Cleverly written and fun at times,
I liked that it wasn’t the usual and liked th characterisation and that for once it was in a different area of the uk.

One can only guess that this writer has a clear link to both areas in Jamaica and England, because she describes them so well. The Pardner money schemes have run across the West Indies for decades with varying success and it is the money aspect that causes issues in this story, leading to murder. The other part of this story is how Miss Hortence and her friends adapt to life 4,000 miles away from home with a very different culture and certainly, different weather. The characters are excellent, exactly right for both countries but I did wonder if there were too many to keep up with. The use of the individual’s local dialect keeps this story flowing and feels real throughout this book. I did find the book a little long, but it does get there in the end and you’ll be pleased you stayed with it.

This is definitely a murder mystery with a difference. Miss Hortense is the Windrush version of Miss Marple and is every bit as intuitive and inciteful about her community as my favourite Christie detective. During the course of the story, the retired nurse manages to solve not only a new set of murders but some troublesome historic ones too. I found the incite into this Afro-Caribbean community to be really interesting and quickly managed to adapt to the style of reported speech, indeed I now have a few new words in my vocabulary! I did find some of the story and the many characters to be somewhat confusing at times. Overall however, it was compelling enough to keep me going until the end, where a very nice denouement with another nod to Christie awaited. I will definitely be looking out for the next instalment, where I feel the characters will have bedded in a bit and have become more familiar.

The story of Miss Hortense begins in the early 1960s Caribbean community of Birmingham. Faced with discrimination and prejudice in wider society a credit union is set up by trusted members of the community. As a nurse Miss Hortense is one of the leaders. In later years where the murder mystery is set, Miss Hortense is no longer part of the scheme but still has deep connections with the now much larger Caribbean community. This helps her with her Marplesque investigations into the murders. Whilst belonging to the cosy crime genre, this is a story of community, connection and belonging overlaid with the secrets and lies that help often marginalised people in daily life. Recommended.

Clever and suspenseful. Great to have a murder mystery that's not in the white middle class London demographic- I loved the characterisation of Miss Hortense and her Birmingham lifestyle.

A clever mystery introducing the indomitable Miss Hortense, the retired nurse and formidable sleuth, who finds herself at the heart of a murder investigation or two whilst scrutinising the workings of the Pardner scheme she once ran for her Jamaican émigré friends. Ably assisted (or rather unassisted) by Blossom we meet a new detective duo, hopefully not for the first and last time. Very enjoyable read.
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own unbiased opinion.

Miss Hortense is a fabulous character and this is a clever, complexly plotted story. It’s one you may need to reread to see the clues laid along the way. I was uncertain of the dialogue to start but very quickly picked up the rhythm. The story starts with a group of friends playing dominoes and bemoaning the system that shuts them out. They decide to set up a ‘pardner’ or private credit union and Miss Hortense is asked to head it. Then there is a death and people who shouldn’t be where they were or are where they shouldn’t be, and we’re on a train ride to a brilliant and satisfying ending.

The banter between the characters, the warmth, the setting are all beautifully handled by Ms Pennant and there may be more in the series.

There might be similarities to Miss Marple etc, Miss Hortense is a clever woman respected by her friends and respectful of ‘the system’ but also aware that sometimes you need to take responsibility in your community.

This was an enjoyable, complicated, satisfying read and I look forward to the next one.

I was given a copy of the book by NetGalley.

A hugely enjoyable read. Meet Miss Hortense and her friends living in the Birmingham suburb of Biggleweigh. It's a story with twists, infused with Jamaican humour, a little bit of dialect and believable characters and even a recipe or two.

It ends with a classic "who dunnit" end with all the characters assembled in a locked room with Miss Hortense revealing the guilty.

Very hopeful that this is the first story in a series!

My wife read this book so this is her review.

Mel Pennant’s "A Murder for Miss Hortense" is a blend of mystery, suspense, and well-crafted characters. This engrossing novel delivers a gripping tale set in Biggleswade, Birmingham where long held dark secrets and a relentless pursuit of truth unravel in captivating fashion.

The story revolves around Miss Hortense, a retired nurse who is not the most popular person in her community. Due to an event that happened several years ago, she has been ostracised by most of her friends and close knit community. But when a member of the Pardner group is found dead in their home Miss Hortense suspects foul play and trickery afoot.

