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The Thursday Murder Club

Thursday Murder Club, Book 1

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

THE FIRST NOVEL IN THE RECORD-BREAKING, MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING THURSDAY MURDER CLUB SERIES AND SOON TO BE A MAJOR NETFLIX MOVIE RELEASE!

In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet up once a week to investigate unsolved murders.

But when a brutal killing takes place on their very doorstep, the Thursday Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case.

Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron might be pushing eighty but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves.

Can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer before it's too late?

The Times Crime Book of the Month
Guardian Best Crime and Thrillers

'Smart, compassionate, warm, moving and so VERY funny' Marian Keyes
'So smart and funny. Deplorably good' Ian Rankin
'Thrilling, moving, laugh-out-loud funny' Mark Billingham

Richard Osman, Sunday Times bestseller, March 2024 The Bullet that Missed broke the record for the fastest-selling adult fiction hardback ever, September 2022

© Richard Osman 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

 Amateur Sleuths Cosy Crime Thrillers Friendship Genre Fiction Literature & Fiction Mystery Thriller & Suspense Detective Fiction Crime Witty Feel-Good Scary

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I really wanted to love this book, I had it on pre order and have been looking forward to reading it for months but unfortunately, as others have said, it's a bit disappointing.

Lesley Manville does a good job of narrating and the premise of elderly residents of a posh retirement home solving murders is strong in theory but the story is very bloated and slow. Considering the title, we're a fair few chapters in (cpt 10) before anyone even dies. The plot seems to have a lot of filler, which I can only assume is to set up the characters for a long running series.
Whilst there are a few occasional humorous moments/lines I wouldn't say overall the book was funny. There are parts of the plot that are supposed to be emotional or sad but I found myself unmoved as I hadn't connected with any of the characters.
I was also disappointed in the murderers motivations, maybe it was supposed to be thought provoking, but I was just left feeling like I'd wasted my time.

All in all, not what I was expecting based on the early reviews/media hype and the fact that Richard is usually such a clever and witty man.

Not very thrilling

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ok so I read listen to loads of books I enjoy alot a few I love I loved this so clever so real so funny .Well done richard after listening to the interview after with Marian Keyes its obvious you are unaware of your incredible talent !that's ok just keep doing what your doing and the world will be a better place xxxxxx

Richard Osman is a genius

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This is the first novel by tall and brainy TV funny man Richard Osman (49). He has written several other books that have had the word "pointless" this that or the other in the title as these have been tie ins to the TV for which he is best known. Reportedly, the author received a "seven figure advance" (that is over a million pounds) for a series of comedy crime capers of which this is the first and Steven Spielberg has already bagsied the film rights to the story.

So what is all the fuss about and is it really that good? Set in a Kent retirement home where the quirky residents have interesting past lives this is a very British setting and I can imagine PG Wodehouse devising something similar. Given the title, there is, of course, a murder. Several of them actually and this leads our intrepid foursome on a rollick in which they unravel secrets from the past. This murder as an Edwardian parlour game is all jolly good fun and the story line is intricate without being unwieldy. Murder in real life, of course, is a pretty horrible and grizzly affair but this remains lighthearted and whimsical and it reminds me of Agatha Raisin which is not a bad thing.

At the end of this audio book there is an interview with Richard Osman in which he talks about the writing process and the ideas he has for future books in this series. This is a promising start. 4 stars.

Gentile and whimsical comedy murder caper

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I loved the characters, the story, everything, and I really appreciated the fact that there was no swearing at all. It’s not necessary and made this book more enjoyable for me. Looking forward to the next book.

Very enjoyable

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It has to be said,this is a great book,and I don't just mean I thought it great,it really is a great book! ,one that is going to set a benchmark for mainline popular fiction in the future.
The characterisations are near perfect,the story twists and turns without being confusing and the depth of the book is much greater than you first imagine,in fact its true depth dosent become apparent till you have finished the book .
I was very much looking forward to Richard Osman's first book but was surprised at the setting he picked and was concerned it might not be for me...but I was wrong.it all fitted together so so well.
There is a good interesting story going on here but the book has so much more to it than just the story,insights into the style of life the older main characters live,and more importantly, have lived in the past cast against the life styles of the lesser (but no less important) external players is wonderful. My guess is every reader will have a different favorite character, and that in its self is a great achievement for the writer. My favorite is Bogdan who slides unnoticed into the story only to steal every scene thereafter.
A truly good book that will have a big impact on the genre ,and I was very pleased to hear a second book is all but ready featuring the same cast.
Note:- there is a long and very interesting interview at the end of the recording. The interviewer is more than a little annoying but askes the right questions and Mr Osman's replies are a revealing insight into the book.

One Hell of a Book!!

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I very rarely write reviews but felt compelled to when I saw the negative reviews that top the review list as the most helpful. This suggests that a lot of people are now missing out on this wonderful book due to listening to those reviews and then passing this book by.

I had no expectations when starting this book and I wasn't sure what kind of book Richard Osman would write. I just let myself be taken into another world and enjoy wonderful characters and the many plot twists. There is a hint of comedy that hits the right note and doesn't detract from the crime fiction genre within this book comfortable it sits. I think those who were disappointed perhaps we're expecting a comedy book which is not the intention of the author. The interview at the end with Marian Keyes is also a great addition. I am thoroughly looking forward to his next book.

Great fun! Thoroughly enjoyed it.

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Was expecting a lot more from this. Pretty disappointing at seemingly at constant tangents throughout. Don’t get the hype at all.

Average at best

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I would give this audiobook five stars very very good and I'm very much looking forward to the next book

the Thursday murder Club

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Was a little slow building up...lots of characters...Liked the plot of older people who have lived interesting lives...Some very tender, heartbreaking moments amongst the amusing references to older generation not familiar or up to date with current social media etc etc references

Stephanie

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I'll be honest, I very nearly gave up on this book about a third of the way in. But I stuck with it and I'm glad I did. it takes a while to get going, and there's a good amount of character setting in the first half which feels tedious - but it comes to fruition and draws you in. I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book when I bought it, I hadn't read a brief, I bought it purely because I like Osman on TV. I think I was expecting something easy and light, when this book has a good bit more depth than that. there are sweet, funny and exciting bits and the characterisation is very good. Manville's narration is very good also.

Stick with it!

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