The Thursday Murder Club

I really enjoyed it - particularly as Standrewsschool said, once I'd got into it. I thought it was light, witty, typical British quirkiness and thoroughly character driven.

The characters - even the minor ones - were really well rounded and real! And the plot twists and turns were great.

My dh was given this as part of Christmas present. I am about to start it as he is reading something else.. Mumsnet reviews, in my opinion.are the best.

I really enjoyed it in a “comforting” way. I liked the characters and found the whole thing very pleasing but in a completely unbelievable way.

I can definitely see Art Malik as Ibrahim and Bill Nighy as John perhaps? Dennis Waterman as Ron?

Helen Mirren for Elizabeth and maybe Alison Steadman as Joyce?

Also didn't get the Matthew Makie thing. At one point I thought it said he'd never been a priest, but then turns out he actually was. Some of the plots really irritated me because they just don't happen like that. You can't just go and dig up a grave yard without Home office permission. Nor would a nun ever commit suicide in a church and definitely above the altar. It would be a huge sacrilege.
I fully admit I'm a pedant!

Just listened to this on audible. I couldn't make head nor tail if it. So many characters and so many storylines. It's going to date terribly as there is so much product placement in it.

Reading it now and really enjoying it

Haven’t been able to get into a book for a while it’s easy reading

No I don’t think John is Peter Gray. It is just a sub plot within the main plot. There are so many of these all over the book.
I now know who killed Curran but confused again about who killed Ian and why

Thanks @Pixiepia. I got that much but I got the impression that we were supposed to know who Peter was rather than this being a totally new plot twist. To confuse things my mum has just said Peter is John Gray (Penny's husband) - is that really right or is she even more confused than me, bless her ?????

Lesson to self, don't read when indulging in continual Xmas top ups!

Peter Merser is the boyfriend who killed a girl ( forget her name) and who did not get any justice as he ran away and got away with the murder. Apparently Penny found him and killed him as she wanted justice for the poor murdered girl. She told her husband John who then was desperate to keep it a secret in order to protect Penny.

I've just finished this. Enjoyed it but was confused by the part at the end when Elizabeth confronts John and Peggy (in the coma) about Peter Mercer. Are we meant to understand who he was (had we met him?) and the significance of him having a bullet wound in his leg? I also realised in thinking about this I had no idea who killed Ian🤭

It's driving me a bit crazy, please help!

Book very convulated. Please tell me who killed who. Are you allowed to give spoilers on this thread

It didn't madly grab me but I read it over 4 nights and was nicely twisty. If it was really good it would have just taken 2 and stayed up to midnight. As a library book it was fine, if a bit twee!

i tried the audiobook but didn't find it engaging - gave up - I dont normally like whodunnits.

Just over a 100 pages in, this book is not grabbing me finding it rather trite, maybe because my book before was Troubled Blood which I loved, I've only skimmed this thread, even though I'm not loving it still don't want any spoilers. I'll soldier on, my husband keeps telling me it's good

I found the first half of the book hard going - too many characters, too much going on. If I hadn’t been reading it for a Bookclub, I may have given up.

However, mid book it seem to settle down and the story progressed well.

As others have said, the characters are the best bit of the plot, together with the wry observations of living in a community (eg. Mafia parking committee).

My 12 year old devours Rosamund Pilcher books 😁

Yes! I was given it would not have chosen it but actually did enjoy it gentle undemanding read

I haven't read this but 12 year old dd wants to. Is it ok for her do you think?

I'm reading and enjoying ... a gloriously warm look at life through the eye of 70s and 80s... like others, Im enjoying the characters and their approach to life more than the plot.... Not going to read the rest of this thread until I've finished the novel just in case any spoilers!

Characters and context were very engaging - plot was diabolical though!

I've just finished it and it was like putting on a nice cosy cardigan knitted by your Gran.

Very unchallenging and somewhat unbelievable with the connecting leaps and easiness of everything falling into place, but quite lovely to read and "snuggle" into.

@SequinsandStiIettos thank you for your suggestions, I'll have a look. I had never considered that reading books about a similar situation could be helpful for some people because I always read as a distractions. I'm really pleased you mentioned that.

It must be really hard for you blu - I have been in a book club myself and am trying to think of the cheeriest book we ever read! Probably early David Sedaris. There haven't been many - probably because debate/discussion gravitates towards the more serious.
I am not like your friend though - I have always turned to books where the characters or the author was going through the exact same. It often helped me process my own feelings. Here is a link if it helps:
mytbr.co/funny-book-club-books/

@SequinsandStiIettos thank you for taking time to reply, I'm really pleased I found this thread.