REVIEWS

Diana Harvey

This is a modern murder mystery that rushes along at breakneck speed with lots of characters. It is a lightweight book, a feel-good book and I felt totally happy after reading it. Four retired friends book a weekly room for their ‘Thursday Murder Club’ when they set out to solve unsolved murders. Like Enid Blyton’s Famous Five, there is a strong female, a pretty female, a grumpy male, a practical male and a bouncy dog. This is set in a retirement village which is such fun that it truly makes me want to live in one! The four make friends wherever they go and the new friends have amazing talents. The ending of this book points quite clearly to a sequel to finish the story.

Sara Johnston

The book arrived as a surprise present in mid-December and I was able to read it as I relaxed over the Christmas break. Although I am an avid reader, I have not read any of Richard Osman’s books before so was not familiar with the characters, however I soon worked out who everyone was. The story was very entertaining and there seemed to be a number of side plots going on with different characters investigating seemingly unconnected areas. At one point the storyline was rather confusing but this only made the plot and investigation more intriguing and made me want to keep reading to find out what had happened. All the threads came together in the end to reveal who was behind the fraud and murders. There was always a doubt in my mind about if Bethany Waites was dead or not, however I still never managed to guess what had happened before it was revealed. A very enjoyable, easy to read book and I now intend to read the other books in the series.

Chris Joyce

The Thursday Murder Club's investigation leads them to many secrets and conspiracies, including some that stretch back to Elizabeth’s days as an MI6 spy. Her personal worries are revealed when the group discovers she has been receiving mysterious texts that order her to kill an aging KGB agent. Elizabeth is torn between loyalty to her friends and protecting her own safety, although she ultimately decides to risk her own life to save Joyce’s. Meanwhile, the case takes them to many dangerous places; prisons, TV studios, and even a plot to trap a villain. At the same time, the group finds plenty of moments to share humour and even romance. As they finally close in on the truth of Bethany's disappearance, they realise they've never been closer as a team, each relying on the other's skills to bring justice to Bethany and her family. Osman paints a compelling portrait of friendship and justice in The Bullet That Missed, a thrilling ride that will keep crime fiction and cozy mystery fans guessing until the very end.

Wendy Gibbons

The Bullet That Missed is Richard Osman’s 3rd book in the Thursday Murder Club series. It continues to follow the residents at the retirement community of Coopers Chase who bonded together to form The Thursday Murder Club. Like many of Richard Osman’s readers I have read the first two books in this series but The Bullet That Missed can be read and enjoyed in isolation. It sees the intrepid senior citizens investigate another cold case which looks suspiciously like a murder. Their investigations take us into the world of television, which Richard knows so well and writes about with great humour, and the world of spies and the KGB! This book has many twists and turns and readers will find it hard to put down. However, I like Richard’s style of organising his tales in short chapters. As a night-time reader I found myself looking ahead and thinking, “Yes, I’ve time for one more Chapter!” Enjoy this book; enjoy the humour and join me in counting down the days to The Thursday Murder Club book 4 in the autumn.

Lesley Brunink

A delightful read very reminiscent of a farce from the 60’s. The four characters from the Thursday Murder Club embark on business of solving a cold murder case in a relaxed, everyday occurrent, manner. The four enlist the help of two of the local police force, a television news anchor-man, and a makeup artist to solve the riddle of how someone drives their car off a cliff and vanishes. They also arrange to visit people in prison to further their investigations. They mix with television personalities and criminals with equal aplomb. Even being the victims of a kidnap and death threats do not put them off their aim the solve the murder of Bethany Waites, a reporter who disappeared after following a trail of fraud and overseas accounts. Intertwined with their crime solving activities are tales of blossoming romance, the tenderness of looking after someone with dementia, and the importance of friendship. Whilst this story stands up independently I am sure it was an advantage to have met the characters in Richard’s two previous books to appreciate the personalities of each character. To me, as an avid Famous Five fan as a child this was an equally enjoyable adult version.

