Richard Osman reassures us: “Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim remain immortal.”

I do feel reassured (despite the absence of the Oxford comma). I think.

The issue, as I’m sure you’ve figured out, is that Osman’s new mystery novel does not include the protagonists of the Thursday Murder Club. We Solve Murders is not part of the series! Apparently it’s the first entry in a new series; we shall see. But still… we want more Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim!

OK, I admit that We Solve Murders has some of the same characteristics — though none of the same characters — as the TMC. It’s funny and engaging and over-the-top. Plot and setting are fine — nothing special, just fine. So why did I find it disappointing? The problems are that I just can’t relate to the characters and I had too much trouble suspending my disbelief in the story. I hope that the sentence I quoted in the first paragraph above means that Osman will be returning to the TMC in the very next book.

We can only hope.

Categories: Books