Mystery Annotation: The Thursday Murder Club
“You always know when it’s your first time, don’t you? But you rarely know when it’s your final time.”
― Richard Osman, The Thursday Murder Club
Author: Richard Osman
Title: The Thursday Murder Club
Genre: Mystery
Publication Date: September 22, 2020
Number of Pages: 351
Geographical Setting: A retirement village in Great Britain
Time Period: Modern
Series (If applicable): Thursday Murder Club Mysteries, #1
Plot Summary:
The Thursday Murder Club meets every week in the jigsaw room at Cooper’s Chase retirement village. Amongst the four members are a former nurse named Joyce, psychiatrist named Ibrahim, union boss named Ron, and an unnamed position that had something to do with investigating crimes called Elizabeth. With Elizabeth as their ringleader, they mostly try to solve cold cases, until one day someone they know personally turns up murdered! They work one step ahead of the local police to stay on top of the mystery, and Joyce keeps a diary of their comings and goings including both the drama of the murder and the day-to-day experiences in her life. Lonely, overweight DCI Chris Hudson and eager, adept Sergeant Donna de Freitas work with the TMC to discover the killer before he can strike again!
Subject Headings:
Older people — Fiction.
Murder — Investigation — Fiction.
Clubs — Fiction.
Book clubs (Discussion groups) — Fiction.
Retirement communities — Fiction.
England — Fiction.
Mystery Appeal:
“Cozies” tone: At the heart of the mystery is the sense that everything will turn out alright for our beloved main characters. Though the mystery is full of intrigue, humor carries throughout.
Launguage/style: Osman’s extremely British tone and banter color this story’s language.
Characteriztion: The characters carry this story. We come to care greatly about the four elderly investigators, their police chief, and his sergeant. The investigator is arguably one of the most important aspects of a murder mystery, and in this book we have six.
3 terms that best describe this book:
Moving, Suspenseful, Witty
Relevant Fiction Works and Authors:
The three books listed below are all stories of amateur sleuths who happen to be in their later years. All three carry an undercurrent of humor.
The Old Lady Detective Agency by Ryan Herrin
Two elderly ladies take it upon themselves to solve crimes. Pam is an unreliable narrator who blames a crime syndicate for taking her missing car keys; Betty just wants to get home in time for her favorite T.V. show. Another funny romp of an investigative mystery.
An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten
A story collection translated from Swedish, about an elderly lady named Maud who gets into escapades including a murder that she may or may not have committed.
Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano
Sassy, brassy Auntie Poldi moves to Sicily with plans for a quiet retirement full of wine and relaxation. A murder spoils her plans.
Relevant Television Shows:
Only Murders in the Building
Three strangers—a young woman and two older men who all live in the same expensive apartment building—become unlikely friends when someone is murdered in their building. They find out that they share an obsession with a certain true crime podcast and take it upon themselves to investigate the murder. They continually lie and backstab each other until they realize one amongst them might be the killer!
Haley, Wow this is like a more intensified cozy mystery. I may have to look into this one myself. After this week, I think I am liking cozy mysteries more and more. I never would have thought a retirement community. I can imagine a Sherlock Holmes kind of banter in modern time sense. I've heard about that TV show you mentioned, I may want to check it out now.
ReplyDeleteHi! Great annotation. This sounds like it could be a movie! I agree with Bre, it is more like a cozy mystery but definitely more hyped! I like these sort of mysteries so this one will be added to my list, thank you! In most murder mysteries there is one investigator, but as you mentioned here, in this book there are 6! That makes things more intense and mind-boggling!
ReplyDeleteHi Haley,
ReplyDeleteI read this book last December, I think. I really liked it, but then i'm partial to anything set in a small english village. haha I haven't had a chance to read the next books in the series yet, but they are on my TBR list. I also have to say, my husband and I love Only Murders in the Building! Good pick for related media! :)