Unlike book 1, this was a fast paced start with a bit of a droopy middle, and an easy to guess finish. Well, at least it was easy to guess the big bad. That said, I still enjoyed the book and the numerous mysteries within.

I love Liz, Pat and Thelma and was glad to catch up with them. I enjoyed this book that kept me hooked and guessing.
It's fast paced and well plotted, I wasn't a big fan of A Spoonful of Murder but I liked this one and think the next will even be better.
The mystery is solid and entertaining, I guessed the culprit but I enjoyed the ladies investigating.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

I found the pace of the book a bit slow but soon settled into Liz, Pat and Thelma working together to crack the case of the poison pen letters with the headteacher appearing to be targeted the most. This is a cosy mystery and an easy read - I can’t say more without giving away what happens next.

This was a sweet cozy mystery and I read it quickly. I love these types of books very much and it is worth far more than five stars. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

From the synopsis about this story I thought great a good old fashioned style Who Done It ! ,which it could have been with the three retired School Teachers playing Miss Marple style roles . Sadly though once we learnt that White Letters were being received by various people , it took so long to actually get going it ,it actually sent me to sleep in several sections . I hate giving a Book any form of negative review but I have to be truthful & honest ,hence why I have only given it 3 *'s . #NetGalley, #GoodReads, #Amazon.co.uk,#FB, #Instagram ,#<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/8a5b541512e66ae64954bdaab137035a5b2a89d2" width="80" height="80" alt="200 Book Reviews" title="200 Book Reviews"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/ef856e6ce35e6d2d729539aa1808a5fb4326a415" width="80" height="80" alt="Reviews Published" title="Reviews Published"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/aa60c7e77cc330186f26ea1f647542df8af8326a" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>.

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.

Retired school teachers Liz, Pat and Thelma never expected they would be caught up in a crime even once in their lives, let alone twice! When poison pen letters start landing on the doorsteps of friends and neighbours in their Yorkshire village, old secrets come to light.

With the potential for deadly consequences. It won't be long until the three friends are out on a case yet again…

I haven’t actually read the first book (it's on my tbr tho) but I enjoyed this cosy mystery and I loved our three main characters Liz, Pat and Thelma. Really enjoyed the school setting and the plot and pace of the book was good, it kept me wanting to keep on reading which is always good!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers for this ARC!!

This is book two of the series. This time retired school teachers Liz, Pat and Thelma investigate poison pen letters being sent to their old school. Good British cozy.

‘Signed, Sealed, Dead?’ - cover tag line.

My thanks to Avon Books U.K. for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘A Pen Dipped in Poison‘ by J.M. Hall.

This is Book 2 in a cosy mystery series that features Liz, Pat, and Thelma, three retired school teachers. The friends are alarmed to learn that friends and neighbours are being sent anonymous letters that reveal their deepest secrets.

As careers are ended, marriages destroyed and others severely traumatised, the friends decide to work together to uncover the identity of the person sending these poison pen letters before things go too far.

I found this a very gentle tale that certainly felt like the kind of mystery that three retired schoolteachers might seek to solve. Again, Hall’s background as a primary school deputy head brought an authenticity to the narrative.

Overall, an entertaining and very cosy mystery.

An enjoyable gentle mystery set in the world of education. When someone starts sending poison pen letters to the staff of a primary school, 3 retirees with links to the school set out to solve the mystery of who could be sending them and why.

A pleasant read for a relaxed Sunday afternoon. The author has obvious experience of working in schools, describing the petty dramas that occur within the confines of a staff room.

EXCERPT: In the morning, if his wife were to leave the house before him, Derek Newsome would invariably tell her to 'take care' in serious tones, as if she were some Captain-Oates-type figure who had decided against all odds to venture into an Antarctic wilderness. Most of the time Liz found this both touching and reassuring. Most of the time, it was fine and exactly what she wanted.

Most of the time.

Sometimes - sometimes - it frankly got a bit much. Sometimes she wanted her husband of thirty-three years to clap her cheerfully on the back and say words to the effect of: My darling - knock the world dead! Stuff caution! Go tango across Thirsk marketplace with a rose between your teeth!

And now, walking up the path to St Barnabus's in her Matalan fleece, shoulders hunched against a decidedly fresh breeze, was definitely one of those times.

ABOUT 'A PEN DIPPED IN POISON': Signed. Sealed. Dead?

Retired schoolteachers Liz, Pat and Thelma never expected they would be caught up in a crime even once in their lives, let alone twice.

But when poison pen letters start landing on the doorsteps of friends and neighbours in their Yorkshire village, old secrets come to light.

With the potential for deadly consequences.

It won’t be long until the three friends are out on a case yet again…

MY THOUGHTS: I really enjoyed A Spoonful of Murder, the first in this series. I'm disappointed to say that I didn't enjoy this second book quite as much. The facets I enjoyed in the first were largely missing from this.

A Pen Dipped in Poison is far less entertaining than A Spoonful of Murder was. The humour is missing, as is the tight friendship of the characters. Each of them is dealing with their own problems and, instead of sharing them as they usually do, they are keeping things close to their various chests, placing a strain on their relationships.

I missed the easy banter of their Thursday morning coffee mornings at the Thirsk Garden Centre. I missed Pat's inner thoughts - here she is rather subdued, except for her nail polish.

And the theme of the poisoned pen letters and the reasons behind them just didn't quite work for me.

