Anyone who has watched Richard Osman on TV will already know that he’s an intelligent, witty and knowledgeable man. Read this - his first novel - and you will see that he’s also a very empathetic writer, capable of creating a plot with twists, fascinating and funny characters underlaid with a moving understanding of the difficulties of aging. Highly recommend to all those who like their crime to be realistic but not too gory either! Thanks to NetGalley fir the advance copy.

This was such a fun read! I thought the characters were interesting, as was the idea - four retirees solving unsolved crimes, until there's a real murder. I hope this is the start of a new series because I want to read more about the Thursday Murder Club.

This was a delightfully entertaining read. The writing was very witty, the characters were charming and the plot was clever. I thoroughly enjoyed it and laughed out loud on a number of occasions.

The Thursday Murder Club is set in a retirement village and four of the retirees and the main protagonists, Joyce, Elizabeth, Ron and Ibrahim spend their Thursday evenings reviewing old, unsolved murder cases. The case files, not that she is supposed to have them, are now in Elizabeth’s hands, passed to her by retired police inspector, Penny, who is now in a nursing home. The gang spend their evenings drinking wine and speculating on motives and solutions. However, when a local housing developer is found murdered they suddenly have a live case to poke their noses into. In a rather unholy alliance with DCI Chris Hudson and PC Donna De Freitas, the group begin to investigate and become even more involved when, yards from where they are standing, a second death occurs; that of the housing developer’s business partner.

There are plenty of cunning strands to the plot and all the characters have stories in their own right; I developed a real affection for them. This is a really British novel with quite a few cultural references which will make British readers smile and international readers scratch their heads. That’s what Google is for right? It’s the epitome of cosy, murder mystery and highly recommended.

Thank you NetGalley and Viking Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Coopers Chase is a lively care home comprising individual apartments, plus leisure facilities and a small hospital, all built on the site of a former Convent with grounds that also contain the convent burial ground, known as The Garden of Eternal Rest. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron, all ageing residents, have formed The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday being the day of the week on which they regularly meet) and have set themselves the task of examining and trying to solve cold case murders. They befriend PC Donna da Freitas who visited the home to give a talk on “Practical Tips for Home Security” as they decided that she could be a useful source of information.

Word soon gets out that the owner of the complex, Ian Ventham, is buying up surrounding land with a view to enlarging his portfolio, but wants to side-line his partner, Tony Curran. The Thursday Murder Club get suspicious when, after overhearing an argument between the two men, discover that the police are called in when Tony is found dead in his home. Enter DCI Chris Hudson together with Donna. As earth moving equipment starts to arrive it becomes very apparent that Ian intends to dig up the graveyard - a cause for the residents to set up a peaceful protest. Ian calls on the police to help clear the crowd but himself falls down dead on his way back to the car. The plot thickens!!

There is a laugh on every page and a very well thought out plot but to say more could well ruin your pleasure in reading the book!!

Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim & Ron are elderly residents in the luxury retirement home that is Coopers Chase and make up ‘The Thursday Murder Club’. They are quite diverse characters, Elizabeth, the main organiser, with a mysterious career history but a (sometimes unbelievable) huge range of connections to call upon. Joyce, new to the village, quiet and watchful (and a creator of wonderful baked goodies). Ron, (Red Ron) an ex Union man who seems to have lost his purpose, seeks any opportunity to whip up an audience. Finally Ibrahim. A retired psychologist but also a great organiser and very knowledgeable.

Previously this group have enjoyed investigating cold cases, until they get a real live murder (or three at least) happen on their doorstep.

There are a wealth of other characters introduced: Donna & Chris the stereotypical police officers involved (although both add warmth to the book with their own backstories). Other people at the home wend their way into the story, like Bernard, Penny & John, all contributing to mysterious offshoots to the main plot. And then there is Bogdan, the handyman, who adds an interesting perspective to the tale.

