Community Reviews
After reading four of these books, I can easily say that Osman has gold in his hands with this group, but sometimes doesn't know what to do with Ibrahim and Ron.
Out of the first four books, this is maybe the least "effective" as a murder mystery.
At first, I enjoyed the fact that we got a cold case this time around since it was always presented as the TMC's reason why they got together initially.
Obviously, from a cold case, it quickly becomes an ongoing investigation as chaos always follows our favourite group of pensioners. However, I felt like we didn't really get into the mystery and everything else that was happening took over.
It was all very superficial, and each "problem" was quickly resolved so we could move on to the next thing. Also, I didn't feel like we - the readers - were in to play along this time. The clues, the hints and everything related to Bethany's murder ( the cold case - no spoiler here ) were mostly kept obscure to us while easy to crack for the TMC or their collaborators.
To that point, it is a given now that the real main characters are Elizabeth and Joyce. Elizabeth is your tough cookie, generally at the source and in the center of the nonsense, meanwhile Joyce is the comic- relief sidekick who gives her friend a new perspective on things and helps her "change" and peel off that though skin of hers. But, Ibrahim and Ron have nothing to offer most of the time. Even here, Ibrahim's only moment is given to a child. The child cracked the clue, not Ibrahim. And the worst part is that every time both of them are on the page, it is a joy. I feel sad that they are not given as a central role as the other two.
In conclusion, I will read every book Osman has to offer with the TMC. I can't get enough of them, but I hope he slightly changes things up ( just a tiny bit) , so his stories do not become too formulaic.
Out of the first four books, this is maybe the least "effective" as a murder mystery.
At first, I enjoyed the fact that we got a cold case this time around since it was always presented as the TMC's reason why they got together initially.
Obviously, from a cold case, it quickly becomes an ongoing investigation as chaos always follows our favourite group of pensioners. However, I felt like we didn't really get into the mystery and everything else that was happening took over.
It was all very superficial, and each "problem" was quickly resolved so we could move on to the next thing. Also, I didn't feel like we - the readers - were in to play along this time. The clues, the hints and everything related to Bethany's murder ( the cold case - no spoiler here ) were mostly kept obscure to us while easy to crack for the TMC or their collaborators.
To that point, it is a given now that the real main characters are Elizabeth and Joyce. Elizabeth is your tough cookie, generally at the source and in the center of the nonsense, meanwhile Joyce is the comic- relief sidekick who gives her friend a new perspective on things and helps her "change" and peel off that though skin of hers. But, Ibrahim and Ron have nothing to offer most of the time. Even here, Ibrahim's only moment is given to a child. The child cracked the clue, not Ibrahim. And the worst part is that every time both of them are on the page, it is a joy. I feel sad that they are not given as a central role as the other two.
In conclusion, I will read every book Osman has to offer with the TMC. I can't get enough of them, but I hope he slightly changes things up ( just a tiny bit) , so his stories do not become too formulaic.
I I love the books so much it's awesome the characters are so cute and I love the storyline I love that it's a murder mystery but I just love how it's written and how the characters interact with each other and how much they care for each other but yet they keep secrets from each other too it's kind of cool
As you follow the series, you truly start caring about the core group. Elizabeth, Ron, Ibrahim, and Joyce — at the Coopers Chase retirement village. They get together to investigate unsolved cases. This time, Joyce pushes for the Cold case of Bethany Waites, a local TV journalist, who was about to crack a huge tax avoidance scheme when her car went over a cliff 10 years ago.
Oddly, as Elizabeth does the number one cardinal rule which all great spies must never do, she does it with her husband, Stephen. Every day at the same time, as an established routine, they take walks together. That grave error allows a mysterious man, known as “The Viking” to kidnap them both and then orders Elizabeth to either kill Victor Illyich or he will have someone kill Joyce, Elizabeth's best friend. Elizabeth has a hard choice to make.
As Elizabeth makes plans to “off” Victor Illyich, she still has a mystery to solve with her Thursday Murder Club. This time, added to the mix are some help from her old and new friends, which include, Pauline, and Mike Waghorn, Bethany's friends and colleagues, the chief constable in charge of the case, the drug dealer they put in jail (Connie Johnson) in the last novel (who's determined to kill Ron as soon as she gets out), and other unsavory characters such as Jack Mason and Heather Garbutt.
What I loved about the series is as it addresses ageism, it allows us to see more layers of them and how they have changed from the first novel to this latest novel. My concerns and affection deepen as I continue through this series. I love the solid friendships and care the characters have for one another.
Oddly, as Elizabeth does the number one cardinal rule which all great spies must never do, she does it with her husband, Stephen. Every day at the same time, as an established routine, they take walks together. That grave error allows a mysterious man, known as “The Viking” to kidnap them both and then orders Elizabeth to either kill Victor Illyich or he will have someone kill Joyce, Elizabeth's best friend. Elizabeth has a hard choice to make.
As Elizabeth makes plans to “off” Victor Illyich, she still has a mystery to solve with her Thursday Murder Club. This time, added to the mix are some help from her old and new friends, which include, Pauline, and Mike Waghorn, Bethany's friends and colleagues, the chief constable in charge of the case, the drug dealer they put in jail (Connie Johnson) in the last novel (who's determined to kill Ron as soon as she gets out), and other unsavory characters such as Jack Mason and Heather Garbutt.
What I loved about the series is as it addresses ageism, it allows us to see more layers of them and how they have changed from the first novel to this latest novel. My concerns and affection deepen as I continue through this series. I love the solid friendships and care the characters have for one another.
Another great entry in this series. They always manage to balance being funny and touching along with having an engaging mystery to solve.
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