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The Thursday Murder Club: Thursday Murder Club, Book 1 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged


Brought to you by Penguin.

The first book in the number one best-selling, multi-million copy selling series by TV presenter Richard Osman.

Read by Lesley Manville, soon-to-be star of The Crown, and featuring an exclusive Q&A between Richard Osman and Marian Keyes.

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

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 80, but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves.

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

CrimeFest Audible Sounds of Crime winner: Best Audiobook 2021.

Review

Praise for The Thursday Murder Club:

"Witty, endearing and greatly entertaining."
--Wall Street Journal

"An amusing debut that finds gold in getting older."
--People

"If you like a good mystery but also want to laugh and go 'aw, ' the Thursday Murder Club books by Richard Osman are definitely for you."
--Daisy Rosario, NPR Pop Culture Happy Hour

"Don't trust anyone, including the four septuagenarian sleuths in Osman's own laugh-out-loud whodunit."
--Parade

"[A] jaunty mystery. . . What's delightful is that there are no stereotypes here -- the senior citizens solve the murder with wit, style and ferocious intelligence. The puzzle is intricate and involving, but there's a breeziness about it that makes it an ideal hammock read."
-NPR

"Funny, clever, and compelling. Mystery fans are going to be enthralled."
--Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Boy from the Woods

"A little beacon of pleasure in the midst of the gloom. . . SUCH FUN!"
--Kate Atkinson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Big Sky

"The mystery's good, the characters are wonderful, and [the series are] just very entertaining. . . top notch."
--R.L. Stine, bestselling author of the Goosebumps series

"Charming, funny, and ultimately, surprisingly, very moving."
--Linwood Barclay, New York Times bestselling author of Find You First

"I don't know how to do this brilliant book justice. Diabolically clever, very funny, highly entertaining--utterly delightful. I completely fell in love with it. I need more of The Thursday Murder Club!"
--Shari Lapena, New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door

"Loved every word. Loved the fleet, nimble plotting, as ingenious as top-shelf Agatha Christie; loved the boisterous cast of characters--think Fredrik Backman; loved the crisp, witty, Carl Hiaasen-caliber dialogue... yet above all, I love The Thursday Murder Club for its psychological texture, emotional depth, and luminous, fireside warmth. What a generous novel. Readers of Louise Penny and Kate Atkinson, rejoice."
--A. J. Finn, #1New York Timesbestselling author ofThe Woman in the Window

"Suspenseful, funny, and poignant. The delightful, spirited characters from this witty, sometimes bittersweet story deserve a return engagement."
--Booklist (starred review)

"An imaginative and witty whodunit... Osman's careful attention to the realities of life in a retirement village ensures that The Thursday Murder Club is a compassionate, thoughtful tribute to a segment of the population that's often dismissed and ignored... Great fun."
--BookPage(starred review)

"The character-driven mystery, featuring a group of sleuths all too aware of their own mortality, and a likable pair of cops, is suspenseful, funny, and poignant... The delightful, spirited characters from this witty, sometimes bittersweet story deserve a return engagement."
--Library Journal (starred review)

"Osman mixes mirth and murder in his exceptional debut. . . witty."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A fascinating primer in detection... A top-class cozy infused with dry wit and charming characters who draw you in and leave you wanting more, please."
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"A rather beguiling piece of work, reading like Kingsley Amis's The Old Devils refracted through an Agatha Christie prism... The ageing protagonists are a winning bunch, and Osman's skills have already led to greenlighting of further outings for his sleuths."
--Financial Times

"A sparkling debut... Fiendishly clever and brilliantly funny."
--Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Witty... The characters and the writing are a treat... Everyone in the central quartet, especially the two women, are more complex than they originally seem, and while the tone is predominantly light and funny, Osman finds some moments of sweet poignancy."
--Seattle Times

