A wonderful read! Another fabulous instalment in the Marlow Murder Club series. This one really gets the brain going with the ins and outs and topping and going around who did it. I have to say, it beat me, I didn’t guess who the murderer was. I can’t wait for the next book, quite a cliff hanger at the end.

Thank you Netgalley

Verity Beresford is worried about her husband, Oliver who didn’t come home last night so she goes to Judith Potts for help. Oliver, founder of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, had hired The Marlow Belle, a private pleasure cruiser, for an exclusive party with the MADS committee but no one remembers seeing him disembark. And then Oliver’s body washes up on the Thames with two bullet holes in him – it’s time for the Marlow Murder Club to leap into action...

Being back with my favourite characters from one of my favourite cosy crime series always makes me feel nostalgic because I love spending time with these iconic ladies and seeing what adventures they get up to. I love how even after four books in this series, I feel like I am still learning new things about the much loved characters - I really enjoy seeing their development and seeing their friendship blossom even further.

The constant misdirection had me constantly questioning everybody with their account of the murder and motives. Every time that I thought I had it all figured out, I found out that I was wrong so I was kept constantly on my toes, which I loved! I love how cosy and humorous this series is - it makes me feel like I'm visiting old friends for a catch up each time that we get a new The Marlow Murder Club book.

I felt so immersed in this book and truly struggled to put it down because I was dying to know how everything would play out. It's been the same with every installment of this series and I cannot see that changing any time soon. After that explosive cliffhanger ending, I cannot wait to see what is in store for the fifth book in this series - I need it in my hands asap!

I cannot recommend this series enough if you're looking for loveable old characters that has women front and centre (which we love to see!) in a gorgeous, cosy crime series.

Thank you to HQ and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early, in exchange for an honest review.

⚠️ CWs: alcohol and drug use, murder, gun use, cancer, cheating; mentions blood, adult/minor relationship, person with substance use disorder, overdose, animal death ⚠️

Book Review: Murder on the Marlow Belle by Robert Thorogood

If you’re a fan of cozy crime, charming characters, and a healthy dose of humor, then Murder on the Marlow Belle is exactly what you need. This fourth book in the Marlow Murder Club series by Robert Thorogood is an absolute delight, filled with twists, laughter, and plenty of suspense.

The story kicks off with Verity Beresford, who is immediately concerned when her husband, Oliver, doesn't return home after a party on the Marlow Belle, a private pleasure cruiser. Oliver, who is the founder of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, had been hosting an exclusive event with the committee members, but no one seems to remember seeing him leave. When Oliver’s body is found floating in the Thames with two bullet holes in him, it's clear that something sinister is at play, and of course, the Marlow Murder Club is called into action.

I’ve been a fan of this series since the first book, and Murder on the Marlow Belle only solidifies my love for these characters. Judith Potts, Suzie, and Becks make such a fantastic trio of amateur sleuths, and their dynamics are always a joy to read. I love how they bring different perspectives to the table, making their investigations both clever and fun. As they dive deeper into Oliver’s death, it quickly becomes clear that there are more than a few secrets hidden within the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, and as always, the Marlow Murder Club is determined to uncover them.

What I really enjoy about Thorogood’s writing is how he blends humor with mystery. There’s a perfect balance here between the gripping whodunit and the lightheartedness that comes from the characters’ interactions and wit. The writing is sharp, and the story moves at a steady pace, making it impossible to put the book down. The twists and turns keep you on your toes, and just when you think you’ve figured it all out, Thorogood throws in another unexpected revelation.

As always, the setting in Marlow adds an extra layer of charm. The picturesque town, the quirky locals, and the ever-present sense of community make for the perfect backdrop for these mysteries. And of course, the Marlow Belle itself—how could you not love a murder mystery set on a pleasure cruiser? It adds just the right amount of atmosphere and intrigue to the plot.

Overall, Murder on the Marlow Belle is another stellar entry in the Marlow Murder Club series. It’s everything you want in a cozy crime novel—engaging, clever, funny, and full of heart. I couldn’t put it down, and I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series. If you haven’t read the Marlow Murder Club books yet, I highly recommend you start now. They’re the perfect blend of mystery and fun, and you won’t regret it!

Rating: 5/5
A brilliantly fun and fiendishly clever mystery that kept me hooked from start to finish.

