One of the many novels written in the same style as The Thursday Murder Club. It was a good story and I enjoyed getting to know the characters. I would read another by this author.

Retired schoolteachers Liz, Pat and Thelma are great friends and I was looking forward to catching up with them in A Pen Dipped in Poison. This mystery finds them, trying to find out who is sending poison pen letters to their friends and neighbours. Along the way, secrets are revealed.

I really enjoyed A Spoonful of Murder, the first book in this series, but found myself somewhat disappointed in this one. The friendship between the women that I loved seems to be showing some cracks and they are drifting apart. Their family lives took up a lot of this book and it tended to drag for me. I also missed the humour that was present in the first book. Even the mystery didn't really pull me in. The main reason that I finished this one was the narrator, Julie Hesmondhalgh. She does a wonderful job with the voices and her expression was right on. I am hoping the next book in this series, if there is one, will go back to all the things that I loved about the first book.

Its a cozy mystery. The second in a series. Centering on three retired school teachers. This mystery is about a collection of poision pen letters and it effects on the school.
I love the narrator the fact that she is a known actresses shines through. I felt the characters come alive with the narration. Having not read the 1st story i can only comment on this. I would have liked to have a little more backstory and duscussion of the main characters to make more of a story maybe you need to read the first but i thought i was missing bits of characters. The poison pen letter plot was ok but i gueesed the truth too quickly and i felt it didnt gell in places. It was quick paced and us a nice cost mystery it juat lack sonething for me. It made me want yo read the first one.

Thrre were so good twists and turns and elaborate subplots running inyo tgd main story. A good 4 star mystery worth a go maybe ill come back after teafing the 1st. Thank you net gallery gor my arc

A Pen Dipped in Poison by J.M. Hall and Narrated by Julie Hesmondhalgh this is the second book in the Liz, Pat and Thelma series it was a lovely modern cosy crime book especially as I have not read the first book I found it easy to get into this one. This book had me guessing throughout which made it a good read. All the characters were excellent.

I would highly recommend this book and will go back and read the first one in the future.

Big Thank you to the author J.M Hall, HarperCollins UK Audio, Avon and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The narration
With audiobooks the choice of narrator is vitally important, poor narration can kill the experience even if the book itself is wonderful. In this case Julie Hesmondhalgh is the perfect choice, even though she hails from the wrong side of the Pennines. She brings a lovely upbeat feel to the experience, but also her vast experience in working in TV soap opera is an advantage as she brings a natural feel to the gossipy dialogue.

My thoughts
The dynamic, highly efficient and seemingly Teflon-coated new headmistress is making an impact and upsetting people. Then the discovery of a poison pen letter at a school summer fair was something of a surprise, but hopefully an isolated incident.

The start of the autumn term, the new school year was to clearly demonstrate that it wasn’t as they start appearing with increasing regularity. The letters are being sent across the school, teachers and administrators; nobody is immune. The content is more vexatious than vicious but clearly unpleasant for the recipient, but they are also souring the atmosphere as people become suspicious and defensive. Not ladies to just stand by our three heroines decide to dig deeper.

There are two aspects to the storyline. There is the search for the writer of the poison pen letters, but this search also raises questions about modern teaching and academy schools.

The search for the author of the letters is a long one as various people come under suspicion and are then eliminated. When the writer is revealed, the reasoning does make sense, the crime is more opportune than malicious intent, but even so people still find it hurtful. At its core is a sad story, an error of judgement and the impetuousness of youth, the sort of thing that shouldn’t happen but still does.

The phenomenon of the group of academy schools is put under the spotlight within the search. Ostensibly a good idea, aimed at giving schools more control over their finances and an opportunity to encourage the benevolence of backers, they can be open to misuse. The leaders like their grandiose titles and playing at being big businessmen, flash offices and fancy gadgets, which bring few benefits to teaching. There is also the opportunity for nepotism and petty corruption when handing our contacts if controls are weak. An eco-boiler that runs almost 24/7 even during warmer months? That should ring alarm bells.

The author has a long career in education so is well placed to capture school life, the organisation, and the interactions between staff members. The dynamic of a staff room is always fascinating for an outsider and here we do get a glimpse behind the curtain including some of the passive aggressiveness over coffee.

It is a profession that successive governments constantly meddle with, there are fewer things more important than children’s education, but change is always there. Some of it is necessary and good, others to be kicked back against, here the frustration is almost palpable. There is a limit to the change one can accommodate in a working lifetime and the sense is our heroines have retired at that point. Not that they have given up on life, quite the contrary, the message here is retirement brings new beginnings, a new life to be embraced whilst you are still healthy and active. Just don’t all become amateur detectives.

The story moves along at its own natural, steady pace, perfectly fitting for its content; this is no fast-paced thriller so no running down the corridors readers. Its genteel, after all it is primary school in a nice town, not the combat zone of the sink estate comprehensive. The dialogue is excellent with plenty of down to earth Yorkshire expressions and common-sense advice. I suppose the question readers will ponder is whether Liz, Pat and Thelma are just gossipy busybodies with too much time on their hands or concerned citizens. Thinking back many, many years to my primary school days they do have an authenticity about them, caring women who would do anything in the interest of their school and its pupils, even a bit of snooping. There is a warmth about them and their friendship that gives it the feel-good factor.