"With wry British humor, and a cast of intrepid retirees, Richard Osman's delightful mystery caper offers surprising depth... The wit and the plot will bring readers back for more of this series."
--The Christian Science Monitor

"As the bodies pile up, and more is revealed of the lives and loves of Joyce, Ibrahim, Ron and Elizabeth, you can't help cheering them on--and hoping to meet them again soon."
--The Times(UK)

"A witty and poignant tale."
--The Daily Telegraph (UK)

"One of the most enjoyable books of the year. . . well-written, hilarious, and joyously big-hearted. . . The charm of The Thursday Murder Club is that it's so much more than a crime novel."
--The Daily Express(UK)

"Brilliant, smart, charming, and wryly funny."
--Good Housekeeping(UK)

"So smart, so funny, so warm, and such a wonderful mystery. If we're lucky Richard Osman will keep these characters alive forever."
--Caroline Kepnes, New York Times bestselling author of You

"So smart and funny. Deplorably good."
--Ian Rankin, New York Times bestselling author of Westwind

"Grinning like a monkey having just finished The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. Loved its clever, clever plot, great gags, Ealing comedy set ups and Elizabeth. Can't say more but I want to be her one day..."
--Fiona Barton, New York Times bestselling author of The Widow

"A rich, textured, twisted, and fabulously funny tale of murder and mayhem."
--Alan Bradley, New York Timesbestselling author of The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

"By turns hilarious and poignant, The Thursday Murder Club offers up a brilliant concept that's flawlessly executed and told in a unique, captivating voice. These are rare qualities in any novel, let alone a debut. I read the first page, then put all else on hold to devour this pitch-perfect book in one sitting. Bravo!"
--Jeffery Deaver, #1 international bestselling author of The Goodbye Man

"Smart, compassionate, warm, moving and so very funny. I smiled a million times. This book will make a lot of people very, very happy."
--Marian Keyes, international bestselling author of Grown Ups

"A warm, wise, and witty warning never to underestimate the elderly."
--Val McDermid, international bestselling author of How the Dead Speak

"Utterly charming and very very clever."
--Sarah Pinborough, New York Times bestselling author of Cross Her Heart

"Funny, clever, and achingly British--what else would you expect from a book by Richard Osman?"
--Adam Kay, internationally bestselling author of This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Medical Resident

"A superb debut. Thrilling, moving, laugh-out-loud funny and packed with characters you will want to see a lot more of."
--Mark Billingham, international bestselling author of Their Little Secret

"What a joy! Full of brilliantly observed humor, spot-on dialogue, and twists and turns aplenty. Joyce and the gang are now my favorite crime-solving team."
--Nina Stibbe, author of Reasons to Be Cheerful

From the Back Cover

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.

About the Author

Richard Osman is an author and television presenter. His novels, The Thursday Murder Club, The Man Who Died Twice, The Bullet That Missed, and The Last Devil to Die, were number one, million-copy international bestsellers as well as New York Times bestsellers. He lives in London with his wife, Ingrid, and Liesl the cat. We Solve Murders is his fifth novel.

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
152,130 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book really enjoyable and great for summer holidays. They also describe the plot as good, with plenty of twists and insights into the feelings of the characters. Readers love the characters and find the humor delightful and perfect antidote to depressing stuff. They describe the book as well-written, hard to put down, and gentle. However, some find the pacing too slow and the entertainment value unsatisfying and unchallenging for adults. Opinions are mixed on descriptiveness, with some finding it insightful and easy to read, while others say it's fairly non-descript or undeveloped.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

2,602 customers mention ‘Enjoyability’2,577 positive25 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, brilliant, and amusing. They also say it's great for summer holidays and has a fairly defined theme.