Ooo girl! The amount of pearl clutching I did wile reading this one. Robert had me on EDGE. As always no spoilers here but vibes, I am seriously thinking about being a detective Queen of Poisons has me second guessing but this one I kept up with Judith as much as I could and Becks is now my favourite.

As late as it is thank you NetGalley & HQ for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy!

I'm usually a fan of really dark crime novels but there are some 'cosy crime' series that I really do love and this is one of them. I think the thing that makes this series stand out to me is that the characters are so believable. I do find that with 'cosy crime' the people can start to become
caricatures and go a bit silly, but with Judith, Suzie and Becks I actually recognise real people in my life in these three women.

I really enjoyed the setting and theme of this fourth mystery. Basing the story around the Marlowe Amateur Dramatics Society was such a great idea because the people involved in these groups tend to be quite dramatic. It allowed for some really fun exchanges and I loved the fact that Judith took it upon herself to join the production to gain inside information - these scenes were just brilliant!

Despite the fact that this is an easy read, the plot and the murder mystery were quite complex with lots of possible suspects, motives, outcomes, and plenty of clues and/or red herrings to keep the reader guessing. Very excited to find out exactly what kind of trouble Judith is in when we finally get Book 5, it looks like her past is catching up with her and I'm ready to find out what her big secret is!

The Marlowe Murder Club return, this time they have a boat, a missing director and a play that must go on!

I really enjoyed this book, it’s a fun cosy crime mystery set over a few weeks. Judith, Suzie and Becks must follow the clues to solve the murder without getting in the way of DI Tanika Malik and causing her anymore trouble.

I love the friendship between the 4 ladies and how they all work so seamlessly together to solve the mysteries. Thorogood writers so well that you really feel you are part of the group!

The ending was the best one yet and I can’t wait for the next instalment!

This is the 4th book in the Marlowe Murder series featuring Judith and her friends Suzie and Becks who solve murders. in their home town of Marlowe.. In this story, the local drama group take a boat ride down the Thames and one of their number, their director, dies. In this adventure, Judith is warned by Tanika, the police officer she has collaborated with before, that she must not investigate the case as he has her boss has forbidden it but Judith persists until the case is solved. This is a light-hearted cozy murder mystery which owes a lot to the Thursday Murder Club but lacks the same sharp humour and creative plotting. I enjoyed reading it as a gentle, bedtime book but wasn't clown away by it.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

The 4th book in the Marlow Murder Club series and one I enjoyed just as much as the others. Judith, Suzie and Becks are back in action "helping" DI Malik with her investigations into a murder where all the suspects have alibis......

Oh what a pleasure to read another of these glorious books. And since the first book has been on tv you can visualise the characters and even ‘hear’ them speaking.
Oliver Beresford had hired the Marlow Belle for a cruise with the MADS (Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society) but he can’t be found and his wife turns up on Judith’s doorstep saying he hadn’t come home. Then his body is found floating in the Thames with two bullet holes.
Judith, Becks and Suzie get on the case but nothing is what it seems. Even the painter on the river bank is not what she seems.
I love these books. More please, more

Judith, Becks and Suze are back in the midst of the action . When there is a murder on a boat Judith inserts herself into the investigations and ends up joining MADS ( the amateur dramatic society) she also manages to get a part in The importance of being Earnest. Can Judith and friends solve the murder before someone catches up with them. Another great read always entertaining

What a delight to return to Marlowe and the exploits of Judith, Suzie and Becks as they attempt to solve another murder. As a group of amateur dramatics embark on a cruise does the river little do they know that one of them will not return. Once again these quirky characters get stuck into the action much to the dismay of the local police, and we learn more of their back stories which leave us on a cliffhanger at the end of the novel for one of them. Plenty of red herrings and misdirection makes this book once again a thoroughly enjoyable read and I look forward to the next in the series. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel in return for a honest review.

I think I might finally have had enough of the company of Judith, Suzie and Becks, fun though they can undoubtedly be. In Murder on the Marlow Belle, Robert Thorogood's fourth novel to feature the triumvirate, I became irritated by their inability to leave the police to get on with the investigation. That's not to say that the plot isn't engaging. It is. And the other characters are interesting too. So, if you can live with the the-police-are-too-inept-to-solve-crime and interfering-in-a-police-investigation-doesn't-lead-to-being-charged elements I think you'll enjoy this very much.

