If you’ve met septuagenarians Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim in the first two books, you know there’s no question they’ll get the job done - even if a few rules get bent here and there! Along for the ride are DCI Donna deFreitas and DCI Chris Hudson, lovable Bogdan, and an ever-growing cast of old and new characters. Elizabeth, once again, draws on her considerable talents as a former spy, good-natured Joyce continues to show she’s MUCH smarter than people take her for, Ron’s tough, street-smart ways are still on display, though softer this time around, and Ibrahim’s wisdom and intelligence work their magic. Each are a unique part of the puzzle that makes them such a formidable team, and I know I wouldn’t want to try to outsmart any of them!

In a sub plot, someone new isn’t happy with Elizabeth and she is warned that she must KILL or BE KILLED. And, “The Viking” is threatening her friend’s lives as well. Mike knows the story she is working on. He doesn't know the details - a reporter has to keep her secrets - but he knows it's a risky one. He's there if she needs him, but there are some things you have to do alone.Pauline puts a finger to Ron’s lips to help him out of his cul-de-sac of a sentence. He nods gratefully." Meanwhile, Elizabeth is receiving anonymous texts that culminate in a threat: kill a former love and KGB agent or face deathly consequences.

I read book one and listened to book two. The narrator for book two was so good and I was looking forward to her narration of book three. But instead we got another awesome narrator who made this story even better. I just cannot get enough of these characters and this series!

Creative Play

I think she is a hoot, plus – as Elizabeth notes – she may be naïve, but that isn’t the same as stupid She is smart and has great instincts for ferreting things out. There is lots going on in this book but the story flows wonderfully. As in the other novels there is some great humor and I can’t help but love this group of characters, including the new additions. The joy of reading Osman’s novel is being immersed in the antics the characters get themselves into. Osman’s prose is clever and hysterically funny. Yes, it’s fun to try and solve the mysteries, but the true delight is being a part of their inner musings, the hijinks they get themselves into.

There are plenty of laughs to be had, and I am already eagerly awaiting the next installment. If you haven’t started this series yet, DO IT NOW! Everyone has their favorite character, and mine is retired MI6 Agent Elizabeth Best. The woman is a hoot. Joyce Meadowcroft is a retired nurse, and Ibrahim Arif a renown psychiatrist. The fourth member is Ron Ritchie, a union organizer. The four get themselves involved in a cold case, money laundering, tax evasion scheme that resulted in an unsolved murder. An ex-KGB spy and an eccentric, jailed, drug dealer round out the band of major characters. Each book in the Thursday Murder Club series gets better and better. The mysteries are more intricately plotted and there are more interesting characters introduced.

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THE AUTHOR: Richard Thomas Osman is an English comedian, producer, television presenter, writer, and the creator and co-presenter of the BBC One television quiz show Pointless. A new mystery is afoot in the third book in the Thursday Murder Club series from million-copy bestselling author Richard Osman. The Bullet That Missed hits on every front. Its quandaries stymie, its solutions thrill, its banter is worth reciting and its characters exemplify an admirable camaraderie. One can only hope that the Thursday Murder Club’s next outing appears before long.” What information did she dig up that someone did not want her to unveil and why was her body never found?

This series is a delight to read, with appealing characters and murders new and old to solve. It’s hard to see some of the people struggling because of age or frailty, but the depth of camaraderie and support they offer each other is wonderful. I particularly enjoy the outlook each character has, courtesy of their own experiences over the decades. But the best part is how layered these mysteries are. It’s obvious a lot of thought goes into these plots, and the intrigue is always absorbing. Got my copy on publication day (U.S.) and I’ve been glued to it all day! It was certainly worth the wait! At the end of the audiobook there is a 'bonus chapter' 30-minute interview of the author by English Journalist Steph McGovern. You hear the authors' passion for this series, crime fiction, his main characters, and loves what their experience, wisdom, and eclectic friendships offer to the books and the readers experience. It was fun to hear him admittedly talk about his characters as if they are real! She pours herself a drink, and takes one final look at the bullet. Really, she has no choice at all.

Retailers:

The original four spunky septuagenarians, aka The Thursday Murder Club, Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron, are at the center of the action. In addition, other favorites are featured, including Chris, Donna, and Bogdan, and Alan, the dog, has a large role.