GROUP B BOOKS 2023-2024: 10 Nominated books. Vote for no more than 5.
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B4 Type: Amateur sleuths: cozies, and/or
traditional mysteries The Thursday Murder
Club by
Richard Osman, 2020 / MVLC: 48 |
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Basics § Briefly: Four residents at a retirement home
complex have formed a "murder club" that meets on Thursdays as a
"recreational" activity group. They discuss some cold case files
they got ahold of. There are
unscrupulous real estate issues related to their retirement home that keep
popping up - and then a murder. The retirees in the "club" do not
agree with the steps the police take to solve the crime, so they decide to
investigate on their own. § Protagonists: The four members of the "murder
club" led by Elizabeth Best (who may have worked for a British
Intelligence service). They divide up tasks according to their talents and
report back to one another. § Setting: Contemporary Kent, England § Context:
This the 1st in a series of 3 books to date, featuring the retirees at
an upscale retirement home who have formed the Thursday Murder Club. § % of Amazon readers giving 5-star ratings: 53% § Combined % of Amazon readers giving either
4 OR 5-star ratings: 83% §
Total
all Amazon ratings this book: 132,000 Long
Form The
Thursday Murder Club is a group of residents of Coopers Chase, one of the
U.K.’s most attractive retirement communities set in rural Kent. They meet
each week to discuss cold cases and come up with new avenues for
investigation. There
is the exuberant Elizabeth Best, who hints of her background with British
Intelligence, and who is able to talk herself into or out of any situation.
Joyce Meadowcroft is a former nurse and has such a pleasant personality that
one might underestimate her talents and abilities. She is the Dr. Watson of
the group and chronicles their actions. "Big Red" Ron Ritchie is an
infamous labor agitator and, when forceful speech is required, he’s their
man. Finally, there is former psychiatrist/therapist Ibrahim Arif, the stat geek of the Thursday Murder Club. Together
they cultivate a reluctant ally in the local Police Department. The
owners of Coopers Chase, the unscrupulous Ian Ventam
and his builder/junior partner Tony Curran, have acquired adjoining land and
plan to build an addition to Coopers Chase. Just one problem – the location
is a cemetery full of bodies of the nuns who previously lived on the property
where Coopers Chase now sits. Permission has been granted to move the bodies,
but the locals and residents are up in arms about it. When
a murder occurs, the Thursday Murder Club springs into action and inveigles
their way into the police investigation. [Of course,] the four amateurs
out-investigate the police at every turn. The
first half of the book often had me chuckling out loud with its subtle and
not-so-subtle British humor. But things get serious in the second half, which
is time for some brilliant detection by our lovely band of retirees. I'm
so pleased that this first mystery is such a big hit. It is a perfect book to
read anytime, but especially during a pandemic. It lifts the spirit with its
ingenuity, wit and warm characters. Here’s
hoping we’ll see more of this august group of amateur sleuths in follow-up
traditional mysteries. --
George Easter, editor of Deadly Pleasures A New
York Times bestseller - Soon to be a major motion picture from Steven
Spielberg at Amblin Entertainment “Witty,
endearing and greatly entertaining.” —Wall Street Journal This book was on last year's ballot but
didn't make it onto the list. Since
then, both Joan and Wendy have read the book and recommend it for our
reading. Right. Now, you have another chance to read it! –Dick Awards
for this Book § Finalist
2021 Anthony Award for Best First Novel § Finalist
2021 Barry Award for Best Paperback Original § Finalist
2021 Edgar Award for Best Mystery § Finalist
2021 Lefty Award for Best Debut Mystery § Finalist
2021 Macavity Award for Best First Mystery § Finalist
2021 Thriller Award for Best Novel |