The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Vol #24
Dear Reader,
It is my favorite time of the year. Full of holiday excitement, time with loved ones, top food and end of year journaling!
The past three years I have been setting some time aside in December to look back at the year gone by, reflect and learn from what went well (and what didn’t). I also look ahead dreaming up what I’d love for the next year to be and set intentions for any shifts I want to make in my life. It’s something that’s been working nicely for me.
I recommend this free template in case you’re into this stuff. I read some of the dreams I had written last year and was pleasantly surprised that a lot of it did work out. Even though many of my wishes had felt quite impossible at the time I wrote them down. It’s given me the courage to be even bolder in my imagination this year.
Warmly,
Tvisha
About the Author:
Richard Thomas Osman (born 28 November 1970) is an English author, television presenter, producer, novelist, and comedian. He lives in London with his wife Ingrid and Liesl the cat.
About the Book (via Goodreads):
In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet up once a week to investigate unsolved murders. But when a brutal killing takes place on their very doorstep, the Thursday Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron might be pushing eighty but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves.
Can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer before it's too late?
Memorable Quotes:
After a certain age, you can pretty much do whatever takes your fancy. No one tells you off, except for your doctors and your children.
I would never have therapy, because who wants to unravel all that knitting? Not worth the risk, thank you.
I asked Elizabeth what favour Joanna owed us and she said the universal guilt of a child who doesn’t see their mum often enough.
You always know when it’s your first time, don’t you? But you rarely know when it’s your final time.
Also, it was a well known fact that there were no calories in home-made cakes.
The last newsletter said she’s coming to give a talk about tablets and that caused some confusion, so they had to print an explanation this week.
At least I have discovered that online dating is not for me. You can have too much choice in this world. And when everyone has too much choice, it is also much harder to get chosen. And we all want to be chosen.
Questions that arose inspired from here and here:
Were you in it more for the cast of characters…or for the murder?
Though the book follows the four friends—Joyce, Elizabeth, Ibrahim, and Ron— solving the murder, the only first-person POV is Joyce’s via her diary. Why do you think the author chose to show her perspective in such a way. What did you think of her diary entries? What, if anything, did they add to the story?
Did the book make you laugh? What did you find funny?
Society often writes off the abilities of the elderly—assuming both body and mind are deteriorating. At the heart of The Thursday Murder Club is a lesson to never to underestimate this population. What did that evoke in you?
One of the recurring themes is the gray area between the law and each character’s moral code. Do you think Penny’s husband, John, did the right thing? How about Penny?
Tony Curran’s murder set the action in motion. But his wasn’t the only murder and there were certainly plenty of other crimes and tragedies committed throughout the storyline of the book. What surprised, interested or confused you the most about the various murders and crimes?
If you had to solve a murder, which three people you know—could be friends, family—would you choose to help you solve it?
Discussion Highlights
The story centers old people in a fun and unique way that’s very rare to find.
Many were in it for the characters rather than the murder mystery
Joyce diaries were very fun to read though someone said “Joyce didn’t have a KPI” - but she kept everyone fed and in her way made things happen.
The retirement home sounded so dynamic and inspiring - is it realistic?
We felt it could be nice to live in such a place when we are old.
“There was an I don’t give a f**k vibe”
Westerner old people sounded more independent than we have seen in India
Reflecting on our grandmothers-Women of a generation didn’t work in offices so once they got old or lost their partner it became a more solitary, isolated life.
We maybe have painted a picture in our heads about them being very ideal in their younger lives but they have hidden parts of themselves?
Ideas of justice and kindness reflected in the book
We will be in touch soon with our picks for next year.
2023, that’s a wrap!
Love,
Miti and Tvisha