> Skip to content

Book clubs  •  3 December 2020

 

Thursday Murder Club book club notes

A classic whodunit for the most perceptive reading groups.

Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron might be pushing 80, but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves to solve the puzzle behind the demise of a local property developer. If our unorthodox but brilliant gang can catch the killer before it’s too late, there’s no reason your book club buddies shouldn’t be able to do the same. Here are some questions to separate the rookies from the sleuths.

Discussion points and questions:

  • Who do you like best: Joyce, Elizabeth, Ibrahim or Ron? Why?
  • Joyce was a nurse, Elizabeth was in the secret service, Ibrahim was a psychiatrist and Ron was a trade union leader. Who do you think was most helpful in solving the crime?
  • Did you think that PC Donna De Freitas and DCI Chris Hudson made a good team? What did one bring that the other lacked, and vice versa?
  • Joyce says ‘I am very happy to be overlooked and always have been. And I do think perhaps that will be helpful in this investigation.’ Do you agree?
  • As Val McDermid said, at the heart of this book is a ‘warning never to underestimate the elderly’. Who misjudges the residents of Cooper’s Chase the most?
  • Who did you think the killer was? What made you think it was them?
  • One of the recurring themes is the grey area between the law and each character’s moral code. Do you think Penny’s husband, John, did the right thing? How about Penny?

Feature Title

The Thursday Murder Club
Four unlikely friends A shocking murder Welcome to THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB
Read more

More features

See all
Article
Meet the characters from The Thursday Murder Club

Get ready for more antics and adventures from the third book in the Thursday Murder Club series. Refresh your memory on the characters from The Thursday Murder Club before The Bullet That Missed comes out this September.

Article
What you should read next based on your fave Netflix shows

Done binging the latest TV sensation? Pick up a book and keep the good times rolling. 

Book clubs
Foul Play book club questions

A heart-stopping Jack Hawksworth novel to read with your book club.

Q&A
Alex Michaelides shares why his upcoming novel was his favourite to write

Learn about Alex Michaelides’s new book, the real-life people who inspired his characters and how growing up in Cyprus contributed to the setting.

Q&A
Rachael Johns shares her trick for getting words onto the page

We caught up with Rachael Johns to learn about her writing routines, favourite rom-coms and new book The Other Bridget.

Article
Where to start reading James Patterson

If you haven’t yet ventured into the high-stakes world of James Patterson’s fiction, here are the novels to get you started

Article
QUIZ: Which Percy Jackson character am I?

Take this quiz to find out which Percy Jackson character you share the most similarities with.

Article
Find your next thrill!

Thrill-seekers! After a fast-paced, chilling and unputdownable read?

Article
A useful guide to reading Elizabeth Strout’s Lucy Barton books

Learn about Elizabeth Strout's Lucy Barton books in honour of her Booker prize longlist nomination for Oh William! Learn more about the series and the order in which we recommend reading the four books.

Article
5 Inspirational quotes from Lessons in Chemistry that will stick with you

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus is packed full of wisdom. Check out five of the many inspirational quotes from the book.

Article
QUIZ: Which Taylor Jenkins Reid book should you read?

If you're a fan of contemporary fiction with characters that leap off the page, this quiz is for you.

Article
Meet the 6 most important characters from The Summer I Turned Pretty

Meet the characters from The Summer I Turned Pretty books. Learn about the main characters and important family members who play a role in the trilogy.

Looking for more book club notes?

See all book club notes