The Marlowe gang is back and from the first page I was reminded why I’d missed them and I was fully immersed in their newest mystery. The characters remain true to the characteristics that endeared them to anyone who read the first two books in the series, but they continue to grow and evolve in this book, which kept me invested in them individually and not just in whether they’d crack the newest case. The author has also once again crafted a creative and entirely different mystery than those in the previous books, avoiding the trap of a formulaic series in favor of three unique and thoroughly enjoyable books which all happen to have the same three witty, charming, shrewd main characters whose unexpected initial friendship deepens throughout the series, without shying away from their individual and shared flaws. Read this book and if you haven’t read the first two, read all three!!

A cosy murder mystery. Once again three friends, vicar’s wife Becks, crossword compiler Judith and radio presenter Suzie (who has the mother-in-law from hell staying with her) help solve a murder in Marlow. This time, the local Mayor is the victim.The crime is committed at a planning meeting. The friends think this could be relevant. But is it? Lots of twists and turns and fun to read.

The Queen of Poisons is the attention grabbing title of the third novel in The Marlow Murder Club series by Robert Thorogood.
With a series, there is always a fear that the latest addition may not live upto expectations but thankfully, within the opening pages, it is clear that the same dry witty exists and is as humorous as ever.
Becks, Suzie and Judith have become local celebrities since solving two murders in recent months.
This time around, Suzie is attending a local council meeting when a murder occurs and and of course, our intrepid amateur investigators are in the perfect place to launch their own investigation. It does help that their police contact, Tanika, has clearly decided that the only way to "manage" the trio is to work with them and she makes them civilian investigators.
And despite my best efforts, while I did guess the culprit or (culprits? ;)), I do not even come close to working out how the crime was committed. Very Agatha Christie in how all of the elements come together and there is great precision required for the elements to work.
I'm looking forward to the next outing for the trio.

It is perhaps unfair to compare the Marlow Murder Club series to Richard Osman's superlative Thursday Murder Club books, but given I read The Queen of Poisons hot on the heels of The Last Devil To Die, and that Thorogood's books are marketed in such a way to make comparisons inevitable, I can't help it. So, first, the Marlow series is not a patch on Osman's, but what could be?

However, if you are looking for well plotted books which rattle along at a fair pace, they are a fun and undemanding read (although the Murder Club's habit of investigating by simply accusing each suspect in turn and seeing what happens is getting a little tedious after three books...). That said, the actual solution to the crime, and the manner in which the Club secure a confession, is ingenious.

The latest instalment of the Marlow Murder Club has one of the trio witness a murder in the council debating chamber!

Robert Thorogood proves himself, yet again, as an expert in writing a well-clued whodunnit which is both fiendishly clever and a satisfying puzzle to try and solve.

Now the third entry in the series, we’re really getting to know the characters well. I can’t wait to see them brought to life when the TV adaptation arrives on our screens.

Oh I do love these books. Absolute joy to read. Very well written and the plot is well crafted. I love the characters- Suzie, Judith and Becks. They are a total joy to read. As is true of a lot of so called "cosy" murders, cosy being an odd word to use with murder, these books are really adept at showing humanity and people's foibles, weaknesses and strengths in all their glory.
A complete delight

Another excellent book in this great series. Light hearted and humorous in places it is such an easy read I read it in 2 sittings. Can't wait for the next instalment. I highly recommend this book and author

The mayor of Marlow, Geoffrey Lushington, dies suddenly during a town council planning meeting witnessed by Suzie - one of the three civilian advisers brought in by the police. The trio are set to investigate who could have killed him and why. Everyone agrees that he was a lovely man with no enemies. As they investigate each of the individuals at the meeting, each is found to have secrets but not necessarily a motive or means to kill.

This is the usual mixture of mystery and inspiring lucky breaks as well as lighter moments.

The characters are likeable and becoming more rounded as the series develops.

A cosy crime story with an unpredictable ending.

An enjoyable read - I look forward to number four!

This second volume in the Marlow series is highly entertaining. The 3 women are now officially helping the police with a murder investigation. The story moves along at a steady pace and the dialogue between them is pleasingly witty. Having struggled to get along with my own mother-in-law, I particularly enjoyed reading how Becks was dealing with hers! I definitely recommend this book, and am looking forward to their next investigation.

I found this a bit slow to start off with, but in the end it was a really good whodunit. There were lots of suspects and it was fun finding out their secrets.

