Reviews with content warning for Animal death - The Thursday Murder Club

Ever get that feeling where you adore something so much, it's like trying to describe a symphony of emotions? Well, that's precisely the vibe I'm riding on with The Thursday Murder Club. Imagine strolling through the winding corridors of mystery, guided by a breeze of pure exhilaration. Sure, the initial hurdle was the rollercoaster of changing POVs, but as I flipped through the pages, I was irresistibly drawn into the labyrinth of enigma alongside the charismatic crew of The Thursday Murder Club.

As the narrative unfolded, characters underwent a deep excavation, revealing intricate layers that highlighted the author's mastery in delving into the psychology of each persona. In a plot filled with a plethora of characters, far from overwhelming, it proved to be a triumph, beckoning readers to explore the tapestry of rich and multifaceted personalities.

The climax in the confession room was a tension-soaked spectacle, immersing me in a suspenseful atmosphere, making me an integral part of the unfolding drama. Sharp plot twists played havoc with my assumptions about the primary suspect, displaying a level of cleverness that left me in awe.

The initial battle against 'microscopic' font size unexpectedly transformed into a stroke of luck when I stumbled upon the e-book format—a treasure trove where I could whimsically tailor the font size to match my reading pleasure.

Immersed in the intricacies of these characters' lives and skillfully navigating the hairpin turns of the mystery, I transcended beyond the conventional role of a reader; I morphed into a fellow adventurer alongside The Thursday Murder Club gang.

As I closed the chapter on this thrilling escapade, a satisfied grin and a spark of enthusiasm adorned my face. The Thursday Murder Club is more than just a book; it's a golden ticket inviting you to explore a world of mystery with the coolest gang in town. The knowledge that the saga with The Thursday Murder Club will persist in a riveting series is the cherry on top. It's not just a book; it's a reliable companion, beckoning from every mysterious corridor, urging you to uncover the secrets within.

Content Warnings

wickedgrumpy's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

The characters were lovely. I imagine I will pick up the next in the series at some point because I thought it was a charming read, even though it wasn't my usual cup of tea.

Also, I know it's a murder mystery but I wasn't expecting so much casual death. Was a bit grim at times.

Content Warnings

luciferin's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

PLEASE read and heed the trigger warnings for this book. I didn’t, and I can only tell you that if I had, I probably would’ve hesitated reading it, because that one specific warning TRIGGER WARNING
suicide
isn’t just something mentioned in passing in the book, MILD SPOILER WITHOUT SPOILING MUCH
it happens, repeatedly, and more or less graphically.

Anyhow. This book made me laugh, then cry, then laugh again, then stare melancholically into the distance, then cry again. It made me gasp and question the whole plot I just read, it made me root for people I maybe shouldn’t root for (but always will, because I LOVE. MORALLY GREY CHARACTERS. Always have, always will. Because life is fucking morally grey. And I both LOVE the ending and dread its implications.) I really like all of the characters and I cannot wait to see where their paths will take them.

The dialogues are incredibly funny and so very British, the pop culture references were so good and there were quite a few plot twists (both storywise and in the development of one character or another) that I didn’t see coming, which rarely happens. It was a very enjoyable read, and a mystery slash crime that didn’t try the absolute hardest (while failing) to be sooo inventive and new and what have you. But it still manages exactly that. It’s a fresh-ish view (sometimes it kinda feels like visiting all of Agatha C‘s figures in the retirement home they live in together, but in a nice, old memories way, not in the way of plagiarism) of crime solving with a group of people that have seemingly lived their lives with spouses and children and careers and such, who now still have just as much fun in using their different abilities (I love Ibbsy and Joyce and Bogdan especially) to solve murderous puzzles.
I also like how it alludes to things they have done before coming to CC and I‘m really excited to learn more about Elizabeth‘s past at some point, even though I have a hunch about her vocation. I like how the author often sets us on wrong tracks until we suddenly understand what exactly is happening or who is involved; it often made me notice that I am still, unfortunately, thinking in a very socially normative (not to say heteronormative, able-bodied, ageist kind of way, because I pride myself on AT THE VERY LEAST noticing if I do and correcting myself; so rather in a pop culturally normalised) way, MILD UNSPOILERY

for example with Donna and Chris. I never would have thought of THAT. And I LOVE IT.