Some of the story is told from the point of view of Joyce in the form of her new journal. Some is told in the present tense (which felt a bit clunky to me) the narration had real jumps from one person to another which sometimes made it hard to follow.

Whilst this book certainly highlights the wealth of knowledge and talents that elderly people might have, it lacked pace and empathy for the victims and the very fact that these were murders. It does tie up most of the loose ends by the final chapter.

I found this book to be an easy and enjoyable read, but I was never gripped or wanting to read on. It is a very British story and reminds me of Agatha Raisin mysteries, lacking tension and pace.

You know how books say on the cover that they’re laugh-out-loud funny but then they end up raising just a couple of smiles? Well, this book actually made me do an actual genuine real life lol on more than one occasion, as well as a near-constant grin of enjoyment.

I LOVED this book, it will definitely feature in my top reads of 2020. Please, oh please say it's the start of a series: I want to spend more time with these elderly investigators and their police chums. The characters were diverse, individual and a pleasure to read. The mystery was twisty and had a satisfying conclusion.

Bravo, Mr Osman and encore!!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing a review copy in exchange for honest feedback.

I was pleased to receive an ARC of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an honest review which reflects my own opinions.It's great fun,with a cast of characters who are not typical senior citizens although they all live in a retirement village.The four friends meet on a Thursday to try to solve murder cases from the past,but they become caught up in a real murder when the local property developer is mysteriously killed during a protest about his plans to dig up a cemetery bordering on the retirement village.
There are some real comic moments and observations,but it's also quite moving in places,as it deals with loss of partners,the threat of dementia and relationships with adult children.It's well plotted and cleverly developed,and I enjoyed it immensely.

It is no secret that I am a huge fan of Richard Osman and have been excited to read his debut novel. 'The Thursday Murder Club' is a thoroughly British mystery and packed with charm. It is centred on the four members of the eponymous Club: Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron. When we meet these eccentric and delightful characters, they already meet each week in the Jigsaw Room at the Coopers Chase retirement village to discuss and solve cold cases. This is before a person (no spoilers here!) with interests in the retirement village is found murdered, bludgeoned to death in their home. For The Thursday Murder Club, with a little bit of assistance from the unwitting local police force, there is certainly more to the case than meets the eye, leading to sleuthing, capers (especially when the forceful Elizabeth is involved) and lots of wine.

Osman's dry wit and humour shines through in his writing making this an incredibly enjoyable read. The canny attention to detail allows the reader to imagine the beautiful countryside setting of Coopers Chase (and definitely want to retire to this fictional (?) wonderland) as well as get to know the individual personalities of each of the characters. The core four are certainly the most developed as Osman tackles a huge cast of characters and multiple twisted plot lines. There was only one moment I got confused about a character's identity but there is potential for more confusion so read this one carefully. The pay-off is, however, ultimately satisfying with the answer to the mystery being original and impeccably plotted.

Overall, this novel has a lot of heart, as do all the wonderful characters. I hope we get to meet The Thursday Murder Club on their next case as these characters are already crying out for a sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
4 stars

To be brutally frank, the last 20% was the best....

A convoluted story about clever OAPs in a retirement home - that sounds like a posh hotel. All very middle/ upper class and hard to relate to the places most vulnerable OAPs end up. Then there was the plot....

...... Not too shabby but what passes for dry cynical humour didn’t work for me and felt a bit patronising. The characters needed more depth (both as old and young people) and the most likeable character was the marginally buffoon policeman - though how he ever promoted through the ranks and kept seniority was beyond belief.

I was lucky enough to get an ARC but paid the price in poor formatting. I trust the final version allows some breaks between one set of characters and the next a bit more apparent.

The story reached a satisfactory conclusion and on reflection, I might have enjoyed it.

When I first saw Richard Osman had written a crime novel, I must admit to being a bit - hmmm - another book by a celebrity. But I do like Mr Osman, and as he is an erudite speaker, I thought I'd give it a read. Well, I take back everything I may have presumed as this is a gorgeous book. When reading it, I could almost hear the author's voice speaking to me, and his sense of humour shone through.

