Why do people dislike Richard Osman books?

[poppymango]

I've read a couple of the Thursday Murder Club books, and I did enjoy them, though I do think they are slightly overrated. Certainly not the worst novel I've ever read, though (that honour goes to Dawn O'Porter!)

I've seen a lot of people saying that his books are just awful, and I'm wondering why. I wouldn't call myself a prolific reader and I'm not educated beyond secondary school level so I thought perhaps I'm missing something other people can see... something in the structure, character, writing style, plot? I'm really curious to know what it is that bothers people so much. I thought they were fun but harmless - and sometimes that's what you want in a book - but would love a perspective on this from someone who knows more about literature than I do.

I tried reading the first one. I just didn’t get the hook and stopped after a couple of chapters. The characters seemed 2D. The writing was a bit frothy. It was all fine I guess - just not my style. I like something a bit grittier, more psychological, a bit more involved or character driven.

I didn’t hate it. Just couldn’t get into it.

Yes, I think frothy is very fair. It is definitely in the "cozy murder" category.

I didn't know people didn't like them, hasn't he sold a gajizzilion copies or something?
(I've not read them, was planning on nicking my mums at some point)

Too vanilla for me

I love cozy murder, but as a PP said I just couldn't get into it at all. Dull, uninteresting characters that all seemed fake.

I tried and I read a lot. Just couldn’t get on with them. Just didn’t care about the characters.

They are fine of their genre. I’ve read a couple, not really my taste but my mum has read them all

The first one was okay, the rest were meh - I gave up halfway through the third and couldn’t tell you what they were about now 😂

I've read a couple of them. I'd say that they're pretty lightweight and easy to read, but enjoyable nonetheless. The sort of thing you might read on holiday.

Definitely in the 'cosy crime' genre, and if that's not what you like, well you won't much enjoy the style.

I enjoyed the first one more than the others, although I think there is a new one just released and I've not read that.

I’ve tried to read them three or four times. I just can’t get into them

Why does anyone not like anything? Because reading a book takes more effort than it used to with my phone-addled concentration span, and reading Osman gave me nothing that I cared about.

Tried the first one. Couldn’t get through the first chapter. He also unnerves me, so that may have something to do with it.

People dislike all kinds of novels. There are people think Virginia Woolf was a bit meh, just as there are people who think Dan Brown is far superior to Jean Rhys.

They're holiday reading. I enjoyed them but I wouldn't say they were deep or memorable.

The are bestsellers! I do t mind them but not a fan of his new series

Caricatures, not actual characters. Quite trite.

I quite enjoy reading them - or more likely, listening to the audio book. The last Thursday Murder Club I read (not the latest; I think it was number 4) hit quite hard in some places and was not always cosy!

Our library says they are massively popular and they go for ages on the best seller lists, so clearly lots of people don’t think they are awful

People do like them, they’re very successful.

I enjoyed the first one, but that was enough. Started a few subsequent ones but just didn’t get into them so I think I’d just done my dash with that world.

I really like Richard Osman and I think he comes across as a decent guy. Clever too. I don’t like cosy crime and I don’t like a lot of commercial literature so I won’t read them. I did try to watch the film but had to switch it off it was so bad despite a good cast. I know he’s popular though.

I tried the first one, but I didn't like the substance or the style.

I've enjoyed the Rob Rinder books, they have some meat on the bones. Not twee or cosy, but easy to read and engaging.

Anything very popular gets kickback, doesn't it?

I tried it and couldn't get into it at first, came back to it a few months later and stuck with it. The characters grow on you and some of the writing - the progressing dementia of one character, for example - is beautifully handled.

Clearly, I am a weirdo. I like them. I like the We solve murders/we chase shadows books too.

They’re polarising because they’re sort of adult Enid Blyton.

If what you want is a gentle, untaxing whodunnit, a Sunday teatime farce set in a cosy fantasy world of ‘Britishness’ populated by 2D characters, they’re great. Genuinely.

But it’s hardly surprising they’re not every reader’s cup of tea.

'Dislike' is too strong a word, but I picked up a copy of The Thursday Murder Club in a charity shop; couldn't get into it, it was dull, so I haven't bothered with any more of his stuff.

I enjoy 'House of Games' on TV though.