I really enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club. It was an easy read but the red herrings, twists and turns kept me interested. The characters were lovable and more importantly believable. I loved the excerpts from Joyce’s diary and felt they really added something extra to the book. The humour and wit was brilliant but there was also moments of deep sadness and loss which were tackled sensitively. A cosy quintessentially English read!

Welcome to Coopers Chase, a luxurious Retirement Village in Kent. On a Thursday afternoon, in the “jigsaw room” a small club meet. The published schedule will tell you that it is “Japanese Opera – a discussion” but in reality, this is the Thursday Murder Club where four friends revisit old unsolved murders/cold-cases to see if they could see anything that the police/original investigation might have missed.
When one of the owners of the retirement village is killed, the group have a present day case to solve, and whilst it is debatable at times whether they are helping or hampering the police, they are determined to use their skills to figure out who the culprit is.
The story is told from various viewpoints and the characters are believable, funny, quirky and all have hidden depths which are revealed as the story progresses. John is devoted to the dying Penny; Elizabeth has a mysterious and intriguing past, but is often able to call in favours (what *did* she do in her younger days??); Joyce was a nurse, has good medical knowledge & we read several of her diary entries; Ron is the group’s misery but he has plenty of one liners that are perfectly timed; Ibrahim is a retired psychiatrist who understands human nature; Bernard is lonely & missing his wife. The group lure PC Donna De Freitas into their little group - after all, she is looking for something more interesting than giving talks on security to the elderly! Soon DCI Chris Hudson is drawn in too.
They are all quite canny & living very much for today. They are charming and not above using their charms to help them progress with their investigation - as Elizabeth says: "Imagine if we only ever did what we were supposed to?". There is just enough time given to the descriptions of daily life in the retirement village, their opinions of each other & the usual reminiscences of older people! There is a deep respect in the writing/characterisation for the older generation & a recognition that whilst their bodies may be growing frailer, their minds are as active as ever.
I was initially expecting something a little more academic/less light hearted from Richard Osman than this cosy mystery, but there is evidence of significant research & insight that give a depth to this that is missing from other books. The book starts just a little slowly, but once it gets going, it is fast paced & there are plenty of twists to keep you guessing. The way that the characters develop, the story reveals itself and the loose ends draw together at the end show that somebody with a logical & complex mind has written this. There is a subtle, very British humour that permeates the whole story.
It can only be hoped that there is more to come from the Thursday Murder Club – erm, I mean the Japanese Opera discussion group!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free from the publisher via NetGalley. Whilst thanks go to the publisher & author for the opportunity to read it, all opinions are my own.
#TheThursdayMurderClub #NetGalley

Is there anything Richard Osman does not excel at? This British version of 'The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old' meets Agatha Christie's greatest detectives was charming, witty, beautifully observed and a delight to read. Each voice was authentically written, each character was made loveable or hatable to just the right degree. It is one of those book I would dream to write. Who new retirement village living could be so exciting. More please Mr Osman.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Penguin General UK for an advance copy of The Thursday Murder Club, the first novel set in the retirement village of Coopers Chase, Kent.

Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim spend their Thursday evenings trying to solve cold cases in community’s jigsaw room but when someone attached to the community is murdered they suddenly have a live case.

I enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club on the whole but I wouldn’t mark it as one of my best 2020 reads. The premise of pensioners investigating murder is not unheard of but Mr Osman puts his own stamp firmly on proceedings and has produced a fresh, entertaining read. What I really liked about the novel is the way he portrays his protagonists. Too many novels, and I’ve moaned long and hard about it, seem to think that decrepitude, both mental and physical, starts about age 60 and goes downhill from there. These characters are spry, smart and not above playing the age/infirmity card if it furthers their aims, but most of all they love live and live it to the full, within their physical limitations. It’s so refreshing and keenly observed, I loved the bit where everyone went to the toilet before embarking on a journey.

The plot is clever but not overly taxing. There are secrets and motives to be uncovered, probably more than you would expect from what is basically a cosy, and they’re nicely obfuscated so the reveals come as a surprise. I think it’s all well judged.

The novel alternates between Joyce’s diary entries and the thoughts and doings of various characters. This is a touch annoying when the perspective changes from one paragraph to another. There is a certain humour in the situation and dialogue but it’s not laugh out loud funny, perhaps because I have nothing in common with the lives the characters have led (South of England middle class) and I definitely don’t get Joyce’s small worries about life. I do think, however, that those whose life more mirrors her will recognise the gentle mickey taking.

The Thursday Murder Club is a warm, entertaining read that I can recommend.

This was described as an Agatha Christie type murder mystery, I can see why, a large cast of suspects, each with their own secrets, and several bodies.
But it’s much more.
Forget about sending people to retirement villages to while away their declining years, these are putting their experience and brains to good use.
Set at Coopers Chase, in rural Kent, the Club originally looked at cold cases, but jump at the chance to investigate a real murder. They are led by Elizabeth who appears to have been in MI5 or similar in her past. Other members are a retired union leader, a psychiatrist, and Joyce, who was a nurse.
By dint of charm and some subterfuge (and cake), they get the local police onto their team, and solve the murder, uncovering some other secrets along the way.
There is a lot of gentle humour, but also some serious emotion, and thoughts on ageing.
Al the characters are well drawn, and I look forward to their next outing.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin UK for the opportunity to read this book.

