Joyce (nurse), Ron (a Union man), Ibrahim (psychiatrist) and Elizabeth (who may have been a spy), are residents at Coopers Chase Retirement Village. They meet once a week to discuss cold case murders, but now they have a fresh murder to investigate.

Written with an original style, it was easy to conjure up images of the main characters in this book. I particularly liked Joyce and her diary entries.

The narrative includes some wonderful statements about older members of society, for example, ‘getting out of a garden chair at our age is a military operation. Once you are in one, you can be in it for the day’.

There are many jarring sudden changes of point of view within chapters, and sometimes within paragraphs. This may be a formatting issue on the ARC edition of the novel, but it did impede the reading flow on a number of occasions. The pacing of the story felt slow at first, but by the middle of the novel, I was becoming hooked.

Overall, it was an entertaining, enjoyable fictional tale. I rate it as very good, and therefore 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. This is my unbiased review.

TV presenter Richard Osman's debut novel is a charming and delightful cosy mystery composed of interesting characters and infused with wit and a sense of fun.

Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibriham all live in a swanky up-market retirement village in Kent, with it's own 'contemporary upscale restaurant' and a full range of sporting and recreational activities including numerous clubs and interest groups. The four retirees all belong to the Thursday Murder Club, originally set up by Elizabeth (an ex spy/intelligence officer) and her very good friend Penny (an ex detective inspector) to take a second look at some of Penny's unsolved cases. Now that Penny is lying in the nursing home waiting for the final act in her life, ex-psychiatrist Ibrahim, ex-nurse Joyce and ex-trade union leader Ron (known as 'Red Ron' in his time) all join Elizabeth for two hours every Thursday to continue working through Penny's files. When a real life murder happens at the village the Thursday Murder club set about trying to solve the crime, feeding timely information to a young PC bored with the local petty crime, Donna de Freitas, and her boss DCI Chris Hudson.

Richard Osman has an easy writing style and his characters are all delightful, warts and all, particularly Elizabeth who seems to have had quite a past and possesses a shrewdness that has not been diminished by time. Part of the narration is in the form of a diary kept by Joyce, the newest member of the club, and gives a different perspective on life in the village and what is happening. Donna, who finds herself adopted by the murder club, is delighted to find herself somehow recruited to the investigating team with Elizabeth's assistance. The plot does become quite complex (perhaps more than needed) with a lot of red herrings and revelations, but it was nevertheless good fun and all is all neatly resolved.

I was really looking forward to reading The Thursday Murder Club as I like Richard Osman on TV.

I am sorry to say this book was not for me. I must be honest and say that I did not read to the end as I found it rather slow and totally unrealistic from the characters in the retirement village to the Police that liaise with them regarding the murder..

I found it difficult to follow at times as there were lots of characters and it was often difficult to tell when it switched to someone else speaking.

I am sure I am in the minority and that other people will love it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for a copy of this ARC for which I have given my voluntary and unbiased review

I wasn’t sure what to expect but was really looking forward to reading this book.

I found it gripping even though I’m not sure I liked how it was written but I didn’t want to give up with it.

I Loved the setting. It was a classic who dunnit kind of story.
Not realistic at all but fun.

So many twists and turns, I thought I'd solved it then something else happens and I found myself totally hooked. Good strong older characters, who are so likeable I really hope there are more books in this series.
Thank you enthralled.

I loved this book! It was funny and sad and full of people that I wanted to meet and be friends with and listen to their life stories.
Set in a retirement village, these pensioners are keeping busy investigating cold cases when a murder takes place and they decided to assist the police with their investigations. Not surprisingly their help is not exactly welcomed but each side comes to appreciate the skills of the other and together they get to the bottom of the mystery.
It's a delightful story with interesting characters, a clever if convoluted plot and a satisfying conclusion. I couldn't put it down.

