Released just last week, The Thursday Murder Club is the first novel from TV personality Richard Osman, best known for co-hosting the popular gameshow Pointless, as well as (one of my favourites) Richard Osman’s House of Games.

Set in a small retirement village in Kent, The Thursday Murder Club is a cosy crime mystery focussed on a group of residents who have formed a club to review unsolved crime cases. Whilst previously they haven’t been able to do much with the findings of their investigations, a local murder leads them to become involved with trying to help catch a killer.

The book switches between the general story featuring all of the characters and diary entries from new Thursday Murder Club member Joyce. Whilst it did take me a few chapters to get used to the writing style, the addition of the diary entries was interesting and added an extra layer to the story, helping the reader to keep on track with the investigation.

One of the things I enjoyed most was the small village setting of Coopers Chase, and the little details, such as the fact that the room for the club was booked under a code name in order to stay secret, were a fun addition. The main characters were generally likeable, although there were quite a few other different characters to keep track of as the story progressed.

The Thursday Murder Club isn’t an action-packed crime thriller, but it could be the perfect Autumn read for fans of a cosier mystery to pick up this season. It’s also set to be the first in a series, so it looks like we’ll being seeing more from Elizabeth, Ibrahim, Ron and Joyce in future.

I really wanted to love this book but whilst I enjoyed it I didn’t love it unfortunately.
I liked the older characters and some of the story telling made me laugh but I struggled to follow the plot at times and lost track of who everyone was.
Overall I think I’d recommend it for a nice light hearted read.

This was a good little afternoon read. The characters were fun to read about, the murder was a little obvious but still managed to have a good twist at the end and the plot progression was steady enough that I didn't lose interest. There was a very slight lag around the 40% mark where nothing was really happening, but the humour in the writing was enough to keep the reading experience still enjoyable. Although it wasn't a particularly memorable novel, it was still an entertaining read.

At the Coopers Chase Retirement Village in Kent, four of the residents meet up every Thursday night in the Jigsaw Room, booked under the guise of a Japanese opera discussion group, to talk about unsolved police crimes (cold cases).

Calling themselves The Thursday Murder Club, the group consists of Elizabeth, whose former occupation is mysteriously only alluded to, Joyce Meadowcroft (79), who was a nurse, Ibrahim Arif (80), a former psychiatrist, and Ron ‘Red Ron’ Ritchie (75), a famous ex-trade union leader who ‘never believes a single word anyone ever tells him’.

Joyce is the newest member, invited to join after Penny Gray, a former detective inspector in the Kent Police, has to move into the on-site nursing home, Willows. Penny used to supply the group with the unsolved murder case files that they study carefully – reading all the evidence and every witness statement and poring over photos, trying to find anything that might have been missed.

The retirement village sounds wonderful! It’s for over 65 year olds and currently has around 300 residents. It was built 10 years ago on the now-extended site, which used to be a convent and voluntary hospital (later a care home and now Willows). The village has numerous facilities: swimming pool, gym, exercise studio, bowling green, library, lounge and ‘contemporary upscale restaurant’. The development has a chapel, which is the original and unchanged, and it is set in 12 acres of woodland and hillside with two small lakes and there are sheep and llamas on the hills.

There are plans to carry out a new development at Coopers Chase, and this has caused a furore with the occupants. There’s talk of trees being felled, the graveyard being moved and wind turbines installed, so a consultation meeting between the owner, Ian Ventham, and the residents is held.

The following day, after a rather heated discussion between Ventham and his builder, Tony Curran, who has a shady past, one of the men is found dead in the kitchen by his wife – he’d been bludgeoned with a heavy object.

With a real-life crime to get their teeth into, The Thursday Murder Club investigates the murder with the help of PC Donna De Freitas, 26, who they first met when she visited Coopers Chase to do a talk about home security tips, which the group rather hijacked! Donna transferred from the Metropolitan Police in London to Fairhaven and is rather bored by the lack of action in the seaside town. The group cunningly persuade Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Chris Hudson (51) to allow Donna to join the squad investigating the murder and from then on manage to exchange information with the officers without them really realising what’s going on! The pensioners always seem to be a couple of steps ahead of the police by using their clever minds and some handy contacts!

