The Thursday Murder Club
 First edition | |
| Author | Richard Osman |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Crime |
| Publisher | Viking Press |
Publication date | 3 September 2020 |
| Pages | 400 |
| ISBN | 978-0241425442 |
| Followed by | The Man Who Died Twice |
The Thursday Murder Club is the debut novel by Pointless and House of Games presenter Richard Osman, and is the first installment in his "Thursday Murder Club" series. It was published on 3 September 2020 by Viking Press, a subsidiary of Penguin Random House.
Plot[edit]
A group of pensioners (Elizabeth Best; Ron Ritchie; Joyce Meadowcroft; and Ibrahim Arif)[1] set about solving the mystery of the murder of a property developer[2] in the luxurious Cooper's Chase retirement village near the fictitious village of Fairhaven in Kent.[1]
Publication[edit]
Osman's inspiration for the book came from a visit he made to an upmarket retirement village.[1] He wrote the book over 18 months in secret.[2]
After a 10-way publishing auction,[1] Penguin Random House acquired the rights to The Thursday Murder Club and its sequel The Man Who Died Twice for a seven-figure sum[3] in 2019.[4]
The book was published on 3 September 2020. It sold 45,000 copies in its first three days on sale[4] and became a Sunday Times number one bestseller.[5] As of 8 September, it had been sold in 16 countries.[4] In the week leading up to 19 December, it sold 134,514 copies, making it the first debut novel ever to be Christmas number one.[6]
Reception[edit]
In The Times, Christina Hardyment said the book has an "ingenious plot".[7]
The Guardian described it as the "fastest selling adult crime debut" in recorded history.[1]
Adaptations[edit]
Radio[edit]
The book was adapted for BBC Radio 4 and broadcast in early 2021, read by Haydn Gwynne.[8][9]
Film[edit]
On March 5, 2020, Steven Spielberg's production company Amblin Entertainment bought the book's global film rights, to be written and directed by Ol Parker.[10][11] Filming was reportedly set to start in March 2024, with Viola Davis and Meryl Streep rumored to be attached.[12][13] On April 18, 2024, Chris Columbus was announced as director, replacing Parker.[14] On April 23, Osman confirmed via an episode of The Rest Is Entertainment that Helen Mirren would play Elizabeth, Pierce Brosnan would play Ron, and Ben Kingsley would play Ibrahim with Joyce yet to be cast.
Sequels[edit]
Book number two of the series, The Man Who Died Twice, was released on 16 September 2021, a third, The Bullet That Missed, in September 2022 and a fourth, The Last Devil to Die, in September 2023.[4] A fifth book in the series is planned for release in 2025.[15]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e Hickling, Alfred (3 October 2020). "The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman review – cosy crime caper". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Meet the Author: Richard Osman on debut novel The Thursday Murder Club". The Sunday Post. 19 September 2020. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ^ Adams, Tim (22 September 2020). "The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman; The Diver and the Lover by Jeremy Vine – review". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ^ a b c d Chandler, Mark (8 September 2020). "Richard Osman to write two more Thursday Murder Club books for Viking". The Bookseller. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ^ Lovejoy, Hannah (20 November 2020). "Pointless host Richard Osman opens up about Steven Spielberg making a movie of his debut novel". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ^ Flood, Alison (22 December 2020). "Richard Osman becomes first debut author to land Christmas No 1". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
- ^ Hardyment, Christina (2 October 2020). "The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman audiobook review — a feelgood crime caper that reflects society as it is". The Times. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ^ Abridged: Sara Davies; Reader: Haydn Gwynne; Producer: Mary Ward-Lowery; Music: Tom Constantine (25 January 2021). "The Thursday Murder Club: Episode 1". The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. BBC. BBC Radio 4. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
- ^ "The Thursday Murder Club By Richard Osman". mediacentre/proginfo. bbc.com. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (5 March 2020). "'Mamma Mia 2' Director Ol Parker to Helm Adaptation of Richard Osman's Novel for Amblin (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
- ^ "Richard Osman: "We are obsessed with young people"". RTÉ. 8 September 2020. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ^ Heath, Nicola (14 November 2023). "Richard Osman, author of The Thursday Murder Club series, visits Australia to promote his new book". ABC News. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Steven Spielberg Eyeing A Few Options for His Next Directorial Effort
- ^ Stephan, Katcy (19 April 2024). "Amblin's 'Thursday Murder Club' Film Lands Director Chris Columbus and Eyes Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan and Ben Kingsley". Variety.
- ^ Knight, Lucy (20 February 2024). "Richard Osman to publish first novel in new crime series". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2024.