Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

24 reviews

kirstenpod_'s review against another edition

funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Grief, Dementia, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and Terminal illness

Minor: Pregnancy, Gun violence, Alcohol, Animal death, and Blood

pellkat's review

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book is laugh-out-loud funny! It’s written how elderly people talk and it’s lovely to identify people you know in that. Mixed in with tender reflections on ageing and end of life, a beautiful read.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief and Death

Minor: Animal death

sobo31's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Death, Dementia, and Grief

Minor: Medical content, Rape, Drug use, Animal death, Gun violence, and Pregnancy

ms_elchert's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia, Grief, Murder, Chronic illness, Death, and Medical content

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

clavishorti's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Ever get that feeling where you adore something so much, it's like trying to describe a symphony of emotions? Well, that's precisely the vibe I'm riding on with The Thursday Murder Club. Imagine strolling through the winding corridors of mystery, guided by a breeze of pure exhilaration. Sure, the initial hurdle was the rollercoaster of changing POVs, but as I flipped through the pages, I was irresistibly drawn into the labyrinth of enigma alongside the charismatic crew of The Thursday Murder Club.

As the narrative unfolded, characters underwent a deep excavation, revealing intricate layers that highlighted the author's mastery in delving into the psychology of each persona. In a plot filled with a plethora of characters, far from overwhelming, it proved to be a triumph, beckoning readers to explore the tapestry of rich and multifaceted personalities.

The climax in the confession room was a tension-soaked spectacle, immersing me in a suspenseful atmosphere, making me an integral part of the unfolding drama. Sharp plot twists played havoc with my assumptions about the primary suspect, displaying a level of cleverness that left me in awe.

The initial battle against 'microscopic' font size unexpectedly transformed into a stroke of luck when I stumbled upon the e-book format—a treasure trove where I could whimsically tailor the font size to match my reading pleasure.

Immersed in the intricacies of these characters' lives and skillfully navigating the hairpin turns of the mystery, I transcended beyond the conventional role of a reader; I morphed into a fellow adventurer alongside The Thursday Murder Club gang.

As I closed the chapter on this thrilling escapade, a satisfied grin and a spark of enthusiasm adorned my face. The Thursday Murder Club is more than just a book; it's a golden ticket inviting you to explore a world of mystery with the coolest gang in town. The knowledge that the saga with The Thursday Murder Club will persist in a riveting series is the cherry on top. It's not just a book; it's a reliable companion, beckoning from every mysterious corridor, urging you to uncover the secrets within.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia, Murder, Animal death, Death, and Gun violence

Moderate: Alcohol, Grief, and Suicide

wickedgrumpy's review

emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

The characters were lovely.  I imagine I will pick up the next in the series at some point because I thought it was a charming read, even though it wasn't my usual cup of tea.

Also, I know it's a murder mystery but I wasn't expecting so much casual death.  Was a bit grim at times.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Bullying, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Infidelity, Murder, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Trafficking, Alcohol, Animal death, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Sexism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Police brutality, and Suicide

luciferin's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

PLEASE read and heed the trigger warnings for this book. I didn’t, and I can only tell you that if I had, I probably would’ve hesitated reading it, because that one specific warning TRIGGER WARNING 

suicide

isn’t just something mentioned in passing in the book, MILD SPOILER WITHOUT SPOILING MUCH

it happens, repeatedly, and more or less graphically.

 

Anyhow. This book made me laugh, then cry, then laugh again, then stare melancholically into the distance, then cry again. It made me gasp and question the whole plot I just read, it made me root for people I maybe shouldn’t root for (but always will, because I LOVE. MORALLY GREY CHARACTERS. Always have, always will. Because life is fucking morally grey. And I both LOVE the ending and dread its implications.) I really like all of the characters and I cannot wait to see where their paths will take them. 

The dialogues are incredibly funny and so very British, the pop culture references were so good and there were quite a few plot twists (both storywise and in the development of one character or another) that I didn’t see coming, which rarely happens. It was a very enjoyable read, and a mystery slash crime that didn’t try the absolute hardest (while failing) to be sooo inventive and new and what have you. But it still manages exactly that. It’s a fresh-ish view (sometimes it kinda feels like visiting all of Agatha C‘s figures in the retirement home they live in together, but in a nice, old memories way, not in the way of plagiarism) of crime solving with a group of people that have seemingly lived their lives with spouses and children and careers and such, who now still have just as much fun in using their different abilities (I love Ibbsy and Joyce and Bogdan especially) to solve murderous puzzles. 
I also like how it alludes to things they have done before coming to CC and I‘m really excited to learn more about Elizabeth‘s past at some point, even though I have a hunch about her vocation. I like how the author often sets us on wrong tracks until we suddenly understand what exactly is happening or who is involved; it often made me notice that I am still, unfortunately, thinking in a very socially normative (not to say heteronormative, able-bodied, ageist kind of way, because I pride myself on AT THE VERY LEAST noticing if I do and correcting myself; so rather in a pop culturally normalised) way, MILD UNSPOILERY

for example with Donna and Chris. I never would have thought of THAT. And I LOVE IT.

I love when books do that. 

Also, please be aware that while this IS indeed a book about murder old and new, it also talks about lot about transience in life, loss, the pain of living itself, loneliness, estrangement from family members and or friends or lovers, the impact of being oneself on the life one gets to live. Characters are desperate, lonely, tired of living, ill, slowly slipping from their loved ones‘ grasp. It is FULL of heavy topics, so if these things are not something you want with your lighthearted crime solving, skip this. And again, HEED THE TRIGGER WARNINGS. 

Still, even though none of these are topics I actively seek out and or enjoy or usually read willingly if I can avoid them, the descriptions of the TMC‘s members‘ lives actually weirdly give me hope. I am not scared of aging: it is very much a privilege which only few of us get to enjoy. But seeing those wonderful elderly people with all of their pasts and aches and losses just having fun with their friends, accomodating their lives to what they can do and how, and joking about it. I want to be like that later on. 

So yeah, I am very much looking forward to reading the next installment in this series. 
Oh and also, Joyce and Donna teaching Elizabeth how to be modern and and correct and inclusive in her way of speaking? Love. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Grief, Murder, Death, Dementia, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Moderate: Alcohol, Body shaming, and Fatphobia

Minor: Animal death

cooliuscaesar451's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

It starts off slowly but the characters suck you in ❤️ I found myself verklempt time and time again at the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Drug use, Grief, Child death, Mental illness, Blood, Classism, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Suicide, Fatphobia, Sexual violence, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Ableism, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Cursing, Drug use, Deportation, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Racism, War, Cancer, Misogyny, and Classism

Minor: Pregnancy, Animal death, Addiction, Homophobia, and Gun violence

theabee's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Death

Minor: Violence and Animal death

arrianne's review

emotional funny hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Suicide, Dementia, and Death

Moderate: Pregnancy, Grief, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Animal death