I hope Mr Hall returns to his earlier format for the next in the series, which I will definitely be lining up for.

⭐⭐⭐.5

#APenDippedinPoison #NetGalley

@jm_hall_writer @harpercollinsuk @avonbooksuk

T: @ HarperCollinsUK @AvonBooksUK

#audiobook #contemporaryfiction #cosymystery #friendship

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.

At night, he can be found at his computer, crafting his next story.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Avon Books UK, and HarperCollins Audio for providing a digital ARC of A Pen Dipped in Poison by J.M. Hall for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Plot
Signed. Sealed. Dead?

Retired schoolteachers Liz, Pat and Thelma never expected they would be caught up in a crime even once in their lives, let alone twice.

But when poison pen letters start landing on the doorsteps of friends and neighbours in their Yorkshire village, old secrets come to light.

With the potential for deadly consequences.

It won’t be long until the three friends are out on a case yet again…

Review
This is the first JM Hall book I’ve read having missed out on the first in the series. However, there is enough of a back story in the first few chapters to understand what is going on.

I liked the premises of the three retired friends turning into wannabe Miss Marple’s trying to project the school they so loved but the first half of the book did drag a little for me. One if the biggest reasons I love cosy crime is the quick pace of it so for the storyline and “action” as it were to only kick in towards the end was a bit of a turn off.

That being said I think the story is original and there are some moments that did make me giggle. I would read an other by this author and possibly go back and read the first in the series to get a better idea of our former teachers but I was slightly disappointed in the pacing of this one.

All in all though if you do like you’re cozy crime and don’t mind putting the work in to sit down and read in more than one sitting then I think you would enjoy this.

Rating
3.5

Recommend
I’ll get back to you

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

This is the second book in the series, the first being a spoonful of murder. I really enjoyed the first book and the follow up didn't disappoint. Its a light "cozy" type mystery perfect for anyone who enjoyed the Thursday Murder Club series and Marlow Murder Club series.
Thanks to Netgalley, Avon and J.M Hall for the ARC.

Sometimes there is nothing better than a cozy English mystery and this one fits the bill. The 2nd in a series starring the intrepid threesome of retired teachers, Liz, Pat and Thelma, When not meeting at the Thirsk Garden Center for coffee, gossip and cakes, they are busily helping to solve mysteries in their community.

A Pen Dipped in Poison centers around their old Primary school St. Barnabus Primary. The Head teacher and other staff are receiving poison pen letters that cause havoc and mayhem in their lives. Who is the poison pen author? Well Liz, Pat and Thelma are on the case and you know they will get their man or woman.

This was an enjoyable cozy mystery with a fun cast of characters. I think this would be a good read for anyone who likes Agatha Christie or Caroline Graham.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher Avon Books UK and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

A brilliant follow up to the previous book. It makes you feel warm and cosy and like part of the village. It takes a while to get your head around all the characters but when you do it's worth it. I'll definitely keep reading these.

This is another cosy mystery following on from A Spoonful of Murder. The three friends Pat, Thelma and Liz frequent their local garden centre Cafe to solve a case of poison pen letters being sent to various members of staff at the local school Academy. As well as dealing with who and why you get to know more about the three friends and their own lives and problems at home.

You don't need to have read the first book before this one.

A nice plot and an easy read when you don't want anything too complicated.

J.M. Hall is a new author for me. Set in a beautiful location with relatable characters, a lovely heart-warming read.

Thank you to the author, Avon Books UK and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second in a series, and I read and enjoyed the first. In this second book, the cast of characters is greatly augmented by being set in a school (the main three older women are all retired teachers who get pulled back in to various support roles in the running of the school). I found it very hard to keep track of all the different characters and their relationship to one another, and the numerous side plots made for a very disrupted flow of the story. Yes, the friendship between the three main characters, and their determination to persevere and find a solution to a terrible situation involving poison pen letters is laudable, but the story gets bogged down more often than not. This was too much cosy for me, but I am sure that many will find it an enjoyable read.

'A Pen Dipped in Poison' by J. M. Hall.
This is the second of this series of books by the author.
I loved the first book, so when the chance to read this came up I grabbed it as quick as I could.
I'm so glad I did because I loved it. I love this particular type of crime book 'cosy crime'. It makes me fall in love with the characters more. I would love to have regular meet ups with Thelma, Liz and Pat :)
This book is based around poison pen letters, which seems a bit strange in this day and age with the technology we have. But the author shows just how truly nasty and horrible this type of crime can be, especially if you are on the receiving end of them. Thankfully the 3 ladies, even though they are dealing with their own problems, manage to work together to figure out just what is going on.
If anyone is a fan of cosy crime books, I definitely recommend this book and the first in the series 'A Spoonful of Murder'.
Rhabks so much to NetgalleryUK, the author and the publisher for letting me read this in return for an honest review.

Is cosy crime really cosy crime if there's no murder? Well yes, and A Pen Dipped in Poison is a case in point. We're re-introduced to Pat, Liz and Thelma who are retired school teachers but still involved with their local schools. When a series of poison pen letters start appearing, the trio begin to investigate. The large cast of supporting characters means that there are plenty of suspects, and plenty of secrets to be uncovered. From dodgy contracts to the pressures of academy education, A Pen Dipped in Poison is a great twist on the usual whodunnit.

Pat, Liz and Thelma are excellent characters, each with their own challenges to face, This adds depth to this story, and the ongoing narrative from the first book. Bring on the third!