What do you think?
Rate this book
Liz, Pat and Thelma #3
A Clock Stopped Dead
Retired schoolteachers and amateur sleuths Liz, Pat and Thelma are giving up their coffee morning for a brand-new mystery. The perfect cosy crime story for fans of The Thursday Murder Club, by Richard Osman
Retired teachers Pat, Liz and Thelma are happiest whiling away their hours over coffee, cake and chat at the Thirsk Garden Centre café.
But when their good friend Marguerite claims to have uncovered a mysterious charity shop that has since vanished, they simply can’t resist investigating.
Before long, our trio of unlikely sleuths find themselves embroiled in a race against the clock to get to the bottom of this mystery – but who has a secret to hide and how far will they go to keep it concealed?
Only time will tell . . .
Retired teachers Pat, Liz and Thelma are happiest whiling away their hours over coffee, cake and chat at the Thirsk Garden Centre café.
But when their good friend Marguerite claims to have uncovered a mysterious charity shop that has since vanished, they simply can’t resist investigating.
Before long, our trio of unlikely sleuths find themselves embroiled in a race against the clock to get to the bottom of this mystery – but who has a secret to hide and how far will they go to keep it concealed?
Only time will tell . . .
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 11, 2024
About the author
J.M. Hall
3 books117 followersJ.M. Hall is an author, playwright and deputy head of a primary school. His plays have been produced in theatres across the UK as well as for radio, the most recent being Trust, starring Julie Hesmondhalgh on BBC Radio 4. His first novel, A Spoonful of Murder, is about retired primary school teachers who turn to sleuthing.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
April 12, 2024
EXCERPT: 'Your train was cancelled yesterday, so you went for a walk and found this weird charity shop, saw a strange clock, got locked in and then got out again?'
Marguerite's podgy hand flew to her mouth, almost batting the tantric crystals clean across the scuffed floor tiles of Mrs Hall's Pantry. 'Oh goodness gracious me,' she said, and gave a neighing peal of laughter. 'You must think I'm a complete numpty!'
Pat smiled faintly, making a considerable effort not to look as if she agreed.
'I went back,' said Marguerite. 'I wasn't working this morning, so I went back to the charity shop. I wanted to go back and see how much this clock I saw cost. At that point I hadn't twigged that it wasn't real.' She paused dramatically.
'And?'
'It wasn't there!'
'The clock?'
'No, the whole shop. When I went back this morning, the whole shop had just vanished!'
ABOUT 'A CLOCK STOPPED DEAD': Retired schoolteachers and amateur sleuths Liz, Pat and Thelma are giving up their coffee morning for a brand-new mystery. The perfect cosy crime story for fans of The Thursday Murder Club, by Richard Osman
Retired teachers Pat, Liz and Thelma are happiest whiling away their hours over coffee, cake and chat at the Thirsk Garden Centre café.
But when their good friend Marguerite claims to have uncovered a mysterious charity shop that has since vanished, they simply can’t resist investigating.
Before long, our trio of unlikely sleuths find themselves embroiled in a race against the clock to get to the bottom of this mystery – but who has a secret to hide and how far will they go to keep it concealed?
MY THOUGHTS: I quite enjoyed catching up with this trio of ex-school teachers, but I didn't love it as much as I wanted to. I think, because there is simply too much dialogue. Far too much. Understandable perhaps with the author being a playwright first and foremost. So I shall temper that comment by saying 'far too much dialogue for a novel.' I find it very hard to get a sense of place or character with so much dialogue and so little of anything else.
I do love the characters, Pat, Liz and Thelma. There's a little conflict between them in this installment that leaves Pat wondering if, after twenty-five years, give or take, they were all growing apart now that the common bond of teaching that had drawn them together was gone.
There are adjustments to be made all round. Two of the women have their adult children return home unexpectedly, Pat has to come to terms with her aging, and Thelma has something to learn about her husband.
There are some beautifully humorous moments such as when Pat's husband Rod is trying to plan a holiday for them, and the feud between Polly, Thelma's workmate at a (different) charity shop, and the manager of said shop. The window display scene is priceless.
But the mystery . . . the mystery is messy and hard to follow. There are psuedo-supernatural elements that only cloud the issues, too many extra characters and simply too much going on with all the different side-stories. The author seems to have thrown everything but the kitchen sink into this - but wait, I may be wrong, he may well have thrown the kitchen sink in as well - I'm sure there was a mention of dishes being done . . .
To be quite honest, I was more interested in what was going on in the lives of these three women than I was in the mystery.
I do love the lead ins to each chapter, a la Winnie-the-Pooh, e.g. CHAPTER FIVE Two friends don't fall out and a plan is hatched
My least favorite book of the series so far.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#AClockStoppedDeadJMHall #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: J.M. Hall is an author, playwright and deputy head of a primary school. His plays have been produced in theatres across the UK as well as for radio.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Avon Books UK via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of A Clock Stopped Dead by J.M. Hall for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Marguerite's podgy hand flew to her mouth, almost batting the tantric crystals clean across the scuffed floor tiles of Mrs Hall's Pantry. 'Oh goodness gracious me,' she said, and gave a neighing peal of laughter. 'You must think I'm a complete numpty!'
Pat smiled faintly, making a considerable effort not to look as if she agreed.
'I went back,' said Marguerite. 'I wasn't working this morning, so I went back to the charity shop. I wanted to go back and see how much this clock I saw cost. At that point I hadn't twigged that it wasn't real.' She paused dramatically.
'And?'
'It wasn't there!'
'The clock?'
'No, the whole shop. When I went back this morning, the whole shop had just vanished!'
ABOUT 'A CLOCK STOPPED DEAD': Retired schoolteachers and amateur sleuths Liz, Pat and Thelma are giving up their coffee morning for a brand-new mystery. The perfect cosy crime story for fans of The Thursday Murder Club, by Richard Osman
Retired teachers Pat, Liz and Thelma are happiest whiling away their hours over coffee, cake and chat at the Thirsk Garden Centre café.
But when their good friend Marguerite claims to have uncovered a mysterious charity shop that has since vanished, they simply can’t resist investigating.
Before long, our trio of unlikely sleuths find themselves embroiled in a race against the clock to get to the bottom of this mystery – but who has a secret to hide and how far will they go to keep it concealed?
MY THOUGHTS: I quite enjoyed catching up with this trio of ex-school teachers, but I didn't love it as much as I wanted to. I think, because there is simply too much dialogue. Far too much. Understandable perhaps with the author being a playwright first and foremost. So I shall temper that comment by saying 'far too much dialogue for a novel.' I find it very hard to get a sense of place or character with so much dialogue and so little of anything else.
I do love the characters, Pat, Liz and Thelma. There's a little conflict between them in this installment that leaves Pat wondering if, after twenty-five years, give or take, they were all growing apart now that the common bond of teaching that had drawn them together was gone.
There are adjustments to be made all round. Two of the women have their adult children return home unexpectedly, Pat has to come to terms with her aging, and Thelma has something to learn about her husband.
