A charming mystery exploring a very real social issue
A Spoonful of Murder is an engrossing mystery, which in most respects fits the "cosy" genre, but also raises some very pertinent social issues around how elderly people, particularly those suffering with some form of dementia, can be manipulated and abused by those around them.
Retired Yorkshire school teachers Liz, Pat and Thelma meet up every Thursday morning for "coffee o'clock" at the Thirsk Garden Centre Café. During one such meeting, they bump into their former colleague, the once-redoubtable Topsy, accompanied by her daughter KellyAnne. It quickly becomes clear that Topsy is no longer the woman she once was - she's fast deteriorating with a dementia-type illness. Things take an alarming turn when Topsy confides in Thelma about people coming to her house, "financial misnomers" and that someone had said "It'd be better all round if she was dead." when he thought Topsy was sleeping.
The women resolve to keep an eye on their old friend, but within a fortnight Topsy is in fact dead, apparently having "mucked up" her medication while KellyAnne was away on a mini-break in Portugal.
In light of Topsy's comments to Thelma, the three friends aren't satisfied that Topsy's death was the simple accident it appears, and begin a surreptitious investigation of their own into the events leading up to what has occurred.
The course of the women's investigatory efforts is interwoven with the narrative of each of their own home lives and the goings-on around the town of Thirsk. All three are engaging characters, and I especially loved Pat's no-nonsense approach to life and humorous self-deprecating asides. I loved the sense of setting in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, and the very distinctive usage and vernacular in the character's dialogue. The Thirsk Garden Centre and Coffee Shop is a real place, to which J.M. Hall pays homage in his acknowledgements.
A Spoonful Of Murder is J.M. Hall's first novel, and is obviously based substantially around his own experiences. I'm pleased to see that a second novel (A Pen Dipped in Poison) is scheduled for release in early 2023 - I can't wait to get my hands on a copy!
I'd enthusiastically recommend A Spoonful Of Murder to any lover of traditional-style character-based mysteries. Having read an advance e-copy and listened to the excellent audiobook edition (narrated by the wonderful Julie Hesmondhalgh), I'll be purchasing a physical copy of the book for my own collection and to share with friends.
Sarah, 27/03/2022