I love when books do that.

Also, please be aware that while this IS indeed a book about murder old and new, it also talks about lot about transience in life, loss, the pain of living itself, loneliness, estrangement from family members and or friends or lovers, the impact of being oneself on the life one gets to live. Characters are desperate, lonely, tired of living, ill, slowly slipping from their loved ones‘ grasp. It is FULL of heavy topics, so if these things are not something you want with your lighthearted crime solving, skip this. And again, HEED THE TRIGGER WARNINGS.

Still, even though none of these are topics I actively seek out and or enjoy or usually read willingly if I can avoid them, the descriptions of the TMC‘s members‘ lives actually weirdly give me hope. I am not scared of aging: it is very much a privilege which only few of us get to enjoy. But seeing those wonderful elderly people with all of their pasts and aches and losses just having fun with their friends, accomodating their lives to what they can do and how, and joking about it. I want to be like that later on.

So yeah, I am very much looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.
Oh and also, Joyce and Donna teaching Elizabeth how to be modern and and correct and inclusive in her way of speaking? Love.

Content Warnings

cooliuscaesar451's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

It starts off slowly but the characters suck you in ❤️ I found myself verklempt time and time again at the end.

Content Warnings

theabee's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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arrianne's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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thecriticalreader's review against another edition

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funny mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I picked up The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman because I liked the idea of reading a mystery set in a retirement village!

Blurb:

Four members of a retirement community form a club to discuss and try to solve cold cases. When one of the people who helped build their community is murdered, they decide to take the opportunity to solve a real-life murder case.

Review:

It is easy to see why The Thursday Murder Club gained such buzz when it was released. The writing is clever, the elderly members of the Thursday Murder Club are endearing and well-written, and the book (especially the first half) is chock full of humor. I laughed out loud several times while reading. At the same time, the retirement community setting—a place that is both lively and sober, given the age of its members—offers an opportunity for touching and poignant moments as the characters face the realities of aging and losing loved ones.

Toward the end of the novel, as Osman works to tie up the loose ends to the main mysteries, the red herring mysteries, and almost every other random plot point he has introduced, I started to feel lost in the weeds. The book contains an unusually large supporting cast of characters, and nearly every single one of them had their own ending or mystery that Osman felt the need to address. The focus shifted away from the main Thursday Murder Club members, draining the story of much of its initial humor and heart. Although I enjoyed watching the police and the senior citizens work through the clues and the mystery step by step, I was disappointed that the author still opted for the surprise “info-dump” resolution to the mysteries instead of letting the reader figure out the solution at the same time as the characters.

The story also suffers from occasional tonal dissonance as Osman tries to make the narrative funny, cerebral, lighthearted, serious, and exciting. One throwaway line that stuck out to me in this regard was a remark about one of the main police characters: “She had arrested a shoplifter in Fairhaven last week, and when he had struggled, she had brought him down with a baton between the knees. She was aware she had hit him much harder than she should. Sometimes you just had to hit things” (124-25). That line greatly disturbs me, as it paints police brutality as something that is normal and relatable. The book completely glosses over the problematic nature of referring to a person as a “thing” that can be beaten by police to let out their excess anger. There were other similar, if less alarming, instances where Osman occasionally drops the ball when trying to juggle multiple tones.

Overall, I enjoyed many aspects of The Thursday Murder Club, but my enjoyment waned significantly as the story went on. I do not feel compelled to pick up any of the story’s sequels.

The Run-Down:

You will probably like The Thursday Murder Club if:

· You are a fan of cozy, small-town murder mysteries

· Following a quirky cast of elderly crime solvers sounds like fun

· You enjoy stories that alternate between humorous remarks, serious reflections on life and death, and crime investigation

You might not like The Thursday Murder Club if:

· You prefer simpler mysteries

· You don’t like having to keep track of multiple characters and plotlines

· You are upset by people making light of murder

Content Warnings

mari_books's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

On its face the book is a fast paced almost beach read style mystery with a lovely and curious team of elderly detectives. There are lots of elements of mystery and emotional life/ death/ love/ family sentimental moments. Solidly 4 stars. Dinging one star for how anticlimactic the ending was and I think in general the author introduced too many characters it was kind of unneeded and hard to keep track of

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