Miss Hortense is a delightful protagonist, whose sharp mind and unwavering sense of justice make her a formidable character. The author has created a collage of well-rounded and believable characters, each with their own unique quirks and backstories. The interactions between them are rich with tension and subtle nuances, adding depth and humour to the narrative. Stand out characters included Blossom and Gregory.

The novel's setting and atmosphere are beautifully rendered, adding an extra layer of charm to the story. And the use of Jamaican dialect is genius which only adds to the setting.

At times, the large cast of characters can be somewhat overwhelming, making it difficult to keep track of everyone’s motives and relationships. But that in no way detracted from this clever and unique book.

"A Murder for Miss Hortense" is a thoroughly enjoyable read that will appeal to fans of Agatha Christie and cozy mysteries alike.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

A redoubtable lady amateur detective strikes out for justice. I found this book hard to get into due to the patois but Miss Hortense, who is a nurse and from Jamaica originally, is quite fun as she tries to solve the murder of a neighbour, despite the fact that she is not much liked by many of her neighbours. Some of the characters are rather sketchy and the story meanders along a bit too slowly, but I hope we hear more about Miss Hortense.

Mis Hortense is an interesting character. This is very much a police procedural thriller as you ae taken through a myriad of suspects. Most of whom the Mis Hortense interrogates as suspects and then dismisses.

I really enjoyed the first three quarters of this and then was rather bogged down at the end with a host of small time players in the book.

Miss Hortense is an interesting character, I did not find the west Indian dialect at all jarring and liked the way food and recipes helped move the plot along.

What helped to distinguish it was the setting of an Afro-Caribbean community and the challenges they had faced over the years. The setting up of the pardner and the importance of the church and community.

I am glad I read it. I hope there is a second novel and that it is a little more streamlined in terms of the number of characters.

Distinctive, different and definitely worth reading

I loved the character of Miss Hortense, but found some of the minor, mainly male, characters interchangeable. As I was reading,I could imagine it as a tv series. Loved all the cultural aspects and recipes which all added to the heart of the book.

The first book in a new series is always special if it is a good book. Miss Hortense, a retired nurse, is like Miss Marple times ten. And I do love Miss Marple. This is a fun book and one I thoroughly enjoyed. From the setting to the characters to the actual storyline, this book had it all and it took me no time at all to read. It had a great murder mystery too which is what it is all about. Had me guessing and kept me turning the pages. I do like that in a book.

Well written and a series I will continue to read. Looking forward to what comes next.

Thank you NetGalley and John Murray Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I enjoyed this murder mystery, and hurried to reach the end. The main characters are well drawn, albeit some of them are slightly stereotypical, and the mysteries are very intriguing. Although for me there were too many minor characters, and too much intermittent backstory to make this very easy reading, I am looking forward to Miss Hortense’s next investigation which the ending of this one suggests is about to begin.

This was a wonderful entertaining read for me.I really enjoyed getting to know Miss Hortense the Jamaican Miss Marple..Im looking forward to more in this series.#NetGalley #amurderformisshortense.

What a great book. You would not want to cross Miss Hortense, she is determined, feisty and also very kind. The book is set in the Afro-Caibbean community in Birmingham and you can feel yourself there with the narrative. Things are not right in her community and she is determined to find out what is going on. She has a close circle of friends, Blossom being the one she has most to do with. Blossom, however, is a gossip and hypochondriac which drive Miss Hortense crazy and she lets Blossom know. I found the Caribbean speke hard to get to grips with initially but got there in the end and the book needed this to make it even more authentic. Miss Hortense lost her sister many years ago and has a nephew which she “looks” after. He is a policeman and gets very frustrated with his aunt once she starts meddling in things and drags him into the issue. This is a great murder mystery book spanning years and several deaths – are they connected, Miss Hortense is determined to find out as they are people from her past and present. All the characters fit into the story really well and it all starts with a game of dominoes! I read this very quickly for me and I changed my mind many times about who was the culprit(s). A twist and turn book

