Murder On The Marlow Belle by Robert Thorogood is a fabulous contemporary cosy crime novel that gripped me from the start. It is the fourth book in The Marlow Murder Club series but can be read as a stand-alone.
I enjoyed meeting up with familiar faces – the trio of women who are amateur super sleuths. On the surface they look quite ordinary but underneath – the seventy-nine-year-old, middle-aged lady and the vicar’s wife – have the extraordinary capacity to sniff out and solve murders!
Like the fictional Miss Marple, the three are relentless in their pursuit of the solution to the crime. They are the thorns in the side of local police woman Tanika – although she secretly approves and appreciates their puzzle solving abilities.
We follow some amateur dramatic actors following the murder of one of their own. No one seems to have been able to commit the crime but everyone has a motive – who could it be? Is the truth stranger than fiction?
The three leading ladies are a formidable team. They all have unique qualities and work well together. Their friendship proves that together they are stronger.
Murder On The Marlow Belle is a marvellous cosy crime novel. It is an entertaining read that engaged me from the start. The characters are wholesome and likable as the reader follows them throughout.
Knowing that The Marlow Murder Club is soon to be a television series brings joy to my heart and I cannot wait!
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

A very welcomed 4th instalment of Judith, Becks and Suzies story. The trio are faced with news to keep away from the crime solving but what happens when you get dragged in? Judith is an iconic bad bitch of a lady in her 70s, as we know and this book proves that again.

However, Thorogood, you had me panicking here and I did not like the worry from around 1/4 of the way through! (No spoilers)

Citizen advisors to the police are still citizens right? Either way there is no stopping Judith, talking to people and finding answers. This was a chaotic, for all the right reasons, journey to find the answers to the case and ends in a true Robert Thorogood reveal.

An absolute honour to receive this ARC, from my favourite author. Thank you HQ and NetGalley ♡

Another cosy mystery by the talented Mr Thorogood! If you are a fan of the tv series “Death in Paradise” you’ll love this series of books featuring three friends, Judith, Suzie and Becks. As ever the end where all is revealed including an ingenious murder is excellent when Judith recounts how the death occurred. This is the same format as the “ Death in Paradise” endings- very Agatha Christie.
In this case the death is that of a bombastic amateur dramatics director, Oliver, who is murdered on a pleasure boat on the Thames. Other Dramatic committee members on the boat, including his wife, Verity, are all suspects. There is also a famous film star on board who is visiting Marlow. They all claim innocence but who is telling the truth? All have reason to dislike him but is this enough to commit murder?
I really liked the characters of the three sleuths, particularly the extremely clever Judith who manages to work out a very complicated murder. She is definitely the star of the show.
Bex is having trouble with her daughter’s new boyfriend from uni, pleasant on the surface but she feels there is something not quite right about him. This forms the basis of a subplot and helps Judith to solve the main mystery.
The book ended with a fantastic cliff hanger, obviously setting the scene for the next book and I am now awaiting its arrival, seriously hoping it won’t be too long.
I’ve read the previous books and although this one can be read as a stand alone I would suggest reading the previous books as they really set the scene.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

This is the third in a series, but worked well as a standalone book. I would have preferred to read the previous two books as I would have had a better understanding of the main characters, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.
I am one of the few people who couldn’t even finish the first Richard Osman book as I thought it was so dire, and I was concerned this would be in the same vein but thankfully that was not the case.

A quick but entertaining read 4*

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy and return for an honest review.

I looooooooove this series so much. It started with The Marlow Murder Club (2021), followed up by Death Comes to Marlow (2023), and then The Queen of Poisons (2024). There are comparisons to Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club, which was bound to happen if you write a cosy crime novel featuring retired characters. But I've often said I prefer the Marlow books ever so slightly. I wonder if it's because I love watching Death in Paradise (which Robert wrote), and therefore am already a fan of his writing, who knows.

I am lucky to receive advanced copies of books and am always very grateful for whatever I receive, but this was one that I was desperate to get my hands on, and was willing to fight for it. Luckily the lovely people at HQ sent me a copy before things could get scrappy.

I started reading this at about 1am during a night where I couldn't get to sleep, and I instantly got lost in it, and finished it within a matter of hours. It really helped the long night zip along.

There are a few bits that are slightly unbelievable, but I don't much care. I find the cosy crime genre requires a bit of...you have to suspend belief a bit, and that's what makes it fun. Back in the days of Miss Marple for instance, there were bits that quite clearly could never have happened and yet in context it really works and what makes it so enjoyable, and I find that is the case with this series.

We have characters old and new. This gives us the familiarity of returning to the series, to people we know, but keeps it fresh so it's not just repeating the same story.

One thing I've always liked about this series is how many women are front and centre. It's known that the majority of crime books and films etc. show men in the main roles, as police or criminal, and that's fine, I have no problem with that. But there is definitely an imbalance in my experience. And in this series, we have a female police officer, and the group of older females in a civilian capacity. And I think that's what helps it stand out in a busy genre.

With the amount of thrillers and crime books I read, you'd think I would be a natural at working out the killer. But yet again, Robert has foxed me. I had my suspicions and some were proved right, but I did not get the biggy, and that's impressive that he manages to do it again and again.

On a related note, I was excited about the first book being made into a TV show but I was slightly disappointed. Not that it was bad. It was good with some good actors in and whatnot. But I preferred being able to imagine myself what was happening or work it out myself on the page, and so I felt that excitement was slightly lost on the screen.

