The Impossible Fortune (Thursday Murder Club #5) by Richard Osman

They’re back! It’s been a quiet year for our intrepid sleuths as Elizabeth comes to terms with the loss of her husband. As they celebrate Joyce’s daughter’s wedding, Elizabeth is approached by the best-man who informs her that someone is trying to kill him. Elizabeth feels the fog of grief lift as she considers his request to help him.

And so begins another cracking good mystery from Richard Osman and his gang of septuagenarians. The mystery (and murders) are suitably twisty, but it’s not what we read these books for – we read them for the characters. We love these characters. Osman continues to develop not only the main characters, but the secondary ones too, with his signature humour and empathy. I’d love to be included in this group of friends, who support each other, even when there are the usual petty annoyances and quibbles.

Full marks to Richard Osman for continuing to write such an engaging series, featuring characters that we have grown to love and care about.

Reviewed by Gaby Meares
Murder on a Monday Reading Group