In a small retirement village in Kent, four unlikely residents becomes friends and meet up once a week to investigate unsolved murders. But when a local property developer dies - bludgeon to death - Elizabeth, Ibrahim, Ron and Joyce find themselves in the middle of their first real case.

All four might be in the late seventies, early eighties, but they have a few tricks up their sleeves and have seen life. Can they solve the crime and catch the killer before someone else ends up dead? And, if another person did turn up dead, are the Thursday Murder Club looking for one killer or two?

I want to say something before I go into the book and my thoughts of the story and the audiobook and that is I feel, as if, the publisher might be mis-selling this. Some of the language the publisher has been using in some of its advertising gives the impression that this book is a little harder, a little darker than it is, making it feel like it should belong in one subgenre of crime, when in fact this, to me, is a cosy crime. Yes, cosy crime can be gripping and thrilling - hell, I’ve read wonderful cosy crimes that do both - but some of the language used gives this book the wrong impression and, because of that, some readers might go into this expecting one thing, only to realise that it’s something completely different and have to change their reading and expectations very quickly, meaning this change of gear could effect the reader’s enjoyment.

I also want to say something about the audiobook before I go full-steam ahead. The narrator. I have said multiply times on the Pewter Wolf and on most of my social media that, when you audiobook, a narrator can make or break a book. Some narrators just work and it’s wonderful. Others you have to warm to. And some just don’t work. And this… this is a warm-to narrator for me. I still don’t like some of the the choices she made on characters and how she read certain sections, and because of that, I wonder that if I had read this instead, would my rating be different?

I ask this at the same time as preordering the second audiobook in the series. So, go figure that one out.

Yes, I have preordered book 2 in the series (via Audible) so, of course, I must have liked the story, I hear you say. And I did. It was a gentle cosy murder mystery with gentle humour and observations that worked for me, though I do have to admit that some of the characters did feel very caricature-like and not all the villains get their just-desserts (though, it depends on how you view it). And, on some aspects, you can tell this is Richard’s debut because some little pet peeves I have came out (the overuse of the word “says”, for example).

It’s hard to explain why I liked this. It’s not going to work for everyone, I know this, but this worked for me as, while the mystery makes the plot move forward in a nice, almost casual pace (do you know how many times I put this audiobook down, left for several days to focus on podcasts and music, only to return and instantly pick up the thread without me going “What happened? What did I forget?”), but it’s the four characters - Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim - that are why I stayed. I found them and their friendship so lovely to read - it’s rare we focus of friendships in the older generations in media so this was a nice change.

I know book 2 picks up the day after The Thursday Murder Club ends so we are going to see the fallout of these events so I am intrigued to read on.

I do have one worry as the series moves forward which is the issue of dementia. It is touched upon that a loved-one in the series has dementia (though the word “Dementia” was never used to my knowledge). I hope this is tackled with sensitivity and with love as the series goes on (I think it will, but as I know people who have been effected by dementia [myself included], I want this to be tackled and tackled with care and love).

Like I said earlier, this is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea and, while there are things in here that I didn’t exactly warm to, I did like it and I have preordered the sequel on audiobook for late next year. So, yeah, I will continue on with book 2 (though I know this is a possible six/seven book series so book 2 will probably be the make/break in whether I continue and finish the series).

I’m going to leave you with very wise words from a smart book blogger than mine, Serendipity Reviews, on her review of Thursday Murder Club: “Never ever underestimate the mature generation, because they have tricks up their sleeves that you wouldn’t believe.”

TV presenters don’t always transfer over to be successful, or more importantly, decent writers, however, Richard Osman achieves both with his delightful debut novel. Part cosy crime, part a tale of getting towards the end of life’s journey, the book is both touching and funny. The four main characters Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron are believable ones and the plot is a clever one than weaves all the lose story strands together.

A simply marvellous read, highly recommended and will delight crime & more general fiction fans in equal measure.

Really looking forward to the next instalment of the Thursday Murder Club.

PS I am not a retired boxer – read the book to see what I am wittering on about 😉

This book has been marketed as an Agatha Christie type murder mystery but I wouldn’t say its anything like her books. Yes, there is of course the mystery and it is indeed a very cosy read like Agatha’s books are. But the elements of the murder investigation were nothing like Agatha would have written, so any Agatha fans might not be as sure about this book if they are expecting her type of crime novel.

However, the plot is crafted together brilliantly, it will keep you interested and enticed enough to want to find out who the killer is with quite a few twists and turns. It is also a very warm and touching read alongside a quite dry sense of humour which is definitely my cup of tea! There are many parts that I did find myself chuckling at as the main characters were all just superb and full of wit. All four of them were so different from each other and when altogether brought out the most amusing conversations but also some very emotional moments.

The author does touch on many themes such as crime, suicide, murder and stereotyping which are all written perfectly. It is so refreshing to read a book about elderly people and their points of view and how they are very savvy and switched on instead of the usual stereotypes of confused, delicate, old people. All four of the main protagonists all had interesting backgrounds and expertise that helps them solve the mystery with only a little help from the police.

