It’s cute and charming to have elderly people teamed up to solve a crime. Although the beginning of the story is a slow-paced for me, I’m glad to be entertained by these three nosy retired teachers who have involved themselves in solving a mystery.

At first it looks like a accidental death caused by the dementia that Topsy is suffering from but something is not sitting right with the 3 ladies and they start to making enquiries into Topsys life and her nearest and dearest. REVIEWED BY LINDA HILL It’s going to sound ridiculous to say so when reviewing a murder story but A Spoonful of Murder is enormous fun! Detective stories continue to grow in popularity. From the Hardy Boys and Tintin to the Famous Five, detective fiction has captured the imaginations of generations of children ... The book that has given me most pleasure is a first novel by Robin Stevens, Murder Most Unladylike, which combines the pleasures of Enid Blyton's boarding school books with her secret society ones. Best friends Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong find themselves at the heart of a murder investigation when Hazel discovers the body of a teacher in the school gym. Plotting is what sets this book apart; this is about who was where at the time of the murder, and it's about finding the chink in the alibi -- Lorna Bradbury Telegraph

LoveReading4Kids Says

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in creating the characters, the setting and suspense. I really enjoyed reading about the town and the small town setting. It was a typical small town, where everyone knows everyone else’s business and gossip runs wild. It was a place that I would enjoy visiting. I thought the mystery was very well plotted and was carried on well throughout the book. I didn’t figure out the killer until is was revealed at the end. I really loved this book, it’s was so well-written, with good use of language, and a smattering of humour. I smiled at some of the names that were used, like ‘Mandy Pinder-that-was’ for an ex-pupil from their school and a son’s girlfriend the ‘Celtic Poet’. Just two examples that made this book stand out to me. A Spoonful of Murder is a perfect book for me. Not only am I a retired educator who meets with colleagues regularly over coffee or a meal, but I am a huge cozy mystery fan. As the story starts, we meet Liz, Pat and Thelma, retired teachers and former colleagues of St. Barnabus’s Primary School. They meet up each week to gossip and catch up with each other. One week they bump into Topsy, another ex-colleague, and her daughter Kelly Anne. Topsy is in the early stages of dementia and KellyAnne is her caregiver. While the friends chat with Topsy, they sense that there is something not quite right, especially when Topsy shares some disturbing facts. Within a short period of time, KellyAnne shares that her mother has been the victim of financial fraud and has lost all her life savings. When Topsy is found dead in her home the following week Liz, Pat and Thelma suspect that there might be more to her death than meets the eye. Even though her death is ruled accidental, the ladies are sure there is more going on and they nose around and ask questions. Does the fraud have anything to do with the death or possible murder?

It's always great for me to begin a new cosy mystery series, and this is especially true when the setting is relatively local. The characters were well done and the ending was satisfying. The plot flowed at an even pace, and there were numerous moments of hilarity. Red herrings were plentiful and there was a multitude of suspects who might have been responsible for Topsy's death. Well worth a look if you're partial to cosy mysteries.Then tragedy hits: during a visit to the doctor, baby Teddy is kidnapped and his nanny is horribly murdered. With a crime so close to home and to Hazel’s own heart, the Detective Society has their work cut out for them.