The Thursday Murder Club Full Book Review
The Thursday Murder Club Full Book Review [Updated for 2026]
If you’re a fan of cosy mysteries with a dash of British charm, then you’re in for a treat!
Today I’ll be taking you through my personal thoughts and opinions on The Thursday Murder Club.
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But don’t worry, I won’t be spoiling any of it.
Let’s just dive right in, shall we?
My Journey with The Thursday Murder Club
I remember being super excited about diving into The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman.
After hearing a lot of good things, I knew I had to give it a read.
I honestly can’t remember if it was 2023 or 2024 I began it. I mean, the past few years have been a blur! But, I do remember being excited about finally starting it.
At first all was good with the book. I was enjoying the read, but the further on I got, the more I began to feel that excitement slip.
So, when life got in the way like it often does, I sat it down. I was about 14 chapters in and just never got around to finishing it unfortunately.
Audiobook Enters The Chat
After listening to Twilight Eclipse on Audible, I was looking for something new to dive into.
That’s when I came across The Thursday Murder Club and decided to give the audiobook a try.
And oh boy am I glad I did.
I was listening to this book constantly!
When baby bear was sleeping, whilst I was packing orders, in the shower and going to sleep.
Listening to the story really brought a whole new dimension to the experience. Thankfully I found myself more engaged this time than when I first read it.
The narration added so much more depth and realisim to the characters as well which made the story come alive in a way that reading hadn’t quite managed for me.
This book hooked me in from the beginning while listening, so I’m glad I decided to give it a second go.
Choosing to give it another chance was a good move because now I’ve experienced another new world filled with heartwarming characters.
Because I enjoyed it so much, I just had to write about it! I also urge anyone who may not have enjoyed it via reading a hardcopy book, to try an audiobook instead.
Full Review of The Thursday Murder Club
Once I had finished the audiobook, I took to my notes to write down a ton of thoughts.
So much was racing through my mind, and mainly character based notes.
This has been one of those books where you fall in love with the characters and root for them.
There were a few characters I became attached to and wished we could learn more about them.
But, it was enjoyable none the less.
The pacing was nice in the audiobook version and I definitely think it flowed better too.
Personally, I don’t think I had the right reading pace to match this story. It flowed much better listening to the book instead.
Synopsis of The Thursday Murder Club
From Goodreads –
“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.
Can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer before it’s too late?”
My Thoughts on The Thursday Murder Club
Overall, I found The Thursday Murder Club to be an engaging read (listen) from start to finish with a unique plot and endearing characters.
Personally I think that Richard Osman has done well with blending humor and suspense in this story, making it a cosy yet thrilling reading experience.
I found myself quite invested in the relationships between the characters in the retirement village and wished at times we could dive deeper into some of them.
*My top picks would be Elizabeth and Ibrahim for sure!
The book’s setting in a retirement village was a nice refreshing twist to the traditional murder mystery genre.
I really liked that it was elderly characters taking the spotlight for once because I rarely read a book that focuses on the elderly.
Meet the Characters
Joyce Meadowcroft
Our main character is Joyce, a former nurse and the newest member of the club.
I personally can’t help but feel drawn to Joyce’s character because she has such a delightful and wholesome spirit!
To me, she embodies a loving and comforting elder, you know the ones who make you feel safe? That’s what I imagine Joyce to be.
There’s something special about her character that just pulls us in.
Her character is kind and warm, she’s very inviting and made me wish I could bake up a storm with her, chatting away.
Although our girl Joyce is wholesome, she’s also an amazing detective to boot!
I thoroughly enjoyed her character.
Elizabeth Best
Next up is one of my favourite characters, Elizabeth!
The groups resident former spy with a sharp mind and a knack for solving puzzles who also leads the club.
We often hear stories of how someone fades into the background when they become elderly, like all those amazing experiences they’ve gathered over the years just fade into the background.
But Elizabeth is here to change that narrative with a sparkle and an attitude I aim to achieve in life.
