I’ve come to realize that I’m too competitive for my own good, and definitely too competitive to read mystery novels. I spend every other page trying to figure out the plot before it’s revealed and find myself distracted while reading because of it. I’m both delighted and disappointed to admit that every time I felt confident in my answer, Richard Osman would immediately highlight my (apparently) too obvious guesses while simultaneously taking the story in a different direction.
The Thursday Murder Club follows a cast of characters as a current murder is solved and an old one is unearthed. There are moments of humor without the book being “funny” and there are poignant relational moments without the book being “emotional.” Osman concocts an intriguing mystery novel in the midst of an insightful commentary on relationships between parents, children, spouses, and friends. I was drawn into the lives and personalities of the various characters Osman shares with the readers, finding myself pleasantly engaged from the beginning – when I wasn’t trying to prematurely uncover the big reveal, that is.
During the author interview at the end of the audio book, Osman says he didn’t write about old people; he wrote about people who happened to be old. This perspective perfectly encapsulates what I loved most about The Thursday Murder Club as it followed the escapades of the witty, insightful, and sometimes snarky residents of a retirement community. The book did not make overt revelations on life or relationships, but let the story speak through the characters themselves.
I’m finding it difficult to review the novel without accidentally giving anything away, so I’ll conclude by saying that it was a surprising book all around, from the plot to the characters and all the humanity in between. I eagerly await the sequel, which has apparently already cleared the first-draft phase. If you’re in the mood for a light-hearted yet intriguing read, this is the book for you.
Personal rating: 8/10
Recommend? Yes
Re-read? No, but I’m looking forward to the sequel.
Time: 1:32