A Brush With Death by J. M. Hall

Cleaner Chelsey Barlow is rushing to clean one of the holiday cottages on her route when she discovers the body of the owner, Neville Hilton. The look on his face, head thrown back as if he was howling, fills her with terror. Something just doesn't feel right. Apart from the dead body, the holiday let is immaculately tidy and there's a strange yellow line painted on the living room wall. Hopefully, retired teachers Liz, Pat and Thelma will be able to figure out what happened.

Aspiring writers are frequently told to write about what they know, to write about something they are passionate about. Author J. M. Hall has done just that in his Liz, Pat & Thelma series which features three retired primary school teachers who solve mysteries. A Brush With Death comes across as his most passionate book in the series. I love these books, which are frequently compared with The Thursday Murder Club series. I've thoroughly enjoyed reading both series but I find myself identifying with this series more often as I'm a retired teacher myself and the setting is North Yorkshire so many of the locations are familiar.

The description of the discovery of the body of Neville Hilton immediately brings a sense of dread, along with lots of questions. If someone had been staying in the holiday cottage why was it so clean? What was Neville doing in the cottage? Why had the tenant left early? Why is there a mysterious yellow line painted on the wall? When it is decided that Neville died of a heart attack it would have been easy to brush these questions aside if it hadn't been for Neville's ex-wife, Jax, convinced that something untoward had happened. When something disturbing happens in North Yorkshire the locals know that they can rely on Liz, Pat and Thelma to investigate.

It's the skills the three women have honed as primary school teachers that make the story so enjoyable. They are excellent at asking probing questions and know immediately when someone is lying. They're organised, meticulous, dogged, and can think outside the box, all of which means they leave no stone unturned as they dig into Neville's final hours.

Much of the investigation focuses on Neville's role as an Ofsted inspector. Having survived quite a few Ofsted inspections in my career everything that was written rang true for me, particularly the emphasis academy chains place on "Ofsted preparedness". The impact of inspections on staff and schools has been carefully woven into the mystery, showing the devastating consequences of a poor judgment. As I read my emotions constantly switched between immense sadness and all-consuming rage. This element of the storyline will probably resonate more with anyone who has worked in a school but I hope it sheds a light for those readers not as closely connected.

As the investigation takes various twists and turns the three women also have to balance issues taking place in their own lives, all of which make you feel as if any of them could be a relative, neighbour or friend. Liz is struggling to manage her diabetes, luckily her young grandson is on a crusade and is ensuring her diet is healthy. Pat has her son and his girlfriend living at home. They're arguing and Pat doesn't want to interfere but she can't help worrying. Thelma is keeping secrets from everyone, she's worried about a mysterious letter she's received but doesn't want to share its contents.

During the search for answers we meet a range of characters, some are prickly, others are engaging. Those who work closely with children come across as passionate about their jobs and show the numerous ways individuals and schools go above and beyond for the children in their care.

Passion is the crux of the story. By the conclusion, I felt incredibly sad for the way in which different people had been impacted by events and the demise of another. Luckily, there are tiny rays of hope for some. It's with sadness that I said farewell to Liz, Pat and Thelma. Reading the acknowledgements the author explains that he has now retired from teaching, I hope this means that we won't have to wait long for the next book in the series.

A Brush With Death by J. M. Hall will be published on 13th March 2025 in paperback and ebook format. My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for a review copy.  

Author Details

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, the most recent being Trust, starring Julie Hesmondhalgh on BBC Radio 4.