There are some beautifully humorous moments such as when Pat's husband Rod is trying to plan a holiday for them, and the feud between Polly, Thelma's workmate at a (different) charity shop, and the manager of said shop. The window display scene is priceless.
But the mystery . . . the mystery is messy and hard to follow. There are psuedo-supernatural elements that only cloud the issues, too many extra characters and simply too much going on with all the different side-stories. The author seems to have thrown everything but the kitchen sink into this - but wait, I may be wrong, he may well have thrown the kitchen sink in as well - I'm sure there was a mention of dishes being done . . .
To be quite honest, I was more interested in what was going on in the lives of these three women than I was in the mystery.
I do love the lead ins to each chapter, a la Winnie-the-Pooh, e.g. CHAPTER FIVE Two friends don't fall out and a plan is hatched
My least favorite book of the series so far.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#AClockStoppedDeadJMHall #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: J.M. Hall is an author, playwright and deputy head of a primary school. His plays have been produced in theatres across the UK as well as for radio.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Avon Books UK via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of A Clock Stopped Dead by J.M. Hall for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
March 26, 2024
This was my first book with Thelma, Pat and Liz as more or less enthusiastic amateur sleuths. And although I liked it, I think I must go back and read the first two books, because I was sometimes really struggling with these characters. At a certain point they all blended together and I had to go back and see who’s married to whom and what is happening with children moving back home and husbands changing careers. However, I’m a fan of these kind of books (no need I think to mention other authors/series here) and it turned out to be a nice read. Not spectacular though, but maybe this is because I couldn’t get my head around the ‘supernatural’ part of the story and thus on figuring out what was really happening.
What made this book enjoyable for me was the fact that Thelma, Pat and Liz are very unlikely crime solvers, and the setting of a small village where everybody knows everybody – and secrets galore!
Thanks to Avon Books and Netgalley for this review copy.
What made this book enjoyable for me was the fact that Thelma, Pat and Liz are very unlikely crime solvers, and the setting of a small village where everybody knows everybody – and secrets galore!
Thanks to Avon Books and Netgalley for this review copy.
February 15, 2024
Adorable cover but a story that never hooked me in.
This one might have suffered from me not having read book 1 or 2 but I typically find that cozy mysteries stand well on their own - because the mystery typically starts and ends in one book. But this one just did not work for me.
First, I couldn't keep track of narrators. It would change often (mid chapter, mid page, mid paragraph), each character voice sounded the same - typically the only way to tell who was who was by their kids. And WOW! The added cast of the kids and their partners and/or exes. For me, it overwhelmed the story with drama and characters I never felt connected to and was frustrated when their emotions would overwhelm the page and stop the mystery.
The fact that, at almost 90%, we're still left wondering what was going on - it was just too long and didn't hold my attention right from the get-go. I wish I'd like this one but it just didn't work for me.
This one might have suffered from me not having read book 1 or 2 but I typically find that cozy mysteries stand well on their own - because the mystery typically starts and ends in one book. But this one just did not work for me.
First, I couldn't keep track of narrators. It would change often (mid chapter, mid page, mid paragraph), each character voice sounded the same - typically the only way to tell who was who was by their kids. And WOW! The added cast of the kids and their partners and/or exes. For me, it overwhelmed the story with drama and characters I never felt connected to and was frustrated when their emotions would overwhelm the page and stop the mystery.
The fact that, at almost 90%, we're still left wondering what was going on - it was just too long and didn't hold my attention right from the get-go. I wish I'd like this one but it just didn't work for me.
October 30, 2024
A Clock Stopped Dead is the third book in the Liz, Pat and Thelma series by British playwright J.M. Hall. When part-time teacher, Maguerite McAllister has what she later decides is a vision, she tells her former colleague Pat Taylor about it: a misty night, a cancelled train, a wander down a lane into a spooky charity shop full of men’s clothing, a Napoleon clock stopped at two-fifty, and a dark presence growling out “Why have you come here?“ She flees. But when she checks the next day, it isn’t there.
Pat relays the mysterious tale to her friends, Liz and Thelma, also retired teachers, at their regular Thursday coffee chat at the Thirsk Garden Centre cafe. When they decide to check out the scene, devoid of any charity shop, they learn of a fatal car accident close by, and get talking to the younger sister of the female victim, Terri Stanley. Brid reveals that her sister was recently widowed, and had hooked up with a rather undesirable man whom she knew before she married.
Posing as potential buyers, they check out the house where Mal Stanley fell to his death, and Pat gets a weird deja-vu feeling. Even though the trio decide there’s nothing for them to find out, Pat goes with Marguerite to a psychic who tells Pat that someone has a question for her, while Liz learns from the local Vicar that Sunny View Lodge is not haunted.
As everything they learn leads to an even more complicated story, each of the women is also distracted by what’s happening at home: husbands planning older-person vacations or abandoning vicarship to deliver parcels; sons estranged from wives or hooking up with untrustworthy exes, all distracting from the main game.
While this book easily stands alone, the reader who has read the previous books might find the three (rather one-dimensional) protagonists more endearing and find it easier to distinguish their narratives. For the new reader, Liz, Pat and Thelma, except for their domestic situations, sound very much the same and, without constantly flipping back and checking, it can be difficult to remember which one of them, in this convoluted plot, knows which vital detail that hasn’t been shared when they fall out (again).
Some reviewers have said that the perpetrator is easy to pick, but perhaps the problem is more that, even at 90%, it’s unclear what crime, if any, has been committed, and by this time some readers will be either too bored, or too confused, to care. The Monday/Tuesday discrepancy never seems to be resolved. May appeal to some fans of cosy crime.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Avon Books UK.
Pat relays the mysterious tale to her friends, Liz and Thelma, also retired teachers, at their regular Thursday coffee chat at the Thirsk Garden Centre cafe. When they decide to check out the scene, devoid of any charity shop, they learn of a fatal car accident close by, and get talking to the younger sister of the female victim, Terri Stanley. Brid reveals that her sister was recently widowed, and had hooked up with a rather undesirable man whom she knew before she married.
Posing as potential buyers, they check out the house where Mal Stanley fell to his death, and Pat gets a weird deja-vu feeling. Even though the trio decide there’s nothing for them to find out, Pat goes with Marguerite to a psychic who tells Pat that someone has a question for her, while Liz learns from the local Vicar that Sunny View Lodge is not haunted.
As everything they learn leads to an even more complicated story, each of the women is also distracted by what’s happening at home: husbands planning older-person vacations or abandoning vicarship to deliver parcels; sons estranged from wives or hooking up with untrustworthy exes, all distracting from the main game.
While this book easily stands alone, the reader who has read the previous books might find the three (rather one-dimensional) protagonists more endearing and find it easier to distinguish their narratives. For the new reader, Liz, Pat and Thelma, except for their domestic situations, sound very much the same and, without constantly flipping back and checking, it can be difficult to remember which one of them, in this convoluted plot, knows which vital detail that hasn’t been shared when they fall out (again).
