It took a few chapters to convince me that this was worth persevering with but I am so glad I did. In the end this book had it all: great characters, funny one liners, laugh out loud moments, tears, cheers, plot twists and an ending that was neat but no so neat that it couldn't be unraveled for more action. Amongst other things it challenged my pre conception and prejudices, reminding me that our society can be ageist. I loved getting to know the residents of Coopers Chase Retirement Village, hearing their past and seeing how they lived out their present. I could almost feel the eye rolling of Donna and Chris, and their secret admiration. Clever,Clever, engaging, poignant and fun - read it and see if you could join the Thursday Murder Club!

I was drawn to this novel by an awareness of Richard Osman and off the intrigue of the title. Not knowing anything else about it, I dove in and was definitely not disappointed!

This is a well-crafted murder plot with many different strands woven together. Short chapters create momentum and the writing is easily readable. The wit is on-brand for Osman, and his character work is particularly great.

The plot follows a group of retirement home residents who have gotten old enough to get away with anything, including intervening in an active murder case. They're humorous and quirky in their hijinks, but this is layered with great pathos. Osman finds a balance between the story's fun and frivolity, and ruminations on the immense sadness of growing old and losing those around you.

I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't at all sure what to expect from Richard Osman's first book and for the first few chapters I could only hear his voice and wasn't sure how I would enjoy it. But I am so glad I persevered and ended up thoroughly enjoying it!
The story is set in Coopers Chase which is a rather upmarket retirement village. Four of the residents - Ron, Elizabeth, Ibrahim and Joyce are the members of the Thursday Murder Club. They investigate unsolved murder cases and study them to find information the police had missed.
There are other characters you will meet along the way who have a part to play in the tale.
Then come along 2 real life murders! The book tells the ins and outs of the Thursday Murder Club investigating the murders alongside the police.
This is a really well- written, sometimes comical book with a great storyline and great characters.
I recommend this book !

I always worry when a well-known TV personality writes a novel, in case they are not good. However, this is not the case in this book. It is droll, amusing, fast paced and very entertaining. The Thursday Murder Club is based at an upmarket older-persons complex. The main members of this club have always had interesting careers in the past, no spoilers.
They try to crack old cases which have not yet been solved, but then suddenly find themselves in a deluge of seeming murders. The police are not yet sure of their motives, but have to agree that they are good at whittling down lists of suspects to shorter lists, and trying to catch the suspects out.
Richard Osman is to be congratulated for this book, and for the fact that Stevn Spielberg has put in an option to film it, and Richard is already writing the next book in the series.
Many thanks to the publisher, and Net Galley for allowing me to read this book.

I can see why this book is a number 1 best seller. It is wholesome, it is warm, it is thrilling, and it is very very enjoyable. Not to give too much away but it keeps you hooked. I really look forward to more from Osman!

I have to admit to being a little sceptical about The Thursday Murder Club. ‘Celebrity’ authors can often be a little hit and miss and I wasn’t sure if this mystery, written by Pointless creator and co-presenter Richard Osman, would be quirky for the right reasons. A few chapters in however and all such worries were dispelled. The Thursday Murder Club really is as charming, quintessentially British, and laugh out loud fully as all the pull quotes garnishing the cover promise it will be, and makes for a delightful read to curl up with as the autumn nights begin to draw in.

Set in the exclusive retirement village of Coopers Chase, The Thursday Murder Club comprises of Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron. This eclectic bunch of pensioners might be pushing eighty but beneath their harmless appearances, they each have hidden skills and fearless intellects.

Ringleader Elizabeth’s respectable appearance belies a colourful and mysterious past that has taken her to the far corners of the globe and left her with a curious range of contacts who owe her a favour or three. Former nurse Joyce uses her quiet, friendly demeanour – and her extensive baking skills – to encourage the sharing of long-held secrets. Union boss Ron has lost non of his explosive ire – and can put it to use on demand when the situation requires. And retired psychoanalyst Ibrahim has the methodical mind and attention to detail required to notice even the slightest of mistakes on the part of their quarry.