I have recommended this series to so many friends and family and will continue to do so. This ends in a satisfying way but also with a cliff-hanger that hopefully promises another book. I really don't want this series to end.

The Marlow Murder Club ladies strike again. Judith, Suzie and Becks are asked to solve the disappearance of posh Verity's husband, Oliver. He disappeared when on a pleasure cruise down the river. Oliver was not a likeable man, but a bully who liked his own way, particularly at the local amateur dramatics society. Will the three ladies solve the murder, if it was a murder, before the local police? Another great case for the Marlow Murder Club.

This is another brilliant cosy murder featuring Judith, Becks, and Suzie, who make up the Marlow Murder Club. It can easily be read as a standalone.

Verity’s husband Oliver didn’t return home last night so she goes to Judith for her help in finding him. Oliver was the director of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society and had hired the Marlow Belle for a pleasure cruise with some of the members. He had a special guest present, a Marlow woman who had become an actress in the USA.

When Oliver’s body is found, it turns out that each of the people on the cruise had a motive for killing him. The Murder Club get to work on finding the perpetrator.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Books for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

The three friends who comprise the Marlow Murder Club are back with a new mystery. Judith, Becks and Suzie are thrown into an investigation after the body of Oliver Beresford is washed up on Thames with two bullet holes in him. Oliver was the founder the local Amateur Dramatic Society and had hired the Marlow Belle, the local cruiser, to throw a party of his am dram colleagues. Now he’s no longer here, it’s up to the trio to figure out who’s responsible. The best way – bar questioning everyone – is for one of the trio to throw themselves into the acting world…

I have read and loved every book so far in the Marlow murder club series and this book was just as brilliant as the other three. All the books are like a cosy mystery that are well written and can be read as standalones. I just love how Judith, Suzie and Becks work together to get the crime solved. I can’t wait for the next instalment, I hope we don’t have to wait too long!

When her husband does not return from a pleasure cruise, Verity Beresford turns to the best person she can think of in Marlow - amateur sleuth Judith Potts. He hired the Marlow Belle, a 1920s boat to take his Amateur Dramatics group out to celebrate the return of an alumna who left for Hollywood, but he never came home. When his body washes up, the Marlow Murder Club leap into action - but with their police contact unable to let them near the case, this is one they may have to solve on their own.

I'm a huge fan of the series and was very excited to see a fourth book was being released! It's another great entry and has lots of twists and turns - 5*.

I’ve enjoyed this series featuring Judith, Suzie and Becks, three friends who have had a bit of success when it comes to solving local murders. Judith is a whizz at puzzles, and it’s lovely to have a character like her proving that age really is just a number and not a barrier for being able to think! I love Becks, the vicars wife, who also has her own bit of storyline when her daughter decides to leave university to go travelling with her new beau. Suzie has done a tarot reading and is convinced that Judith is in danger.

The books are all a nice easy read, well written and with plausible plots and are standalone reads, although I’d recommend reading them in order.. This time we have larger than life amdram stalwart Oliver Beresford murdered, with the only real suspects being the people who had been on an evening cruise aboard the Marlow Belle with him. There are a few red herrings, I didn’t guess the complete solution, and loved the ending - which was really unexpected. Looking forward to the next in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I have read the other books in this series and was seriously looking forward to the latest exploits of Judith, Suzie and Becks - The Marlow Murder Club - and this novel did not disappoint!

The disappearance and then murder of Oliver Beresford - the director for the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society - with two bullets holes in his body provides the ladies with their fourth case to investigate.

Oliver is a divisive figure and all those attending the event on the Marlow Belle had a motive and opportunity to murder him.

Judith joins the cast of the latest production in order to keep the main suspects in her sights and finally works out what happens during the performance on the opening night.

Inevitably I had not foreseen the culprit.

Another enjoyable cosy murder story.

The Marlow Murder Club members are in action again! This time the victim is larger than life AmDram aficionado Oliver Beresford. Not a man universally loved, it’s hard to say who wouldn’t want him done away with, but nevertheless that doesn’t make all the prime suspects the murderer. Despite being told to keep well clear by DI Tanika Malik, the ladies just can’t help themselves, with Judith once more getting to grips with the puzzling situation. Suzie is more than willing to follow Judith’s lead, and although a little more reticent, Becks is happy to be involved. The murderer really doesn’t stand a chance!

Another perfect book from Thorogood. Exciting, suspenseful and very funny in equal measures, I just love this trio. An excellent denouement, ideally pitched, with some of the best lines - ‘She was being rhetorical, Roger’, a woman said. ‘Sorry, Sue’. 😂😂

With the ending being a cliffhanger we know the ladies will be back 😉

Excellent read, 100% recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and HQ.

This was another fun murder mystery featuring Judith, Becks and Suzie who find themselves involved in the murder of a local armature dramatics performer after his wife seeks Judith’s help when she realises he is missing after a boat trip. This has some great characters amongst the am dram group with plenty of secrets and motives unveiled as the story progresses along with a fabulous locked room style murder mystery. In amongst this Becks has some family drama to deal with and Suzie is convinced Judith is in danger much to Judith’s exasperation. This was another brilliant continuation and I love how it concluded on a cliffhanger for Judith - I definitely can’t wait for that storyline to play out.