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*.