I liked this book and it felt appropriate to read on a rainy Sunday! I can’t wait for more from this author.

I’d like to thank Penguin Books UK, Viking and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ by Richard Osman in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

This is the story of four of the residents of Coopers Chase Retirement Village, Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim, who meet on Thursdays to try to solve cold cases. When Ian Ventham, the owner of the Village, dies in questionable circumstances they take on their first live murder. They need someone from the police to help give them information so enlist PC Donna De Freitas, soon becoming good friends with Elizabeth, and then Donna’s boss DCI Chris Hudson who also gets involved. The question is, can the Thursday Murder Club solve the death of Ian Ventham before the police?

‘The Thursday Murder Club’ is a unique thriller that uses pensioners as the detectives with a little bit of help from the real ones. It’s been cleverly written with a lot of surprises and twists and turns along the way. Some of the story is told through Joyce jotting down bits in her diary whenever she gets the chance and this fills gaps and helps the plot along. The four members of the club are likeable characters and I’d like to read a second book to find out what happens to them. Congratulations to Richard Osman who’s far more than just a celebrity on the television, he’s a writer of a first-class and thoroughly entertaining novel that I’ve enjoyed reading.

Despite a rather slow start this turned into the perfect book for holiday reading: enjoyable, light and interesting cosy crime. The main characters were retired but with intriguing histories and various strengths, which fed into the Thursday Murder Club, occasionally assisted and censured by the real detectives, Chris and Donna. All highly implausible, as cosy crime often is, but gradually engaging and absorbing towards the end. It was an amusingly written tale, as you might expect from its illustrious author, using many of the conventions of the genre, and well worth a second case in the future, hopefully with a more attention-grabbing beginning and perhaps the inclusion of some of the amateur sleuths' backstories. Elizabeth in particular could have a story or a case to herself. A promising first attempt at cosy crime, which bodes well for further efforts.

Thursday Murder Club is the debut novel from Richard Osman.

A Murder Mystery set in Coopers Chase, a ‘luxury’ retirement village.

The Club in the title is 4 retired residents who spend every Thursday digging through cold cases. But when a Murder of a property developer Is committed the 4 ageing amateur sleuths set about solving the murder on their doorstep.

Osman writes a classically British story, with a cast of eccentric and at times charming and really rather funny characters.

There is very little not to like about this book, its very easy to read with an almost welcoming writing style. The pacing can be a little slow but then it’s a story of 4 pensioners solving a crime out in the British Countryside so I think the pacing is that way intentionally.

One of the main characters is possibly a bit to convenient in regards to getting the story moving and ticking along.

With 4 entertaining characters and a story that will no doubt be adapted for tv.

Overall this is a charming, funny and enjoyable romp with some bittersweet moments and clever twists among all the humour and mystery.

Thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for the Review Copy.

Coopers Chase is a retirement village in Kent. The residents have many activities to enjoy and one of them is called The Thursday Murder Club. Their quest is to investigate old unsolved murders, seeing if the police have missed something so that they can solve the crime. All ticks along nicely until a builder involved with the retirement village is discovered murdered. Can the retired folk of Coopers Chase solve this live case?

This is an awfully British, cosy mystery that shows retired people having fun and purpose in their old age. It is a jolly read told with tonnes of light humour. For example…

He is wearing an expensive polo shirt, and a watch so large it might as well be a clock.

...And...

‘Would you like some sherry?’ asks Joyce. ‘It’s only Sainsbury’s, but it’s Taste the Difference.’

...Richard Osman is very well known for being a presenter on the BBC One television quiz show, Pointless. Richard has a distinctive conversational style that is mirrored by Joyce, a leading character in his novel. Joyce has a lovely British turn of phrase and she sounds so much like Richard does whenever he is on television. Even in his acknowledgements at the end of this book, he has the same voice as Joyce when he writes…

I had wanted to write a novel for a long time, and over a very nice lunch at Skewd Turkish restaurant in Barnet (delicious, great value for money, try the chicken wings) Mark gave me exactly the encouragement I needed, at exactly the right time.

...I enjoyed reading The Thursday Murder Club, the accent was not on the crime but retired people making the very most of their later years. Rather than being out of touch these lively residents enjoy all that modern life can offer. I found this book to be a refreshing tale of retired life. I loved how it depicted modern day Britain and the cultures we share. How people view groceries, shopping and the prestige of stores like Waitrose. How people embrace modern technology and software like Fitbits, WhatsApp and Tinder.

The Thursday Murder Club is NOT a hard edged, gritty crime thriller full of police procedure and special skills. This novel is a warm, heartfelt tale of people coping with the mistakes of the past and making the best of current times. There is sadness but also people meaning well.

