The Thursday Murder Club

The Thursday Murder Club
First edition
AuthorRichard Osman
LanguageEnglish
SeriesThursday Murder Club
GenreCrime
PublisherViking Press
Publication date
3 September 2020
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Pages400
ISBN978-0241425442
Followed byThe Man Who Died Twice 

The Thursday Murder Club is a 2020 murder mystery novel, the debut novel by British television presenter Richard Osman. It is the first installment in his "Thursday Murder Club" series. It was published on 3 September 2020 by Viking Press, a subsidiary of Penguin Random House, and also released in 2020 as an audiobook, read by Lesley Manville.[1]

Plot

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A group of pensioners (Elizabeth Best, Ron Ritchie, Joyce Meadowcroft and Ibrahim Arif)[2] set about solving the mystery of the murder of a property developer[3] in the luxurious Cooper's Chase retirement village near the fictitious village of Fairhaven in Kent.[2]

Background and publication

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Osman's inspiration for the book came from a visit he made to an upmarket retirement village.[2] He wrote the book over 18 months in secret.[3]

After a 10-way publishing auction,[2] Penguin Random House acquired the rights to The Thursday Murder Club and its sequel The Man Who Died Twice for a seven-figure sum[4] in 2019.[5] The book was published on 3 September 2020. It sold 45,000 copies in its first three days on sale[5] and became a Sunday Times number one bestseller.[6] As of 8 September, it had been sold in 16 countries.[5] In the week leading up to 19 December, it sold 134,514 copies, making it the first debut novel ever to be Christmas number one in the UK.[7]

Reception and sequels

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According to Book Marks, the book received "rave" reviews based on 16 critic reviews with 12 being "rave" and 4 being "positive" and 1 being "mixed".[8] In Books in the Media, a site that aggregates critic reviews of books, the book received a (4.00 out of 5) from the site which was based on 7 critic reviews.[9]

In The Times, Christina Hardyment said the book has an "ingenious plot".[10] The Guardian described it as the "fastest selling adult crime debut" in recorded history.[2] The audiobook, one of 10 nominees, received the Sounds of Crime Award at Crimefest in 2021.[11]

The sequels, The Man Who Died Twice, The Bullet That Missed, and The Last Devil to Die, were published in the Septembers of 2021, 2022, and 2023 respectively.[5] A fifth book in the series is planned for release in 2025.[12]

Adaptations

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Main article: The Thursday Murder Club (film)

The book was adapted for BBC Radio 4 and broadcast in early 2021, read by Haydn Gwynne.[13][14]

On 5 March 2020 Steven Spielberg's production company Amblin Entertainment bought the book's global film rights, with the script to be written and the film directed by Ol Parker.[15][16] Filming was reportedly set to start in March 2024, with Viola Davis and Meryl Streep rumored to be attached.[17][18] On 18 April 2024 Chris Columbus was announced as director, replacing Parker.[19] On 23 April Osman confirmed via an episode of The Rest Is Entertainment that Helen Mirren would play Elizabeth, Pierce Brosnan would play Ron, and Ben Kingsley would play Ibrahim with Joyce yet to be cast.[20] On 25 April Netflix acquired distribution rights to the film.[21] On 21 May Osman confirmed that Celia Imrie would play Joyce.[22]

References

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  1. ^ "Audiobook Review: THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB by Richard Osman Read by Leslie Manville". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Hickling, Alfred (3 October 2020). "The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman review – cosy crime caper". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Meet the Author: Richard Osman on debut novel The Thursday Murder Club". The Sunday Post. 19 September 2020. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  4. ^ Adams, Tim (22 September 2020). "The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman; The Diver and the Lover by Jeremy Vine – review". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d Chandler, Mark (8 September 2020). "Richard Osman to write two more Thursday Murder Club books for Viking". The Bookseller. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  6. ^ Lovejoy, Hannah (20 November 2020). "Pointless host Richard Osman opens up about Steven Spielberg making a movie of his debut novel". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  7. ^ Flood, Alison (22 December 2020). "Richard Osman becomes first debut author to land Christmas No 1". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020. UK Top 10 bestsellers, week ending 19 December 2020 / 1. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman 134,514
  8. ^ "The Thursday Murder Club". Book Marks. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  9. ^ "The Thursday Murder Club Reviews". Books in the Media. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  10. ^ Hardyment, Christina (2 October 2020). "The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman audiobook review — a feelgood crime caper that reflects society as it is". The Times. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  11. ^ "Awards: Past Winners". Crimefest. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  12. ^ Knight, Lucy (20 February 2024). "Richard Osman to publish first novel in new crime series". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  13. ^ Abridged: Sara Davies; Reader: Haydn Gwynne; Producer: Mary Ward-Lowery; Music: Tom Constantine (25 January 2021). "The Thursday Murder Club: Episode 1". The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. BBC. BBC Radio 4. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  14. ^ "The Thursday Murder Club By Richard Osman". mediacentre/proginfo. bbc.com. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  15. ^ Kroll, Justin (5 March 2020). "'Mamma Mia 2' Director Ol Parker to Helm Adaptation of Richard Osman's Novel for Amblin (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  16. ^ "Richard Osman: "We are obsessed with young people"". RTÉ. 8 September 2020. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  17. ^ Heath, Nicola (14 November 2023). "Richard Osman, author of The Thursday Murder Club series, visits Australia to promote his new book". ABC News. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  18. ^ Steven Spielberg Eyeing A Few Options for His Next Directorial Effort
  19. ^ Stephan, Katcy (19 April 2024). "Amblin's 'Thursday Murder Club' Film Lands Director Chris Columbus and Eyes Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan and Ben Kingsley". Variety.
  20. ^ Whittock, Jesse (23 April 2024). "Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan & Ben Kingsley Cast In 'The Thursday Murder Club', Chris Columbus Set To Direct". Deadline Hollywood.
  21. ^ Whittock, Jesse (25 April 2024). "Netflix Joins 'The Thursday Murder Club', Chris Columbus & Amblin Entertainment's Feature Adaptation Of Big-Selling Richard Osman Novel". Deadline Hollywood.
  22. ^ Hibbs, James (21 May 2024). "Richard Osman confirms Calendar Girls star as Joyce in Thursday Murder Club film". Radio Times.
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