The Thursday Murder Club

A Novel

By: Richard Osman

Narrated by: Lesley Manville

Length: 12 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

A New York Times best seller!

Soon to be a major motion picture from Steven Spielberg at Amblin Entertainment

“Witty, endearing and greatly entertaining.” (Wall Street Journal)

“Don’t trust anyone, including the four septuagenarian sleuths in Osman’s own laugh-out-loud whodunit.” (Parade)

Four septuagenarians with a few tricks up their sleeves.

A female cop with her first big case.

A brutal murder.

Welcome to...

The Thursday Murder Club

In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet weekly in the Jigsaw Room to discuss unsolved crimes; together, they call themselves the Thursday Murder Club.

When a local developer is found dead with a mysterious photograph left next to the body, the Thursday Murder Club suddenly find themselves in the middle of their first live case.

As the bodies begin to pile up, can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer, before it's too late?

©2020 Richard Osman (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“An amusing debut that finds gold in getting older.”—People

“If you like a good mystery but also want to laugh and go 'aw,' the Thursday Murder Club books by Richard Osman are definitely for you.”—Daisy Rosario, NPR Pop Culture Happy Hour

“[A] jaunty mystery. . . What's delightful is that there are no stereotypes here—the senior citizens solve the murder with wit, style and ferocious intelligence. The puzzle is intricate and involving, but there's a breeziness about it that makes it an ideal hammock read.”–NPR

Definite twists

The author kept me second guessing who the real killer was the entire time. Highly recommend 👌

Holy Moley! What a delightful tale of murder.

This book has no weakness! But it sure plays to mine... Huh? Well, I loved every character and twist and feeling. Richard Osman played my curiosity and emotions... well... like an organist's rather than a novelist's fingers. And I mean as a world class musician.

How does a man get into ladies minds so convincingly? And how does a young man find his way among the thoughts and feelings of people, well... people of my age (yeah, I'm teetering on the edge of doddering)? But this magic box of puzzles inside of The Thursday Murder Club is double wrapped in comedy... Well, maybe humor's a better word. While only laughing a few times during my listen to Lesley Manville's terrific interpretation of this ensemble cast of sleuths... it seemed as if I was smiling, um, when I wasn't trying to wipe the damned dust out of teary eyes.

Gosh I hope Osman's just beginning his career in novel making. Could he possibly have anything as wonderful as this still in his imagination. I'll be among the first to find out.

Best Book I’ve Read in a Long Time

I loved this book! I’m in the age range of the main characters, and the writing is a good representation of how my family, friends, and I talk and think, but we’re minus any murder mysteries. 😊

This book is laugh out loud funny, sad, and has a good mystery plot.

Lesley Manville is the best reader I’ve heard on an Audible book. I wish she could read every book I listen to.

Wait for the 90 minute Netflix movie

Had this been a made for TV movie or the latest Netflix whodunnit I may have given it another star. The story didn’t translate well to an audible format. Too many characters as narrators that at times it was a bit challenging to figure out who was whom. I stuck with it to the end, although if I hadn’t played it while doing other things, I suspect I would have cut my losses and put it aside. Do I feel satisfied having reached the end and knowing who did what? Sadly no.

Slow!

I was looking forward to this book, however, the story moves so slowly that it did not hold my interest.

This book has everything!

It’s a mystery, it’s a love story, it’s so funny, mostly it’s about coming into your own when most people think you are done! It’s a story about four septuagenarians and octogenarian’sI know all the people they come into contact with while trying to solve a murder! Can I submit

Struggled with 1st 1/2

Mostly because the characters are not described in any way. Who is old? Who thinks what? Yes, you do hear what they are thinking, but you really don’t know what anyone is feeling. Or why!
Definitely not a character study. You do find out, mostly, who killed who and why. Strange story.

Meandering, sweet, long, good for what it is

Not my cup of tea, I must say, but for what it is, I don't doubt it's top notch. By chapter 88, I was certain this wasn't for me, but I was too far gone. But if you like well-worn tropes, like tech savvy-less pensioners, socially awkward villagers struggling with wokeness, and a quaint indifference to murder, then this might be for you. It's a novel of moments. And some are cute, some are funny, but mostly it's, let's say, leisurely. The fan of the languid English village murder mystery should really enjoy it, but the gems came too few and far between. I'll give it a 4 rating, because I genuinely do think it's good, for what it strives to be. Just don't expect it to be compelling, or challenging. And diabetics should really avoid the afterword with Osman and Marian Keyes.

Interview of the author

The interview at the end was horrible. The interviewer was so fawning I couldn't finish listening to it. It almost spoiled the book.

I rarely give 5 stars

A very good yarn. Lots of twists and unexpected bunny trails. The narrator was quite good except for one faux pas: the Egyptian character. She pronounced his name differently over and over. IBB-ruh-heem, EEB-ruh-him, IBB-ruh-him. Most blatantly in chapter 96. She needed a style sheet. Anyway a very good first novel.