Set in a fantastic care village for the over 60's (wow I need to move and live here) the Thursday Murder Club is a small group of 'friends'. I say friends as they don't class themselves as friends, but they are really! These friends have access to files of cold murder cases. Whilst they can solve them to satisfy their needs they can't actually do anymore than that and so the murders still roam free.

Then there is a real, live murder for the friends, who aren't friends to solve! When local builder Tony Curran has been found, murdered!

This book is a fun read, lots of laugh out loud moments. I do like Richard Osman and his fun side definitely shines in this book. Even down to the references to a West Ham shirt!

Having enjoyed Richard Osman's Alphabetical Quiz each Thursday since the beginning of lockdown and seen his weekly plug for his first foray into writing, I was intrigued and jumped at the chance to read a digital version through Netgalley.
There is no doubt that Richard Osman is a Wordsmith. Not only is this well written with great characterisation but it is a very positive picture of retirees in a retirement village who are not ready to give up living the life.
This is great fun, lots of humour and I can't wait to read more about the intrepid Thursday Murder Club and their antics. A refreshing read!
Many thanks to Netgalley/Richard Osman/Penguin Books (Viking) for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Each Thursday four residents in Coopers Chase retirement village meet to go over cold cases The Thursday Murder Club fare when tasked with a real life murder in the village?

I loved this - the idyllic setting paired with the quick wit of the four main characters made for a perfect read! I really enjoyed how it jumped between a narrative and diary entries although it did take a little getting used to.

As with all great ‘whodunnit’ novels this has so many twists and turns and I definitely did not see anything coming! I actually had no idea the whole way through!

As you would expect from Richard Osman it is full of wit and humour! The only reason I haven’t given this five stars is that there are so many characters! I did find it a little tricky at first to keep up with all of the relationships and how their stories were intwinned but by the end I was fully onboard! I can’t wait for more in this series!

I really enjoyed this book, it was such a lovely read. A fairly slow pace but not in a bad way. It's about an old people's home and some of the residents who meet on a Thursday to discuss unsolved murders. I would definitely recommend this book.

Whenever I see Tv presenters or comedians writing books I am always dubious as to how good they will actually be, how much genuine thought goes into them and if they do write it themselves. I love Richard Osman and I find him a witty, intelligent and funny guy. I didn’t have him marked as a fiction writer but this book was full 5 stars for me.

The story is based around a group of pensioners in a retirement village who meet on a Thursday to discuss unsolved murders. There was brilliant character relationships, character development and dialogue throughout the book. I wouldn’t describe it as fast paced but it was lovely, warm and relaxing read. I hadn’t worked out all the clues by the end and this helps make it 5 stars. I already can’t wait for the next in the series!

I was so excited to get the chance to read this book because who doesn’t love Richard Osman? Such a great book I was torn as I couldn’t put it down but wanted to savour it. A great premise setting the events in an old people’s complex. Elizabeth, Joyce , Ibrahim and Ron are all residents and are all members of the Thursday Murder Club where they try to solve old murder cases. They are all very different characters but that’s what makes it so enthralling. I will be recommending this book to anyone who talks to me and already can’t wait for the next.

I loved this book. A good holiday read, the characters quickly took shape and appealed to me. I could just imagine the retirement village setting and residents. I found them quite fun. Elizabeth sounded like a natural leader, her previous life history was alluded to. Joyce was the newcomer who seemed an unlikely part for the group, but this changed over time. I was surprised at how easily a group of OAPs were able to gain more information than the local police, who seemed to be slow on the trail. The murderer was not the person I expected, but that shows how well the mystery was told.
It surprised me that the book was written by Richard Osman as I didn't expect this story from him.. I recently saw him on The One Show and was very pleased to hear that there will be further books in the series.

This has to be one of my reads of the year, I have genuinely smiled throughout (apart from the bit where I nearly cried). Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim & Ron will steal your hearts & make you think twice about what goes on in old peoples homes.

Richard Osman's clever, dry sense of humour translates to the page smoothly & his descriptions of the activities of his characters are wonderful, from shopping & drinking habits to reflections on their past. Altogether charming domestic crime fiction. I can't wait for more from the Thursday Murder Club.

I wouldn’t usually be one to read a celebrity book and on the whole, I usually avoid them, but I find myself this week with not one but two of them on my shelf to read! I haven’t started the other one yet, but this was really enjoyable, and I am glad that I didn’t overlook it for being written by a celeb!

The Thursday Murder Club is set within a retirement village, a small group of friends come together in their little Thursday slot (their allocated room time) to discuss crimes as their passion and try to solve them. Elizabeth is the main leader; she is strong and intelligent with a slightly shady background! Joyce starts off being a bit of a wallflower – perfectly lovely but never going to set the world on fire but she really comes into her own from about halfway through the book. Ron and Ibrahim are lovely gentlemen in their own rights who add a lot to their group but aren’t such big characters within the book.

