Neville Hilton was an inspector for Ofsted. He treated guidelines as rules, was a stickler for tick-box over nuance, and unmindful of the lives he ruined. Remarried and now a senior academic within the Lodestone Multi-academy Trust, his future looked secure. Unfortunately, a CVA has just killed him. He was found, sitting in the living room of a guest house which he rented out in the grounds of his home by Chelsey, the young cleaner. Thelma, Liz and Pat, retired primary school teachers, had known him, but not well, and known his reputation for finding fault rather better. They know his first wife, Jax, because she had worked with Thelma. By coincidence, she runs the cleaning company and is concerned that Chelsey is now traumatised by thinking that she had failed to save Neville. The trio are locally famous for solving mysteries, so are not overly surprised when Jax asks them to investigate the death and find some way of assuaging the girl’s concern. But the death is not suspicious, he had heart problems. Perhaps something had triggered the heart attack. His new job, for example? He’d also been the subject of a hate e-mail attack following his report on a small primary school which had led to it’s closure, his new wife seems more interested in her horse than in him, and someone had had a screaming match with him around the time of his death. All pretty mundane really, but still Chelsey had to be saved. What could possibly go wrong?
This is the fourth book in the series, but no previous knowledge is required. Liz, Pat and Thelma are solid, believable characters and their family lives help with the verisimilitude of retired primary school (a category which provides a particularly incisive wisdom) teachers living in a tranquil environment; old friends with active minds. The writing is equally tranquil, a gentle, indeed loving, tone, a voice that you can hear as you read. A non-murder mystery, a cosy non-crime; or is it? There are strange goings on and unexpected tensions, which have to be unravelled or connected, so the plot is that of a standard detective story in which clues have to be found, red herrings avoided and a satisfactory solution provided. It is not particularly difficult to solve, but the joy is in the reading as much as in the puzzle solving.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

I have read the previous books featuring the intrepid trio, and mostly enjoyed them, so was looking forward to reading this one.

Neville Hilton is found dead in the lounge of his holiday let, according to the police, natural causes, heart attack. Unfortunately his first wife Jax, is convinced he was scared to death, and who better to ask to investigate but the old friends and colleagues trio of Liz, Pat and Thelma.

Unforunately Neville was an ex-Ofsted inspector and was known to be harsh in his dealings with not just the schools he scruitinised but with people in general.

I liked this book, was full of characters, families with issues and people you could identify with, all leading 'normal' lives.

Was the ending a little obvious, maybe, but still an enjoyable read

Small criticism, Liz leaves her Diabetes meeting at 8.30 and on the next page she can hear the marketplace clock start chiming 8 and she has time to nip to Tesco before it closes.

First off congrats again on the cover I love the cats on each one of the books in the series so far.
This book is great editor to the series the ladies are back on top form and developing nicely it was great to catch up with them and the background players. As usual the story is set among the back drop of education and primary school while the writing/plot is a little formulaic but on the main the plot is unique and hold your interest. I say it every time I catch with the ladies who would have thought so much skullduggery went on in schools and I can only guess what interesting conversations are having in my local centre. Cosy crime at its best great mix of humour with dark undertones and hint of satire. Crying out to be made into a Tv series.

This fourth book by J M Hall is my favourite so far. The characters of Pat, Thelma and Liz have become more rounded and likeable as the three retired schoolteachers with a knack for solving crimes. This time they are approached by an ex colleague, Jax, who runs a business cleaning holiday lets in the local area, who is convinced that her ex husband was murdered by his second wife, despite the Police confirming that his death was caused by a heart attack………
Initially our crime fighting trio are reluctant to investigate this seemingly natural death, however they are convinced otherwise after meeting the young woman who is distraught and unable to return to work after discovering Neville’s dead body in one of the holiday lets. As they investigate this seemingly innocent death, an altogether different side of Neville comes to light and they soon discover that no one actually liked him. But did someone dislike him enough to murder him??
I read this in one sitting and it kept me guessing until (nearly) the end……. Cosy crime at its best. I’m very much hoping that there will be a fifth book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Retired teachers, Thelma, Liz and Pat, are asked to investigate the death of Neville Hilton who died of a heart attack. His ex-wife feels that something is not right about his death and suspects his wife was involved.

