Dollycas’s Thoughts

Within these pages, The Marlow Murder Club is born.

Judith Potts, a crossword puzzle creator is now 77 years old and enjoys skinny dipping in the Thames and a good glass of whiskey.

Suzie Harris, a single mother to children who are now adults, a grandmother, a dog walker, and a breath of fresh in Judith’s world,

Rebecca (Becks) Starling, the vicar’s wife, a little OCD, trying to be a good wife and mother to her 2 children, who meets Judith in an unusual way.

Judith hears a gunshot ring out during one of her nightly swims coming from her neighbor’s yard after she heard a shout. She calls the police but they do a cursory search and leave. So she goes to have a look of her own and finds her neighbor shot and dead. When the police return they would not even acknowledge the man had been murdered. Because “nothing ever happens in Marlow” Judith assumes the police are ill-equipped to handle a murder so she starts investigating on her own.

Then another man is killed and she realizes she is looking for a serial killer and with the clues found on the bodies there is going to be another murder soon. While doing her search Judith meets Suzie and Becks and together they set out to do what the police have failed to do – catch a killer before he turns the table on them.

I really enjoyed this group of female amateur sleuths. They are all different as night and day, have their own strengths and weaknesses, and appear to be willing to put their lives on the line to find the truth. They are some truly funny moments and some very scary ones too as these women refuse to give up.

Not all the women are strong in this story though. I was really disappointed in Detective Sergeant Tankia Malik. She was clearly over her head investigating these murders. So much so that she does an unusual thing even in the world of cozy mysteries. She turns all the reports and evidence over to Judith, Becks, and Suzie and basically becomes their lackey.

The mystery Mr. Thorogood put forth draws from a classic theme but was quite a puzzler, perfect for Judith, who has her own unique way of composing and solving clues. All the suspects have firm alibis but all three women felt they were on the right track. There were some nice twists and turns but I started to put things together a bit before they did and couldn’t wait to see how the story would play out. Well, let me tell you the ending was quite exciting. I am sure my blood pressure was on the rise as the story reached its climax. I do wish more of the solution had taken place on the page instead of Judith just telling us how all the clues came together but I am sure the author had a reason for wrapping up the mystery the way he did.

I was captivated by the setting of the story. Especially Judith’s mansion on the banks of the Thames, where she could slip out quietly for a bit of skinny dipping. But truly every scene in the story was described in a way to take readers right there. He made it very easy to escape into the town of Marlow and all it had to offer.

The Marlow Murder Club took me on quite a journey that now has me invested in the members of this unique club. There are some over-the-top sections and a good dose of humor but all in all the book was an entertaining and enjoyable read. Judith, Suzie, and Becks all evolved nicely. They became friends, overcame some personal obstacles, and became better people than we met at the start. That being said I think we have much more to learn about them. I am so happy to see there is another book featuring them in the works. Death Comes to Marlow is set to be released in November.

Copaganda: Incredibly low for a cozy mystery, top-tier bumbling happening in this book.

Mystery factor: Middling. There are suspects! Red herrings! It's copied from a semi-famous murder mystery (Strangers on a Train), which is fine, honestly? It's a cozy mystery.

Sleuths: Old ladies doing incredibly, including a crossword constructor!

Coziness: Not as 'busy' as a lot of other cozy mystery books, which I was kind of into? It's been a really rough week for me and I really needed this.

The Marlow Murder Club has an engagingly different pair of amateur sleuths. Becks is a middle-aged vicar’s wife in the small rural English town of Marlow. She is frustrated with how her life is so structured and rule based. Judith Potts is a free-spirited crossword creator who doesn’t let her seventy-seven years on Earth stop her from doing anything.

Judith is swimming naked in the Thames outside her house when she hears a shout and a gunshot from her neighbor Stefan’s house. She calls the police, but they insist it was a suicide. Judith takes matters into her own hands. As Judith investigates, she befriends Becks. The police begin to investigate Stefan’s death only after a unique medallion is found on a second corpse matching the one found on Stefan. Will Judith and Becks solve the crime before the police? Or will the murderer kill them first?

I loved The Marlow Murder Club! It is such a fun read. All the clues are there though the numerous red herrings may trip up some readers. Best of all I love the characters. I wish I lived in Marlow so I could join their club. 5 stars and a favorite!

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Robert Thorogood’s The Marlowe Murder club. All opinions are my own.

