroughly recommend it especially in these times.

I can't wait to see what the author and narrator come up with next.

I was given an advance copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.

I had been looking for a cosy mystery and was super excited with my approved request.
Thank you @netgalley & @harpercollinsuk for the audio Book arc. The book published today!
Happy pub day to @jm_hall_writer

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🅜🅨 🅣🅗🅞🅤🅖🅗🅣🅢:
Pat, Liz and Thelma, three retired school teachers, meet weekly for their coffee sessions at the local garden centre. Things take a turn when their former colleague, Topsy is found dead and they end up getting involved with solving a murder, the mysterious theft of £425K and a shady builder.
The trio, upset with the death, find certain things don't add up, especially after Topsy once mentioned someone wanted her dead and turn into amateur sleuths.

The story has some really good moments and insight into the main character's lives supported by back stories with a chapter dedicated to each. The best part of this book are the mature protagonists, who keep going on with their lives, doing mundane chores like grocery shopping or planning a dinner, all the while solving a murder on the side. Life does go on, even when a murder is involved. I totally want these ladies to be my friends! The overlapping of their everyday lives and routines were intelligently interconnected.

Initially I found it hard to keep up because there were a lot of new characters, names and things introduced but was deeply invested once I wrote them down.

This is a warm, sir by the fire with coffee and binge read book. I would definitely recommend it if you enjoy Agatha Christie and a Windsor Knot!

#aspoonfulofmurder #netgalley #murdermystery

First things first - I loved the cover art! (I hope it gets updated on Goodreads soon). Combined with the title, it immediately got my attention.

In "A Spoonful of Murder" we meet three retired primary school teachers, Liz, Thelma and Pat. They usually meet every Thursday for coffee at their favourite tea garden, catching up and sharing whatever's new and happening in their lives. Then suddenly, an ex-colleague, Topsy passes away - quite unexpectedly. That is when our three friends decide to put their investigating skills to the test. Are they just being nosey or is there something suspicious about Topsy's passing? Was it... murder?

We get to know our three sleuths quite well as we navigate through their personal lives - very likeable and different characters, each bringing their own unique point of view and charm to this story. Of course it will not take long to draw parallel's with Agatha Christie style novels and Richard Osman's "Thursday Murder Club" - and yes "retirement can be murder".

I found the story a little bit slow, but then again, the author does take time to establish each character and their immediate family situation and surroundings, which is also needed. It is a cozy mystery in the true sense of the word, effortless to read, comfortable and to be enjoyed under a duvet with large cups of tea. And a twist you may not see coming?

This is author J.M. Hall's debut, and I hope we hear more about the "Thursday Coffee Club"!

Having listened to the audiobook version, a few notes on that. It is narrated by Julie Hesmondhalgh. Julie did a great job of bring the story together and the various charming characters to life. Her voice suited the entire story so well. Great job Julie!

Thank you to #NetGalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audio book, in exchange for an honest review #ASpoonfulofMurder
Pub Date 17 Mar 2022

A delightful cosy mystery with great narration! Our three amateur sleuths are smart, inquisitive, and determined to solve the mystery of their former colleague Topsy’s death. Though it takes a bit for the story to “warm up”, once you hit the halfway point the pace picks up until the end.

The narrator, Julie Hesmondhalgh, does a wonderful job switching between the three POVs and bringing Liz, Thelma and Pat to life.

As an American living in the UK, who is married to someone from Yorkshire, and enjoys all things Agatha Christie & Midsomer Murders, I am probably the exact reader this book is made for.

3.5/5

A poignant, amusing sad murder mystery. Although the book tells the story of the dilemmas of the elderly - dementia and vulnerability to scams - it is told with a light touch and humour. Friendship also plays an important part. This book would probably not be appreciated by anyone under 50 or even 60. The narrator was very good.

A group of friends who all used to work together at a school meet up for a coffee and cake at their local garden centre for a catch up every week on a Thursday. One day they run into another lady they used to work with and her daughter. It seems the mother has dementia and is no longer the strong lady they used to know. A short while later she dies and everyone assumes that she got her tablets muddled up and took too many tablets and died.

Then doubts surface as money has gone missing, dodgy builders, so did she really die at her own hands or did someone give her a helping hand.

I listened to the audio version of this book, my first audio book and it was a good one to start with as the narrator was excellent.

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EXCERPT: Since they'd all been retired (Pat two years, Thelma and Liz four) it had to be said the weekends had somewhat lost that special quality - that snatched, hallowed glow. Truth be told, the days even held a certain . . . sameness - Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays - a sameness to be fought against with book groups and keep fit classes and stints in the charity shop. Fought against, but not admitted to.

Hence coffee o'clock every Thursday in the café at Thirsk Garden Centre (good parking, well away from tourists).

And if it hadn't been a Thursday . . . if it hadn't been the garden centre cafe . . . they wouldn't have met Topsy and KellyAnne and, crucially, Thelma wouldn't have come across Topsy crying in the toilets, which they all agreed was really the start of things.