A Pen Dipped in Poison is a cosy crime story that will make you feel nostalgic for your primary school days.

This is a gentle read, despite being a mystery. Liz, Pat and Thelma are retired teachers who, in Miss Marple style, find themselves with mystery crimes to solve. I listened to the audio version whilst working in the garden and found that despite the good narration, I mixed up which lady was which. If I had been reading the book I could have referred back but not in this format. Overall a fun way to pass the time but not a book I will remember for long.

Thank you for my ALC of this book!
This was an easy and entertaining listen and one I would recommend for fans of cosy crime. Would be a good holiday read

Sadly, I really struggled to get into this story. It was too twee for me and I didn't warm enough to any of the characters to keep me interested.

Thankyou to Harpercollins Avon for such a brilliant audio book .

I loved the narrator Julie I thought she did a fantastic job of giving each character there own personality .
I thought she was great at adding the Mystery to the story . She definitely kept me on my toes .

I would highly remember this audio to everyone who loves a cosy Mystery. I give it 5 stars

The narrator Julie Hesmondhalgh really took you back to your school days. She really gets across the atmosphere of the teaching environment and nails the voices of the teachers.
Retired schoolteachers Thelma, Pat and Liz are drawn into the mystery of who, what, where when and why of poison pen letters been sent at their old school.
This story was a bit slow paced and goes into plenty of detail of local school academies entwined with local communities' volunteers. The narration makes you want to revisit these characters in the future.
Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

A bit too Miss Marple for me I am more of a psychological thriller to be honest
That said it had a good few twists and turns before the "who dunnit" was revealed

I was given the audio copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review .

Liz , Pat and Thelma are back again! With a new mystery to slove. Poision pen letters have arrived to trouble their community and dear school St Barnabus .

Can they figure out who is behind them and put a stop to them before it turns truly deadly ?

This read is the second adventure of this wonderful group of sleuths. Fans of Agatha Christie and even Midsomer Murders will adore this amazingly wonderful serries. Its a perfect mix of myster and slice of life.

I adored it from start to finish!

Not sure if this was what I had in mind when I read the blurb, but it was a good "cosy mystery" nonetheless.
In my opinion, it took too long to get the action going and with maybe too many characters to keep track of.
Thanks to NetGalley, the editor and the author for the opportunity to access this ARC.

I really struggled with this audiobook. I wasn’t comfortable with the choice of narrator and I felt it took too long to get going.

This is the second in the series but stands alone (I haven’t read the first!)
A series of anonymous letters are being sent to members of the school community, revealing secrets that could affect careers and relationships. Liz, Pat, and Thelma are retired teachers who love to solve a mystery! Can they work together to uncover the identity of the person sending these poison pen letters before things go too far?

The author’s background as a Primary School teacher gives an authenticity to the storyline & it is believable that the 3 retired teachers would look to solve a mystery like this!

From the description I was expecting murder rather than just “poison pen mystery” but nevertheless I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys a cozy mystery.
Julie Hesmondhalgh is a fabulous narrator, bringing a unique quality to the story & an accent that is perfect. I really enjoyed the bonus interview at the end!

Narrated by Julie Hesmondhalgh⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Story by J.M. Hall ⭐⭐⭐

This was an ok cosy mystery with so many characters that is became overwhelming at times trying to keep track.

Personally for me I like it but did not love it due to the fact that it was unnecessarily long and became representative.

Reminded me slightly of the Thursday Murder Club, even more so with the cover. Narrator marched the story well. Plot left me guessing but not impatiently, provided enough detail to keep me listening each night. A canny holiday listen, will reccomend to friends.

Being a teacher myself I found this book riveting. It was so true to life, the details and information about school life was bang on! The stresses of the work forces seamlessly interwoven into this mystery novel. I was kindly gifted a pre publication copy of this book as an audiobook by NetGalley and the books publishers. The audio version was brought to life by an outstanding narrator (Hayley Cropper to me). I just loved every second of this story, a really easy read/ listen. Thank you!

One of these stars is for Julie Hesmondhalgh‘s narration. To get through this without nodding off was a feat in its self. Rather enjoyed the first outing with these ladies, but this story was just extremely tedious. Didn’t really care what happened to whoever. Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Audio..

This was my first entry into the world of retired school, teachers, Liz, Pat and Thelma, and although I hadn’t read the first case I didn’t feel that I was left behind ( I’ll be catching up with that one as soon as possible). The audiobook was just a joy and the narrator Julia Hesmondhelgh deserves a great deal of praise for her ability to make you feel included in the story. The dialogue and relationships within this book are wonderful and by the end I felt I was leaving friends. A cosy mystery that I will certainly be recommending. Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK Audio, Avon for allowing me to listen to the ARC of this novel.