The Thursday Murder Club Series

I have finally caught up and read the entire published books of The Thursday Murder Club. It is a fantastic series, with a great group of characters where each of them are well rounded and has their own dimension. I adore this series for a variety of reasons, and I definitely cannot wait to carry on seeing what dramas the group finds themselves in.

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Series: Thursday Murder Club #1
Published by Penguin, Viking on September 3, 2020
Genres: Crime
Pages: 382
Format: Paperback
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?

The first one is definitely the slowest of the series and actually could be the reason why this book doesn’t seem to be talked about and why I haven’t seen a huge amount about the series. The story follows a group of elderly people living in a retirement home who meet to discuss cold cases and try and solve them, but everything changes when someone they know is murdered. Each of the characters are introduced in such a way that you can’t help but fall in love with each of them, and there is such a blasé attitude when discussing each of their lives. The most effective of this is Elizabeth and her past as an international spy, there is no convoluted explanation, it just is and it’s fantastically well written. I think the my favourite character would have to be Joyce, her chapters and entries bring so much joy and comedic relief. They were probably my highlight of the entire book, and to be honest this remains the same throughout the rest of the books.

What I will say about The Thursday Murder Club is that the murder isn’t very sophisticated and if you’re looking for a crime series that is really hard hitting or gory then this isn’t for you. I wouldn’t go so far as saying that they are cozy mysteries but there is something warm about the stories which is completely down to how brilliant the characters are written. This is a brilliant first book in a series, the introduction to each of the characters is so well rounded, the mystery is thrilling enough to keep you interested and the ending leaves you wanting more.

Although not my favourite book in the series I can appreciate it as a fantastic first book in a series that really sets the scene for all the rest of the series.

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
Series: The Thursday Murder Club #2
Published by Penguin on September 16, 2021
Genres: Crime
Pages: 422
Format: Paperback
Goodreads

It's the following Thursday.
Elizabeth has received a letter from an old colleague, a man with whom she has a long history. He's made a big mistake, and he needs her help. His story involves stolen diamonds, a violent mobster, and a very real threat to his life.
As bodies start piling up, Elizabeth enlists Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron in the hunt for a ruthless murderer. And if they find the diamonds too? Well, wouldn't that be a bonus?
But this time they are up against an enemy who wouldn't bat an eyelid at knocking off four septuagenarians. Can The Thursday Murder Club find the killer (and the diamonds) before the killer finds them?

Number two I think is where Elizabeth really begins to shine as the leader of the group. Watching her deal with one of her ex lovers and colleagues, with the added complication of missing diamonds. There was so much to unfold in this mystery as well as witnessing the deterioration of Stephen and the strain that has started to put on everything surrounding Elizabeth. What I will say is although I guessed the ending before it was revealed it felt a lot more put together than the first one and it definitely felt a lot more grown up than the previous. I think the relationships really start to shine in this one, especially with Joyce and how she is fitting in with the group. It is very clear that Elizabeth is the leader but Joyce very quickly becomes the glue, and seeing her being appreciated for that was one of the best parts of the book.

One important part that I don’t feel was as poignant in the first book is Donna and Chris, they were almost a secondary thought within the first story which seems to completely flip in this story. The Man Who Died Twice becomes a more developed, and well written addition to the world set up in the first one. I also need to talk about Bogdan, there is something so special about that man, I can’t even put into words. He ironically is the opposite of what Elizabeth is but they along with Stephen form such a wholesome relationship which just brings me so much joy.

This is a solid second book in the series, with some brilliant character development and a way more complex storyline.

The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman
Series: Thursday Murder Club #3
on September 15, 2022
Genres: Crime
Pages: 413
Format: Paperback
Goodreads

It is an ordinary Thursday, and things should finally be returning to normal. Except trouble is never far away where the Thursday Murder Club are concerned. A decade-old cold case—their favorite kind—leads them to a local news legend and a murder with no body and no answers.
Then a new foe pays Elizabeth a visit. Her mission? Kill or be killed. Suddenly the cold case has become red hot.
While Elizabeth wrestles with her conscience (and a gun), Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim chase down the clues with help from old friends and new. But can the gang solve the mystery and save Elizabeth before the murderer strikes again?
From an upmarket spa to a prison cell complete with espresso machine to a luxury penthouse high in the sky, this third adventure of the Thursday Murder Club is full of the cleverness, intrigue, and irresistible charm that readers have come to expect from Richard Osman's bestselling series.

Despite having such a strong start, I think the third book is actually the weakest of the four. I was hoping for a little more comedy and I struggled with some of the mistakes and plot holes that were evident throughout. We kind of lose our way slightly when so much of Elizabeth’s life takes over the story more than usual and I think the others took too much of a back seat. There was a lot happening all the way through, but when we get to the ending it feels extremely rushed and actually so unsatisfying. I think I needed something more climatic to happen and it just felt as if there wasn’t an explanation so everything was kind of brushed under the carpet.

One part that I did enjoy was the Bethany Waites case and I would have actually loved for that to have been the only plot point. I think this is where Joyce really shines and her passion for the story and case was perfect. She still remains my favourite of the four, and I would have loved for there to have been more time spent on that. Also, watching Stephen throughout this story and seeing just how bad it had gotten was heartbreaking, especially when he ends up playing an integral part in both cases. I will say that again the cases were a lot more complex than the first and that was definitely welcome but the focus was just on the wrong case in my opinion.

I was definitely considering leaving this series here.

The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman
Series: Thursday Murder Club #4
Published by Viking on September 14, 2023
Genres: Crime
Pages: 421
Format: Paperback
Goodreads

Shocking news reaches the Thursday Murder Club.
An old friend in the antiques business has been killed, and a dangerous package he was protecting has gone missing.
As the gang springs into action they encounter art forgers, online fraudsters and drug dealers, as well as heartache close to home.
With the body count rising, the package still missing and trouble firmly on their tail, has their luck finally run out? And who will be the last devil to die?

Thank goodness I carried on because the fourth one not only blew it back out of the park but actually could be my favourite. The comedic relief in this book was on point, especially with the subplot of Stephen and Elizabeth creating so much sadness and heartbreak. I loved how the entire group came together to help solve the murder of a friend. It was reminiscent of the first book in that regard, it all became very personal for the entire group rather than just Elizabeth and her life. I loved watching Bogdan become protective and grow into his relationship and also find his place in the group. Ibrahim and his interactions with known drug dealers made me chuckle and I think it actually became such an integral part of the story and plot line by the end.

There was definitely a finality in this book which I think is going to be hard to overcome when it comes to the next book in the series. The murder in this one felt sadder and so did some of the subplots, which although lightened by Joyce, Roy and their antics it all felt a little heavy emotions wise. Which I also think is the great thing about these books is in essence they are mystery books but they also deal with a lot of harder hitting issues, and nothing encapsulates that more than this book and story.

I feel like we ended on a high and I cannot wait for the next one in the series.

Have you read these books? What did you think of the plot and the characters? I have heard such mixed things about them, with some people loving them and others absolutely hating them!