I found this book an entertaining read and loved the colourful characters. The pace of the murder enquiry dragged a little but my interest was retained by how the residents coped with everything else that was going on. Richard has a very relaxed writing style and his tale is told with all the time in the world, kind of like how some old people talk. Overall, I found this a very pleasant GOOD read that gets 4 stars from me.

I had hoped this would be something like A Man Called Ove.

I was not aware of the author’s celebrity status (I still don’t know who he is) and overall this was just too sweet for my taste.

The story takes place in a picturesque upmarket retirement village where 4 residents have a little secret meeting every Thursday, dissecting cold cases, just to keep the mind going you know.

The grey matter is lubricated by bottles of wine and all in all the Thursday Murder Club is much more fun than building jigsaw puzzles in your golden years. That is until a real murder happens on their doorstep, and then another and another….. the bodies just start piling up.

The pacing slowly shuffled along (just like the residents of the retirement village), the answers came too easy and the conclusion was very anticlimactic. I also think there were too many characters for me to really feel like I got to know any of them.

There is definitely an audience for this type of book but it’s not me

I chose this book because I was curious as to what the author would come up with.

Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron, residents of the upmarket retirement community of Cooper's Chase, make up the Thursday Murder Club. First, they investigated cold cases supplied by retired Detective Inspector Penny. Now there are live cases very close to home...

Somewhat implausible, but with a quirky charm, I found this book slow going. It burbled along until the pace picked up for the final third.

When I heard Richard Osman had written a book, and a mystery/thriller no less, I had to read it. Thanks to netgalley I received an ARC and absolutely loved it. Agatha Christie meets Peter James with wonderful dry, witty humor and plenty of twists to keep you guessing, this is a must read for any whodunnit fans.

So it turns out Richard Osman really is good at everything. This murder mystery has a charming cast of characters, crimes for them to solve and is set in the luxury retirement village of Coopers Chase. The Thursday Murder Club turn their hand from solving cold cases to looking into a much more recent case, to the exasperation of the police who originally underestimate them. The professional investigators soon learn that the enthusiastic amateurs have tricks up their sleeves and slowly the case unfolds. I really enjoyed this and will definitely keep an eye out for any more in the series.

A book full of interesting characters,most of them pensioners! Lots of twists and turns, an enjoyable read.

Enjoyable cosy crime, though it didn’t really get going until about half way through the book.

What is nice is how the retired, more senior characters are written with such warmth and wit. Most of the characters (apart from the victims) have a likeability about them.

My main criticism of this book is how it jumps from one character or scene to another with very little warning. This may be down to the formatting of the ebook and the printed version will hopefully easier to follow.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

3.5

What a fabulous book!! And what a clever idea, getting the 'older age' at. a sheltered housing community, in their own 'Thursday Murder Club' to work out, who murdered whom, in the past, and now!!!! The way they got together, and with their own specialities, from their previous jobs/work places, was absolutely brilliant!! It made the elders of this world, look and still feel useful in their dotage!!!! I cannot express more, the way I feel about this book, I loved every page of it, very refreshing!!!! And I was an absolute privilege, to review it!!!! I wish I could give more than 5 stars!!!! Thank you!!!! Superb Richard Osman, let there please be more books in the future!!!!!!

Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim live at Coopers Chase retirement village and enjoy trying to solve old murder cases from files of their old police friend, Penny, also in the home. They become embroiled in their own real life murder case when builder, Tony Curran, is killed. This is on the same day that owner, Ian Ventham, gets rid of him for his new development so that he doesn't have to give him 25% of the profits.
The real investigators, PC Donna DeFreitas and DCI Chris Hudson, find themselves working with the retirees who seem on some occasions, to know more about the murder than they do!
The new development would also mean bulldozing the previous convent graveyard where generations of nuns are buried so this also causes controversy.
It is a good murder mystery and I enjoyed it a lot. The start was a bit confusing and didn't make sense until later on so it took me a while to get into it which is why I've given it 4 stars.
Also the paragraphs merged into one but I assume this will be fixed when the book is published.

Treat yourself to The Thursday Murder Club from our favourite pointless friend Richard Osman.
Set in a retirement village in Kent where the residents have countless opportunities to fill their days with activities, we meet the four members of the Thursday Murder Club.
Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron usually work on solving cold cases, but when the body of a local property developer is found, they get stuck into their first real case. Their friendly PC, Donna is finding local policing a bit dull after the Met and is persuaded to help.
Written with the wit you'd expect from Richard Osman, will the Thursday Murder Club discover the identity of the killer?

Think cosy British mystery as opposed to exciting thriller.

Set in a retirement village, the story follows four elderly friends as they find themselves in the middle of a live murder investigation, much to their delight...

I struggled at times to engage with the book and relate to the characters. The writing style seems to switch between first person and third person narrative and it took awhile to follow, but this may be down to an ebook flaw, it would presumably be clearer throughout a hard copy book.

I would recommend this book for people who like a lot of background information and plenty of characters to delve into. I feel the story would be appreciated by a more mature reader and would be well suited to an audiobook as it reads for the most part, as the characters thoughts and ramblings.

Overall I found it charming and light-hearted and featured some quirky characters along the way.