I’ve not read many murder mystery books, not my preferred genre but I was intrigued by the title of this and interested to read something Richard Osman has written, being a big fan of his quiz shows. The Thursday Murder Club is a group of older people who all live in a “retirement village” and meet each week to examine and try to solve cold cases. Then a real-life murder happens ….. The Murder Club members are Elizabeth, Joyce (who could be described as the narrator), Ibrahim and Ron - they are interesting and well-drawn characters, their idiosyncrasies are beautifully observed and I found myself enjoying their company. There’s a gentle humour running through the book and a lovely conversational style. I didn’t guess the identity of the murderer and I changed my mind several times! And I'm a bit concerned about Mr Osman’s extensive criminal knowledge.

It’s a great read, pacey, very funny, moving in parts and very satisfying. I’m glad there will be a Thursday Murder Club 2!

Thoroughly enjoyed this story about a group of pensioners solving cold case murders from records taken from one of their members who served in the police. Whilst solving these murders they stumble across a murder and become involved in solving the case
This was a feel good read which although at times was very disjointed as it suddenly slipped into another point of view (this could be down to me reading an arc) with no break between meaning at times I had to reread bits to get my head around it.
I loved all the characters and their larger than life/slightly unbelievable characteristics.
Highly recommend

This is the Richard Osman of Pointless (and other TV quizzes and Chat shows) so you can expect an off-beat novel! You will not be disappointed - there are plenty of pithy observations, and tangential quips which are off the wall in typical Osman style. His characters, primarily located at a top-end care complex, offer the full spectrum of behaviour and customs. His quirky humour is a constant delight throughout the story,

Murder Club novels seem to be in vogue.  The Thursday Murder Club is a collection of retirees who are looking to occupy their own time but waste police time! Of course, they solve the murders before the police. Part of the fun is the way they inveigle their way into the police investigation. Totally improbable but a delight nevertheless. The murders and investigation make the bones of the story, but we also get Joyce's commentary and insight into the backstory and character of the care home residents.

As the crimes and investigation reveal past digressions and some shady pasts, you get the full range of emotions. In all, a crafty whodunnit which is great fun to read. Definitely a Pointless score of zero (you have to watch Pointless to understand the score!).

I really enjoyed this. It’s not a ‘thriller’ as such, it’s more of a Sunday afternoon ‘whodunnit’ which was enjoyable.

The characters are intriguing and the different perspectives keep you interested.

Read if you like watching Midsomer Murders of an afternoon.

My partner is a big fan of Richard Osman which maybe isn't the best reason to read a book. I felt the author's sense of humour often shone through while I read The Thursday Murder Club but I didn't realise beforehand that I was taking on an ARC well out of my preferred genre; I just don't really get on with cosy, charming mysteries of this type. Errors in the digital print meant that I often struggled figuring out where one chapter and scene ended for another to begin. I did often feel like I was reading something that had been written safely, with the hope of comfortable afternoon telly and older audiences in mind. Which could certainly make a lot of sense.

I was so impressed with this book. Clever plot, gorgeous characters and funny too.
I love a good detective story and was not disappointed by this one. The characters are great, I really felt like I knew them by the end of the book. They may be old, but they’ve still got skills and their brains are still geared up to solve puzzles.
If you like a good old ‘who done it?’ This book is a must read.

A very interesting and well thought out novel. I am happy to say that it kept me guessing the whole way through and I didn’t figure it out.
And while it was dark and upsetting at times it was also humorous.
The only downside for me personally was that it included some slightly upsetting material (suicide) which while thoughtfully done did take me a little by surprise.
It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing but for me it was a little unsettling.
Over all though it was a a good book and I enjoyed reading about the gang and their adventures.

I'm a huge Richard Osman fan so was keen to see if his clever affability transferred to the page. It does. I think I liked this more because I imagined him writing it, than I would have had I picked it up blind to the author. However, it is a witty, shrewdly observed, contemporary 'cosy' crime that would be enjoyed by anyone who likes the genre. Hooray for Joyce and Elizabeth... here's hoping we hear more from the Thursday Murder Club soon.

