Retired Yorkshire school teachers Liz, Pat and Thelma meet up every Thursday morning for "coffee o'clock" at at the Thirsk Garden Centre Café.

We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners.Hall explores the desperate measures some people will take to make ends meet, the rights and wrongs of justice – and the junk mail, so much of it announcing fabulous offers, but never living up to expectation. Three retired schoolteachers who meet up with each other every Thursday (and there’s a completely believable reasoning behind why it has to be a Thursday) for cake, coffee and a chat about children and grandchildren. Childless, and married to a college professor, she fills her days with charity work - hiding a heartbreaking secret.

After all, she was in the early stages of dementia, her daughter, who normally took care of her, was away for the weekend, and many senior citizens in the area had been targeted by a scam to get their money. During this surprise encounter the girls are concerned for Topsy after she shares some insights into her life that aren’t quite right. His first novel, A Spoonful of Murder, is about retired primary school teachers who turn to sleuthing. One week they are sitting down to coffee and cake when Topsy and her daughter, Kelly Anne walk into the cafe. This book follows ex colleagues Liz, Pat and Thelma as they meet up every Thursday to catch up on each other’s lives.The story touches upon issues such as elder care and financial exploitation of vulnerable individuals by fraudulent entities, both of which are important issues. Sprinkled between 3 retired ladies trying to solve a mystery there are the normal anxieties and worries of every day life. There are some male characters (notable for their youth, hardiness around the home or dastardly dealing with elderly ladies) but the main roles are all female and rather insipid. Lots twists and turns, this is a great debut' NetGalley review, 'This book is a joy, I really, really loved it.