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 think the first one was the worst and I was going to give up. The others are actually enjoyable and I love the characters.

I forced my way through the first one, but I found it twee and boring. Stock characters, thinly drawn.

People love them though, he’s sold millions.

They’re just a bit boring, basic, and a bit childish really IMO. I’m just not interested in.

Yes agreed!

Only read the first murder club one. Far too many characters for this peri-menopausal brain to keep track of.

You can really write anything if you have a public profile, as pointed out already. I picked up a book by An Influencer in the charity shop, bit of fluffy fun. She quite literally describes experiences as if you were an alien, just landed on planet Earth. For example… At the spa, they give you paper pants. You put them on this way around. No need to worry about your front bottom showing now! It’s unreadable. But she’s very popular!

I have read a few of them and for me, the plots were just too unrealistic.

Something about him gives me the heebyjeebies so I've never bothered with his books.

I only read the first one: I didn’t hate it and have no ill will towards Richard Osman. But I can’t help feeling that a book of such uneven quality would not have sold remotely as many copies if it were by an unknown author, and that does annoy me.

I enjoyed the first one, I warmed to the characters and found some parts amusing and well observed; a fun, light read.
Subsequent ones I found the characters had become flat and caricatured, and the plots very flimsy and incredulous even for a light hearted novel.
The film finally killed off any enjoyment of the novels for me - absolutely dreadful.

I was listening to The Rest Is Entertainment a few weeks ago, Richard Osman was quite offended at the characterisation of his books as 'cosy murder'

Well I really enjoy them. They make me laugh and cry!

It’s quite hilarious, his delusions

And Marina doesn’t help with her fawning over the books as though they were literary masterpieces 😄

I asked for the first one as a Christmas present and was really disappointed. Just really boring. Only read a few pages.

I enjoy them as a nice easy read amongst the longer books I read. They're not complicated. I'm reading the latest one now.

I read one of Rev Richard Coles books, and that was dire. Thankfully it was a short book so i didn't have to put up with it for long.

He's sold an awful lot of books for someone so many people dislike.

They're easy going easy reading, the light entertainment of books. It's snobbery.

I think he's thoroughly unpleasant. I saw a TV recording of a panel show he did, and he was nasty and impatient with the other panelists and crew, off camera.

I quite like the Thursday murder club ones

However I’m currently struggling my way through We Chase Shadows. It has too many characters and the budget of the characters seems a bit ridiculous and unbelievable. More annoying is that because it was a new release, I paid £12.99 on kindle for this when I don’t really like it

@HauntingBillCrouse I love Richard Cole’s books. But they do appeal to the church geek in me.

??? They are brilliant reads on planes and when travelling. Seem easy to put down, pick up and go on. Same for poolside. They are up there for go to holiday reading for me😌.

Only if you find them engaging, though, which is a very subjective thing. If a book bores you, it's a chore to read it and unless you are one of those people who holds themselves to finishing any book they start reading, or to an obligation to read it for a book club or whatever, you put it down and you don't pick it up again.

I was soooo ready to love them - I found the writing clunky. I tried two - reading hard copies and one on audible - didn’t like any of them. I read ALOT. I actually think they weren’t well written - the language doesn’t flow and they lack atmosphere. Really really clunky. Love him as a person though!

Completely implausible, too many characters, lightweight yet complicated.

I preferred the first one of his second series. Still fairly lightweight and implausible but better and the lead characters are more likeable.

Like any other book some people like them and some don't.
I do especially the Thursday murder club ones and many more people must too because they sell well.
I didn't enjoy the film though because the characters were all wrong and nothing like I'd imagined

Read the first one and was completely underwhelmed. What I really dislike though is celebrities getting book deals because of their name. Not just him, Anton du Beke, Shirley Ballas, I could name a hundred. Regardless of whether they can actually write - in most cases I’ve read they can’t- and in ROs case they’ve made a film! Really? There are thousands of books out there that are worthy of that (Lessons in Chemistry for example) but not a recognised ‘name’ .