A Spoonful of Murder: Retired Teacher Mysteries Book 1

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Product guide

A Spoonful of Murder: Retired Teacher Mysteries Book 1

Book: A Spoonful of Murder is the first Retired Teacher Mysteries novel, following three former teachers who investigate the death of an ex-colleague. Its cosy Yorkshire setting and comic tone sit alongside a murder plot, though customer feedback is divided on pacing and readability.

At a glance

Three retired school teachers, Liz, Thelma and Pat, become amateur investigators after their former colleague Topsy dies.
Set around the characters’ weekly coffee meetings at a Thirsk Garden Centre café.
Presented as a cosy crime mystery with humour, secrets and twists.

Price

£6.71Save 16%

Reference price: ~~£7.99~~

Price checked: 12 Nov 2026

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Often bought together

A Pen Dipped in Poison: Book 2 in the witty, totally unputdownable, cosy mystery series. Perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Robert Thorogood (The Retired Teacher Mysteries)

£4.99

A Clock Stopped Dead: A wonderfully witty British cosy mystery for fans of Richard Osman: Book 3 (The Retired Teacher Mysteries)

£4.53

Pros and cons

Pros

A clear cosy-mystery premise centred on three retired teachers rather than professional detectives.
Customer feedback specifically appreciates the humour and down-to-earth characters.
The listed 336-page length gives readers a concrete indication of the book’s scope.

Cons

Customer feedback describes the pacing as slow, which may not suit readers looking for a brisk crime novel.

Technical specifications

9 specifications

Book details
Publisher	Avon
Publication date	17 Mar. 2022
Language	English
Print length	336 pages
Reading age	16 years and up
ISBN-13	978-0008509613

Dimensions and installation
Weight listed	416 g
Dimensions	12.9 x 2.1 x 19.8 cm

Plot setting
Setting	Thirsk Garden Centre café

What to know before buying

The listing frames this as the first book in The Retired Teacher Mysteries and gives a reading age of 16 years and up. The author’s name appears in the supplied endorsements as J.M. Hall.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Readers after a humorous, character-led cosy crime story.
Fans of amateur sleuths and Yorkshire settings.
Readers comfortable with a potentially slower-paced mystery.

Less suited to

Readers who prioritise fast pacing, since customer feedback flags slower pacing as a concern.
Readers wanting a crime thriller rather than a cosy mystery with comic elements.

A Spoonful of Murder: Retired Teacher Mysteries Book 1 · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

3.9 / 5 · 4,319 ratings

5 stars41%41%
4 stars27%27%
3 stars21%21%
2 stars7%7%
1 star4%4%

Customer feedback highlights the book’s humour, subtly witty tone and down-to-earth characters, fitting the listing’s cosy mystery premise about three retired teachers investigating a death. Reactions are mixed on writing style, readability, plot and content, and some readers describe the pacing as slow. That makes its character-led, comic approach a better fit for patient cosy-crime readers than for those seeking a consistently brisk mystery.

Positive themes

Readers appreciate the humorous, subtly witty tone.
Down-to-earth characters are a reported strength.

Negative themes

Some customers find the pacing slow.
Some readers find the book boring or dislike its writing style.

Mixed feedback

Opinions differ on readability, writing style, plot and overall content.

Frequently asked questions

What is A Spoonful of Murder about?

Three retired teachers, Liz, Thelma and Pat, suspect there is more to their former colleague Topsy’s death and set out to investigate.

Is this the first book in a series?

Yes. The title identifies it as the first book in The Retired Teacher Mysteries.

How long is the book?

The listing gives a print length of 336 pages.

What do customers say about the book?

Feedback highlights humour and down-to-earth characters, but opinions on the writing, readability and content are mixed. Pacing is also described as slow.