A Spoonful of Murder

by J.M. Hall

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

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.