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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. I loved the gradual uncovering of a part of Thelma’s past and think all the characters have huge potential for future stories.
But they know there’s more to Topsy’s death than meets the eye – and it’s down to them to prove it…
Featured Reviews
Fabulous, cosy, mystery… Wonderful… Absolutely perfect for fans of Richard Osman!’ NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Overall, A Spoonful of Murder by JM Hall, is a cozy crime mystery about three people embracing their messes and finding justice for an ex-colleague’s unclear cause of death. It's always great for me to begin a new cosy mystery series If you are looking for a crime adventure without those dark disturbing violence, this could be a good read for you. One of the most interesting things about this new instalment is the shift in scenario – even though Hazel has always been the only narrative voice of the series so far, she has always done so from an outsider’s perspective. This whole book takes place in Hong Kong, where Hazel is from and this shift is felt in her voice, in the way she expresses herself, in her growing self-confidence. Similarly, it was awesome to see Daisy – the Honourable English lady – be completely out of her element, unable to speak the local language, left out of most conversations. It effectively changed the dynamics between them and in the end of this entry, that dynamic shift seems to have arrived to stay for good, fitting with Hazel’s ongoing arc. None of this negates the close friendship between the two girls, something that only becomes stronger and stronger with each book.
Carries the Murder Most Unladylike mysteries into new heights . . . meticulously plotted and consistently delightful, and I can't recommend it enough' New StatesmanWhat I liked most was the juxtaposition of the absolute mundane routines of these ladies lives such as watching garden rescue, planning for the families dinner, making lists for a shopping trip with the extraordinary - trying to solve the murder.. life goes on even when murder is involved Daisy and Hazel think baby Teddy is enough to deal with, but as always the girls are never far from a mystery. Recently there has been an upsurge in cosy mysteries featuring more mature amateur detectives, a modern take on Miss Marple. Certainly as an older reader, I appreciate this trend. In between seeking answers we learn more about the friends’ lives. Set in the charming village of Thirsk, Yorkshire , when three retired primary school teachers, (Thelma, Pat and Liz), are faced with the suspicious death of a friend, Topsy, they reluctantly take up the task of uncovering the “ordinary evil” lurking beneath the unassuming facade of their quiet and comfortable neighborhood.
Poignant and relatable, I want these ladies as my friends!… I enjoyed it very much… Recommend’ NetGalley review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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.A Spoonful of Murder is another great entry in the ongoing Wong and Wells series. There is going to be another one later in the year and I am already looking forward to it. 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? I really enjoyed this fun read, and I felt the pacing of the plot was okay for the length of the book and the amount of detail we’re given while reading. I was hooked right up until the end and I had many guesses as to who was responsible for Topsy’s death, and what was going on.
Without a hint of condescension, J.M. Hall imbues his senior citizen characters with warmth, humour and humanity. Certainly Liz, Thelma and Pat have their foibles and flaws, but there’s no writing off people just because they might be retired. Their collective experience of previously working in a school is pitch perfect, so that all three women are warm, quirky and just like anyone you might know in real life. This makes them so endearing and believable. A terrible thing has happened, a thing that the Detective Society must investigate. But this time I am not just a detective, I'm a witness. And I think that I might even be a suspect...” Three Miss Marples for the price of one... The plot is carefully assembled, rather like a patchwork quilt, with each element placed just so’ NetGalley review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ It's always great for me to begin a new cosy mystery series, and this is especially true when the setting is relatively local. The characters were well done and the ending was satisfying. The plot flowed at an even pace, and there were numerous moments of hilarity. Red herrings were plentiful and there was a multitude of suspects who might have been responsible for Topsy's death. Well worth a look if you're partial to cosy mysteries.Oh how brilliant was this book?! I must have read it in about two servings as I just couldn't put it down... Had great comical moments throughout. A really good murder mystery book’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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