I did find the writing a bit twee, but it's my fault for choosing a 'cosy crime' book when that's not really my cup of tea. For what it is, this was an enjoyable story.

Thank to HQ Stories and NetGalley for the ARC of The Queen of Poisons.

This is the third entry into Robert Thorogood’s Marlow murder club series featuring the wonderful Judith, Suzie and Becks. This time Tanika invites the trio to be official civilian advisors as they investigate the poisoning of Marlow’s lovable mayor, Geoffrey.

A brilliant whodunnit mystery that keeps you guessing. I think this might have been my favourite in the series to date. Well recommended for fans of the series, cosy crime and mystery readers

Book three of the Marlow Murder Club finds Judith, Suzie and Becks investigating the death of Marlow’s mayor. Geoffrey Lushington died during a council meeting and when aconite (the queen of poisons) is found in his coffee cup, it’s quickly announced as murder. The trio of civilian advisors – their previous exploits are every bit as entertaining – have free rein to interview suspects and go about police business. But it’s a case that the three are finding difficult. After all, Geoffrey was ana amenable man, unlikely to be the target of a murderer. So who is responsible? If this is dubbed cosy crime, it certainly has a jagged edge, which makes it thoroughly enjoyable.

How wonderful to be back in Marlow in the company of Judith, Suzie and Becks as they become involved in another murder. Geoffrey Lushington , the mayor , dies in suspicious circumstances while sipping his coffee at a town council planning meeting but why has the beloved mayor been murdered and which of his fellow colleagues is to blame? Acting as police advisors along side the marvellous Detective Inspector Tanika Judith, Suzie and Becks are soon discovering dark secrets and local rivalries as they work out who the guilty party is. With lots of clues and red herrings this book is a joy especially with the problems Becks is having with her mother in law who has turned up like a bad penny. I can’t wait for book four in the series and would thoroughly recommend this series to all who enjoy a ‘cosy’ murder mystery. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the ARC of this novel in return for an honest review.

The third in this developing series is just as good as the previous two instalments. The three main characters are really well developed and very believable.

As with the other books in the series, there is a clever murder to figure out. I did find the main premise of how it was committed slightly tricky to buy into, but overall it came to a satisfying conclusion.

I look forward to the next Marlow Murders book!

We are back with the Marlow Murder Club members, Judith, Becks and Suzie, and once again they are on the search for justice. It helps that they have a good friend in Detective Tanika Malik, even more so now she has a new promotion!

Suzie, with high hopes of getting some rather dubious planning approval passed, attends the local town planning meeting, of which Geoffrey Lushington is the Chair. Geoffrey is also Mayor of Marlow, a wonderful chap, no one has a bad word to say about him. In fact, he is redeemed as saintly. The other members are a mixed bag. Apart from the Chair, Suzie is at a loss to see who she can get on side to help speed up her plans. Suddenly, planning permissions and approvals are the last thing on anyone’s mind, as events take a very unexpected turn.

Another lovely book from Thorogood, he really does know how to spoil his readers. As always, there are lots of plots and red herrings, and I really didn’t see the twist coming. Written with a cheeky sense of humour and a very devious mind. Yes, there are some very convenient events, and at times it is totally mad, but so good with it.

I dislike the term “cosy read”, and often bypass books that include that description in the blurb, and though I suspect this will be billed as such, I prefer warmhearted, as it’s brilliantly written with great characters, more please!

Thank you NetGalley.

This book is brilliant! I want to move to this retirement village. Apart from the murders it seems perfect. I love Bogdan and he lumbering care of the group. The other characters are just sublime. This series is a force to be reckoned with!

I absolutely adored the first two previous Marlow books - The Marlow Murder Club and Death Comes to Marlow - and I think they're actually the best cosy crime novels around currently, and I suppose some of that comes from his experience writing for Death In Paradise. They're everything you want from a crime novel: unsolved murder, sketchy characters, red herrings - but with the added comfort of knowing that it will all be solved in the end, so you just enjoy the journey to get there.

Our main trio of Judith, Suzy and Becks are back, alongside policewoman Tanika. They're absolutely delightful characters and they've grown so much throughout the series. Judith is without a doubt my absolute favourite. She's just fantastic and fabulous and wonderful, and all the positive adjectives. She is a wonder of a creation. Suzy and Becks are fascinating in their own way, and there's nothing wrong about them whatsoever, but no-one holds a candle to Judith in my opinion.

