Look who has fallen behind in her reviews again. Big surprise, right? But I’ve been reading so much, and such great books that I can’t really complain. This was the last book I read in January, and it just brought sunshine into my life.
I did not pick this book up on purpose. I’d seen it in Waterstones all throughout last year, and it never really caught my attention. But I was browsing my library for immediately available audiobooks, and I recognized that one and thought “why not?”. So I borrowed it and proceeded to fall in love with this ragtag group of pensioners who are way too nosy for their own good.
Let me provide some context: in 2016 I read a book called “The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old” with my bookclub. That one is also a book about a ragtag group of pensioners having adventures from their nursing home, and I hated it. It got a 2-star rating because I was feeling generous. So I wasn’t keen on trying to go through it again.
The Thursday Murder Club on the other hand, was a breath of fresh air. First of all, I have to applaud Lesley Manville – the narrator. She sounds exactly like I imagine Joyce would, and brought so much to the story.
This book for me was just quintessentially British, so for me it was almost nostalgic. I’ve been living in the UK for almost 6 years now and everything about The Thursday Murder Club screams ENGLAND: the phrasings, the references, the characters, pretty much everything. And knowing that I will be leaving the UK in less than 2 months, I am already missing this place.
But I just noticed I haven’t said anything about the story.
The Thursday Murder Club focuses on a group of 4 pensioners who live in a retirement community. They meet on Thursdays to go over cold murder cases that one of its previous members smuggled from her job as a cop, just to apply their reasoning and discover what really happened.
Until an actual murder takes place, and they all agree it’s their duty to investigate and find out what really happened. And maybe they might even give the police some help if they can get some information in return.
This book is ingenious – the characters and interesting and unique and absolutely shameless about manipulating the universe around them just because they’re old in a way that is believable and hilarious. The mystery in engaging, and although it is not the true essence of the book, it pulls the plot along keeping things fresh and interesting.
I can’t even count how many times this made me laugh out loud – and I can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel (I’m in the queue to get it from the library in April and I’m counting the days).
In short, everyone should read this book ♥