Some reviewers have said that the perpetrator is easy to pick, but perhaps the problem is more that, even at 90%, it’s unclear what crime, if any, has been committed, and by this time some readers will be either too bored, or too confused, to care. The Monday/Tuesday discrepancy never seems to be resolved. May appeal to some fans of cosy crime.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Avon Books UK.
March 20, 2024
'A Clock Stopped Dead' is the third time we get to hang out with Liz, Thelma and Pat. For those who don't know, these three ladies are retired teachers who meet up at a café every Thursday for cake, coffee, and a chat. But somehow they always seem to get sucked into solving a mystery, and they sure have their work cut out for them this time. I think you could possibly get away with reading this as a stand-alone, but as you should all know by now there is a law that says series should be read in order from beginning to end (😉) and if you want to get a really good feel for these characters and their relationships ... Don't skip a book.
When Marguerite's train is canceled late at night, she goes off for a walk along some foggy roads, for reasons I still can't quite fathom. She comes across a charity shop, but when she makes the visit again the next day in broad daylight, the shop is gone. Ooooh, spooky! On its own, this might not mean much to anybody. But there just happens to be a car accident in that same area on that same night, and as we all know : there is no such thing as a coincidence.
A rather intriguing mystery that probably added a few lines to my forehead along the way. I just couldn't figure out how these events were connected, what Marguerite saw or thought she saw, or even if she was entirely sane. The whole idea of spiritualism and a hint of the supernatural causes a bit of friction between Pat and Thelma as well. To believe or not to believe.
I must admit that the mystery part of the story took a bit of a backseat for me. I found I was way more invested in the lives of these three friends. There is so much going on, apart from the little differences of opinion that actually made me worry about the friendship. Someone is struggling with growing older, someone is planning a holiday, children are moving back home, someone has a change of career ... It's all quite believable and relatable. Every day issues so many of us deal with too. Despite their differences, the dynamics between Liz, Thelma and Pat work like a charm and in an odd sort of way they seem to complete one another. Even if they might not quite realise that themselves.
As for the puzzle that needed solving, it took me a while but in the end I figured things out before the reveal. Though not before Pat and Thelma, who are obviously smarter than I am. In hindsight, it all seemed rather obvious and easier to solve than the previous cases. Maybe if I hadn't been so distracted by the every day goings-on of the characters, I would have seen it earlier. Not that I'm complaining.
These three friends feel like they could easily be my friends, even if I'm not quite at their age. But it always feels as if I could just pull up a chair and join in with their conversations. Be it about what goes on at home, or solving a mystery. 'A Clock Stopped Dead' is yet another enjoyable and entertaining cosy mystery in this series and I do so hope there will be more, as I alway love spending time with Liz, Thelma and Pat.
When Marguerite's train is canceled late at night, she goes off for a walk along some foggy roads, for reasons I still can't quite fathom. She comes across a charity shop, but when she makes the visit again the next day in broad daylight, the shop is gone. Ooooh, spooky! On its own, this might not mean much to anybody. But there just happens to be a car accident in that same area on that same night, and as we all know : there is no such thing as a coincidence.
A rather intriguing mystery that probably added a few lines to my forehead along the way. I just couldn't figure out how these events were connected, what Marguerite saw or thought she saw, or even if she was entirely sane. The whole idea of spiritualism and a hint of the supernatural causes a bit of friction between Pat and Thelma as well. To believe or not to believe.
I must admit that the mystery part of the story took a bit of a backseat for me. I found I was way more invested in the lives of these three friends. There is so much going on, apart from the little differences of opinion that actually made me worry about the friendship. Someone is struggling with growing older, someone is planning a holiday, children are moving back home, someone has a change of career ... It's all quite believable and relatable. Every day issues so many of us deal with too. Despite their differences, the dynamics between Liz, Thelma and Pat work like a charm and in an odd sort of way they seem to complete one another. Even if they might not quite realise that themselves.
As for the puzzle that needed solving, it took me a while but in the end I figured things out before the reveal. Though not before Pat and Thelma, who are obviously smarter than I am. In hindsight, it all seemed rather obvious and easier to solve than the previous cases. Maybe if I hadn't been so distracted by the every day goings-on of the characters, I would have seen it earlier. Not that I'm complaining.
These three friends feel like they could easily be my friends, even if I'm not quite at their age. But it always feels as if I could just pull up a chair and join in with their conversations. Be it about what goes on at home, or solving a mystery. 'A Clock Stopped Dead' is yet another enjoyable and entertaining cosy mystery in this series and I do so hope there will be more, as I alway love spending time with Liz, Thelma and Pat.
December 12, 2023
4.5 stars
A Clock Stopped Dead is the third instalment of the adventures of retired teachers and part-time sleuths Liz, Pat and Thelma. These stories are perfect for readers looking for cosy mysteries filled with small town drama and scandal, with sometimes a little murder thrown in. I have thoroughly enjoyed J. M. Hall's story telling, of which this instalment is no exception. The characters are so ordinary and real I feel like I could bump into them in my local garden centre and there is something so charming about that.
While this is not my favourite of the three, this was a fun story with a unique twisty plot. It was more predictable than the previous books, but the stakes did feel higher and it was entertaining nonetheless.
This is a series that needs to be read in order due to learning about the lives of our amateur sleuths and references to previous books so keep that in mind!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
A Clock Stopped Dead is the third instalment of the adventures of retired teachers and part-time sleuths Liz, Pat and Thelma. These stories are perfect for readers looking for cosy mysteries filled with small town drama and scandal, with sometimes a little murder thrown in. I have thoroughly enjoyed J. M. Hall's story telling, of which this instalment is no exception. The characters are so ordinary and real I feel like I could bump into them in my local garden centre and there is something so charming about that.
While this is not my favourite of the three, this was a fun story with a unique twisty plot. It was more predictable than the previous books, but the stakes did feel higher and it was entertaining nonetheless.
This is a series that needs to be read in order due to learning about the lives of our amateur sleuths and references to previous books so keep that in mind!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 19, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for a copy. The plot sounded really interesting as I am a teacher but I struggled with the plot. The beginning hooks you in with a mysterious shop that appears one foggy night but vanishes the next. 3 friends try to discover if their friend Maggie is crazy or not. I wanted to love it but there was a lot of dialogue with the three woman with significant others/children. It felt like it didn't advance the plot and I sadly didn't finish. I wanted to love this book but for me personally, I needed a bit more action. I also know this is the third book and maybe having more background would be helpful so I will definitely read the first and learn the style of the author.
April 17, 2024
I'm having a really hard time finishing this, which is such a shame. The mystery is interesting and well paced. My problem is that it just seems so terribly sexist.
The female main characters (Pat, Liz, and Thelma) are one-dimensional. They are preoccupied with their age, their children/lack thereof, and their husbands. They are nosy and naggy with their loved ones, and they have tortured internal monologues. The men are closed off and emotionally unavailable. It's very "men are from Mars; women are from Venus", and it gives the book a very outdated vibe, despite the current-day setting and pop culture references.