"...It vividly creates a setting of quintessential countryside chic, with rolling hills, farm shops, small stone bridges over a meandering river … and..." Read more

"...The Thursday Murder Club really is a gentle, entertaining and cosy read, the perfect ‘curl-up-by-the-fire’ on a cold Winter’s evening book...." Read more

"...being the theme running through this excellent novel, this is very much a cosy read...." Read more

"Just wonderful. Totally gripping, wonderful characters, completely absorbing, can’t wait to read the next book. Richard Osman is a genius." Read more

2,040 customers mention ‘Plot’1,560 positive480 negative

Customers find the plot good, with plenty of twists. They also say the book has a fantastic ending and has them hooked. Readers also describe the characters and plotlines as clever, entertaining, and provide wonderful insights into the feelings and activities of the characters. They mention the book is light-hearted and compelling.

"...witty and chuckle-a-minute murder mystery, it’s also a compassionate window into the future, with the young-at-heart characters coming to terms with..." Read more

"...which are interspersed throughout the book and provide some wonderful insights into the feelings and the activities of the residents...." Read more

"...at hand, and just lose yourself in this compassionate, witty mystery created by the inimitable Richard Osman...." Read more

"...The novel is made up of caricatures and I didn't care what happened to them...." Read more

1,372 customers mention ‘Readability’1,044 positive328 negative

Customers find the book easy to read. They say the prose is good, the characters are believable, and the book reflects English life perfectly. They also say the book is well-plotted, realistic, and hard to put down.

"...The vernacular and colloquialisms are so pitch-perfect it took a Herculean effort to remind myself these words are really spilling from Richard Osman..." Read more

"...The Thursday Murder Club really is a gentle, entertaining and cosy read, the perfect ‘curl-up-by-the-fire’ on a cold Winter’s evening book...." Read more

"...Love how it's quintessentially British but still has a non-serious murder mystery going on at the same time. Would recommend." Read more

"...I can be stubborn so refused to give up on this story but it was very hard work and with hindsight I should have done...." Read more

1,127 customers mention ‘Humor’980 positive147 negative

Customers find the humor in the book witty, charming, and casually caustic. They also describe it as a warm, wise, and wry warning never to underestimate the elderly. Customers also say the book is a wonderful English whodunit and the perfect antidote to the sometimes depressing stuff around them.

"...quirks, unflinching observations, and the charming but casually caustic critique that only the older generation can get away with...." Read more

"...many quarters with Val McDermid describing it as ‘a warm, wise and witty warning never to underestimate the elderly’..." Read more

"...This novel is the perfect antidote to the sometimes depressing stuff that has been going on around us of late...." Read more

"...Enjoyed the book with some witty moments and serious parts. Good blend of characters and you were sort of guessing what they would look like...." Read more

1,107 customers mention ‘Characters’890 positive217 negative

Customers find the characters in the book well developed.

"...This is a typical 'very English' whodunnit, featuring eccentric characters who come alive on the page...." Read more

"Just wonderful. Totally gripping, wonderful characters, completely absorbing, can’t wait to read the next book. Richard Osman is a genius." Read more

"...Enjoyed the book with some witty moments and serious parts. Good blend of characters and you were sort of guessing what they would look like...." Read more

".../ murder based books, but I absolutely Loved this book, the characters are funny and each one reminds me of someone I know in their mannerisms...." Read more

313 customers mention ‘Descriptiveness’174 positive139 negative

Customers are mixed about the descriptiveness of the book. Some find it insightful, well-observed, and well-told. They also say the cast is great and supported by interesting figures. However, some find the book fairly non-descript or undeveloped, confusing in places, and poorly structured.

"...voice to a character that ripples with idiosyncratic quirks, unflinching observations, and the charming but casually caustic critique that only the..." Read more

"...For me there were too many people and too many strands - just how many murder suspects can have an unexpected 50 year history with a.place?..." Read more

"...Endearing. Smart. Engaging." Read more

"...Very confusing in places, and with the wrong name for Red Robo, I do wonder if Richard had permission to use this persons name and details or if he..." Read more

535 customers mention ‘Entertainment value’57 positive478 negative

Customers find the book unsatisfying, boring, and poorly written. They also say the Thursday Murder Club is average and not pulling them to read it. However, some readers say the book contains incredible revelations.

