The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Published by Viking
Publication Date: 3 September 2020
Genre: Cosy Crime
Book Description:
In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet up once a week to investigate unsolved murders.
But when a brutal killing takes place on their very doorstep, the Thursday Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case.
Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron might be pushing eighty but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves.
Can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer before it's too late?
My Thoughts:
The most unusual setting for a crime novel I think I have ever read, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed Richard Osman's debut novel. I am delighted to hear there are more books planned for our intrepid investigators and look forward to seeing how the characters will be developed.
The book has a lovely feel to it which seems unusual for the genre, but the whole thing draws you in with some sharp witted humour (not surprising if you've ever watched the author in gameshow Pointless) and characters you can recognise from people in your own community. Some may say they are slightly stereotypical but this just makes the book more 'comfortable' and believable in my opinion.
Chief organiser of the Thursday Murder Club Elizabeth reminds me very much of Nessa in the TV programme Gavin and Stacey in that she seems to have connections with people in high places, stories which are very vague and improbable but then she comes through and proves that she does indeed 'know people'. Her friend Joyce seems to just tag along in a dreamy kind of way but on the quiet she is far more observant than she would let you know. Former trade unionist Ron always has lots to say and comes across as rather confrontational but is actually a big softie under all the bluster with family being the most important part of his life. Ibrahim is a retired psychologist and is a methodical analyst of just about anything you can possibly analyse! Together they make a formidable team.
The Thursday Murder Club likes to revisit cold cases which have left detectives bemused. They invite the local constabulary to come in and do a talk to them under the premise of security and how to avoid scammers but once female officer Donna is on site they sweet talk her into helping them with their enquiries. Never underestimate a pensioner - let alone a group of them who have joined forces! In a shock twist, the retirement village suddenly finds itself involved in a murder enquiry of its own and in the only part of the book that I found more than slightly unbelievable, the Murder Club members persuade Donna and her boss Chris to share information of the case with them. But seeing as it was Elizabeth who got Donna her the chance be on the murder case in the first place, how can she possibly refuse?
I know there have been some less than complimentary reviews saying this book has been over-hyped due to it being penned by a celebrity author however I personally enjoyed the investigations of the Coopers Chase retirement home residents, there being some nice little twists and reveals throughout the book. Richard's trademark humour runs through the book like a traditional English stick of seaside rock and makes the whole story very enjoyably British. Bring on book 2 I say!
About the Author:
Richard Osman is an author, producer and television presenter. The Thursday Murder Club is his first novel. He is well known for TV shows including Pointless and Richard Osman’s House of Games. As the creative director of Endemol UK, Richard has worked as an executive producer on numerous shows including Deal Or No Deal and 8 Out of 10 Cats. He is also a regular on panel and game shows such as Have I Got News For You, Would I Lie To You and Taskmaster.
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