When loathsome property developer Tony Curran is found dead, The Thursday Murder Club spring in to action. Recruiting ambitious police police constable Donna to their cause, this unlikely group of detectives is soon hot on the trail of a killer whose motive seems to stretch long into the past. What does Tony’s death have to do with the old graveyard, resting place of generations of nuns whose abbey used to be at the heart of Coopers Chase? Is it connected to a long-ago drug deal gone wrong? One thing is clear – there are people at Coopers Chase who are not who they claim to be. And that’s all before the second body turns up.

The Thursday Murder Club provides the perfect mix of mystery, comedy, poignancy, and compassion. It made me laugh out loud and shed a tear, often within a few pages of each other. Laced with a wry humour, the book is also fully of heart and doesn’t shy away from the realities of ageing – whether that is regrets for the road not taken, or the inevitable decline of both mental and physical health.

I genuinely warmed to the members of The Thursday Murder Club and their assorted associates, all of whom are bought to life so vividly that picking the novel up after a break started to feel like making a welcome return visit to see much-loved older relatives! Unlike in some crime novels, side characters are given plenty of personality without becoming diverting – Osman has a remarkable ability to create intimate pen portraits of even relatively minor characters in just a few lines and puts this to great use throughout, creating both empathy and humour for many of the incidental players in the drama. There’s also a genuinely clever mystery at the heart of the story, with plenty of plausible red-herrings and tangents to leave even the sharpest of armchair detectives astray.

A smart, witty and immensely pleasurable read, The Thursday Murder Club is the perfect mystery to curl up with as the night begin to draw in. I was delighted to learn that Richard Osman intends to write a series and very much look forward to reading about Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron’s next adventure!

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot (there are already plenty of reviews like that out there if that's what you are looking for).

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The setting is - contrary to what you'd expect - a delightful community peopled by interesting characters who have led interesting lives and still have plenty to offer (despite health issues in some cases). I loved the way the book highlights the fact that elderly people have stories to tell (a fact brought home to me by the fascinating histories of many of my husband's elderly clients) - it's wonderful to see that celebrated.

The four main members of the Thursday Murder Club - Elizabeth, Ibrahim, Joyce and Ron - are well-rounded and very different characters, each likeable and interesting in their own way. The warmth of their friendship is apparent. The main Police officers - Chris and the newly transferred Donna - are both great characters, and the interplay between them and the Thursdays is entertaining.

The plot is multi-layered, but draws together beautifully, having led the reader on a few false trails here and there, and is a very satisfying read with real substance. Although I read plenty of crime novels, I didn't work everything out, so full marks for an excellent plot.

I am delighted to hear that there is to be a sequel, and am already looking forward to it.

My thanks to Richard Osman for writing this novel, and to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

I had heard a lot of good things about this book so I was excited to read it.

Coopers Chase is a retirement village and four residents have formed the Thursday Murder Club, where they discuss old cases.
Soon, they find themselves investigating a real murder.

I loved the concept of this story. A group of pensioners solving murders and sipping G&Ts. Sign me up!
It is as cosy as it sounds. It’s a feel good, funny story but there’s sadness too.

The characters really make this book and the main characters are brilliant. You feel like you know them and can picture them. They have such different personalities, yet work so well together.

I was immediately drawn in to the story which is more complex than I was expecting. The plot is substantial with many red herrings and twists and turns. I couldn’t wait to keep reading and find out what happened.

It’s a well written book with some lovely quotes. One I found quite poignant was: ‘The daffodils will always come up by the lake, but you won’t always be there to see them. So it goes; enjoy them while you can.’

This is a fantastic debut and I really enjoyed it. I love a mystery and it was refreshing to read about sleuthing pensioners rather than miserable, middle aged detectives.

I’m pleased to see that there will be more books in the series, I’ll definitely be reading them!

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK for providing me with a copy for review.

I like Richard and looked forward to his debut book. In principle it was a good idea setting it around a retirement village with some interesting characters. I don’t know why but this book didn’t draw me in and flow as I would have liked. I struggled reading it and didn’t find it a page turner. There are some witty parts but unfortunately not really for me. Others seem to have enjoyed it so try it for yourself.

