The Thursday Murder Club
| Author | Richard Osman |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Crime |
| Publisher | Viking Press |
Publication date | 3 September 2020 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Pages | 400 |
| ISBN | 978-0241425442 |
The Thursday Murder Club is the debut novel by Pointless and House of Games presenter Richard Osman. It was published on 3 September 2020 by Viking Press, a subsidiary of Penguin Random House.
Plot
A group of pensioners (Elizabeth, a former intelligence agent; Ron, a former trade unionist; Joyce, a former nurse; and Ibrahim, a former psychiatrist)[1] set about solving the mystery of the murder of a property developer[2] in the luxury Cooper's Chase retirement village in Kent.[1]
Publication
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 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 different 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
In The Times, Christina Hardyment said the book has an "ingenious plot".[7]
The Guardian hailed it as the "fastest selling adult crime debut" in recorded history.[1]
Adaptations
The book was adapted for BBC Radio 4 and broadcast in early 2021, read by Haydn Gwynne.[8]
Steven Spielberg's production company Amblin Entertainment bought the book's global film rights.[2] The film will be written and directed by Ol Parker.[9]
Sequels
Two sequels of the book will be published by Viking Press, the first in September 2021.[4]
References
- ^ a b c d e Hickling, Alfred (3 October 2020). "The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman review – cosy crime caper". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ^ a b c "Meet the Author: Richard Osman on debut novel The Thursday Murder Club". The Sunday Post. 19 September 2020. 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. 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. 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. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ^ Flood, Alison (22 December 2020). "Richard Osman becomes first debut author to land Christmas No 1". The Guardian. 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. 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. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
- ^ "Richard Osman: "We are obsessed with young people"". RTÉ. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.