The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club, #1)

Title: The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club, #1)

Author: Richard Osman

Published in: 2020

Date read: 23rd July 2021

Score: 4/5

Genre: Crime, Detective, Mystery, Thriller

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"The Thursday Murder Club," published in 2020, is the highly successful debut novel by British television presenter Richard Osman. It introduces a charming, witty, and surprisingly cunning group of septuagenarian residents of a peaceful retirement village who find themselves embroiled in a very real and contemporary murder mystery.

The story is set in Coopers Chase, a luxurious retirement community nestled in the English countryside. Within this seemingly tranquil setting, four unlikely friends meet weekly in the Jigsaw Room to discuss cold cases. They are the eponymous Thursday Murder Club:

• Joyce Meadowcroft: A kind, seemingly unassuming former nurse, who often provides unexpected insights.
• Ron Ritchie: A fiery ex-union leader, still passionate about justice.
• Ibrahim Arif: A fastidious former psychiatrist, observant and analytical.
• Elizabeth Best: The charismatic and enigmatic de facto leader, with a mysterious past hinted at in intelligence work.

Their cozy routine of amateur sleuthing is abruptly shattered when a real murder occurs right on their doorstep. Ian Ventham, the wealthy and disliked property developer who owns Coopers Chase, is found bludgeoned to death in his own home on the estate.

The local police, led by the competent but initially sceptical Detective Inspector Donna De Freitas and her slightly more seasoned but weary boss, Detective Chief Inspector Chris Hudson, are brought in to investigate. However, the members of the Thursday Murder Club see this as their chance to put their armchair detective skills to the test in a live case.

The Club subtly, and sometimes not so subtly, inserts themselves into the investigation. They use their unique blend of life experience, unexpected connections, and the overlooked advantages of old age (people tend to underestimate them) to gather clues, interview witnesses (and suspects), and share their often surprisingly insightful deductions with the police.

As the body count rises and more secrets are uncovered within the Coopers Chase community, the Club members delve into the entangled lives of the residents and the developer's business dealings. They discover layers of deception, old grudges, hidden pasts, and unexpected motivations among the seemingly harmless residents.

The novel is characterized by its clever plotting, warm humour, and endearing characters. It's a testament to the idea that age is no barrier to sharp wit and investigative prowess. The climax involves the Club members actively participating in unmasking the murderer, revealing a series of twists and turns that keep both the police and the reader guessing until the very end, proving that these "little old ladies and gentlemen" are far more formidable than anyone initially imagined.

Comments:
I read this because I love the TV work of the author and was not disappointed. I thought that it was going to be predictable at one point but was impressed again. Light hearted, easy to read but intelligent at the same time, loved it. Like the references to real life in too, TV shows, the darts etc. I do remember parts being a bit "dry" and I know that the pace picks up in his future instalments so keep going.

Books that we've read by Richard Osman (4):
The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club, #1) (2020), The Man Who Died Twice (Thursday Murder Club, #2) (2021), The Bullet That Missed (Thursday Murder Club, #3) (2022), The Last Devil to Die (Thursday Murder Club, #4) (2023)