Thank you, John Murray press, for a copy of A Murder for Miss Hortense by Mel Pennant.
Set in the quite suburb of Biggleswade in Birmingham in the 1960’s, their lies an Afro Caribbean community. Miss Hortense is a retired Jamaican nurse. Who was once a member or a ‘Pardner’ network who was a group of Black investors that helped build the town. But an incident happened, and Miss Hortense was sent away in disgrace even though she was the leader of the network that helped the local community. In one of the members homes a body is found st the foot of the stairs, with a note with a bible reference on it. She takes it on herself and uses her skills to find out who the killer is. But, by doing so, it brings back memories that have long been forgotten.
This is a delightful read for any cozy crime series fans. Miss Hortense is a feisty character and not afraid to express herself. There is a lot of characters in this past/present storyline, and I personally thought that it was a bit overwhelming at times. Also, although I am not new to hearing Jamican slang, on some occasions I found it a little hard to understand. 3.5 stars from me.

A fun and exciting mystery, but the pacing was a bit slow for me!
Would love to read more books by the author.

A Pardner is set up by a group of Jamaicans, recently arrived in England, who find themselves 'overlooked' by unfriendly British banks. Over the years they have benefitted from this financial support; buying homes, developing businesses and investing in their community, until now. The death of the Pardner Lady- local Counsellor Constance Brown, alerts the group to missing funds and they start to question recent events and their investments. The previous Pardner Lady, Hortense, known for her savvy investment deductions, is on the case to uncover the uncomfortable truth.
Hortense is a likeable, but difficult character. Her investigation techniques are blunt, she seems to wander about accusing anybody of anything untoward, in the hope that something will get a reaction. She is respected by some, but not really liked by the Pardner members, who removed her as the purse-holder (Lady) some 30 years previously, causing her to leave the Pardner entirely. There are so many things to uncover; with family secrets, dodgy dealings, murders and accidental deaths and even Hortense herself is hiding something. This made it a complex but rewarding read.

Miss Hortense is a charming and refreshing addition to the world of amateur sleuths, blending a sharp-witted, endearing lead with an engaging mystery set in a quiet Birmingham suburb. In A Murder for Miss Hortense, we meet the retired nurse, avid gardener, renowned cake maker, and fearless investigator, Miss Hortense, who has called Bigglesweigh home since emigrating from Jamaica in 1960. With her keen attention to detail—whether it’s the precise shade of turmeric or the crispness of her lace curtains—Miss Hortense’s observant nature and wealth of nursing experience make her a formidable force when it comes to uncovering secrets and solving mysteries.

When an unidentified man is found dead in one of the Pardner network's homes, a close-knit community of Black investors determined to support each other’s success, Miss Hortense is drawn into a case that stirs up long-buried memories. A cryptic Bible quote left by the body seems to hold the key, and as Miss Hortense investigates, the past she has tried to forget resurfaces, challenging both her present and the relationships within her community.

Miss Hortense, who has lived through a lifetime of experiences, has a unique approach to sleuthing—no one is beyond her suspicion, and her fearlessness allows her to navigate difficult situations with both tact and determination. Pennant beautifully captures her character: she’s fiercely intelligent, with a heart that cares deeply for those around her. Her investigation into the tragic death is as much about solving the crime as it is about reconciling with her past and confronting long-hidden secrets.

The book strikes a perfect balance between intrigue and moments of warmth, with Miss Hortense’s actions revealing the importance of support networks and the complexities of overcoming personal history. The cultural backdrop, particularly the world of the Pardner network, adds depth to the story, making it not just a whodunit but a thoughtful exploration of identity, legacy, and the power of communal bonds.

Pennant’s writing is engaging and accessible, drawing on elements of classic detective fiction, invoking the likes of Miss Marple and Poirot. There’s an intriguing blend of nostalgia, social commentary, and suspense that keeps the reader hooked. Miss Hortense’s sharp mind and strong moral compass, alongside her no-nonsense attitude, make her a character you’ll want to see more of.

The ending of the book hints at more to come from Miss Hortense, and readers will undoubtedly be eager for the next case she takes on. With a dynamic, relatable lead and an engaging plot, A Murder for Miss Hortense is a fantastic start to what promises to be a captivating series. For fans of cosy mysteries with a touch of heart and depth, this book is a real gem.

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