And speaking of outdated, the "affair" that Liz's son Tim had with the older barmaid was not that. He was 18 and still in high school (or whatever they call it in Britain). It was really inappropriate of the barmaid to do that. I don't think they were harsh enough on how inappropriate that was.
This series, but this book especially, has drawn heavily on Agatha Christie mysteries. This one has several parts that are similar, if not identical, to Sleeping Murder. The denouement is very similar to 4:50 from Paddington. It also leans on the almost "schoolmarm" conversational style that Miss Marple would employ, like when Thelma can tell that people are lying to her. The leads also compare the people they interview to similar people from their past, like Miss Marple would do. I don't necessarily dislike that, but I think it should be more clear that these stories are modern retellings of Agatha Christies.
And how many times are you going to write "shambolic"? While we're at it, wayyyyy too many "it rang a bell in her mind, but what could it be?". It's very tiresome and gets stale fast.
Culprit is easy to guess.
Edit: Thelma not Theresa
Edit 2: Liz's son not Pat's son
The female main characters (Pat, Liz, and Thelma) are one-dimensional. They are preoccupied with their age, their children/lack thereof, and their husbands. They are nosy and naggy with their loved ones, and they have tortured internal monologues. The men are closed off and emotionally unavailable. It's very "men are from Mars; women are from Venus", and it gives the book a very outdated vibe, despite the current-day setting and pop culture references.
And speaking of outdated, the "affair" that Liz's son Tim had with the older barmaid was not that. He was 18 and still in high school (or whatever they call it in Britain). It was really inappropriate of the barmaid to do that. I don't think they were harsh enough on how inappropriate that was.
This series, but this book especially, has drawn heavily on Agatha Christie mysteries. This one has several parts that are similar, if not identical, to Sleeping Murder. The denouement is very similar to 4:50 from Paddington. It also leans on the almost "schoolmarm" conversational style that Miss Marple would employ, like when Thelma can tell that people are lying to her. The leads also compare the people they interview to similar people from their past, like Miss Marple would do. I don't necessarily dislike that, but I think it should be more clear that these stories are modern retellings of Agatha Christies.
And how many times are you going to write "shambolic"? While we're at it, wayyyyy too many "it rang a bell in her mind, but what could it be?". It's very tiresome and gets stale fast.
Culprit is easy to guess.
Edit: Thelma not Theresa
Edit 2: Liz's son not Pat's son
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2024
This is the second book I’ve read by this author, with this title being the third in the series featuring Liz, Pat & Thelma. I really enjoy this genre of books surrounding the older generation and their adventures, I find it so entertaining! As with the previous book, I loved the friendship between the women and the way they come together but also the depth, we as readers, are able to see of their individual lives. Who doesn’t love a bit of a mystery trail with a trio of brave, funny women on the case!? Thank you to @avon for the advanced copy of this title
March 22, 2024
Marguerite has had an unnerving experience.
A Clock Stopped Dead is tongue in cheek, hugely entertaining and a cracking romp of a mystery story.
The structure is incredibly well plotted. As J.M. Hall presents mini cliff-hangers throughout each chapter as well as totally engaging epigraphs at the start of each one, A Clock Stopped Dead is the kind of book to keep a reader turning the page almost against their will. I love the way that, just as you think you’ve got a handle on what is going on, something else is dropped into the plot through the nosiness or conversations of Liz, Thelma and Pat, so that the repercussions ripple outwards, drawing you in more and more. Reading A Clock Stopped Dead is a bit like watching waves on a beach – impossible to predict just how they might break each time but mesmerising.
There’s a gentle humour throughout, that is enhanced by the private thoughts and personal situations of Pat, Liz and Thelma and particularly through the words they choose not to say. Their family tribulations and relationships, their ageing anxieties and so on make them warm and relatable characters. The dynamics between the three ladies shift and reform too in a very realistic manner akin to real friendships so that J.M. Hall brings them to vivid life. In fact, once A Clock Stopped Dead is finished and the various mysteries resolved, I found the final few pages quite emotional.
Given that A Clock Stopped Dead is a cosy murder mystery that is absorbing and entertaining, what gives it extra relatability and enjoyment for the reader is the exploration of human nature presented. There’s the impact of grief, self-delusion and deception. The challenges of new relationships and established marriages, of love and friendship blend in too so that this truly feels a story concerning real people about whom the reader feels strongly. This is wonderful storytelling.
I so enjoyed A Clock Stopped Dead. I find myself wondering what the ladies are up to now and longing to read more about them
A Clock Stopped Dead is tongue in cheek, hugely entertaining and a cracking romp of a mystery story.
The structure is incredibly well plotted. As J.M. Hall presents mini cliff-hangers throughout each chapter as well as totally engaging epigraphs at the start of each one, A Clock Stopped Dead is the kind of book to keep a reader turning the page almost against their will. I love the way that, just as you think you’ve got a handle on what is going on, something else is dropped into the plot through the nosiness or conversations of Liz, Thelma and Pat, so that the repercussions ripple outwards, drawing you in more and more. Reading A Clock Stopped Dead is a bit like watching waves on a beach – impossible to predict just how they might break each time but mesmerising.
There’s a gentle humour throughout, that is enhanced by the private thoughts and personal situations of Pat, Liz and Thelma and particularly through the words they choose not to say. Their family tribulations and relationships, their ageing anxieties and so on make them warm and relatable characters. The dynamics between the three ladies shift and reform too in a very realistic manner akin to real friendships so that J.M. Hall brings them to vivid life. In fact, once A Clock Stopped Dead is finished and the various mysteries resolved, I found the final few pages quite emotional.
Given that A Clock Stopped Dead is a cosy murder mystery that is absorbing and entertaining, what gives it extra relatability and enjoyment for the reader is the exploration of human nature presented. There’s the impact of grief, self-delusion and deception. The challenges of new relationships and established marriages, of love and friendship blend in too so that this truly feels a story concerning real people about whom the reader feels strongly. This is wonderful storytelling.
I so enjoyed A Clock Stopped Dead. I find myself wondering what the ladies are up to now and longing to read more about them
April 14, 2024
I ran through this book. I have loved this series since I read the 1st book so when I heard and 3rd was out I couldn’t wait to read it. Now knowing there’s going to be some short stories and a 4th book I’m very excited.
If you want a cosy murder then this is the book and worth the read.
If you want a cosy murder then this is the book and worth the read.
December 3, 2023
***advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
The very definition of a cozy mystery; in the Richard Osman vein of older people solving crimes. I hadn’t realised this was the third of a series when I began, although it didn’t seem to make too much difference - any reference to previous antics were explained or didn’t impact greatly on the plot.
For me, this one seemed to have a little too much book for the actual plot it contained. The main characters are often mentioning or revisiting the same as-yet-unresolved issues, without making too much headway on them until quite late in the book.
