An absolute gem!

I have been a fan of Richard Osman’s particular style of humor for many years. Being married to a British man means a lifelong dedication to watching comedy panel shows, and Richard Osman is one of the best guests to have on said shows. Knowing a little bit about Osman before picking up this book gave me some pretty high expectations for the humor in the book, and I’m happy to admit that he blew my expectations out of the water.

The Thursday Murder Club is a group of older retirees all living in the same retirement community. The group is comprised of the leader Elizabeth, former trade union organizer Ron, former psychiatrist Ibrahim, and the newest member, former nurse Joyce. Joyce narrates much of the book, and I want her and Elizabeth to be my grandmothers. They’re both hilarious and fascinating, and I’m pretty sure Elizabeth was some type of spy in her youth. I would read a whole series just about her, if I’m honest.

The Club gets together on Thursdays to discuss cold cases and see how they would go about solving them. It’s all hunky-dory until a contractor set to work on their housing development is found dead. There are many people who would want him dead and would want this project halted, so the club team up (willingly or not) with Donna and Chris of the local police force to try and bring the killer to justice.

The real stars of this book are the characters Osman writes about. Osman has given us the most eccentric, quirky characters that you can’t help but adore and be interested in, and they are the driving force of the book. The mystery is fun, and the plot moves quickly, but following the lives of the characters and their relationships with their children and one another is what makes the book hit right in the heart. Also, as a younger woman who’s only recently gotten married, reading about the love between these characters and their partners was equally heartwarming and sad. I loved every minute of it.

Title: The Thursday Murder Club
Author: Richard Osman
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 355
ISBN: 9781984880963

Three Descriptors: Engaging; Well-crafted dialogue; Witty

Read Alikes:
The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood
Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano
Exit by Belinda Bauer
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
An Elderly Lady is Up To No Good by Helene Tursten