The book is set in a retirement community - not your typical crime setting. All the main characters are totally loveable and the sort of people you'd like to invite to your house for tea, a scone and a chat. They have set up something called the Thursday murder club, to try and solve unresolved murders from the past. That is until a murder takes place in their own community and then within their own grounds.

I don't want to give away the plot so won't tell you anymore. It is charming, adorable, and has some moments of absolute tenderness that are entirely unexpected. I loved every minute of it and was saddened when it came to an end. I hope that Mr Osman will write another in this series as I'd love to dally with these characters again.

My appetite for crime novels during the current situation has certainly dropped off, especially those that are more gruesome. This is not one of those books. I highly recommend it—5 stars, in my opinion.

I'd like to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for letting me have an early copy. It's due out on September 3rd so you don't have to wait too long until you can get your hands on it.

If you are expecting a tense thriller you will be disappointed. If, however, you enjoy a psychological plot with a wonderful array of characters and an awful lot of clever humour, then this book is perfect. It didn’t have me on the edge of my seat, but I was eager to discover more about the great eccentrics of the club and the plot does throw in many unexpected turns.
The Thursday Murder Club (TMC) is a group of elderly residents of Coopers Chase, a residential retirement village in the quiet Kent countryside. They meet regularly to keep their brains and memories working to discuss unsolved murder cases - in this case obtained because one of their number was a former inspector and somehow obtained some old files. This is not the only unlawful act committed by the group - and that’s aside from the real life murder committed on their doorstep that is just asking to be solved by the group.
The current police detectives of DCI Chris Hudson and PC Donna De Freitas assume they will be leading the investigation, although it rapidly becomes apparent to all that they are the useful conduit through which the TMC stay one step ahead.
We experience the lives of this group of people, brought together by age, all with very different life experiences, yet all facing similar issues now their 80s have taken hold. Loneliness, rejection and illness vie with their spirit of adventure and determination not to succumb to old age before their time. This all adds up to a wonderful tale of country folk, thrilled about the excitement in their lives which haven’t been mundane to start with. Who is manipulating whom? But does it all work out for the best? A great read.

Not the detectives you expect with this cosy murder mystery. The 'detectives' live in a retirement village and initially meet every Thursday to investigate cold cases. A humorous read where Issues are dealt with carefully and with compassion and warmth. A few too many 'red herrings' at the end of the story though.

I really enjoyed this cosy English murder story! It's such a good idea for a book, a bunch of amateur sleuths all living in a retirement village, reading through unsolved murder cases to try and solve them and then being faced with a real life murder on site!
I liked the characters, and they work well together, giving a good range across the story. Elizabeth was wonderful, and I also really liked Joyce. You quickly get a feel for who everyone is, and there are some really funny moments and comments. I also liked the different characters in the police, and I was happy to suspend belief and just go with the thought that this sort of retirement village murder group could end up liaising with the police !

The ending becomes a little convoluted with too many red herrings, but I forgave it as I was still enjoying the story.
The book also contains mentions of suicide, which I found unsettling, but I understood why it was there, even if I didn't feel it should have happened within the story.

Overall, a really good book, and I'm hoping there will be more outings for the Thursday Murder Club in the future.
With thanks to Netgalley for my copy.

Many thanks to the author, publishers and Netgalley for a free ARC of this ebook.
I enjoyed this book enormously. Beautifully written characters, lots of humour and some very touchingly sad moments. However I felt that around 90% it all got a bit tangled, with extra characters and scene changes being chucked in. Glad to say it all got sorted in the end. It was a lovely read, I'll be looking out for the next in the series.
Worth a solid 4 stars

I'm always a bit wary of 'celebrity' authors but was intrigued to read this offering from Richard Osman, the first of a new series of mystery books.