I have recently read several lovely and enjoyable murder mysteries featuring a cast of elderly detectives. I knew as soon as I read the description that I had to read The Marlowe Murder Club next. Judith is a seventy seven year old woman, living in a mansion on the Thames. She does not fit into the stereotypical expectation of an elderly person. She skinny dips, she drinks, she wears a cape (!), and she takes flack from no one. She is also sharp as a tack. During her nightly swim, she believes she overhears her neighbor’s murder. Of course she reports it, but the police department brushes her off. Well, Judith is not going to sit by and do nothing about the local police’s failure to take it seriously. She sets out to investigate herself, and soon forms a ragtag group dedicated to solving the murder.

I appreciated Thorogood’s characterization of our cast of characters. Judith was well drawn, she was fierce, and I admired her grit and determination. I also really enjoyed the setting, which was instantly intriguing. I did have some issues with the book; the police department’s bumbling and complete departure from normal protocol made it a bit hard to suspend disbelief. Also, the mystery was not much of a mystery, which means there was a decided lack of tension and suspense.

Ultimately, I felt the book held a lot of promise based on the premise, but it didn’t pan out to be as enjoyable as I’d hoped. More mystery, less cozy would be my hope for the next book.

A cozy mystery with a quirky cast of characters. This story lets us get to know three ladies from Marlow we happen upon a murder mystery in their sweet little town. We follow their hijinks as they disregard the local police who tells them not to get involved.

This was my first “Cozy” mystery story and it was a nice read. Easy to read and follow along although a little unrealistic in how things just seem to work out. It gave me very Scooby Doo “I would have got away with it if it wasn’t for you meddling kids” vibes. I thoroughly enjoyed that the book had kind of a wrap up at the end. I was very invested in the mystery unraveling and learning who-dun- it.

I think this book would be great for someone looking for a light, easy read.

Thanks Poisoned Pen Press & NetGalley giving me the opportunity to read this one early.

So this was my very first cozy mystery and I THOROUGHLY enjoyed it. The characters were fascinating, over the top and absolutely hilarious. And I loved going on this adventure with them!

I loved that the main three were all eccentric older women. They were an absolute delight and I’m so glad this will be a series! I can’t wait to follow them on many more adventures.

Because this is a cozy mystery, you definitely have to ~suspend some disbelief throughout (especially when it came to the police involvement). Plus the writing was more on the simple side but I’m guessing that’s part of the cozy mystery atmosphere? Normally that would’ve distracted me but I was having too much fun with this story to care.

Anyway. My only real problem with this book was the ending. The big ~twist is very similar to a famous twist from a classic mystery novel/film (it's literally Strangers on a Train) and if you’re at all familiar with that story, you’ll see this one coming from a mile away (as I did). So I was a bit disappointed by the unoriginality there.

But other than that, I really enjoyed this one and I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel!

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review!

Judith is a 77-year old…a septuagenarian (please don’t ever ask me to pronounce that) who likes to relax in the evening by drinking scotch and swimming naked in the Thames River. On top of that, she also creates crossword puzzles for the newspaper. On top of THAT, it turns out she also may be good at solving crimes.

When Judith’s neighbor is shot dead, the police don’t immediately jump to action. So she decides to start digging around to find out what happened. Soon after, she questions Suzie, a dog walker, and Becks, the wife of a Vicar. Before you know it, they join her on the quest for truth as more murders occur.

With a cop named Tanika who reluctantly asks the women to assist in the case, can these ladies solve it before one of them dies?

If you’re like me, you’re instantly thinking that this is a rip-off of The Thursday Murder Club. I can’t help but think that’s where part of the author’s inspiration came from. However, whether I’m right or wrong, this one is enjoyable on its own merits and so much fun! The similarities end after the basics.

I loved getting to know all of these fun characters, and chuckled throughout. It’s on the cozy side, but there is definitely a worthy mystery filled with plenty of suspects and red herrings.

The charm doesn’t come from the mystery itself, but from the spunky and smart ladies who are trying to solve it.

Even if the denouement is a bit contrived and OTT, the book is a hoot, and I can’t wait to read the sequel…which will be out towards the end of the year.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with a widget through Early Reads. Available now.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

Judith is a delightful character - at 77 years young she is doing it her way. Swimming nude at night in the Thames, a drink when the mood strikes her, no man to cook for or to question her actions...her life is good. Her life is about to change in a big way. While swimming one night she is 100% certain she has heard gunfire coming from her neighbor's house. The police, in the form of a police woman, brush off Judith's report. With that Judith is on a mission to find out what happened and catch a killer. Why not? She creates crossword puzzle for The Times and that means she has a very sharp mind. Add to that she joins forces with two more wonderful characters - Becks, the vicar's wife and Suzie, a dog walker. With this trio on the case the killer hasn't got a chance. The cast of suspects and the well crafted mystery full of twists, turns and red herrings gave them the perfect stage.
When I saw the blurb for this first in a new series saying it involved a senior lady and crosswords, well I had to have a copy and I enjoyed every page. As soon as I finished it I added the next in the series, Death Comes to Marlow to my Christmas list as it comes out 12/8/2022.
My thanks to the publisher Poisoned Pen Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for this eARC of The Marlow Murder Club.