Each of the characters are well developed and you feel like you know them well. They are good friends though not necessarily a natural match they work well together through their investigations, but it certainly helps that they are in their 80’s and don’t care about getting caught or told off themselves!

The plot is also strong. Clearly, we shouldn’t be underestimating senior citizens, they do a great job with their investigation and form strong relationships with the police who they are ‘helping’ in truth they do end up being helpful rather than a hindrance as well! The observations are often funny, some I found myself reading out to my husband and laughing, others are really quite sad or poignant, a comment on how sometimes the older generations are treated which was quite sad. Also, a couple of comments on the very sad endings of some lives and their loved ones who either chose to go with them or are left behind.

Having said that this was a very uplifting and enjoyable read and I would definitely be interested in reading more if there were a series… its quite clearly written made for TV so I wouldn’t be surprised to see it on screen sometime soon!

‘Then she said, ‘Are you ever free on Thursdays? And, that, believe it or not, was the first I had heard of Thursdays.’
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So rumour has it that Richard Osman is wanting to make this into a series of books as well as a TV series and all I can say is… PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! I couldn’t have adored this book more!!
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In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet up once a week to investigate unsolved killings. When all of a sudden. ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ find themselves in the middle of a real life murder case… I MEAN… Honestly, I challenge you to find a plot summary that makes my heart sing more. I felt like I was reading about 4 wonderful versions of Miss Marple, and it was everything!
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This book wonderfully mixes a very clever mystery storyline with beautiful comic moments and characters that feel so lifelike. A heartwarming quintessentially British read. I really cannot praise this book more and it definitely makes my best books 2020 list easily! And the characters also make a little visit to my hometown, which was a pleasant surprise!
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Thank you so much to Netgalley and Penguin Books UK for the ARC! I couldn’t have enjoyed it more if I tried and I will be the first in line for any sequel should it happen!!

3.5 stars

The Thursday Murder Club is Richard Osman's debut novel and for lovers of murder mysteries, this book could be for you.

In the retirement village of Cooper' s Chase live elderly, former professional, people who try their hands at a bit of amateur sleuthing.

Following a local murder, the Thursday Murder Club is born.

Although slow to start, this is an interesting concept. It turned out to be an enjoyable read that will perhaps be the beginning of something new. Perhaps a series of investigations by these elderly sleuths.

Fans of Christie's Miss Marple will definitely be a target audience for The Thursday Murder Club and any subsequent novels.

The Thursday Murder Club is a romping good read. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron are all members of Coopers Chase Retirement Village and have formed a club investigating unsolved cases. Owner of Coopers Chase is Ian Ventham, a decidedly unlikeable and shady character who is motivated purely by greed. When his partner is murdered, the Thursday club swings into action and together with investigating officers Chris and Donna, they combine their skills to try to solve the mystery. But the plot thickens when Ian himself is murdered shortly after. Add to that a skeleton found buried above a coffin, a priest who may or may not be a priest, and it seems like it would take Sherlock Holmes himself to solve the many threads. But the Thursday club should not be underestimated, and Elizabeth in particular is a formidable force to be reckoned with.

With twists and turns a-plenty, this is a light-hearted and cleverly written comedy mystery that will amuse and befuddle until the case is finally solved. Or is it?

Do not underestimate senior citizens! Richard Osman’s foray into murder mystery ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ tells the story of a group of pensioners living in a retirement village, and their determination to solve a crime in their midst. First of all, I hope this village is real, because I want to move there when I reach 65. The setting is perfectly described and the residents are an eclectic group of men and women with skills honed over years in various professions. As they subtly manipulate the local plod into assisting their investigation, we find out about their backgrounds too. I loved it. It was full of twists and turns, and Richard Osman’s observations were hilarious but also poignant at times.

This book is crying out to be filmed. I can just see it. Christmas night cosy mystery. Just after ‘Call The Midwife’. I hope Mr Osman has plans to write a whole series as I will be first in line for my copies.

I was given this ARC for review.

The club of the title are so called because they meet to discuss the old cases of Penny, a founding member and retired police officer. We follow their investigations with some third person narrative and some diary entries of new member Joyce. I enjoyed the ‘whodunnit’ aspect of crimes old and new and the links of the past to the present. The reader gets to know each member with more revealed about their past and present lives as they resolve to get the most out of retired life in the Coopers Close community. The characters were the strength of this novel, not only the residents but the police officers trying to keep them in check and I look forward to meeting them again.