This was a delightful murder mystery with a very quirky cast of characters. I enjoyed getting to unravel all the characters and the different history/secrets they kept. I especially enjoy a murder mystery which keeps me guessing till the end and this did just that.
This would make a great series of books which I would happily carry on reading.
My only fault with this books is that I sometimes found it hard to follow when it jumped between 1st and 3rd perspective, it took me a while to get my head around who I was reading from and get back into the story.
Would Highly Recommend
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

this is an enjoyable book with a fantastic cast of characters. It’s like a lovely Sunday night drama feel to it. A quick and delightful read.

Retirees Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron have a unique set of skills that they put to good use solving old murder cases. So when a real murder takes place rather close to home, the four are well placed to find the killer. Funny, warm and with a twist every minute, The Thursday Murder Club will keep readers guessing right until the end. Best of all, a sequel is already in the pipeline.

I was initially attracted to this book because it was penned by Richard Osman, so I delved in and I am glad I did. Although this will be set in the Crime genre and possibly the sub-genre of Cosy Crime it is so much more than that covering issues around aging, end of life, and some truly British quirks.
The four members of the Thursday Murder Club are Elizabeth (woman of mystery), Joyce (former nurse), Ibrahim (former psychiatrist) and Ron (fighting for social rights) and at first glance seem an unlikely group. In fact they have are a carefully chosen team curated by Elizabeth and the serene retirement village they live in will soon be the center for a murder investigation.
I loved the gentle and often pointed humor throughout, the sense of life in the English downs, and how the decisions we made in our younger lives may resurface in our older years. I related to the view that our children see us in one way and in fact could not imagine that we led very different lives before they arrived - I seem to constantly surprise mine!
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Books UK for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.

Never ever underestimate the mature generation, because they have tricks up their sleeves, that you wouldn't believe.

Set in a luxurious retirement home, four septuagenarians head full steam into solving not just one murder but three, way ahead of the police.

I was a bit skeptical about reading a book by a celebrity as I have been caught out before by the quality of the plot, however this book was utterly brilliant. The best celebrity book I've ever read. It was extremely funny and sad at the same time as well as being an unputdownable thriller. There were red herrings all over the place. I didn't see the murderers for any of the victims.

The characters were a bit cliched but it suited their personalities and I felt the author got them spot on. Elizabeth, who leads this merry tribe of investigators, is a blended mixture of Miss Marple, Vera and Hetty Wainthropp and definitely one of my favourites. I quickly fell in love with Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim too. When I reach retirement age, I want to live in a place like this.

The chapters are short, sharp and page turning. I really enjoyed reading Joyce's diary. This has all the hall marks of a cosy mystery but it was so lovely to see the older generation taking control.

If you ever watched and loved the BBC series, New Tricks, you will certainly enjoy this. I really hope this gets picked up by a production company and made into a TV series. I honestly can't wait for book 2!

Coopers Chase was a retirement village with individual flats for the residents to reside in. There were several different groups running to keep the residents occupied in their spare time. One group that didn’t have many attendees was called The Japanese Opera but the group actually called themselves between them, ‘The Thursday Murder Club.’ After Penny retired from the police force, they were going through her old cold case files which she had kept. When she left the group due to ill health, they continued to use the files and meet up. Now they try to get interesting people from various professions to come and talk to the group. The members are Elizabeth, Joyce Meadowcroft, Ron Ritchie and Ibrahim Arif.

Ian Ventham owns Coopers Chase and has plans to expand the village. He is trying to buy out the owner of the farm and getting the daughter to try her best to persuade him. In the new plans for the extension to the village, he wants to move the cemetery and has the permits to do so although he’s not expecting there to be any protests about it.

One day, Ian went for a coffee and saw Bogden sitting in the Waitrose cafe. He owes him money but wants him to do some work for him. His usual man is Tony Curran but he wants to fire him. Tony might want to kill him but Bogden doesn’t! Ian talks to Bogden about the money and they come to an arrangement, then they discuss his proposal and Bogden accepts

Later Jason and Ron Ritchie spotted Ian Ventham talking to Tony Curran where things were pretty heated. A little while later Tony Curran was found at his home, dead.

