Book #1 The Thursday Murder Club

Ok. So here goes!

I’ve actually finished 4 books so far this year. It’s been a brilliant escape for me. So I’m a bit behind with my journey on here. Book 1 was started on New Year, and finished on the 2nd January I believe.

I’m a massive nerd and love watching Pointless and House of Games on the BBC, and had been recommended the Thursday Murder Club by my mum a few weeks before Christmas. Being the good human, she lent it to me in mid December, and I promptly left it in the back of my car until just after Christmas. Let’s call it decontamination in case of COVID... yep that sounds good.

Having never read a murder mystery book, I didn’t know what to expect. Having watched all of Death in Paradise I half hoped it would be like that. I was half right! It’s very well written, very clever and witty, just like Death in Paradise. Unlike Death in Paradise, it’s not set on a beautiful Caribbean Island, and the main detective isn’t Nick from My Family, or Dougal from Father Ted, it’s a bunch of old people. How very British.

It wouldn’t be fair for me to discuss the plot, that’s up to you to find out. But it had me gripped from start to finish, with various twists and turns throughout and of course plenty of Red Herrings!

Considering Richard Osman isn't known for being a writer, he's a presenter and comedian amongst others, I was very pleasantly surprised. Of course, he's a very intelligent man, well educated etc. so it wasn't a massive surprise that he writes so well. His character construction was brilliant, creating instantly likeable and (on the flip side) hateable characters. The sort of people you would find in any walk of life.

With the book being set in a retirement village, he deals with some of the more common aspects of growing old (physical decline, grief, loneliness etc.) very well, and each of his main characters grow more from the exploration of these aspects. It really helps to make a very realistic story.

The book flowed very well, to the point where I found it difficult to put down, it just draws you in. It flits seamlessly from narrative chapters to diary entries from the main character. I didn't feel like it lagged at any point, something which I find can happen all too easily within any book. Throughout the course of the book, I was building my ideal film cast in my head, from what I’ve read, it appears that Steven Spielberg has already bought the rights to the film... it’ll be interesting to see how his cast tallies up with mine!

Anyway, I would absolutely recommend this book of murder mysteries are your thing. I’d recommend it even if they aren’t, as it’s so British in the way it’s written, full of humour and is immensely clever.

So that’s the first book down! The bit I’ve been waiting for, how big is it... how much of a dent into my height am I making...

The Thursday Murder Club: 4cm - 189cm to go!

At least I’m not as tall as Richard Osman!