Joined in 2023 
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The main characters, Clementine (fantastic name) and Margery were... just okay. Deep characterisation is hindered by incorrectly utilised humour, and they didn't really seem like a couple to me. I know they've been together thirty years and I'm not expecting them to be all lovey-dovey like they're in the honeymoon period, but I expect some chemistry. I liked the synopsis of this one. I do enjoy cozy mysteries and the setting in Dewstow, South Wales UK was intriguing. The dinner ladies, Clementine and Margery work together in the cafeteria of a school, serving the students in the lunch line (why do they say dinner)? A British thing maybe? The Moral of The Story and Issues this book hold quite focusing on (1)Family. It’s good because, it’s a small village where the setting was and brings up lots of families traits in the book represents the village. (2)There’s different traits about the villagers or the locals and the outsider. How it treated and everybody treated each other. Quite remarkable, actually. (3)Coping mechanism, walking, to ease your mind while you have too much happening in your mind. That’s memorable.
Margery and Clementine start investigating - and getting into all kinds of escapades around the school. For me, this book was hard to rate. On the one hand, I liked the premise and I also liked that it was set among the dinner ladies, cleaners and other support staff at the school. The dynamics between the various co-workers at the school were intriguing and did pique my interest as I read.
Creative Play
Dewstow, small town that represents the safest place to live and how the neighborhood represents. Well, for a starter it showed that whenever gossip around and something can be held to be gossip, that certain person could spread the words all over. What is happening and can be seen clearly not only in the small town but what that character does, represent it all. Next, about the pond that Margaery and Clementine broke when they had a car crash was quite hilarious. That would be a problem in a small town with a talkative neighborhood which they had at that time. The hilarious pond which everybody hates but never bothers too much to talk about it represents what it would be like in a small town as Dewstow represents in this book. Also, this speedometer stuff on this small town is well-known that no driving fast in this town, you old lad.
His work is known for strong, memorable female protagonists with a unique voice and social conscience. if you want all the mystery and knowledge about the poisoning plants with humorous traits. This one for you The writing and tone is simple and light, much like many cozy murder mysteries. It gets more interesting in the second half, but is pretty long-winded over many mundane things (snooze). I learned the ladies are actually a committed couple although they are pretty grumpy and seem to argue quite a lot. Lots of clues seem to appear (no bread crumbs here) and just be "thrown" at them until the big reveal (womp,womp). The Dinner Lady Detectives by Hannah Hendy is a fabulous contemporary cozy mystery that is just perfect in every way!
Christmas Gifts
Margery and Clementine are a hoot. They live in a small village in the English countryside and are Educational Centre Nourishment Consultants (aka Lunch Ladies) at the local school. They are partners, and sleuthing partners end up being their second “day job” as they attempt to get to the bottom of, what they feel, is a mysterious death of their less than perfect coworker, Caroline. As they stumble their way into an investigation, we can see a few twists, turns, and a true mystery unfold. I was surprised a few times, and really enjoyed how the story unfolds. Only one perspective isn’t enough, but when its too many. Whose telling the truth? and those two can solve it when they are amateurs? NOPE, I wasn’t going to comment on this one, but my reason for not wanting to is a subject for a future essay. Anyway, it seems that the author has already written my review within the novel itself: 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.
I cannot wait to read the next book (please say there will be one!!!!!!) and highly recommend this gem. Those looking for a light, corny mystery featuring a cranky couple who don't seem capable of solving a crime may enjoy following them along in their escapades.A delightful, quintessentially British cosy mystery perfect for fans of SJ Bennett and Robert Thorogood.Praise for The Dinner Lady Detectives British Culture, showed everywhere throughout the book in the perfect amount of understanding as a non-English. Especially the iconic thing about British people love when it comes about "Tea" Having enjoyed a number of cozy mysteries featuring elderly amateur sleuths recently I had quite high expectations for The Dinner Lady Detectives, but unfortunately I felt its potential was unrealised.
There were fleeting moments of something better, and I believe it could have really been a good book with a little more time taken and if it was fleshed out a little. Some points genuinely did make me gasp to myself as since most of it was so obvious, the little twists did catch me off guard. I could see this being a cheesy BBC comedy drama one day with a bit of refinement. So when should a reader say whoa? And when should the writer realize that they have said the same things in previous books and start something else? That’s for you to decide. Overall, I enjoyed this book as much because of Clementine and Rose. Then, the author give The Dinner Lady’s member to took part on solving the crime is quite amazing! We need more of them. However, the mystery writing of this book about the connection, the murderer, the poison and other stuff quite confusing not in a good way for me. It would be much better ifs: Margery and Clementine decide to go on holiday before Rose’s wedding, where in the hotel they’re staying in, the mayor drops dead and it’s up to the dinner lady detectives to catch the killer…
Small Town people see the Big Town - London especially, I was wondering why with this people have a grudge over the people in a big city like London. Because in this book mentioned several times about it which makes me laughing well. Maybe because of the comparison of a crime happening and some neighborhood going between Dewstow and London has many different in some department (?)
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