The Thursday Murder Club

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (2020 Penguin-Viking softcover 385pp)

 

I’ve never read a great deal of crime ‘whodunnit’ fiction really. A bit of a blind spot in my reading perhaps, although I have kept up with the occasional series such as Jo Nesbo’s Harry Hole, and the Millennium series books by Stieg Larsson (and the lesser continuations). Of course, some of the classics like Sherlock Holmes have also passed my way. But the typical cosey murder mystery novel hasn’t ever really appealed to me. Which is strange as I do find myself watching quite a few television crime dramas, never mind.

This is Richard Osman’s first book. Previously I only knew him as the tall, lanky guest on several UK TV Panel games. It seems he’s struck gold as this book was the Christmas 2020 best-seller there.

The Thursday Murder Club is probably not a typical murder mystery – there are several murders and a great deal of mystery but the whole thing is wound up into an irresistible whimsical yet bitter-sweet package which seems to be a fresh take on the genre (to this reader at least).

We meet a group of retirees at what sounds like a luxurious retirement village who (like the title suggests) get together on Thursdays to mull over old unsolved murders. Soon a fresh murder lands on their doorstep and the game is afoot.

A local builder is bludgeoned to death in his own kitchen. Is the vainglorious manager of the village responsible? Will the Police find a culprit or even a motive? The Murder Club mounts its own investigation as the bodies start to pile up.

The group is expertly led by the ever-resourceful Elizabeth who seems to have a murky background in the security services (exactly what she did is only hinted at). Former nurse Joyce is good with people, seems naive but shouldn’t be underestimated. Ron, a former union agitator takes more direct action and Ibrahim is good with facts and figures.

Each of these characters are well-rounded and given plenty to do that advances the plot. Minor characters, mainly the police and suspects are also well-drawn by Osman. Things are seen from several points of view, some chapters being entries from Joyce’s diary while others are more typical third-person narrative. Along with the murder mysteries that form the main plot there’s plenty of time for aspects of modern life to be skewered. Its quite a joy to read and you can’t help feeling great pleasure as the club runs rings around the local police again.

Before the end there are multiple twists and secrets galore revealed but also life goes on for the residents and some of the charm of the story is them having to deal with their living situations whilst also doing the extraordinary.

As you can tell I quite enjoyed this book, a fun undemanding yet surprising read as the year winds down.