This was an excellent cosy murder mystery with numerous twists and turns, secrets and startling revelations, as well as lots of wry humour and some amusing and witty observations, which really made me chuckle at times. The main protagonists of the murder club are brilliantly drawn: feisty and eccentric but enthusiastic characters who make funny little asides and carry out some impressive detecting work. Despite the subject matter, this is a heart-warming tale with some poignant and touching moments and I found it really delightful and intriguing.

The short chapters work well and definitely made me fly through the book, thinking ‘Just one more chapter …’! It’s written in an engaging conversational style and Joyce’s diary entries add another angle to the story and are a nice little interlude.

Overall, I really enjoyed this cleverly written book; it was entertaining, action packed and gripping. I had to suspend disbelief at times but that was all part of the fun! I’m excited to hear that there’s going to be a book two out in September 2021 – I can’t wait!

I am not a fan of “celebrity” books, in fact I would even go as far as to say I actively avoid books written by celebrities… however there is something about Richard Osman. Maybe it’s because he always seems so nice and down-to-earth on TV and having begged him for a quick selfie at Harrogate in 2018 I can confirm that he is as nice and down-to-earth in real life and he is also very, very funny having watched him take part in the Two Crime Writers panel event.

So when I heard he had written a book I was eager to get my hands on a copy and see what all the fuss was about.

Set in a luxury retirement village called Coopers Chase, the 300 residents aren’t interested in spending their twilight years watching TV and staring out a window, instead they enjoy a busy itinerary from Conversational French to Cryptic Crossword, eating in a fine upscale restaurant, using the swimming pool, jacuzzi and sauna, taking a Zumba class or using the gym. Surrounded by twelve acres of woodland and beautiful open hillside, plus a herd of llamas.

Every Thursday a select group of octogenarian’s meet in the Jigsaw Room to try and solve old cases and call themselves The Thursday Murder Club. Initially run by Penny, an ex-police officer, the group have access to old police files and use their combined skills and expertise to crack cold cases. Now run by Elizabeth, when a murder occurs with links to Coopers Chase the group eagerly jump at the chance to get involved and try to catch the killer before the police.

This book has so many wonderful characters, from our “diariest” Joyce, an ex-nurse and widow to Elizabeth, the no-nonsense leader of the group with a very secretive past and connections in all the high places, Donna the new police officer who has moved to the area to escape her past. It was difficult to find a favourite because each and every character brought some humour and depth to the story.

The Thursday Murder Club would be classed as a “cosy murder mystery” – but it is so much more. It’s fun, it’s quirky, it’s enjoyable, it’s clever, it’s amusing and above all it’s a delightful escape from reality and I can’t wait for book 2.

As a best seller in new releases I was really looking forward to read the book. I absolutely love thrillers and I had really high expectations of this book. However, the book was more of a cozy mystery reading rather than gripping thrillers that I would have preferred.

The four retired pensioners from Kent form Thursday Murder Club. They solve mystery murders from old days which are not solved yet until they have real murders in their town.

The writing is quite different than I am used to normally and sometimes being complicated some of the time. There are so many characters so it was quite hard to remember who is who and I had to keep going back to identify them. Initially I was totally into the book but found it rather slow and lengthy towards the end. The author uses a light hearted sarcasm so the characters do not make us laugh aloud but there are some decent humor enough to make one smile.

It could just be me but I didn’t understand the Peter Mercy and John’s confession. I even read it twice! As in I got the idea but I didn’t really get the whole picture. So if anyone could explain that would be great!

So if you want a cozy thrillers then this is definitely for you!

