(book review)

“It’s great to be the fastest runner, but not when you’re running in the wrong direction.”
(Richard Osman)

It is a fascinating detective story with unsurpassed British humour and sarcasm. ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ is the debut detective book by British broadcaster Richard Osman.

The story tells of four friends living in an elite retirement village in the South of Britain — Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron. They are four completely different people, from completely different professions, who are united by a common love of mysteries. Every Thursday, amateur detectives gather to solve long-forgotten crimes over a glass of a good wine. For them, it’s a hobby, a way to keep their brains in good shape. Until two mysterious murders and a local cemetery mystery fall into their laps. So the unbeatable quartet, with the help of two local police officers, take on their first serious case.

Fascination, surprise, shock, excitement, and sometimes even serious anxiety — ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ makes you feel a range of different emotions. The author’s skilful use of subtle English humour and irony should also be noted.

This story has a truly gripping and unpredictable plot, as well as unique, well-written, and most importantly, very comfortable and ‘alive’ characters who will definitely steal your heart and make you smile sincerely.

Nevertheless, Osman’s detective has some drawbacks. In particular, the author’s writing style is puzzling — it is quite confusing and sometimes even chaotic. Of course, you get used to it, but sometimes you want a more calm and structured story.

In general, if you are a fan of a good English detective story, sophisticated puns and jokes, and incredibly colourful characters, this story is definitely for you! If you are interested in ‘The Thursday Murder Club,’ I sincerely recommend you check out the next three books in the series — ‘The Man Who Died Twice,’ ‘The Bullet That Missed’ and ‘The Last Devil to Die.’ You may also like Benjamin Stivenson’s book ‘Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone.’

To sum up, Richard Osman and his ‘Thursday Murder Club’ have definitely and irrevocably stolen my heart. As for me, this story deserves 9/10.