Forget about the usual images you might have of grannies because shes nothing like that! Instead, Elizabeth is one of a kind and truly makes you want to explore her character more.
If there was a story just on her, I’d read it!
Ron Richie
Let’s meet the next member of the group shall we?
Ron, the “brawn” of the group and also a resident of the retirement village like the others, is an ex union activist with more to him than meets the eye.
He’s outspoken, headstrong and straightforward which all make for wonderful traits if you’re going to be in the business of solving crimes.
Not only is he seen as the muscle of the group, he also has connections in the community which definitely comes in handy.
I liked Ron’s character but didn’t feel particularly drawn to him in one way or the other.
With that being said, he was a good addition to the team and I don’t think the story would be the same without him, I just never got attached.
What I did like about his character though was he had layers and finding out more about him definitely helped him feel more integral to the story.
Ibrahim Arif
Last but by no means least is Ibrahim, a sweet elderly man who very much made me miss my Great Grandfather as I listened.
He’s a retired psychiatrist and brings a nice balanced, calm energy to the group that serves well in their investigation.
I found that Ibrahim really reminded me of my great grandfather in some respects because he was very much a calming soul.
Everyone felt at ease around my grandfather and he was such a gentleman, which I see Ibrahim’s characters as.
Although he’s a calming force for the group, he’s also logical in his approach to situations which definitely helps the club piece together crucial information.
Final Thoughts on The Thursday Murder Club
And there you have it, my thoughts on The Thursday Murder Club!
It ended up being a charming and entertaining read/listen the second time around which was good.
I’m so glad I gave it another chance on audiobook because that helped ALOT in feeling like I was immersed in the story.
Personally I quite enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club for its unique story and cast of characters. It was nice having elderly people in the spotlight, solving crimes and being amazing.
It shed a new light on the lives of the elderly that’s for sure. I’ll always be curious now when I look at elderly people, wondering what their unique life story is.
Overall I enjoyed listening to this book, and while I wish some aspects of the story were more fleshed out, the overall experience was a positive one.
I would rate it 3 out of 5 stars, as it’s a cosy mystery that offers a pleasant escape into the world of amateur sleuths.
If you’re looking for a light hearted mystery with a touch of British humor, then The Thursday Murder Club is definitely worth a read/listen.
It feels like the perfect book to enjoy on a sunny day, whether you’re lounging in the garden or curled up on the couch.
On the flip side, it would also make a cosy rainy day read curled up with a hot cuppa.
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This really seems like an awesome read, I have to find that book somewhere! <3
https://www.couture-case.com/
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, I much prefer to read a book than to listen so not sure if this will be the title for me, but maybe I would enjoy reading about the characters, I’m not far off the ‘elderly’ title myself now
Ahhh! A proper review that doesn’t spoil it but also doesn’t say the sun shines out its *** haha! Will add to my list of books to listen to. Thanks for sharing your perspective! Are you going to read any more by Osman?
I’ve been thinking about reading this book for a while now, I had heard it wasn’t enjoyable actually and a waste of time 😬 Maybe Audiobook is the way to enjoy it properly, thanks for your insights 👍
As a huge fan of murder mysteries, this sounds like something I would really enjoy reading. Thanks for reviewing it as I had nit heard about it before. It’s going on my reading list!
I’ve seen this book around a lot and like you heard good things about it. it’s a shame you couldn’t get into it while reading the book but it’s wonderful you enjoyed it in audiobook format! I’ve been reading a few books via audio book lately, it’s a different way to get immersed in the story for sure! It’s always nice to hear it work out for someone 🙂
– Mica
Great review! I own this book, and have yet to pick it up myself. Based on your review, do you think you’re going to continue the series? It might give you a bit of the depth were craving and some time with the characters you enjoyed but didn’t get enough time with xx
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
I’ve been wanting to read The Thursday Murder Club since it was released, and I finally listened to the audiobook in January! It’s great to hear you enjoyed the audiobook, and I agree it’s nice the book focused on elderly characters!