Overall, this was a cosy and delightful story to read, perfect for this time of year. I will ensure that will read the next book in this series when it is released!

A pacy murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. I enjoyed the setting and characters, as they felt fresh compared to other novels in the genre. As mentioned in the novel, older people often blend into the background, giving them a form of invisibility not afforded to most of the population. Osman makes the most of this and clearly has fun doing it. As the author is so familiar to most people through his work on television, it is easy to hear his voice and humour through the text. Bring on the sequel!

A retirement village may seem an unlikely setting for a crime novel but Richard Osman writes in such a way that you can see everything in your mind's eye. The reader can really feel the thoughts and emotions of the characters. This is a kind of traditional crime story more in the style of Agatha Christie than some more gritty modern writers. The plot has wonderful twists. I loved it. There is death, love, hate, humour and wit. I could almost hear Richard Osman reading it.

Having seen lots of buzz around Richard Osman's debut novel, and as a fan of his low-key very British wit and intellect, I was intrigued to see whether this book could live up to the hype. What Osman has achieved feels very much in keeping with him - a charming, quintessentially British, cosy murder mystery, with plenty of humour that is well worth a read.

Four pensioners who all live in a retirement village are members of the Thursday Murder Club, meeting once a week to discuss cold cases. Suddenly they find themselves with a murder in their midst, and a real live case to solve. Osman's portrayals of the characters is at the heart of the book's charm - they are interesting, quirky and loveable, The writing style is clever, the story intertwined with Joyce's point of view as she writes in her diary. Osman's dry humour is ever present, but there is also a degree of poignancy as the characters navigate the ageing progress. And there are plenty of twists, keeping you entertained to the end. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

A light holiday type read, amusing but didn't grip me and fairly predictable. Didn't stand out for me aside from the famous author.

Similar to JK Rowlings the casual vacancy, this book gives an insight into little Britain and all it’s eccentricities. Funny, lighthearted, warm and easy to read. I’d highly recommend it and can’t wait for any sequels

There is a wonderfully eccentric little sub-set of the crime genre that – in a phrase I’ve coined myself – can best be described as British Comfortable. You know the sort of thing – Lovejoy, Hamish MacBeth, Hetty Wainthrop, and Father Brown. The list goes on and on. In British Comfortable, murders happen, but usually only to people who are entirely deserving of a gruesome fate. The latest entry into this cosy group is The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman*.

The author has a keen eye when it comes to exposing all those little quirks that come together to create a truly memorable character; or, in this case, four memorable characters. The main quartet of The Thursday Murder Club are an absolute joy.

Elizabeth may or may not have done something terribly hush-hush for the government back in the day that she’s not allowed to talk about. Put it this way, she knows “people”. A natural leader, Elizabeth can steamroller anyone around to her way of thinking, and always be absolutely charming about it.

Joyce is the most unassuming member of the group. Boundlessly enthusiastic, but with a keen intellect she’s a dark horse and no mistake. Joyce is also quite the cake baker, always a handy skill when you need to grease the wheels with the local constabulary.

Ibrahim is very precise. He is driven by rules, regulations and detail. Obsessive to the point of compulsion, Ibrahim is happiest when he has reams of data to trawl through in order track down the missing piece of a puzzle.

Finally, there is Ron. Once upon a time, Ron was a political firebrand, a trade union leader and always ready to take on a fight. Age may have slowed him down somewhat, but he still relishes the opportunity to argue with anyone, at any time, about any subject.

Needless to say, our plucky band of senior sleuths manage to be one step ahead of the authorities at every turn. Fortunately, at least a couple of the police in the nearby village are appreciative of the club’s geriatric assistance.

Osman injects the narrative with some delightfully wry humour. There are a handful of throwaway lines that are perfectly pitched. Joyce manages to steal the odd scene or two with her observations which pleased me immensely.

There are also some unexpectedly beautiful bittersweet scenes. Death, especially at a swanky retirement village, is a fact of life and it is always present in the background. There are poignant moments that caught me totally off guard. Osman is a sneaky old so and so, plucking at our heartstrings like a master musician. I’ve always thought that conveying genuine emotion is the trickiest of skills for an author to master, but here it looks effortless. Relationships between long term friends and spouses, in the autumn of their years, are captured in minute details that convey a thousand words. I’ll be honest, I did not expect this novel to be such an emotive experience, but it is all the better for it. I had to keep reminding myself that this is a debut novel. There is such a confident air to the plot and its execution.

You’ll not be surprised when I tell you I have already started putting together my dream cast, on the off chance this novel makes the leap to the screen *fingers crossed*. Elizabeth can’t be anyone other than Helen Mirren. I’d happily believe she has “a certain set of skills” honed over years working clandestinely in the shadows. Julie Walters would have to be Joyce, because of course she is. Art Malik would make a splendidly dapper Ibrahim, and I’m thinking Robbie Coltrane for Ron. There you go, television executive-types, I’ve already done half the work for you. I’d be obliged if you get on with making this happen as soon as possible. None of us are getting any younger, you know.

