A decade-old cold case leads them to a local news legend and a murder with no body and no answers. It is an ordinary Thursday and things should finally be returning to normal.Įxcept trouble is never far away where the Thursday Murder Club are concerned. If you’ve already read those two books, I think you’ll already have a copy of ‘The Bullet That Missed’ on order. If you’re new to this series, go back to the beginning and read ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ and ‘The Man Who Died Twice’. There are also some really great references in this story that you might enjoy if you’ve seen one of Osman’s quiz shows, which are often shown at the same time as the news. In terms of plot, for crime lovers, there are various conundrums and obstacles to enjoy, but more casual readers can simply wait for the Thursday Murder Club to solve the puzzle. Equally, there’s a lot of movement, too, as the longer-term stories develop for Donna, Steven, Bogdan, and even Alan see their stories developing. Book diary entries are often awkward and disruptive, but you’ll look forward to her unique perspective as events unfold. Some elements remain constant, solid bedrock beneath our feet to keep us oriented. The single-scene appearances are just as wonderfully finished. It’s not simply the regular lineup that gets carved in wonderful three-dimensional detail. Nothing like lying in your grave with a bullet hole through your head to make you think about life. Each individual and their unique personality provides a regular cadence of moist cheeks, often from laughter and sometimes from a more sentimental cause – all with an artful treatment that means the light moments are funny because you recognise them in your own wrestle with growing up and getting older. … and it really is the characters that provide the brilliance once again. This is twisted around a secondary thread from Elizabeth’s past to create a satisfying plot for the different characters to shine. The primary storyline concerns a cold case that the Thursday Murder Club are looking into a journalist who disappeared while investigating a big VAT fraud case. It’s enough to make an author abandon the territory, and I’m already tapping out my text to Bogdan asking for a lift across the county line into horror fiction. Technically, it was in the bag after two books, but this new release cements it. The thing about Richard Osman is that in three quick bouts, he’s become the undisputed champion of cosy mysteries.

The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman