A Brush with Death is the fourth cozy mystery featuring retired teachers Liz, Pat, and Thelma by J.M. Hall. Released 13th March 2025 by HarperCollins on their Avon, UK imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents.
The ladies are back on the trail when a former (unlamented) acquaintance's heart attack might not be all it seems. The ex-wife's convinced it's dodgy. So the stalwart ladies dive in again amidst enormous amounts (mountains) of village gossip, long held grudges, and eccentric motives. The language is clean, the vibe is cozy, and the denouement and resolution are tidy and satisfying.
The protagonists are believable, down to earth, and appealing. The writing is smoother than the earlier books, 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.
Despite being the fourth 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. It's not derivative, but it does have the same general vibe.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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