I’m sure a lot of people will really enjoy this book and it’s predecessors, for me it was a little too cozy and I wanted a little more mystery and edge.
I did notice quite a lot of spelling errors and grammatical mistakes; as this is an advance reading proof I assume these will be corrected before it’s published properly.
The very definition of a cozy mystery; in the Richard Osman vein of older people solving crimes. I hadn’t realised this was the third of a series when I began, although it didn’t seem to make too much difference - any reference to previous antics were explained or didn’t impact greatly on the plot.
For me, this one seemed to have a little too much book for the actual plot it contained. The main characters are often mentioning or revisiting the same as-yet-unresolved issues, without making too much headway on them until quite late in the book.
I’m sure a lot of people will really enjoy this book and it’s predecessors, for me it was a little too cozy and I wanted a little more mystery and edge.
I did notice quite a lot of spelling errors and grammatical mistakes; as this is an advance reading proof I assume these will be corrected before it’s published properly.
February 15, 2024
A big thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
I just couldn't follow or get into this story. The chapters moved from one person to the next and there were so many things that really had nothing to do with the story. At end I really didn't care who did what to who.
I just couldn't follow or get into this story. The chapters moved from one person to the next and there were so many things that really had nothing to do with the story. At end I really didn't care who did what to who.
May 20, 2024
As a general rule, I don't like giving a 1 star but this really was not an enjoyable read. I had some many moments when I muttered 'just get on with it' 😡😡 The only reason I suffered theough it, is I don't like not finishing a book more!
August 11, 2024
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
A Clock Stopped Dead is the third cozy mystery featuring retired teachers Liz, Pat, and Thelma by J.M. Hall. Released 11th March 2023 by HarperCollins on their Avon, UK imprint, it's 330 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
The ladies are back on the trail when an acquaintance describes a disappearing charity shop and twigs their interest into getting to the bottom of things, which leads indirectly to more serious skullduggery. The entire "disappearing shop" trope is fascinating (and a little creepy) and the author does a great job running with the setup.
The protagonists are believable and appealing. The writing is smoother than the debut book, and the mystery well wrought and satisfying. The author has apparently found his stride. It is, however, VERY dialogue heavy and sometimes a trifle unwieldy for that reason. The audiobook might be a good compromise in this case.
Despite being the third book in the series, it works well as a standalone, although the ongoing interpersonal relationships and developments from earlier books will possibly give some spoilers for their earlier history.
Four stars. This would be a good choice for fans of Osman's excellent Thursday Murder club books, as well as Laurien Berenson's Peg & Rose series.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
A Clock Stopped Dead is the third cozy mystery featuring retired teachers Liz, Pat, and Thelma by J.M. Hall. Released 11th March 2023 by HarperCollins on their Avon, UK imprint, it's 330 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
The ladies are back on the trail when an acquaintance describes a disappearing charity shop and twigs their interest into getting to the bottom of things, which leads indirectly to more serious skullduggery. The entire "disappearing shop" trope is fascinating (and a little creepy) and the author does a great job running with the setup.
The protagonists are believable and appealing. The writing is smoother than the debut book, and the mystery well wrought and satisfying. The author has apparently found his stride. It is, however, VERY dialogue heavy and sometimes a trifle unwieldy for that reason. The audiobook might be a good compromise in this case.
Despite being the third book in the series, it works well as a standalone, although the ongoing interpersonal relationships and developments from earlier books will possibly give some spoilers for their earlier history.
Four stars. This would be a good choice for fans of Osman's excellent Thursday Murder club books, as well as Laurien Berenson's Peg & Rose series.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
September 26, 2024
I’m new to all this reading lark and didn’t realise this was book 3 of a series until my friend pointed it out 😂 in hindsight I should have stopped reading and read the others first as I was confused by the characters background/families etc all through the book, although it didn’t impact my understanding, it was hard following all the names and who was related to who etc. I enjoyed this book but it was fairly slow in the middle. I did however like how at the end it all tied together and no stone was left unturned and I deffo didn’t see the twist/ending coming!
September 25, 2024
It was ok.
It wasn’t the Richard Osman kind of thing I was expecting or hoping for, and the characters are slightly underwhelming. If you pay attention and read it fast, it’ll probably be a bit better, but some overused phrases, cliché stereotyping, and slow plot lines made me bored whilst reading it, so it took a while.
The overall plot and ending was fairly good though, which is why it’s more like 3.5 stars.
It wasn’t the Richard Osman kind of thing I was expecting or hoping for, and the characters are slightly underwhelming. If you pay attention and read it fast, it’ll probably be a bit better, but some overused phrases, cliché stereotyping, and slow plot lines made me bored whilst reading it, so it took a while.
The overall plot and ending was fairly good though, which is why it’s more like 3.5 stars.
August 3, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I feel like it was a solid book, and maybe a few mini shocks but ultimately quite predictable. Like I guessed what had happened with the death, I just didn't know who did it so props to me I guess. I don't think its my favourite, but also the winter January vibes were not the one on the warmest week of the year, so that probably doesn't help my view of the book lol.
I feel like it was a solid book, and maybe a few mini shocks but ultimately quite predictable. Like I guessed what had happened with the death, I just didn't know who did it so props to me I guess. I don't think its my favourite, but also the winter January vibes were not the one on the warmest week of the year, so that probably doesn't help my view of the book lol.
October 9, 2024
A nice and cosy mystery - want to read the others in the series when I’m up in Yorkshire!
January 29, 2025
Another pleasant well constructed story easy reading and thoughtful writing
November 10, 2024
A bit long winded for me altho not a bad plot.
November 11, 2024
This was actually really good . I'm definitely gonna be listening/ reading more of his books
March 11, 2024
A disappearing charity shop is the scene of a tragic car accident one foggy January evening. Pat, Thelma and Liz investigate the spooky goings-on and encounter events which put their friendship to the test.
A Clock Stopped Dead by J. M. Hall is the third book in a series featuring retired primary school teachers Pat, Thelma and Liz, and is set in North Yorkshire. The book sits well in the cosy crime genre and can easily be read as a standalone novel, however, reading the previous two books will give you an insight into a few of the characters mentioned in this book.
The story has a supernatural element right from the beginning and this thread is continued throughout the book. Marguerite, an ex-colleague of the investigative trio, wanders down an isolated country lane and stumbles across a mysterious charity shop. Upon entering the shop she feels that something isn't quite right, and when a strange apparition appears she bolts. Returning the next day Marguerite finds only a piece of waste ground, the charity shop has disappeared.
Hearing about the eerie event Pat, Thelma and Liz are sceptical until they learn that a woman was killed in a car accident in the same spot at the same time. The trio begin to wonder if there is something to their friend's story and begin to investigate.
The investigation leads to a troubled family and a house that seems to be frozen in time. Pat in particular is affected by the house, she has a sense of deja vu, and this maintains the ghostly theme.