The Thursday Murder Club are a group of pensioners who live in a retirement village. Elizabeth is the clear leader with n intriguing past, Joyce is a former nurse, Ibrahim a retired psychiatrist and Ron a former union leader, known as Red Ron. The club usually meets weekly to look at unsolved murders, but when one of the partners of the retirement village is found dead, the Club finds itself with a real life murder to investigate. With the reluctant help of Donna, a former Met officer who has relocated to Kent and finds police life in the country less than exciting, the Club set out to solve the mystery.

As well as being a mystery, this is also a story of friendship and family. There is also a lot of wine and cake involved!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There are several threads weaving through the story, so you do need to keep a track of which thread you are reading at any one time. However I liked the fact that there was a lot going on and how the different stories intertwined.

I will await further books by Mr Osman with much interest.

With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK for this advance copy.

I am not going to beat around the bush - I loved 'The Thursday Murder Club,' by Richard Osman. It tells the story of Elizabeth, Ron, Joyce and Ibrahim who live in a retirement community. Instead of attending the crochet, or jigsaw club, they meet on a Thursday to solve past crimes. When murders occur on their doorstep, they use all their skills and experience to investigate, alongside Donna and Chris from the local police, who become recruited to the group, against their better judgement.

Osman's comic style, and clever use of words, reminded me of Kate Atkinson. As did his ability to pair humour with quite dark material. Although this novel could be described as light, it tackles a number of serious subjects. I really enjoyed the way he was never condescending about his characters and used others perceptions of older people as their secret weapon. The plot was well written, but like Atkinson it wasn't a who dunnit, in that there were not clues along the way that would provide the answer (of if there were I missed it).

If I had to criticise, I would say like many other books, the thing that lets it down slightly is the ending. This wasn't because it wasn't satisfactory, but because it was extremely dark compared to the rest of the novel, and was perhaps too much of a juxtaposition. However, I hope Richard Osman garners the praise he deserves.

I must admit that this was even better than I expected - sometimes when a book receives lots of hype, it can leave you disappointed. But this one deserves the hype.

Thank you to Viking Books and Penguin UK for the chance to read a digital ARC before publication - my thoughts are my own and not influenced by the gift.

As someone who enjoys detective stories (I started with Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys as a teenager), this was an enjoyable read. Great characters, most of them over 70, and so many topical British comments - Pizza Express for an alibi! A book full of secrets and more than one murder.

The story flowed well, lots of red herrings, and lots of different stories inside one book. Personally I'm hoping for a sequel so we can meet the Thursday Murder Club again.

An hilariously funny book, the story of four friends in a retirement village who solve the murders committed within the local community, proving that the old ones (people) are simply the best and their is still a lot of life in them.. I am really looking forward to the next Thursday Murder Club book and hope it isn't long before it appears on the shelves.

Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim & Ron make up ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ - a group of elderly residents in a retirement village who gather (on Thursday’s) to discuss age-old unsolved murders. That is, until a murder or two starts happening on their doorstep and they begin investigating live cases!

This book definitely blew away all of my expectations. I really enjoyed the characters, they were all extremely likeable and each had their own quirks. Joyce’s diary entries scattered throughout were one of my favourite parts of the novel.

Their constant assistance (and occasional hindrance) to the police is equal parts funny as it is astounding. They seem to be able to pull off the impossible thanks to their combined knowledge and connections - it’s easy to forget they’re all elderly residents. Other characters weave in and out of the picture and these only further add to the believable little Kent village in question. I could vividly picture the entire book, thanks to Osman’s fantastic writing and description.

A great, light-hearted read which I think really ticked every box. I’ve been won over by The Thursday Murder Club and am already eagerly anticipating the next book!

The Thursday murder club by Richard Osman is the most funny detective plot I’ve read in a long time.STé in a retirement village full of brilliant characters it’s made me smile so many times. The plot is brilliant and it’s just so much fun. I cannot wait for the next novel. This gets 10/10. Get it for any friends approaching retirement- it’ll show just how much fun retirement can be. Loved it.