Richard Osman, creator of the TV quiz show Pointless, has turned his hand to crime fiction with his debut novel, The Thursday Murder Club. The book has become the fastest-selling adult crime debut since records began, following a 10-way publishing auction. The novel draws on Osman's love of classic English crime fiction, offering an amiable if undemanding cosy caper.
The story is set in Cooper's Chase, an exclusive retirement village in the Kentish weald, inspired by a visit Osman made to an affluent retirement community. The village boasts a full range of recreational and medical facilities, including a 'contemporary upscale restaurant'. Residents must be over 65 to move in, and the Waitrose delivery vans 'clink with wine and repeat prescriptions'.
Every Thursday, a group of amateur sleuths meets in the jigsaw room to investigate unsolved murder cases that the Kent police have failed to prosecute. When the developer of Cooper's Chase, a brash vulgarian who owns a red grand piano, is killed by a lethal injection during a scuffle, the Thursday Murder Club has a real-life homicide to solve.
Osman's plotting is described as both deft and daft, with distinctly drawn characters. Elizabeth, the prime mover, is a former teacher who terrifies then inspires. Her sidekicks include militant 'Red' Ron Ritchie, a West Ham fan with a neck tattoo, and former nurse Joyce, who goes unnoticed but notices everything. Only the Egyptian psychiatrist Ibrahim feels like a cipher, included for diversity. Loose ends suggest the Thursday Murder Club is set to continue.
