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!

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.

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 found myself getting distracted and not fully following the story line at times, I wasn't excited to carry on with the book. I have not ready any of the previous books in the series so wasn't entirely sure what I was getting into. I think the book was a little slow paced for me, I enjoyed the ending when the pieces come together. I think the narrator did a good job overall. Thanks to Netgalley

Set in Yorkshire in present day, almost Victoria Wood in style. Some funny lines and could imagine a comedy sketch. The characters were very real and likeable with interweaving plots around main storyline. A nice little read and well narrated. Thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook to review.

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.

*3 Stars!!

This is a murder mystery book following three retired school teachers. Every week Liz, Thelma and Pat meet up at their local cafe to have a catch up when one Thursday they run into a favoured colleague of there's Topsy who sadly has started showing signs of having dementia. Topsy tearfully mentions overhearing a conversation about someone saying it would be better off for everyone if she Topsy was dead. Concerned for her welfare the ladies decide to pay Topsy a visit and soon after Topsy is found dead with the police unsure of if it was murder or not, the ladies believe that topsy might have been murdered and decide to start asking some questions of their own and soon come to realise that there are more than a few people who could have wanted Topsy dead.

I really struggled getting into the story at first I thought it was because Topsy had dementia and it was bringing back some personal painful memories for me so I did consider putting it down but then decided I needed to face my fears so I tried to push past that which I believe I did quite well. However it was extremely slow paced and kind of boring to be honest the best part of the whole book was the ending when it was put together about who murdered Topsy and why. I did end up putting the book down constantly and coming back to it and there was only will power that kept me going back to read the book. Eventually I listened to some of it an an audiobook which I found to be a more enjoyable experience.

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for my honest review.*

Sadly, this didn't really do anything for me...

There is nothing wrong with the audiobook version - I liked the narrator.
But I just couldn't get into the story... The characters didn't get under my skin - Just now writing this, not more than 30 minutes after finishing the book, I can barely remember their names which is generally not a good sign.

I am sorry and I really hope other readers have a better experience with this book.
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***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 didn't particularly enjoy this book. It failed to hold my attention and I often became quite bored. I listened to it on audible so I could go about other things whilst listening but I admit it was sometimes a chore to carry on with it. I think if I was reading it as a book I would have abandoned it part way through. I think it may have benefited from some humour or some quirky characters to make it a bit more interesting as I found the characters quite dull.

A Spoonful of Murder is a classic cosy Murder Mystery. To be honest, it was a little too cosy and contrived for my liking. There’s a lot of characters and subplots to keep up with as well as obvious red herrings; the culprit is pretty obvious from the start. I listened to the audio version and the narration by Julie Hesmondhalgh was excellent. Not sure if I would’ve finished it if I were actually reading the book.

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!

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.