Crime, conspiracy and a good-sized helping of cake – this novel ticks all the boxes as far as I am concerned. The only question I have left to answer is, will I go for the lemon drizzle or a nice slice of the coffee and walnut? Decisions, decisions.

You’ve probably picked up on the fact I had a lot of fun with The Thursday Murder Club. If you fancy a bit of octogenarian Agatha Raisin-esque crime fiction, then look no further. I do hope this is the first of many Richard Osman novels. It was a thoroughly entertaining experience that I enjoyed from beginning to end. I can heartily recommend picking the book up and preparing yourself for some murder most comfortable.

* Yes, that Richard Osman, the one from the telly. Look, it’s not really relevant that he is the co-host of Pointless. For the basis of this review, it’s the book that is important.

I enjoy the characters in this book, they are completely serious in what they are doing but at the same time you know they are way beyond normal, they certainly are not what you’d expect from people living in a retirement village. They are a team of modern day miss marples (albeit both male and female). Don’t get hung up on whether it is likely these 4 OAPs can solve a murder and unearth everyone’s secrets, enjoy the ride they take you, the cheekiness of their outright belief they can do anything they please whilst solving the mystery of not just 1 murder, not even 2 but 3 murders! That many bodies for me was a little much and I almost wish some part of it had been held back if it’s going to be a series.
I can recommend this for a lighthearted, slightly comical tongue in cheek murder mystery.
Richard Osman has done a great job writing as it has a steady pace throughout with no dreads and dull explanations or scenic descriptions, capturing the essence of our diary writer / narrator in Joyce, in fact all of he characters behave as though they haven’t got all day and so to seize the moment! Good fun!

Loved this book and totally recommend it. The writing is so engaging and the characters spring to life immediately. The humour is so very well handled, never over the top, and the little quirks add a delightful touch. Joyce's diary gives us an immediate first hand reaction to events, and her struggles with technological terms really made me laugh. Richard Osman must have spent time with elderly relatives to get his so very right. The sadder parts of the story are equally deftly written, just the right tone that never strays into sentimentality.
I am so very glad that this is the first of the Thursday Murder Club series, can't wait for the next one.

I really like Richard Osman so was thrilled to be able to read this very enjoyable book. Twists and turns and great characters. I look forward to reading more

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and found the characters engaging. Became confused towards the end as to who did what to whom and why. It appeared that too many people where involved in incidents that Ed to the finale. Ave last few chapters again and am still confused. Please make it clearer next time Richard!!

Great book. Brilliant characters and a plot that just kept on bringing surprise after surprise. So clever and absorbing. Great read.

Fun, charming and a great mystery. I adored all the characters of the club and the police characters had great chemistry with each other and the murder club characters. A great read that flowed easily, you can almost imagine Richard Osman telling you the tale himself.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Books and Viking for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was really curious to read Richard Osman's debut novel, and I'm really grateful to have received an arc of this book. I enjoyed this story a lot, at times it felt a little bit 'samey' to other crime novels, but it had the unique fact that the majority of the characters in this book are pensioners in a retirement community which actually made this book a lot of fun. I love old people, books need more crime fighting old people.

This book was happy, it was sad, it was heartbreaking at times and incredibly wholesome. I DEFINITELY didn't get a little teary eyed at Bernard's storyline alright. I didn't ok! (I'm lying)

I did enjoy this book, although I felt as if it dragged on quite a lot, and I found myself drifting in and out of interest in the story depending what was happening at the time, I feel like this story could've been told much faster and in less pages. Nevertheless, I did enjoy this book and I'll definitely be looking to read the sequel upon its release.

A murder mystery with a wide range of characters. I liked it, but didn't love it and skipped the third quarter or so.

A surprisingly enjoyable read! I don't really watch Richard Osman on TV so was more captured by the premise of the book rather than the celebrity reader and I found myself chuckling and wanting to keep reading very early on. Engaging, witty characters, a multi-layered story and a good piece of weekend reading entertainment! Started better than it ended wgucg us often the case with many books but still an enjoyable read!

I LOVED the writing style of this one. A very old fashioned style of writing done really well. You know how much I love my thrillers, the scarier and more gory the better, but this is the sort of book I need in my life every now and then and they are hard to find. Such a lovely cosy murder mystery.

Multiple POVs that are easily followed, with the perfect amount of humour thrown in!

The characters are delightful and really fun to read about. And I never figured out 'who done it' even though I was sure I had!

What a great debut novel, I cant wait for the second instalment.

Well, everything I had heard and read about this book was spot on! It was so good, I couldn't put it down. Not only was it a great murder mystery but it had some really good comedy in it as well. In fact, there were numerous times I was reading when my husband asked what I was laughing out loud about!

I would say that murder mystery is not the usual genre I read but I so enjoyed this. There was a lot going on and I had to keep up with it but I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. It was very clever and although I kept trying to guess, I wasn't getting things right! I believe there are going to be further books in the series and I can't wait to read the next one.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review, which is what I have genuinely given.