Just wow. Believe the hype. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman is just the warmest, cosiest, funniest, twistiest mystery novel I have ever read and I just LOVED it! halfway through I phoned my mum and convinced her that she needed to preorder it, it’s genuinely that good. And I’m so excited that it’s the first book in a series and I’ll get to visit these brilliant characters again!

At a peaceful and upmarket retirement village, a group of four pensioners meet up in the Jigsaw room every Thursday to try to solve unsolved murders. When a local man is killed, Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim get pretty excited and decide to “assist” the police with their investigations (whether the police like it or not!). As the novel progresses, it becomes clear that there is more to this particular murder than meets the eye, and lots of potential suspects. But this unlikely band of heroes will surely figure it all out, won’t they..?

What I loved most about this book is its amazingly charming, and witty cast of characters. I wanted to get in there and have a cuppa with them, find out more about their pasts, go adventuring with them on the train. The 2 police officers are the perfect pairing to be on this particular murder investigation, as they slightly reluctantly collaborate with the group.

The story is almost Christie-like in how extremely well plotted it is, with clues, red herrings and suspects all over the place. Just when I thought I had it all figured out it took another unexpected turn so I found that I really had to concentrate, particularly towards the end as the pace picked up.

This book won’t be for everyone. If you’re after a gritty and dark thriller then this certainly isn’t it! But if you fancy curling up under a blanket in front of the fire to read a gentle, funny, twisty murder mystery with loveable characters then you can do no better than to get yourself a copy of The Thursday Murder Club.

This is an absolutely wonderful murder mystery story featuring a group of sleuthing pensioners at an upmarket retirement complex. There are some fantastic comedy moments (the tea and cake scene is a classic) and also some very sad, touching moments. A book full of brilliant and sometimes bonkers characters and a story full of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. I loved it and am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Most of us have seen Richard Osman and will know how clever and funny he is on TV; as a result, most of us will have expectations of his book, but I can safely say that “The Thursday Murder Club” met and smashed all my expectations! It is clever, sensitive, charming, witty, original, unique and unforgettable.

In Cooper’s Chase Richard has created an idyllic location that sounds like the most fantastic place to live, and the characters in the book are the type of people you would love to meet! An very impressive crime novel.

I hope that Richard Osman will do the audio recording to his own book. With some celebrity titles, you can tell that there has been a lot of additional writing and support but with The Thursday Murder Club you can very clearly hear the wry wit and turn of phrase that makes it typically Osman.
The murder mystery is a familiar cosy one with endearing characters set amongst a retirement village, near Tunbridge Wells, full of back stories and past secrets. The story flows well and there is enough body count and moving suspicion to keep the reader interested in the plot.
With a potentially large cast and a well-built central group of four - Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim - that have their own traits and depth of character, this is set to become a series, with the second already in the pipeline.
I can also imagine a TV series a la Agatha Raisin.

This will be a huge seller for late 2020 I am sure.

Sometimes it only takes a few lines or a couple of pages when opening a new book to know that you’re going to gain immense pleasure from immersing yourself in the words that will follow and The Thursday Murder Club is one of those novels for me.
Welcome to Coopers Chase retirement village, set in the fictional town of Fairhaven, home to some eccentric, intriguing, interesting and larger than life characters. These septuagenarians and octogenarians, alongside other dubious but entertaining characters will accompany you on this madcap and highly amusing journey as they endeavour to unravel a real life crime.

With sleuthing skills to rival Sherlock Holmes,
prepare to meet the four members of this unusual club that convenes every Thursday in the jigsaw room, joined together by their fascination for unsolved murder cases. Ringleader Elizabeth, ex spy,heads up this motley crew comprising of Joyce, ex nurse, Ibrahim,former psychiatrist and Ron, a once famous trade union rep. Thanks to founding member, former DI Penny Gray who is now confined to the onsite Willow nursing home, these four friends spend many a happy few hours exercising their brain cells rather than sitting idly watching reruns of Pointless. They are The Thursday murder club, an elderly version of the Red Hand Gang (remember them??) Never a more energetic bunch of oldies are you likely to come across and I instantly warmed to each and every one of them. Since further development of their retirement village is imminent, if owner Ian Ventham doesn’t have his plans thwarted, the club find themselves in the midst of a real murder mystery when Ventham’s builder and right hand man Tony Curran is found bludgeoned to death in his own home. With a photograph of three men, one of whom is Curran, the only clue left behind at the scene, the murder club now have a brand new case, a real corpse and a real killer to get their (false?) teeth stuck into!