The three are persuaded to find out more. As they investigate the village where Neville had lived and delve into his professional life they find there are a number of people with a motive but has a crime really been committed?

Each is also grappling with their own dilemmas.

A delightful cosy crime - fun and entertaining.

I absolutely love this series. As a retired teacher myself, I really feel a connection with Liz, Thelma and Pat. Their worries, conversations and family lives are all familiar. But the real villain in this book is OFSTED, and I love the way inspections and their consequences are dealt with. I can’t wait for the next book!

This is the second book of J.M Halls that I have read and it absolutely did not disappoint!

I am not someone who reads a ton of crime/mystery novels and I still really enjoyed this book! I read it in the span of two days, I felt like I was returning back to a movie I just couldn’t put it down!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced readers copy of A Brush With Death, I am looking forward to recommending this to friends, family, and followers on pub day!

It's the latest outing for Pat, Thelma and Liz, three retired primary school teachers who have turned their hand to solving mysteries by putting their teacher skillset to good work.

I've read all of the books in this series and I can really see how the characters have developed but, and I cannot work out why this is the case, I cannot remember who is who in the recurring cast or whose husband is who. Oddly, the new characters just from this story are perfectly distinguishable.

For any teachers please be aware that there is a lot of discussion of Ofsted, academisation and schools being swallowed up. Please take this as a trigger warning because it was distressing.

It's a good mystery and it really does celebrate the remarkable skillset of the veteran teacher

With thanks to Avon Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this as an EARC ahead of publication.

In the fourth instalment of this series, retired schoolteachers and amateur sleuths Liz, Pat and Thelma are called in by an old colleague to investigate the death of her ex-husband. Neville Hilton, former Ofsted inspector and employee of the Lodestone Multi-academy Trust, dies tragically of a heart attack, but no crime was committed. At least according to the police. Unconvinced, and certain his new wife had something to do with it, Neville’s ex-wife asks Liz, Pat and Thelma to investigate and the trio soon find themselves caught up in more than they bargained for.
It was so nice to be back with Liz, Pat and Thelma in J.M. Hall’s latest book. In this addition to the series we find ourselves back to its roots – investigating a mystery quite closely related to education. I have to say, I do think this is where the series shines – J.M. Hall’s background in education is woven throughout and it feels like a very realistic portrayal. I always feel a sense of nostalgia while reading/listening to these books, remembering the conversations I overheard growing up when my mum worked at our primary school. Particularly in this book we are privy to the stressor that is the Ofsted inspection and I felt the author did a commendable job of offering different views on how teachers, and schools more generally, can find themselves affected by both the anticipation and outcome of these inspections.

As always, the relationship between Liz, Pat and Thelma was a real highlight, and I found myself feeling like a fourth member of their group. The warmth of their friendship really comes through in their interactions and I love how they work so well together – both when they are physically together and the ways in which they play to their strengths when apart for the good of the group’s investigations. I will say that their characters and friendship have developed throughout the series so while I do think this could be read as a first introduction to the series, I would also absolutely recommend checking out the earlier books.

This book asks a lot of questions about ‘what is a crime?’ and the power someone’s words can have over you. It’s certainly a book I’ll be thinking about a lot going forward, and the power our words can have. Overall, another fantastic outing with Liz, Pat and Thelma, and I’m excited to see what comes next.

A Brush with Death by J.M. Hall is a charming and clever cozy mystery that blends intrigue, humor, and heart. Following the much-loved retired teachers Pat, Liz, and Thelma, this second installment in the series finds the trio investigating the suspicious death of a local artist, plunging them once again into a world of secrets and danger.

