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kajoreads's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The beginning felt slow and dragged out. Luckily it picked up some pace towards the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia, Murder, Fatphobia, Grief, Suicide, Death, and Body shaming
Minor: Gun violence, Terminal illness, Cancer, Pregnancy, Violence, Chronic illness, Drug use, Medical content, and Sexism
oxfordcommas91's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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? No
3.5
A perfect cozy mystery that you want to read while curled up with a steaming hot mug of tea. (British of course, with milk and sugar). Much in the same vein as “Only Murders in the Building,” or “Vera Wang’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers,” this book follows a group of four friends (and a large supporting cast, which honestly could have been cut down some…) living in a swanky British retirement village as they try to solve murders. Little do they know that they’ll be up to their necks in dead bodies in just a wink.
With plenty of witty banter and heartwarming moments, this book was generally enjoyable and hit the right notes. I loved all the characters and the author did a beautiful job of really bringing them to light. We’ve all known retirees like Elizabeth, Ibrahim, Rob, and Joyce. Each with their own spin on their detective work, the murder club follows the twists and turns of the bodies piling up around them.
There are some decent red herrings and good twists throughout, but I wasn’t in suspense. I wanted to know what happened to our fabulous foursome more than I cared about who the murderer was, but I don’t think that’s necessarily a terrible thing.
The short chapters and fast pacing of this book made it easy to read and make quick work of. There were some unexpected heartwarming moments and a decent number of sweet conversations that happened as a result of the age and life experiences of our characters, a unique and lovely addition.
I didn’t know when I started reading that this was a series. I’m not sure I desperately need a second book but I’m going to read it anyway, and will look forward to visiting Coopers Chase retirement village again in the near future!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Death, Grief, Suicide, Murder, and Medical content
sop17hie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Excellent set of main characters. I cried and I was on the edge of my seat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Suicide
ashleyjean6's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
Absolutely brilliant writing, fabulous character development, wonderful sense of humor! It deals with some gritty topics, but it's always a pleasure to read. Witty, intelligent, thought provoking and fun.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Blood, Child death, Suicide, Dementia, Murder, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Violence
bronzel's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Racism, Violence, Murder, Body shaming, Terminal illness, Dementia, and Xenophobia
Minor: Alcohol, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Fatphobia, Pregnancy, Gun violence, and Blood
thoseoldcrows23's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book kept me swinging between amusement and heartache the whole time. It was pitched to me as a fun, funny mystery novel, and it is that, but it grapples with some really heavy topics and it handles them with a grace I didn't expect. So much of this book is about grief of every kind. You sit with these characters, who you can't help but love, as they grieve for lost love, lost friends, spent youth, and things that never were but should have been, and it just breaks your heart. Even in the face of that though this remains an incredibly hopeful book that made me laugh just as much as it made me cry. I'm so very glad I picked this up, and I'm excited to read more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Suicide, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Dementia, Medical content, Violence, Chronic illness, Child death, and Terminal illness
kilkenni's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
A must read for any fan of British murder mystery shows. It has all the elements, but in a literary form. The characters are, of course, the main focus and point of this novel, but I loved the plot too. It had a good share of unexpected twists, confusing moments, and suspenseful scenes. You quickly get hooked up, so it's a very pleasant and fast read
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness, Death, and Suicide
Minor: Alcohol, Dementia, and Medical content
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Death, Dementia, and Grief
Minor: Medical content, Rape, Drug use, Animal death, Gun violence, and Pregnancy
singalana's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Mutkikas ja elämänmakuinen “cozy crime”. Kirjaa voisi ehkä parhaiten kuvailla hyvän mielen dekkariksi. Kirjailija on minulle uusi tuttavuus, mutta jos tähän kirjaan tykästyy, sarjassa on julkaistu jo neljä osaa.
Torstain murhakerho kertoo Kentissä sijaitsevassa eläkeläiskylässä asuvasta neljästä ystävyksestä, jotka kokoontuvat joka torstai ratkomaan ratkaisematta jääneitä rikoksia. Kun kylässä tapahtuu murha, tarjoaa se mukavaa vaihtelua vanhojen tapausten kaiveluun.
Kirjassa on useita eri kertojia, joten lukija saa yllin kyllin perspektiivejä tapahtumien tarkasteluun. Lisäksi kertojan ääni on välillä myös kaikkitietävä, joten luvuissa päästään sukeltamaan usean hahmon pään sisälle. Pääasiassa seurataan neljää eläkeläiskylässä asuvaa iäkkäämpää miestä ja naista, sekä kahta poliisia. Hahmot ovat hyvin luotuja, ja jokaisella on omat erityispiirteensä.
Itse kirjassa riittää mysteerejä ratkottavaksi: sekä tuoreita että vanhoja. Välillä mysteerien juonenkäänteet ja niihin liittyvät hahmot tuppaavat menemään sekaisin, ja etenkin kirjan loppupuolella kun asiat alkavat selvitä, on syytä kiinnittää huomioita siihen kuka teki mitäkin. Tästä ja perspektiivien ajoittaisesta sekavuudesta rokotin vähän arvosanasta.
Hyvää kirjassa on hahmojen välinen ystävyys. Katkeransuloista on myös muistutus siitä, että kaikki meistä ovat kuolevaisia, ja kirjassa hyvästelläänkin useampi henkilö. Puolessa välissä juoni ehkä hieman laahasi, ja loppu oli ehkä turhankin monimutkainen. Kuitenkin koska pidin tästä osasta ja tämä on sarjan ensimmäinen kirja, voin antaa vielä seuraavallekin mahdollisuuden. Kaiken kaikkiaan kirja oli kuitenkin viihdyttävä, vaikka ei täysosuma ollutkaan.
Content Warnings
Minor: Pregnancy, Alcohol, Terminal illness, Medical content, Violence, Death, Murder, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Grief, and Dementia
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Grief, Murder, Chronic illness, Death, and Medical content
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death