The dinner lady detectives strike again! These are a good series of books, if a little far fetched at times. Sometimes the sleuthing does seem to take over from the day job.

Margery and Clementine Butcher-Baker were warned not to interfere in any more police investigations, which they intend to not get involved when a body is found under the school’s playground. However, when Mrs Redburn suspects her husband of having an affair and she asks for their help, it throws them into the middle of the playground mystery, which makes staying out of the investigation impossible.

I feel like this book was predictable in what it happened and who the culprit was. It took a bit too long to start discussing what actually happened, instead of the speculation throughout the book. I do think that the actual reveal at the end was quite lacklustre and I expected more of a punch, as it felt like a mad rush at the end to try and tie everything together before the epilogue. I I did expect some aspects of the book to be longer than what they were, because some bits just felt like they were randomly thrown in. It does somewhat sprinkle in what will come in the next book but it didn’t exactly grab my attention and make me wanna pick up the six book when it releases, so maybe it’s time to call it quits with this series.

I do like the characters, but I wish I knew more about them as I feel like after five books I’m not learning much about them to feel fully invested.

I did like how the plot came together, however it did feel a bit all over the place of times and I often found myself thinking what is going on? I did have unresolved questions at the end, which I would’ve like to see and sad as it would’ve tied the book up nicely. Also, there was incorrect language used about suicide, in order to not add to the stigma/discrimination/prejudice, it is better to use neutral phrasing such as lost their life to suicide, died by suicide or death by suicide.

Thank you NetGalley and Canelo Crime for the opportunity to read this book early, in exchange for an honest review.

⚠️ CWs: murder, panic attack, alcohol use, injury detail, suicide, mental health illness (PTSD flashbacks), pregnancy, mentions cheating, death of parent, infertility

Such a great read! Highly recommend this one.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

A GRAVELY TROUBLING DISCOVERY - HANNAH
HENDY - ARC
Book 5 in the lovely Dinner Lady Detectives Series. This series is an easy read, you don't have to really think about anything you can just read and enjoy. Perfect for cozy, quick reads. Read as part of a series and not standalones as there is information you will need from the previous books to know who characters are etc.
This whole series is funny and touches on subjects in such a light hearted way you don't realise until afterwards.
The characters are loveable and I throughly enjoyed this book and the rest of the series!
@rachaelmcreads

Another laugh out loud “Dinner Lady Detective’s” book, the 5th in the series.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I love all of the side drama with all the kitchen staff but Margery and Clementine are my favourites always getting caught up in murder investigations. A brilliant cosy mystery with twists that left me guessing right to the end. Can't wait for the next one.

A Gravely Troubling Discovery is the fifth Dinner Lady Detectives cozy by Hannah Hendy. Released 1st Aug 2024 by Canelo, it's 268 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is such a fun continuation to a humorous and quick-to-read cozy series. The characters are warm and funny (they're cafeteria ladies!), intelligent and (mostly) practical, and the author has a deft touch with plotting and execution. After stumbling (literally) into murder investigations in the previous books, Margery and Clementine have -no- intentions of getting involved in another murder. Their carefully laid plans go awry when a mundane infidelity investigation ties in to another murder investigation, a body discovered during local playground renovations. The main characters are a F/F married couple, but that isn't over-emphasized in the plot. The language is clean, and the violence occurs off-page.

It's a village cozy and replete with the warm and slightly wonky eccentricities of village life and the inhabitants to be found there. The spelling and vernacular are UK English (flat, tyre, torch) but won't pose any problems in context for readers from North America.

Four stars. The mystery is self contained in this volume so it works well enough as a standalone read, but readers who read them out of order will experience some major spoilers for the interrelationships and development of the returning characters. The generally high quality of the series as a whole would make for a good binge/buddy read. Fans of Fiona Leitch, J. M. Hall, and Peter Boland will find this one a fun romp.

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

Margery and Clementine and the other dinner ladies are back in A Gravely Troubling Discovery by Hannah Hendy. When a body is discovered under the playground they try very hard not to get involved, but when the case they have taken on as private detectives turns out to have a link to the body of course they get mixed up in the case. The trouble the ladies get in to is always fun to read and this book has them really taking things to extremes. As the fifth in the series, these just keep getting better and better.

A New Investigation..
The fifth outing in the Dinner Lady Detectives series of mysteries and being warned to stop meddling in formal police investigations does not appear to have deterred the snooping duo. They soon find themselves embroiled in a new investigation when, whilst looking into a possible domestic dalliance, various dead bodies begin to appear. Well, it would be rude not to..really… Another enjoyable and entertaining outing in this nicely paced mystery with a well imagined setting and well executed characters.

I’ve been lucky to read all the books in this series, so picking this one up was like coming home to the gang. Margery and Clementine had, in this book, quite a few events to deal with, it was great to read about them I felt the danger added more depth to the story. I felt like I knew the other characters from the Nourishment team better so it was good to hear about things going on in their lives. It was wholly entertaining reading about the different crimes going on and how they were solved and tied up together.

