DOur book discussion for Wednesday, November 20 will be The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Synopsis:
A New York Times Bestseller | Soon to be a Major Motion Picture
“Don’t trust anyone, including the four septuagenarian sleuths in Osman’s own laugh-out-loud whodunit.” —Parade
Four septuagenarians with a few tricks up their sleeves
A female cop with her first big case, A brutal murder
Welcome to... … … … THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB
In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet weekly in the Jigsaw Room to discuss unsolved crimes; together they call themselves the Thursday Murder Club.
When a local developer is found dead with a mysterious photograph left next to the body, the Thursday Murder Club suddenly find themselves in the middle of their first live case.
As the bodies begin to pile up, can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer, before it's too late?
“Witty, endearing and greatly entertaining.” —Wall Street Journal
10 Book Club Questions for The Thursday Murder Club
These questions have been tailored to this book’s specific reading experience, but if you want more ideas, we also have an article with 101 generic book club questions.
1. “Killing someone is easy. Hiding the body, now, that’s usually the hard part. That’s how you get caught. I was lucky enough to stumble upon the right place, the perfect place, really. I come back from time to time, just to make sure the thing is safe and sound. It always is, and I suppose it always will be. Sometimes I’ll have a cigarette, which I know I shouldn’t, but it’s my only vice.”
And with that opening line, we are off to the races. And yet, reflecting back upon all of the revelations in the closing chapter, is it at all clear which character was speaking here?
2. Tony Curran’s murder set the action in motion. But his wasn’t the only murder and there were certainly plenty of other crimes and tragedies committed throughout the storyline of the book. What surprised, interested or confused you the most about the various murders and crimes?
3. The typical amateur detective novel doesn’t usually use a diary as a narrative device. And yet, in The Thursday Murder Club, we got a lot of first person POV from Joyce’s diary. What did you think of her diary entries? What, if anything, did they add to the story?
4. There is a tricky relationship which develops between the Murder Club and police team of Donna and Chris. At times, Elizabeth manipulates both police officers, but at other times, there is a friendly give-and-take happening. Did those relationships work for you? Why or why not?
5. In the book, we meet four amateur detectives. Elizabeth (operative and ringleader), Ibrahim (psychiatrist and Zumba class aficionado), Ron (labor organizer who secretly prefers wine to beer) and Joyce (the nurse who cooks). Which did you identify with the most? If you joined the Murder Club, which role might you play in the group dynamic?
6. Joyce says that she’s “…very happy to be overlooked and always have been.” Is that really true? What did you think of Joyce’s low key personality. Other than the diary, what does she contribute to the team?
7. Elizabeth is carrying a lot of weight. She’s the key driver for the Club, trying to support Penny (and John) and carrying the burden of her own husband’s decline. How did you respond to Elizabeth’s driving role?
8. A lot of Goodreads commenters were confused about the purpose of the photo, which was left at Curran’s murder scene, and also sent to Ron. Did this element confuse you as well? Was it a clue? Or was it a red herring?
9. Were you in it more for the cast of characters…or for the murder?
10. How much experience do you have with retirement homes and assisted living centers? Have you ever seen or heard of one with the amenities of Coopers Chase Retirement Village? Would you be willing to live there?