"...Banal, tedious and poorly written...." Read more

"...the style makes it hard for me to relate to the characters, some of whom are boring or don't seem to have any personality at all...." Read more

"...It went from well written to bad, poorly structured and meaningless. A pity, as I very much enjoyed the ride along with the characters." Read more

"Not a literary masterpiece but, nonetheless, a really enjoyable book." Read more

132 customers mention ‘Pacing’24 positive108 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book too slow and say it can't hold their concentration.

"...story than I expected, loads of characters and a good storyline, bit slow at first. Looking forward to the next in the series." Read more

"The book was very slow to start with, I think if the Thursday Night Murder club members had been introduced properly would have been good, and if..." Read more

"...The pace was slow in parts which I felt let the story lag a bit but overall a thrilling crime/mystery that revolved around quirky but loveable..." Read more

"Story very slow to start, and whilst it has at times made me smile I wouldn't call it laugh out loud...." Read more

Excellent item
5 out of 5 stars
Excellent item
An easy and compelling read. Osman has a big heart and a wonderful eye for hilarious detail. I hold him responsible for me going to bed way too late on several occasions: "Just one more chapter.. ok one more then sleep.." etc
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 September 2021
What a treat this book has been! The Thursday Murder Club has filled a Famous Five-shaped void in my adult life that I hadn’t realised was there. Okay, so there are only four members of this amateur crime-busting cabal … no dog (yet!) … and the ginger ale has been replaced by pricey bottles of Malbec … and the bones may be creakier than my beloved childhood gang, but the derring do, the charm, the well-meaning bickering, and the fabulous ability to outsmart the rozzers are all heartily present.

In a nutshell, The Thursday Murder Club has the potential to be the single most influential piece of marketing the (luxury) retirement village sector has ever seen. It vividly creates a setting of quintessential countryside chic, with rolling hills, farm shops, small stone bridges over a meandering river … and introduces an unexpected abundance of lamas … but generally very lovely. And the retirement village itself - Coopers Chase - boasts an array of activities and outings and gatherings to rival any Club 18-30, albeit of a more age-appropriate gentility …

… Apart from the Thursday Murder Club, that is. It’s something of a covert black-ops group masquerading as a Japanese Opera Discussion Group to deter nosy parkers, and those who lack the constitution for the grisly and graphic cold-case murder scene and autopsy photographs. Founded by retired police detective, Penny, and glamorous spook, Elizabeth, the group of four gather each week to scrutinise the files of unsolved murders that Penny diligently ‘liberated’ in the run up to her retirement.

Sadly, when we join the Club one they’re member down, Penny; lost to the advanced stages of dementia and now bed-bound in Willows; the village’s nursing home. As Elizabeth’s old friend, it’s her visits and her one-sided monologues that drive home the inescapable and rather poignant moments of the book. Because, whilst The Thursday Murder Club is a witty and chuckle-a-minute murder mystery, it’s also a compassionate window into the future, with the young-at-heart characters coming to terms with failing health, voluminous prescriptions, widowhood, and one or two regrets. But, exactly because this is a witty novel, these slightly scary truths are portrayed with just the right amount of light-hearted teasing, before romping off to solve the next puzzle.

The club has always been a group of four, so Elizabeth wastes little time in enlisting Joyce; retired nurse, chatterbox, demon cake-baker, and with a countenance that people frequently underestimate. It’s Joyce’s fabulous, no-holds-barred diary that makes up a large chunk of this book, giving voice to a character that ripples with idiosyncratic quirks, unflinching observations, and the charming but casually caustic critique that only the older generation can get away with. Her chapters felt like settling down with long-missed grandparents and listening with relish whilst they viciously demolish whoever’s rankled them that day. The vernacular and colloquialisms are so pitch-perfect it took a Herculean effort to remind myself these words are really spilling from Richard Osman’s ‘pen’ and not really from Joyce’s.