The Thursday Murder Club is the debut novel from Richard Osman. The novel follows the happenings of four residents of a retirement village.

All is not as quiet as appears when one of the extra curricular groups of the village, The Thursday Murder Club, meet up and try to solve cold case murders. The crimes that are usually investigated are put on hold when a murder happens on the doorstep of the sleepy retirement village.

Osman brings his quick sharp humour to the novel very well, it's not your usual murder mystery, as we are seeing the investigation through the eyes of the retirees, who seem to have used their knowledge and age to their advantage. Often to the suprise of the real police force.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a murder mystery, crime novel but with a twist. I would also be very interested in any subsequent novels from Osman.

Thank you to Penguin for the copy of the book to review.

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

But when a local property developer shows up dead, 'The Thursday Murder Club' find themselves in the middle of their first live case.

The four friends, 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?

I love the author Richard Osman so was delighted to read his book! It wasn't what I was expecting at all a bit of Agatha Christie meets Agatha Raisin meets the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. The book was well written, funny in places and I really liked all the main characters, it was an interesting story with a satisfying ending, I would definitely read more of his books.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book in return for a honest review.

Much thanks to Penguin General UK and Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

Four friends have an interest in discussing old murder cases and meet up every Thursday to chat. They don't let the fact of being elderly and living in a retirement village hold them up at all, and before they know it a real murder had occurred- the owner of their village! Now it's up to these unlikely amateur detectives to take up the case and give the local police a helping hand!

4⭐- this was a very enjoyable read and written with great wit, which I'd never doubt it @richard_osman_ ! Even though the whole story is light hearted fun, it still addresses some of the poignancy of growing older and facing the last stage in life, which is very delicately woven through. A fab, fun filled rollick!

Thursday Murder Club
By Richard Osman
4*

The story follows four 'friends' Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim who live in an upmarket retirement village, every Thursday they get together and try to solve cold cases. When a local property developer dies they find themselves in the middle of their first live murder case.

I didn't know what to expect when I started reading this with it being Richard Osman's first book, but it's a great cosy crime novel. I found myself really invested in the story which flowed nicely and was easy read. The story goes back and forth from plot to Joyce's Diary entries and is written in short chapters which I loved.

This is a great 'who did it' that leaves you guessing, right till the end.
I honestly changed my mind a hundred times in this book, each time I'd convinced myself I was right and each time I was not. I did guess a few bits but not fully and it certainly didn't take anything away from the story.

'What a shame. I always had a bit of a thing for him. Like you could tell he was a wrong'un, but you still would?'

There's so many moments in the book where you laugh, not only because it's witty but because you would say that or it would happen, even though the book isn't all believable it's written in a very honest and intelligent way that theres believability to the plot, I mean why wouldn't 4 OAPs be solving murders?
In the same way it's witty it's also got elements of heartache and realism the struggles of getting older and not wanting to lose your importance in life.

The main characters in the book were brilliant, you get a real sense of the older generation. All the characters had really unique personalities and even though Elizabeth and Joyce where written to stand out, I feel they all had as much purpose as eachother.

I really would recommend this book, Its one of those books you can pick up and it'll make you smile, laugh and cry all at the same time.

As my only negative and reason I knocked a star off was because it took me a little bit to get in to the story, there was so many characters named especially within the first few chapters of the book it just seemed a bit unnecessary and confusing.

Gripping funny and interesting first for Richard Oman. A great read that I couldn’t put down. Once or twice as it moved from one character to another was it a bit confusing but that could have been to reading an early edition on Kindle. The interaction between 4 residents of a care village and the Police was great escapism I do hope there will be more. Thanks Richard and NetGalley

This book is worth persevering with. At first it seemed more like a sitcom and the characters were drawn accordingly.. However as the book progresses they are drawn more deeply and with compassion. The plot had humour and suspense and it certainly is a retirement village most over 70s would like to live in.