Ths is book four of the series and was fun and enjoyable.

I didn't enjoy it as much as the other series as it felt a bit obvious however I loved the gang being back together. And I'm excited to see what happens after the cliff hanger!

Thanks for the arc.

Judith, Suzie and Becks have a well-earned reputation as successful amateur sleuths, so it's no surprise that Verity seeks Judith out when her husband mysteriously goes missing. What follows is an increasingly complex mystery as the small number of suspects have alibis in what amounts to a closed-room mystery. This story has an added complication, which means the friends must investigate secretly. Despite the murder, this story has many humorous moments, and the dynamic between the three women is believable and relatable. I like the female protagonists, the complex and twisty mystery and the contrasting humour that ensures this is an engaging, cosy mystery.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

A welcome return to the Marlowe Murder Club. A well plotted, locked room style murder mystery with a much disliked victim and a large cast of interesting suspects. The usual cooperation with the police is absent and the amateur detectives have less information to work with but the humour remains along with an unexpected solution. Recommended.

The wife of the founding member of Marlow Amateur Dramatics Society approaches Judith (crossword setter) to say she hasn’t seen her husband since last night. Together they discover his body has been found with two bullet holes in it. It’s time for Judith and her crime solving buddies Suzie (dog walker) and Becks (Vicars wife) to get their heads together and solve this, well after navigating lots of dead ends and being thrown off the scent by red herrings.

I adore this series, the characters, the humour and the pace are all perfectly pitched. As a big cosy crime fan I would even be happy if there was no crime to solve just spending time with the three friends would be more than enough. Long may the series continue.

#murderonthemarlowbelle #robertthorogood #marlowmurderclub

Murder on the Marlow Belle features the local amateur dramatic group, whose founder member is found dead the morning after a river cruise with the group's most famous former member. And it has the bonus of one of the characters being called Verity, which is always fun, although Veritys don't have a great record in murder mysteries - Verity is after all the victim whose murder Miss Marple is trying to solve in Nemesis. I've read and enjoyed the first three books in this series so it was great to be back with the gang as they solve another murder. I find these very easy to read and less obviously comic than the tv adaptation of book one was - or in fact the Death in Paradise tv series that Thorogood also developed. Among the multitudes of series that have popped up (seemingly) as comps for the Thursday Murder Club, this series is one of the better options.

Book 4 in the Marlow murder club series.
These books are best read as a series rather than standalones as the backstory gets smaller which each new book.
I love this series and the latest book is no exception, I love how Judith’s mind works and how much she does at her age! Her friendship with Suzie and Becks is hysterical aswell and the storylines always bring plenty of drama and humour.
There is always a background story going on with one of the main trio too which just brings so much realism to an otherwise unbelievable storyline.
Marlow seems like a lovely place to visit but there’s a lot of murder there so maybe be careful if you visit 🤣
🌟🌟🌟🌟

Release Date - 16th January 2025

Another great cosy murder mystery from this writer. The 3 amateur detectives do an excellent job of tracking down the killer while trying to stay out of the way of the official police investigation. The final scene is pure joy, a real farce, and would look great on TV. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, particularly as this one finishes with a right cliff hanger!

The extremely unlikeable and bombastic amateur dramatics director, Oliver has arranged a pleasure boat cruise along the river with selected members of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, his wife Verity and a surprise guest who turns out to be a famous film star. Everything appears to be going swimmingly on the Marlow Belle. Unfortunately, Verity calls Judith Potts the next day to inform her that Oliver has disappeared and is subsequently found murdered.
The book then follows the usual pattern of the other books with Judith, Suzie and Becks deciding to initiate their own investigation. You couldn’t blame any one of the list of suspects bumping Oliver off, but they all have alibis. We are led in one direction and then another and I thought I had the answers all wrapped up, but there was a surprise in store.
Overall, I found this book very entertaining and a good read, but something was missing compared with the other books in the series. It may be that the character of Judith is developing, but Suzie and Becks are not. Maybe a shake-up is needed of the slightly formulaic feel of the books, and this book in particular, was slightly slower. Of course, that may be on its way as this story ended on a bit of a cliffhanger.
Sincere thanks to Netgalley, Robert Thorogood and especially HQ for the much appreciated ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.