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carol. 's Reviews > The Thursday Murder Club

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
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bookshelves: mystery, funny-bone, represent

I get why people like it. I also understand why they might not. Osman is trying too hard with this narrative, and it shifts among a number of people in limited third person. However, it interrupts the narration with diary entries from Joyce, a newcomer to the Thursday group at the Coopers Chase retirement home. She's a former nurse who does particularly well at being a disarming ditherer. Eventually, she gets to the point, but part of the delight is the daffy dialogue.

"Elizabeth steps in and takes the seat next to Joyce.
'Good morning, Joyce,' she says, smiling.
'Well, this is a first,' says Joyce. 'How lovely.'
'I've brought a book, if you don't want to talk on the journey,' says Elizabeth.
'Ooh no, let's talk,' says Joyce.
Carlito pulls away with his customary care.
'Splendid,' says Elizabeth. 'I haven't really brought a book.'"

There's a lot a twists at the end that are really too clever by half. I actually liked the bit of a side story with Elizabeth's husband and a Polish immigrant. It has far more murders, or at least deaths, than I would have expected, which provides for a lot of red herrings. Anyway, it's one of those books where nothing goes quite the way you expected it would in a book, and that's a delight indeed.

Giving it four stars because I finished it in two days. I mean, I did push at the end because I was getting tired of it, and probably shouldn't've kept reading. I'll note that Mom and her Librarian Bestie (both in the subject age group) both had trouble getting into it.
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Reading Progress

March 29, 2023 – Shelved
May 21, 2023 – Started Reading
May 23, 2023 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-15 of 15 (15 new)

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Nataliya Hmmm, seems worth reading�


Ulrika I found the second in the series to be better than the first.


Janet Books 2 and 3 are even better. :)


Hirondelle (not getting notifications) >Osman is trying too hard with this narrative, and it shifts among a number of people in limited third person.

Yes. Osman is trying too hard here. It works better, more relaxed in book 2 IMO, maybe because he does not have to establish as much the characters or something. Arguably I think he is still trying a bit *too* much in book 2 (I enjoyed reading Joyce's PoVbut her whole Rose from Golden Girls routine can feel a bit forced) but I enjoyed it more and felt more natural. I will read book 3, one of these days!


Barbara K Good review, Carol. I read the first book as part of a buddy read and I’m always more generous in rating on those. Social pressure, I guess. But the book did give me the “trying to hard� vibe as well, and objectively, it was more of a 3 than a 4 for me. But I see from other commenters that the “trying� is toned down in subsequent volumes, so maybe I’ll give them a try some day.


message 6: by Thibault (new)

Thibault Busschots I mostly know Richard Osman from his TV appearances on Taskmaster, Would I Lie To You, � He’s always so witty and hilarious. Sounds like he's not so bad as an author too. Good review, Carol.


carol. Nataliya wrote: "Hmmm, seems worth reading�"

I think you'd probably like it, if you got past the narrative. The elderly people are a bit cutesy at times, but there's some nice plotting twists and side plots.


carol. Janet wrote: "Books 2 and 3 are even better. :)"

Ulrika wrote: "I found the second in the series to be better than the first."

I believe it! It's kind of why I wanted to get through this one--I'd heard Osman gets better with the next two.


carol. Hirondelle wrote: "(I enjoyed reading Joyce's PoVbut her whole Rose from Golden Girls routine can feel a bit forced)"

omg! Exactly!! That's who it was!


Spad53 I loved it, especially Grace. I agree about the too many twists at the end, but thats expected of modern murder storys. I just check the percentage left , if it's close enough to the end, I concentrate a bit more.


carol. ha! Not a bad strategy, Spad53.


message 12: by Tony (new) - rated it 3 stars

Tony As has been said already, the second is the winner. Third still good as the characters are so well rounded but number two is no number two 😁


carol. Ah! So good to know. I think it was seeing the glowing reviews for it that inspired me to start the series. I'll keep going!


Nataliya Daffy dialogue is what makes this book work. I finally read it, and this character set-up has potential.


Left Coast Justin Ten pages was enough for me. Like you, I can understand the appeal without actually feeling it myself.


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