Hall’s writing is warm and engaging, with a delightful sense of humor that balances the darker aspects of the mystery. The trio’s friendship shines at the heart of the story, and their resourcefulness and determination make them an irresistible sleuthing team. The small-town setting is beautifully drawn, adding a layer of charm and authenticity to the tale.

While the pacing lags slightly in the middle, the well-crafted plot and satisfying twists more than make up for it. Hall does an excellent job of weaving in themes of community, aging, and the importance of standing up for what’s right, making the book feel rich and relatable.

A Brush with Death is a thoroughly enjoyable read that will delight fans of cozy mysteries and those who loved the first book in the series. A solid 4 stars—can’t wait to see what Pat, Liz, and Thelma investigate next!

Pat, Liz and Thelma are retired primary school teachers living in a quite little village somewhere in the north Yorks Moors and sniffing out mysteries wherever they can, well, said mysteries just find them. This time is the body of Neville Hilton, death by heart attack so natural causes. The trouble is, hi ex-wife thinks his current wife 'did it'. Our intrepid ladies follow a lot of slim clues mostly relating from the time when Neville was a very pompous, rule driven Ofsted Inspector who catastrophically failed a local primary school such that it is about to be closed and children said to a larger amalgamated school. Present and former teachers are interviewed. There are grudges aplenty. Our local detective encourages them on the quiet because Neville's death was deemed natural, no signs of foul play. Solid and clear case but unsatisfactory ending of a sorts. The yellow painted line was intriguing! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

I’ve read and enjoyed the previous books in this series although they can all be read as standalone novels. One of the main features is the friendship between the three investigators. These interactions seem to be reduced in this book which is a pity. That said, there’s still a very definite sense of place and the different communities within it are as strong as ever. These local connections help the ladies investigate a non-murder murder when police have closed the case. The yellow paint was a master stroke! Looking forward to the next episode.

A hot day in June sees Chelsea, worrying about her instagram posts, arriving at the first of four holiday lets that she has to clean that day. First impressions on entering The Snuggery is that the holiday makers had left it immaculate and it would only require her to change the linen, restock the welcome box and swiftly move on the the next property. Her plans are demolished on finding the dead body of the landlord, Neville Hilton, in the living room. Chelsea’s world changed that day. The funeral, a few weeks later, is attended by Neville’s first wife who has cajoled Pat, Thelma and Liz into attending too. There then follows a series of apparently unexplainable events which are gradually unraveling by this enterprising trio of retired school teachers and former colleagues.

The story has good pace with some unexpected twists and surprises. The main characters are portrayed solving things together whilst also following up on their own intuition, although not really sharing their thoughts and findings with the others. At times the story line was a little disjointed and repeatedly jumped from one character’s actions to another and back again. Overall though an enjoyable, quick read.

3.75/5 stars rounded up


A Brush with Death by J.M. Hall – A Cosy Mystery with a Sharp Edge

There’s something *oddly comforting* about a good cosy mystery—like a cup of tea and a biscuit, but with murder.

A Brush with Death delivers just that, featuring three retired schoolteachers-turned-sleuths who swap lesson plans for crime-solving. And honestly? They’re pretty great at it.

So, here’s the deal: Neville Hilton drops dead from a heart attack—nothing suspicious, just bad luck, right? Well, his ex-wife isn’t buying it, and neither are Liz, Pat, and Thelma. Between bites of cake and sips of tea, they start digging into the case, uncovering villagers with secrets, old grudges, and enough gossip to fuel a whole season of Midsomer Murders.

Now, I really liked the dynamic between the three ladies. They felt like that group of nosy but lovable neighbors who know everything about everyone—and honestly, they make for entertaining detectives.

The small-town drama? Top-tier.
The mystery itself? Solid, though not exactly heart-stopping. It takes its time unraveling, which is both a strength and a weakness —sometimes you’re hooked, sometimes you’re wondering if Thelma’s going to get through her slice of cake before they crack the case.

