Ig post will be linked shortly!!

🖊️ 🩸 A Pen Dipped in Poison is the sequel to A Spoonful of Murder (I posted a review for that one recently) and it didn’t disappoint! I was a bit nervous due to it being a sequel but I loved it #

🖊️🩸 In this one, we are still following our 3 favourite retirees, Thelma, Pat, and Liz, as they are trying to find out who is sending out awful letters to the staff and teachers at the local school they used to work at once upon a time. These letters are extremely personal and threatening, which adds a bit more drama and excitement compared to your typical cozy mystery.

🖊️🩸 My only complaint would be that it dragged a bit at times and didn’t need to be as long as it was but it was overall a very enjoyable read!

A Pen Dipped in Poison had me guessing to the last page.

Pat, Thelma and Liz are back. How I love these ladies and their relationship to each other.

The ladies are trying to solve who is writing these malicious poison pen letters.

There is gossip, secrets and the school setting in the town of Thirsk just add to the intrigue and the delight for the reader.

The pages will turn quickly.

A Pen Dipped in Poison is book 2 in the series and I liked this book even more.

I cant wait to see what the three ladies have up their sleeve for their next adventure.

Highly recommend either A Spoonful of Murder or A Pen Dipped in Poison.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for a delightful series that I will continue to follow.

Friends and retired schoolteachers Liz, Pat and Thelma are back! A Pen Dipped in Poison is the second in the artful, quirky, original and smashing series by J.M. Hall which tickled and delighted me all the way through. Teachers at St. Barnabas School are poison pen victims, especially the new headmaster. The friends meet at the Thirsk Garden Centre Café to discuss the nefarious goings on which are close to home as their former workplace. They inveigle and brainstorm as well as give glimpses into their daily personal lives as retirees, not always roses and sunshine.

Getting to know characters from the first in the series a little bit better feels comfy and familiar, yet also exciting to learn more about their personalities and outlooks. I like that the sleuths are older and wiser with carefree attitudes. Each is likeable in her own way. The education and school aspects are also fascinating. Envisioning the teachers and students is easy with the wonderful descriptions. Though I really liked the first book, this one is even better. It has a bit more...oomph. The mystery itself is enjoyable but what really makes the story shine is the superb characterization. The gossip doesn't hurt, either!

If you enjoy mysteries bursting at the seams with originality and humour, do pick up this series. Well worth getting lost in.

My sincere thank you to HarperCollins Canada and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this enjoyable book. Pure fun!

I really enjoyed this one! The characters were likeable and fun, the dialog was airy and fluid. It was a surprisingly quick read for a long-ish book, and the mystery elements were well-paced. This was the first book I've read by Hall, but it's made me want to read all their other work.

First l must thank NetGalley as well as the publisher for my eARC in exchange for my honest review. An intriguing, complicated mystery. You too will need to determine what is, and what is not happening. A truly enjoyable who done it that will keep the diligent reader wondering until the end.