A highly entertaining and gripping story, I loved what I read and I hope it is the first in a series featuring this great senior.
It's very funny and heartbreaking at time, the senior characters are fleshed out, realistic and likable. I loved them and I love how well they were developed.
The mystery is solid, full of twists and red herring, and the solution came as a surprise.
The author is a talented storyteller and I couldn't put down this story laughing, rooting for the characters and being moved reading some parts.
I can't wait to read the next book by this author as I loved this one.
Gripping, entertaining and brilliant, it's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

The Seemingly Serene Retirement Village....
In a seemingly peaceful, seemingly quiet and seemingly serene retirement village four friends, together by circumstance, host meetings to consider unsolved murders. It beggars belief that one day these four have a very real murder on their hands and their meetings soon take a very different turn. Engaging mystery with likeable protagonists and a colourful supporting cast of characters. An enjoyable, escapist read.

Well this book was just an absolute delight! It’s the first book in a new crime series written by the brilliant Richard Osman - yes of Pointless fame and who doesn’t love that show.😍

In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet up once a week to investigate unsolved murders. But when a brutal killing takes place, the Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case. Oh my gosh, I loved Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron. What a fantastic bunch of characters! They are all pushing eighty yet they keep everyone on their toes. 👏🏻 The writing was so charming, witty, laugh out loud funny and utterly British. One minute they are talking about a gruesome murder and then chatting about having a biscuit. 😂 And parts were so touching and sad, and I loved how the four all came together to support one another. Do you know what it made me think of? This may make you laugh...do you remember that programme NEW TRICKS? 🤣 It reminded me of both NEW TRICKS and MIDSOMER MURDERS. 🙋🏼‍♀️ Such a fun debut and an pleasure to read. I can’t wait for the next book in the series! 💃🏼

Highly recommend THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB if you love a good old ‘whodunnit’ and fancy some joyful escapism. Grab yourself a copy, and relax with a cuppa and a hobnob. Fabulous 🥳.

I tried, I really did but in the end this defeated me. I got about half way through and I just could not bring myself to finish it. I found the plot a bit slow and cumbersome.

The story centers around four pensioners (Ron, Ibrahim, Elizabeth & Joyce) who all live at Coppers Chase Retirement Village. They are all members of the Thursday Murder Club where they try to solve cold cases. But now, they have a live murder case to investigate.
The story us told from multiple points if view.
I would describe this book as a cosy mystery with some humour.
Thanks to the publishers & netgalley for this read.

For the residents of a luxury retirement village life is one long round of clubs, wine and socialising but when the developer of their complex puts forward plans for expansion things start to go wrong. Firstly his business associate is murdered and then so is he. This is all grist to the mill of the Thursday Murder Club, a small group of octogenarians who meet to mull over old cases, who team up with the local police to solve the crimes.
Normally I would shy clear of 'celebrity' novels on the basis that actually there is a ghostwriter and the stories are puerile. However this was a pleasant surprise. Despite the very twee approach to murder and the not very convincing solution to the plot there is some real substance here. The treatment of the problems of old age a both funny and sad and there is also an undercurrent around racism and the attitudes towards immigrants. It's definitely at the gentle end of crime fiction but also very readable.

What a fun read! Full of the expected twists and turns but with a group of unusual, creative and diverse characters. The age of the amateur detectives gives a fun and usual advantage their approach, as they delve into old crime cases as a retirement activity!
To get the most fun out of this book, you have to have suspension of disbelief and go with the fictional world. It's enjoyable, charming, witty and creative. I enjoyed it, and would definitely read more,

I found this an extremely enjoyable read. The gentle humour running through it made me smile (even in a book about murder). The leading characters are quirky but still believable. A great read.

I absolutely loved The Thursday Murder Club.

Joyce, Elizabeth, Ibrahim and Ron are residents of Coopers Chase Retirement Village. They are the ‘Thursday Murder Club’. They’ve been working on unsolved murder cases for a while, but then find themselves investigating two recent killings. They manage to stay one step ahead of the police team, PC Donna De Freitas and DCI Chris Hudson.