J.M. Hall’s writing is warm, witty, and engaging, though the pacing drags in places.

Still, if you love cosy mysteries with sharp, endearing characters and a plot that keeps you guessing just enough, this one’s worth a read.

Final Verdict: A charming mystery, even if it takes the scenic route.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books publishing house for the ARC!

This was a bit of a surprise in that I actually enjoyed this one. But I still had some of the same issues that I had with the previous ones, which was a bit disappointing. That said, I thought the mystery itself was pretty good with lots of red herrings and twists up until the end.

Thelma, Pat and Liz are three retired teachers who now investigate mysteries. This time there is a death, but not a murder, just some things that make the ex wife of the deceased suspicious. The ladies are reluctant, but eventually become engrossed with the mystery. I became quite invested in the murder too and was happy to go along with the ladies to find out what really happened. I did figure it out, but some of the hows eluded me till the end. Which for me always makes for a good plot. I really appreciated how there were so many suspects to start off and how each was eliminated until there was one person left standing.

I also really liked the little epigraphs at the start of each chapter. There is a heat wave in this part of England and the epigraphs really helped to set the scenes with little tips on how to beat the heat and other goings on in the towns in the area. They were a lot of fun. I also really liked the descriptions of how the heat was making everyone feel and how protective they were of each other to make sure everyone was safe. Nicely done.

My biggest issue with this story and the series as a whole, is that these women don’t really act that much like they are friends. They felt a little bit friendlier this time around, but still, they all sort of go off on their own to solve the mystery, then meet up to debrief about what they have found. Sometimes they go off in pairs, usually at the behest of one of them, but they don’t always clue in the other what they are up to. I don’t know, but if I was solving a mystery with a friend, I think there would be more time spent together solving it? I also still can’t really tell the three women apart, who is married to who, and who their children are and their issues. But that might be a me thing.

The final thing about this series, and this book in particular, is the focus on the educational system in England. I get it, it is set in England, they are retired teachers, so let’s solve a mystery that has to do with the schools. But as someone who doesn’t understand much about the british education system, especially with this book, part of the story didn’t make much sense to me. Being an educator myself I understood the part about how hard the state evaluations can be, but we don’t usually shut down schools that fail one evaluation, we help them try to get better first. It also sounds like they are privatizing their schools, big corporations taking over the village schools. That can’t be right, can it? As an outsider I just needed a bit more background on this to help me understand some of the emotions and motives of the characters involved.

I still did enjoy this one, and it is probably my favorite of the three books that I have read in this series. You certainly don’t have to have read the others, in order to enjoy this one, but it wouldn’t hurt either. I think fans of the series will be happy with this new installment. If you like cozy mysteries set in a small village in England then you might just want to give this series a chance.

JM hall does it again!
So good to be back with familiar characters and settings
Great story, and I do love Pat Thelma and the others

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, this is becoming a really good cozy crime series, which features retired primary school teachers who have taken in some amateur sleuthing.

The characters are flawed as well as being clever and separately charming and inspiring and enter this mystery with some reluctance. An ex Ofsted inspector has been found dead, traumatising the cleaning lady who found him. Although at first glance it appears a heart attack the three ladies fee a deeper investigation is needed.

The plot is funny, charming and deals with lots of human problems and emotions, which are easy for the reader to relate to. I enjoyed the ending and was not expecting it and was for the last half eager to have the death explained.

I look forward to the next in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I eagerly await the next instalment by this writer and they never disappoint so I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to read the latest and it did not disappoint at all. Well written and a great story. I absolutely love this series and will often also buy the audiobook as I’m such a fan. I can’t fault it.

A Suspicious Situation..
The fourth outing in the Liz, Pat and Thelma series of mysteries and the retired schoolteachers and sometime amateur sleuths find themselves another suspicious situation to investigate. Surely the death of Neville Hilton is not actually a crime? - after all, a heart attack is what the post mortem concluded. The man’s ex wife, however, harbours grave doubts and the unlikely amateur sleuths are soon knee deep in secrets, scandal and possibly.. murder. Another enjoyable and entertaining instalment to this series with a group of endearing protagonists, a pacy plot and a narrative laced with gentle humour.