Ron and Ibrahim complete the Club; two chalk-and-cheese characters. Ron is a retired and very notorious trade union leader; a tattooed and rather shouty West Ham supporter whose cringingly outspoken and argumentative nature is generously explained away as ‘well, that’s Ron’. Heart of gold … salt of the earth … bull in a china shop … and surreptitiously endearing. Ibrahim, meanwhile, is neat, precise, immaculately dressed, and with a Gatsby-esque poise and politeness that won my heart immediately. In his hey day he was a psychiatrist … perhaps Elizabeth saw in him someone who could extract truths from unwitting suspects during their armchair investigations. Left to her own devices, I have no doubt that she has a painfully effective set of skills to deploy on more reluctant individuals.

Batting for the youth team are PC Donna De Freitas - a cracking character who brings a sardonic wit and hint of jaded-London cool to the rolling Kent countryside - and her boss, DCI Chris Hudson who’s not quite braced for the ambitious and sharp-tongued whirlwind that’s just joined his team. On paper, they really shouldn’t gel as well as they do … but they do, and oh so well. Nor should they forge quite such a super relationship with the subversive Murder Club crew … but the chemistry is first-rate, giving rise to sparks and clashes that elicit so many laughs.

It doesn’t take long for the Murder Club’s investigations to progress from the theoretical to the practical, with the first murder implicating the owner of their retirement village. The undisguised glee amongst the plucky foursome had me laughing out loud, and when the second murder takes place even closer to home the mood escalates from giddy excitement to down-right celebratory. The victims and the suspects are as colourfully characterised as Joyce and co, and although they’re an eclectic mix of the odious and the unlucky I found myself enjoying getting to know them every bit as much as I did the good-guys. None of them are quite prepared for the determined snooping of four unassuming pensioners, whose remarkable discoveries create headaches of their own for DCI Hudson as he struggles to keep up with their underhand fact-finding.

Don’t underestimate the cosy nature of The Thursday Murder Club … the main characters may be elderly, the setting may be genteel, and the humour may catch you off guard … but this is a murder mystery of the most entertaining kind, with an unpredictable plot, and a large cast giving the puzzle plenty of capacity to twist and mislead. Whilst, at first, the murder seems to be quite obvious, take a moment to remind yourself of the enormity of the mind that’s created and authored this story. I can honestly say this has been the most enjoyable read … and I want more.
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 September 2020
‘Killing someone is easy.
Hiding the body, now that’s usually the hard part.
That’s how you get caught’

The Thursday Murder Club by TV presenter Richard Osman was published September 5th with Viking and is the first book in a new series. It has received huge acclaim from many quarters with Val McDermid describing it as ‘a warm, wise and witty warning never to underestimate the elderly’

The Thursday Murder Club is based in the very plush retirement village of Coopers Chase where four friends meet weekly to discuss old crime cases that were never solved. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron are all fighting fit and not ready to relax into an aging lifestyle just yet. To keep their grey matter in order, they swap titbits of information relating to these past cases, each bringing their own expertise to the table. An original member of the group, Penny, has been moved to a dependent ward with a decline in her health, making Joyce the latest addition to this motley crew of amateur investigators. It was Penny, an ex policewoman, who was the founding member of the group and Elizabeth still talks to Penny daily, filling her in on the activities of the club. Can Penny hear Elizabeth? Who knows but the relationship between the two of them is very gentle, very touching. The tale is woven around Joyce’s transcripts into her diary which are interspersed throughout the book and provide some wonderful insights into the feelings and the activities of the residents.

Miss Marple springs to mind when reading The Thursday Murder Club, except this time we have four characters with a similar curiosity. When the body of the owner of the residence, a man with a dubious past, one Ian Ventham, is discovered bludgeoned to death in his own home, Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron are immediately on the case.

