The Thursday Murder Club

[Clawdy]

Anyone else read it? Slightly too long, very well-written, bit convoluted, but great fun!

I have this on my autumn reading list and I am really looking forward to it!

I enjoyed it. Joyce reminded me so much of my Nan (in her writing style during the diary sections as much as anything) that it did make me nostalgic.

Yes, I read it last weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it!

It was quite entertaining. I did feel that the author was trying a bit too hard with the plot twists.

I really enjoyed it, but I have to say I enjoyed the characters much more than the actual mystery!

I enjoyed it v much, but it did feel like it was written as if it was the only chance the author would get - so he threw the kitchen sink at it!

Just finished. Quite enjoyed it but only laughed out loud at the Strictly Come Poisoning joke. Warm enough - totally see it translating to film but am surprised Spielberg has the film rights. It is so British, it's almost Midsomer murders meets Agatha Christie meets waiting for God.
I loved Knives Out but cannot see a Hollywood version of this, a BBC/US co-production maybe but if it goes Hollywood they'll go for a cast like the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and 'names' potentially as opposed to British character actors. I like Judi, Maggie etc and can see Helen Mirren as Lizzie because of her role in R.E.D but you want an older Fiona Shaw.
Casting octogenarians is going to be tricky unless going for stalwarts I guess. As I was reading, I saw them as younger. Penelope Wilton and Celia Imrie seem too nice/cosy for the Liz role. You want steely. Anne Reid maybe.
Lesley Manville did the audiobook and I saw her as Joyce, saw the British actor Dave Hill as Ron, Rupert Graves as Chris (too close to Sherlock and not Dad bod enough probably), Kim Bodnia as Bogdan (if too old then Andrew Brooke) and Letitia Wright as Donna.
Now watch Spielberg bring out Pierce Brosnan (I love him but no).

Art Malik is not a bad shout for Ibrahim even though he has pakistani rather than Egyptian ancestry. He would do a good job.

I get books for a member of a book club, she likes most genres, but her mum and her husband have both died recently (neither expected) and its been really hard to find books avoiding both these subjects, or books about falling in love or nice family time (anything that would make her sadder, really) and that she hasn't read. A review of this book suggested it dealt with older people issues, which I assumed was illness and death. What do you reckon, would this book be safe or not?

I have it reserved on my Library Borrowbox (audio book). Unfortunately, it is not due until Feb 2021!!

@Blufandango

I get books for a member of a book club, she likes most genres, but her mum and her husband have both died recently (neither expected) and its been really hard to find books avoiding both these subjects, or books about falling in love or nice family time (anything that would make her sadder, really) and that she hasn't read. A review of this book suggested it dealt with older people issues, which I assumed was illness and death. What do you reckon, would this book be safe or not?

There is quite a theme of sadness and grief at the death of a partner Blu - oddly the murders are quite light-heartedly dealt with in comparison.

@Hazelmazel thank you, I was worried that would be the case and I am pleased I didn't buy it. It is very hard to find books at the minute! Gruesome murders seem, strangely, to be the safest option!

blu
there's a grieving widower Bernard who sits on him and his wife's bench all the time. It does not end happily.
there's a grieving widow Joyce who doesn't want to talk about her dead husband. She might have a chance of happiness.
there are two characters who are mourning the living - one in a coma, one who has dementia. One does not end happily.
there's a grieving daughter but we don't hear from her.
It is a very twee, warm, cosy easy read - almost lowest common denominator/reads like a screenplay/famous five look at murder.
Not suitable for the newly bereaved though given how one deals with their grief.

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

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/

I can imagine it as a cosy TV drama, with a nice older cast - I'm thinking Bill Nighy, Alison Steadman, Maureen Lipman........

@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.

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.

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

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!

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

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

My 12 year old devours Rosamund Pilcher books 😁

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).

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