‘An Extremely Unlikely Death’ by Hannah Hendy

Published by Canelo,
20 March 2025.
ISBN: 978-1-80436-474-1 (PB)

All is not well at Summerview Secondary School. The governors have called a meeting just before the start of term.  They announced that the headmaster, James Barrow has been replaced by a Mrs Cooper who has been parachuted in to sort out the school’s problems and bring the school up to standard. She has brought with her a Miss Martin who will be the new deputy much to the chagrin of Rose, James’ wife who had been the previous deputy.

 At the end of the meeting, a fierce argument develops between two of the governors and Mr Fitzgerald ends up with a bleeding nose. Later that night, the body of Mr Fitzgerald is discovered at the foot of the stairs in his antique shop. The policeman in charge of the case is keen to judge the situation as an unfortunate accident, but Officer Symon is not so certain. What is the explanation for the broken glass and, most telling of all, why was his beloved Jack Russell, Jason, locked up in a cupboard? 

Prevented from investigating the case further by his boss, Officer Symon must rely on dinner ladies Margery and Clementine to do the sleuthing. Much to their surprise, Mr Fitzgerald has left his shop to the two dinner ladies who now have the perfect opportunity to investigate the crime scene more thoroughly.

This is the sixth book in Hannah Henry’s The Dinner Lady Detectives series of cosy mysteries though it can be read as a standalone novel. This has the fastmoving plot with plenty of twists and turns, red herrings and misdirection that will delight all lovers of comic cozy-crime novels.

The characters may be somewhat excentric but remain credible. Dinner ladies Margery and Clementine Butcher-Baker are a delight. The new headmistress, with all her new regimes and the setting up of student-police to spy on all those who break the new rules, is a character you can’t wait to get her comeuppance.
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Reviewer: Judith Cranswick   

Hannah Hendy is a professional chef by day and author by night. She has recently signed a three book deal with Canelo publishing and is the author of the upcoming novel, ‘The Dinner Lady Detectives’. Hannah lives with her brand new wife (covid wedding!) and two cats in South Wales, UK.  

Judith Cranswick was born and brought up in Norwich. Apart from writing, Judith’s great passions are travel and history. Both have influenced her two series of mystery novels. Tour Manager, Fiona Mason takes coach parties throughout Europe, and historian Aunt Jessica is the guest lecturer accompanying tour groups visiting more exotic destinations aided by her nephew Harry. Her published novels also include several award-winning standalone psychological thrillers. She wrote her first novel (now languishing in the back of a drawer somewhere) when her two children were toddlers, but there was little time for writing when she returned to her teaching career. Now retired, she is able to indulge her love of writing and has begun a life of crime! ‘Writers are told to write what they know about, but I can assure you, I've never committed a murder. I'm an ex-convent school headmistress for goodness sake!’ Her most recent book is Journey to Casablanca  

http://judithcranswick.co.uk/