I clearly read far too many dark and twisty books, as this wasn’t quite there for me in terms of thrills, BUT it wasn’t meant to be - and for that, I thoroughly enjoyed it! As always the book was well written with a captivating story line and well developed characters that I loved instantly both old and new. I also liked how this book focused on previous things from the other books coming to a head and Margentine as they are lovingly called in my head, accepting that they have been affected and may need some help. The two main characters, Margery and Clementine are not interesting at all. I couldn't even like them at the start of the book, they seemed like nasty older ladies and even to each other. They're both in their early 60's but it's clear the writer has no idea what that means. The author mentions one of them having an ear horn and they sit and watch Antiques Roadshow and knit and not much else. At one point they even mention that telephone operators don't plug calls in anymore. That stopped before either of the women were born. A DNF for several reasons and I gave this about 20% more than I usually would. First, the use of terms other than "said", e.g., she wailed, she hissed, she cried, etc., was distracting to the point of mania. Second, who are these main characters? What am I supposed to feel or think about them? Clementine is a collection of tics and quirks with no anchor, as if the author decided that "take an asshole but make them an old woman" was enough. She is, in my opinion, an emotionally abusive partner and a deeply unpleasant person to spend your reading time with. Margery is a flat cipher - is she an active thinker? I get the feeling that I'm supposed to interact with her like Rose from the Golden Girls but she's such a wet sponge with an inconsistent intellectual presence that I found it impossible to engage with her. Am I supposed to glean information from the fact that her favorite breakfast is tea and plain toast? If yes, what is it?? Why is it?? Finally, the mystery isn't even worth getting into at this point because, truly, at halfway through the book I'm not sure the author or their creations care. Not a recommend.

An Unfortunate Christmas Murder: A charming and festive

It just got more improbable as the book progressed, and I rapidly lost interest. I seriously considered abandoning the read several times, but having invested a week of reading time, I forced myself to finish. Margery and Clementine are enjoying a peaceful life together in the small, idyllic town of Dewstow, and eagerly awaiting retirement (and the next episode of Antiques Roadshow ). But their calm life is shattered when their kitchen manager is found dead. The police are adamant that it’s an open-and-shut case of accidental death. But Margery and Clementine are convinced there’s something far more nefarious going on, and they take it upon themselves to investigate. As they inch closer to the truth, it becomes clear that someone will stop at nothing to keep the pair quiet. The Dinner Lady Detectives, Margery and Clementine Butcher-Baker find themselves twisted up in the suspicious murder of Mr Weaver.Reading this made me realize that I don’t read many cozy mysteries, and I should definitely change that! I also get why its called “cozy”. Snuggled up with a blanket and my drink, this was a perfect read. There was a murder to be solved, but there wasn’t the “terror” normally accompanied with thrillers, that are looking to reach the same whodunnit goal. Instead, you are just following around these Dinner Lady Detectives as they try to figure out the murder using the resources a civilian has. And boy, the way they go about things is humorous. Yes, there is suspense, as there are risk with dealing in catching a murderer, but not the same level as a horror thriller. I could tell I was missing some context, as I have not read the prior books, and some of it was spoiled, but that’s okay. That’s on me. Nevertheless, I still loved these ladies.

The Dinner Lady Detectives: Someone in Dewstow Has an

All in all, this is a brilliant cozy mystery and I can’t wait to see what happens next in the series! I did like Clementine and Margery, a couple of some thirty years living quietly in the tiny village of Dewstow, South Wales, but I sometimes had difficulty distinguishing between them. The rest of the cast was problematic in that few held much appeal, including the victim who had a fondness for mean-spirited pranks. Mrs Hughes?' Margery said, struggling to find her voice. 'You can't mean Caroline Caroline Hughes?' If I could describe TDLD I would say it’s Victoria Wood’s Dinnerladies meets Diagnosis Murder. It honestly is the definition of a cozy murder mystery. And I LOVED it! I love Margery and Clem. They are perfect for one another. They are hilarious…the banter, wit, sarcasm, and one-liners are laugh out loud and beyond sassy. There is a perfect balance between heartfelt sentiment and dark humor.The mystery itself was pretty good. No absolutely insane twists or anything, but it keeps one guessing (or it kept me guessing, at least), and it wasn't too unrealistic.

The Dinner Lady Detectives (4 book series) Kindle edition The Dinner Lady Detectives (4 book series) Kindle edition

Their calm life is shattered when their kitchen manager is found dead in the school's walk-in freezer. The police are adamant that it's an open-and-shut case of accidental death. Margery and Clementine are convinced there's something far more nefarious going on, and they take it upon themselves to investigate. A delightful, quintessentially British cosy mystery perfect for fans of SJ Bennett and Robert Thorogood. This was my first time reading books by Hannah Hendy and I can’t wait to read the other books in the dinner lady detectives series. Praise for The Dinner Lady Detectives 'This cosy crime novel has some hilarious moments and is perfect to curl up with .' Heat This is the 4th instalment in the Dinner Lady Detectives series. And I feel it is the best one yet.MY THOUGHTS: There have been a few good muder-mysteries released this year featuring older protagonists. I was hoping that The Dinner Lady Detectives was going to join the group but it became evident very early on that this was not to be. Margery and Clementine Butcher-Baker are dinner ladies at Summerview Secondary School; as the half-term break approaches, the school grapevine is full of all the usual gossip as well as where Mr Weaver, Matns, has got to as he hasn't turned up for days. That mystery is soon solved when, out for an evening walk, the two women discover his body beside a tree with some kind of symbol painted on it. As things with the strange markings continue to appear and strange goings-on occur, the Dinner Lady Detectives find themselves once again on the front line of solving crime - but are they putting themselves in danger? I cannot wait to read the next book (please say there will be one!!!!!!) and highly recommend this gem. The one thing I liked about this was the longterm essentially marriage between two women. Otherwise, unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed with this book for these reasons: