The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman follows four residents of Coopers Chase retirement home as they form a club to investigate a series of murders happening in their community. Narrated through a blend of Joyce's diary entries and third-person perspectives, the group collaborates with local police to solve the crimes, uncovering complex secrets and relationships along the way. The novel includes discussions of dementia and suicide.

Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club is highly praised for its charming characters, clever plotting, and witty dialogue. Set in a quiet retirement village, the novel's unique premise and engaging mystery captivate readers. However, some critique the pacing as uneven and the multitude of characters as occasionally confusing. Overall, it remains a beloved cozy mystery.

Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with witty, endearing characters will love Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club. Fans of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple series and Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency will appreciate this clever, humorous tale set in a charming British retirement village.

Humorous / Mysterious / Contemplative / Bittersweet / Heartwarming

- The Thursday Murder Club is Richard Osman's debut novel, and it quickly became a bestseller, capturing the top spot on multiple major charts including The Sunday Times and The New York Times.
- The novel is set in a peaceful English retirement village and was inspired by Richard Osman's own visits to similar villages while filming a television program.
- It was shortlisted for the British Book Awards' "Crime and Thriller Book of the Year," showcasing its significant impact and popularity within the genre.

**Joyce Meadowcraft**  
Joyce is the character closest to the main protagonist, providing a first-person perspective through her diary entries. She is an elderly widowed woman over 65 who joins The Thursday Murder Club and helps solve murder cases, seeking a closer relationship with her daughter, Joanna.

**Elizabeth Best**  
Elizabeth is a secondary protagonist, often in third-person perspective, and serves as the leader of The Thursday Murder Club. She has many connections and uses them to assist with investigations. She continues the group after her friend Penny Gray becomes ill.

**Donna De Freitas**  
Donna is a police officer determined to prove herself. She previously worked in a high-crime city and is now assisting in the investigation of a murder at Coopers Chase with Chris Hudson.

**Ron Ritchie**  
Ron is a strong-willed member of The Thursday Murder Club, known for his arguments at meetings about the local cemetery. He is in good shape for his age and has a son, Jason.

**Ibrahim Arif**  
Ibrahim is a former psychologist and a member of The Thursday Murder Club. He joined the group due to his expertise in psychology, following its creation by Elizabeth and Penny Gray.

**Ian Ventham**  
Ian is the majority owner of Coopers Chase and serves as one of the main antagonists. He is driven by money and plans to demolish a cemetery, leading to conflicts with several characters.

**Tony Curran**  
Tony is the first murder victim in the story, an ex-business partner of Ian Ventham. His murder becomes the catalyst for the investigation undertaken by The Thursday Murder Club and the police.

**Bogdan Jankowski**  
Bogdan is a contractor brought in to work on projects at Coopers Chase following Tony's death. He becomes involved in the murder cases at Coopers Chase.

**Father Matthew Mackie**  
Matthew Mackie is introduced as a priest arguing for the preservation of a local cemetery. His backstory is complex, with twists regarding his past and motivations.

**Jason Ritchie**  
Jason is Ron Ritchie’s son and a former boxing champion. He gets involved in the murder case due to past connections with the victim, Tony Curran.

**Karen Playfair**  
Karen is trying to resist Ian Ventham’s attempts to coerce her into convincing her father to sell land. She remains loyal to her father, Gordon Playfair, rather than caving to financial incentives.

**Chris Hudson**  
Chris is the lead investigator on the Tony Curran case. He works alongside Donna and gradually comes to trust The Thursday Murder Club as they assist in the investigation.

**Penny Gray**  
Penny is a former detective and co-founder of The Thursday Murder Club, who becomes incapacitated due to illness. She remains an influential presence in the story through her history with the group.

**John Gray**  
John is Penny's husband who spends much of his time by her side at the retirement home. He is deeply affected by his wife’s condition and associated developments in the murder investigations.

**Bernard Cottle**  
Bernard is Joyce's potential love interest, described as a quiet man who visits the cemetery regularly. His story intersects with Joyce as they become closer over time in *The Thursday Murder Club*.

Richard Osman

Adult

Novel

Thursday Murder Club

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Before You Read

Explore The Thursday Murder Club reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

Before You Read The Thursday Murder Club | SuperSummary

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore The Thursday Murder Club and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

The Thursday Murder Club Summary and Study Guide

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Chapters 1-10

The Thursday Murder Club Part 1, Chapters 1-10 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 11-20

The Thursday Murder Club Part 1, Chapters 11-20 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 21-30

The Thursday Murder Club Part 1, Chapters 21-30 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 31-40

The Thursday Murder Club Part 1, Chapters 31-40 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 41-53

The Thursday Murder Club Part 1, Chapters 41-53 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 54-63

The Thursday Murder Club Part 2, Chapters 54-63 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 64-73

The Thursday Murder Club Part 2, Chapters 64-73 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 74-83

The Thursday Murder Club Part 2, Chapters 74-83 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 84-93

The Thursday Murder Club Part 2, Chapters 84-93 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 94-103

The Thursday Murder Club Part 2, Chapters 94-103 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 104-115

The Thursday Murder Club Part 2, Chapters 104-115 Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

The Thursday Murder Club Character Analysis

theme

Themes

The Thursday Murder Club Themes

Symbols & Motifs

The Thursday Murder Club Symbols & Motifs

quote

citation

Important Quotes

The Thursday Murder Club Important Quotes

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

The Thursday Murder Club Essay Topics

Book Club Questions

The Thursday Murder Club Book Club Questions

The Thursday Murder Club

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read The Thursday Murder Club?

Reading Age

Book Details