ABOUT 'A SPOONFUL OF MURDER': Retirement can be murder…

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…

MY THOUGHTS: A Spoonful of Murder is an entertaining cosy murder mystery starring three very down to earth retired teachers, any one of whom could be your neighbour.

My favourite character was definitely Pat. Self-deprecating, inquisitive and very wise in her own way, Pat is definitely easy to relate to and often had me laughing at her inner thoughts. Thelma and Liz are the ideal sidekicks.

The plot flows at an even pace, with numerous humorous moments. There are a veritable plethora of red herrings and multiple suspects who could be responsible for Topsy's death, but WHY? Why would anyone want to murder a harmless, if slightly befuddled, old lady?

Narrator Julie Hesmondhalgh has a wonderful range of voices and intonation in her repertoire and I would instantly be attracted to anything she narrates.

A Spoonful of Murder, as well as being a delightfully entertaining read, deals with dementia, loan sharks, and cleverly outlines many of the ways the vulnerable elderly can be defrauded of their life savings.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.1

#ASpoonfulofMurder #NetGalley

I: @jm_hall_writer @harpercollinsuk @avonbooksuk

T: @ HarperCollinsUK @AvonBooksUK

#audiobook #contemporaryfiction #cosymystery #murdermystery

THE AUTHOR: J.M. Hall is a 20-something PR executive based in New York City. A Philadelphia native, he began writing fiction during his time at the University of Miami before embarking on a career in corporate communications. During the day, he can be found getting top-tier press for his clients in outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Fortune and USA Today.

At night, he can be found at his computer, crafting his next story.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Avon Books UK, and HarperCollins Audio for providing both a digital and an audio ARC of A Spoonful of Murder by J.M. Hall for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

A Spoonful of Murder by J.M. Hall is available in Kindle and audiobook formats.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

A Spoonful of Murder by J.M. Hall
Narrated by Julie Hesmondhalgh

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Retirement can be murder…

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.

This is set in my local area so it was very easy to follow the locations described in the story. I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book but I thought that it was well-written and humorous. A Spoonful of Murder is an easy book to read and follow and it will easily grab your attention. A delightful and interesting book that I can see being enjoyed by many book clubs.

Rating 4/5

A Spoonful of Murder is a simply delightful cosy mystery where our ameteur sleuths are a group of retired teachers who seem to know everyone living in their close knit community.

Mrs Joy, 'one of their own' suddenly passes away but, their grief is over shadowed by some incongruities that spurs the ladies on to ask some uncomfortable questions.

This book has all the additions you would expect from this particular genre. There were glimpses of the traits shared with other well loved sleuths from Miss Marple to Jessica Fletcher with some Rosemary & Thyme added to the mix.

As the ladies go about their daily business AND attempt to silence the questions in their heads , we are taken on a grand tour of North Yorkshire.

Some serious issues faced by small town residents and the very real dilution of community services faced by so many, is highlighted and artfully weaved into the storyline, making it relatable to readers and their experiences.

All in all a good debut novel from JM Hall.

Gosh, ever read the blurb of a book that sounds like you?
I'm a retired primary teacher who dines with two ex-teacher friends, too!
We three get together regularly, like the heroines in this tale
So I just had to listen to it, I couldn't see how it could fail!

So glad I decided to give this one a trial
There are anecdotes throughout that made me smile!
From rationing of laminating pouches to hoarding glue sticks,
Inset dramas, pupil capers and lots more in the mix.

It is also a cosy murder mystery and as it all unfolds
Leaves clues and hints as events are told.
With issues like dementia and different points of view
This is an intriguing story I enjoyed listening to.

I really enjoyed the narrator, she brought it to life
Sharing all the memories, investigations and strife.
Her accent was appropriate, clear and easy to listen to
Making this an audiobook I highly recommend to you!

For my complementary copy of this audiobook I say thank you
I thoroughly enjoyed listening and this is my honest review.

Much anticipated, this was a brilliant read!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for my feedback.

A spoonful of Murder - By J.M Hall - Narrated by Julie Hesmondhalgh

Brilliant audiobook! I loved Julie’s narration she played the characters and suspense well..And yes, she should narrate the second audiobook in my opinion. ☺️

The Q & A at the end with the author, was great to listen to as well. I liked how Julie said she had to be careful when reading it aloud that she had to try not to give anything away or try to be too dramatic knowing what the outcome was going to be because she had read it previously.

Definitely would read the next one. 👍🏻

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook and thought the narrator was excellent. I loved the plot of the book and did not want to put it down - the characters were so well written and although this is the first book I have listened to by this author it won't be the last.

A great book for a snuggle by the fire and a cosy afternoon. Loved the settings and characters and the plot kept me thoroughly entertained. Good narrator, but I do reckon audiobooks aren't my thing, and will be reading this in print when published - can't wait!