Based on its premise, I really wanted to love this book. It gave off “cosy murder mystery” vibes and this is exactly what it tries to be. Unfortunately, the writing fell absolutely flat for me.

The main problem is that there is neither plot-twist or a surprise regarding the mystery nor are the main characters interesting or fleshed out. Other reviewers mentioned they started confusing the three ladies that act as protagonists and unofficial investigators and the very same happened to me. Each of them seems to have one defining character trait but that’s about it.

The conversations in the book are extremely repetitive. There are some instances in which the three female protagonists discuss an event or a theory amongst themselves and then a few pages later one of them recounts a very similar sentiment individually to one of the other characters! The plot consists of different “sub-mysteries”, which are fairly predictable in themselves. The conversations therefore often feel pointless and reading the book read a bit like chewing gum… long and slow, with a hint of the flavour that could have been.

The book tries to tackle some interesting issues. One subplot concerns cyberbullying, this is as precise as I can be without spoilering. The parents of the person being bullied eventually finds out about it, but the reasons for the bullying or the bully themselves are never really addressed. It is dealt with very awkwardly. Another subplot that is shoehorned in a very odd fashion towards the end is a miscarriage and resulting childlessness of one character. Again, the topic is not really given any time to develop, it’s just randomly mentioned as part of a flashback that feels out of place. I did like that the book addresses the vulnerability of the elderly and this is perhaps the only issue that is treated with the respect it deserves.

All in all, I really struggled to finish this book but as I had received a review copy, I felt obliged to do so. If I had acquired the book for myself, this would most likely have been my only “did not finish” of the year. I’m giving it two stars as one star is the minimum possible review score and it’s not like the book was offensive or problematic. It was just incredibly predictable and repetitive.

I’ve actually treated my mum to a copy of this one for Christmas – shhh! Don’t tell her! – as the main characters are ex-teachers and as an ex-teacher herself I know she’ll get a kick out of how well J. M. Hall has captured the profession!

That was actually one of my favourite aspects of the book – how their teaching experiences coloured their perspectives and behaviours, giving them people- and practical skills, and a different approach to the psychology of people’s actions (a bit like Miss Marple, with her village-life perspective).

Quite a lot of the plot features the various scams which are used to prey on the elderly – catalogues, phone cons, dodgy door-stepping builders etc – which may be distressing to some, but which I also thought was very useful information to keep in mind for anyone who has elderly or vulnerable loved ones.

Overall this is an excellent quality cosy mystery. It is touching and funny throughout, with engaging and complex characters and a well-constructed and nicely-paced plot. An all-round great read for fans of the genre!

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

A Spoonful Of Murder is an engaging amateur sleuth mystery and series debut by J.M. Hall. Released 17the March 2022 by Harper Collins on their Avon, UK imprint, it's 331 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. 

For fans of quirky fair play mysteries with non-traditional amateur sleuths, there's a lot to like here. The main characters are a trio of retired primary school teachers who are drawn into sleuthing when a former colleague dies under murky circumstances. The pacing is careful, and a bit slow, but does pick up toward the middle/later parts of the book. The background and interrelationships are built up gradually; I suspect the following book(s) in the series won't be as leisurely. 

One thing I found distracting, although I'm a huge sinner myself in my personal writing is that the author is -very- fond of parenthetical commentary throughout the book. Third person omniscient point of view provides temptations aplenty for side comments and the author hasn't resisted any of them (said Nonstop Reader in the privacy of her own mind). Readers who are irritated by small asides in third person PoV will likely be dragged out of their suspension of disbelief every page (not an exaggeration, she said with an earnest look). 

That's the only complaint I had with the book. The plotline is diverting and well constructed, the protagonists are competent and well-meaning, and the denouement and resolution are satisfying and well written. 

Four stars. This would be a good choice for fans of Osman's excellent Thursday Murder club books, as well as Laurien Berenson's new Peg & Rose series. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Thank you to @avonbooksuk for the advanced copy of this title. I’m really enjoying this genre of stories currently that centre around older people, being nosy and solving crimes - it’s so entertaining to me! This story centres around 3 friends, coming together following the death of a former colleague - and something doesn’t seem right to them! They take it upon themselves to investigate and get justice for their friend. This book really highlights to vulnerability that elderly people have, especially when there are people out there trying to take advantage of their sometimes lonely situation. This was written with a lot of wit, compassion and humour which made it very easy reading.

A spoonful of murder gave me similar vibes to Richard Osman's Thursday murder club and it is a very good debut novel. I liked all three of the main characters even though they were a bit too nosy and it was a fast paced book that gave information at the right times to keep you guessing what could have happened to Topsy. It also deals well with the heavy topic of dementia and how it affects family's lives. This is a perfect cozy mystery to sit down with and you will instantly feel drawn in and won't be able to put it down!

The 'charming' read of gloomy characters, judging each other and getting older, traces a rather gloomy mystery too .. set of elderly friends who gather regularly and steadily judge and coach other etc. Its gloom put me off I guess .. competent and strong narrative voice .. sure. Maybe too close to home!