The plot and whodunnit aspect of the book makes it a page turner, and I was gripped until the end on the storyline. However what I enjoyed most about this book were the characters. The dialogue and timings of the conversations between Joyce, Elizabeth, Ibrahim and Ron is brilliant and laugh out loud funny at times. By the end of the book I felt like I really knew them. The criminal characters are also brilliantly written. I had a soft spot for DCI Hudson, an old timer detective struggling with the ‘extra timber’ he’s carrying, and wondering if he’ll ever get a girlfriend. DCI Hudson and PC De Freitas form a wonderful relationship with the Thursday Murder Club. At times it did all feel a little surreal, but I got the sense that’s exactly the position the police found themselves in.

I hope that Richard Osman is planning to bring these characters back in another crime novel. I can’t wait to meet them all again and spend a few more hours in their company. A highly entertaining read. And if only there was actually a Waitrose in Tunbridge Wells ...

Knowing the author from his TV show and loving his personality, I was intrigued to see how his debut novel faired. I enjoyed the plot of this book but felt the storyline dragged a little in places and I got a little confused at times as to had done what and who was who.

I didn't see the ending coming so loved how the story was tied up neatly but I would have loved the story to have had a little more oomph at times as I found myself finding it a little slow before ramping up the pace and then slowing right down again.

Firstly, thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

When I saw this book I immediately requested it as it was written by Richard Osman. I find his wit on Pointless part of the enjoyment of the programme.

I was not disappointed in this book. It is funny and endearing, with many comic references. Although there are some unsavoury people in the book, I found the main characters in the Thursday Murder Club delightful. They are a group of elderly people living in a retirement complex, who on a Thursday, meet to discuss some cold case murders. However, in the book, it is not cold cases that they are trying to solve but murder(s) happening right under their noses.

I really enjoyed it and it’s certainly worth reading.

The Thursday Murder Club is a lighthearted novel set in an upmarket retirement village. The club meet to go over cold cases in an attempt to solve them. When a someone they know is murdered, they take on the case and as more crimes are committed, they use the skills learned from their previous working lives to help unpick the mysteries.
The characters in this book are hilarious and well observed, while still being respectful to the older generation. The message that retirement and old age don’t equate to insignificance and worthlessness is also very clear. I did feel that the balance between character banter and plot development wasn’t quite right, but I’m sure other people would disagree.

As a huge lover of Richard Osman on Pointless, I just had to request his debut novel. I absolutely loved it. It has a very "Father Brown" feel to it and I just love golden oldies sticking their noses into crimes. The writing style was brilliant., I can't wait to read more!

There’s a huge number of books being published in one go just at the moment, because of the Covid backlog, so the fight for readers (and buyers) is on. This book came out on 3rd September and is already a bestseller. There are celebrity novels and celebrity novels and when the book is by Richard Osman, you can at least be sure that he wrote it himself.

The Thursday Murder Club is set in a retirement village called Coopers Chase. It’s refreshing to read a book about old people who aren’t just waiting to die but still find life interesting (shades here of The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼, set in an Amsterdam care home). The dominant character is the remarkable Elizabeth, whom one assumes worked for the secret services in a previous life. The other members of the club are Ron, formerly a fiery union leader, Ibrahim, an Egyptian psychiatrist and Joyce, once a nurse. The book begins with a note apparently written by a murderer who has hidden a body and got away with it. Yet once the murders begin around Coopers Chase, the bodies are very evident. So, the mystery is who might be dead and where the body is buried. I had my theories but Osman has been very clever with his red herrings and there are some surprises. Naturally, the oldies prove better than the police at researching and uncovering secrets; they have their methods. Even so, there are a few loose ends left dangling temptingly.

I had a problem with the random narrative jumps. For instance, one might be reading an extract from Penny’s diary when the very next sentence reverts to the third person and the storyteller is not Penny at all. This may be due to reading a proof copy on the Kindle; possibly the physical book is better in this respect. I was intrigued by the mystery, liked the characters very much and was often amused. This is the first book in a projected trilogy. Would I like to read the next one? Yes please.

Thanks to Penguin books and NetGalley for the preview.