When a body is found buried under the playground while being renovated, Margery and Clementine are determined to let the police handle it. But alas while helping a wife who suspects her husband of cheating, they are drawn into the mystery afterall. Cosy village mystery in Britain. Love the setting. Good story plot. A charming light read. Perfect afternoon getaway. Thanks #Netgalley and #Canelo for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

The Dinner Lady Detectives are back, and determined to take a well earned break from solving murders. However, a body is found under the school playground and they soon find themselves back in the thick of it.

I really enjoyed this book in the series, there's a lot going on and multiple paths the outcome could go down. There's also a lot of development of the side characters, which adds depth to the whole series.

A Gravely Troubling Discovery is a really enjoyable read, I can't wait for the next installment!

The dinner ladies are back. They find themselves hired by Evelyn to find out if her husband is cheating on her.
Meanwhile the playground is being dug up to be relaid, but a skeleton is found and the Police are called. The ladies don't want to get involved but they have a happy knack of getting themselves involved.
Also trending is that the swimming trophy has gone missing. Are all these things connected or is it wishful thinking.
Read and find out.

This fifth instalment in the Dinner Lady Detectives series had me smiling from the start. I was back in the company of Margery and Clementine, and it was just what I needed. As expected, this was humorous and charming. There were some laugh out loud moments while I was reading, and this is a comfort series for me. I have so much love for Margery and Clementine, as well as their friends and acquaintances that I've also grown fond of along the way.

As usual, this was very light, easy reading, and I finished it in a couple of hours. If you are a cosy mystery reader, I would recommend the Dinner Ladies series, if you haven't read them already. If you haven't read the previous books, I think each book works as a standalone, so you may enjoy this one by itself. I would recommend the whole series though.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

I’ve been a fan of the dinner lady detectives series since The Dinner Lady Detectives came out, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on A Gravely Troubling Discovery.

This time around, Margery and Clementine are investigating a possible affair when bodies start popping up.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Margery and Clementine are excellent characters, ordinary people who keep getting caught up in murder investigations thanks to their propensity for suddenly doing unwise things! Their antics do make me laugh sometimes. I love the rest of the dinner ladies and friends too.

The mystery was an interesting one this time, involving events in the past, as well as current ones. I had a great time picking up clues and trying to work out what was going on, alongside Margery and Clementine. And the pace of events definitely made it difficult to put the book down, especially towards the end.

Overall, this was a fun and well paced mystery with characters that have become well loved favourites. I can’t wait to see what the dinner lady detectives get up to next!

I was given a copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

This book is a prime example of why British Cozies are so enjoyable. A well thought out mystery with developed characters that you can’t help but like. Each entry is like a visit with friends. Friends who keep you on your toes and busy while you visit, but friends never the less.

Another funny and intriguing mystery starring the Mrs Butcher-Bakers!

The plot was well paced and kept me entertained, and I love all of the side drama with the other kitchen staff, which is always funny.

A brilliant cosy mystery with a twist that left me guessing right to the end. Can't wait for the next one!

Even though this book is part of a series, I read it as a standalone and it was just fine. Sure, I was missing things from prior books but it didn't take away from this particular story. Marg and Clem are great characters and overall, the cast makes you laugh because they're just a lot of fun. I enjoyed the mishaps in this story and will be checking out the rest of the series as well.

A Gravely Troubling Discovery by Hannah Hendy is the 5th in the Dinner Lady Detectives series. While it was fine to read as a stand-alone, I feel like I did miss some of the backstory of the relationships, and knowing who people were. I would suggest starting from the beginning of the series.

There was a lot going on from missing people, murders old and new, possible affairs, an audit, etc. so I had some trouble keeping up with all of the players and the clues. It didn’t really matter though because the main characters were charming, and their escapades were hilarious. There was a golf cart chase that had me cackling out loud.

This was a fun, cozy read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for providing the digital ARC.

2SLGBTQIA+ British Senior Sleuth Cozy Mystery about a married Welsh FF couple who find that their new cheating husband case might be connected to a body found buried under the school playground.

5/5 stars: Hendy's a favorite author and doesn't disappoint with this fifth entry in the Dinner Lady Detectives series, which is a 2SLGBTQIA+ British Senior Sleuth Cozy Mystery that's set in a quaint Welsh village and features a sixty-something married couple who cook and serve lunch at a secondary school's canteen. Hendy has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Additionally, Hendy's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. It's great to catch back up with Margery and Clementine, their school and kitchen crew colleagues and the folks of Dewstow. I love how the cast of characters is quirky, diverse and well just plain lovely. I also very much appreciate how Hendy tackles with the couples mental and physical consequences from their previous cases. Hendy does touch on some sensitive subjects, so take care and check the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you might encounter spoilers for previous entries and you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, The Dinner Lady Detectives.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Canelo in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Margery and Clementine have been told in no uncertain terms to stay out of police investigations. So they're not going to get involved with the body that was found under the school playground, are they?

Despite having the distraction of helping Mrs Redburn, who thinks her husband is having an affair, they just can't help themselves...

Another excellent addition to this series