Now who doesn't love a murder mystery? I just love novels like this!

The premise and the characters were all fantastic. I loved the main character being in her seventies and solving mysteries. It's like a Jessica Fletcher situation - just loved it.
The writing and the build up of the mystery was delightful to read. I really enjoyed all the characters and they all brought the murder mystery story together.
It's a delightfully cozy and humourous read

From the very get-go I fell in love with Judith Potts. She’s intelligent, independent and definitely not your typical retiree. She enjoys her job, loves being single, routinely swims nude in the Thames, and can’t do without her whisky. What a lady! After she hears a gunshot on her neighbour’s property, she gets impatient with the police’s slow response and decides to investigate the (supposed) murder on her own.

But she isn’t on her own for very long. Judith’s new friends, Becks and Suzie, are just as unique and memorable. Together, the three of them form a very strong circle and I really enjoyed the friendship between these three very different personalities. They all seem to have their own flaws and sadnesses, but I think together, they prop each other up and bring out the best in each other.

Joining the three women, as a strong supporting character, is DS Tanika Malik. As Acting SIO, Malik isn’t that confident in her murder-solving skills and starts to feel overwhelmed when the bodies start piling up. Unlike many stubborn law enforcement characters, she’s ends up trusting Judith, Suzie and Becks, and works with the women, rather than against them, to solve the investigation.

I really appreciated how well I got to know the characters within this one book. Books that are starting off a series generally feel a bit slower as they have to set up so much – the town, the main characters, the supporting characters – but The Marlow Murder Club never flagged. It never felt like too much information and yet I felt like every character was fully-fleshed out in the short span of time allowed.

There was plenty to keep the momentum going: a serial killer (with three very unrelated victims!), an antique murder weapon, and a religious token left with each body. The pacing was almost perfect – the combination of action, character building, the murders, the investigation – it was never bogged down and never too break-neck fast. I enjoyed every minute of it and genuinely felt sad that the book came to an end.

*** Thank you to the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

The basis of The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood is the development of the trope of a small English village with a curious older woman. Judith Potts is considered to be eccentric and whilst out swimming in the Thames one evening, she hears a gun shot and is worried for her neighbour. When the police assure her there’s nothing wrong, she decides to investigate for herself. So begins the Marlow Murder Club series with its new crime solving hero who drinks whiskey, constructs crosswords and is a seventy-seven-year-old woman. Judith teams up with Becks, the wife of the local vicar and Suzie, a dog walker, to form a formidable investigative team. When another body is discovered, they are on the trail of a serial killer and the puzzle solving is suddenly a dangerous game. Overall, a gentle lyrical tale of a murder solving club that makes for a four and a half star read rating. With thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and the author, for an uncorrected advanced reader copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.

Liked it but didn’t love it or anything. Reminded me a lot of a Christie book for sure. If you are a fan a cozy mysteries this will right up your alley easily, if cozy mysteries aren’t your thing this may not be your book to be honest. Overall enjoyable read!

I could not finish this book. It starts really fast, but doesn't seem to follow through. It does not sound practical. I am also having a hard time connecting with these characters. Judith seems like your typical murder mystery character that tries to solve crimes, but unlike others, she doesn't have a connection to true crime or murder mystery before the killings. Becks seems like a poor me kind of woman who just wants to experience life. I didn't make it far enough to see where the other woman comes into play enough. It just doesn't seem to work, and is also sort of predictable. I wanted more out of this story. I do love the crosswords in this story, it's not something you see everyday.

What this cosy, slower-speed mystery lacks in pacing, it makes up with delightful character development. All the staples of a good, quiet crime read are here: amateur sleuths, a sleepy town where 'murders don't happen', and an effortless chemistry between characters. Perfect for a lightweight beach read, The Marlow Murder Club offers an airy and intriguing puzzle at its centre: a series of strange shouts coming from the neighbour's house—it must be something sinister. Marlow homebody Judith takes the case when the police won't, and makes two friends along the way—Becks and Suzie—who are intent on getting to the bottom of the mystery. Thorogood's writing has a breezy calm to it; he writes with a straightforward casualness which is approachable and inviting. Readers will likely connect quickly with the trio of inexperienced sleuths. We all want to be like Judith: crossword in hand, a cloak in our closet that doubles as a decent blanket. There's enough of a foundation here that Thorogood could easily set up a charming series with these characters, and I hope he does. While the story is slow to get going, the pace quickens in the second half. If it's an intricately woven thriller you're looking to bring to the beach this summer, this book might not pack the punch. But this release undoubtedly holds up for anyone looking for a delicate and warm-hearted caper. Funny, light, and a good mystery at the centre.

