Who doesn’t love to curl up with a bit of a cosy crime of an evening? I’ve really enjoyed getting stuck into this genre; although I do love a gritty thriller, sometimes you just need something a bit lighter. These three books are perfect examples, enjoy!
The Bingo Hall Detectives – Jonathan Whitelaw
Jason and his mother-in-law make an unlikely detective duo. With Jason’s background in journalism and Amita’s local community knowledge, it’s not long before they’re questioning the untimely death of fellow bingo lover Madeline. Featuring a supporting cast of OAPs, dodgy businessmen and ageing security guards, The Bingo Hall Detectives is a great cosy crime novel. It has got real substance to it though, and you can’t help but get caught up in the real lives of Jason and Amita.
For them, it’s not just about getting their Poirot thinking caps on. For Jason it’s about finding life after leaving his beloved local paper. And for Amita it’s about finding her place amongst her friends, and family.
A Spoonful of Murder – J.M. Hall
A Spoonful of Murder is a cosy crime story, featuring three retired teachers who are still friends. A chance meeting with another of their old colleagues leads them down an investigative path. Did Topsy Joy die or was she killed? Alongside the main story, we also learn about the lives of the three main characters and assorted friends and relatives.
A Spoonful of Murder truly is a great cosy read, perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club.
The Man Who Died Twice – Richard Osman
The Thursday Murder Club quickly became one of my favourite reads of all time, and I’ve gone back to it many times since. Now the original gang of Joyce, Elizabeth, Ibrahim and Ron are back in the sequel, along with their police chums and assorted family and friends. It would have been easy for Richard Osman to churn out an identikit story, and it probably would have been amazing. But in The Man Who Died Twice the narrative goes on a different path. Yes there are murders, but there’s also some spy action thrown in for good measure.
As a reader we get closer to answering the big question from the first book – what exactly is Elizabeth’s background? There are some great clues but not the full answer. We also get to experience another of the great draws from the first book – the reminder that the characters are real, and living through some of the downsides of getting older. This gives both books a real grounding, and you can empathise with the characters; they could be your mum, your grandma, your next door neighbour. The Man Who Died Twice is an excellent addition to The Thursday Murder Club series, let’s have more quickly please!
*Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copies of these books. All reviews are my own opinions.