Strong feelings about whether they should be supporting Marguerite's belief that mysterious forces are at play causes a rift in the trio. The rift is widened as they go off in separate directions investigating and Pat makes a new friend, Jamie. I did like Jamie, although he was stereotypical, as he allowed us to see a different side to Pat.
Set around North Yorkshire means that the places mentioned are familiar and I felt as if I was with the trio when places were visited. What really endears me to the books though are the characters. I love how Pat, Thelma and Liz use their skills developed as primary school teachers to help them solve crimes; organised, teacher stares, using silence as an interrogation technique and knowing when someone, even an adult, is lying.
All the different threads come together in the conclusion. What had happened and why were not a surprise but I certainly hadn't figured out how and who.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on Twitter
@Debbie_Hart_UK
or on Threads
@debbiehartuk
A Clock Stopped Dead by J. M. Hall is the third book in a series featuring retired primary school teachers Pat, Thelma and Liz, and is set in North Yorkshire. The book sits well in the cosy crime genre and can easily be read as a standalone novel, however, reading the previous two books will give you an insight into a few of the characters mentioned in this book.
The story has a supernatural element right from the beginning and this thread is continued throughout the book. Marguerite, an ex-colleague of the investigative trio, wanders down an isolated country lane and stumbles across a mysterious charity shop. Upon entering the shop she feels that something isn't quite right, and when a strange apparition appears she bolts. Returning the next day Marguerite finds only a piece of waste ground, the charity shop has disappeared.
Hearing about the eerie event Pat, Thelma and Liz are sceptical until they learn that a woman was killed in a car accident in the same spot at the same time. The trio begin to wonder if there is something to their friend's story and begin to investigate.
The investigation leads to a troubled family and a house that seems to be frozen in time. Pat in particular is affected by the house, she has a sense of deja vu, and this maintains the ghostly theme.
Strong feelings about whether they should be supporting Marguerite's belief that mysterious forces are at play causes a rift in the trio. The rift is widened as they go off in separate directions investigating and Pat makes a new friend, Jamie. I did like Jamie, although he was stereotypical, as he allowed us to see a different side to Pat.
Set around North Yorkshire means that the places mentioned are familiar and I felt as if I was with the trio when places were visited. What really endears me to the books though are the characters. I love how Pat, Thelma and Liz use their skills developed as primary school teachers to help them solve crimes; organised, teacher stares, using silence as an interrogation technique and knowing when someone, even an adult, is lying.
All the different threads come together in the conclusion. What had happened and why were not a surprise but I certainly hadn't figured out how and who.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on Twitter
@Debbie_Hart_UK
or on Threads
@debbiehartuk
March 19, 2024
A disappearing charity shop. A ghostly apparition. A clock that is stopped but still ticks. A death. Thelma, Pat and Liz are on the case!
This book was basically Scooby-Doo meets the Thursday Murder Club. Three retired school teachers get sucked into a murder mystery involving a possibly haunted house. The set up was fantastic.
I really liked the relationship between the three characters. Their friendship was so solid and wholesome. They really did build each other up. The side characters were also introduced well, and despite there being a lot of them they were all fairly distinct.
As the book wore on, though, I felt that there was just too much happening. There were too many sub plots trying to throw you off and give you - and the budding detectives - red herrings that I just ended up a bit confused. I also started to struggle to tell the three main characters apart. At points in the story they split up, and chapters would jump between each of them describing concurrent events. I liked the writing style, but I found myself struggling to remember which character was which. None of the had any really distinctive traits, and more than once I found myself doing mental gymnastics trying to remember whose husband had suddenly popped up.
I really wanted to love this. The blurb was brilliant, and it started off so strong, but I feel it lost some of it's identity and tried to do too much by the end
This book was basically Scooby-Doo meets the Thursday Murder Club. Three retired school teachers get sucked into a murder mystery involving a possibly haunted house. The set up was fantastic.
I really liked the relationship between the three characters. Their friendship was so solid and wholesome. They really did build each other up. The side characters were also introduced well, and despite there being a lot of them they were all fairly distinct.
As the book wore on, though, I felt that there was just too much happening. There were too many sub plots trying to throw you off and give you - and the budding detectives - red herrings that I just ended up a bit confused. I also started to struggle to tell the three main characters apart. At points in the story they split up, and chapters would jump between each of them describing concurrent events. I liked the writing style, but I found myself struggling to remember which character was which. None of the had any really distinctive traits, and more than once I found myself doing mental gymnastics trying to remember whose husband had suddenly popped up.
I really wanted to love this. The blurb was brilliant, and it started off so strong, but I feel it lost some of it's identity and tried to do too much by the end
April 13, 2024
Location: Thirsk, UK 🇬🇧
Conclusion: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The plot would probably get a 3.5⭐️ rating this time, but I feel that the author put effort into refining the characters more than in the previous books and that brings me to a 4⭐️ rating. I enjoyed this 3rd book of the series very much again although the mystery was very abstract at times. On the other hand that kept me guessing which probably was the intention! I hope the series continues!
Characters:
Liz, Thelma and Pat: I’ve been criticising in book 1&2 that the characters were not very distinct and difficult to pick apart. I have to say that for better in this 3rd book! All three are retired teachers and very cute characters. I still liked all of their personalities, and this time especially Pat and Liz were playing a bigger role for the story.
What I liked: that the characters were a bit more refined than in the previous books.
What I disliked: the story was at times slightly confusing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! (AD-PRODUCT)
Conclusion: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The plot would probably get a 3.5⭐️ rating this time, but I feel that the author put effort into refining the characters more than in the previous books and that brings me to a 4⭐️ rating. I enjoyed this 3rd book of the series very much again although the mystery was very abstract at times. On the other hand that kept me guessing which probably was the intention! I hope the series continues!
Characters:
Liz, Thelma and Pat: I’ve been criticising in book 1&2 that the characters were not very distinct and difficult to pick apart. I have to say that for better in this 3rd book! All three are retired teachers and very cute characters. I still liked all of their personalities, and this time especially Pat and Liz were playing a bigger role for the story.
What I liked: that the characters were a bit more refined than in the previous books.
What I disliked: the story was at times slightly confusing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! (AD-PRODUCT)
April 11, 2024
A mystery to keep the reader hooked!
Pat, Liz and Thelma regularly meet for coffee at the garden centre; they like nothing more than a good puzzle to work the little grey cells so when they hear of a friend who had a strange experience in a bit of a creepy charity shop, they decide to investigate - only now the charity shop has vanished. What is going on?
I loved the characters in this one; they may be ex-teachers but old habits die hard! How does a shop just vanish? That's the big question. Now, while I enjoy a really enigmatic mystery I like things to be plausible .. I'm not really a fan of fantasy or magic realism and I felt this one wandered into that. However, that's my personal preferences and it doesn't take away from the fact this this is a very well-written, well-planned novel which, I'm sure, other mystery fans will love more than me. However, for me, it's four stars.