As she takes her nightly swim in the Thames, seventy-seven year old Judith Potts hears the shot that kills Mr. Duckwoody, her neighbor. Despite a hole in his forehead and no gun in evidence, the police fail to call it a murder. Judith feels that the only thing that she can do is investigate the death herself. Her search leads her to an antiques dealer who has a solid alibi. He was rehearsing with the church choir at the time. Becks, the vicar’s wife verifies the alibi. She has been feeling somewhat unappreciated lately and she gets caught up in Judith’s investigation. It isn’t long before they are joined by Suzie, a dog Walker who worked for Iqbal, a second murder victim. Both victims were found with medallions, one with Faith and one with Hope. The only thing missing is Charity, leading the police to believe that a third murder will happen.

With the same weapon involved in both murders, DS Tanika Malik has her hands full handling the investigation and Judith’s interference. It is that interference, however, that often points Tanika in the right direction. Seeing the three women together sometimes even brings a smile to her face. Marlow is a peaceful town that has never faced multiple murders. The third victim brings the attention of the national press and Tanika is under pressure to solve the murders quickly. Facing limited staff and budget, she calls on the women as civilian consultants to help. The biggest problem is finding a connection between the victims that will lead them to the killer.

Robert Thorogood is the creator of the popular series Death in Paradise, a show known for its’ quirky characters that work together to solve cases. He brings this same formula to The Marlow Murder Club. Judith creates crossword puzzles and can see patterns where others can not. Suzie has a tendency to act impulsively, while Becks is often a voice of reason. These three strangers bond together as the killer sets his sights on one of them. Thorogood will leave you wanting to join these women again for further adventures. I would like to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing this book for my review.

Thank you to the author, the Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the idiosyncratic heroine of this unlikely murder mystery, and aim to be just like her when I get to that point in my life. The story started out slow and meandered a bit, until it picked up a bit of speed by the midway point, when the heroine had recruited two other women to her investigation. I enjoyed the way they complemented one another on their search for the truth, and their tenacity, although it was much too easy to work out early on "whodunnit". However, at a certain point the story went off the rails and strained the limits of credulity - and the ending was very unsatisfying.

I love a good mystery and this book by Robert Thorogood was a delightful read. It's hard not to love Judith Potts- she sets crosswords, drinks when she pleases , cycles even at 77 years old and swims naked each evening in the Thames(what's not to love?).

Her life changes when she hears a yell that was followed by a gunshot while she was swimming. And true to every cozie she sets out to investigate. Soon, one determined amateur sleuth becomes three with Suzie, the dog walker and Becks the wife of the local vicar and alas the Marlow Murder Club is born. I laughed, enjoyed and could not put down this cozy.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

What a fun small-town murder mystery this turned out to be. Feisty seventy-seven year old Judith accidentally hears her neighbor being murdered, and begins her own investigation into what had happened. Along the way she makes friends with other strong women from town, Suzie and Becks (and detective Tanika.) I loved their dynamic; they each brought a crucial piece to the investigation. The twists and turns kept me guessing right alongside the characters as they attempted to find the murderer. A very engaging addition to the cozy mystery genre.

It wasn’t BAD.

Definitely not an overly captivating murder mystery.

I was able to put it down and not feel an overwhelming urge to go read it.

While I was reading tho, I wasn’t bored

The Marlow Murder Club is the perfect cozy mystery to read while cozy in your favorite chair with a hot cup of coffee. 77 year old Judith Potts is what I want to be when I grow up. Her life of solitude writing crossword clues and whiskey at night is the stuff of legends.

After witnessing the murder of her friendly neighbor Judith decides to take the reigns and solve this puzzling crime. Along with her new friends Becks and Suzie they each bring their own strengths and help to make up the new Marlow Murder Club. They are all so different but at the same time work as puzzle pieces to complete each other.

The writing is not too complicated and a humorous cozy mystery that was a quick read that I didn’t want to put down. I can’t wait for more of these stories to come in the future. Also big bonus for that awesome cover!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.