Oooh did the new wife do it? The ex wife thinks she did! What a fun premise, and it did not disappoint. I had a lot of fun with this cozy mystery and will definitely be going and reading the author's previous works!

I want to be friends with Liz, Thelma, and Pat! These women are so funny, quirky, and really quite clever. This book is definitely a quick read that could be finished over a weekend! If you’re looking for witty protagonists, fun interactions, and a light mystery this is the book for you!

If you love a cozy mystery you need to read this series with its believable characters and engrossing storylines. Really enjoyed the ‘yellow line’ part of the plot.

Cleaner Chelsey Barlow is rushing to clean one of the holiday cottages on her route when she discovers the body of the owner, Neville Hilton. The look on his face, head thrown back as if he was howling, fills her with terror. Something just doesn't feel right. Apart from the dead body, the holiday let is immaculately tidy and there's a strange yellow line painted on the living room wall. Hopefully, retired teachers Liz, Pat and Thelma will be able to figure out what happened.

Aspiring writers are frequently told to write about what they know, to write about something they are passionate about. Author J. M. Hall has done just that in his Liz, Pat & Thelma series which features three retired primary school teachers who solve mysteries. A Brush With Death comes across as his most passionate book in the series. I love these books, which are frequently compared with The Thursday Murder Club series. I've thoroughly enjoyed reading both series but I find myself identifying with this series more often as I'm a retired teacher myself and the setting is North Yorkshire so many of the locations are familiar.

The description of the discovery of the body of Neville Hilton immediately brings a sense of dread, along with lots of questions. If someone had been staying in the holiday cottage why was it so clean? What was Neville doing in the cottage? Why had the tenant left early? Why is there a mysterious yellow line painted on the wall? When it is decided that Neville died of a heart attack it would have been easy to brush these questions aside if it hadn't been for Neville's ex-wife, Jax, convinced that something untoward had happened. When something disturbing happens in North Yorkshire the locals know that they can rely on Liz, Pat and Thelma to investigate.

It's the skills the three women have honed as primary school teachers that make the story so enjoyable. They are excellent at asking probing questions and know immediately when someone is lying. They're organised, meticulous, dogged, and can think outside the box, all of which means they leave no stone unturned as they dig into Neville's final hours.

Much of the investigation focuses on Neville's role as an Ofsted inspector. Having survived quite a few Ofsted inspections in my career everything that was written rang true for me, particularly the emphasis academy chains place on "Ofsted preparedness". The impact of inspections on staff and schools has been carefully woven into the mystery, showing the devastating consequences of a poor judgment. As I read my emotions constantly switched between immense sadness and all-consuming rage. This element of the storyline will probably resonate more with anyone who has worked in a school but I hope it sheds a light for those readers not as closely connected.

As the investigation takes various twists and turns the three women also have to balance issues taking place in their own lives, all of which make you feel as if any of them could be a relative, neighbour or friend. Liz is struggling to manage her diabetes, luckily her young grandson is on a crusade and is ensuring her diet is healthy. Pat has her son and his girlfriend living at home. They're arguing and Pat doesn't want to interfere but she can't help worrying. Thelma is keeping secrets from everyone, she's worried about a mysterious letter she's received but doesn't want to share its contents.

During the search for answers we meet a range of characters, some are prickly, others are engaging. Those who work closely with children come across as passionate about their jobs and show the numerous ways individuals and schools go above and beyond for the children in their care.

Passion is the crux of the story. By the conclusion, I felt incredibly sad for the way in which different people had been impacted by events and the demise of another. Luckily, there are tiny rays of hope for some. It's with sadness that I said farewell to Liz, Pat and Thelma. Reading the acknowledgements the author explains that he has now retired from teaching, I hope this means that we won't have to wait long for the next book in the series.