Every Thursday three retired school teachers, Liz, Pat and Thelma, meet for coffee and a little chat. The book starts with them at one of these meetings when they encounter an ex-colleague, Topsy, and her daughter. It is quite obvious that Topsy is suffering from a mental illness. But what is more disturbing is that later that day Thelma found Topsy crying in the bathroom saying someone wants her dead. By next week Topsy is indeed dead. The police think she was just confused and took too many pills but our heroines are not so easily convinced and they set out to find out what really happened.
I enjoyed this. It reminded me in some places of my favorite Poirot. He wasn't big on finding clues and footprints, he just listened very carefully to what people had to say, and that's the case here too. Liz, Pat and Thelma used to be school teachers, in their years of working they encountered all types of people, heard all kinds of lies and truths. They have that old people's wisdom, if you will. So they don't exactly go around trying to find evidence, they just observe, talk and listen. It might not work for some people but I quite like mysteries like these.
The one thing I didn't like was the writing, maybe? I don't know, of it was the writing or the pacing, but for it not being a long book it read like one, took me a few days to read.
Also, did I mention it is very funny in some places?)
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book - read it in the midst of winter and this was the ABSOLUTE PERFECT COZY LITTLE MYSTERY….like after reading this I genuinely want the mug on the cover 😭😭

Allow me to start off by saying I need the mug on this book cover!

Now let me continue by saying I enjoyed this read as much as the mug on the cover! A legitimate mystery great for fans of "The Thursday Murder Club".

Friends and former colleague meet weekly for "coffee o'clock" sessions, when they run in to another former co-worker, Topsy. Previously structured and strict, they are saddened to see how aging is taking it's toll on Topsy's once sharp mind.

When Topsy is found dead the next week, the ladies feel something suspicious has gone on. And thus begins this mystery. Murder, fraud and deception surround Topsy's last weeks, and one by one is all gets uncovered.

I enjoyed the layers to this story, having several missing pieces that one by one get filled. Surprisingly, the ladies, despite no investigative experience, seemed both capable and relatable. They never appeared in over their heads, but rather as though they were acting as the voice for their passed friend.

An enjoyable read that will keep you guessing!

This cozy mystery was a cute story of three retired women investigating the true cause of their friend’s death. The characters seemed true to life, and I enjoyed how they truly cared about their former friend/coworker.

I found this book to be an ok storyline. At times it felt very dragged out in parts and it didn't keep me as gripped as I thought.
It was an ok book but I wouldn't want to purchase it for a friend or family member.
The front cover design is lovely though!
Thank you to J.M Hall, NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A really enjoyable read, comparable to the Thursday Murder Club, which I am a massive fan of.
I felt that some parts of this story were a bit longer than necessary and padded out, but it did also touch on some important topics regarding the vulnerabilities of the elderly.

A solid 2.5/3 star book! Incredibly predictable but I enjoyed my time with it. The ending was very predictable but it was wrapped up nicely & was a cute story following an age demographic not always represented in books!! The POVs were confusing at points and, like I said, overall very predictable! It took me a long time to figure out who was who so I never felt that I connected to any of the characters which makes a book difficult to enjoy.
Thank you so much to the author, publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book early!

I enjoyed this cosy murder mystery. If you like this genre of book you will enjoy the characters you wet in this book.

This books started really slow. It was difficult for me to get into the story, however, once you give it the chance, you find yourself reading a cozy book

This book was a great read and I was heavily invested in the main characters. I definitely recommend and want more from this author!

Absolutely loved this one. It fit the "cozy mystery" to a tea. However, I was surprised how many social problems came up in this novel, but talked about it politely. It was a fast read as well which I enjoyed.

A Spoonful of Murder by J.M. Hall is a book that you'd like if you enjoyed the Thursday Murder Club books by Richard Osman, or other mysteries where retired people use their wits and knowledge to solve murders.

3 retired schoolteachers meet every Thursday for coffee, and one day they see an old colleague who has gone downhill, and mentions something disturbing to one of them in the toilets.  Shortly after that, she's found dead, and without meaning to, they start investigating.

Enjoyable cosy crime set in Yorkshire with characters that you believe.  There are a couple of threads of storyline, that all worked out in the end!

A Spoonful of Murder was published on 17th March 2022, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

I'm afraid I couldn't find any links for you to follow J.M. Hall!

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books.

This is a cozy mystery that reminds me a little of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club which I really enjoyed. I have a soft spot for little cozy mysteries that involves the elderly.

This story follows retired teachers - Liz, Pat and Thelma, who meet up every Thursday for coffee and chit chat. On one of their usual Thursday coffee, they bumped into a former colleague, Topsy. It became clear to them that Topsy is no longer the feisty healthy colleague they once knew. She was diagnosed with dementia and while attempting to make conversation, the ladies made another discovery about Topsy that seems suspicious. Worrying about Topsy, they promised to keep tabs on her but before they had a chance to do so, Topsy is dead. The three friends are determined to get to the bottom of this using their wits and clues.

The pacing can be very slow at times. It feels like having a grandparent trying to tell you their story. It is very long winded and very detailed. I personally didn’t mind the slow pacing. Instead I found it quite charming but if you are looking for a fast paced mystery, this will not be for you.

The whole plot is well thought out and despite the slow pacing, there are plenty of little twists that kept me engaged throughout the story. What I also love about this is how the author commented on the social issues elderly people face and how they can be easily taken advantaged of. Truly shame on those who would take advantage of the elderly for personal gain! They really deserve a little more compassion and patience from us.

Although I guessed the culprit pretty early on, I still enjoyed reading how the ladies figured it out. Thank you Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the arc.

⭐⭐ -- Cute cover on this one!

I wanted to enjoy this one more than I did. I loved the setting, but the story itself just plodding along and I found it confusing to keep all the characters straight. They all can't be winners, right? 🤷🏻‍♀️

**ARC Via NetGalley**