Pat, Liz and Thelma regularly meet for coffee at the garden centre; they like nothing more than a good puzzle to work the little grey cells so when they hear of a friend who had a strange experience in a bit of a creepy charity shop, they decide to investigate - only now the charity shop has vanished. What is going on?
I loved the characters in this one; they may be ex-teachers but old habits die hard! How does a shop just vanish? That's the big question. Now, while I enjoy a really enigmatic mystery I like things to be plausible .. I'm not really a fan of fantasy or magic realism and I felt this one wandered into that. However, that's my personal preferences and it doesn't take away from the fact this this is a very well-written, well-planned novel which, I'm sure, other mystery fans will love more than me. However, for me, it's four stars.
April 18, 2024
DNF Almost got half way through, but it really was mind numbingly dull. Two dimensional characters, a plot that dragged along, and a very simplistic writing style. The author is apparently a retired British school teacher, so why on earth does he used “gotten” and “the get go”? Both abominations, and highly unlikely to be used by women in this age group
September 16, 2024
This cozy mystery has the twist of not being about a murder but instead an unexplained fatal traffic accident at the site of a disappearing charity shop. Marguerite, an eccentric retired teacher, in search of toilet facilities in a fog when her train is cancelled, stumbles upon a sinister charity shop where a looming figure scares her. When she goes back next day, it has gone so she brings it to the attention of ex-colleague Pat, one of a trio of retired teachers who, it seems, have previously investigated crimes. (I discovered after reading this that it's book 3 in a series.)
Pat, Liz and Thelma then launch into an investigation which at times gives them grave concerns and almost leads to their abandoning it, but they get there in the end. Obstacles along the way include distractions of everyday life: the grown sons of two women return home due to relationship problems and Thelma's husband prefers the long hours and tiring work of being a courier instead of his previous position as lecturer at a theology college. Pat struggles with the notion of turning sixty, reluctant to embark on the coach tour her husband is keen on, and flattered by the attentions of a younger though gay man who encourages her to relive her party-going younger lifestyle. There's a rift in the friendship of the three women when Pat accompanies Marguerite to a medium, despite the fierce disapproval of Thelma who has deep religious convictions (though she doesn't impose them on others but finds her relationship with God a solace especially in view of her regrets at remaining childless after several miscarriages).
I quite enjoyed the story and thought the interactions of the three friends were well interwoven. Where I found it less successful was the lack of editing. The author often reveals information in an untimely manner. For example, one character is having a conversation with a vicar for a few pages, then the vicar stands up. This was jarring as there had been nothing in the scene to indicate that the characters were sitting down. There are two mentions close together late in the story of Thelma wearing glasses yet I don't recall anything about that before. And there's a reference to something that Pat is supposed to have said in the previous scene with an estate agent, when they went round the house of the car crash victim on the pretence of wanting to buy it. The way it's written, it sounds as if Pat remembered visiting the house before, yet quite a bit of the 'supernatural' theme is based upon Pat's supposed vision of something that happened there. I think it's just awkwardly written but I went back to the previous scene thinking I had missed something. It would have been better to have had the estate agent's dialogue in the previous scene and dealt with Pat's deja vu then since she had that sensation later in the scene anyway. As it is, the reader is left puzzled as to why she thinks she's had a supernatural experience when she has admitted she's just remembering being there years before at a garden party.
Another problem for me is the constant 'headhopping' between characters. In the aforementioned scene at the house it switches between Pat and Liz every few paragraphs. I found this contributed to my difficulty in keeping those two apart. It didn't help that both had sons who unexpectedly arrived wanting to stay after a relationship break up. I was fine with Thelma who had sufficient individuality to distinguish her, but the other two blurred.
Given the aforementioned issues, I can only give this three stars but wouldn't rule out reading another as it was fairly well written, certainly better than several other recently published novels I've read in the cosy crime genre.
Pat, Liz and Thelma then launch into an investigation which at times gives them grave concerns and almost leads to their abandoning it, but they get there in the end. Obstacles along the way include distractions of everyday life: the grown sons of two women return home due to relationship problems and Thelma's husband prefers the long hours and tiring work of being a courier instead of his previous position as lecturer at a theology college. Pat struggles with the notion of turning sixty, reluctant to embark on the coach tour her husband is keen on, and flattered by the attentions of a younger though gay man who encourages her to relive her party-going younger lifestyle. There's a rift in the friendship of the three women when Pat accompanies Marguerite to a medium, despite the fierce disapproval of Thelma who has deep religious convictions (though she doesn't impose them on others but finds her relationship with God a solace especially in view of her regrets at remaining childless after several miscarriages).
I quite enjoyed the story and thought the interactions of the three friends were well interwoven. Where I found it less successful was the lack of editing. The author often reveals information in an untimely manner. For example, one character is having a conversation with a vicar for a few pages, then the vicar stands up. This was jarring as there had been nothing in the scene to indicate that the characters were sitting down. There are two mentions close together late in the story of Thelma wearing glasses yet I don't recall anything about that before. And there's a reference to something that Pat is supposed to have said in the previous scene with an estate agent, when they went round the house of the car crash victim on the pretence of wanting to buy it. The way it's written, it sounds as if Pat remembered visiting the house before, yet quite a bit of the 'supernatural' theme is based upon Pat's supposed vision of something that happened there. I think it's just awkwardly written but I went back to the previous scene thinking I had missed something. It would have been better to have had the estate agent's dialogue in the previous scene and dealt with Pat's deja vu then since she had that sensation later in the scene anyway. As it is, the reader is left puzzled as to why she thinks she's had a supernatural experience when she has admitted she's just remembering being there years before at a garden party.
Another problem for me is the constant 'headhopping' between characters. In the aforementioned scene at the house it switches between Pat and Liz every few paragraphs. I found this contributed to my difficulty in keeping those two apart. It didn't help that both had sons who unexpectedly arrived wanting to stay after a relationship break up. I was fine with Thelma who had sufficient individuality to distinguish her, but the other two blurred.
Given the aforementioned issues, I can only give this three stars but wouldn't rule out reading another as it was fairly well written, certainly better than several other recently published novels I've read in the cosy crime genre.
April 14, 2024
A woman of a certain age named Marguerite is stuck on a rail platform on a cold, foggy night, her intended train having been cancelled, and with an hour-long wait for the next. All of the station services are closed and she’s feeling her bladder calling out for relief, so she sets off for a pub she remembers being just a little way down the road. The pub is closed, so she goes a bit further and finds what looks like a charity shop with its lights on. Inside, it’s strange, with a stopped clock and odd bits and pieces, including a lot of men’s clothing, but no women’s or children’s clothing or goods. A threatening voice frightens Marguerite so that she runs off.
After hearing this story, the three friends Liz, Pat, and Thelma, all retired schoolteachers, decide to look into this. But when they go to the location Marguerite describes, there is no charity shop. Is Marguerite’s odd story somehow connected with a terrible car crash in the vicinity a little later that same night, in which a young woman drove off at speed, crashed, and was killed?
