What readers think of The Thursday Murder Club, plus links to write your own review.

…and mystery, to boot. Icing on the cake? It all takes place in a retirement home. What a hoot!

The Thursday Murder Club is the first book in the series of the same title by British TV presenter, producer, director, and novelist, Richard Osman. When builder, property developer and drug dealer, Tony Curran is bludgeoned to death in his kitchen, the members of the Thursday Murder Club are inordinately delighted. They are accustomed to discussing cold cases from police files; a real live case is much more exciting!

The Thursday Murder Club meets weekly in the Jigsaw Room at Coopers Chase retirement village, of which they are all residents. Their leader, Elizabeth, is circumspect about her former life but it possibly involved espionage; Ibrahim Arif is a former psychiatrist; Joyce Meadowcroft, who strikes most people as quiet and sensible, was a nurse; Ron Ritchie, an infamous trade-union leader; and their now non-verbal, but never excluded member, Penny Gray was a Detective Inspector with Kent Police. PC Donna De Freitas, ex-London Met, has recently become an unofficial member.

The members, two of whom saw the pair arguing, are fairly certain that the owner of Coopers Chase, Ian Ventham murdered Tony Curran: he had motive, means and opportunity. Donna would love to be involved with the Murder Squad, solving this crime, but is relegated to school visits and home security talks. Until, that is, Elizabeth wields her mysterious influence, and she becomes DCI Chris Hudson’s shadow. After all, the Thursday Murder Club needs a reliable information source.

Elizabeth and Joyce manage to track down some interesting facts that point to motive. Before they progress very far with the case, however, there is another murder, during a blockade of the adjoining cemetery, and present are residents, neighbours, members of the TMC, and their two tame cops: a not-inconsiderable suspect pool.

Meanwhile, a set of bones is located where they shouldn’t be, and one of the suspects dies, all keeping the police and the TMC busy investigating and second-guessing the conclusions they reach.

Before they manage to solve two (or three?) murders, a trip to a Cypriot prison, a skating rink and a Folkestone florist are made, some evening spadework at a gravesite is done, a disused chapel confessional is brought into play, chess is played and much tea, alcohol and cake are consumed.

The story is told through a narrative from multiple perspectives interspersed with Joy Meadowcroft’s chatty journal entries. With its hugely entertaining dialogue, this is a perfect mix of cosy crime fiction and British humour that should probably not be read in the Quiet Carriage of public transport as it is likely to have readers chuckling, snickering and laughing out loud. The follow-up, The Man Who Died Twice, is eagerly anticipated.

I recommended this for my book club. I live in the US and I am worried that a lot of the 'language' will not be understood. I loved the book and thought it was a great read.

A foursome of retired folk in a senior home get together to take a look at unsolved crimes. Much to their surprise they find themselves embroiled in a real present-day murder.

A delightful cozy with fully realized characters -- and they are characters! Deftly plotted with sensitivity to older citizens and great humor, this may be the start of a series starring the Murder Club members.

A cleverly plotted romp.
5 of 5 stars

Great characters with witty conversations , touching realities of old age, life’s choices and their consequences, and a murder mystery to wrap it all into a nice little package. Loved it! Will be looking forward to book 2.

I smiled. I chuckled a little. I cried. I thought this was just going to be a cozy little mystery. But it was so much more. The characters were so well done; I wanted to be in the room with them listening to their conversations, being a part of their group. This is a story of choices made in life that stay with us to the end. It’s about needing people in your life. It’s also got a murder mystery or two to solve. So well done. And the best part is there is a number 2 coming out in 2021. Can’t wait! Listened to this on audio and loved the narrator.

Mayhem, convent, shadow…

The “Japanese Opera” group that schedules the Jigsaw room for two hours each Thursday is really “The Thursday Murder Club.” They book the room under the name Japanese Opera to ensure their privacy and to keep the unwanted out of their meetings.

Four of the retirement village residents- Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim, all over 65yo and with varying backgrounds, like to study the files of unsolved murder cases. They like to thoroughly study witness statements, photo evidence, and read any reports line by line.

And now they are involved with their first real-life case, right on the retirement village property. “A real case with a real corpse, and a real killer “ who is out and about. So now, of course, The Thursday Murder Club will try to do their duty and come to the aid of the police.


Thanks to Mindy at @bookendsnmb for suggesting I buy the debut book instead of the current book in the series!

I am tardy on starting this series! Now I will check on the next 2 books in the series!

A witty, fun read! Entertaining , quirky characters!

I was MOST curious about Elizabeth’s background story!

Lots of misdirection!

The Thursday Murder Club is so fun! It’s a delightfully entertaining mystery with lots of twists and turns along the way. I’m ready to move into Cooper’s Chase Retirement Village so that I can join their next adventure!