Reviews with content warning for Death - The Marlow Murder Club

I’d call it almost a cosy crime book because there isn’t much violence, and the tone is quite mellow and friendly. The protagonist is a 77-year-old woman who makes crosswords and, in her spare time, solves puzzles. When her neighbour is murdered, she gets involved in a police investigation and finds new friends along the way.

It’s quite refreshing to read a book with an older woman protagonist. In fact, all of the main characters in this book are women. The mystery is quite cleverly built, and the end resolution is satisfactory, in my opinion, even though I might have started to guess the solution towards the end.

I have one small criticism regarding this book: there was quite a lot of explaining towards the end. Other than that, this is a very decent novel, and I intend to continue with the series. I listened to it as an audiobook, and the narrator, Nicolette McKenzie, was a good fit for the role.

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klm2620's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Fun, fast, cosy mystery featuring a very capable Sherlock-esque, female pensioner (70s) , who draws into her “Baker street” (aka Marlowe Murder Club ) 2 other female characters— a young pastor’s wife/mother, and a middle aged single mother/dogwalker with grown kids. While primarily plot driven, Bex (Rebecca) demonstrates the greatest character growth/change, while Judith and Susie both have minor growth.

The revolving lineup of killers has a Strangers on a Train twist

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sheaes21's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

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

5.0

I loved this book. Visiting a copy of my favorite book of 2023, when I came across this one. What caught my eye was the cross word on the front. Once I read about the eccentricities of the main character I immediately knew it was going to be good ◡̈

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chelsea_shelves's review

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This cozy murder mystery was a fun and relaxing listen as an audiobook. I so enjoyed the narration. Three women, who could not be more different, come together as amateur sleuths to solve the string of sudden murders in their otherwise sleepy town. Judith is a 77 single woman who sets the newspaper crossword, Suzie is middle aged hardworking dog walker and Becks is a devoted mom and vicar’s wife.

Before they know it they are deep in solving the clues of the crime and form strong friendship they didn’t know they desperately needed. They find courage, confidence and purpose.

I was surprised by the twists and enjoyed the challenge in solving the mystery. My only critique is it got a little slow for me and then the answers to the mystery were told in a drawn out monologue… but I think that was in the style of a traditional classic mystery novel. I just found as an audiobook I had to rewind at times because my mind wandered. Still highly recommend this!

This is a 3 part series and has been adapted into a PBS masterpiece television show. I’m curious to watch it to see how it compares to the book!

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jlaz_13's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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bessadams's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

4.25

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kirstenpod_'s review against another edition

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mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.25

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amhud1030's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

What a fun and spunky cast of characters. Great group of women who don’t feel that society pays much attention to them, uplifting each other, and becoming great friends, while solving murders.

The mystery was well written, most clues I found out as the characters did though I did guess some on my own. The over all plot formed well throughout the story and even though I figured out part of the mystery the murderer was a surprise.

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