Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Torstain murhakerho by Richard Osman

121 reviews

thoseoldcrows23's review against another edition

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.

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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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Terminal illness, Death, and Suicide

Minor: Alcohol, Dementia, and Medical content

abicaro17's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

Its ok. The characters are underdeveloped and boring. The plot only makes sense like half the time. There are some funny/cute moments but they're generally overshadowed by shitty plot or bad character arcs. This book had potential but its kinda a flop. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Blood, Murder, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Classism, Death, Dementia, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Stalking, Suicide, and Violence

singalana's review

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. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Pregnancy, Alcohol, Terminal illness, Medical content, Violence, Death, Murder, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Grief, and Dementia

te_ss_i's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Religious bigotry, Body shaming, Dementia, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Suicide

bookb1itch's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

Believe the hype!  I didn't read this for a long time, partly because i feared it wouldn't be as good as my friends said.  Instead, it really was as warm, amusing and cosy as everyone has said.  As a school librarian, i would have no qualms letting a 13 yo read this if they wanted.  Lots of intrigue, but no gore, sex or bad language. (Although quite a bit of talk about drug trafficking) Some really loveable major and minor characters.   I will immediately begin book 2.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Alcohol, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Medical content, Terminal illness, and Trafficking

Minor: Suicide and Gun violence

twelfthfox's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Suicide, and Dementia

Moderate: Terminal illness and Grief

wickedgrumpy's review against another edition

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

katietregs's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

Overall, I enjoyed this book, but it took me a while to get into it. If I hadn’t been reading it for a book club, I might have even given up around page 100. 
The murder mystery aspect does have good payoff, and the characters are rich and lovable. I think it suffers from too many POV characters up front and not enough storyline events to justify the story’s overall complexity. 

I also think the suicide of Bernard felt unnecessary, and rushed. And the priest’s story was supposed to be sympathetic, but it made him seem like a weird creep to me. If the nun was going to run off with him… why did she hang herself? and why did Bogdan send the picture to Jason?

That said, it’s an impressive first novel from Osman with good mystery and great characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Suicide, Fatphobia, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Violence, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Sexual assault

Minor: Bullying and Eating disorder

embee09's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious slow-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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, and Suicide

Moderate: Grief and Child death

Minor: Terminal illness