Roy Haley

This is the third of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series and you are drawn into the world of the murder club straight away. Which character should you relate to? Who is the member who will solve this latest mystery? There are many questions to be answered and this well written book keeps you guessing until the final pages. As you turn the pages it makes you want to become a member of the Thursday murder club and join them in their quest to solve another mysterious murder. The clues are waiting within the book including spies and agents aplenty. This murder must be solved but it isn’t easy for the friends. There is romance this time and to quote the book “love doesn’t blossom among lies” so, who is lying? Mysteries await with every chapter and the pleasure of reading this book transports you into the lives of the members of the Thursday murder club. A thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable read which must make it the must-read mystery of 2022/2023. You just hope that these retired friends have many more murder to solve in the future.

Jenny Miah

The book is the third in Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series but the first one I have read. I read the first few pages and then Christmas happened and when I returned to the story I struggled to remember each of the characters but once I got into the storylines again I could see that the author had a lot of fun writing humour and dry wit. Cooper’s Chase is a retirement community and home to an eclectic mix of amateur sleuths who form the Thursday Murder Club. This was a reopened cold case but lots of meandering into personal struggles and idiosyncrasies. Mundane middle-class conversations intermingle with crime solving and the pace makes it an enjoyable read. I will go back and read The Thursday Murder Club and The Man Who Died Twice just to appreciate the references to the earlier books and see how the characters have developed. A big bonus was I realised how good it is to sit and get immersed in a book on wet windy days.

Janice Lythgo-Smith

What a treat to receive this, the third of Richard Osman’s tales of Geriatric sleuths. The Thursday Murder club members go from strength to strength in this funny lively plot that twists and turns throughout, with an amazing eclectic group of helpers along the way. The mix of characters and their interaction is marvellous to follow, page by page, with Richard Osman’s superb wit and charm showing itself superbly, with true pathos in relation to Elizabeth's dementia ridden husband and the wonderful Bogdan. It was great to see some Sussex references in print, particularly our local town, Polegate. The big twist in the plot was a surprise and a great way to finish this third instalment from this lively bunch of pensioners and their friends. A group you are happy to invest the time with. Chris Botting What a surprise to receive the book! I had read the first one so was familiar with the characters... older people but nonetheless quite a bunch. The residents of Coopers Close are not your average older person but are very endearing. The plot goes from a prison drama shooting to travelling around the country trying to find clues - the intrepid four are busy people. The police don’t seem able to find the murderer and so it goes on at quite a fast pace with the intrepid four discussing everything at their coffee mornings. Not to be taken too seriously but a good light read. The villain is finally caught and what a surprise that is. Richard must base his characters on older people who like a pint, shop at Waitrose and live in Churchill apartments, as he makes them quite believable and fun.

Sarah Solts

This is certainly not one to be missed! It builds on the previous stories in the collection and is definitely a hit. The characters are all well adversed with each other and the story grips from the first page. The guilty party was a surprise at the end, but well executed. Looking forward to no. 4!

Carol Trower

The Bullet that Missed is the third book in the Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman. I had been meaning to read the stories since the first one came out but never quite got round to it, so I was delighted to receive this one from Viking Book Club. Although the story can be read as a stand-alone book, I think I would have got more from it if I'd read the other two first. The story is littered with references to things that have happened in the previous books which are not explained, and the characters are not fully described in the book which I assumed was because the reader is expected to have already read the first two. The story follows a group of elderly residents in a supported living village who meet every Thursday to discuss unsolved murder cases. There are additional characters including a Russian KGB agent, a TV presenter and a "Viking" in this story. There is some humour - I actually laughed out loud at a couple of bits. I enjoyed the book so much that I am now about to embark on the first book in the series.

Meg Hardy

Can one be too prolific? And is being too prolific damaging to the end result. Readers of The Bullet that Missed might agree, but I doubt it, since Osman’s Thursday Murder Club books are record breaking best sellers. I seem to be almost alone in not being able to see what the rest of the world and a plethora of other authors named on the cover, see. Osman’s main characters are not three dimensional. There is no flesh on their old bones. I cannot connect to them... and I’m old too. I am not charmed by their idiosyncrasies. Recurring characters Chris Hudson and Donna De Freitas bring welcome humour to the plot, but not enough for me. His attempts at pathos fare better. I felt he was at his best when dealing with the heartbreak of Stephen’s developing dementia. This break from him consistently trying to be amusing was well developed and compassionate. He admits he is “no James Joyce and just wants to entertain.” In my eyes he is 50% correct with this statement. I certainly will not be reading any more of what I consider to be Richard Osman’s self-indulgence.