Like most crime novels - cosy or otherwise - there is definitely a sense of stretching the truth, as to what would be allowed in an investigation, but I don't much care. It works in the context and reminds you that this is a fictional story. I like it just the way he writes it. It sucks you in and you're on this rollercoaster alongside the characters.

It's been a while since I read the previous book in the series so was worried I'd be lost, but you're thrown straight back in and you're hooked from page one, and you instantly remember who everyone is and the context in which we know them.

I have recommended this series to a number of friends who have gone on to really enjoy it, and I will do exactly the same with this new offering.

It doesn't matter how many whodunnits I read, when you get a good one, it's impossible to be confident with guessing who the killer is. And this is another one o f them. I adore Thorogood's writing, and he works red herrings and twists throughout like a master - which is probably why I love Death in Paradise so much. But I couldn't figure it out at all. Everyone has their possibilities and you become certain about someone, and then a spanner is thrown into the work and it blows wide open again.

Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed the likes of Richard Osman's cosy crime series, and I don't like to compare but they're too similar not to mention something. But there is something about these ones that stand out for me, and annoyingly for a wordsmith, I can't fully explain why. It's just a feeling that I get when I read them. I really do recommend picking up book one and giving it a chance. If you like traditional cosy whodunnits then you will thoroughly enjoy this series.

I really hope this isn't the end of the series. I know there's the risk of repetitiveness, but I trust him to add enough originality to keep it fresh. But I haven't heard either way whether this was the end of a trilogy or if the series will continue, but I'll keep my eye out.

I've also just read that they're adapting the first book into a television series which I am unbelievably excited about. I love the likes of Midsomer Murders, Lewis, Morse, Endeavour, and Miss Marple, and I think this is a perfect addition.

Marlow Murder Club #3

Suzie Harris attends a council planning meeting- what is she up to?! Councillor Sophia De Castro arrives late, a somewhat exotic creature for Marlow Council, thinks Suzie. Sophia causes a slight furore with her tardiness but not as great as when the Mayor, Geoffrey Lushington sips his coffee, then drops to the floor, utterly motionless. Detective Tanika Malik, newly promoted to DI, investigates with a “bit of help from her friends” - Judith Potts, Becks Starling and Suzie Harris. Tanika engages the threesome as police civilian advisors which is probably for the best as they’d investigate Geoffrey’s untimely demise anyway. Turns out the poor old Mayor meets his maker courtesy of the Queen of Poisons - aconite, otherwise known as monkshood, wolf bane and / or leopards bane. Why would anyone want to murder a man for whom no one has a bad word? Our intrepid trio are on the scent - with Tanika, obviously!

The Queen of Poisons, the latest in this fun series, is definitely capturing and delivering the Queen of Crime vibes here. It’s the usual mad caper which is full of mystery- notes, letters, phone calls, you make it, it’s here. As per usual, these three have noses like bloodhounds and are able to suss out a lie at fifty paces. Of course, it’s convoluted, there’s a largish suspect pool and plenty of rushing about the length and breadth of Marlow to solve it after flashes of inspiration Miss Marple style, usually from Judith. I’m sure DI Malik must feel redundant at times! Naturally, there’s a large dose of humour alongside the poison. A laugh with a mystery, what a great combo!

The author has created some really good and immensely likeable characters here and with every new instalment you get to know them a bit better with the three of them being resourceful to say the least. Poor Becks earns a ton of sympathy as her mother in law is simply ghastly. However, the ultimate end is nicely devious and earns applause from me.

Of course, some things are very convenient, it wouldn’t be a cozy otherwise but it’s highly entertaining and so it’s a go with the flow read. The big reveal is suitably bonkers and is unexpected as my suspicion antenna twitches into an altogether different direction. Nicely played Mr Thorogood!

Overall, I’m liking this series more and more with every new novel as I eagerly anticipate number 4.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

This was yet another brilliant read in the Marlow Murder Club series, this time with Tanika deciding it will be easier to have Judith, Suzie and Becks working as civilian police alongside her from the start! There’s a seemingly impossible murder to solve and the more they dig the more motive and suspicion they uncover about everyone present when the murder was committed. There’s lots of twists and turns as well as plenty of light hearted humour as you would expect from the unlikely trio and a very interesting reveal at the end. Can’t wait for the next in the series.

When the Mayor of Marlow dies suddenly at a council meeting in front of one of the Marlow Murder Club, it's business as usual finding a killer. All of the councillors have something to hide, but could one of them commit murder most foul?

This is another great instalment in the series - having read the first two I was eagerly awaiting this one and it did not disappoint! This book is another triumph - 5*.