Accompanying our amateur detectives on this murder trail is PC Donna De Freitas, who first meets our elderly sleuths when giving a safety talk at the home. Bored by lack of any real crime in this sleepy seaside town, Donna daydreams of catching murderers and drug smugglers but instead finds herself getting to know the Gang of Four over a very boozy lunch but doesn’t bargain for the kind of action she will become embroiled in. As this devilishly funny murder trail commences she is partnered up with overweight, unlucky in love DI Chris Hudson, thanks to some ingenious meddling by Elizabeth and Joyce. These two are a glorious addition to what is a big cast of characters and I was never quite sure exactly who is in charge of this investigation, providing much amusement for the reader.

Relayed in the form of a diary written by Joyce, I loved the descriptions of the retirement village and the history associated with the place prior to it becoming a luxury haven for the elderly, the relevance of which becomes apparent the further you become immersed in the storyline. How the murder club comes into existence and way the characters involved are brought to life so imaginatively drew me in hook line and sinker. Their quirks and individual traits are lovingly captured by the author’s pen in a style of writing that had me chuckling all the way through. It’s impossible to pinpoint one particular aspect of this cozy mystery that I loved the most but the humour is what really brings the characters alive so that they jump off the page. I could imagine sitting having conversations with all of them eating cake and merrily becoming quite tipsy. There are way too many characters to comment upon individually and I’m hard pushed to pick a favourite but quiet, often underestimated Joyce is one that stands out for me. Baker of cakes that are better than M&S can offer, with ‘taste the difference’ sherry on offer to her guests as well as being a lovely friend to grief stricken Bernard make her a delightful character. ‘Red’ Ron who hides his love of wine from boxer son Jason, dapper Ibrahim, lover of Pilates, forthright,intuitive Elizabeth, Polish Bogdan, a friendly, gentlemanly rogue all contribute in their own inimitable style to make this storyline one of the most enjoyable and entertaining I have read in a long while. Is one of them a murderer though??

This is a cleverly constructed plot with characters that make all the improbable hijinks so much fun. I really had no idea where the storyline was going to end up with each turn in the tale (and there are many) keeping me riveted to the pages. Amidst all the humour, there are even some touching moments about grief, poignant references to the passage of time and how love can lead us to do the most extraordinary, unexpected things. Despite(at least!) one murder, the writing is smart,devoid of gratuitous violence, horror, grittiness or bad language making it wholesome entertainment, a PG version of a crime mystery.

An additional bonus for me as a reader is the fact all the places mentioned are so familiar to me, having spent my childhood in Kent, then living my adult life in Sussex. Whilst Fairhaven is fictional, I couldn’t help trying to guess the exact location that this luxury retirement village/town is based upon. References to tv series Juliet Bravo, BMX bikes and even Ron, the famous trade union representative indicate a 1970’s childhood so I wasn’t surprised that my guess at the author’s age was confirmed by a quick google search!! Feeling like you are on the same wavelength as the author is simply the icing on the cake but I can guarantee you will enjoy this cozy mystery wherever you hail from and whatever your age!

I totally agree with the author’s statement in the acknowledgments at the end that the storyline is infused with both kindness and justice. The fact I even read the acknowledgements rather than skimming through them has a lot to say about how I felt about his writing in general. I really didn’t want this book to end. The Thursday Murder Club is the cosiest of cosy crime mysteries, a scrumptious delight of a book that is witty, clever and full of entertaining, intriguing and amusing characters. Perfect for lazy weekend reading. Easily gains a place in my list of favourite books of 2020 and I CANNOT wait for book number two!!! My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

I feel a little mean with my low rating here, because I appreciate how complex solving so many mysteries in one novel must have been, but oh my goodness this was soooo hard to get into.

I genuinely had to bribe myself with sugary treats for completing chapters for more than half the book.

Set in an old folk’s community village, The Thursday Murder Club is a group of old age friends who like to delve into old police reports for fun. However, when a series of real life murders takes place in their community, they are the first ones on the case.

I suppose I should have really been more prepared for the type of content after reading the description, but the style of writing sadly didn’t hook me either. I think, through no fault of Osman’s, this book is targeted at an older, perhaps slow-paced, kind of reader! And was never meant for my impatient eyes. If you’re looking for a few old age chuckles and can keep up with a lot of characters, connections and back stories, I would love you to feel differently to me.

Let’s focus on the plus points that carried me to the end:

1. If the entire book had been segments of Joyce’s diary, I’d have been much happier. I absolutely love her and her optimistic delusions!
2. I read the entire book in Osman’s voice, and I do so love his soothing voice.
3. There are many quotes in here that really make you value how many years you (hopefully) have left. So thank you, for that outlook.

Favourite quote:

After a certain age, you can pretty much do whatever takes your fancy. No one tells you off, except for your doctors and your children.

The Thursday Murder Club is out on the 3rd of September, thank you to Penguin books for the arc.