The Bullet That Missed

A Thursday Murder Club Mystery, Book 3

By: Richard Osman

Narrated by: Fiona Shaw, Richard Osman, Steph McGovern

The third installment in the beloved and New York Times bestselling series from Richard Osman, now streaming on Netflix

“The quartet of aging amateur sleuths…remain wonderful company.” —The New York Times Book Review

It is an ordinary Thursday, and things should finally be returning to normal. Except trouble is never far away where the Thursday Murder Club are concerned. A decade-old cold case—their favorite kind--leads them to a local news legend and a murder with no body and no answers.

Then a new foe pays Elizabeth a visit. Her mission? Kill or be killed. Suddenly the cold case has become red hot.

While Elizabeth wrestles with her conscience (and a gun), Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim chase down the clues with help from old friends and new. But can the gang solve the mystery and save Elizabeth before the murderer strikes again?

From an upmarket spa to a prison cell complete with espresso machine to a luxury penthouse high in the sky, this third adventure of the Thursday Murder Club is full of the cleverness, intrigue, and irresistible charm that readers have come to expect from Richard Osman’s bestselling series.

“The Bullet That Missed hits on every front.” —the Wall Street Journal

Critic reviews

Praise for The Bullet That Missed:

“Osman concocts a satisfyingly complex whodunit full of neat twists and wrong turns. But unlike most crime novelists, he ensures his book’s strength and momentum stem not from its plot or its thrills but rather its perfectly formed characters. Once again, the quartet of friends makes for delightful company… Heartwarming and enthralling. ‘They carried a kind of magic, the four of them,’ a policeman muses. That magic is still there in abundance.”
—Washington Post

“The Bullet That Missed hits on every front. Its quandaries stymie, its solutions thrill, its banter is worth reciting and its characters exemplify an admirable camaraderie. One can only hope that the Thursday Murder Club’s next outing appears before long.”
—Wall Street Journal

“The Thursday Murder Club is back, and that should make everyone happy — except, of course, murderers. Richard Osman's engaging series about a group of crime-solving retirees has delighted readers since the first book. The Thursday Murder Club, an international bestseller, was funny, original, baffling, poignant and thoroughly engaging. That's a high bar to set from the get-go, but Osman has easily achieved it in subsequent books… This book is as delightful as the others. A remarkable achievement, Osman up there effortlessly balancing on that very high bar.”
—Minneapolis Star-Tribune

“Not to be missed.”
—Parade

"Charming."
—People

“The mysteries are complex, the characters vivid, and the whole thing is laced with warm humor and—remarkably, considering the body count—good feeling. Your next must-read mystery series.”
—Kirkus, starred review

“Bestseller Osman’s diverting third Thursday Murder Club mystery (after 2021’s The Man Who Lived Twice) delivers laughs along with a nicely woven plot....The pace is breezy, the characters are intelligent and varied in their interests and backgrounds, and the humor is often pitched to readers who understand the vagaries of getting older. Osman reliably entertains.”
—Publishers Weekly

“It's charming and, as always, will leave you guessing the murderer until the very end.”
—Town and Country

When the second book came out I was worried

For the second book I was actually so relieved that Leslie Manville narrated again. I’ve listened so many times to the first two because of the Osman/Manville duo. How could someone listen to her amazing narration of those and choose not to use her again, or wait for her until she’s free? I’d pay Audible for a new one if this could be redone. Honestly I’m devastated. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve encouraged people to sign up for audible or given them money to do so recommending the Osman-Manville murder club books to start out and given the other books as a present on Audible. Richard Osman I hope you’ll pay attention. I love your books but I need Leslie and so do you.

The New Narrator Is Just Fine

I love Leslie Manville but seriously, people, let's recognize that sometimes things change. I don't know why they changed narrators. Maybe Leslie was busy and didn't have time. This is a different but very excellent narrator. It's a good story. It's a different narrator. Be grateful that we have a new Murder Club book and get over your angst.

Please bring back Leslie Manville!!

Leslie created the narrated version if feeds characters. I fell in love with them through Richard’s words and Leslie’s voice. The combo was sheer perfection. They are not the same without her !

Wonderful story, very poor narration.

I can usually adapt to most narrators but I was so disappointed with this narrator. The story was great but the weirdly whispered narration took me out of the story, at times. I hope the next book has a better audio version. I do love these characters!

The reader that missed

Great series, wonderful characters, but found this story, a bit too complex, and the reader whispered way too much. Found the reader in the first two books of the series much more enjoyable.