The Thursday Murder Club — Richard Osman

MONTHLY PICK – JANUARY 2026

Welcome to a retirement village where the tea is hot, the gossip is hotter, and a group of friends meet weekly to investigate cold cases… until a real mystery lands on their doorstep. The Thursday Murder Club is cosy, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt — ideal for a lively book club discussion.

This month’s Book Club Bundle includes:

• A discussion guide with thought-provoking questions
• A character cheat sheet (so nobody asks “Wait, who was that again?”)
• A 60–90 minute meeting plan (easy for hosts!)
• A printable meeting pack (PDF) with bonus activities + voting sheet for next month

The Thursday Murder Club – Discussion Guide

A peaceful retirement village. A weekly cold-case club. And then… a very real murder on their doorstep. The Thursday Murder Club is a cosy, funny, character-led mystery with plenty of twists, brilliant banter, and surprisingly tender moments — basically catnip for book clubs.

Quick “who’s who” cheat sheet (no spoilers)

• Elizabeth — sharp, confident, always three steps ahead.
• Joyce — observant, warm, and sneakily brilliant (never underestimate Joyce).
• Ibrahim — thoughtful, methodical, calm energy.
• Ron — bold, passionate, big heart, big opinions.

Themes to chat about

Friendship & found family • ageing & independence • justice vs legality • class & power • loneliness & community • grief & resilience • public persona vs private truth

Discussion questions (NO spoilers)

• What kind of “cosy crime” is this — more laugh-out-loud, more twisty, or more emotional than you expected?
• Which of the four club members did you connect with first — and why?
• The setting feels safe and slightly unsettling. What creates that vibe?
• The book balances humour with darker material. Did the humour deepen the story or distract from tension?
• How does the novel portray ageing — empowering, realistic, sentimental, or a mix?
• Joyce’s perspective: what does it add to the tone and clues?
• Did you feel the author “played fair” with information, or did you feel steered?
• What did you think of the pacing — did it ever feel crowded (lots of names/threads) or did you enjoy the busyness?
• Which relationship (friendship, romance, mentorship, rivalry) felt most convincing?
• If you were pitching this to a friend, what 3 words would you use?
• What would make this a perfect “book club book” for your group: characters, mystery, humour, themes?
• Would you read the sequel — and what would you want more of next time (character time, tighter mystery, higher stakes, more laughs)?

Spoiler section

STOP HERE IF YOU HAVEN’T FINISHED THE BOOK.

• Which reveal or turn genuinely surprised you — and which did you see coming?
• Looking back, what felt like a true clue vs a deliberate red herring?
• How did your opinion of each club member shift by the end?
• Which moral line(s) get blurred in the story — and were you okay with that?
• Was the ending satisfying emotionally and logically? If not, what would you change?
• Who did you trust least at the start — and were you right?
• What’s your “case file verdict”: was this more about solving the mystery, or about the characters?

Quick rating prompts (great for comments)

• Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Favourite character:
• Cosy score (1–10):
• Twistiness (1–10):
• Would you recommend to book clubs? Yes / No

The Thursday Murder Club snack list: easy supermarket nibbles for your book club

If your book club pick is The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, you’re basically obligated (by the laws of cosy crime) to serve snacks that feel like:
tea on standby, biscuits within reach, and something to nibble while you theorise wildly about whodunnit.

The vibe is very “settle in for a friendly mystery… with suspiciously good snacks.”

Set the scene: your “case file” snack table

This book is full of charm, clever twists, and that brilliant contrast between gentle everyday life and serious sleuthing—so your spread can be the same: comforting classics with a little playful “investigation” energy.

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Savoury “stakeout” snacks

1) Stakeout Sausage Rolls

Mini sausage rolls are basically the unofficial fuel of British plotting. Pop them on a plate, add a little ketchup or chutney, and call it dinner… or evidence.

2) The Evidence Board: cheese & crackers

Go classic: cheddar + crackers, then add grapes, a jar of chutney, and mini pickles.
It looks fancy, tastes comforting, and keeps everyone happily busy while they compare suspects.

3) Clue-cumber bites

Grab cucumber + soft cheese (or even ready-made finger sandwiches). If you want the “book club host who has it together” look, slice into neat triangles and stack them like a tiny sandwich crime scene.

4) Fingerprints & dips

A bowl of crisps plus hummus/salsa/guac is the easiest win.
Label the dips “forensic sauces” if you want to be delightfully daft.

5) The Suspect Line-Up platter

Arrange olives, cherry tomatoes, mini mozzarella balls, stuffed peppers in little rows like you’re lining them up for questioning.
No cooking. Maximum theme.

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Sweet “case closed” treats

6) Case Closed biscuit tin

A mixed selection (digestives, shortbread, bourbons) gives cosy, classic, “tea-and-a-chat” energy—perfect for a mystery set in an ordinary world that keeps turning extraordinary.

7) Crime Scene brownies

Grab a box of brownies (or bakery counter ones) and cut into squares.
Optional: drizzle a little white icing over the top for a “chalk outline” look. (Completely unnecessary. Completely fun.)

8) Library lemon drizzle

A pre-made lemon drizzle loaf feels traditional and comforting—exactly the mood you want when the plot starts getting twisty.

9) Red Herrings

Strawberry laces, red sweets, or even a bowl of strawberries. Put out a little label that says “Red Herrings (do not trust)” and enjoy everyone groaning in unison.

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Drinks: cosy-crime essentials

10) Interrogation Tea station

Put out English Breakfast, Earl Grey, and decaf, plus milk and sugar. This book is basically made for tea refills between chapters.

11) Thursday G&T (or easy mocktail)

If you want a slightly grown-up sip to match the witty tone, do:

• G&T (classic)
• Or a mocktail: tonic water + lime (and a splash of elderflower cordial if you fancy)

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One tiny extra that makes it feel themed

Print or write little tent labels: Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Suspect Snacks, Alibi Bites.
It takes 2 minutes and makes your snack table feel like part of the story—perfect for photos, Pinterest, and book club bragging rights.