This third novel in the Liz, Pat, and Thelma series mixes the women’s investigation with what is happening in their lives. Pat and Liz both have adult sons who have unexpectedly come home. Pat’s college-age some Liam, has apparently had a break-up with his boyfriend, not that he is willing to talk with Pat about it. Liz’s some Timothy seems to be having marital problems, but is just as close-mouthed with Pat as Liam is with his mother. Thelma and her husband have no children, but Thelma is struggling with her husband Teddy’s decision to work a delivery-service job rather than return to his teaching position at a religious college.
The strains in their personal lives contribute to some conflicts between them, making them wonder if their long friendship from the days they taught in the same school will not survive their retirement lives. But whatever is going on at home and with the friends, it doesn’t stop their desire to figure out happened that foggy night—and what led that young woman to speed to her death.
The mystery plot is a bit murky and meandering, but if you pay attention, enough hints are dropped along the way that you should be able to figure out what happened, even if not all the details of whodunnit and why. As usual with these books, there is some gentle humor, mostly around the issues of aging. I enjoy listening to this series because of its narrator, Julie Hesmondhalgh. She has a strong and distinctive northern accent that I, as an American, have to listen to carefully to be sure I understand. But her voice lends an air of authenticity to the north Yorkshire setting.
The one problem I continue to have with these books is that it can be hard to distinguish among the three women. I find it fairly easy to keep Thelma straight because she’s the one without children, and she’s also religious (though she isn’t at all pushy about her religion). Pat and Liz, though, are another story. Two one-syllable names, and each has a son. I know enough about their families that I can keep them straight in relation to them, but when it’s just the three women, it’s often tough for me to see much personality difference between the two. It’s not a big enough problem to make me stop enjoying the books, but I wish the author could come up with something to distinguish them more strongly.
3.5 stars, rounded to 4.
After hearing this story, the three friends Liz, Pat, and Thelma, all retired schoolteachers, decide to look into this. But when they go to the location Marguerite describes, there is no charity shop. Is Marguerite’s odd story somehow connected with a terrible car crash in the vicinity a little later that same night, in which a young woman drove off at speed, crashed, and was killed?
This third novel in the Liz, Pat, and Thelma series mixes the women’s investigation with what is happening in their lives. Pat and Liz both have adult sons who have unexpectedly come home. Pat’s college-age some Liam, has apparently had a break-up with his boyfriend, not that he is willing to talk with Pat about it. Liz’s some Timothy seems to be having marital problems, but is just as close-mouthed with Pat as Liam is with his mother. Thelma and her husband have no children, but Thelma is struggling with her husband Teddy’s decision to work a delivery-service job rather than return to his teaching position at a religious college.
The strains in their personal lives contribute to some conflicts between them, making them wonder if their long friendship from the days they taught in the same school will not survive their retirement lives. But whatever is going on at home and with the friends, it doesn’t stop their desire to figure out happened that foggy night—and what led that young woman to speed to her death.
The mystery plot is a bit murky and meandering, but if you pay attention, enough hints are dropped along the way that you should be able to figure out what happened, even if not all the details of whodunnit and why. As usual with these books, there is some gentle humor, mostly around the issues of aging. I enjoy listening to this series because of its narrator, Julie Hesmondhalgh. She has a strong and distinctive northern accent that I, as an American, have to listen to carefully to be sure I understand. But her voice lends an air of authenticity to the north Yorkshire setting.
The one problem I continue to have with these books is that it can be hard to distinguish among the three women. I find it fairly easy to keep Thelma straight because she’s the one without children, and she’s also religious (though she isn’t at all pushy about her religion). Pat and Liz, though, are another story. Two one-syllable names, and each has a son. I know enough about their families that I can keep them straight in relation to them, but when it’s just the three women, it’s often tough for me to see much personality difference between the two. It’s not a big enough problem to make me stop enjoying the books, but I wish the author could come up with something to distinguish them more strongly.
3.5 stars, rounded to 4.
November 7, 2023
A charity shop that disappeared overnight, a fatal car crash just round the corner. Coincidence or connected and, if so, how and why? Marguerite, the scatty friend of Liz, Pat, and Thelma, tells them she’s had a psychic experience in which, while lost in a fog, she entered a strange Charity Shop, which had disappeared completely when she went back the following day. Sceptical, but knowing her propensity for getting the wrong end of the stick, the three retired teachers go to check on this mysterious shop, but are impeded by the aftermath of a car crash in which a woman had driven at speed from the lane (it’s basically a track behind some houses containing some derelict outbuildings) where the shop was reportedly situated. Confirming that there is no shop in the lane, the trio wonder what Marguerite actually saw and whether or not it is connected to the crash. The dead woman, wealthy after being recently widowed, was known for being a safe and careful driver, not known for speeding under any circumstance. The state of the track and the absence of any obvious reason also raises the question of why the woman was there in the first place. Sitting around their favourite table in the Garden Centre, the three friends start puzzling it out. I say “puzzling” because investigating is too organised a term. In truth they mostly continue with their normal activities. Gradually they accrue scraps of information which build a picture of a crime, although it is not clear what type of crime nor how many of their suspects are actually involved. Meanwhile, domestic issues like husband problems, grown up children problems, get in the way, not to mention Marguerite’s increasing interest in her ‘psychic’ powers which threatens to drag Pat into what the more rational Thelma and Liz consider to be nonsense.
This is the third in a series but works as a standalone. The stories feature Liz, Pat, and Thelma, all around the sixty mark, retired teachers with a unique view on human fallibility. That view is mainly that adults display the same psychological features as children and their motivation can be deduced from this – a quite sensible idea. I reviewed the earlier books and can see that my opinions then are still apposite now. “The three women are all very different and extremely well drawn characters, with detailed family backgrounds that clearly show why they act, individually and collectively, in the way they do when sleuthing. The plot is carefully assembled, rather like a patchwork quilt, with each element placed just so. As a mystery story it is not particularly complicated, but the writing is so good that you find yourself invested in these women and their progress.” If cosy crime is your preferred form (or even if it isn’t) then you must read this book, and its predecessors. If you like well plotted and literate stories then read this book, even if crime isn’t your usual genre.
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.
This is the third in a series but works as a standalone. The stories feature Liz, Pat, and Thelma, all around the sixty mark, retired teachers with a unique view on human fallibility. That view is mainly that adults display the same psychological features as children and their motivation can be deduced from this – a quite sensible idea. I reviewed the earlier books and can see that my opinions then are still apposite now. “The three women are all very different and extremely well drawn characters, with detailed family backgrounds that clearly show why they act, individually and collectively, in the way they do when sleuthing. The plot is carefully assembled, rather like a patchwork quilt, with each element placed just so. As a mystery story it is not particularly complicated, but the writing is so good that you find yourself invested in these women and their progress.” If cosy crime is your preferred form (or even if it isn’t) then you must read this book, and its predecessors. If you like well plotted and literate stories then read this book, even if crime isn’t your usual genre.
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.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews