Martha G
Written on Mar 2, 2021
THE FIRST NOVEL IN THE RECORD-BREAKING, MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING THURSDAY MURDER CLUB SERIES.
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'Smart, compassionate, warm, moving and so VERY funny' Marian Keyes
'So smart and funny. Deplorably good' Ian Rankin
'Thrilling, moving, laugh-out-loud funny' Mark Billingham
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 Times Crime Book of the Month
Guardian Best Crime and Thrillers
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'A warm, wise and witty warning never to underestimate the elderly' Val McDermid
'I completely fell in love with it' Shari Lapena
'This is properly brilliant. The pages fly and I can't stop smiling' Steve Cavanagh
'Steeped in Agatha Christie joy' Araminta Hall
'Pure escapism' Guardian
'As gripping as it is funny' Evening Standard
'An exciting new talent in crime fiction' Daily Mail
'A witty and poignant tale' Daily Telegraph
'Funny and original' Sun
Richard Osman, Sunday Times bestseller, March 2024
The Bullet that Missed broke the record for the fastest-selling adult fiction hardback ever, September 2022
- ISBN10 0241988276
- ISBN13 9780241988275
- Publish Date 3 September 2020
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Penguin Books Ltd
- Format eBook (EPUB)
- Pages 400
- Language English
Reviews
kimbacaffeinate
Written on Oct 22, 2020
Narrated by Lesley Manville, whose lyrical voice pulled me in from the opening scenes. The story begins when we meet newcomer and former nurse Joyce. She receives an invitation to join the Murder Club from retired DCI Elizabeth. Elizabeth provides the cold cases from her time in the field. It was fascinating seeing them go over files, hunt down leads, and call in favors.
From time to time, the group invite speakers to talk to the group from forensic scientist to the local police department. This is how they come to know PC Donna De Freitas, who is there to talk about scammers, locked windows and emails. She is taken by surprise when the group wants to talk about actual cases.
I loved the humor and diverse dynamics of the club. As we got to know them, the community and surrounds I began to feel like one of the group. Things heat up when the owner of their retirement development is found dead in his home with an old photo pinned to his chest.
This story was charming, and while it had a cozy vibe with its amateur sleuths and idyllic setting, things became more serious in tone when another murder occurs and they find human remains.
I must admit I became caught up in their lives and the investigation. PC Donna I think was taken aback by their investigative skills. Elizabeth was rather clever. The principal characters were quirky, unique and appealing.
Lesley Manville’s narration was delightful. I will continue this series on audio. Her voice and pacing enhanced an already charming tale, giving the characters’ voices that suited their personalities and amplifying the atmospheric and suspenseful undertones. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer