The third title in the Thursday Murder Club, The Bullet That Missed, (hc $37) has been released and the good news is that Richard Osman has signed a new contract so that there will be at least three more titles in the series. Osman’s contract also includes another book which will not be part of the series.

J.M. Hall’s A Spoonful of Murder,(tp.$24.99) is set in Thirsk, Scotland. Three retired primary school teachers out for coffee unexpectedly meet a former colleague who seems to be in distress. Although not unsympathetic they do not want to get involved, but despite their best efforts one by one they are drawn in. Much of the plot revolves around the financial dangers that seem prevalent for seniors these days. I really enjoyed the book and hope that this will be a series.

Beatriz Williams, is not Stella Rimington, but I really enjoyed her Our Woman in Moscow, (tp$21). It is a Cold War spy thriller with an interesting twist. I thought it got off to a bit of a slow start but well worth persevering. On the subject of Stella Rimington there is still no sign of a Canadian release of The Devil’s Bargain, which is the first in a new series.

Deanna Raybourn’s new novel, Killers of a Certain Age (hc$37) combines both my themes this month age and espionage. Four 60-year-old female agents of Museum, a clandestine international organization, are given a once in a lifetime trip to celebrate their retirement. But maybe it is a once in a lifetime event because they are not expected return! When Natalie, Billie, Mary Alice and Helen realise this, will they be able to use their well-honed skills to save their own lives?