‘Tony Curran had cameras on his property so get the footage’, DCI Chris Hudson was telling his team. ‘He left Coopers Chase at 2pm and according to his fitbit he died at 3.32pm.’ PC Donna De Freitas was lingering with the tea tray, listening to some of the briefing. She missed being busy and she was curious. Also, she heard him mention, ‘cameras on A214 around 400 metres South of Currans home and half a mile North. Better get on with getting their footage too.’ On her way out, she hears mention ‘of a photograph the killer left by the body.’ She turns round and sees projected on the wall a photograph of three men laughing in a pub, standing round a table covered in money. She recognises one of the men. Before the door shuts, she hears DCI Hudson say, ‘Three men we know well.’

Elizabeth and Joyce pay a visit to Fairhaven Police Station and manage to see PC Donna De Freitas. Elizabeth asks, ‘would she like to be on the murder team investigating Tony Currans murder?’ Donna says, ‘Yes, but doesn’t see how Elizabeth could arrange it.’ Elizabeth says, ‘Give it about an hour, maybe just a little bit longer.’

At that time DCI Chris Hudson was going to see Ron and Ibrahim. Ron seemed pretty vacant but Ibrahim got him to agree that if the nice lady PC came to see him, he would give a statement. He agreed and that he would ask Jason to be there too. Chris was pleased and was trying to work out how he could PC Donna De Freitas onto his team to pull this off. Who owed him a favour?
The Thursday Murder Club have their first murder case to investigate. Who could have murdered Tony Curran? Who was in the photograph? Could one of them be the murderer?

I really enjoyed reading this book from start to finish. The characters in the murder club were refreshing and drew me into the book. I hope there is a follow up as I would love to read it. A fantastic read.

There’s not much I can add to all the effusive praise this accomplished debut has been rightfully receiving! It was a charming and often poignant read (and I admit that it drew me to tears on several occasions). You’d never know it was a debut. I am proud that I did correctly guess the solution (well... part of it anyway!).

I’d recommend this to anyone, even those who usually avoid crime fiction. I’m forever a Joyce who wishes she was an Elizabeth!

Thanks to @netgalley for my preview copy, what an absolute joy to read from start to finish. I hope I can have as great a group of friends as Joyce does, and with such a fantastic hobby. Really well written and entertaining from the first line to the last word.
I was lucky enough to get a preview chapter of this from Penguin books back in the spring and have been waiting to read the rest of it ever since. The story, starring a group of friends who have met in a retirement village and who spend Thursday lunchtimes trying to solve unsolved mysteries, moves at such a fantastic pace, lots of twists and turns but marvellously entertaining. Hopefully the first in a series of books, Im ready for the next one

Right. This is actually good. And I'm using 'actually' cos yes we writers are all fed up of the celeb who pretends to write their book but in reality does not (cos we all know the writer pal who really does). Osman has clearly written this book. And he's written it really really well. He has such a light touch - rare in a new writer. His character observations and inner thoughts are spot on, yet delicately done. It's funny - both in a clever, wry way and at times a laugh-aloud one. Kind of reminded me of Belinda Bauer's style (massive compliment). I was really hoping this would be rubbish so I could moan about it but it's not. It's good. Darnit.

What a cracking read this is, such a whodunnit of old, but with the very clever and astute Osman at the helm.

The aged group of amateur sleuths are described with such detail and warmth, you can't help but laugh and cry with them.

My only concern is that this series becomes the next Midsummer's, where a small village has far too many murders for the size of population!

Cannot wait for the next book. Everybody deserves a hearty laugh and I'll be spreading this book far and wide for the joy that it brings in a very darkened world.

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
I was sent a copy of The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman to read and review by NetGalley.
What an absolute treat! This novel is full of humour, compassion and of course murder! There is much sleuthing to be done, both by the police and more enthusiastically by the residents of the Coopers Chase retirement village. The characters are brilliantly observed and the story is told in the third person, interspersed with diary entries by recent addition to the village, Joyce. Witty and compelling this novel takes the reader through many twists and turns - be prepared to laugh out loud on occasion and maybe even feel like shedding a tear or two. All in all a great read - and if I ever need to live in a retirement community please let it be one like Coopers Chase!