Elizabeth is a canny individual with a furtive history that suggests a rather colourful past, possibly a secret agent. She is living in the village with her husband Stephen. His condition is on the decline but Elizabeth refuses to accept this. Joyce is an ex-nurse who is there with her daughter’s encouragement (although it does appear that her daughter is quite happy to have her mother at a slightly inaccessible distance from her). Ibrahim is a psychologist who still has old clients who call, but is ‘almost’ retired and Ron is an ex trade-unionist, one well known throughout the UK for his passion on the picket lines. Now it is his son Jason, who is stealing the limelight, as an ex-boxer not ready to retire from the public yet.

These four septuagenarians are a force to be reckoned with. When the local police come calling, they are unprepared for the manipulation that awaits them. PC Donna De Frietas and DCI Chris Hudson are a wonderful pairing and they soon come to realise that the members of The Thursday Murder Club are always one step ahead of them. (Yes suspending belief is a necessary requirement)

There are a number of mysterious happening in and around Coopers Chase as the chapters unfold, but all are scrutinised, dissected and neatly tied up in a bow as the story progresses.

The Thursday Murder Club really is a gentle, entertaining and cosy read, the perfect ‘curl-up-by-the-fire’ on a cold Winter’s evening book. Much of the crime fiction that is currently on the market is fast-paced, heart-pounding and, ofttimes, quite gruesome. You will not find this here in Richard Osman’s first outing. The Thursday Murder Club is a real pleasure to read. It provides much-needed light reading during these very strange days. It is a return to the Agatha Christie style of crime fiction that will be very welcome on the bedside locker of many a reader.

Richard Osman also highlights age and the expectations that our society has of the older population. As is the case here, every person, no matter their age, has experience and opinions and is deserving of the respect of the world at large. I can only hope to have the stamina and the determination of this dynamic bunch when I’m older. Illness, grief, tragedy and death are all handled very poignantly, with some very moving goodbyes but none take from the overall humour and pleasure of this warm hug of a book.

The Thursday Murder Club is a delightful and light-hearted mystery. It is a very enjoyable first book in a new series that I am guessing will be very popular across all age-groups. There is a deliberate innocence to it all that is both refreshing and very charming.

Endearing. Smart. Engaging.
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Top reviews from other countries

M. Johns
5.0 out of 5 stars Happiest read for dreary times
Reviewed in the United States on 9 July 2024
First in a series of books that delighted me so much that I couldn't put it down. Witty, tightly constructed complex mystery plot, wonderfully drawn characters. Great fun with almost Moliere-like depiction of diverse characters that you'd swear you've met . . . and surprised yourself by wishing you had. Makes old age look almost tolerable, while very realistic about the problems that creep up once you're over 70.
2 people found this helpful
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Caroline E Evans
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!
Reviewed in Canada on 30 June 2024
A delightful read, especially if you are no longer a spring chicken. Funny and fresh, heart - rending in parts, and for those who have imaginations , for those who love the geography of England and for those who don’t like to have everything spelled out for them. This edition comes with book club questions, a teaser of the next n the series and a reasonably sturdy cover.
ALBERTO LOPEZ
5.0 out of 5 stars Un tema interesante
Reviewed in Mexico on 8 February 2024
Es un tema simpático por el grupo de gente mayor que resuelve los casos. Además puedo practicar el inglés
Mariana Hagemann
5.0 out of 5 stars Você se apaixona pelos personagens!
Reviewed in Brazil on 15 November 2022
Livro chegou rápido e muito bem embalado. A leitura é super gostosa e flui muito bem. Plot divertido, engraçado. Ótimo pra treinar o inglês. Já quero o 2!
3 people found this helpful
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FRANCESCO
5.0 out of 5 stars Piacevole
Reviewed in Italy on 30 June 2024
Si legge bene