Richard Osman's book has been a British best-seller but has also found its way to Spain June saw the Tyneside Book Club tackle the publishing phenomenon that is Richard Osman's debut novel.
The Thursday Murder Club has topped the bestseller lists, a sequel has just been published, and a film is on its way, but did club members enjoy what they read?
The answer was largely, yes. Members enjoyed the style, content and characters created by Osman, and found it offered a lot of pleasures.
There was a cosiness to it, and the feeling of a good beach read. There was enough intrigue to keep members turning the pages, and characters you could engage with and root for. Members particularly appreciated the focus on older people, and the fact they were given agency, personalities and skills.
There was some discussion about Osman's decision to base it around a well-heeled set of older people in what seemed to be the ultimate in retirement villages, but it clearly served the purpose of the narrative.
Most agreed that Osman was in control of his material, and that although this wasn't Booker-winning, he had a readable, crisp style. Members appreciated and enjoyed it when his wit and humour shone through, and it was a crucial part of the appeal.
Although there was some exploration of old age as a theme - mortality and relationships in particular - members agreed this was not a book aiming for a huge amount of depth, but equally it did not gloss over the loneliness that can come with age.
Some members did begin to find the plot a little convoluted by the end and felt they were not overinvested in the outcome. Some felt the journey was perhaps more satisfying than the destination.
Overall, though people felt the book also came to a satisfactory conclusion that made sense, even if there were multiple twists and red herrings. There was though a need to suspend disbelief at times.
There was some dissent from a member who felt this was a book that would have barely been noticed had it not had Osman's name attached to it. For them the novel just passed in one ear and out of the other, with little to engage him. They felt it was a little calculated.
But for the large part, even members who felt this was not a book they would have usually read, found something to appreciate in The Thursday Murder Club, and some at least were looking forward to it becoming a series.
The Thursday Murder Club has topped the bestseller lists, a sequel has just been published, and a film is on its way, but did club members enjoy what they read?
The answer was largely, yes. Members enjoyed the style, content and characters created by Osman, and found it offered a lot of pleasures.
There was a cosiness to it, and the feeling of a good beach read. There was enough intrigue to keep members turning the pages, and characters you could engage with and root for. Members particularly appreciated the focus on older people, and the fact they were given agency, personalities and skills.
There was some discussion about Osman's decision to base it around a well-heeled set of older people in what seemed to be the ultimate in retirement villages, but it clearly served the purpose of the narrative.
Most agreed that Osman was in control of his material, and that although this wasn't Booker-winning, he had a readable, crisp style. Members appreciated and enjoyed it when his wit and humour shone through, and it was a crucial part of the appeal.
Although there was some exploration of old age as a theme - mortality and relationships in particular - members agreed this was not a book aiming for a huge amount of depth, but equally it did not gloss over the loneliness that can come with age.
Some members did begin to find the plot a little convoluted by the end and felt they were not overinvested in the outcome. Some felt the journey was perhaps more satisfying than the destination.
Overall, though people felt the book also came to a satisfactory conclusion that made sense, even if there were multiple twists and red herrings. There was though a need to suspend disbelief at times.
There was some dissent from a member who felt this was a book that would have barely been noticed had it not had Osman's name attached to it. For them the novel just passed in one ear and out of the other, with little to engage him. They felt it was a little calculated.
But for the large part, even members who felt this was not a book they would have usually read, found something to appreciate in The Thursday Murder Club, and some at least were looking forward to it becoming a series.
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